Chapter 87: Walking Down The Path

After the call ended, I just stared at my phone. The word ‘again’ that my older brother used still echoed in my ears, making me want to go to him right away.

But the thought that this might also be part of my brother’s strategy made me feel unsure about moving, unable to do this or that.

‘Hyung knows about Yoon-ji.’

I started dating when I entered university, and since then, I hadn’t been in touch with my family.

We dated for a semester and broke up quickly, so it meant that he had known for quite some time now.

“Sigh.”

With a bitter sigh, I sat back down, feeling annoyed by the prickling sensation at the back of my head.

Especially.

I hated myself for harboring a ‘what if’ feeling.

“What’s wrong? Why so serious all of a sudden?”

Seeing me suddenly turn serious and look down at my phone, Yu Arin tilts her head in confusion, sensing something off.

I guess she thought we were close because I was exchanging insults with my brother, so she pulled a prank.

“Ah, you did good.”

On the contrary, if it weren’t for Yu Arin’s prank, I wouldn’t have known that my brother was aware of my relationship with Oh Yoon-ji.

Yu Arin’s bubbly personality… rather, it’s more like her crazy antics just happened to work out by chance for me.

“Can’t just shrug it off when it’s a sibling, can you?”

Yu Arin laughs as if she’s joking.

It’s funny how she immediately became overconfident after I said it was okay, even though she was preparing to apologize and being cautious due to my sour expression.

Well, family issues can just be dealt within the family.

What I need to address now is what Yu Arin said earlier.

“Hey, what was that earlier? You said that Chan-woo told you I was here.”

Sighing, Yu Arin took her shoes off and sat on the chair with legs folded, answering listlessly.

“What do you think that means? It’s just like I said. Chan-woo told me you were here, so I just came.”

“Why would Chan-woo tell you that?”

“How would I know!”

It seems like continuing this conversation wouldn’t yield anything nice for me.

Might as well later ask Chan-woo directly for peace of mind.

“…But why come just because Chan-woo told you?”

Yu Arin suddenly turned the chair around and snapped.

“I came to see if you were editing well. Got a problem with that?”

“I did edit well. Senior Ju-hee saw it all and even complimented me.”

“…Is that so?”

When I showed Yu Arin the video I edited, she too widened her eyes in surprise.

“What, you did that good?”

If this girl is praising me so honestly, I must have really done well.

‘Maybe I should try being an editor professionally then?’

I had already given up on camping a while ago and decided to look for a part-time job to get through this winter.

Editing for YouTubers is done on a project basis, so I thought it wouldn’t be bad to learn properly and then work as an editor for money.

“Hm? Arin has come too?”

Then, senior Ju-hee, smelling of air freshener, approached.

“Senior, hello!”

The two started chatting together, and I began to casually browse job sites on the computer.

I ended up staying at the PC café longer than I thought.

I knew Yu Arin didn’t play games, but because she ended up playing games with senior Ju-hee, who had moved from losing money in Go-Stop to playing poker, we stayed for a long time.

Senior Ju-hee seemed to lack talent in such games which required luck, but it was somewhat surprising that Yu Arin was good at them.

Well.

Since we had dinner at the PC café and there wasn’t much else to see, I slowly got up to leave.

Yu Arin, with a candy in her mouth, was staring blankly at the screen.

For some reason, she was now playing Yutnori.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you leaving?”

When I casually called out, Yu Arin glanced at me and then shook her head.

“I’ll go in a bit.”

“……”

Her tone and atmosphere were different from usual. I knew that Chan-woo’s part-time job was about to end.

Seems like she was planning to talk a little with Chan-woo before leaving.

“Alright, take care.”

I tapped the back of her chair and went outside with senior Ju-hee.

“Ahhhh! How refreshing!”

Senior Ju-hee stretched her body and shouted with relief.

Thanks to the well-heated interior of the PC café, it was slightly warm inside, but stepping outside felt refreshingly cool, which was pleasant.

“Are you heading straight to your studio apartment, Woojin?”

“Yes, I’m getting tired, so I’m thinking of heading back soon.”

“Right, ugh. I have to go back to that dreadful dormitory.”

As senior Ju-hee stretched around as if doing stretching exercises, she was about to say goodbye.

“Senior, how is the dormitory?”

While looking into various part-time jobs earlier, one of the thoughts that occurred to me was about the dormitory.

Seeing my older brother talk like that, it seems like the incoming money will stop soon. There’s no problem for now since I have some savings, but the future was concerning.

I wondered if there might be a way to move into the dormitory in my second year, rather than bearing the cost of tuition and rent while working part-time.

At my question, the senior tilts her head and puts her hands into her pockets.

“What, you’re planning to move into the dormitory instead of living alone from sophomore year? That’s going to be tough for you.”

“Tough?”

“Our University’s dormitory is a bit much, so there’s less competition compared to other unis, right? Plus, there are a lot of cheap one-room apartments nearby.”

That’s true.

Gahyeon University was well-known for being a great place for students to live, thanks to the abundance of one-room apartments nearby.

“But usually, freshmen move in, and from sophomore year, they mostly only accept those who are already living in the uni dorms.”

“Ah.”

I had hardly heard of juniors or seniors using the dormitory.

As I sighed in genuine disappointment, senior Ju-hee, who had been staring at me, came closer and put an arm around my shoulder.

“Are you going to treat your senior well?”

“What?”

“Are you going to do a good job editing this assignment?”

It seems like senior Ju-hee was deliberately making this thing up, so I immediately nodded my head exaggeratedly.

“Yes! Of course!”

“Hehehe.”

Pinching my cheek and patting me on the back of my head, she then started dragging me along.

“Let’s go. Surprisingly, there’s still a senior living in the dormitory despite being in the fourth year.”

“…Is that really alright?”

“Who knows? This noona’s (Noona is a term boys use for referring to elder girls) managing fine on her own, so what’s the issue? Let’s go to that senior and maybe get some tips on applying for the dormitory.”

I’d be thankful if she did that.

“But isn’t she an ‘unni’ not a ‘noona’ then?”

I almost let it slide because calling her ‘noona’ seemed to fit so well for senior, but I asked to know.

“Whether it’s ‘noona’ or ‘unni’, does it matter?”

Truly, she’s the boss.

“Oh right, let’s buy something to eat on the way. That senior is quite picky when it comes to things.”

“…If she’s been living in the school dormitory for four years, then that makes sense. I wonder what she likes.”

“Maybe buying a few energy drinks would be nice? She’s been looking so drained lately, especially with how busy she’s been.”

“Being a senior does mean being busy with the upcoming graduation.”

Nodding in response, senior Ju-hee chuckled and shook her head.

“No, what about going for both teaching assistant and grad school at the same time? I thought she was crazy.”

“Ah…?”

What.

Why did someone in the exact same situation come to mind immediately?

“Is that person by any chance from the Physical Therapy department, a bit on the shorter side, and wears glasses?”

“Huh? Right. You know her then?”

“Ah, I see. No need to buy anything then.”

So much for the convenience store purchase to bribe.

Seems like heading straight to the dorms was the way to go.

About 30 minutes had passed since Kim Woojin and Min Ju-hee left the PC café.

Yu Arin, who had been playing a tedious game of Yutnori with a blank expression, glanced sideways at the slight noise she heard next to her.

Jeong Chan-woo was putting on his coat as if his shift was over.

The sharp glances of the women who came to this place, Zero PC Room, just to see Jeong Chan-woo, pierced through Yu Arin.

“Are you done?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

Having already finished the candy and now with a chocolate bar in her mouth, Yu Arin turned the computer off and stood up briskly.

Even as envious glances poured over Yu Arin, there were a few who gave up, acknowledging them as a good pair.

Stepping outside the PC room and breathing in the cold air, the feeling was unique.

It was strangely suffocating.

It wasn’t just the atmosphere or the wind, but the person she was with, someone Yu Arin had known for a long time.

“I’ll take you home.”

“Sure.”

Perhaps she wanted to organize her thoughts.

She didn’t outright refuse the kindness Jeong Chan-woo was offering her…

Back then…

Right, it wasn’t uncomfortable to walk home together like this in the past.

Walking down the alley to her house, Yu Arin stole glances at Jeong Chan-woo.

With looks handsome enough to be an actor, even just wearing a coat made him look well-dressed due to his good proportions.

He was also mannerly and cautious in his relationships with others.

He knew he was handsome but didn’t show it off.

He was a good guy.

Chan-woo.

“I heard from senior Pyo Jinho.”

The first thing Chan-woo said when he finally spoke to her was about Pyo Jinho.

“He said you rejected him. And quite strongly at that. So, it seems that senior Jinho was quite shocked with how things went.”

“That’s understandable.”

She did speak too harshly.

But she doesn’t regret a single thing because it felt relieving. In fact, if she could go back, there were more things she wished she said to him.

“That’s impressive. I still find the senior scary.”

“He is quite scary, isn’t he?”

As Yu Arin answered nonchalantly, Chan-woo cautiously asked,

“Did Woojin help you?”

“……”

Upon the mention of his name, Yu Arin stopped in her tracks and looked at Chan-woo.

Her expression was complex for many reasons, but Chan-woo smiled awkwardly and fumbled his words.

“Ju-just curious, that’s all.”

“He did help. Pretends he didn’t, but I did receive help from him.”

Kim Woojin might claim he had no part in Yu Arin’s sharp rejection, but she knew.

She knew that it was Kim Woojin who had created such an atmosphere and flow.

“Arin.”

“What.”

“Do you like Woojin?”

“……”

At those words, Yu Arin frowned and glared at Jeong Chan-woo.

“Are you crazy? No, I don’t.”

“……”

Jeong Chan-woo blankly stared at Yu Arin, who was shouting angrily. Without knowing what Jeong Chan-woo was thinking, Yu Arin continued to shout as if firing back at him.

“Do you know how many people like him? Getting involved now is like committing suicide. Why should I blow myself up by getting involved there?”

“Is that so?”

“Yerin and the English Literature department representative Choi Yiseo are also there. Sorry, but I’m not interested in committing suicide.”

“I see.”

“So. Do not tell me Kim Woojin’s location suddenly like you did today. And don’t freak out saying you’ll help when it’s not like you.”

“Got it.”

At his listless answer, Yu Arin glared at Jeong Chan-woo and punched him in the chest.

“Did you get that?”

“Yeah, I got it.”

“Ah, have you no sense? Fine, I’m just going to leave.”

Saying so, Yu Arin ran hurriedly along the path.

Watching her back, Jeong Chan-woo was lost in his thoughts.

Does Yu Arin know?

Back in high school, that he asked the same question.

“Do you like me?”

“Are you crazy? No, I don’t.”

That she gave the same answer now which she had given him back then.

The two walking this path during their high school days always had the same expression.

Fresh and filled with excitement.

Liking each other but not being able to voice it out loud made their hearts pound even faster.

The two walked this path with the same expressions on their faces.

Time passed.

There were various incidents.

And he had hurt her.

Chan-woo’s head drooped as he felt his eyes well up.

Out of fear, he had hurt the person he liked.

Out of fear, he had confessed to someone he didn’t even like.

Before long.

He realized that her expression, as she walked this path, had changed from before.

Still fresh and brimming with excitement in love, unlike himself who is.

Already.

Broken.

But she had risen again.

She was walking with a calm expression.

Perhaps never again.

Would he see her with that expression.

“What a mess.”

Through blurred vision caused by the tears which poured out, what appeared was his blonde childhood friend.

Jeong Chan-woo locked eyes with Yu Arin, who was glaring at him with her arms crossed and a tilted head, wearing an expression of bewilderment.

However, Yu Arin did not hesitate to shoot a sharp rebuke at Jeong Chan-woo.

“Feeling hurt? I was hurt too. When I was dumped by you, and I heard you were dating Yerin.”

“……”

“I cried just the same way then.”

“A-A…rin.”

“It’s true, I really liked you. It felt like I couldn’t live without you.”

Isn’t it ironic?

People say that humans repeat the same mistakes, and now it feels like a meme.

But it really pierces through the essence of life.

“It’s the same as when I was afraid of Pyo Jinho. The fact that I liked you, and you liked me.”

In the end.

“As time passed, it turned out to be not that big a deal.”

Are you going to repeat the same mistake again?

Yu Arin was asking that of Jeong Chan-woo.

Just like how you couldn’t move because you were scared of Pyo Jinho in the past, are you going to just sit there, be sad, and struggle?

“I liked you.”

As if telling him to try saying it to her, Yu Arin said with a smile.

Hesitating, Jeong Chan-woo quickly wiped his tears, straightened his back, and answered.

“I liked… you.”

“That’s right, that much is enough.”

They’ve spent their youth hurting.

Thanks to that, they’ve achieved stark growth.

“Let’s go, my friend.”

From Yu Arin, who drew the line clearly.

“Yes, friend.”

Jeong Chan-woo also forcibly wiped away his dripping tears as he replied.

The two are still walking down the alleyway.

Just like when they were high school students.

And now as university students.

And probably even when they become working adults.

The fresh and exciting atmosphere that was once between them is no more.

The atmosphere and expressions from back then will probably never be for each other again.

But.

The two are still.

Walking down the same path.