PA 1

Finally, I’ve paid off all the debt. Mom’s chemotherapy results are good, too.

Yejun debuted in the entertainment industry at seventeen and for the past three years, he had lived a truly intense life. In his spare moments, he also studied fiercely. That was how he got into his long-desired Theater and Film department at Korea University. Though the last cold snap of winter lingered, the days were gradually getting warmer. Yejun took a moment to linger, looking around the vibrant campus.

“Oh, it’s gotten this late already.”

After enjoying his leisure time to the fullest for the first time in a long while, Yejun checked the time and saw he was cutting it close for his lecture, so he quickened his pace. He felt rushed, but Yejun was still in a good mood.

“Is this the General Lecture Hall… They said all the liberal arts classes are held here.”

Yejun confirmed the sign that read ‘General Lecture Hall’ and quickly entered the building. As the most recently constructed building, it seemed to be designed to make classrooms easy to find. Yejun found his classroom right away, sat in the last row by the window, and carefully took off his hat.

The other students in the classroom murmured amongst themselves, stealing glances at Yejun. Even though it had been quite a while since his debut, he could never get used to people’s curious stares. Feeling burdened by their gazes, Yejun slightly lowered his head and pretended to look at his major textbook.

“Ugh…”

The male student who had been sleeping with his head down in the seat directly in front of Yejun woke up. As if to shake off his drowsiness, he stretched his arms out wide, shook his head a couple of times, and looked out the window.

His bangs were slightly tousled over his well-defined forehead. The line of his profile, from his high-bridged nose, past his deep philtrum, down to his lips, was absolutely perfect. For a moment, Yejun stared at the male student, completely mesmerized.

“……”

“Excuse me.”

The male student suddenly turned around and spoke to Yejun.

“Ye-Yes?”

He had been staring so intently at the student that he was startled and even stuttered.

Ah… so embarrassing.

“Let me borrow a pen. I didn’t bring one.”

“Okay.”

Yejun hurriedly tried to take his pencil case out of his bag, but a cascade of pens fell out through the slightly open gap and onto the floor. Flustered, Yejun shot up from his seat to pick up the pens. But the male student just chuckled and picked them up for him.

“I’ll use this one.”

“Ah… okay.”

The male student left one pen and placed the rest in Yejun’s hand. Then he turned to face the front where the blackboard was and sat up straight. For a moment, Yejun’s face turned beet red at his own incredibly foolish-looking actions.

“Alright, let’s all take our seats now.”

A man who appeared to be the professor entered the classroom and stood at the lectern. He spoke loudly, as if to get the attention of the disorganized audience.

“For this semester, I am Choi Jincheol, and I will be teaching Mokmin Shimseo, a compilation of the Silhak ideology of the late Joseon Dynasty. Since it is the first week of the semester, I will not be taking attendance today.”

Forgetting what had just happened, Yejun quickly began to focus on the lecture.

“Starting next week, I will be taking attendance myself.”

“Aww…”

The young professor said that although there were many ways to take attendance, he preferred the classic method. Something about being good at memorizing faces and names. The students in the classroom, realizing that having someone else answer for them was now out of the question, let out small sighs.

“Thanks for letting me use it.”

“…Ye- no, yeah.”

After the class ended, the male student in front returned the pen to Yejun. Judging by the content of today’s lecture, there had clearly been no need to use a pen. Even so, the student sitting in front didn’t forget to thank Yejun. Feeling needlessly awkward, Yejun couldn’t bring himself to meet the student’s eyes and replied foolishly again while looking only at the floor.

He felt as though the student had let out a small, mocking laugh. But before Yejun could react, the student had slung his bag casually over his shoulder and strode out of the classroom.

“Huh… what’s this?”

A shiny black card lay on the floor by the front seat.

Cha Junhyuk.

Without hesitation, Yejun quickly picked up the card and dashed out of the classroom. He ran toward the student from before, who was waiting for the elevator in the distance.

“Ex-Excuse me…!”

“What?”

“Is this yours?”

Yejun said, showing him the card.

“Oh… it is mine.”

“Your name is Cha Junhyuk, right?”

“Should I show you my ID?”

“Ah, no.”

Junhyuk took the card and gazed intently at Yejun. Thinking that Junhyuk might have recognized him, Yejun took a step back.

“I’ll get going then.”

“Hey, wait a second.”

For some reason, Yejun kept acting flustered and tried to back away from Junhyuk. But his feet got tangled, and his body swayed precariously. Junhyuk quickly wrapped an arm around Yejun’s waist, holding him steady to keep him from falling, and whispered in his ear.

“Thanks for finding my card.”

“Ah, it was nothing.”

Embarrassed by his continuous foolish actions, Yejun hung his head low. Junhyuk bent his waist and met Yejun’s gaze with a nonchalant expression. Yejun’s face instantly turned bright red.

“But what’s your name?”

“Ah… I-I’m Lee Yejun.”

“Oh, so you’re Yejun.”

Junhyuk helped Yejun stand up straight, then draped an arm over his shoulder and pressed the elevator’s down button again.

“Yejun, since you found my card, I’ll buy you a meal.”

“No, no, it’s fine.”

“Class ended early today anyway, and my next period is a free block. What about you? Do you have a class right after this?”

“No…”

“Perfect. I’m hungry, let’s go quick.”

“Uh… hey.”

“Not hey, Cha Junhyuk.”

Just then, the elevator doors opened, and Junhyuk naturally stepped inside with Yejun.

☂︎

Junhyuk suggested they eat off-campus, but Yejun insisted he really wanted to try the student cafeteria. Feigning defeat, Junhyuk headed toward the cafeteria.

“When someone offers to buy you a meal, it’s best to get something as expensive as possible.”

“But I really wanted to try the school food.”

Yejun thought it was a relief, though. He had been in a bind since his liberal arts class was followed by lunchtime. Being a well-known face, Yejun felt a bit burdened by the idea of eating lunch alone.

“Yejun, are you a freshman?”

“Yeah, what about you?”

“I’m a junior.”

“Ah… for speaking so informally, I-I’m sorry, sunbae.”

Yejun stuttered again in his surprise. But Junhyuk shook his head and continued.

“It’s fine, I’m twenty years old too. I just started school early, so we’re the same age.”

“Oh… like early graduation?”

“Something like that, I guess?”

“Junhyuk, you must be really smart.”

Yejun’s expression, startled like a rabbit’s, looked truly genuine. As if finding this amusing, Junhyuk stared intently at Yejun before letting out a chuckle.

“What’s your major?”

“I’m in Theater and Film. You?”

“I’m in Economics.”

“Ah… Economics seems like it would be difficult.”

It seemed Junhyuk really didn’t know who Yejun was, which actually made him feel more at ease. At the prospect that he might be able to make a friend on campus, a faint smile spread across Yejun’s lips.

“Yejun, since you’re a freshman, is there anything you want to do at school?”

“Well, I’ve tried the school food now.”

Yejun had a naturally introverted personality, so making friends wasn’t easy for him. But strangely, the conversation with Junhyuk never stopped. Holding his tray and getting food, Yejun stood in place for a moment to ponder Junhyuk’s question.

“Well, club activities or…”

Realizing he was holding up the line, Yejun quickly started moving again while diligently answering.

“I don’t know if I’ll have time for club activities. I think I’ll be busy enough just attending classes.”

These days, he was only doing occasional events, but Yejun was in the middle of preparing for his group’s second full-length album. Yejun vowed not to skip his university classes even when his group activities began, and sat down facing Junhyuk. Then he took a large spoonful of rice.

A moment later, Yejun’s eating speed slowed noticeably. Seeing him slowly poke at the remaining side dishes with his chopsticks, Junhyuk casually asked.

“Are you done?”

“I think so.”

In that moment, Junhyuk almost nagged Yejun for eating so little. But he felt he should keep his mouth shut for now.

“Should we get up?”

“Sure.”

The two of them stood up from their seats. They put on their bags and walked to return their trays.

“Ex… Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

A group of female students had flocked behind Yejun after he returned his tray.

“Can we take a picture?”

“Ah… a picture might be difficult right now. Would an autograph be okay instead?”

“Really? Th-Thank you.”

Yejun kindly gave them his autograph and then walked back to Junhyuk. It was only then that Junhyuk realized many people were secretly taking photos of Yejun with their phone cameras.

“What are you that people are asking to take your picture?”

“Ah… I’m a singer.”

Yejun said, as if whispering to Junhyuk.

“I see.”

Junhyuk genuinely did not know who Yejun was. The idol group Yejun belonged to, ‘Serious,’ was not yet a team that enjoyed high popularity. Besides, unless someone was a big fan of idols, ordinary people remembered idols by their whole group, not by distinguishing individual members well.

“Sorry for not recognizing you.”

“No! I don’t get upset over things like that, so you don’t have to be sorry.”