Ch.7171. Han River

Contrary to Na-young’s hopes, Su-hyeok had defiantly joined a central club and even performed on stage.

That fact was irritating to her.

To be more precise, “dislike” would be the correct expression.

For someone who could barely speak properly and was such a loner.

When just last year, he had complied with all her unreasonable demands.

Imagining him looking happy on stage after leaving Purple Storm made Na-young feel sick to her stomach.

She had felt something similar when she was younger.

Her mother had forced her to give away a cherished doll because her cousin wanted it.

That terrible feeling of having something you thought would always be yours taken away.

It was exactly that same dreadful sensation.

It was already impossible to bring Su-hyeok back to Purple Storm now that he had tasted what a real band was like.

No matter what excuse she might give, he wouldn’t return.

But perhaps it was still possible to hold onto Su-hyeok as an individual.

Romance.

The strongest bond that could tie two people together.

She had thought that would surely capture Su-hyeok, but…

“…So?”

Su-hyeok blinked slowly and responded calmly.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t surprised by Na-young’s words.

Who confesses like that in the middle of a classroom in broad daylight?

Especially when the person was Na-young, who couldn’t even be considered a crush or a close friend.

If it had been Hana or Ju-yeon saying something similar, he might have panicked and fallen into confusion, but Na-young was already out.

She was out in Su-hyeok’s heart.

In other words, she wasn’t even worth considering.

“What do you mean ‘so’…?”

The bewilderment was Na-young’s to bear.

“You don’t seem surprised.”

“…I am surprised.”

She could feel he had changed.

This wasn’t the Su-hyeok that Na-young knew.

Clearly, Spirit had transformed the Su-hyeok she once knew.

But Na-young, unable to let go of the past Su-hyeok, wasn’t about to back down.

“Are you free this evening?”

“…No.”

Su-hyeok’s eyes shifted toward Ju-yeon who was behind her.

“We’re going to the Han River today.”

Ju-yeon, who had been listening, picked up a bread bag and shook her head gently.

“Oh. We did agree to all go with the band members today…”

Ju-yeon played along.

“…I see.”

Na-young bit her lip hard.

“Okay then.”

Ju-ho, who arrived late, was the victim.

The professor had given them time to discuss among group members, but the atmosphere among them was terrible.

“Did you guys fight or something?”

Su-hyeok with a face frozen like a Moai statue.

Na-young with an attitude that showed complete disinterest in the team project.

Ju-yeon caught in between, cautiously observing the situation.

“…Sorry. But I really can’t think of anything good right now.”

Su-hyeok’s brain, functioning normally, was overloaded with excessively stimulating information.

“Sigh. Then let’s all organize our ideas through messenger by tomorrow.”

Ju-ho felt that no matter what he said, the conversation wouldn’t continue in this state.

The class finally ended that way.

Ju-yeon and Su-hyeok left the classroom together and headed home side by side.

“So the girl who likes you isn’t Na-young, I guess?”

Ju-yeon glanced up at Su-hyeok as she asked.

“…You heard me. There’s no way I could like her.”

“But it seems like she likes you?”

I don’t know.

He truly didn’t know if Na-young sincerely liked him.

Perhaps Na-young was just childish, like an elementary school student who wanted to torment the boy she liked.

But even if such a delusional story were true, nothing would change.

Su-hyeok no longer wanted to associate with them.

Her confession-like statement was just another burdensome fragment of worry to him.

It didn’t move him at all.

“I don’t like her.”

“…I see.”

Seeing that Su-hyeok seemed uncomfortable, Ju-yeon didn’t ask any further.

“See you later then.”

Su-hyeok waved to Ju-yeon as they reached a fork in the road.

“Yeah. See you later.”

Ju-yeon turned around and walked in the opposite direction.

Left alone, Su-hyeok shook his head vigorously, feeling stifled.

“Haah…”

He hoped going to the Han River would help improve his mood.

* * *

While there were no official schedules, work tended to appear when you created it.

Sitting in front of her computer, Hana scrolled down with her mouse.

[National University Student Band Competition]

She checked the guidelines and dates.

Hana verified the calendar on her phone.

[July 31st Preliminaries]

[August 10th Finals]

The competition was indeed scheduled for the optimal time, right in the middle of summer vacation.

“I wonder if they’ll want to do it…”

She wanted to perform.

She wanted to show Spirit to a wider world.

And beyond that, she wanted to prove that they were amazing.

But this wasn’t something she could force on the members.

The summer vacation of their 21st year could be spent doing things more valuable and cooler than band performances.

If even one of them decided to go backpacking in Europe, Hana’s dream would dissolve like a bubble.

Hana pictured each member’s face in her mind.

Seo-eun unnie would probably do it…

Or would she? Maybe she’d indirectly refuse, saying she needs to hang out with Jae-jun oppa…

Ju-yeon might just agree?

She rarely refuses when asked, generally.

Choi-gang would probably do it if I treat him to an expensive meal. Honestly.

And Lee Su-hyeok…

Just thinking about Su-hyeok made Hana’s blood pressure rise.

No. Why is he asking a group question as if it’s directed at me personally?

She was still upset about the travel destination message.

He had sent a message that was 100% likely to cause misunderstanding, and Su-hyeok hadn’t offered a single word of explanation.

I’ll have to torment him at the Han River today.

Indeed, Su-hyeok was most enjoyable when he was being teased.

The Spirit members had agreed to meet at the bus stop.

When Hana arrived, only Seo-eun and Su-hyeok were already there.

“Hi.”

Hana wrapped her arm around Seo-eun’s waist.

“Hana. What’s this? Don’t tell me you dressed like that hoping to get someone’s number at the Han River?”

Today, Hana was dressed in an outfit that anyone would recognize as a girlfriend look.

A light pink flared skirt topped with a warm-toned white blouse.

A black ribbon served as a point item.

Su-hyeok honestly found it hard to take his eyes off Hana.

No joke, she genuinely looked like a model who could appear in a magazine.

“No, it’s not that. It’s just a mood. Like going on an outing.”

Hana raised one eyebrow as if to say “what do you think?”

Caught staring, Su-hyeok awkwardly cleared his throat.

“…Lee Su-hyeok.”

When he refused to communicate, Hana poked his side with her index finger.

“Yes?”

“Don’t you have something to say?”

“Something to say?”

“Yes. Like an apology.”

Su-hyeok paused in thought.

“Not really?”

“Sigh… You really…”

Hana fanned herself with her palm as if feeling hot.

It seemed she couldn’t do it here and needed to pull him aside to talk.

“Who wants to ride bikes!”

Choi-gang, who appeared from behind, began his sales pitch in an excited voice.

“Lee Su-hyeok! You should ride too!”

“Bikes?”

“I’ve already found all the rental spots!”

Ju-yeon, who arrived last, was taken along without knowing what was happening.

And so, all the Spirit members were forced to experience being a cycling club.

It took about 30 minutes by bus to reach the Han River.

Perhaps because the weather was nice, there were quite a few people despite the darkening sky.

“Wow, amazing. Should we order something to eat later too?”

Hana looked enviously at a couple eating tteokbokki.

“No no. Let’s go traditional today. Han River ramen!”

Having been badly burned after ordering delivery with her boyfriend, Seo-eun eliminated delivery as an option in advance.

“The bike rental is this way!”

When they tried to rent city-provided bicycles, there were only a few left at that location.

“Hmm… Raise your hand if you want to ride.”

Seo-eun tried to mediate by recruiting volunteers.

Only Choi-gang raised his hand.

The rest weren’t particularly interested.

“Do you want to ride alone then?”

“Sure! Call me later!”

Being truly passionate about cycling, he finally separated from the members.

Hana clicked her tongue in disbelief.

“Then shall we… um… have a can of beer while we wait?”

Seo-eun pointed to a convenience store with a bright smile.

The Spirit members gathered with plastic bags filled with ramen, snacks, and cans of beer.

Since all the good spots were already taken, they spread their mat on a grassy area quite far from the station.

“Shall we toast first?”

Seo-eun raised her can.

The members huddled together and clinked their cans.

A cool breeze pleasantly greeted them.

“Ahhhh~ This is nice!”

Hana let out an old-man-like exclamation after slurping a mouthful of ramen.

“I know. It’s been a while since I’ve been to the Han River. Su-hyeok, do you come here often?”

“…This is my first time coming to the Han River with other people.”

He had only seen it in passing, never actually spending time here.

“Really? It’s nice to come occasionally~ Now is the perfect time. It gets hot once summer really hits.”

The chatter continued.

Mostly between Seo-eun and Hana.

Ju-yeon and Su-hyeok just sat quietly, listening to the two talk while sipping their beer.

Hana was planning to bring up the competition once the mood mellowed a bit more and Choi-gang returned.

Talking about dreams and aspirations was difficult without alcohol.

But where on earth had Choi-gang gone that he wasn’t coming back…

As the conversation topics ran out, Hana rested her chin on Ju-yeon’s shoulder.

“Tell us something interesting, Ju-yeon.”

“In-interesting story?”

It was a question that could trigger trauma.

But her recently updated interesting story wasn’t something she could share with them.

The broadcasting story was absolutely, absolutely off-limits here.

“Ah. It’s not my story though.”

“What? That romance story-like intro?”

Seo-eun pounced on Ju-yeon’s words like a hyena.

“Hmm? Ah… it is a romance story.”

“What?! Park Ju-yeon. Did you get a boyfriend? Who is it?”

“Wow, Ju-yeon. You already found someone while I wasn’t looking.”

“…I said it’s not my story.”

Ju-yeon turned her head toward Su-hyeok.

“Su-hyeok got confessed to today?”

…That’s not an interesting story though?

Hana’s eyes grew round and wide.