episode_0251

This wasn’t exactly ideal running attire.

No, not mine—I’d just quickly changed at home before rushing out. I meant Seo Woo-jin, standing beside me.

Light jogging would’ve been fine, but… most people would probably just walk.

For me, this was a satisfactory situation.

There was no telling when my body might act up again,

whether it would even happen this time,

or if I’d end up in that horrifying, unbearable state unless Woo-jin touched me.

I couldn’t say anything for certain.

Rather than parting quickly, I had to drag things out as long as possible.

Even if the end result would be…

utterly humiliating.

“Do you usually take the bus?”

“…Mostly.”

“I thought you might have a car or something. Guess not.”

“Where would I find time to get a license? I’m already swamped as it is.”

“You could always hire a driver.”

“What, do you think I’m some chaebol like Han Sua? I’m just an ordinary low-level employee…”

“Low-level employee?”

“It’s just a figure of speech…!”

A plain black short-sleeved T-shirt.

A loose windbreaker zipped up just below the chest.

As we bickered back and forth, I realized something.

The more I got to know him, the less I liked him.

His personality—nothing but filth in his head.

His intelligence—asking obvious questions anyone could figure out.

His temperament—playful like Yozora, in all the wrong ways.

None of it was my type.

His looks?

Sure, I’d prefer handsome over ugly, honestly.

But my ideal man was someone kind on the inside.

Not that I’d always felt this way. Dealing with Yoo Si-woo and Seo Woo-jin had just steered me in this direction.

I wished he’d think about something more productive than just getting laid.

I wished he’d say something warm instead of always teasing people.

For example… I’d rather have a straight-laced honor student.

One who also worked out diligently?

“…”

Sigh.

What’s the point of thinking like this?

If my body hadn’t malfunctioned, I wouldn’t even need to stick by Woo-jin’s side “just in case.”

I tied my hair up with a hairband from my pocket, stretched lightly, and headed toward Seongsu Bridge.

A place I’d only ever seen from afar, looking up at its red-lit shimmer.

“Seon—Baek Seo-yeon.”

“What?”

“The sun’s down, and it’s probably chilly on the bridge. Shouldn’t we head back?”

“If it’s chilly, we can just start running from here. We’ll walk and rest a bit after crossing.”

“It’s going to be windy too.”

“I just tied my hair up.”

I turned my head slightly, showing off my ponytail. Woo-jin stared at it before scratching his cheek.

“…Can’t argue with that.”

“You go first. I’ll match your pace.”

A brief concern.

Or was it even concern?

Annoyance seemed more accurate.

After a short exchange, Woo-jin rolled up his sleeves and started running.

I followed, crossing the bridge behind him.

I usually jogged along the Han River—was this my first time running across a bridge?

The wind was strong, but not unbearable.

That was the extent of my thoughts.

Not a place you’d go out of your way to jog.

But with my mind slightly cleared…

A few useless distractions crept in.

“……”

…Now that I think about it.

How long has it been since I ran behind someone like this?

A truly pointless thought.

Yoo Si-woo always lagged so far behind it was hard to keep track of him—

A pointless comparison.

Men’s bone structure really is different from women’s—

A pointless observation.

That guy and Yozora sharing a bed…

Wouldn’t the size be a bit mismatched?

…And speaking of Yozora,

that dildo she bought as a substitute for Woo-jin, the size she mentioned on the phone last time…

…was…

A spectacularly pointless.

Fucking stupid thought.

“…Pick up the pace. You’re not even out of breath.”

“With these clothes, I’d rather not sweat too much.”

“You said this was cardio. How are you not sweating?”

“I said it was killing two birds with one stone, didn’t I?”

“…You really won’t give an inch, huh. Tch.”

“Then give me a logically convincing reason.”

“Fine, just run, damn it…!”

“…Alright. A little faster, then.”

To shake off those thoughts, I ruffled my hair behind Woo-jin’s back.

Finally settling into a satisfying pace, my blue-white ponytail swayed as I ran.

All the way across the long Seongsu Bridge.

Straight through.

“Huu…”

“Hah… hah…”

Thanks to the decent warm-up,

I wiped the faint sweat from my chin with the back of my hand.

As I sipped from my water bottle, Woo-jin—catching his breath with a hand on his waist—locked eyes with me.

His gaze seemed to ask for a drink.

I handed it over with a blank expression. He smiled faintly in thanks, tilting the bottle midair to avoid touching his lips to it.

…I didn’t like him handling my bottle,

but he’d already grabbed my wrist before the taxi.

And his shoulder had brushed against mine through my clothes.

This was nothing in comparison.

Whatever.

“Where to from here? The academy?”

“Yeah. I live about five minutes on foot from there.”

“…Lead the way.”

“Ah, can we walk now?”

“Why ask me? It’s your call.”

“Hmm… Thought you might make me run again since it’s not much of a workout.”

“…Let’s walk. You said you didn’t want to sweat earlier.”

“I already did a bit, so it doesn’t matter now. I’m warmed up.”

“…Ugh…”

“Should we run? Or just walk?”

“…”

“Hello?”

“L-Let’s walk… I’m kinda tired anyway.”

“…”

Maybe my excuse to linger sounded ridiculous. Woo-jin burst out laughing as he handed the bottle back.

For some reason, it embarrassed me.

I could’ve easily run for two more hours,

but that would’ve contradicted everything I’d just said.

So I snatched the bottle irritably and started walking toward the academy.

“Shouldn’t you head back soon? Near the academy, more people will recognize us.”

“…Who’d misunderstand us dressed like this? We can just say we were working out together.”

“You and me? Wouldn’t that seem weirder?”

“I have a track record. It’s fine.”

“Track record?”

“People have seen me working out with the vice student council president. Twice, maybe three times.”

“…Oh, that.”

“It’s a bit odd to call it ‘working out’… but whatever. If I explain it right, they’ll assume the same about you.”

As I walked ahead, Woo-jin quickly caught up.

From diagonally behind me to right beside me.

Our elbows brushed briefly, but I didn’t care anymore.

…It’s just fabric touching fabric. Two layers, even.

No point getting worked up over this when we’ve already had skin contact.

He’d grabbed my water bottle, touched my shoulder.

If a zombie’s already bitten you, freaking out over a little drool is just stupid.

…Okay, maybe I did freak out a few minutes ago…

But I’m not that much of an idiot.

That’s something a dumb girl like Yozora would do.

I’m smarter than that.

“Being lumped in like that is kinda annoying.”

“…Why?”

“That vice president guy, right? He’s just into you.”

“…That rumor’s gotten around?”

“Anyone with eyes could see it. That bastard’s desperate to get you into bed.”

“……”

Ugh. I grimaced, flapping my T-shirt to cool down while shooting him a glare.

“Get you into bed”? Couldn’t he phrase it more elegantly?

There are ways to say he’s just infatuated. That’s way more neutral.

But no, he had to go with something so crude…

…Sigh.

Whatever.

I already knew what kind of guy he was.

Resigned, I carefully chose my words.

…It’s Woo-jin, after all.

A little venting should be fine.

“…As another guy, what do you think of him?”

“Looks gay, not my type.”

“I’m not asking about your preferences…! And looks-wise, he’s kinda idol-like, isn’t he?”

“Guys don’t usually drool over male idols. There are some middle-aged fans, but that’s not my thing.”

“…Hmm…”

“Actually, isn’t that more girls’ taste? Like yours?”

“I’m not into that either. I prefer someone more muscular, more traditionally masculine.”

“Moderately muscular, traditionally masculine…”

As if recalling something, Woo-jin tilted his head toward the night sky.

Just as the word mistake flashed in my mind—

“Kwon Nam-ho, that older guy?”

“…”

“He was into working out, right? And looked pretty manly.”

“…Haa…”

It was so absurd I could only sigh.

…Judging by Woo-jin’s delayed chuckle,

it must’ve been a joke to mess with me.

“…Anyway, where to from here?”

“Cross the crosswalk, enter the alley, and the studio apartment on the right.”

“Studio? Why do you live in a studio?”

“I live alone. Don’t need much space.”

“…Ah, right. I’d prefer something 10 pyeong smaller than where I am now…”

Then, just as we were about to cross the glowing green crosswalk—

“…”

In bed.

In the academy shower.

On the emergency stairs.

In the infirmary.

That sensation—

more chilling than mere cold—

prickled down my spine.

“…Ngh…”

…Please let me be wrong.

Let there be another reason.

But no—just being near this indifferent man was enough to set me off again.

Right outside his solo-living apartment, my body began betraying me.

“H-Hey.”

“…?”

“Before we go back, um…”

“…”

“…Bathroom. Just a second…”

“Ah, sure. Go ahead.”

The panic, the disgust—my heart pounded violently.

The shame—my ears and cheeks burned.

I felt it all vividly.