Ch.8181. And Running Through Time

2 years and 6 months.

Calculated in days, that’s roughly 910 days, or approximately 21,840 hours.

During that period, which feels both long and short, we experienced many significant events.

We had an impromptu meeting with Hwa Nabi’s parents while holding hands on a date, almost like an unofficial meet-the-parents. Another time, I was leaving after studying at Hwa Nabi’s house when I ran into her younger sister, causing a strange misunderstanding…

Looking back, it seems like all these incidents somehow involved Hwa Nabi’s family, but anyway.

So many different things happened that I can’t list them all, but I’ll just say our 2 years and 6 months together were sweet yet somewhat bittersweet—a time filled with rich experiences.

***

…And just like that, time passed in the blink of an eye.

Before I knew it, spring break of the second semester of our senior year had ended.

After returning to school after a long break, I was sitting quietly at my desk.

“Phew.”

After a simple lesson ended, it was now break time. I rested my elbows on my well-adjusted desk, propped my chin on them, and observed the classroom.

But next to me, I overheard a conversation I couldn’t ignore.

“Hey, did you get your physical examination yet?”

The buzz-cut guy was asking our class vice president. My shoulders tensed at that chilling question. The “physical examination”—an administrative procedure no Korean man can escape—had become the topic of discussion.

Yes, obviously, military service duty doesn’t disappear even in a light novel. As long as our main enemy North Korea still exists, military service remains an inevitable fate that men must bear…

“Yeah, I got it done right away in January.”

“Really? What grade did you get?”

“With a healthy body, what grade would I get? Obviously grade 1.”

“Wow, lucky you! Grade 1 is like premium Korean beef. Are you also worth 50,000 won per serving?”

“What the hell, man?”

I chuckled at the jokes being exchanged between my classmates. The buzz-cut guy turned toward me.

“Oh right, Han Siwoo, have you done your physical yet?”

“No, I haven’t done it yet.”

“Really? Why not?”

“Well, I’ve been busy with various things.”

It’s mid-February now. The college entrance exam finished a while ago, but that didn’t mean everything was over.

Hwa Nabi applied to universities through student records, so she needed to prepare for interviews, and I had passed the first round with my essay, so I needed to prepare for the second round.

I had experience with this before, so preparing wasn’t too difficult for me, but it was different for Hwa Nabi. I had to help her prepare for her interviews one-on-one while simultaneously preparing for my own essay exam, so I was inevitably busy.

We spent almost all our time together preparing for college admissions, both weekdays and weekends, so I really couldn’t find time to go for my physical examination.

That was my mumbled answer, but the buzz-cut guy frowned deeply. Then, not hiding his jealousy, he said:

“Right, since the entrance exam is over, you must have been busy going on dates.”

“What nonsense? It’s not like that.”

“What do you mean it’s not? So, how far have you two gone? Don’t tell me… you did it?”

…Did what? For the past two months, we’ve been so busy we couldn’t even go on proper dates.

Our dates consisted only of studying together in a room and occasionally watching a movie during short breaks.

But despite my explanation, the buzz-cut guy didn’t seem to believe me at all.

“Man, I’m so jealous. I wish I had a girlfriend too.”

“Why? Just get one. You’ve had plenty of time since November.”

Since he got into a university through early admission without minimum score requirements, he should have had enough time, right? At my question, the buzz-cut guy suddenly became serious.

“You think everyone can get a girlfriend just because they have time? Dating requires ability, ability!”

“We’re just students dating each other, what ability are you talking about?”

“Don’t you know looks are also ability? Someone like you probably won’t understand this for your entire life.”

I can’t deny that appearance plays a significant role when evaluating people, but looks aren’t everything in this world.

After all, appearance is just the exterior, and what’s important is a person’s inner self. If people only date based on looks, the relationship never lasts long.

“I think confidence is more important than appearance.”

“Really? Then would you trade faces with me if I gave you tons of confidence?”

“…No, that’s a bit…”

“…Are you messing with me right now?”

The buzz-cut guy clenched his fist and leaned forward to grab my collar. I chuckled and quickly backed away.

“You deceiver, hurry up and get your physical done so you can go to the military.”

“I’d rather tear my ACL than go there twice.”

“What do you mean twice? Have you already served in the military?”

“…It’s just a figure of speech.”

“Hey, let’s not talk about the military.”

At that moment, the vice president, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. His face looked quite gloomy, so the buzz-cut guy and I reluctantly nodded.

After watching him for a moment, I whispered to the buzz-cut guy.

“Hey, what’s up with him?”

“Who, Jehyun?”

“Yeah, the vice president.”

“Jehyun is… naturally depressed. He got rejected from all his universities yesterday.”

“Ah… really? So he’s going to take a gap year?”

“Yeah, but don’t ask him directly. He gets angry if you ask.”

I finished the private conversation and looked at the vice president. If what the buzz-cut guy said was true, was the vice president now dealing with both retaking the entrance exam and military issues?

Hmm, I’m sure he must be feeling terrible. I carefully spoke up.

“Hey, um… is there anything you want?”

I’m not usually someone who spends money freely, but I felt like I could get a small gift for the vice president in this situation.

At my question, the vice president slowly opened his mouth.

“…A girlfriend.”

“…What?”

“I said I want a girlfriend.”

“…”

There are impossible things even for me. But I didn’t want to disappoint the vice president… so I thought about it for a moment.

Well, maybe I could introduce him to one of Hwa Nabi’s classmates, or perhaps a friend of her friend. One or two introductions might be possible.

“I don’t know about a girlfriend, but I might be able to introduce you to some girls…”

“…What? Really?!”

The moment I muttered that, the vice president leaned his upper body toward me. I flinched and backed away.

“Huh? Yeah, I think it’s possible?”

“Hey, Han Siwoo! Me too, introduce me too!”

“No, me first. Me first! Please! I failed all my university applications!”

“Siwoo-ya. No, Siwoo hyung! Please!”

The buzz-cut guy and the vice president got excited and each grabbed one of my hands. As a result, I was suddenly restrained by both arms.

“Hyung, no, not just hyung. Siwoo hyung-nim! Please!”

“Siwoo-ya, we’re friends, right? Right?”

You only call me a friend at times like this? It’s almost pitiful how they’re changing their way of addressing me just to hold a girl’s hand once. I calmly pushed the two singles back.

“Alright, I’ll ask for both of you, so calm down first.”

“Really? For real?”

They looked like they might collapse foaming at the mouth if I said no, so I nodded for now.

This won’t do. I need to calm them down first and then talk. When I stood up from my seat, the two singles also jumped up following me.

“Just a moment, Siwoo hyung-nim, where are you going? I’ll assist you.”

“Both of you just sit down, I’m going to ask now.”

When I said that, they sat back down. And then they looked at me with sparkling eyes, as if they owned the world—the buzz-cut guy and the vice president. Seeing their expressions made me feel a bit sorry for them.

“Wait, I’ll come back with good news.”

It’s true that guys this age would sell their liver and gallbladder for a girl. Since I’m a guy too, I couldn’t say I didn’t understand their reaction at all.

“Yes, Siwoo hyung-nim. Have a safe trip!”

I waved casually to the two pitiful friends who were using extremely honorific language, and left the classroom. Then I immediately took out my phone and sent a message.

[Are you in your classroom?]

I’m in Class A on the first floor, and Hwa Nabi is in Class G on the second floor. To meet her, given the school’s structure, I need to climb the stairs and walk to the end of the corridor, which inevitably takes some time.

If she’s at her desk, she’ll soon reply or call. I was planning to wait for a moment, so I leaned on the windowsill and looked outside. And just as I was about to take a breath—

“Yap, who is it?”

Someone covered my eyes with their hands from behind. There’s only one person in the world who would play such a prank on me.

I smiled and placed my hands over the back of hers.

“Correct, the pink-haired stranger.”

“Wrong! You have two more chances!”

She’s giving me three chances? What a generous stranger. I tickled the back of her hand as I answered.

“Then, the pink-haired beauty?”

“Hmm… that was very close to the correct answer, but unfortunately not right. You have only one chance left!”

At this point, hiding her identity had no meaning, but she was teasing me by deliberately taking her time. Starting to want to see her face, I raised both hands lightly in surrender.

“Hmm, I don’t know. What’s the answer?”

“Heh, should I tell you? Or not?”

“I don’t… know!”

I quickly turned around, thinking I’d surprise her. But she was one step ahead of me.

As if she had anticipated this, the moment I turned around, she threw herself into my arms. I caught her without hesitation.

Hwa Nabi, who had so naturally entrusted herself to my embrace, looked up at me. With large emerald eyes filled with my reflection, she said:

“Ta-da! The answer to this question was Siwoo’s girlfriend!”

Ah, what does one have to eat to be this cute? I tickled the chin of Hwa Nabi, who had exclaimed so cheerfully.

At first, she seemed to be trying to endure it, but soon she couldn’t bear the tickling and burst into laughter.

“Hehe, Siwoo. That tickles.”

Well, that was the point. I tickled her a bit more before stopping the prank.

Whew, catching her breath slightly, Hwa Nabi asked me:

“Siwoo, what were you doing here?”

“Waiting for you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, I sent you a KakaoTalk message earlier. Didn’t you see it?”

“…Oh, you’re right. I’m sorry, I must not have felt the vibration while walking.”

“These things happen. No need to apologize.”

“Mmm, still…”

Maybe because we haven’t had much physical contact lately, Hwa Nabi would act clingy whenever she got the chance.

She nuzzled her face against my chest like a kitten enjoying warmth, and I gently stroked her back.

After sharing warmth for a while, I casually brought up the main topic.

“Oh right, Hwa Nabi, do you happen to know any girls around?”

“…Girls you know?”

At that moment, Hwa Nabi’s arms, which were lightly embracing me, tensed up.

What’s this…? Is it just my imagination? Thinking it was probably nothing, I continued.

“Yeah. You know, don’t you have friends from other classes or your own class?”

“…Why do you ask?”

Suddenly Hwa Nabi’s voice turned cold, and her arms tightened around me even more. The nuzzling motion against my chest also abruptly stopped.

I was confused by the sudden change, but since I had already brought it up, I finished what I was saying.

“Oh, it’s nothing special, just that my friends asked me to introduce them to some girls. I don’t know any girls except you, right? So I thought I’d ask you first.”

“…Oh, so that’s what it was?”

Just as I finished explaining that much, the strength with which she was holding me suddenly relaxed. The face-nuzzling against my chest resumed, and Hwa Nabi, seemingly in a better mood, even made a light sniffling sound.

“Yeah, but if it’s not possible, that’s fine too. I just asked on the off chance, so don’t feel pressured.”

“Mmm, no, it’s fine. Actually, I just heard something similar from my friends too. They asked if my boyfriend has any friends, and if there are any single guys, could I introduce them.”

“Really? That’s good timing.”

“Hehe, it is.”

We both laughed after this trivial conversation.

Then suddenly, as if something had just occurred to her, Hwa Nabi quickly raised her head.

“Oh right, Siwoo. When our university results are announced, shall we go on a trip together on the weekend?”

“A trip? Where to?”

“Hmm, we haven’t graduated yet, so it might be difficult to go somewhere too far… How about Jeju Island? It could be a refreshing change.”

Indeed, we’ve both been incredibly busy with college admissions and interviews for the past few months, right? As Hwa Nabi suggested, taking a short weekend trip might be good for our mental health. Resting fully while enjoying some sightseeing would recharge our energy.

I nodded.

“Sure, let’s do that.”

“Yes, let’s. I’ll get permission from my parents today, so you should ask yours right away too.”

“Okay, got it.”

However, the way Hwa Nabi was looking up at me seemed a bit unusual. Her lips were curved upward as if she was smiling, but her eyes weren’t smiling.

Wondering what was going on, I looked at her more closely, and at that moment, Hwa Nabi quickly fixed her expression and smiled brightly.

“…”

Hmm, did I see wrong? Well, it was probably just my imagination. That must be it. Why would Hwa Nabi look at me with such an expression?

So, let’s not worry about it.

“…Heh.”