COAC 21

Kim Chayeon’s prediction was not wrong. He did much better on the CSAT than he had on any of the practice exams he took during his third year of high school. Even considering it was a self-graded score, it was good enough to apply for regular admission to Hankuk University. If he had bombed it, he could have given up without any regrets, but why did he have to get his highest score of all time? Now he could not even run away to a different school.

Kim Chayeon and Seo Jeong, of course, were accepted through early admissions. This was expected from the beginning, so it was accepted as a matter of course.

“We’re going to the same university next year, too. Our majors will be different, but we’ll see each other often if we take the same general education classes.”

On a Christmas day where gray clouds gathered as if it would snow at any moment, Seo Jeong spoke with a smile.

“The last Christmas of our teenage years, and it’s three guys gloomily at a snack shop…”

He deliberately grumbled, but inwardly, a different thought raised its head. Gloomy? In fact, it was a more special Christmas than ever before.

“Chayeon and I have been spending Christmas together for over 10 years now, including this year. Though, I guess as the years go by, it does seem gloomy like you said, Hyeonjun.”

Seo Jeong’s bright laughter echoed in his ears. In the past, his heart would have sunk, but not anymore. All he felt now was a faint ache at the pit of his stomach. A landscape that finally came into view once he took a step back.

At this distance, it seemed like he could stay by their side for a long time to come.

The following year, the three of them became freshmen at Hankuk University side by side. Do Hyeonjun was caught by the other two while comparing Hankuk University with another school until the very last minute. After listening to Seo Jeong’s nagging, full of disappointment, for over an hour, and Kim Chayeon’s final blow, “Have you already forgotten our desk pact? There are absolutely no mid-term withdrawals,” he finally surrendered. Even though he said that, he was secretly excited at the thought of attending university with them, just as he did in high school.

Do Hyeonjun and Seo Jeong’s path was set for the Broadcasting and Video Department, while Kim Chayeon’s was for the Business Administration Department. He had expected that Kim Chayeon might choose the same department to follow Seo Jeong, but surprisingly, it seemed he had decided on his major long ago.

Funnily enough, the person who had the biggest influence on Do Hyeonjun choosing this department was Kim Chayeon. Under the pretext of making memories, Do Hyeonjun would constantly hold up his phone camera and film the two of them.

In truth, it was an excuse. Only through the lens could he gaze at Kim Chayeon for a long time without worrying about being noticed. Coincidentally, his career path also aligned with Seo Jeong, whose dream was to be a broadcasting station producer. It was not as if he had not decided on a whim, but all things begin with a trivial interest, after all.

On the day of their high school graduation, after their university and departments had been decided, he was left alone with Kim Chayeon, who was in his school uniform, while waiting for Seo Jeong who had stopped by the teachers’ office.

The sight he was always used to seeing felt awkward today for some reason, and he fiddled with the sharp corner of his graduation certificate. Even though they would continue to see each other in university, his feelings would not stay still and kept stirring. Was it because of the unique atmosphere of the high school space, the sunlight that poured in through the window and colored the top of the desk, or the fact that he was with the high-school-student Kim Chayeon, whom he would never see again?

“Do Hyeonjun.”

“…Hey, Kim Chayeon.”

Their voices came out at the same time, and Do Hyeonjun flinched, his shoulders trembling. If it had not been for Kim Chayeon, completely different words that had risen to his throat might have burst out and ruined everything.

“You go first. I was just going to ask what we should eat.”

“What’s there to ask? It’s obviously going to be the snack shop. Jeong was gearing up for it for days, saying it’s the last time we’ll go in our school uniforms.”

He himself barely touched the food at the snack shop, but he would diligently go with them every single time. That was just like Kim Chayeon. The way he was always so consistent when it came to Seo Jeong.

“Please take good care of Jeong. You’re in the same department, so you should keep a good eye on him.”

“I’m going to get along fine with Seo Jeong even if you don’t tell me to. Don’t you dare get sulky later if the two of us get closer. Jeong and I already decided to plan our schedules together. If there are group projects, of course we’ll do them together.”

“That’s a relief. I know I can count on you.”

Kim Chayeon smiled briefly, but distinctly. Watching the clear smile spread across his face, he lowered his gaze without realizing it. A bitter taste filled his mouth whenever Kim Chayeon asked him to take care of Seo Jeong. It was a sensation he never got used to, no matter how many times he experienced it. But he could not refuse. Because Seo Jeong was a precious friend to him, too.

The role of taking care of the person his crush likes, at his crush’s request. It was absurd.

“Seo Jeong, making a grand entrance! Hey. Did you see the banner hanging on the main gate? Our names are written side by side under the Hankuk University freshmen list. Let’s take a picture there together later.”

Kim Chayeon turned to look at Seo Jeong, who had appeared boisterously like the hero from a movie he used to enjoy as a child. There it was again. That expression again.

A face that knew no tension, with the corners of his mouth turned up just a little, but a little more, and the look in his eyes relaxed. It was because he could see this expression, one he only showed to Seo Jeong, that this one-sided love was not entirely difficult. It was not that he had given up or gotten over his feelings. It was just… just that he was happy just seeing Kim Chayeon smile.

After entering university, his first year flew by in a blur. Although they were in different departments, Kim Chayeon showed his face quite often at the building where Do Hyeonjun and Seo Jeong’s department was located. Of course, it was not to get to know the people in the department, but purely to see Seo Jeong. Maybe it was also to see Do Hyeonjun, his department mate, on the side.

In any case, Kim Chayeon appeared here more often than in his own department, the College of Business Administration. However, the number of people who had had a proper conversation with him could be counted on one hand.

As a dominant alpha, Kim Chayeon did not need to use his pheromones to pressure those around him. It was because, regardless of his secondary gender, he had very few changes in his expression and gave off a distinct ‘do not talk to me’ vibe.

The funny thing was that Do Hyeonjun was also often mistaken for an alpha. An even more ridiculous rumor that had spread was that he and Kim Chayeon were in a battle of nerves over Seo Jeong, who was a beta. The only thing true in all of this is that Kim Chayeon is an alpha.

His head throbbed from the absurd stories people were spouting as they pleased. Just today, he had come from hearing nonsense from his sunbaes again, like, “So you and Kim Chayeon are rivals?” I can’t focus. I should get some coffee. He was standing next to the vending machine in front of the library. The can of coffee he had just gotten in his hand had already lost most of its warmth. It was early spring when his breath fogged slightly, and he was mindlessly fiddling with the coffee can in the chilly air.

“There you are. Do Hyeonjun.”

His fingertips twitched in response to the familiar voice. There was no need to confirm who the voice belonged to. Do Hyeonjun turned his head, schooling his expression as much as possible.

The people near the vending machine recognized Kim Chayeon and were overtly glancing at him. The person in question, however, paid no attention to the surrounding gazes and was looking only in his direction. His chest grew hot at those straightforward eyes that were directed only at him. Can’t he just keep looking only at me? No matter how much he suppressed it, sometimes he wished for it, just like now.

“What.”

Unlike the flustered Do Hyeonjun, he saw a plain, emotionless face.

“Where’s Jeong? Weren’t you with him? He’s not answering his phone.”

Kim Chayeon was truly consistent. The only reason he found him when he was alone was to ask for Seo Jeong’s location. How many times had this happened now? He had stopped counting after the number exceeded both his hands.

“Seo Jeong is in the department office. He said he’s having a consultation with the professor. Go there.”

He opened the can of coffee he had been holding. Whenever he was with Kim Chayeon, his mouth went dry, as if his throat was clogged or he was thirsty.

“You should take care of Jeong.”

“How am I supposed to take care of a guy who’s in a consultation with a professor? What, should I go in with him? To ask him to look after our kid?”

“What’s with your attitude today, Do Hyeonjun?”

“We’re not really in a position to be minding each other’s attitudes.”

“Hmm. That’s true. We leave our attitudes at home when we’re with each other.”

Kim Chayeon replied as if it were nothing. A reaction permissible between friends. While he thought this was good enough, sometimes he grew greedier. Feeling as though he had unnecessarily poured his emotions onto Kim Chayeon, he bit his lip before opening his mouth.

“But why do you always look for Jeong through me?”

On a bench near the department, in the school cafeteria, and even in the library that was always bustling with people, Kim Chayeon found Do Hyeonjun every time, as if he had some kind of sensor. Anyone would think he had a high-performance location tracker on him. And he always asked about Seo Jeong’s whereabouts.

“You always find me, so why can’t you find Seo Jeong?”

“…Good point.”

Kim Chayeon’s brows furrowed deeply. He stroked his smooth chin as if he himself was puzzled, lost in thought, before slowly opening his mouth.

“Jeong is small, so I don’t know where he is. I always come up empty even at the places I think he’ll be.”

“Hey. Try saying that to Seo Jeong’s face. I’m curious how he’d react. I think there’d probably be bloody revenge. I’ll just watch from the side with popcorn.”

“Jeong is a bit… he looks precarious when you watch him. He’s weak.”