Cheesecake
Jungkook, by any stretch of the imagination, was someone who fit the main role. He even boasted that any foolish student in the university who didn't know him deserved to be treated like a spy, beaten to death. Of course, this wasn't self-indulgence. He had never missed a single cover of the school magazine during his year and a half at Hwayang University, a record he'd broken. It wasn't like there weren't any standouts among the freshmen this year, but if I had to give a reason, it was that there simply wasn't a face that could replace Jeon Jungkook. His black hair was parted just below his brow bone, slightly curled. Between the end of autumn and the start of winter, he'd always wear a beige coat, a layered, wrinkled ivory turtleneck that covered his neck. On those days, without fail, the Hwayang University ETA server would crash to a point of no return. Hey, did you see that English department guy's outfit today?
Astronomy Club. Born with a distaste for numbers, he was naturally a nerd to the core, and it was impossible for him, who had only memorized crooked letters, to be interested in stars. Putting those circumstances aside, Jeon Jungkook stepped into the eastern entrance of the club. Because, you see, all the other clubs were full. Just as no one can be perfect, even the handsome English major at Hwayang University had at least one flaw. Laziness. Jungkook, who valued immediate rest over tomorrow's comfort, chose a two-hour nap instead of an early club reservation. A choice that soon led to regret.
Standing on the threshold of the astronomy room, he let out a small sigh of relief. He prayed, "Please, no more annoying activities." Opening the door, he glanced around, only to find the surroundings once again empty. And that was understandable, for as far as he knew, there were only four members. The minimum number for a club. It was only a matter of time before word of his arrival spread, and the girls would flood in. But Jeongguk, not wanting to cause a fuss, kept his mouth shut even with his close classmates. Truthfully, the news of his joining the Stardust Club wasn't exactly something to be proud of, so he was careful not to say anything. In any case, the East Room was quiet. He overcame the awkwardness of even saying hello and stepped in. "Is there anyone here?" The answer to his own question was the rustling of the blanket covering the sofa. He'd assumed it was just a shell, but it seemed someone was under there. Jeongguk, more timid than he looked, huffed and shuffled toward the sofa.
"Excuse me, by any chance-"
"······."
"hey?"
"······"
"··· hey."
"Informal speech?"
Until just a moment ago, even when I repeatedly called out "hey" at a distance where our noses could almost touch, she didn't wake up, but now she growls at a single "hey." Judging by the slight hint of jealousy rising in her throat, Jeongguk instinctively sensed that the person he had provoked was no ordinary old fart. He had heard a rumor that a member of the class of 2015 was still residing at Hwayang University. Hoping that it wasn't the person involved in the rumor, he carefully pushed aside the clothes that completely covered her short body. The face that was revealed was that of a woman with a gentle puppy-like appearance, in contrast to her fierce demeanor. If we were to classify it as a dog, it was a poodle? For some reason, Jeongguk couldn't suppress the urge to stroke her head. With a swoosh, her messy brown hair was tidied up. The poodle, who had come close to him with a series of actions, raised its eyes. "Sir!"
"What are you doing?"
"Oh, that hair..."
"what?"
“My head… is too long…,” he muttered aimlessly before offering a quick apology, saying, “Okay. Sorry.” The female protagonist, who had been unintentionally woken up from a nap and had been spoken to informally and even petted, was dumbfounded and focused all her energy on figuring out what the hell this brat was doing. Jungkook took a couple of steps back and awkwardly brushed his flowing bangs to the side. “It’s Jeon Jungkook.” The female protagonist shot him a look that seemed to say, “What do you want me to do?” In fact, Jungkook himself had been baffled since earlier, but this angry poodle didn’t seem to know who he was. He didn’t react even when others yelped at him in approval. And even if he told him his name outright like he just now, it didn’t seem to help… For Jungkook, who unofficially had the highest name recognition in the university, although he didn’t show it, this was quite shocking. The heroine wiped the horn-rimmed glasses on the small table next to the sofa with her stretched-out sleeve. She squinted for the first few seconds, perhaps needing some time to adjust.
"hey."
"yes?"
"I don't care if it's the whole country or the country itself, so please don't bother me."
Do you know the pain of a job seeker? The message that if you know, shut up, and if you don't, shut up was clearly written on the female protagonist's face. Jungkook didn't seem to have done anything wrong, but he was getting nervous for no reason and was getting angry. But I'm new here today... The female protagonist, who had collapsed again, pulled up the clothes that were being treated like a blanket to the nape of her neck, but her actions stopped at those words. What? His wide eyes strangely matched his horn-rimmed glasses. His face looked like he'd seen a ghost.
"So... you're a new member?"
"yes."
"You came in here? On your own feet? Here?"
"yes."
"Are you crazy?"
"··· yes?"
Jungkook nodded in a soulless state, then hesitated.
Did I just get cursed at?