WYK 13

He remembered her vividly. On the day of the entrance ceremony, she had gathered a crowd as she entered the girls’ class in the liberal arts department. She had a fair face and large, sparkling eyes. Even her expressionless face was pretty, but when she smiled, she became incredibly beautiful.

“Anyway, I know her, but why do you ask?”

“Da-jung said she remembers you too.”

“So?”

Jeong-yoon replied nonchalantly while using the towel he had in his hand to dry his hair. However, he couldn’t help but stop abruptly when his sister said something unexpected.

“Do you want to go on a blind date with her?”

“… What are you talking about?”

“From what Da-jung says, it seems like she has a crush on you.”

Jeong-yoon lowered the towel with a puzzled expression.

“I’m going to the military soon, and you’re talking about setting me up on a date? Are you trying to get me in trouble, sis?”

“Who is doing it now? Da-jung was going to hold on to you until you were discharged and then we could talk about it. So, don’t just meet any random person because you’re a ‘mosol’; be good and wait.”

“You are already talking about after I’m discharged from the military.”

“This sister has a good eye for people… Da-jung is incredibly cute and pretty, you know. So, that’s why.”

Jeong-yoon sighed deeply at those words. Then he swept up his wet hair and answered in a hushed voice.

“It’s not happening, sis.”

“Why? It’s a talk for after you finish your military service. Why are you taking it so seriously?”

“Anyway, no. Don’t even mention this much about me to her.”

“Why? And I already did it, you dummy.”

In response to his sister’s answer, Jeong-yoon twiddled his fingers and mumbled softly.

“She’s… someone I used to date.”

“Hmm.”

“…”

A long silence filled the room. His sister eventually nodded in understanding.

“Well, that’s a no-go then. Dating her would make you a jerk.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“It’s done, it’s hopeless.”

His sister gave up quickly. She soon got up from her seat and left the room without any lingering feelings. Jeong-yoon, who was left alone, just stared at the door.

Yoo Da-jung. She was the girl who dated Kang Chae-heon.

Jeong-yoon recalled an incident from his senior year of high school.

About a year and a half ago. The club he joined as a senior in high school was a foreign film appreciation club. It was a club for the purpose of watching foreign movies without subtitles, and he joined because he thought he could watch them while dozing off, but he literally got kicked out.

‘Seriously. Does it make sense to write a movie review in English? That’s crazy.’

Jeong-yoon muttered to himself as he walked down the hallway. He was returning to his dormitory after a gathering of his club members to write essays after dinner.

‘Ah.’

He abruptly turned around, suddenly remembering that he had left his essay notebook in the club room.

‘Ugh, what a hassle.’

He went down to the first floor and headed to the club room located in the far right corner. The place, which was originally a photography room, was in a remote location, so the entrance itself was dark. He walked up to the shadowy door and opened it without hesitation. However, he had no choice but to stand there stiffly.

This was because two students were sitting in a place where he thought no one would be.

One of them, a girl, was reaching out to touch the hair of the boy seated across from her, but when Jeong-yoon walked in, she quietly retracted her hand.

Jeong-yoon was familiar with these two. Yoo Da-jung, widely regarded as the most beautiful girl in school, and the other was…

‘…Kang Chae-heon.’

It was Chae-heon. He was spending their private time together in this dimly lit space.

Jeong-yoon clenched his fists in silence as he witnessed this secret rendezvous. A cold chill ran through his chest. His heart pounded terribly low and throbbed as if in pain.

Jeong-yoon’s gaze, which had been wandering around, finally settled on the two. He tried to put up an awkward smile. It wasn’t even clear whether the smile on his face was a smile, but it was fortunate that the corners of his mouth seemed to be well raised.

What should he say? Jeong-yoon smiled as chose his words.

‘You two look good together. I hope you have beautiful love.’

Jeong-yoon immediately pretended to close his mouth with a zipper. It was an expression that he would not spread rumors between the two. How embarrassing it would be to have a third party show up while they were secretly dating in a place like this.

It was time for the disruptor to leave. Jeong-yoon turned his back without even having time to check their expressions. His relationship with Chae-heon had become so strained since last year that he had nothing more to say. He walked quickly as if he was being chased by someone. He felt dizzy.

“What. Yoo Da-jung was his girlfriend? Kang Chae-heon’s standards are pretty high…”

He muttered lightly. However, his heart remained far from light. His heart, as though trapped in a thick quagmire, plunged haphazardly into the distant darkness.

The intimate atmosphere that hovered between the two, and Yoo Da-jung’s fingertips reached out towards him.

Just recalling it made his heart beat rapidly. He had seen her countless times within the same club. Why hadn’t he known this sooner? It seems like he couldn’t see Yoo Da-jung because he was only looking at Kang Chae-heon. If he had known earlier, he wouldn’t have discovered the truth under such abrupt circumstances. And his heart wouldn’t have broken down so suddenly.

Whoever Kang Chae-heon dated had nothing to do with Jeong-yoon. Because the reality of unrequited love has not changed. It was just a far-fetched and unrealistic desire, similar to liking a celebrity behind a TV screen. But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

He never dared to think that he could end up with Kang Chae-heon. However, he never imagined anyone else being by his side.

He wasn’t sure how he had ended up in the classroom. Jeong-yoon sat on a chair and stared blankly out the window, remaining silent among the noisy kids. The bright sunset light was burning so strongly that it stung his eyes. He wanted to cry, but he couldn’t, so he gripped his school uniform tightly.

That day. Jeong-yoon went home and cried for a long time. He cried alone, burying his face in the pillow so that no one could hear him. The well-dried pillow cloth slowly became wet and hot breath was exhaled with difficulty.

First love. He had fallen into it, a terribly agonizing bout of first love. It was the fever of a painful love.