Just one week since starting the first-year senior matching program.
There was only one thing I learned.
Park Wonbin really didn’t talk.
No, not just a little.
"Wonbin, how was class?"
"...It was okay."
"Did you eat at the cafeteria?"
"Yes."
"What about with your classmates?"
"...Yes."
The end.
At first I thought I was asking him questions weirdly.
But that wasn’t it.
He was like this with anyone.
Even when his classmates greeted him first in the hallway,
"Wonbin!"
"...Yeah."
The end.
Even when an older female senior talked to him,
"Have you gotten used to school?"
"...Yes."
The end.
'Wow...'
'This is a bit much.'
*
Just then, the department arranged a lunch outing after the freshmen OT, as a get-together.
It was a gathering where the paired senior would attend too.
I deliberately saved the seat next to Wonbin.
"Sit here."
"...Yes."
Around us were only freshmen.
The atmosphere was noisy.
"Aren't you looking forward to our department MT?"
"What are you gonna do at the festival?"
"What club are you joining?"
Laughter burst out from all over.
But Wonbin alone was quiet.
He just sipped his water over and over.
'Is he not even close with his friends...?'
Then the female senior sitting across from us looked at Wonbin and smiled.
"Wonbin."
"...Yes."
"You're really handsome."
"...Thank you."
"I'm sure girls hit on you a ton."
"..."
"..."
"..."
There was no answer.
The female senior also gave an awkward smile.
"Ah, that's awkward."
Someone beside me muttered softly.
"See?"
"Told you, he's a prince."
"He doesn't even talk to people."
That sounded louder than I expected.
I glanced at Wonbin for no reason.
His expression didn't change.
I thought he wasn't even paying attention.
*
After lunch, it was time to walk around the school.
A time for the paired seniors to show the freshmen the facilities.
"Here's the library."
"The student center is over there."
"The convenience store stays open late."
While I was explaining, Wonbin quietly followed along.
"Any questions?"
"...None."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"You don't have to just answer everything; you can ask too."
"..."
Quiet again.
In the end, I laughed.
"Hey."
"...Yes."
"Are you scared of me, by any chance?"
Wonbin looked at me with startled eyes.
"...No."
"Then why won't you talk?"
"..."
"..."
After his lips kept moving for a long while, Wonbin finally said,
"...I'm sorry."
"...What?"
"I... I'm not good at talking."
That was so unexpected that I blanked out for a second.
"At talking?"
"..."
"When I get nervous."
"..."
"It's always been like that."
Only then did a few strange things come to mind.
The way he couldn't really make eye contact.
The way he froze when people got close.
The way he kept stopping whenever he tried to speak.
'No way...'
I stared at Wonbin.
"You."
"..."
"Could it be that you're bad at talking to girls?"
Wonbin's ears instantly turned bright red.
"...Yes."
"...Really?"
He gave a very small nod.
"Why?"
"...middle school for boys."
"..."
"High school for boys."
"..."
"...I went to."
In the end, I burst out laughing.
"That's insane."
Wonbin panicked.
"...I'm sorry."
"No, that's not what I meant."
"Pardon?"
"So that's why."
In an instant, the puzzle pieces clicked into place in my head.
Why people said he was rude.
Why he didn't talk to people.
Why he always went around alone.
Everything.
'So he was just shy around people.'
I suddenly felt bad for him.
'I guess it's understandable that people would misunderstand.'
Because he didn't talk, that's how he must've seemed.
"Wonbin."
"...Yes."
"Let me tell you one thing?"
"..."
"At the department, right now."
"..."
"People say you're rude."
Wonbin froze completely.
"...Huh?"
"They say you're a prince."
"..."
"..."
"...Me?"
He looked genuinely shocked.
I couldn't help laughing at that face.
"You're that surprised?"
"..."
"Everyone thinks you look down on people."
Wonbin couldn't say anything for a while.
Then he muttered softly,
"...I don't."
That one line oddly stuck with me.
I don't.
I'm really not.
He looked like someone who couldn't even defend himself properly.
I sighed and smiled.
"Got it."
"...?"
"I'll explain for you from now on."
"..."
""Our Wonbin isn't rude,"
Wonbin stared at me blankly.
Much later.
"...Thank you."
This time, he smiled a little more easily than before.
The moment I saw that, I was sure of it.
Park Wonbin wasn't a prince.
Just.
He was a person who was a little too lacking in social skills.
