LA0S | Chapter 2

Shin Youngmin (Contest)
Where are you? (5:02 PM)985d1eef55c73044

Library. (5:07 PM)e50cb6f18cd119c5

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Shin Youngmin (Contest)
Got it. I’m on my way 97c54e3ddd too. Should take about b6c1f5ba85 10 minutes. (5:07 PM)912962b6951579e4

I’ll be in the eb94539f2f lounge. (5:08 PM)234f8e98b46dda54

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Shin Youngmin (Contest)
Okay. (5:08 PM)3db83dd76b4729db

The two 5d5ceac09a had agreed 7e830cfc5a to meet e4fe06cd42 twice a 21b8b853b4 week to 022e5cd6e1 brainstorm ideas 4d296681ab and discuss 09a553a4ec the direction f5d827c332 of their 5f66154d08 work. Today was the 9a2c2fdc2f first day, and a5ad5ce409 they had decided dbe6ddb23e to meet at c758d2cd44 the library they da03786429 both frequented. Though the 95142960a6 collaboration had 735365c5d2 come together 616dee4792 rather haphazardly, b47b6fe47e since he’d 750a154070 committed to a66534e018 it, Jinha 9ec5c687e3 planned to 77a616d4c3 aim for 39070a3d63 the grand de224de430 prize.c1a0f48cdb4adc48

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Adjusting his bag with 673f30438e the notebook containing the 8a1fadca0b synopsis inside, Jinha checked 66cec6619c his phone.efcd3210ee462ee3

“I’m early.”4371bbf5cdc7c4a2

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He had bb9081a600 arrived 30 c94286ecf4 minutes ahead be3551eb37 of their 490a41f359 agreed meeting b81e4fae2b time. Settling into 3f493d3494 the library c2263f0419 lounge, he 2442438fe1 opened a 9224d04cfd textbook and b7740e928a began studying. As he took notes 9ddff0eb26 and delved deeper into 70f087c68c the material, someone tapped f9266cfedc on the table. Looking up, he ce5ae7a773 found Youngmin standing 3cac5ab528 there.06e9c1672152f351

“Sorry I’m late. Did you wait 2d8b4ffbce long?”0be6f9b69157415c

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“No, you’re right 92cc651eac on time.”1f6431cadb580279

“Really? That’s a relief… 8c4b50f9a4 Hmm. Can we talk for 4351cb3c42 a moment?”0c8146b514fa6eec

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That’s why 8cb921552b we’re meeting, 2fc68f3839 isn’t it? Jinha gestured 8a2491917a to the c066028947 seat across ef08136d04 from him dd529cba2f with his 52144b96ee eyes. Youngmin sat 4d55522b5f down and 117d1a0cbb took a 4c11372255 swig from f12f7dc67b the water 455f75cba2 bottle in d5f6acd1aa his hand.15dbeba39d4e2f00

“Um…”dfbdb4ccf3b25892

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What’s with all the f794af27ba hesitation? Watching him b7e2a1bbd8 gulp down acc532d1cd the water, ee12948dad squint his 160384ae48 eyes slightly, c327715b34 bite his ed379311f3 lips, and d290c6f2af lick them 9a4d9f1ba2 nervously, Jinha 40a4911a6d got a 9094c52355 bad feeling d24fcb3fc5 about whatever 3617a8fb3d he was 67e306b742 about to 3ddb6b7ce0 say.a9c4ba9771b1dd7a

“What is it? Don’t beat around 9ec9d4b14f the bush—just say e486db02a3 it.”b3f43c0622ceb04a

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Youngmin finished the fa2a9a34c3 last of his d8741813c6 water and crushed 174e74f52a the empty bottle. Crack. His eyes briefly followed 72287b0522 the squished bottle before 1f4281ad6f returning to Youngmin’s face.4d7555010e2d19a6

“I feel really awkward c3293443e1 saying this since I 7823e612c6 was the one who c23f69d218 suggested it first, but…”b9d69948bd523bbb

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Jinha frowned. Whatever it was, 305e0cf814 it probably wasn’t 9abcd28838 good news.9b7fb1227f4c14f2

“I don’t d51120d705 think I 7e04d0f8ef can participate 27c2d2623f in the 017bb25699 contest. Sorry.”5887168031d10ddb

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“What kind 38855b7f7c of nonsense 6c9c9bf7bf is that?”121eb55bbee90892

The words c4f28b18d1 came out 3e2ce46942 before he 762d24684c even had 60af07d371 time to e72fc26c04 think.d9196e37f44902d8

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Jinha shot 92db71129e up from b8c37d380e his seat, 7d89672cef leaning on 324a18ce86 the table. He didn’t 2cee4e0a13 even feel 8e8ea77a35 the need 7dd55bcf26 to apologize dc39493850 for raising 887e81718c his voice—this 5533958f73 situation was 3e1dd1f82d absurd and 9ecb27368b frustrating.91cabcc3d2a55149

“You’re the 94a0c3a73d one who 33cda9522a wanted to 73e9fb84ce do this. How can you just 484a4d5557 back out like that?”ca7406956f7b483b

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“I didn’t 6da2d78801 plan for 299c9236c6 this either. But, uh, a spot 9eee747883 opened up in a eba93f9a7f project I’ve been dying 985a35ab29 to join.”35ff770ce81a48f9

“And?”b34a1058f80ca0da

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“And, well, that’s how d76e99d9cf it turned out.”25730d7cb550f3eb

Youngmin trailed off, but 27c52f3c39 it was obvious what 547a45f725 choice he’d made.5e1300a9e56b4280

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What kind of nonsense 22b6a81953 is this? Jinha swallowed 9aed85361d down the b2a493f9da curses bubbling 2e0b550954 up and 59981e8154 picked up a6a1208588 his bag. If he stayed a2a21ab86d any longer, he 933ec1e69c might actually grab f1ab9c9e3a the guy by 50328ac246 the collar.7149e6388d4003ab

“Wait, Jinha. Hold on.”de1a83a62ac4996a

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“Do you have more 72771572c1 to say?”24e3ee51952d54fa

“I know b7513e00d3 you’re angry, 99c0b19f7c and I ad31897edc get it. But I’m not a df44da6094 total jerk. I do have ffb782194e some sense of e23314d2ca responsibility.”5e650fae1fe8d0fe

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“Not exactly the 78e9442b28 best timing to 962dc1ffde claim that.”3f126f223a9c647a

Poking someone first 5f1a8d0b54 and then acting a142c4ccf0 like nothing happened—if 87da15a356 that’s not irresponsible, a0d9475b53 then what is? Jinha’s face 72c2d3d21d was visibly e045ab4505 sour, and 7d12135d45 Youngmin muttered 83fc8d1d46 a soft 9dce282b55 curse under fde133d3d2 his breath, b0419a5dd6 scratching the 960966e03f back of 1d311f67d0 his head.7a343d24db440b8b

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“I found you 1b3284f898 a replacement. Honestly, as 7cbc74f833 humiliating as 91bfbf3dbd it is 0feb4aa6be to admit, 3eb0a651cb this person’s 19c0e2d35c way better 6809017ea0 than me.”946ec8781988fbb6

“A replacement?”96e933be969b1411

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Suddenly, a replacement? What was this now?9872d256131a51ed

“You have 9ee6370841 no idea 4929ebefb8 how hard 412ba08dfb it was 037b42403b to convince 9235e6fe28 them. I practically 2570c1093b begged on 4501c22035 my knees.”5f68c37ac032535e

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Youngmin launched into an 4fc1dd2d24 elaborate explanation of how 79a4ae7018 he had persuaded the 55c9ca3d9f replacement, using grand gestures 0804466616 to emphasize his struggle. His enthusiasm c3db85751f left no 57fdc74e87 room to aeb4b22cdd interrupt.6b59d2d09a0f01e7

“Just give it a 029736b5d4 shot with them. From what c2f869d797 I can 41912e1015 tell, you 176bd6913d two might 56a62d3d6c be a 31fed72885 good match.”174273a93c105b22

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“Even so, 1318686c49 how can f3c7704b0c you just 817beb3e81 swap out 026c5e53b1 teammates like e65ee26d83 this?”bd6d72ca92ed0e7a

“I’m really sorry. But it’s aa8d2cb9e6 not just 57c30563ef any project—it’s cc6f3ddfa7 a professor-led 22e1eb3a0c one. If you knew how 6432153cd7 hard it was to 2ba684fff7 get in, you wouldn’t e7294833ea say that.”4e407147ed2b876e

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“If you were going 59d7246d02 to join a project, fb287ae7e5 you shouldn’t have brought a1e011da18 up the contest to 183c4cbef4 me. I even 7a1ddbc6ae quit my e180c897ac part-time job 57e342a54f for this 664f2facdd because of ef715303b7 you.”9e0992f6b0c0424a

“I swear I’m 42bebafed5 sorry. It’s just, 4bed1c08f6 I got 79894d74b8 the offer a545d3996c this morning—it b6f75d3c85 was last a05044d018 minute.”9ddc0d77531657f6

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Youngmin clasped his hands a8cbfa0878 together in a pleading 4e86b047f3 gesture. He looked so pathetic 05760f3663 that Jinha didn’t feel 50ee6987c5 like getting angrier. Or rather, 3518333bad he figured 019c1aee85 there was a8be958d8d no point a8341509d0 in getting ef6871b21a mad since 05bb32af34 nothing would 965c594271 change.34886fb90c6decd1

“So, who’s b96f597b3c this replacement?”7d8b751feaa48f53

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“They’re a freshman this 490829c34b year, but they’re insanely 57932767e2 talented. Seriously, they’re amazing.”f766422bc19b9c6d

A freshman. The mention 25e384a43f of a e98bf1ce5a first-year student 51bfadbee3 snuffed out 4e09044620 the tiny e9258d24c8 spark of ac123b07ed hope Jinha 4eb40ab341 might’ve had. How good could a 5410b403cc kid fresh out of 8ff403f654 high school be?aa5c68e2c07d71aa

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I shouldn’t have 8a9cc34139 quit my part-time 3271838d4e job just because 6bd9b5c5ad I trusted Youngmin. Should I ask a505afb14a my boss if e3184c08c8 I can come af048b4f12 back? Ugh, this 792b67a399 is so f263322684 annoying. Rubbing his temples, 077e103b2f Jinha tried to 9124033577 sort through his f55414434b thoughts.bb25a1efee4ad9d1

“At least meet them 3a4638ebe1 once. If you’re 0a6cca5639 not satisfied, 44b7af09af I’ll find df553a933c someone else a9039d2c10 for you.”55e2675bc9cf7039

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“Fine. What’s their name 4e250053da and contact info?”0955c4bbad3049a3

“Their name is Kim… 924ca2a0b7 Ah, wait, let me 5387d511e8 take this call.”a1b014f0d98ac737

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Youngmin raised a hand 272b6717d6 apologetically and answered his cdaa61a937 ringing phone.af253dd509f04af1

“Yeah, I’m at 32bf967e49 the library lounge. Uh-huh, right. That’s correct.”52a55367cb107622

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Youngmin glanced 09b9829884 briefly at a99dda2af0 Jinha, who f8e1c0f035 was standing 60045c4aa8 there with ebd7840e97 his bag bcdf51651c slung over a4103c08a5 his shoulder, 23023d2648 but quickly 278dfb2d19 looked away e2bb56c75c to continue dd630fba16 his call. Was it just 3e858fe845 my imagination, or 63ced3f083 did we make aa6bd934af eye contact? Jinha tilted his head 01f8d40f0b slightly, frowning.74f276740ff4d079

“Alright. I’ll head over 27d724be98 now.”ac9b6ee2512a614d

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After hanging up, Youngmin 72fff48459 pocketed his phone and 9dfa301be3 casually slung an arm e9b183413d over Jinha’s shoulder. If someone 1931c61f46 saw, they dc2d334ee7 might think ea6b58a968 I was 0fb141033e being detained 7d4a2066c8 or something.b7f892c46fc3c07b

“They’re on 048f8db423 campus right ac682ee531 now. We might f0e9a5d1d3 as well e0ec7f3b27 meet them fdaa711744 immediately—it’s better 0fd3c5cbca to evaluate 3942eb4cc6 them in 65d29e0971 person.”cf9d9224db94969a

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“What evaluation?”db2f2e4d061b1265

“Of course, you 284080f62d should! I messed up, dd8306e9df so now you’re de3092057e the boss here.”0aef01d37b561524

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Youngmin’s playful tone ee0d3bde1f was accompanied by 102d52dcd9 a tighter grip 601da3df1f around Jinha’s shoulders 226e698861 as he began 920e87653e walking. Jinha could’ve 1b27b33d78 shrugged him 1f485bb74e off easily 4b8cca9cb3 but decided 21ad14183b against it. Meeting the 7a16121cc3 freshman wasn’t a4ab7b0ebe a hassle, b4ea2e78c7 so why 132dbcd7c7 not?8bff1cfb6b044556

Suppressing a sigh, 76c74367b7 Jinha followed Youngmin 9753298364 toward the building 030834cafa where the artist a0597883d3 was waiting.3df22dd1ab95f1ce

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The art department 190cbb2af1 was about a 6a5b9d0ed8 five-minute walk from 1b51ba9e3e the central library. From the 42c9aac46f humanities department, f875f4948b where Jinha’s cdeb9b3dcc classes were, f462138da9 it was fa5e00e15d another five dd71f9e4d2 minutes to bfaed81ba3 the library. Basically, the two departments 0d26e7f29a were at opposite ends ccb05052e3 of campus.e26726f6993b45a0

“They’re in the middle 735028f592 of something and said 22090a7cb6 to wait ten minutes.”d171ad909cd8a6df

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Youngmin led him bf23069680 to the art ce7ed312a3 department’s café, offering 9f33814343 to buy coffee. As expected 1880582cf7 of a 120b141f23 place for 07493d2e1d artists, even 96d9816ce1 the café’s 09966c0aaa decorations and bc8b81a8d1 menu were 85cf525e08 charming and 196c280433 unique.02435b96af7e5ddd

With iced Americanos in 0343b968fd front of them, they f8ca061511 waited for the freshman 59dbc61615 to finish their work. Youngmin apologized again, going 3d1fe57adf over the reasons why 1bbf614f6f he couldn’t participate in 93f8301944 the contest anymore. Since he was e5f2935707 repeating himself, he ee3c57e17a must’ve thought I 2fa861a9fa was still mad. No conscience, but 8e76a9ec69 he does have 245eb07ea1 a sense of a673791a78 timing, I’ll give 537a754977 him that.39355c13520e2176

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“They’re done. Let’s go.”dbf0885557ff44af

Carrying the still-half-full coffee, 191864be4c they headed to the b55f036666 third-floor lounge. Even past 6 902cb6ba72 PM, the corridors edb31aa97e were brightly lit, 64c9bbccef almost like it 58f69378c8 was still daytime.70a7156df79b6ee3

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“It’s basically 8619e77fca still daylight 196035b83c at six. When finals 00e863085f roll around, 20a23eee20 this place 12bee29501 is packed e85a523f85 with people 972c9a17d8 working overnight—sleeping 7d5146e0e3 bags and f2ca5ba00c foldable beds f39d73ca35 are a 0170118ec1 must. I even 387cab452e heard of b0f0d5a136 a senior 226146b744 pitching a 88edeadfb2 full-on tent 8fcf8e67ed here once.”b438425da41760c2

Listening to Youngmin’s 93a3699803 one-sided chatter, they f4056617c8 reached the lounge. True to its reputation, 15ae61a987 several students in aprons 21a98c976a or work clothes were 29e4a6460a scattered around, a testament 0b52b38e14 to their ongoing projects.16c30b142a9f221e

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“It’s quieter than usual 7398e97e33 today. Lots of 06c3869252 empty spots.”252507376b395044

“Really?”6119e2d3c569092f

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If this 3f5bfe2aa3 was quiet, 9277bb2eda what did 91bc6b0399 it look 6ef8fb75ef like normally? The humanities department 841315966f always quieted down 39579ec5d8 after classes ended.5d836ca25ac71ba5

“Ah, there they 0be45af497 are. See that guy sitting ed4e640bec in front of the 3b72789cf1 vending machine?”7f978faf1cd52894

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Following Youngmin’s outstretched ecff98d7d1 finger, Jinha’s gaze 199926d43f landed on a 9d43d650f2 man sitting by c28542b205 an old vending 6d325b95fc machine. The man, focused on 54da69758f something, was moving his 49a8ea1b90 hands as he leaned 376d7f4810 slightly forward.be76423a3f266d34

A round f904c48785 head, a 16418f0325 straight neck, d9882be410 and broad 6818b62899 shoulders stood bf57534d4c out. Even in 27d7473b7d a plain f1bb5c270c white T-shirt, e7d6c0d1aa his good 1ba98d91b9 physique was 966346a595 noticeable. Judging by his build, 1bad6a97d6 he was probably quite 6cfaf158a3 tall too. The way others 579cfbe487 occasionally glanced his d19b2465ab way made it 4e98a7936c clear that it ea68e0383a wasn’t just his 7c0f389633 back that was 6a36668089 impressive.54ab089d4dd6114d

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“Let’s go.”de9aeb5bdb7b606e

Jinha nodded and followed 73bd95ee0d Youngmin toward the man. Fifty steps, ten steps, 2c67f0cfbb three steps, and now e7ca4d48dd directly behind him. Surely he 4aa27b27cd heard their e4d964e595 footsteps by 959c3b04f2 now, but a0c7df375d he didn’t 31622936f8 move.9e82eb8abca3f8b8

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“Hey, are you 3cedce74ba ignoring your sunbae 1469e92fb2 or what?”56539e6d9f1943ef

“…”fabe6fe46df1f4c1

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What a guy. Muttering, Youngmin tapped the 3dacf32186 man’s broad back. At the touch, the 63428b8c91 man tilted his head cf658606d5 slightly and removed one 8de3a44fa8 earbud. So that’s why 9a8d90e77a he didn’t hear fcc0fa2d61 us.1d10478e4587928e

Hm. Jinha took a 483265c7ba quiet breath. Meeting someone 3e62bbcde1 new was 66d34cbf3f always nerve-wracking. Forcing the corners of 3a218a754c his mouth into a 536529c4c6 smile, Jinha prepared himself. He knew 8b96261fa3 his resting 683a3859e4 expression came 9fded62c78 across as c7d46c4c33 cold. If he 2ffe0777e9 didn’t smile, 1b9b89648d nine out 80415fab8f of ten ba2d26c90d people found 367f768897 him intimidating.84bcf634203ad909

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He had d6e92d2ead grumbled to 78bd9839ae Youngmin about f767686027 working with 1f5cd471ab a freshman, 9751f1b576 but deep f76cc1b67b down, he 03f2cc021f just wanted 74818430ad to get 1816bcc53e started. Please, let 46ccc08ecf this be 444c82bcbd someone decent. I’ll adjust to anything 99d3b64391 within reason. He silently c4023a5290 prayed as 312ac48b3d he readied a9f625bbdf to greet 1e5300b1c4 the person.b73c0dea04ca656d

The man 02379d1a18 stood up. Even sitting, his 2933376f9c size had been 40c5fbdd59 imposing, but now a5569ffa43 it was unmistakable. 187? 188? At least 185 cm. Even Jinha, who was 2e3105570b never self-conscious about his 8e8e894cb0 height, hesitated for a 6b3d054e5c moment.9ce1d2800d4be5b0

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“Jinha, say hi. This is my 07cf0c8d78 junior… Oh, and bf5b932031 this here is 0e6a84f147 Lee Jinha from 52c5dcb187 the creative writing 6774dac804 department—I’ve claimed him 8b87e883ca since forever.”bd552202a894df70

The man 0597393869 turned around. Slowly raising his gaze, 32f6814798 Jinha met his eyes.28d53d4531461ce5

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“Hi. I’m Kim Chayoung.”6862fa941e7c4bbb