ETP Ch 44

Sungyeon gave an awkward smile as he looked at the professor’s face.

Of course, there were many things in the world that couldn’t be resolved with a smile alone. In that case, all that remained was a detailed explanation that would satisfy the professor.

Sungyeon, before even beginning his explanation, bowed deeply.

“I understand your concerns, Professor. I know you had high expectations for me, and I sincerely apologize for disappointing you!”

“Oh, no, it’s not necessary to…!”

The professor waved their hands in a flustered manner, looking at Bokseung, whose head was bowed so low that his forehead was touching the table. Why was a 20-year-old apologizing so dramatically?

Whether the professor was flustered or not, Sungyeon continued speaking. Just as he did when being scolded by his counseling center team leader, he emphasized the unavoidable circumstances.

“I’m so upset that even mentioning this might sound like I’m making excuses, but I actually had a car accident at the beginning of the second semester.”

“I know that. That’s why you were absent for two weeks.”

“Yes! That’s exactly what I’m talking about!”

Sungyeon clapped his hands.

The professor’s shoulders flinched at the sudden clap.

“I had a severe concussion then. The doctor said it’s post-traumatic stress disorder. I heard it affects memory, learning ability, and even personality.”

Of course, the doctor had only mentioned memory, not specifically mentioning changes in learning ability or personality.

“Oh, dear…!”

A look of sympathy crossed the professor’s face. Sungyeon, not missing that expression, let out an almost tearful voice.

“I tried my best, but I’m so sorry that I couldn’t meet your expectations. Even if you think everything I said is an excuse, I have nothing to say.”

Sungyeon finished by sniffling dramatically.

The professor thought that they had recklessly brought up grades with a student who was unwell enough to submit a medical certificate. If they continued talking any longer, it seemed like teardrops would roll down from those big eyes.

“Mr. Kim Bokseung! It’s, it’s alright! After such a major incident, how can grades be a concern! Focus on recovering first, and we’ll talk again later, okay?”

“Professor! I’m really sorry!”

The atmosphere felt as if he were about to kneel, making the professor even more uneasy.

Sungyeon subtly checked the professor’s face and spoke one last time, covering his mouth.

“I’ll make sure to get good grades on the next exam, even if I have to stay up all night for a week.”

“You really, really don’t have to push yourself that hard. I just called you in because I was concerned about your grades, so don’t feel pressured, alright?”

The professor wanted to shout, ‘Please just drop that determined promise!’ They were just anxious because they’d found a diligent student after a long time, and now they regretted needlessly pushing him.

“Yes, yes. I already know that you’re diligent, Mr. Kim Bokseung. Even if the academic scholarship is difficult, remember that you still have the Hope Scholarship.”

“Yes, Professor. Thank you so much.”

“What thanks……! I, I’ve taken up too much of your time! You should go now.”

The professor even opened the door for Bokseung, seeing him off. At this excessive treatment, Bokseung’s upper body bobbed up and down more than five times in bows. The sight of his small body folding was so overwhelming that beads of sweat formed on the professor’s forehead.

“Goodbye!”

Sungyeon even said goodbye to the closed door.

An “Oh, oh, oh!” could be heard from inside the room.

It must be his imagination that the voice sounded a bit weary. Sungyeon tilted his head.

In any case, the difficult and intimidating consultation with the professor seemed to have ended well. He’d been so nervous about meeting with a professor one-on-one for the first time in his life that his shoulders were stiff.

Sungyeon patted both his left and right shoulders firmly as he left the lecture hall. Now, all that remained was to go home, and his day would be over.

As he headed towards the main gate, thinking about making ramen, he heard a honk.

Honk!

A car horn sounded from beside him. He turned his head in surprise to see a black sedan parked with its hazard lights flashing.

Wait, that sedan… looks familiar?

As Sungyeon tilted his head, the sedan’s window rolled down, and a low voice spoke.

“What are you doing?”

It was Hwang Yoohyun.

Right, that’s right. No wonder the car looked familiar.

Sungyeon chanted “That’s right, that’s right” inwardly and spoke.

“Hello, Sunbae-nim. I’m going home. What about you?”

“Yeah, get in.”

Is that the right response? This conversation is a bit strange?

Sungyeon was puzzled. Regardless, Yoohyun wore an expression that said, ‘Further explanation omitted.’

As the saying goes, a thirsty person digs a well, so Sungyeon asked again.

“Are you offering me a ride home?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh, then I’ll gratefully accept.”

Oh! Saved on bus fare today.

Sungyeon, back on a tight budget, cheered inwardly. As the professor had said, the academic scholarship was out of reach, so he had to save wherever he could.

Sungyeon rushed to the passenger side, worried Yoohyun might change his mind.

It was the first time he’d seen him since the same lecture last week, but it wasn’t awkward. He figured it was probably because they exchanged text messages every day.

“Thank you, Sunbae-nim!”

Yoohyun looked at Bokseung, who thanked him again after getting into the passenger seat. He definitely looked better than last week.

It would have been nice to check on him in person as he’d been worried, but even if Bokseung was taking suppressants, being near an omega in heat was burdensome for Yoohyun.

Moreover, his unusual reaction to Bokseung’s pheromones held Yoohyun back.

As a result, it was the first time he’d seen him in a while, having only exchanged messages.

If they hadn’t met like this by chance, he would have had to wait until tomorrow’s lecture. Thinking about it, he didn’t like that.

“Did you submit your medical certificate today, Sunbae-nim? You missed last week’s lecture because of me…”

“I submitted it.”

“Did the professor scold you?”

“Yeah.”

They weren’t in middle or high school anymore, and they’d submitted a medical certificate, so he didn’t understand why he would be scolded.

Yoohyun looked at Bokseung with a puzzled expression. In fact, he had never experienced being lectured or scolded throughout middle and high school.

Unaware of Yoohyun’s gaze, Bokseung’s small mouth continued to chatter non-stop.

He was certainly talkative. Of course, that wasn’t a bad thing.

“I went to submit my certificate today and had a meeting with the professor. The professor said they were worried because my grades had dropped compared to the first semester.”

What nonsense. The semester hasn’t even ended yet, why are they already discouraging the kid with talk about grades?

Tsk, Yoohyun clicked his tongue, clearly displeased.

“So?”

“I said I’d try my best, but my grades might not meet expectations because of the aftereffects of the car accident. I apologized.”

“Why would you apologize for that? Having a bad head isn’t something to apologize for.”

What is this? Is this supposed to be comforting or a dig at me?

Sungyeon turned his gaze from the front to look at Yoohyun, but he only furrowed his brows slightly. He couldn’t understand his intentions at all.

“Anyway, isn’t it my fault for not meeting the professor’s expectations? It’s not like I was originally bad at it, my grades dropped after I was doing well….”

Bokseung’s voice gradually trailed off.

If he left him like this, he seemed ready to dig a hole and lie down in it. Or study without sleeping a wink for the next exam.

Yoohyun didn’t like either outcome.

Yoohyun racked his brain for something to cheer Bokseung up. It would be best to feed him until his belly was full so he could forget all his worries, but if he suggested going to a restaurant now, he’d surely glare at him.

Then….

“Want to come see Yuja?”

Yoohyun mentioned his fellow One Punch member. As expected, a reaction followed immediately.

“Yuja?”

Bokseung’s brown eyes widened and sparkled. If he had ears and a tail, they would be wagging them excitedly.

“Yeah.”

“Today?”

“Today.”

“I don’t have work today, so it’s totally fine!”

Yoohyun nodded. He already knew that Bokseung didn’t have a part-time job scheduled for Mondays.

Bokseung, sitting in the passenger seat, started chattering, “Has Yuja grown a lot?”, “Can I buy some snacks for Yuja?”, “Is there a mart on the way? Should we stop by?”

It was much more pleasant to listen to than his dejected talk about the professor earlier. Yoohyun wanted to keep him on like a radio all day if he could.