Chapter 14: It’s Okay, If It’s You (1)

“You said this is your first major class since we announced we’re dating?”

“Yeah… so honestly, I was kind of nervous… after what you said. You said everyone in our department knows, right?”

Standing in front of the lecture hall door, Chaeryeong and I whispered to each other. 

We were supposed to go in, but neither of us could bring ourselves to move, so we hesitated. 

After all, being a department couple meant we were bound to attract attention. 

I had free periods, and Chaeryeong had only taken general education classes until yesterday, so she said she hadn’t really run into anyone from our department. 

So stepping into this room packed with our department mates felt pretty intimidating. 

I asked Chaeryeong, 

“Wouldn’t it draw even more attention if we go in together?”

“But it’d be weird to go in separately too, wouldn’t it? Everyone already knows we’re dating.” 

“Ah, forget it. How long are we going to stand here like this? We already decided we’d make it public at school. Didn’t you mentally prepare for this?”* 

“I did. For the sake of YouTube.” 

“Then let’s go. Now.”

“…Yeah.”

In the end, after exchanging solemn looks, we opened the door to the lecture hall. 

It’s better to get a beating over with quickly. 

If we’re going to be the center of attention anyway, might as well get used to it fast. 

“…” 

As we walked in, the girls who’d been chatting before class turned their heads toward us. 

I could instantly feel their conversation shift to us. 

“Hey, look at them…”

“Chaeryeong and Taeo…”

Envious stares, curious glances—various looks brushed past us. 

Every time our names were faintly heard in the whispering, we flinched and tensed up. 

The one saving grace was that there were two sections for this class, so we weren’t taking it with Kim Yeji. 

I leaned toward Chaeryeong and whispered, 

“…They’re paying more attention than I expected.”

“…Seriously. Haha.”

It felt like we had become celebrities. 

Awkwardly, under a new kind of attention we’d never experienced before, we quietly settled into the corner seats. 

At least that way, latecomers wouldn’t spot us right away. 

Honestly, if I had come in alone, I wouldn’t have gotten this much attention. 

But even if Chaeryeong can be a bit reserved, she knows almost everyone in our department. 

She stands out with her looks even when doing nothing, and she’s a cheerful, energetic person. 

So it was inevitable that everyone would be interested in the news that someone like her was dating. 

“Look at them. Seems like they’re itching to come talk to you.”

“Ugh… yeah. It’s annoying to have to explain everything… I should’ve just kept quiet like you. I got too excited and started chatting with everyone…” 

“This is why you can’t trust social butterflies. Tsk tsk.” 

Some girls’ stares practically said, ‘I’m dying to know more.’ 

Chaeryeong gave them an awkward smile and waved to acknowledge them. 

As she waved, the girls who’d looked like they were eyeing prey gave sweet smiles back. 

Chaeryeong, now terrified, rolled her eyes to look at me. 

“…Why do their smiles feel so scary today?” 

“You brought this on yourself. Looks like break time will be fun, huh?”

“Hey, don’t just sit there watching the chaos! Help me out! How am I supposed to deal with all of them alone…”

“Oh, I don’t know… Something about break time makes me really want to go get an iced Americano from the café. Didn’t sleep well last night, you know.”

“You jerk. I’m going to tie your legs to the desk so you can’t escape.”

But those uncomfortable stares didn’t last long. 

Soon, the professor walked in to start the class. 

After a brief greeting, the professor said the words students hate the most: 

“Midterms are coming up soon, right?” 

“…”

“Why the faces? You all look like you’re about to die.”

Is that a laugh, professor? 

It was the first exam we’d be taking in college, so there was some nervous tension. 

“Anyway, as I mentioned earlier, for our ‘Intro to Video Production’ course, we won’t have a traditional midterm. Instead, you’ll be making a short film.”

“…”

“Remember the groups we made last time? Starting today, based on the theories we’ve covered, you’ll begin your film projects.”

The professor pulled up the group list on the projector and continued. 

“Your video should be a short film under 10 minutes. The topic, theme, and genre are all up to you. Since you’re all freshmen, you won’t be required to use the school’s professional equipment.”

“Then… do we film with our phones?”

“Yes. Nowadays, most new smartphones have good enough quality for filming. You can also use basic tools like a clip-on mic, a tripod, or a gimbal.”

“If we have a camera, can we use that instead, professor?”

“Yes, of course. If you have a DSLR or mirrorless camera, you can use that. But the video’s quality won’t be part of the grading, since not everyone will have access to that gear.” 

It was a pretty reasonable approach. 

Using accessible tools like smartphones instead of forcing expensive or complicated equipment on new students. 

Especially with iPhones, some people have even entered film festivals with them—the quality’s solid. 

Anyway, our group was Group 3. 

While the Q&A went on, I looked through the group members listed last time. 

“…Still, I’m glad you and Yoon Kanghoo are in the group. I barely know those other two.”

“Really? Hamin and Garam are good people. You probably won’t have any problems working with them.”

“Times like this, it’s actually nice that you’re such a social butterfly.” 

“Didn’t you just say being a social butterfly was a problem?”

“Me? When?”

“Shameless.”

Pretending not to notice, I got up and headed to the spot assigned to Group 3 by the professor. 

Maybe it was because our seat was the farthest away, but by the time we arrived, Yoon Kanghoo was already there on his phone, and the other two guys were chatting. 

But of course, the moment we arrived, all eyes turned to us. 

…Ugh, this is so uncomfortable. 

I guess acting isn’t for me. 

“You’re here? The once-in-a-lifetime lucky guy who snagged the goddess of our department. Yoon Taeo?” 

“Shut up and go back to playing your cringey gacha mobile game.” 

As soon as I arrived, Yoon Kanghoo tried to provoke me, so I hit him back with a counter-punch. 

Meanwhile, Chaeryeong exchanged brief greetings with the guys, and they immediately bombarded her with questions. 

“Chaeryeong~?” 

“Yoo Chaeryeong~” 

“Huh? What’s up?” 

“Is it true you and Taeo are dating? The rumor’s all over the department!” 

“Ah… yeah… we kind of ended up like that… hehe.”

When Chaeryeong let out a sheepish laugh, the guys grinned in excitement. 

Their gazes toward me were full of warmth—uncomfortably so. 

I turned my head and pretended to talk with Yoon Kanghoo. 

“Actually, Chaeryeong, I always thought you two looked good together when you used to hang out.”* 

“Ah… really? Thanks, Garam.”

“Hehe, me too, me too. I thought, if those two crazy visuals dated, it’d be amazing to look at~ you know?”

“Thanks, Hamin, but I’m really embarrassed right now… Can we change the topic and talk about the film instead?” 

Chaeryeong blushed and looked flustered, which only excited the guys more. 

They were freaking out over how cute she was. 

Even I had to admit she was kind of cute in that moment. 

“Yeah, I’d like to talk more, but we do have to shoot the midterm film. Right?”

Chaeryeong shivered slightly under the lingering stares. 

But thankfully, everyone had enough self-control, and we smoothly transitioned to talking about the film. 

Garam looked around at the team and asked for input. 

“Did anyone come up with a script? Or maybe a direction you’d like to go with for the film?” 

“……Hmm.” 

“Well, everything else can be decided with role assignments, but the script is the most important. We need something everyone can be happy with.”

Garam seemed to be a pretty proactive type. 

He gave off the vibe of someone who would naturally end up as leader no matter which group he was in. 

Maybe he knew that disagreement was the biggest threat in group projects, so he emphasized the key point early on. 

Then Hamin raised his hand and responded. 

“I have an idea.” 

“What is it?” 

“If possible, I’d really like the genre to be romance. What does everyone else think?” 

He seemed to be a typical guy who liked romance. 

Garam smiled in satisfaction at his suggestion. Seemed like a pass for him. 

I turned my head and looked at Yoo Chaeryeong. 

But honestly, I already knew without looking. 

No one in the world is more addicted to romance than her. 

She’s even the type to suggest filming a couple vlog when making a regular vlog. 

“Romance? Sounds good to me. I love romance, Hamin.” 

Of course—like a cat ignoring a fish? 

As soon as romance was mentioned, Chaeryeong beamed from ear to ear. 

With the three guys in agreement, naturally all eyes turned to us. 

“I’m fine with it too. I watch a lot of romance movies.” 

“Really? That’s surprising. You seem more like the type to watch action films with macho dudes.” 

“Hey, don’t judge people by their looks, Hwang Garam. I’m a sensitive soul, okay?” 

Apparently, Garam and Yoon Kanghoo knew each other well enough to joke around as they synced their opinions. 

I already knew Yoon Kanghoo liked romance anyway. 

He used to constantly nag me to go watch romance movies together, which was super annoying. 

“Well, we’ve come this far—what else are we gonna do? Let’s go with romance.”

I didn’t have any strong preferences, and offering another idea felt pointless, so I just nodded. 

Thanks to Yoo Chaeryeong, I knew more about romance than I’d like to admit. 

“Okay. So the genre’s roughly decided. Let’s brainstorm the script a bit? Or should we assign roles first?”

“Yeah.”

“The most important thing is definitely the actors… right?” 

“Probably.” 

As Garam said that, Yoon Kanghoo glanced around the group as if agreeing. 

He looked like he was thinking about who would best fit the role. 

Then Hamin, who had been quietly smiling, spoke up like it was the obvious answer. 

“If it’s a romance, the leads are already decided, aren’t they?” 

“That’s true. If it were action or noir, Yoon Kanghoo would be perfect, but for romance…” 

The two of them made eye contact and smiled knowingly. 

Chaeryeong and I exchanged glances, not sure who they meant. 

“Who?”

Chaeryeong asked with curiosity, and they replied slyly. 

“Oh come on, Chaeryeong… You know already. Isn’t it obvious? Who else could play the romantic leads here?” 

Naturally, all three of them turned their gazes toward us. 

“Don’t tell me… me and Yoon Taeo?” 

As Chaeryeong asked, the other three nodded like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

…Seriously? I have to act like a couple with her again?