In H University, there were two people in the marketing club that always bickered like sworn enemies whenever their eyes met. And they were both in the planning and public relations department. During the times when they prepared for the marketing competition, they’d grow so competitive that the surrounding students could feel the bloody tension in the air.
This year, they were asked to make an ad presentation for a start-up business’s shopping app. They would set up shop in a booth inside the campus and promote the business as they catered to other business students.
Today was the day the club would reveal their ad after months of blood, sweat, and tears.
There was a smoking area to the left of the front gates of the student union building. Kim Jinsuk, a student in the managerial department and member of the editorial sector of the marketing club, was talking with his other clubmates.
“Did you guys see Jin SoYoung-sunbae practicing her presentation? I took a peek from the other room, and wow… I can see why that sunbae is famous.”
“She’s pretty, too. She’s even modeled for the university magazine.”
“This is the first time I’ve met someone who looks more like a celebrity than a celebrity. There are probably a lot of clubmates who joined this club because of her.”
“But why is she always fighting with Yu JaeOn-sunbae?”
Speak of the devil. They saw a man lighting a cigarette as he rounded the corner to enter the smoking area.
His physique was large and muscled, so a lot of students mistook him for an athletics student. He also had a handsome face, but because his body was so muscular, his face was undervalued.
Kim Jinsuk left his clubmates behind and ran to JaeOn.
“Hello, Yu JaeOn-sunbae-nim!”
“Ooh, Jinsu!”
They had been clubmates for months now, but he was still unable to correctly remember his name. Compared to his looks, it seemed that his head wasn’t exceptionally good.
“It’s Kim Jinsuk, sunbae-nim.”
“Hey, why are you always calling me ‘sunbae-nim’? Just call me ‘hyung’.”
“Ah, okay…”
As JaeOn continued to light his cigarette, it didn’t seem like he cared whether he was Jinsuk or Jinsu.
“JaeOn-hyung, you must be very disappointed that you couldn’t give your presentation. I voted for you. I thought your idea was a lot more personable and approachable… I think it’s such a shame.”
JaeOn’s face showed mixed feelings.
Having the chance to present one’s ad was a good way to catch the eyes of various businesses. If one did well, it would also be a golden opportunity to receive a professor’s letter of recommendation.
The famous sworn enemies of the club, Jin SoYoung and Yu JaeOn, had competed for that spot within their club. However, JaeOn had made a stupid mistake, and the seat was taken away from him.
“It’s fine. What’s done is done, so what else can we…”
“I’m serious! When you made that simple mistake and laughed it off, you seemed so relaxed that I completely fell for you!”
JaeOn breathed out the hazy smoke as his eyes narrowed.
“I said it’s fine.”
“Ah, okay…”
As an awkward silence settled over them, Kim Jinsuk glanced at JaeOn.
JaeOn was always easygoing and talkative, but he always drew the line at odd moments. Jinsuk thought that they’d be on friendly terms relatively quickly, but this sunbae was not easy to get close to.
The one who broke the silence first was JaeOn. He frowned as he rubbed the back of his head.
“Ha, fuck. How will I find a job… Doesn’t Jin SoYoung basically have a free pass to all the major corporations? I begged her to just let me have this presentation opportunity, but she’s so stubborn. She’s so stubborn.”
“Y-You begged?”
“Hey, think about it. If you were an interviewer, would you pick me or Jin SoYoung? I would need a professor’s recommendation to even get through the door.”
Jinsuk had forgotten about this. Because of his grades, Yu JaeOn ended up switching to the Department of Philosophy. Yu JaeOn and philosophy. The Department of Philosophy and Yu JaeOn. He tried to find any similarities between the two, but nothing came up.
Compared to him, Jin SoYoung’s future was bright. Not only was she in the Department of Applied Statistics but she was also the main figurehead of the university’s marketing club. When it came to words, she never lost to anyone. So if Jinsuk were the interviewer, he would definitely choose Jin SoYoung.
In order to liven the gloomy mood, Kim Jinsuk changed the subject.
“Hyung, you’re coming to the wrap party for the competition, right?”
“What’s the point of me going?”
“...Pardon?”
“If I go to the wrap party, will it help me find a job?”
Of course not. Kim Jinsuk tried to think of an answer and began to blabber nonsense.
“You can strengthen friendships… Ah! You’ll be able to gather more information regarding finding employment, and…”
“It’s fine. Is Jin SoYoung going?”
“Probably?”
“Then I’ll go.”
A gleam flashed in JaeOn’s eyes. Just how was he going to tear into her… Well, Jin SoYoung wasn’t the type of person who’d get torn down just because someone was targeting her.
“I’ll see you later, Jinsu.”
JaeOn began to grind his cigarette and tossed it in the ashtray. Then he walked out of the smoking area. Kim Jinsuk looked at him with bewildered eyes. His shoulders drooped.
“Why does he keep calling me Jinsu? Is he doing it on purpose?”
* * *
Although it was an expected outcome, the competition was a success with all the professors giving high praises. SoYoung’s proposal presentation had been the highlight of the competition. Despite some unexpectedly difficult questions, she didn’t flinch and defended her proposal with ease.
SoYoung’s high spirits continued on throughout the wrap party. People came to say she was so cool, that this was to be expected since she was Jin SoYoung, that they were relieved to have her. The encouragement and compliments continued to pour out without end.
“No, I didn’t do anything. It was all thanks to your cooperation. I’m the one who’s grateful, you guys.”
Sitting at the same table as SoYoung, JaeOn snorted. He was the only one who knew that the humble attitude was all just an act.
Suddenly, the smile on SoYoung’s lips disappeared. Her eyes met JaeOn’s as he sneered at her. The mood suddenly turned sour. The president of the club was already used to this and opened his mouth as if he were bored.
“JaeOn did a good job, too. Unfortunately, you didn’t get to present, but with your skills, you’ll definitely be high in demand when it comes to finding a…!”
“What did you do to come here and celebrate?”
SoYoung’s piercing words spoke over the president’s remark. JaeOn shrugged.
“I didn’t follow you here, so don’t get it twisted. I’m still a club member.”
“Okay. He’s right, SoYoung. JaeOn should definitely be here.”
Sitting at the corner of the table, Kim Jinsuk thought to himself.
‘But you did follow Jin SoYoung here…’
SoYoung chuckled as she poured some liquor into JaeOn’s glass.
“Ah, really? You didn’t follow me here?”
Why was she being so agreeable today? JaeOn looked back and forth between his full glass and SoYoung’s face. Meanwhile, SoYoung tapped her glass on the table.
“You should pour me one, too, don’t you think?”
JaeOn suspiciously poured her a drink. To the brim. They clinked their cups and some of the liquor splashed out. They brought their respective cups to their lips, and the liquor disappeared.
The other people sitting at their table had already escaped to another table as if they were tired of the bickering. The club had rented out the entire bar, and they were the only ones sitting at their table.
Because the others had taken the snacks with them, the only thing they could chew on was a few pieces of fried chicken that had already gone cold. SoYoung stared at the empty snack bowls and spoke up first.
“They say it’s a thin line between love and hate.”
JaeOn narrowed his eyes and frowned. Something didn’t feel right. He felt like those pretty lips of hers were going to say something nasty at any moment.
“Do you like me?”
His intuition had been correct. JaeOn pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth and suppressed the anger that threatened to bubble out.
“It looks like you’re showing signs of mental illness. You should get that checked out at a hospital.”
“Why do you keep following me around? I just can’t understand.”
“Who’s following who? Could it be that you’re the one who’s actually looking for me? Either way, you’re not my type.”
She wasn’t completely wrong. Whenever he saw Jin SoYoung, he wanted to catch her eye at all times. He was definitely the one who’d run after her and bicker first. He always had a feeling that SoYoung looked down on him. Everyone else told him that wasn’t true, but that was JaeOn’s gut feeling.
SoYoung would always smile and treat them gently. But she’d always bristle whenever he was around. He no longer remembered who had been the one to start this fight. What was first: the chicken or the egg?
SoYoung closed her eyes and sneered.
“Thank goodness. I don’t plan on accepting you either.”
“Looks like you’re counting your chickens before they’re hatched. You can’t fix that side of you, huh?”
“They say you shouldn’t even look at a tree you can’t climb. What will happen if you keep kicking at the base of the tree just because you can’t climb it? The other proverb that claims that there is no tree you cannot climb is just a myth.”
“...It looks like you don’t understand what I’m trying to say.”
“Are you sure? Maybe it’s just that you can’t win.”
JaeOn had never won against SoYoung. However, very rarely, he’d feel like he could win and be filled with a raging fire. Ultimately, the result was the same.
“It’s almost time for graduation, and we’ll all go our separate ways once we find jobs. You should start acting like an adult. Stop being so childish. Ah, that’s right!”
SoYoung stopped lecturing him like a classical scholar and suddenly clapped her hands as if she remembered something.
“I guess it will be pretty hard for you to find a job.”
“You shouldn’t say stuff like that. If you say that in today’s economy, you’ll get stoned.”
“Aha, I’ll get stoned? But I wonder if you know…”
“...Know what?”
SoYoung took another gulp of her liquor. And it wasn’t a small sip either. JaeOn followed after her and took another swig of his liquor before filling his cup once again.
Instead of the chicken, SoYoung picked up a few kernels of corn and tossed them into her mouth. She answered a beat later.
“I’m just as desperate for a job as you are. It won’t be easy for anyone. So how could I pass this golden opportunity to you? It’s not something your ignorant begging can buy.”
He’d already been called ignorant by Yu Daon more times than he could count. So much that whenever someone else called him ignorant, he’d just laugh it off. However, he felt absolutely abysmal when Jin SoYoung called him ignorant.
“How would you feel if I called you ignorant?”
SoYoung blinked and answered back.
“I wouldn’t feel much of anything. Call me ignorant if you want. As long as I don’t think I'm ignorant, that’s enough.”
“......”
At a loss for words, JaeOn threw back his liquor. She wasn’t wrong.
SoYoung drew in a deep breath and began to close the conversation.
“Anyways…”
“Anyways what?”
“After we graduate, we probably won’t have a reason to see each other again. Let’s end things with a smile.”
SoYoung flashed him a bright smile and held out her hand.
Ha, damn it… Why was she acting like this all of a sudden? Did she eat something funny? Saying things like how they won’t see each other or that there was no reason to see each other… When he heard her say this, he felt oddly sentimental.
With a bad taste in his mouth, JaeOn grabbed her hand. She seemed so cold that he expected her to bleed blue blood if she was pricked with a needle. But now that he was holding her hand, she was actually very warm. So Jin SoYoung was human after all. He stabbed the largest piece of chicken with a fork and held it out to her.
“Hey. You should eat the rest of the chicken.”
SoYoung waved her hand and refused.
“You eat it. I don’t eat stuff like that.”
“Stuff like that…? So you’re telling me to eat something you wouldn’t eat yourself?”
“Why are you starting another fight? You’re really annoying.”
The sentimental feeling disappeared in an instant. Jin SoYoung was still a conceited know-it-all.
* * *
Once the wrap party was over, the owner of the bar told the remaining members that he had to close up shop, so they were all kicked out.
Because all public transportation had ended for the day, some people waited for taxis while others found and rented rooms at nearby lodgings. The club president took his duties seriously and saw everyone off until the very end. Now, the only ones left were Yu JaeOn and Jin SoYoung.
“Did you two make up? I glanced over and saw you two shaking hands.”
“Yeah, right.”
“JaeOn won’t open his heart. He must hate me a lot.”
“She looked at some food waste and told me to eat it.”
“You’re the one who told me to eat it first.”
“…It seems that you two still have things to work out. Then you guys head home on your own. Judging from how you’re talking, it looks like you two are sober enough to take care of yourselves.”
The president hastily turned around and escaped their presence. SoYoung could immediately tell that he was trying to get away before they dragged him into their argument.
JaeOn stared blankly as he stood next to SoYoung. It looked like he still had something left to say because he looked like a dog that had to go to the bathroom. She knew that he wasn’t a bad guy, so why was he always going after her and starting a fight?
“Yu JaeOn, aren’t you going home?”
“No, that’s… That is, let’s see…”
“‘That is, let’s see’ what?”
She felt that he had a lot to say. SoYoung plopped down on a chair in front of the bar. Suddenly, JaeOn followed after her and stuck himself next to her.
“You sit, too. You look like you have something to say.”
It was a bit too small for both of them to sit. SoYoung slid over a bit, and, unexpectedly, JaeOn cautiously sat down next to her.
“About what you said earlier… How we won’t see each other again and how this will be our last…”
“Yeah, what about it?”
JaeOn wrapped his hands around his head and grumbled as if he were having trouble getting the words out. No matter how much he grasped that blockhead of his, what could possibly come out?
Thanks to Yu JaeOn, SoYoung was able to have a memorable time in the club. At first, she had only joined because she needed it on her resume for future job applications.
However, various events occurred one after another, and she was starting to get recognized. Whenever this happened, Yu JaeOn would claim that he could do it too, and he began to play the role of her rival. Her competitiveness rose up to the surface. She couldn’t let herself lose to such an idiot.
And now this relationship would come to an end. She was a little disappointed.
“…Let’s do that.”
“Ah, sorry. I was thinking about something else and wasn’t listening. What did you say?”
JaeOn glared at SoYoung.
“Why are you thinking about something else when I’m talking to you?”
“It could happen. Why are you getting angry over something like that?”
“Ah, nevermind, nevermind! Why did I think I could talk to you?”
He burst out of his seat, but SoYoung unconsciously stretched out her hand and grabbed his wrist. JaeOn looked back and forth between his wrist and SoYoung as he raised his brow.
“What are you doing?”
“…Don’t go.”
“…What’s with you all of a sudden?”
“I’ll listen closely this time. Say it one more time.”
JaeOn’s face turned red as if it would burst. He blinked his dazed eyes, almost as if he couldn’t believe this was happening.
“If you won’t tell me, I’ll just leave.”
“Just like you said, from now on, let’s just smile at each other when we greet each other. But I guess there’s not that much time left anyway…”
SoYoung burst into laughter. What the heck? That’s all he wanted to say? That’s why he was acting so nervous? Despite his large physique, he had quite a cute side to him.
“You’re kinda cute.”
“Just wh-what is so c-cute…”
“……”
“…You’re cuter…”
Was he drunk or crazy? SoYoung burst into raucous laughter for the first time in a while. She unconsciously raised her hand and began to ruffle JaeOn’s hair. JaeOn flinched in surprise and escaped her hand.
“Ah, don’t touch my hair.”
“Why? Did you not wash it?”
“I washed it. I even shampooed it twice.”
After replying in a bashful voice, he coughed awkwardly. She wasn’t sure when he was going home, but he didn’t show any sign of leaving.
But SoYoung also felt a bit reluctant to go home.
This was the first time she talked to Yu JaeOn alone like this. Because such a large man was next to her, she didn’t feel nervous. She was actually very comfortable and almost felt like leaning on him. Her mind settled down like a still pond.
However, the one who threw a stone into the pond to create ripples was also Yu JaeOn.
“I think I’ve been mistaken about you all this time. You’re a much nicer kid than I thought.”
“I’m not nice. I’m just acting nice.”
“From my experience, people who say they aren’t nice are never not nice. I have a friend like that…”
“But you don’t have friends.”
“How would you even know that?”
“Even though you eat with the other kids, you don't seem particularly close to them. You always get the club members’ names wrong, too.”
“…I have a friend. He doesn’t go to our school, but he lives in the same apartment complex as us. He’s in the United States right now.”
It looked like that guy was his only friend. However, SoYoung didn’t say it aloud because she did not want to ruin this warm moment.
Maybe she should start heading home now. SoYoung was just about to get up when…
“Do you want me to introduce you to him?”
JaeOn said it without much thought. A ripple went through SoYoung’s pond. SoYoung stared at JaeOn’s face. He didn’t seem to have any bad intentions.
So why did she feel upset?
“He does have quite a bad personality, but he’s not a bad kid. He’s from a well-off family as well. Of course, our family isn’t so bad either, but…”
“Your friend who’s in the United States right now?”
“Yeah. He’s studying abroad to become a pilot. Do you know how nice a pilot’s annual income is? I was hoping to get a job in a major corporation, too, but…”
JaeOn continued to ramble. He seemed to be absorbed in bragging about his friend, but it looked like he had something else he wanted to say.
SoYoung leaned against the wall of the building and stared at him. None of JaeOn’s words entered her ears. She could only see his moving lips.
“Are you thinking about something else again?”
JaeOn stopped talking and looked at her suspiciously. SoYoung hummed and stroked her chin.
“JaeOn, you… Do you introduce girls you’ve kissed to your friend?”
“What? Of course not! What ridiculous nonsense are you saying?”
“……”
“But why are you asking that all of a sudden? You and I haven’t kiss—… Well, our relationship isn’t like that.”
SoYoung lifted her head and pressed her lips against his. Chu, her lips pulled away. JaeOn froze. Her lips stretched into a smile when she saw how he had become as still as a statue.
“We did.”
“……”
“What are you going to do now?”
“……”
Unable to say anything, the shocked gleam in his eyes disappeared. His eyes were no longer easy to read as they turned pitch black.
SoYoung’s smile faltered. Something felt strange. It was as if all the air between them had been sucked out. Her entire body tensed, and even taking a breath was difficult under the heavy silence. Their eyes remained on each other.
In the cold, late night. In front of the bar that had turned its lights off. The street light shone down from above JaeOn’s head. SoYoung’s eyes traveled from his eyes, down the high bridge of his nose, and finally landed on the lips she had just kissed.
A hand grabbed the nape of her neck, and her eyes widened.
“……!”
Before she could say anything, his lips crashed down on hers. It was completely different from her kiss just a moment ago. It was as if he were trying to swallow her whole.
JaeOn meshed their lips together. His thick tongue tickled the roof of her mouth and sucked the tender walls of her cheek.
SoYoung drew in a deep breath and pulled her head back. JaeOn pulled her even closer and deepened the kiss.
She forgot how to breathe. She forgot the obvious fact that if her lips were occupied, she could always breathe through her nose. When she felt like she’d pass out from the lack of oxygen, she began to pound his chest with her fists. His grip on the nape of her neck finally loosened.
JaeOn sucked on her upper lip before moving down to her bottom lip as he lingered.
“I’ve already been discharged from military service.”
It was such a random thing to say. For the first time in her life, SoYoung was at a loss for words.
“Uh…”
“It means that we won’t have to break up because of my mandatory military service[1] . And I won’t even study abroad.”
“Wh-Why are you…”
“So I’m saying you don’t have to worry about having a long-distance relationship. And I don’t have any sexually transmitted diseases. I’m sure. I’ve never had sex. My body’s clean.”
“Why are you telling me…”
The thoughts in her head were tangled into an unrecognizable ball. Why was he really telling her all this? She felt her cheeks flush and felt like she was going crazy. Her face was probably really red right now…
“I never knew you liked me. But I think it would be nice to start seeing each other. Do you want to go out?”
When she heard his sudden proposition, SoYoung narrowed her eyes and shrieked.
“Who said I like you?”
“Then why did you kiss[2] me?”
“Even elementary kids kiss each other. You’re the one who actually kissed me.”
“Then maybe I like you?”
When she heard his simple logic, SoYoung scoffed. She looked at him in disbelief and mumbled to herself.
“You’re not even saying you like me, but that maybe you like me…?”
“Whenever I see your face, I want to bother you. I want to talk to you. Doesn’t that mean I like you?”
“But you just made such a big fuss about not liking me just a while ago.”
“That was then, but now I know after trying it.”
JaeOn tapped his lips and grinned. His smile was void of any worries.
Her heart began to beat faster. She wasn’t sure if it was because she had just been kissed so suddenly or if it was because she was cold. But she was worried he’d be able to hear her racing heartbeats.
SoYoung lowered her head. She didn’t want him to see her red face.
“I don’t like men who smoke.”
“Then I can just quit.”
“Isn’t it difficult to quit? My dad always failed when he tried.”
“I don’t think it’s that hard. I only smoke when I’m bored, but I won’t be bored when I’m with you anyway.”
“And I don’t like ignorant men either.”
“I’m actually smart and very observant. I only pretend to be ignorant.”
“Why?”
“…That’s a secret.”
Yeah, right. She didn’t think that was true, but seeing as how Yu JaeOn didn’t want to acknowledge it, she decided to just give it to him.
But to date Yu JaeOn… Just from one glance, she could tell that he’d never properly dated anyone before. Would it be okay? She could tell that she would have to teach him everything from the very beginning.
SoYoung gulped and calmed her racing heart. She glanced at him. JaeOn’s eyes gleamed as he waited for her answer.
“I’ll help you… find a job.”
“I didn’t ask you to go out with me because I wanted you to do that.”
“Promise that you’ll listen to everything I say. And make sure you keep your promise to quit smoking.”
SoYoung held up her pinky. JaeOn laughed and wrapped his pinky around hers.
“Okay. I promise.”
“Then I guess I’ll take you.”
She spoke as if she had no other choice. JaeOn grabbed her hand and pulled her closer. They were so close that their lips were almost touching. His breaths against her skin were hot.
“And you should fix that, too.”
“What?”
“Acting proud in front of me.”
When she looked up, she saw that JaeOn had dropped his gaze as if he wasn’t quite happy.
“I’ll… try.”
When JaeOn heard SoYoung’s answer, his lips stretched into a smile.
Their lips slowly came together. It was incomparable to a ridiculous peck or a clumsy kiss. It was incredibly sweet and ticklish.
Between their lips, red tongues tangled together. They were careful, as if they were trying to see what the other liked. Their breaths quickly turned ragged.
Although nothing was perfectly clicking yet, the longer their lips stayed meshed together, the more their breaths became in sync.
I think our relationship will progress just like that.
A commonplace relationship where they’d bump heads because they were nothing alike, and one of them would ultimately raise their hands in defeat and accept the other. A unique relationship where they would be the only existence in each others’ lives as they continued to learn more about each other. A lingering warmth that would be conveyed by their soft lips, but it would drench their hearts with a scorching love.
Let’s have a good time.
Day 1 as a couple. Let’s go as far as we can go.
[1] : A lot of couples break up before or during the guy’s military service because it’s usually difficult for the couple to stay in a relationship when they can’t meet or talk to each other on a regular basis.↩
[2] : The word JaeOn uses is ppo-ppo (which means kiss, but more specifically, a peck). SoYoung uses the word kiss (English) to signify that what he did wasn’t a peck. It was a full-fledged adult kiss.↩