It's the start of another week.
I really need to start studying for the exams now...
I wasted almost two days filming with Juha.
One day because I said fuck it, and the next because I was still in that damn mood, doing jack shit. It's an excuse, but...
Anyway, I'll cram for the other general courses.
I need to somehow finish up with math and physics first.
"Uh, Joon-hyeong?"
I was all set and climbing the stairs with determination when...
Someone called my name.
What the fuck. This unease...
That sharp voice I hadn't heard for quite a while...
"Is that you, Joon-hyeong?"
...Fuck!
When I turned around, I saw a face I hadn't seen in ages.
Ye-young Park...
The girl who was once in Juha and Joo-ri's crew...
"You were at this school? Long time no see."
"Uh... y-yeah, long time no see."
Now that I think about it, she was at this school too...
I think I heard it from someone else.
I completely forgot because we never ran into each other at school...
"Where are you headed? Engineering department?"
"Uh... yeah, I'm in engineering."
"Really? I'm in the nursing department."
Nursing? What the fuck, that makes no sense.
It's a department where you need to do somewhat well academically...
She went into nursing?
Did she get a fucking miracle on the college entrance exam? I was momentarily dumbfounded.
"What's with that 'I don't believe you' look? Want me to kill you?"
"Oh... no. I'm just surprised you're in nursing..."
"Everyone says that."
Ye-young laughed, putting a cigarette in her mouth.
Fuck... is she really smoking on campus?
Ye-young Park.
She used to love tormenting others.
She wasn't completely off her rocker, but...
Still, a lot of girls hated her guts.
A genius at bullying, reckless, and even bold with teachers - she was a crazy bitch.
She's somewhat similar to Juha in some ways.
But Juha wasn't that interested in others, so she didn't torment or bully much...
Ye-young was pretty damn active in that regard.
She wasn't much involved with guys, so she didn't get a bad rep among them...
But among girls, she was the epitome of a bitch.
Not as bad as Joo-ri, but in some aspects, she was called a fucking bitch just like Joo-ri.
Seeing her laugh like a delinquent, she looks like a goddamn problem child...
She was like this in high school, but now it seems even worse... she might go even crazier.
Ye-young was once part of Juha and Joo-ri's crew, hanging out with them.
Even though she sometimes bickered with Juha, they weren't on bad terms. They weren't that different in essence.
But with Joo-ri, they were like oil and water.
They managed to last a few months, which was a miracle in itself.
In the end, Ye-young left the group because of Joo-ri. There were plenty of other delinquent groups, so no reason to stay.
Time heals, so maybe the grudge isn't as strong now...
But if they ever meet again, I bet it won't be pretty.
Anyway, since we knew each other from when Juha was her prime target for bullying, she might still see me that way...
We didn't have much in common.
She only cared about guys who were popular or good-looking.
Of course, she'd sometimes snatch my phone, put it between her thighs, and make me fetch it...
Or steal my glasses case and hide it somewhere...
Or lock my glasses and make me fetch the key from between her breasts as a prank... those were the pranks. Now I'm getting PTSD...
"Do you still talk to Juha?"
"Yeah... yeah, sometimes."
"Still doing that?"
Wow - you're fucked up too.
Ye-young clicked her tongue, blowing out smoke.
Cough. That smoke... in my nose...
"Why do you meet? Didn't Juha go to college?"
"Just when the gang gets together... you know..."
If I told her we met recently because of OnlyFans, she'd faint. Of course, I have no intention of telling her...
She'd probably laugh all day if I told her, saying Juha's a real piece of work.
"Juha, Joo-ri, that crew? Do they still meet up?"
"Yeah, they do..."
It's only been a bit since we graduated high school... it's natural to still meet up.
We've been hanging out since the first year of high school, it'd be weird if we just split up.
Though, lately, it seems we meet less often. Everyone has their own college life.
"Wow, that's fucked up. What about you? Why are you still hanging with them now that you've graduated?"
...She hit the nail on the head. Yeah, why am I still there?
If I didn't show up, they threatened to spread rumors at the university that I was their bitch and errand boy...
I don't even know why they specifically call for me.
When I think about it, there were other errand boys, but why only me?
Fuck, maybe it's because I'm the only one stupid enough to keep going while others told them to fuck off and blocked them?
That thought gives me the creeps.
...Of course, I'm kind of special. More than two from our group went to the same university, so I can't just ignore them...
"Is this guy really a fucking idiot? Or is this your thing? Getting beaten and being an errand boy?"
"..."
Fuck, who would have that as a fetish...
I didn't bother to answer. Explaining would just make my mouth hurt, and in the end... I did end up being somewhat good friends with Juha. No need to explain.
"Wow, this dude's taste is really fucking weird."
Muttering that, Ye-young threw her cigarette away.
Sizzle... Do you not need to step on it?
"Whatever, that's your kink."
Still seeing each other, huh. Fuck.
Muttering, Ye-young ran her fingers through her hair.
In her Adidas tracksuit and short shorts... her cleavage was almost on full display. Does she really wear this to school? Crazy. Don't the seniors say anything? Even though nursing is known for its strict hierarchy.
"Are you studying for exams?"
"Studying?"
Yeah... I am.
But I didn't expect her to mention studying.
Since we weren't close, I don't remember if she was into studying or not.
I just assumed she was one of those reckless delinquents who didn't study...
Now it seems she did study to some extent? Maybe that's why she got into nursing.
"I am... I started with the assignments since there's a lot."
"Engineering is tough, they say. Just as tough as nursing."
Hmm... I've heard something like that.
Nursing is tough because there's so much to memorize, and...
Engineering is tough because there's a lot to understand rather than memorize. They're tough in different ways.
"Every department has its own shit to deal with..."
"Yeah, that's true."
Ye-young seemed to lose interest in the conversation and started walking away.
Fuck. But somehow, we ended up at the nursing building... the engineering building is just ahead. We're almost at the top...
"Yeah, study hard then."
Ye-young waved dismissively as if she was going to leave.
Uh... yeah. Let's not run into each other too often...
I was about to turn around when Ye-young suddenly said, "Ah!" and turned back.
She had a smile on her lips.
What... what now? That's unsettling.
"Hey, let's study together."
"...Study together?"
What... what kind of bullshit is that? We're in different departments, how would we study together!
"Yeah. I'll help you if there's something you don't understand. You suck at studying, remember?"
"..."
Fuck, that was ages ago...
But I guess she remembers how bad I was in high school.
I was never good, so...
"I can study by myself!"
"No, I'll teach you. I've got some practice I need to do too..."
Ye-young trailed off.
...Of course, there's an ulterior motive. She wouldn't suggest studying together for no reason.
Practice? What kind of practice is she talking about?
Nursing practice... it gives off a weird vibe. She's not going to make me draw blood or something, right?
I was standing there, dumbfounded, when she started to get impatient.
"Fuck, I need someone for practice. Let's study together! Do I have to beg?"
"I can manage studying alone. It's not that hard..."
"Bullshit. How is it not hard for you? You know nothing."
It's true...
Well, she wouldn't understand. A guy who barely made it into engineering, what can he understand?
But would she believe me if I said my mind got sharper from playing poker? Explaining would be a hassle.
Seeing I wasn't keen, Ye-young's face twisted.
"Fuck you. You're really going to be like this?" Her true colors were starting to show.
But really, there's no fucking reason for me to study with her... Nursing isn't going to teach me math or physics. No reason to waste my time.
My lukewarm response made Ye-young's lips pout.
She can't just drag me like she did in high school... we're not close like with Juha. She knows she can't force me. If we were still in Juha's crew, maybe, but we're just old classmates now, nothing more or less...
"Fuck, fine then, whatever..."
I have to study for exams too.
I don't have time to be dragged around everywhere...
Ye-young turned away, messing up her hair. Her grumbling seemed pathetic.
"..."
I thought about listening for a bit... but shook my head.
No point in getting involved here. It's not going to benefit either of us...
I started walking away slowly.
"..."
But I had this weird feeling she was still standing there.
I glanced back while walking.
...Fuck. She's really there. I quickly turned my head back. Let's pretend I didn't see her.
"Hey!"
Ye-young laughed, running towards me.
Fuck, why did I have to look back!
"Why did you look back? Huh? Why?"
"No reason, just..."
"Bullshit. You were going to agree. Right? Studying together would help. Why are you playing hard to get, you dick."
"No, I really just glanced..."
"Come on, let's study together. Please. I'll get us a spot in the library. It's fucking hard to get one in engineering."
"I was going to study in the engineering reading room anyway,"
"Shut up, shut up. Please, please."
Fuck, why did I look back!
Ye-young grabbed me, pulling me along.
Why is she so fucking strong?
"Just once. Just once. You'll concentrate better with me, right?"
How the fuck am I supposed to concentrate with you!
I was crying inside while being dragged by Ye-young.
Fuck... this meddling... I paused for a second, feeling like a dog with its tail between its legs... yeah, typical me...
"I'll buy you lunch. I'll buy it. Cheer up, you bastard! Hum? When was the last time you studied with a girl?"
"It's more worrying that you're buying..."
"Come on, if you study with me, the girls in my department will ask about you. It's a women's major, so whenever a guy shows up, everyone checks him out. I'll tell them you were a big shot in high school."
"Will they believe that?"
"Fuck, just come with me."
I don't know... one day shouldn't hurt...