LCL Ch 1

Prologue.

I sat on the campus bench. A hazy breath flowed from my mouth. I buttoned my coat and clenched my fists to preserve body heat.

“Oh, it’s cold.”

It definitely didn’t seem like spring yet. March was always like this. People would say it was spring, but everyone still wore thick coats and long padding, seeking warmth wherever they could find it.

It was still too cold to fully enjoy the leisure of being a freshman.

“So cold.”

The end of my sentence trailed off, but my voice didn’t seem like something someone in their twenties would make, so he closed his mouth tightly. If my high school friend and best friend, Jung Ji-pil, were here, he would’ve sarcastically said, “Hey, don’t try to act cute!”

Acting cute? Whatever. He’s a weird guy anyway.

Cold. But it was more comfortable outside.

In the classroom where major classes were held, seniors were listening to lectures, and it still felt awkward to sit somewhere in the building alone. It was absurd to think that I had already adapted when it had barely been two weeks since I entered school.

It was better to be outside, even if it was a little cold. I should have dressed warmer. ‘Wouldn’t it be cold?’ Even when I heard the worry disguised as nagging in a blunt voice, I just said, ‘I know, I know.’ But once I stepped outside, it was like facing death.

I put my hands together and rubbed them. Cold. The air was sharp like a knife. The back of my hands stung from the wind.

“Young-hyun.”

Even though it should have been a voice I was getting used to by now, it still startled me. When I turned my head, about six fellow students were approaching me, waving their hands. They were the friends I had always hung out with at school.

Department of Economics, Yunhwa University. It was my transfer destination after spending my school days diligently. I waved back at the approaching classmates.

Before I knew it, my classmates were surrounding me. The pouring gaze felt somewhat burdensome.

“Aren’t you cold? What are you doing there?”

“I just came out because I had a break during class.”

“You could’ve waited inside the building. It’s cold out here.”

“Just… wanted to get some fresh air.”

The classmate who had been asking various questions smirked.

“Not avoiding the seniors, are you?”

It was said that the number of students in the economics department was about 70. Some of them were given endless attention by their seniors. Whether it was because they liked drinking, had good looks, or had a very likable personality, they blended in well with everyone. Since those classmates were getting along with the seniors, I inadvertently got caught up in that circle too.

Everyone got along well with their seniors, but I felt awkward about the attention. I couldn’t even nod my head properly or reply when they asked me to eat together. My classmates teased me for avoiding the seniors’ expectations.

But what could I do? This was just who I was.

I tried not to stand out, but it seemed like I did. I have an older brother, but it was difficult to deal with the seniors. And it wasn’t easy dealing with juniors either.

I just want to get along well with friends of the same age. …But nothing seems easy.

“That’s not it…”

Blurting out the words, I looked around at the guys surrounding me. My classmates played silly pranks. The gender ratio here is exactly fifty-fifty.

From what I saw, there might be a couple or two forming here. We hadn’t become complete friends yet, but we spent more than half of our day together as university classmates. A reasonable tension was tangled within the group.

I stretched out my legs. The floor was as cold as ice. The moderate tension in the group didn’t concern me. Because…

“Oh, it’s Lim Dae-han.”

Someone in the group spoke up. The scattered gazes focused on one point. I instinctively followed their gaze.

Lim Dae-han was casually walking up the square steps. He wore a hoodie under a padded jacket that slightly hung longer than his waist. Despite his light attire, his height and stature made him stand out as he walked towards the building, wearing a pressed cap.

I observed Lim Dae-han for quite some time. Among the classmates, the one who communicated the most called out to him.

“Dae-han-ah!”

Dae-han-ah.The term of address felt unfamiliar. Back in high school, there weren’t many guys who called Lim Dae-han “Dae-han” in a friendly manner. Especially girls.

Girls who were close with Lim Dae-han would rather call him “Hey, Lim Dae-han!” more energetically. Those who weren’t close either called him “Lim Dae-han” or didn’t bother calling him at all.

But now that we were in college, there were more people who approached him familiarly. Lim Dae-han, who had been walking with a stern face, stopped and turned around.

His expression was somehow intimidating. It was blatantly intimidating. Probably because he looked fierce. Lim Dae-han, who had been standing guard for a moment, approached us. Each step he took towards us felt like a gust of wind blowing.

I gathered my legs that were stretched out and hid them under the bench. Tension gripped my hands.

“Are you going to class?”

The classmate who called out to Lim Dae-han initiated the conversation.

“Yeah. What are you guys doing here? It’s cold.”

Lim Dae-han scanned us as he asked. Our eyes met briefly. One, two, three… The glance that lingered briefly soon drifted away.

I turned my head to the opposite side as if I hadn’t met his eyes. My classmates and Lim Dae-han engaged in conversation.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“This.”

Lim Da-han raised his hand. There was a hot pack I didn’t know where it came from.

We should go too. A classmate who had spoken to Lim Dae-han started walking. I also got up from my seat and started walking. I watched his back as he walked ahead.

Instead of walking with his classmates, Lim Dae-han sneakily glanced around. I hastily avoided meeting the curious gazes.

“But didn’t you say Dae-han and Young-hyun went to the same high school?”

Of all times, someone had to ask. I pursed my lips. Same high school… I shook my head.

“Weren’t you close? You’d think being from the same school, you’d talk and mingle a bit. I never saw you guys talking.”

“We weren’t close…”

“That’s right.”

Lim Dae-han agreed with what I said. Strangely, his voice became more deep. I thought I’d become a bit tougher and okay once I became an adult, but I was still a coward, still timid.

Ah, damn. I made an unnecessary slip of the tongue. When I raised my head again, Lim Dae-han was looking at me. He had already distanced himself, though.

“Be friendly, guys. I envy you just for having gone to the same high school. All the friends I used to hang out with went to Korea University.”

“Should’ve studied harder, huh.”

Lim Dae-han made a joke that crossed the line. I looked at his back with astonishment. Would the students who got into this university even consider Korea University?

Chances are they did, but then dropped out. A petite girl standing next to him, who seemed even smaller compared to Lim Dae-han and me, raised her fist.

“Wanna die?”

Her voice was raised in a burst of anger, but there was a hint of laughter in it as if she didn’t actually mean it.

I quietly watched them. Lim Dae-han remained the same. Despite his rough and fierce appearance, he still had a mischievous side and knew how to control the atmosphere.

Even if the first impression wasn’t great, once they talked to him, it always ended with “He’s not as bad as I thought.” Everyone wanted to be around him. I rubbed my hands together.

“Oh, it’s cold…”

In the end, I end up muttering to myself again.

“Don’t just wear a coat, wear a padded jacket. They say this is nothing. There was talk about spring cold in the news, so by then…”

It wasn’t a question, but a classmate who was walking with me started nagging. Whether it’s still winter or whatever, they said they should start wearing padded jackets from tomorrow… I agreed with everything they said. We chatted away.

“So, from tomorrow, let’s really wear padded jackets.”

Sniffing, I adjusted my shoulder and rearranged my bag. A short vibration came from my pocket. When I took out my phone, there was a message.

Lim Dae-han: [Come to the staircase.]