Every Wednesday, Taehyung only has his first class in the afternoon, and Yeoju is also free. It was common practice to schedule a day off on the weekend or the following weekday, but Jiyeoju, who was so relaxed she fell asleep early that day, only waking up when class registration was due, ended up with a complicated schedule that happened to be Wednesday. She ended up having a break in the middle of the week. The surprising thing is that she's quite satisfied with it now.
Taehyung, having just finished a lecture on "Understanding the Modern World," weaves his way through the exhausted students. After three long hours of cramming in shaky English, it's only natural that he's tired, but Taehyung looks remarkably fine, and his classmates can't help but marvel. In a way, it's the power of love. As soon as he leaves the Humanities Building, he pulls out his phone. A familiar screen appears in his hand. He doesn't know exactly when it started, but it's become the norm for him to contact them first.
Taehyung scanned the conversation log again. He wasn't particularly good at it, but something felt off. Am I being overly sensitive? It was around that time, as Taehyung habitually played with the side of his hair, that someone appeared in front of him. The first person to greet him warmly, Taehyung smiled faintly and waved. His thick orange hair, permed, swayed in the breeze.
"Hey Kim Taehyung, why is it so hard to see your face these days?"
This girl... Dan-ah? Ji-yeon? No, I think it was something else. Summer vacation was quite long, wasn't it? Even though we're here, I can't even remember who she is. Tae-hyung, who has always had trouble recognizing people's faces, answers cheerfully.
"It's been a while. I guess it's because the semester has started and I have a lot to worry about. I'm busy too."
"Then you didn't even see the notice that there was a club dinner today? But you should definitely come this time. Everyone is already coming just to see you."
"Me? For what?"
"Hey, I knew it."
He pokes my ribs. The orange-haired man, who seems to be in the same club, tells me not to miss out, if only for the sake of the poor chairman who failed the S Industry internship interview this time. "Okay, if you have time." He doesn't give a definitive answer and ends with a vague smile. It's embarrassing to refuse. Taehyung stares blankly at my back, dangling his phone and shouting, "I'll contact you," until the very end. Come to think of it, we'd had a few overlapping classes last year. We'd even spoken quite a bit... Well, I don't know.
Kim Taehyung was famous for not showing up at gatherings of three or four friends, but especially at events with a strong sense of unity. He said it was because he ended up wasting all day without gaining anything in return. Of course, he didn't say it to their faces, and he would just say something indirectly, but he couldn't avoid the disparaging looks that he was acting like the only one busy. Everyone knows that it stems from jealousy.
These days, rumors are gaining traction that Taehyung has a secret crush. Or maybe he's already dating someone. Amidst all the speculation, the person involved is completely uninterested, and today, he's just skipping out on a drink. Taehyung, having emerged from the university gates, picks up his phone again. A familiar three-character name appears. Perhaps that alone is enough.
/
"Jiyeoju, why are you so late-"
My excitement at seeing Ji Yeo-ju suddenly spiraled downward. I thought it was over, but what was this? Yeo-ju, perhaps aware of my feelings, approached me from afar with a bashful smile. Only then did the old saying, "You can't spit in a smiling face," sink in. Tae-hyung, standing at the front gate in his new clothes, tried not to show his pettiness, but the corners of his mouth tightened, an inevitable consequence. Next to this bright and cheerful girl, there was In-young, who seemed unwelcome.
"You know? The Suyeon I told you about last time."
"··· Oh, I know."
Taehyung glanced at her. It certainly wasn't a first-time sight. He remembered seeing a few photos of them together, as if they were quite close. Sooyeon, who had been nodding shyly behind Yeoju, had been unable to take her eyes off Taehyung for a while. As she'd heard, he seemed popular and kind, but his first impression of her wasn't all that great. Still, Taehyung quickly changed his expression, pretending nothing had happened. He stood next to Sooyeon, who had come with him, so as not to make her feel awkward. It wasn't that he was trying to be considerate or anything, he just didn't want to take out his frustration on an innocent person. If I had to pick on someone guilty... well.
"It must be a Western painting, like the female protagonist."
"Oh, yes, yes, that's right."
"I'm not really into that kind of stuff, so it's interesting. What do you usually learn in your major?"
Even though they already knew everything through Ji Yeo-ju, they continued the conversation like this out of courtesy. Su-yeon blushed, oblivious to the situation, and started to ramble on, "Well... we're currently studying ancient art history..." Tae-hyung pretended to focus on what she was saying and stared intently at the person who had started this situation. At their fleeting glances, it was Yeo-ju who turned her head first. Tae-hyung was certain at that moment. The reason she brought someone along to their meeting for just the two of them wasn't because she didn't know anything or was clueless.
"······."
Knowing everything but pretending not to know. With such clear eyes.