WW | Chapter 33

As she turned her head, Yoo Kahi was standing at the door. With a shocked look, she alternated glances between Yul and Yoonjo, then slowly walked over.

“It was real.”

Kahi muttered, letting out a hollow laugh.

“You’re actually dating him?”

She stared only at Yoonjo, asking coldly, as if she were a betrayed lover catching her boyfriend cheating.

In reality, Yoonjo looked unaffected, but Yul, caught in the middle, was flustered. Kahi’s dramatic expression made him momentarily doubt if he really was having an affair with Yoonjo, who already had someone else. Though Yoonjo had said he wasn’t dating Yoo Kahi, Yul began to wonder if there had been unspoken feelings exchanged between them. However, Yul quickly reminded himself that Yoonjo wasn’t that type of person.

“Yeah. We’re dating.”

“Why?”

“Why?”

Yoonjo, with a slight frown, shot back at Kahi. Then, with a silent chuckle, she asked in a challenging tone.

“Why would a guy and a girl date?”

“Then, do you like him?”

“Yoo Kahi.”

As if annoyed by her tone, Yoonjo finally stood up. Facing Kahi, he tilted his head, looking at her with an air of disbelief.

“I have no reason to tell you that, but first, show some respect for him.”

“……”

When Yoonjo’s response turned frosty, Yoo Kahi fell silent. Even someone as beautiful and proud as Yoo Kahi couldn’t cross the line Yoonjo drew. All she could do was glare at him with clenched fists, unable to control her emotions.

“Let’s talk. Today’s my last day.”

Unable to surpass Yoonjo’s authority, Kahi finally took a step back.

“Wait outside.”

Only then did Yoonjo’s expression soften a little as he spoke to her. Kahi turned and left the classroom without sparing a glance at Yul.

“Sorry. I’ll be right back after a quick talk.”

“Yeah. I’m fine, go ahead.”

Yul, feeling sympathy for both of them, gently pushed him out. Taking a few steps away, Yoonjo suddenly turned back, as if something was on his mind.

“We’re just friends.”

“Huh?”

“There’s nothing going on between me and Kahi.”

It was unlike Yoonjo to act this way. Yul was taken aback for a moment but soon chuckled softly, understanding his personality. He must have wanted to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, given his preference for clarity. Yul was also grateful for his thoughtfulness.

“I know. I have guy friends too, so I get it.”

“……”

Whether Yoonjo understood her or not, he didn’t respond. He looked at her intently for a moment, then turned away without a word. As he walked off, the air felt a bit colder, leaving Yul wondering if she’d said something wrong. No… she hadn’t, right?

Feeling slightly bewildered, she stuffed her lunchbox back into her bag.

After school, Yul usually left twenty to thirty minutes later than the other students. By then, the bus stop was less crowded, and she could easily find a seat on the bus. She was sitting alone in the classroom when Yoonjo naturally lingered nearby. He didn’t need to stay after school, but he did anyway.

“Aren’t you going?”

Yul asked, packing her bag as she looked over at Yoonjo. He, lying down, groaned and slowly got up. They both got up around the same time and left the classroom together. It was their first time going home together, but it didn’t feel unfamiliar, as if they’d been doing this every day. Maybe it was because they often ran into each other on the bus.

“Do you live in Buam-dong?”

As soon as she asked, Yul regretted it. He’d never told her directly, so she’d just revealed that she’d overheard his phone conversation. Fortunately, Yoonjo didn’t seem to care.

“No. Hannam-dong.”

“I see.”

So, he must’ve been going somewhere else that day. Whether it was Buam-dong or Hannam-dong, either way, he’d need to change buses at least twice from here. Crossing the Han River would take quite a bit of time, too. But why did he take the bus when he could probably afford a car with a chauffeur, given the fancy sedan he’d arrived in once?

While Yul pondered whether she should ask him about it, Yoonjo suddenly spoke up.

“Do you live near Seoun Intersection?”

“No. I work there part-time. It’s about a 20-minute walk from home.”

Yul responded, surprised. The fact that he knew where she got off meant he’d been paying attention to her. When he’d woken her up on the bus before, she hadn’t noticed, but now it felt obvious. Even someone as proud as him could be a bit coy, it seemed.

Unable to suppress her smile, Yul twitched her lips as she walked.

Usually, there’d be plenty of empty seats on the bus at this hour, but today it was almost full. Thankfully, there was one empty single seat, so they headed toward it. This seat was on the opposite side of where they’d sat together before.

“Want to sit?”

“Yeah.”

Yoonjo responded without hesitation, plopping down as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Yul stood there, dumbfounded. It wasn’t that she minded losing the seat, but it irked her a bit that he hadn’t even bothered with polite small talk. Honestly, she’d half-expected him to offer her the seat.

“What? Want me to hold your bag?”

Noticing her sharp gaze, Yoonjo looked up and asked.

“No.”

She replied curtly, gripping the handle of the seat.

After the bus had been moving for a while, the sunlight started shining on his face. Watching Yoonjo close his eyes against the light, Yul secretly felt a bit smug. After three stops, the bus turned northward, and suddenly, Yoonjo got up, nudging her shoulder.

“Sit.”

“Why so suddenly?”

“You’ve been glaring so hard I thought you might burn a hole in my face.”

“I did not…!”

Yul, caught off guard, raised her voice before quickly lowering it. She was planning to stay standing, but Yoonjo’s insistence left her with no choice, so she sat down. Shortly after, she realized something. The seat, once bathed in sunlight, was now in the shade. The bus had turned, casting a shadow over her spot. And where they’d previously sat would now be filled with sunlight for a long time.

Could it be… Did Yoonjo know about this and sit in the sunlight on purpose, only giving her the seat once it was shaded?

Yul shook her head. There was no way he’d know something so trivial. Even if he did, he didn’t seem like the type to be so considerate over such a minor thing.

Unable to let go of her doubts, Yul glanced at him again. Seeing him standing there with his eyes closed, she remembered moments from the past: how he’d chased away the group bothering her with a volleyball, covered her waist with his jacket to hide a stain, and bought her medicine.

…He must’ve sat there on purpose.

Now convinced, Yul let out a sigh, glancing at Yoonjo.

A strange guy. Completely incomprehensible.

Unfazed by her gaze, Yoonjo continued to sleep soundly, even while standing.

“Why are you getting off here?”

Once off the bus, Yul looked at Yoonjo, puzzled. He still had a way to go, yet he got off with her.

“Just wanted to see where you work.”

“Got a lot of free time?”

“Yeah, that’s why I sleep all the time. Where is it?”

Yoonjo asked, adjusting his bag on his shoulder. It looked like he was planning to follow her all the way to the convenience store. Yul was about to ask what he was doing but stopped, simply pointing in the right direction. As if he were going to work, he took the lead, and she followed him.

“This is it.”

In front of the convenience store, Yoonjo looked around without much purpose.

“You’ve seen it, now go. I need to work.”

Yul felt a bit down. She didn’t want to just send him off, but there wasn’t much else she could do.

Yoonjo lowered his bag, pulling out his phone. Hers was an old flip phone, while his was a new, expensive smartphone with a sleek touchscreen—an Apple logo glowing on the back.

“What’s your number?”

Yoonjo opened his contacts, ready to save her number. It was as if the thought of someone not having a phone had never crossed his mind.

“010….”

Watching herself give him her number so readily, Yul chuckled to herself. Usually, she’d say she didn’t have one, but with Yoonjo, she felt no need to refuse.

After saving her number, Yoonjo called her phone. Once he saw her phone ring, he hung up.

“Save my number. Take care.”

Turning on his heel, Yoonjo walked away, leaving Yul realizing she no longer had to hide her phone.

“Yes, boss. Being twenty minutes late is fine. Okay, got it.”

After ending the call, Yul sighed deeply. Her boss, who was supposed to take over at 10, had called to say he’d be about 30 minutes late. He’d pay her extra, but she wasn’t thrilled. Lately, she’d been feeling so tired that she often fell asleep while studying. Naturally, her grades were tanking. Even though she was on the verge of graduation, Yul had a dream. She knew it was unrealistic given her circumstances, but if she could just study hard enough to get into college…

Ugh. Yul felt the brief excitement turn into a sense of suffocation. She let out a heavy sigh and shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.

The surroundings had darkened considerably by now. Yul was about to turn around to restock the cigarettes when she heard the loud sound of a motorcycle in the distance.