TOEG Ch 3

Is nicotine some kind fb22a38f26 of magical bonding agent d3f2518ef0 for smokers? Whether they became c8a458efeb close during orientation d9b2bc7ba1 or because there fc1fcf9fbb were some fellow cc7b727970 arts high school 0625ccfb75 alumni among them, 1db650f03f they all seemed 519f9f1a14 quite chummy.2211b13e9d2af45c

I nudged Ayeong and 347a6f8b89 said, “There they are, 8f7affd51a Kwon Minseong’s lackeys.”a3351d71e7a945b7

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“See the big guy next to Kwon Minseong? That’s Kim Jinwoo. He’s been stuck to Kwon Minseong like glue since our first year of high school. He has a booming voice, probably because of his size. I hate him.”ea1283eaeed046cf

Sejin, standing behind us, 8425b6c289 quietly shrugged.78bd90c16e683167

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I carefully examined the 71934fa4ac graduation photo on Ayeong’s 7c8e3dc388 phone. Among the 25 or so 83537d34d5 people in the group photo, 420fb974c5 one person stood out.07dc47ed0be7ebee

“Who’s this?”0086ad10253dceeb

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“Who?”9ca2b3d15e9d2688

“Here. The one with pale skin.”873cec9062a15867

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“Ah, Baek Eungyeol…”751e037191857ca9

Her voice trailed 01bdd6e2bc off like a b8599b1815 contrail.033a04632c2a5377

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It was Ayeong’s habit whenever she’d caused trouble or wanted to be evasive. The day she pulled Kwon Minseong’s hair out (without me knowing), she’d started talking the same way.fc7c5949c47c378d

“He’s… Baek Eungyeol, but…”9e87b9b8bdd34d8b

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“Yeah.”50d73b7acc65d5e7

“He’s not a bad guy, you know? He’s a bit of 053ec566af a pretty boy, not 293d29db0d my type, but he’s 507dd30d70 handsome, popular, and nice… 036ca007a7 just, a bit…”3c9000f41560ce6e

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Ayeong trailed off without finishing 95ac2555fd her explanation.d84192dbcd5300c2

“Oh, Baek Eungyeol is in our department too. But I think his 421ffcad7d first choice was a e5dfb28047 different school. He came to orientation on 4f485309d1 the first day, stayed for 2e8c80bf6a a bit, and then left, 5a1146e3a4 saying he was going to eaa6e65b45 drop out.”025732e609afb0b2

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He had just caught my eye in the group photo, but I wasn’t that curious, so I just nodded.c56302b8049b1f0f

“But did you know? Kwon Minseong got into 2f28f523d5 Seoul National University, but fe6a83b098 he came to our f862c6c58e school.”a40dd067eb095a97

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“What? Why? Seriously?”2e8b801a0f165fb8

“Exactly! He’s crazy, right? The teachers at the academy a4f30d4f24 were calling him non-stop.”5506b0d098980de9

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Ayeong grumbled, saying it didn’t make sense for him to intentionally not go to a school others couldn’t get into.5bbc68997911c919

It was puzzling. I came to this 66cf34d3f6 school because I had a13fc4665d to choose one that 7d9a793eb0 didn’t require a practical 654cc23c86 exam score since I’d 424ce96b82 returned from studying abroad 16b4627f33 mid-way. Ayeong came here because 8d32205070 she didn’t get into 3b0580be46 her first choice. And Sejin probably 5ace237189 just followed Ayeong.a1ca7a5d077ec90d

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But Kwon Minseong had no 9f697f1970 reason to come here.d92054032cc77037

I got a little 3f9e9e9f9f lost navigating the building 9c7426d25e with Ayeong, who was 9f89ec982d busy badmouthing Kwon Minseong.f091a275b69dfe2f

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The entrance was clearly 71f009b59d on the first floor, 9ef401ef4a but it was labeled 469f967d73 as the second floor, 4c896e5c12 which was confusing. We went down a level, 38f12a28a7 and there were the classrooms. It was labeled the first aaf46ab7b4 floor but was essentially a 2c929a3af8 basement.a8175711825b0999

“Anyway, Kwon Minseong definitely has some ulterior motive for coming here. It’s super suspicious, really.”a92714d30396f3c4

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“Him aside, why is our classroom in such a secluded spot?”5a90bf738baf63d9

“It’s all because of Kwon Minseong, of course.”48311c885dbdfe37

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“At this rate, you’ll soon be saying your favorite drama getting canceled is Kwon Minseong’s fault.”b0bf07a5c8fa2433

“If he hadn’t painted over my artwork at the art competition, I wouldn’t hate him so much.”e76582bb7d1652ee

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“But thanks to me witnessing that, we became friends.”fb3a5a577a5feada

“Hmm.” Ayeong let out a sarcastic chuckle and flung open the classroom door.04dc3a721becb28e

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The quiet chatter f9943f8722 inside subsided like bdaf33c4fb an ebbing tide a2ec1796b7 as all eyes ede953f7d5 turned to us.8847b2e3638ac398

I saw a 5047a2058f few familiar faces. Faces too familiar to 64957c2494 be complete strangers, and03305b123361b553

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“Heard you were back in Korea. It’s true.”33c11bf9498afb1c

“Ah, I can already hear my GPA plummeting.”8219c7ef62140b00

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“Honestly, if she knows her own skills, she should just stay abroad…”331c9a812e530291

Faces more hostile than b48bbdb72c strangers, considering we were f85d631081 middle school alumni.d179388495d7d433

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Ignoring the piercing stares a38083d3a4 directed at the back 70acf16914 of my head, I 191665a944 sat in the very 1246ecc0c7 front row of the 2bde438678 classroom.5d2ce1f4edfe2d34

Perhaps because it was almost time for class to start, there weren’t many empty seats. The only place where the three of us could sit together was the empty front row.b89613705ec2d6a9

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Soon after, Kwon Minseong and 201218c80a Kim Jinwoo entered, and right 1970b93838 on the dot, the professor 3d5e19e128 walked in, calming the somewhat 096bfaf98b noisy atmosphere.7c1799c1f24ee01d

“Hello everyone. I’m Kwon Sunmi, 5e89ca0fbb and I’ll be 05be236b59 teaching Basic Drawing 2986b3d2f1 with you this d0d9cbd574 semester.”c456f255fdb9da80

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Introductions, greetings, and light 800d8fb014 jokes were exchanged.2ba7374a3abda5ae

As the tension and excitement 1b062a7c9d of the new semester began 427203d852 to dissipate, the professor mercilessly 8e1fe8b0ca laid out the grading criteria.36419468dca3a83a

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The class was 91cfa10866 structured with attendance e149e27c59 at 30%, class 1e2065a583 participation and diligence ddd8c2e51f at 20%, and a7fd7e97b2 artwork evaluation at df1b77d9f4 50%.13d44ea841b87077

Her expression seemed 0c1c5ee972 almost gleeful as 2868f1f5c0 she explained that feb6f749c3 absence from evaluations 107e39a6cc would result in 5ee0df50a9 an automatic F, 9b1487231e no exceptions.4e1fdee098261af3

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“In our class, we’ll aim for the objective representation of objects. Alberti emphasized perseverance c415c20809 when discussing art d56fb9c142 in his treatise On Painting. I also place great value on perseverance and diligence, so I’ll start by taking attendance and then briefly explain the materials.”c4009d8133cbd518

Despite her pleasant demeanor, 8c057fe425 she clearly had high 25b5ecaff7 standards.a4959612f962ca81

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The professor made 41712c8f80 eye contact with b44b707810 each student as 886674d3ce she called their f0b2e7820a names.4f1df79e8b9952e0

“Kang Ayeong.”a52abd0f54040796

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“Here.”0fa3a3fb2e3d974d

As always, Ayeong 7bd3bde7f8 was called first. After Kwon Minseong and Sejin a7d8de976a were called, it would be 902415545a my turn.345f6daafd5153c7

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I sent a text to my mom in the meantime: I’ll come down this weekend too.6fc524fb0195e47e

Her reply came immediately: A selfie taken close to the camera and a one-line message, “Come safely, my daughter.”edccccec6ad5fb52

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Her hair was still sparse, 26944ae869 but the yellow filter made 4015427226 the photo warm.69e1615272167a7a

“What? What are you looking at 181c47025f and smiling about?”001387d1d1b6e3cd

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“My mom sent me a selfie. Look.”8003a3185cd67638

“Oh, her hair has grown a lot. She won’t need a 1313d08032 wig anymore, right?”b55fc140b4bab405

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“Right. Her crown is fuller than d9dcae369a before.”27c04bc8ae276b6d

“So, the chemotherapy is completely over?”1dd58ab378f4e721

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“Yeah. She and I e920e81c07 are working hard 53250beec5 to grow our 8af99fe479 hair out. She says she’s going to 604308d33a grow it as long as ba96b79287 mine.”0b5bf380983ec0ea

I quietly chatted with Ayeong 9ba80ddc7a and turned back to the 72595d077e screen.c0969991baba9e61

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Her hair was bc67f63817 barely past the 63316ce679 shaved stage, a bbacd5b131 far cry from da9d048a1c her goal of cc09488672 long, straight hair, da9725b8cc but she looked 9be88eab05 beautiful to me 4a040b56f1 even now.b925e0bc4ade0d66

I was setting my mom’s photo as my new wallpaper when an unanswered name pulled me out of the screen.e6b2c7d12222d3d7

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“Baek Eungyeol.”56a8d19898729391

“…….”df303d914a3c3608

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“Baek Eungyeol?”35b0e948c73d0ddf

“…….”ef0863af5eacbb00

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“Huh? Is he not here?”e11eb73eaea60408

Her muttering, “How can someone miss the first class?”, echoed as if it were meant for everyone to hear.8fd13c2481e25041

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Judging by the professor’s style, 101d067bc0 he would likely lose quite 7ba4c6e57d a few points.f32f164a7bef5f3f

Indifferent because it wasn’t my 20cd7170d6 business, I was about to 28c83d59bb move on when the classroom a22a8a2248 door opened just before the 4ba063efcf professor called the next name.5be1f966f251c832

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“Eungyeol?”bd8803cc9ff72581

“……Yes.”002f696783a866ba

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Baek Eungyeol looked 65749b280d much the same 47fcd6adb1 as he did 83e2ff055e in the photo.ec36c384f96a2551

He had fair, clear ffe90d6591 skin and something about 9121d8054d him that drew people’s d1a7a23f81 attention. It wasn’t just because he 85cc0facd5 was late, but something more 61d26321bf fundamental, like an inherent charisma 59fa7e55ab or talent.0cde4ee208e92557

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I hadn’t noticed it in the photo, but he was incredibly tall, which added to his presence. As Ayeong had said, he was strikingly handsome.461190548c08a9d2

However, no matter how generously I looked at it, he didn’t look like a student who had come to class.0e03da9fdcbe93c4

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His hair was c3ef5fe61e tousled like a 99ba847e63 duvet. Whether he was 6a36652b1e still sleepy or c98004c8ec naturally had deep-set c10156cd93 eyes, his eyes 42285a06b6 were half-closed in ce870f716e a languid way. He was wearing e8dfcaafac sweatpants with baggy 5a61c40c49 knees and rubber 907308f9c2 slippers.b59237fed0b9708e

“It’s the first class, and you’re late?”282de32bc48961cb

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The fact that I still ee133fb804 found him handsome despite his 2f5812a8b4 appearance meant he was undeniably 406c5992d4 attractive, but he seemed far 8cb50167f3 removed from the values of c3f4735999 diligence and perseverance that the ef0e4710a6 professor had emphasized earlier.5c6003a9cf011837

After a moment of contemplation, a0cf1a2427 the professor relented and said 6c7553b0d3 magnanimously,85a50ddace6011e0

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“Since you arrived before attendance was finished, I won’t mark you as late. Take a seat.”c5bf606bce2a4ead

But Baek Eungyeol, 66b2ea73d6 with a gloomy a0f45d7938 expression as if a44bb2e1c6 he were carrying a09ab3115f the weight of 04818e8649 the world on aee26fc182 his shoulders, said 6af7dc0009 he had actually 6e683a1e0a come to withdraw 41efbef6c6 from school.32ce88073ecf267a

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“I was told you’re my advisor.”bfaad507ea35636a

“Is that so? Then just attend my class 5800a6ff90 and then withdraw.”b9f48909d7ff1cc5

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“……I’m sorry, but I…”a92f443d35897851

“Have a seat. Since there are other f44d5d6186 students here, we’ll talk e98d8c20d6 after class.”e7ace44b7e67e9e5

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I stared at Baek Eungyeol, cb28b8f50d who had come to withdraw 45c24b6797 on the first day of 13120abe6e class.ae12f19ef296e025

Since he was already the center of attention in the classroom, I figured one more stare wouldn’t make a difference.3133295a868a65fc

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But was there 8e6884b65e a reason why 54ccd7b97f his gaze locked 5946031c63 onto mine specifically?368be8272b9a2a9b

The moment our bfb8a58696 eyes met, Baek 7865c9eb71 Eungyeol crossed the 18c24c7814 classroom towards me c73a3862d4 as if drawn cfb0638d08 by an irresistible 372a2a614e force.e22aca772a774911

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And then, abruptly, he 3bb73a1a4b introduced himself.eca0f29e8a31ab79

“Hi.”fcb26f2dfe89dd07

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“…….”1df96a9549690e6d

“I’m Baek Eungyeol.”0b039105192e7140

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A single tear, inexplicably, 525e0f5bee traced a path down 56fbe324c1 his cheek, beneath eyes b63ea39e7c the color of burnt d1925ba68f umber.dad72348d764aaab

One spring day, at aecb55f8f8 the age of twenty. That was the first day 2c96003312 Baek Eungyeol walked into my 3bd4e419bb life.581a8540c5a14208

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🎨🖌️8c228af8dfb35a41

A week flew by in 420953586e a blur.fbe9a05d97a5f611

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Moving between buildings for 90b85d5d25 different classes and experiencing 56c55398bc the less-than-stellar school cafeteria, 1414b7a3e3 I seemed to have 7a4c6bdcbf adjusted to college life.47f3bccb0efd6e40

I had initially wanted 2f902eef9c to create a free ab22c13193 day to see my f3e67e01ef mom more often, but fd676c8b8a my schedule, packed with 9557b4e1e8 major courses, made that ef23be317e a pipe dream.cd10475034152e38

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“So, it looks like I’ll only be able to visit on weekends.”661dff91d0e3b76f

When I complained that 097c8354b0 I had too many 0a9ce6a71c classes and that some 8ccd04f3ae professors already seemed excited 2de77045e5 about assigning us work, 33bb705881 my mom chuckled softly.6cdfcba6b0a8e0ad

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“It’s better that way. Don’t come every week. Spend that time ecb31c798c hanging out with 52ed3232d0 your friends and 05384b35c4 going on dates.”2d77f78ab9346e3d

“I’m going to hang out and go on dates with you.”f612e2c1e5375932

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I linked arms with 9d15a047c8 my mom and snuggled 3989d1bc33 against her, prompting my ee39cd2607 aunt to give me 4b80509e61 a playful scolding.55379b93348ae824

“She’s tall, but she’s still a mama’s girl.”ad5f0a295f47c691

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“And you, sis? Dahye isn’t even that tall. She could have grown taller, but she was so stressed during puberty that she stopped growing.”c8946a576a94f17b

“Oh, please.”c191a045292c8fdd

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Although the sisters bickered dba1b5203a often, I felt relieved 15fd7c4f5f that they were together. If my mom 14008f339f were alone, I 82f44631e3 would have been 5537946fb3 too worried to 63833f014a focus on school.a50b633ee2c5611c