Are you crazy, hyung? Swallowing the words that nearly burst out in that instant, Haeyoung barely managed to close his mouth.
At the words Seonwoo had spat out, Sehee, who was sitting across from him, gave him an interested look. The gaze that alternated between them, curious about what relationship he had with Seonwoo who came latest, whether they really knew each other, was blatant.
Haven’t we met before… Haeyoung, who smiled while fiddling with his face that was about to stiffen, bit his lip for a moment. He couldn’t guess what answer he was hoping for with that question. Cha Seonwoo wasn’t someone who would bring up such words just to torment him. At least the him he knew wasn’t that kind of person.
“…We have.”
A kind person. Cha Seonwoo was always a kind person, and though he occasionally enjoyed seeing his troubled face, he was someone who soon acted as he wished. That’s why Haeyoung couldn’t understand him suddenly bringing up such a question.
However, he couldn’t resent him either. Because Cha Seonwoo had the right to do so.
It wasn’t something he could hide forever anyway. Since they’d stuck together sickeningly throughout their entire college life, wouldn’t pretending not to know each other be even more nonsensical? Even if he hid it, if someone who knew watched the broadcast, it was a fact that would inevitably be revealed.
“We were in the same department.”
Haeyoung spoke as calmly as possible and raised the corners of his lips. In contrast, Seonwoo’s lips that had been drawing a favorable arc momentarily stiffened.
Short exclamations leaked from the mouths of those who were alternating between Seonwoo and Haeyoung, as if it was interesting that the two knew each other. Minho asked Haeyoung with round eyes.
“Oh, so you went to the same university?”
“That’s right.”
Haeyoung nodded and answered simply. At that answer, even more interesting colors appeared in people’s eyes. Haeyoung pretended not to notice and unnecessarily turned his gaze while picking up his chopsticks.
Among the female participants, words containing laughter flowed out saying it was fascinating. When the topic didn’t easily move on, Haeyoung bit the end of his chopsticks and looked down at his plate.
Hyuna, who was sitting in front, asked toward such a Haeyoung.
“Were you close? Even in the same department, there are many cases of being distant.”
At that question, Haeyoung lowered the chopsticks he’d been biting.
They still couldn’t share information like each other’s ages or jobs except for names. So it was a question he could cut off if he wanted to, but Haeyoung didn’t do that. There was no need to purposely make the person who asked feel awkward.
“Well, it was ordinary. He’s too noticeable to be distant. He was famous in the department.”
Haeyoung answered with a ready smile. Though the subject was omitted, everyone knew that the famous person who was noticeable in the department was Seonwoo. Setting aside the context of the conversation, it was natural since the most noticeable person in this place was him.
It had always been that way. Due to the nature of the business administration department with many people, the culture between seniors and juniors wasn’t solid, yet regardless of senior or junior, everyone knew Cha Seonwoo. Sometimes when having department events, everyone was persistent enough to want to call Seonwoo. There were also several times when he was used by those who noticed that if they called him, Seonwoo would follow.
It wasn’t just in the department. Few people in the university didn’t know Cha Seonwoo. That was because his appearance wasn’t one that could be easily forgotten, wasn’t it? The university Haeyoung attended was a national university and very large, but handsome people were always scarce. If you’re handsome, you naturally become known.
Haeyoung, who unconsciously cast his gaze toward Seonwoo, met eyes that had been steadily watching him. The eyes without humor curved as if frowning. Haeyoung’s heart, facing the smile that had often made him feel guilt, fell with a thump.
“If you say it was ordinary, that’s hurtful.”
Soon a bitter voice leaked playfully from between his lips.
Though he felt there was nowhere further to fall, Haeyoung’s heart was still rolling down below the cliff. However, he couldn’t show it. Since the participants looking at them were shining their eyes as if it was interesting, Haeyoung hung a smile on his lips as if nothing was wrong.
“Wow, were you two close?”
Then Soyoon asked Seonwoo affectionately. Without taking his gaze off him, he answered.
“Yes. Very much.”
An unhesitating answer. Though it was still gentle, the voice that had lost all traces of playfulness from just before settled heavily on Haeyoung.
Yoon Haeyoung turned his head as if escaping from his gaze that was heavier than his answer.
“Let’s move on to the next person now.”
He smoothly spat out a voice containing laughter. At the same time, he turned his head toward Jaehwi sitting beside him. At Haeyoung passing the turn like flowing water, the initiative of the atmosphere also naturally passed to Jaehwi.
“I am Jeon, Jae, Hwi.”
Even though he’d already introduced himself once, he kindly said his name again, breaking it into one syllable at a time. Thanks to that, people could recall his name again.
After Minho’s turn, who was sitting next to Jaehwi, passed, the participants’ introductions came to a rough end in tension between people meeting for the first time and a strange harmony. Last was Seonwoo’s turn, which everyone was pretending not to care about but paying attention to.
When the familiar name flowed from his mouth with a gentle resonance, Yoon Haeyoung could only swallow a hollow laugh inside.
“I’m Cha Seonwoo.”
Because with the atmosphere that was instantly drawn, he couldn’t help but know that this moment was prepared for now. At that brief introduction, there wasn’t a single person who wasn’t focused.
“I think you have a really good voice.”
“Right! And your atmosphere is kind of like… an actor or model?”
Following Dain’s words, Soyoon responded cheerfully. At Soyoon’s words, agreeing laughter burst out among the female participants. Even though Seonwoo replaced difficult answers with lightly tilting his head or laughing soundlessly without big reactions, laughter didn’t cease among them.
An atmosphere that was difficult to easily join in was formed centered around the female participants and Seonwoo, but it was a familiar thing to Haeyoung. Cha Seonwoo received favorable impressions everywhere without doing anything. It was the same this time. In Soyoon’s eyes as she constantly asked him this and that while smiling, Haeyoung could discover clear favorable feelings.
Why was it? For some reason, Haeyoung couldn’t easily take his eyes off her shining pupils. He, who had been blankly looking at Soyoon, soon lowered his gaze at an angle and his eyes met with the participant sitting next to Soyoon.
When their eyes met, Sehee smiled brightly, and Haeyoung also reflexively had to smile back. It was then that the atmosphere that had been flowing unnaturally throughout met a new turning point.
Ding-
Phone notification sounds rang simultaneously here and there. The participants, guessing what contact everyone would receive at the same time, had slightly tense faces.
Among those checking their phones individually, Haeyoung also took out the phone he’d put in his pocket. His shoulders stiffened with a flinch at the message content that appeared on the screen.
「Please write the name and message for the participant your heart went toward today. The message will be delivered anonymously to the other person.」
What did I even do?
Haeyoung, who was reading down the text, swallowed a hollow laugh with an absurd feeling. The system where he had to unconditionally choose one person without choice was bewildering. It wasn’t that there was no one who caught his eye when looking at first impressions, but it was difficult to send a message without knowing anything about the other person.
Let’s just write anyone. Haeyoung, who had simply organized his thoughts, glanced at Soyoon. She’ll probably send it to Seonwoo hyung. There was no room for consideration. She would definitely send a message to Seonwoo. Perhaps everyone’s messages might go to him.
Then… Seonwoo hyung is?
‘Ah, are you crazy? Yoon Haeyoung, don’t think about such things.’
Feeling somehow dizzy, Haeyoung squeezed his eyes shut then opened them. He felt strangely unsettled at the program proceeding without giving time to prepare his heart. Without being conscious of himself with all his nerves focused on deducing who Seonwoo would send to, he moved his fingers.
The silence that continued for the brief moment participants were sending messages was broken by a cheerful voice.
“This is difficult.”
Ahaha. Soyoon put down her phone and smiled brightly. For saying it was difficult, it was a clear face, but that smile wasn’t hateful at all. Toward such her, Minho sitting across teased ‘It didn’t seem that difficult though?’
“It was really difficult!”
Even in the face that curved her eyebrows as if it was unfair, laughter was still contained. Looking at that leisurely face, Haeyoung also put down his phone on the table. Perhaps Haeyoung had sent his last, as everyone was already awkwardly smiling and looking at each other.
In the almost finished atmosphere, those who didn’t prepare the meal began to stealthily get up. It was to clean up instead of cooking. Haeyoung also noticed the atmosphere and got up, putting down what he was about to eat.
And so, somehow Haeyoung ended up doing dishes with Soyoon. Throughout washing dishes, Minho hovered around, but since his gaze didn’t leave Soyoon, Haeyoung couldn’t help but notice that he was interested in her. It was blatantly revealed in his expression and actions.
“What will tomorrow’s dinner be?”
To Soyoon who was cheerfully chattering, Haeyoung answered indifferently.
“Is there something you want to eat?”
“I eat everything well! But we ate Western food today, so tomorrow Korean food…?”
“Oh, I like Korean food too.”
Even at the light response, Soyoon curved her eyes and smiled as if glad to have found something in common. Looking at Soyoon who was constantly smiling, Haeyoung also inevitably softened his lips. However, upon discovering Minho looking this way with somewhat anxious eyes, he quickly put away his smile.
Haeyoung, who finished washing dishes, left his spot as if passing the turn to Minho who was hovering around. He climbed the stairs heading to the second floor while lowering the sleeves that had been rolled up to his forearms. It was when he just stepped on the last stair.
“Haeyoung-ssi.”
At the voice that called him as if waiting as soon as he came up to the second floor, Haeyoung raised his head. The male participants’ rooms were separated at both ends with the common space in the middle, and the room Haeyoung decided to use was the room visible as soon as you came up to the second floor.
The one who called him was Jaehwi standing in front of the room. And next to him… Seonwoo was there.
