Ch.130130. Junior Colleagues

“So, is everyone okay with October 2nd?”

The 23rd generation finished their band practice.

A month had already passed since the start of the semester.

September was already heading toward its end.

Seo-eun, who said it was time to check on the 24th generation who had been practicing on their own, opened the calendar on her phone to coordinate schedules.

“I can make it!”

“Me too.”

“Um… I think I need to check mine?”

Everyone except one had agreed they could go.

“Then just contact me personally later.”

“Got it.”

“Okay. So we’ll end practice here. Juyeon, if you’ve made progress on the lyrics and melody, bring them next time.”

“…Yeah.”

Juyeon, who was sensitive to cold, tightened her cardigan.

The air conditioning now felt a bit chilly.

“Hey. Lee Suhyeok.”

Suhyeok, who was organizing equipment and sheet music, looked up at Hana’s voice.

“Yeah. What?”

“We need to have our meeting.”

“…Meeting?”

Wasn’t what they just had a meeting…?

“What kind of meeting?”

Juyeon came over curiously and asked.

“Hey! This is top secret! Top secret.”

“…Suhyeok. What is it?”

Hana tried to chase Juyeon away, but Juyeon was persistent.

“…I don’t know either?”

He wasn’t making excuses to lie; he genuinely didn’t know.

“Ah! Lee Suhyeok! Taeho! You know, Taeho!”

Suhyeok nodded as if he finally remembered.

“Oh… so that’s what you meant.”

“Yeah!”

“Why? Did something happen to Taeho?”

Juyeon, unable to follow the conversation, blinked slowly.

“Ah. Taeho asked us for a favor.”

Taeho had started receiving regular dating consultations from Hana and Suhyeok.

Actually, Taeho had initially wanted advice only from Suhyeok, but somehow Hana had also become involved.

The two were regularly reviewing Taeho’s DM contents and making plans for him.

“…Am I not allowed to know?”

Juyeon gently placed her hand on Suhyeok’s shoulder like a dejected cat.

She didn’t like being left out.

She also didn’t like how Hana and Suhyeok kept adding to their secrets.

“Ah… if it were my story, I wouldn’t mind, but it’s about Taeho.”

Suhyeok scratched his head apologetically.

With such a firm answer, Juyeon had no choice but to back down.

“…I understand.”

Regardless of her feelings for Suhyeok, prying into someone else’s secrets would be rude.

Hana, taking advantage of the moment when the two weren’t looking at her, smirked.

“Shall we go to a café?”

“Let’s do that.”

“Juyeon. See you at the next practice!”

With a bright expression, Hana grabbed Suhyeok’s wrist and pulled him out of the club room.

Kang-i also waved goodbye, saying he had to go too, and ran out.

Watching them, a deep sigh escaped from Seo-eun’s lips.

She had told them to behave properly.

Or was this actually the best outcome?

Whatever the case, since they weren’t officially dating, the 23rd generation was still functioning, albeit with some creaking.

The relationship between Hana and Juyeon seemed to be gradually deteriorating, but this was an expected progression.

It was beyond Seo-eun’s control.

Should she be grateful that no one had run out crying after a fight…?

But the provocations from both girls toward Suhyeok were becoming increasingly intense.

Like Juyeon sitting on Suhyeok’s thigh while playing guitar.

Or Hana casually linking arms with Suhyeok during meetings.

Even Kang-i couldn’t help but notice now.

But his reaction was surprisingly composed.

[Ha. You guys really have no taste. How can you like someone like that?]

[Do whatever you want! It’s your life! As long as you show up for practice, it’s not my business!]

[But isn’t he going to the military soon?]

Unlike Seo-eun, who was overly invested in the three’s relationship, Choi Kang showed complete indifference.

To the point where Seo-eun felt a bit hurt.

“Unnie.”

Juyeon, who remained behind, firmly grabbed the hem of Seo-eun’s blouse.

“Yes?”

“Do you know about Taeho too?”

“No?”

“…They’re not excluding just me, right?”

Juyeon fidgeted with her lips.

She was clearly harboring anxiety.

“No, no. They must have some situation going on.”

“…You think so?”

“Probably. Considering I don’t know about it either.”

A story about a junior…

Juyeon was still awkward with the 24th generation.

Even after performing together and spending a semester together, Juyeon found it difficult to approach the juniors.

It was completely impossible for her to contact Taeho personally to ask what was going on.

This contrasted with Suhyeok, who had become quite friendly with the juniors.

“Unnie.”

“Yes?”

“I’m curious about something.”

“What is it?”

Seo-eun was the type to answer most questions as long as they weren’t too personal.

“You and Jaejun sunbae… before you started dating… how far did you go…?”

At such a bold question, Seo-eun gave an awkward smile.

“Um… kissing?”

It was an honest answer.

And she thought that much was within acceptable limits by her standards.

“Then, unnie.”

“Yes.”

“Is it wrong to go further than that…?”

Seo-eun’s face filled with bewilderment.

* * *

“What would you like to drink?”

Suhyeok, who had been dragged to the café.

Hana scanned the menu from top to bottom.

“I’ll have green tea.”

“Just green tea, not a green tea latte?”

“Yeah.”

Suhyeok had recently come to enjoy drinking tea.

There was no special reason.

He just craved a drink that made him feel calm when he drank it.

“Alright then.”

The two, having received their drinks, took seats at a table by the window.

“Did Taeho contact you separately?”

A group chat with just the three of them had already been created.

He didn’t remember any special reports.

“Yeah. Here.”

Hana opened her phone and showed him the private chat.

[Ms. Ha. Noona. I asked her to go see this with me, you know?]

[But she’s not replying ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Ah… I’m so nervous…]

[Can’t you just check with her for me?]

“Ohhh.”

“Hmm… I’m wondering what to do in this situation.”

It didn’t take long for Taeho to realize that Suhyeok wasn’t much help.

Instead, Hana’s advice, the unexpected addition to the team, was much more helpful.

When urgent, Taeho would contact Hana personally rather than using the group chat.

“So he asked her to see a movie, but she’s not replying?”

“Seems like it.”

“But how are you supposed to check on this?”

Suhyeok tilted his head with a straw in his mouth.

“I’ll just mention the movie to Hyejung and that’s it.”

“If she’s thinking of seeing it with Taeho, she’ll say something like ‘I’m planning to see that with so-and-so.'”

“If not, she’ll say she hasn’t seen it yet or has no plans to.”

Hearing this, Suhyeok became quite curious about Hyejung’s response.

He had been watching Taeho’s various efforts, but he really couldn’t tell if his one-sided love would succeed.

Hyejung’s attitude toward Taeho was extremely ambiguous.

Sometimes she would eat meals with him, but communication would often break off.

Some days she seemed incredibly nice, but other days there was a cold wind blowing.

Reminded of how he had one-sidedly liked Hana back then, Suhyeok fidgeted with his straw wrapper.

Taeho must be really struggling right now.

“So are you going to check?”

“Yeah. I’m going to try.”

“Won’t it be obvious that we’re helping him?”

“No. What’s wrong with asking if someone’s seen a movie?”

With a smirk, Hana opened the chat room that included the 24th generation and clicked on Hyejung’s profile.

[Hyejung]

[Yes?]

She must have been looking at her phone, as the reply came immediately.

[Have you seen ‘Black David’?]

Hana tapped the seat next to her, gesturing for him to come over and watch.

Wanting to see the live updates, Suhyeok moved to sit beside Hana.

[No. Not yet.]

[Oh! Really? Would you like to see it with me?]

Suhyeok’s eyes sparkled brightly.

Hana found his excitement cute but was more curious about Hyejung’s response.

[Ah… but I already have plans for that, sorry ㅠ]

A polite rejection.

Despite the rejection, Hana and Suhyeok looked at each other and nodded.

This is definitely a green light, right?

“Should I ask who she’s going with?”

Hana thought about helping a bit more while she was at it.

Suhyeok encouraged her from the side.

[Oh no. That’s too bad ㅠ Who are you going with? A crush?]

[Ah. This is a secret, but…]

When the word “secret” appeared, Hana hit Suhyeok’s thigh repeatedly.

Suhyeok’s heart was racing as if he were watching a live dating show.

Ah. Is this why girls watch those programs?

[I’m going with a senior from my department… ]

…Huh?

Hana’s fingers, which were preparing to type a response, froze.

Hana and Suhyeok looked at each other again.

A chilling sensation came over them.

[Ohhh. What? A returning student?]

Hiding her surprise, Hana continued the conversation.

[Yes. There’s this oppa who returned this semester, and he’s been really showing interest in me…!]

[Wow. Hyejung finally found her match!]

[Ah! Unnie! I really have a good feeling about this one!]

Shocked, Suhyeok couldn’t bear to look at the screen anymore.

He was glad he had ordered green tea.

With such a storm brewing in his heart, it was good that he had chosen a warm drink.

[If things go well, I’ll let you know, unnie! ㅎ]

[Unnie! How are things going with Suhyeok oppa?]

Instead, Hana found herself being questioned.

[Me? Well. Same as always with Lee Suhyeok.]

[Wow… Suhyeok oppa is really such a tough nut to crack.]

[I know… I had class, so I need to go now.]

[I’ll probably come watch you practice next week~]

[Okay! See you then!]

[Yep yep]

The atmosphere suddenly turned funeral-like.

“Um… so…”

As Hana put down her phone, Suhyeok tried to offer his opinion.

“Taeho… got rejected, right…?”