Just A Friend

#59

Feeling Kim Minhwan’s constant glances, I pulled my cap down lower. His gaze, tinged with disappointment, lingered on the face visible beneath the cap, but Nam Seonwoo was only thinking about wearing a different cap starting tomorrow.

Kim Minhwan, who had been fidgeting, scratched his cheek and said, “So you’re not coming to the start-of-semester party later? I heard other departments are having their parties there too, so it’s going to be huge and fun…”

“Yeah. Have fun. I’m leaving.”

“W-wait!”

Kim Minhwan hurriedly blocked the way and held out his phone.

“Give me your number! That way I can let you know things.”

He had a point. Though nothing useful would likely come out of today’s party, exchanging numbers was necessary if he wanted to use this information source in the future.

“Um, is it also uncomfortable for you to save other people’s contacts on your phone…?”

Nam Seonwoo silently took the phone and entered his number. Was it because they had the same phone model? For a moment, he was reminded of someone and looked up at Kim Minhwan.

‘They’re probably similar.’

This guy might be built like a tank, but his height seemed similar. To Kang Jihan.

“Huh? What is it?”

Kim Minhwan looked puzzled at the gaze but grinned. The way he saved the contact as “Seonwoo!!” really made him look like an excited elementary school kid making a new friend at the start of the semester.

‘This kid, why does he keep speaking informally?’

He seemed to think they were the same age since they were in the same year. But Seonwoo decided not to say anything about the mere one-year age difference.

* * *

[Kim Minhwan: Seonwoo… What should we do? I think you need to come now.. They’re telling us to gather all the first-years who didn’t show up..]

[Kim Minhwan: I tried to make excuses, but the mood with the seniors is no joke.. Seonwoo, is there any chance you could come..?]

He didn’t seem to be lying. Nam Seonwoo, who was about to ignore the messages, tilted his head after reading them.

‘Did we… used to discipline the juniors?’

Usually, second-year students were divided into two types: those excited about having freshmen under them, and those who didn’t care who came. So the welcoming events for freshmen were usually attended by the former group.

Nam Seonwoo belonged to the latter group, and naturally, his friends did too. That’s why they didn’t bother going to the freshmen’s start-of-semester parties, and he didn’t know what happened there. But he remembered who belonged to the former group.

Maybe because they only studied like crazy in high school, there were always guys who strangely fulfilled their unmet social needs. And such guys existed in the Mathematics Education department too.

‘Was it Choi Youngjae?’

He remembered there was a nasty group centered around him. Though he didn’t know much since he didn’t associate with them, he knew they had once been called out publicly by the juniors. These guys, who harassed female students and tried to discipline male students, were isolated even among their peers.

[Kim Minhwan: Never mind.. The seniors are pretty drunk, so I think it’ll be okay..?? Sorry.. Get some rest and see you tomorrow!]

When alcohol was involved, they’d likely cause more trouble, not less. He could pretty much guess the situation. Those guys who liked to discipline others were probably making a fuss about collective responsibility or something, ordering everyone to gather the freshmen.

“Hah…”

Nam Seonwoo got up from where he was sprawled on the bed. Thinking about how those innocent juniors – well, now classmates – were being bullied because of him, he couldn’t help but go.

He put on the gray cap and hoodie he had worn in the morning and went out. Even though it was evening, he had to be careful since students from other departments would be there too. Of course, there was no way Kang Jihan would come to a start-of-semester party.

The address Kim Minhwan sent was right in the middle of the entertainment district where college bars were clustered. Despite the late evening hour, the streets were bustling with drunk college students and glittering signs. The ground was sticky with spilled drinks or who knows what, and the air was thick with cigarette smoke from all directions. He already felt drained.

Nam Seonwoo stopped in front of a building. This building, with an entire floor dedicated to a pub, was usually rented out by the wealthier departments. Judging by the banner that read “Welcome, Korea University Students” at the entrance, it seemed the whole building was full of Korea University students today as well.

In front of the thick glass door, Nam Seonwoo briefly checked his appearance. Although only the tip of his nose and lips were visible, he was about to pull his cap down further when the door suddenly swung open. Nam Seonwoo grabbed his head in pain.

“Oh, sorry.”

The man who opened the door hesitated and then bowed his head. The sound of their heads colliding was loud enough to be heard over the noisy interior, and the attention of the group of three or four people behind him was now all on Nam Seonwoo.

‘Why is this happening today of all days…’

Though he felt like he was seeing stars, Nam Seonwoo waved his hand as if he was fine. As he adjusted his cap that had nearly fallen off, trying to enter, one of the people in the group behind spoke up.

“Are you really okay? It looks like you hit your head pretty hard. Let us take a look.”

“Look at this guy, overreacting again. Someone might think you’re already a doctor.”

The jokes they exchanged among themselves made Nam Seonwoo’s blood run cold. Wondering if there were medical students here too, he cautiously raised his gaze. For some reason, there were so many tall guys today that he couldn’t see any of their faces.

Just then, his phone vibrated. The screen showed it was Kim Minhwan. The fact that it was a call, not a text, suggested it was urgent. The person holding the door open made way and said,

“Let’s make way for him. We’re sorry.”

As Nam Seonwoo nodded and entered through the narrow passage, even those who had been joking earlier stepped back.

Except for one person. The one standing at the very back of the group.

‘What’s with that jerk?’

The person who had been standing silently, unlike the others, remained still like a stone, not making way. With his hands in his pockets, it seemed like he was trying to look cool or something. Nam Seonwoo tried to push past the shoulder of that annoying guy, but it was Nam Seonwoo who got pushed instead.

…Damn, this is really frustrating.

He hadn’t noticed because of the long shirt the guy was wearing, but the body he bumped into was more solid than expected. The man finally turned his body slightly. Even then, he only made a small gap, forcing Nam Seonwoo to almost press against him to pass. In that brief moment of contact, the musty smell of the bar seemed to fade.

‘This bastard must use some good cologne.’

It wasn’t any particular scent, but the fact that his head felt clearer amidst the mix of odors meant it must be an expensive cologne.

Nam Seonwoo headed up to the second floor, still holding his ringing phone. There was no point in answering now; he wouldn’t be able to hear anything in this noise. Amidst the deafening noise, he could see from afar a table that seemed particularly gloomy.

Kim Minhwan was bowing deeply in front of a short guy. Just seeing the protruding belly from behind, Nam Seonwoo could tell it was Choi Youngjae.

“I’ve told you several times, just bring that one guy and it’ll be over, okay? Call him again.”

Unlike the other lively tables, only the Mathematics Education department’s table looked depressed. Judging by the department flag on the wall, it seemed this floor was only for the College of Education. Relieved, Nam Seonwoo approached Choi Youngjae directly.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

Choi Youngjae turned his head sharply. His face was flushed red, apparently quite drunk.

“You? You little shit, how dare you come later than your esteemed seniors? Huh? What’s your name?”

Many words rose to the tip of his tongue, but seeing the gloomy faces of his classmates, he decided to let it go. And he had decided to keep a low profile anyway. Nam Seonwoo drew the character for “patience” in his mind three times and bowed his head.

“It’s Nam Seonwoo. I’m sorry.”

“I’ll remember your name. But hey, what’s with that look when you’re coming to see your seniors? Aren’t you going to take off your cap?”

Looking down at Choi Youngjae’s face, which was clearly visible even without removing his cap, Nam Seonwoo swallowed a laugh. Maybe because he had been seeing tall guys all day, this one seemed particularly short. Of course, my dick isn’t that small.

“Did you just laugh? Huh?”

“Hey, hey. That’s enough, Youngjae. Do we need to do this at a nice gathering?”

“Yeah. Look how scared the kid is. Everyone’s here now, even if they’re late, so let’s just keep drinking.”

The guys hanging out with Choi Youngjae, whose names Nam Seonwoo didn’t even know, came over to intervene. It was obvious they were trying to create an image of kind seniors for the freshman girls. Choi Youngjae resisted a few times saying “Let go,” but soon allowed himself to be dragged back to his seat, pretending to give in.

As Nam Seonwoo stood there, Kim Minhwan approached. His eyes asked if everything was okay, and he looked terrified. Nam Seonwoo sat down next to him, reassuring the guy who wasn’t living up to his big frame, and soon realized how Choi Youngjae had arranged the seating.

The table where the freshmen were gathered was all men, without exception. On the other hand, the table where Choi Youngjae’s group sat was all women, apart from them. Judging by their young faces as they unknowingly accepted drinks, they all seemed to be freshmen.

Well, if they were Choi Youngjae’s classmates, there’s no way they’d sit at the same table as that bastard. Watching them force drinks on the girls, Nam Seonwoo’s brow furrowed involuntarily. And he seemed to recall one of the atrocities Choi Youngjae had committed.

It was so despicable that he couldn’t remember exactly, but it was something along those lines. A story about Choi Youngjae hitting on clueless juniors and causing trouble.

And somehow, he had a feeling that it might be happening right here, right now.