Exhaling deeply, Yoonjo looked over the syllabus that Seonghyeon had handed him. After finishing, Yoonjo’s expression became ambiguous like Seonghyeon’s.
“How to distinguish a cat in a box… the cat’s survival… What is this. Dice games with cats?”
“Right, it’s a bit strange, isn’t it? Ah… the thing is, the professor seemed good. Should I ask on Seubo?”
“What’s Seubo…”
“Ah… it’s called Schedule Board, it’s like an anonymous school community, where you can trade books and ask about courses and stuff. You’re not registered? Then I’ll ask.”
Seonghyeon immediately took out his phone and moved his fingers repeatedly, then showed it to Yoonjo.
[How is the philosophy elective, Cat in a Box?]
[I’m planning to take it as an elective this time, is there anyone who’s taken it? Looking at the syllabus, it’s kind of like raising animals; but the philosophy department wouldn’t do something like that. How was it when you took it? Do they give good grades? Also let me know if the midterm and final exams are okay.. I’m a freshman so I don’t know anything ㅠㅠ help please ㅠㅠ]
Yoonjo, who had been quietly reading the post, refreshed to see if there might be any replies. As if waiting for it, comments appeared in a stream.
[Anonymous 1] – Yeah take it. It’s super easy
ㄴ[Anonymous 2] – Take it. It’s so easy you’ll cry tears of gratitude later.
[Anonymous 3] – But is this course still alive? You’re taking this?
“Hey, there’s one weird comment here.”
The third comment was just suspicious. When Yoonjo pressed refresh wondering if there might be more new comments, Seonghyeon took the phone.
“What comment? They’re all fine. They say it’s easy. Let’s take this.”
Looking at the phone again, the third comment had changed to different words.
[Anonymous 3] – Lololololol right this is super easy course, if you take it and get an A come back and say thanks
ㄴ[Anonymous 1] – Why are you talking nonsense when it’s easy? This course is slathered with honey.
“Did I see it wrong…”
Yoonjo, who returned the phone, tilted his head. Seonghyeon busily moved his fingers as if to write a thank you comment. Not long after, Seonghyeon got up from his seat and gestured while slinging his bag over his shoulder.
“Let’s go out. We should eat lunch.”
“I just got here though?”
“Do I care? I’m hungry. I left home at 8 to take this. I’m dead tired and hungry.”
“What about your girlfriend, eating with me instead?”
“Ah… she has afternoon classes today. We decided to have lunch and then date at the library.”
“…True love.”
The semester just started but he had the remarkable talent of converting studying at the library into a date. Yoonjo waved his hand dismissively as if to say it was his business to handle, then got up from his seat.
“Then you’re taking it too, right? It’s good that we don’t need to make corrections. I already filled up my schedule anyway.”
“A Tetris fail schedule?”
“Hey hey. My schedule has gaps left open to spend happy time with my girlfriend.”
“Sure, whatever…”
Answering half-heartedly, Yoonjo left the building with Seonghyeon. They discussed what to eat. Seonghyeon suggested a home-style meal set for lunch, and Yoonjo followed without much to say. It was because he thought that eating out all tastes the same anyway, so what did the menu matter? But that didn’t mean he wanted to eat campus food.
Looking at the crowd reminiscent of a bustling market, Yoonjo asked with a tap to Seonghyeon standing next to him.
“You really want to eat here?”
“To tell you the truth… it’s not so much that I want to eat here, but I have to eat here to make the time work… Sorry.”
Yoonjo became curious about the existence that had blinded this friend. Then he paused for a very brief moment. It was because he thought of Seonwoo.
What if he could meet Seonwoo in just 30 minutes but had to eat with a friend? Then Yoonjo was naturally ready to ditch his appointment with his friend and run. Of course, he’d have to persuade hard though. In that sense, Seonghyeon was a friend overflowing with loyalty.
Having finished that series of calculations, Yoonjo immediately moved his steps toward the cafeteria. Right behind him was Seonghyeon, giggling and thanking him.
Inside the bustling cafeteria was full of students. Each person chose their menu, purchased meal tickets, and stood in line. What Yoonjo chose was beef brisket doenjang jjigae. Seonghyeon, who stood right next to him, chose kimchi short rib stew.
Unlike how many people there were, the meal service ended quickly. The two who sat in a suitable spot talked about this semester’s schedule.
“So you filled up all 24 credits?”
“I think my last semester will be more relaxed this way. What about you?”
“You should ask about last semester’s grades first. I’m just taking exactly 19 credits. I can’t take more than that anyway even if I wanted to.”
Only people with a GPA of 4.0 or higher could take extra credits, so it was impossible for Seonghyeon who barely passed 3.0. Yoonjo nodded and replied.
“That’s true…”
Then Yoonjo asked about one fact that suddenly came to mind.
“Are you going to the opening general meeting?”
“I have to go. Ah but the opening general meeting participation fee really pisses me off. I don’t even drink but it’s unconditionally 20,000 won per person, does that make sense?”
“Then just don’t go.”
“My friend. Group life is all like this originally.”
Seonghyeon, who pretended to wipe tears, completely emptied a cup of water. Just as Seonghyeon was about to add another word, Yoonjo’s gaze caught a familiar face. It was Baek Sijin, a senior one year above. Sijin also discovered Yoonjo and approached where the two were sitting with a bright smile. Yoonjo bowed his head toward the approaching Sijin.
“Hello, sunbae-nim.”
“Yoonjo-ya. What sunbae. Just call me hyung. Anyway, campus food from the first week of the semester? Not going outside.”
“That’s because I have a bit of a situation… What brings you here, hyung? You don’t usually come to campus food.”
Seonghyeon, who knew everyone, didn’t know nothing. Yoonjo silently scooped rice into his mouth and listened to their conversation. But somehow, he kept making eye contact with Sijin. When he lowered and raised his head, when he turned his eyes away for a moment too. Thinking what a strange coincidence, Yoonjo blinked his eyes at the topic of the opening general meeting that popped up out of nowhere.
“Are you going to the opening general meeting, hyung?”
“Well… I’ll see. I might not go when the time comes. What about you and Yoonjo?”
“Ah, we’re definitely going! It’s the samgyeopsal place in front of school. Meat and soju means it’s a definite go! Right?”
Their eyes met again. When Sijin smiled slightly crinkling his eyes, Yoonjo also responded with a smile.
“Yoonjo, you didn’t come to last semester’s opening general meeting.”
“Eh… Sijin hyung. He probably didn’t know. But he went to the closing one.”
“Really?”
At Sijin’s question, Yoonjo readily affirmed.
“Yes. The truth is, until then I didn’t know anything about messengers and stuff. Even today that… what was it, Schedule Board? I learned about that for the first time too.”
“Our department doesn’t particularly disadvantage you for not participating in department events, so that can happen. So you learned about Schedule Board for the first time today?”
Unable to reply because he had food in his mouth, Yoonjo nodded his head repeatedly while chewing. Then Sijin now looked at Yoonjo while drawing a soft arc at the corner of his mouth. To be more precise, it was toward Yoonjo’s aegyo-sal area. The small moles—two on the left, one on the right—were strangely catching people’s attention.
“Why do you eat like a squirrel?”
Wondering what he meant, Yoonjo, who moved his mouth a few more times and swallowed it whole, frowned and asked back.
“What does that mean?”
“You don’t chew much and just swallow, right?”
“…Yes.”
“That’s why you look like you’re munching. I’m saying it because it’s cute.”
Was that something to say to a fully grown adult man? Yoonjo scrunched up his face, then smoothed his expression at one thought that flashed through his mind.
“Really?”
“Do you want to say that with your own mouth? Ugh… gross.”
Yoonjo, who glanced at the shuddering Seonghyeon, asked Sijin again.
“Anyway, sunbae-nim. Really?”
“You do kind of.”
At Sijin’s affirmation, Yoonjo giggled. Resolving to show off how he eats in front of Seonwoo from now on, Yoonjo lightly swung his legs back and forth with an excited heart. At that action, Sijin smiled slightly, then got up from his seat.
“Ah, then I should get going. Eat well, and see you at the opening general meeting.”
“Goodbye, sunbae-nim.”
“See you next time, hyung!”
As soon as Sijin disappeared far away, Seonghyeon, who had waved his hand, came close to Yoonjo and spoke. His voice was lowered as if telling a secret.
“That hyung doesn’t usually even mix words with juniors, so why is he like that?”
“Maybe he just came over because he saw us.”
“To be blunt, how many students from the same department are in campus food. A truckful, a truckful. Anyway Yoonjo-ya, look at this for a sec.”
What Seonghyeon suddenly held out while spitting out words in a rush was his phone. On the screen was displayed a photo of cute-looking couple rings.
“How’s this?”
“Why rings all of a sudden?”
“You’re forever alone, right?”
It was a sudden attack, but Yoonjo just made an indifferent expression and cleared away his finished rice bowl.
“That’s not it. It’s just that you haven’t even been dating that long and you’re talking about rings. It’s been about a month, hasn’t it?”
“Right… but the period of dating isn’t important. How much I love is what’s important.”
Yoonjo, who had been gathering his dishes to leave, paused at Seonghyeon’s words. How much you love. That was right. Stopping his steps for a moment, Yoonjo put down his tray at the return station. Seonghyeon, who stood next to him, also put down his tray and showed Yoonjo the couple ring photo again.
“How is it? Not bad, right? Simple is the best, isn’t it?”
“…I guess so.”
In Yoonjo’s head, who subtly checked the price, a fanfare rang out. A big hit—that was rings.
