LA0S | Chapter 15

Kim Chayoung (Contest Illustration)
Lip busted while eatingㅠㅠㅠ (11:01 PM)

“What am I supposed to do about your busted lip?”

I muttered grumpily, as if Kim Chayoung were right in front of me. Not wanting to engage in personal conversations beyond our collaboration, I decided to ignore this message.

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It seemed Kim Chayoung, with his Hollywood-like demeanor, was unfazed, but Lee Jinha wasn’t quite there yet. If it weren’t for the prize money, he wouldn’t have looked back at a collaboration.

Slipping his phone into his pocket, Lee Jinha walked on but suddenly stopped. The bright sign overhead showered light down on him. Fiddling with the phone in his top pocket, Lee Jinha opened the door of a shop. The bell on the glass door chimed his arrival.

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“Welcome. What can I help you with?”

“Um, do you happen to have…”

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The next day, morning. Lee Jinha woke up earlier than usual. Normally swamped by fatigue, today he got up at the first ring of his alarm. Rubbing his stiff eyelids, he headed to the bathroom. He scooped water from a rubber basin into a washbasin with a ladle—luxuries like running water were out of the question.

Cupping water in his hands and splashing it on his face instantly woke him up. Outside, it was a season of budding greenery, but his basement room still felt like winter—a fatal condition for someone as cold-sensitive as Lee Jinha. Curling his toes to fend off the cold, he washed his hair.

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“Ah, so cold.” He shook his wet hair and slipped on the jumper draped over the chair.

In high school, there were uniforms, but in college, there were department jackets. Since all it took was zipping up, any clothes would do underneath. He picked up the black sweatpants he had worn three times this week, then put them down.

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“What’s wrong with my fashion anyway.”

He recalled Kim Chayoung’s challenge to speak again while holding his conscience. Clothes are just supposed to do their job, right? Snickering, he opted for beige cotton pants instead.

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Arriving at school, he settled into a vacant library. There was still a fair amount of time until finals, but it was easier to study bit by bit in advance. Especially this year, with the contest preparation, time management was crucial.

He barely managed to meet his study goal with maximum concentration. Noting he had about 30 minutes until his next class, he left the library.

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At a crossroads, the path split towards the Humanities Department uphill and the Art Department downhill. Normally, he would have headed straight to Humanities without hesitation.

Lee Jinha, hand in his jumper pocket, slowly made his way downhill.

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The last time he visited the Art Department was to meet a new artist with Shin Youngmin. Back then, he couldn’t have imagined the new artist would be Kim Chayoung. Remembering that day made his stomach churn. Lee Jinha shook his head to clear the resurfacing clutter of thoughts.

Slightly licking his lower lip, he began climbing the building stairs. Was it the third floor where the first and second years had their studios?

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As he ascended, the disorienting smell of oil paint, the pungency of metals, and the odor of ink mingled in the air. Reaching the third floor corridor, Lee Jinha checked his phone.

As expected, there was a message from Kim Chayoung.

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Kim Chayoung (Contest Illustration)
Had lunch? (1:20 PM)
Tomorrow 12:00 at the library. (2:22 PM)

I’d be there early, never having been late to a meeting, yet why he felt the need to confirm baffled me. And really, I wish he wouldn’t care whether someone else has eaten or not. Holding his phone, he scanned the surroundings.

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The entire third floor was supposed to be studios and communal workspaces, filled with people in aprons and paint-stained work clothes.

“I’ll air it out a bit.”

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Someone opened a door nearby as Lee Jinha stepped aside to let them pass.

Where? (1:29 PM)

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“Gosh, that startled me.”

As soon as he hit send, the read receipt appeared, and his phone vibrated. Kim Chayoung’s name ostentatiously popped up on the screen. It felt like an unexpected assault. Out of habit, he hit decline.

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Kim Chayoung (Contest Illustration)
I’m at school. What’s up?
Any issues? (1:30 PM)

He declined the vibrating call again.

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Kim Chayoung (Contest Illustration)
Can’t answer the phone?
I’m free now, so I’m in the studio
What’s up???? (1:33 PM)

His reaction seemed too intense for a simple query about his location—as if he’d been swindled.

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– Me: I’m at your department building.. Let’s meet where I met with Sunbae Youngmin.

My finger hovered over the send button, undecided.

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“Is there really an issue?”

A familiar voice drifted from beyond the open door. Lee Jinha hesitated, then slightly leaned towards the door.

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“Chayoung oppa. Who keeps calling you?”

A playful voice laden with aegyo followed, seemingly confirming something. Lee Jinha moved to lean against a wall in the corridor.

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“I’m here.”

“Who is it? You’ve been glued to your phone.”

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“Yoona, it’s not someone you need to worry about.” His tone was soothing, presumably smiling affectionately.

“Yeah, Shin Yoona. Leave Chayoung alone.”

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“Doesn’t Seungyong Sunbae care about Chayoung oppa? I was so shocked when I saw his lip was busted.”

“Yoona, don’t you see the plaster on my wrist?”

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The sounds of Shin Yoona and Seungyong bickering reached his ears. That Kim Chayoung had injured his lip was obvious, but speaking of it outright was different.

“Oppa, I have some lip balm. Want to apply it? It’ll heal faster if you moisturize it, right?”

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Lee Jinha turned away. What was he doing here looking for a good sight at the Art Department? He should’ve just slept in. This is why people say you shouldn’t do things out of the ordinary.

As he left the Art Department building, he plugged in his earphones and played a lecture he had recorded earlier. He chewed on the professor’s words, trying his best not to get sidetracked. Before he knew it, he had arrived in front of the Humanities Department. Maybe I should get a drink. I feel a sugar crash coming.

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He approached the vending machine as if about to insert money, but then hesitated. If he waited a bit, he could drink free mix coffee at his part-time job. Now was the time to save every penny. No, can’t I afford even this?

What should I do? As Lee Jinha pondered, someone tapped him on the back. He turned his head slightly. A woman he hadn’t seen before stood there awkwardly, biting her inner lip as if in difficulty.

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Had he been in front of the vending machine too long? He stepped aside to let her use it, but instead, she moved a step sideways following him.

“…?”

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Realizing something was off, he took out an earphone.

“Hi, if it’s not too much trouble, can we talk for a moment?”

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“Me?”

Lee Jinha pointed to himself. The woman nodded. Maybe she needed directions? Club recruitment season was long over. Or perhaps it was some religious outreach. Given his near-outcast level of social life at school, he couldn’t guess.

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“Do you know me? I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen you before.”

“Ah.”

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Her face turned beet red. She blinked, seemingly at a loss for words, then stammered.

“I just really wanted to say thank you. You caught me on the bus that time, and I didn’t get hurt because of you. I’m really grateful.”

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It took a moment for the memory to click—something that happened almost a month ago. He hadn’t even thought she’d remember, much less be grateful.

“Well, you’re welcome.”

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The woman bowed deeply, almost touching the ground with her forehead.

“Wait.”

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“Yes?”

“It might be awkward to ask, but I’m curious. Did you leave that coffee at my seat last week?”

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“Ah… I was just so thankful. I didn’t do any background checks or anything… If it bothered you, I’m really sorry.”

She rambled on, her face now a shade of red that could not possibly get any redder. Seeing her so flustered actually calmed him down.

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“No, it’s fine. I enjoyed the coffee. …This is for you.”

He pulled something from his top pocket and handed it to her. She took it, looking puzzled.

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“Ointment?”

“Use it when you need it. Of course, it’s best if you never have to. Oh, and it’s brand new, never opened.”

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He quickly added, just in case.

After finishing his shift the previous night, he had stopped by the pharmacy. His old ointment was running out, so it was time to buy a new one. He bought an extra one for Kim Chayoung, not wanting to hear any complaints about being responsible for injuries.

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It didn’t take long to realize that had been a pointless gesture.

It felt wasteful to throw it away but not particularly pleasant to keep. Handing it off to her felt slightly guilty, as if he were passing on a burden. But perhaps the medication would be useful someday.

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“If you don’t need it, you can give it back.”

“No, I really need it!”

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She seemed thrilled, as if she had received an unexpected gift. If the situation hadn’t turned out this way, that ointment would have been Yoon Sejin’s.

“That’s fine then. I have to go to class now.”

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It seemed his business was done, and it was really time for his next class. Lee Jinha didn’t end up buying a drink after all.