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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Ji Hu's Story
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It was a perfect admission—top university, the exact major he wanted.
Ji Hu finished orientation with the thrilled anticipation of a freshman and brimmed with expectations for college life.
Rumors about Yi Yeon had already spread like wildfire among the guys right from the start of the semester.
Whenever guys gathered, they were busy talking about Yi Yeon.
Things like, "I've never seen a girl that stunning," or "Someone said they spotted Yi Yeon somewhere today—wish I'd gone too." Seniors and freshmen alike buzzed with excitement.
But Ji Hu couldn't relate. He hadn't seen Yi Yeon yet.
Since she skipped orientation, even after enrollment, Ji Hu remained oblivious to her for a while.
They were supposedly taking the same classes, but whether it was because Ji Hu always sat in the front row, he just couldn't spot her.
That didn't last long, though. Soon enough, Ji Hu caught sight of her.
From that day on, he couldn't shake the intense first impression that had bombarded his heart.
Her profile was impossible to look away from. Among the hordes of seated freshmen, Yi Yeon stood out effortlessly.
Even without hearing descriptions from the guys, anyone would have instantly known: that's the Yu Yi Yeon they're all talking about.
Not just him—guys and girls alike in the lecture hall were surely stealing glances at her.
She just glowed. Eyes naturally followed the light emanating from her. It was impossible to tear them away.
A smooth forehead flowing down to a perfectly proportioned, straight nose bridge, a cute little nose tip, thick lashes reaching for the sky, and clear eyes that looked even larger on her small face. It was a face that demanded attention.
Her hair fell to her collarbone, and just seeing her sit with perfect posture made his chest ache.
'Girls like that know they're hot, so she's gotta be haughty and standoffish.'
Ji Hu kept trying to avert his lingering gaze.
Once he realized he was constantly searching for her, he tried imprinting a clichéd prejudice in his heart.
But that prejudice shattered soon after.
It was on the way out of the lecture hall after class. Yi Yeon was walking right in front of him.
As they reached the door, Yi Yeon suddenly stopped, and Ji Hu collided with her.
"Ah, sorry."
"No, I stopped short."
The moment he met her deep, round eyes looking back at him with an apologetic expression, Ji Hu froze as if nailed in place. He couldn't breathe.
A shiver ran through his entire body.
He couldn't see or hear anything around him.
It felt like only Yi Yeon and he existed in the world.
The mad pounding of his heart echoed in his ears.
In that instant, Ji Hu thought: this is my chance.
He wanted to talk to this girl. If he let her go now, who knew when another opportunity would come.
Yi Yeon had unwittingly given him the perfect excuse by stopping in his path.
Ji Hu seized the moment and kept the conversation going.
"Does it hurt where I bumped you?"
"Nope, I'm fine."
Yi Yeon smiled with her eyes, as if to say it was no big deal and he shouldn't worry.
As she turned to leave, Ji Hu grabbed at the chance to stop her.
"I'm Eom Ji Hu. You're...?"
Ji Hu already knew who she was but pretended otherwise.
"I'm Yu Yi Yeon."
"Have you checked out the campus?"
He wanted to keep talking, but nothing clever came to mind.
With no good questions popping up—even though weeks had passed since enrollment—he blurted out something random like asking if she'd toured the school.
And so, they naturally walked together in the direction she was heading.
Ji Hu matched her slower pace, adjusting his stride.
"Of course I have. I've probably circled it a few times by now."
She cutely folded her fingers one by one, as if counting how many. It nearly made him grin.
"I haven't even done it once."
"Wait, really?"
It was, of course, a lie.
Didn't every freshman tour the campus as a rite of passage?
He just wanted to talk to Yi Yeon more. He hoped using a campus tour as an excuse would let him spend a bit longer with her.
The university Ji Hu attended was famous for its sprawling campus, even by Seoul standards.
Beautifully maintained, it perfectly fulfilled students' dreams of ideal college life.
"Yeah, so I don't know my way around. If you're free, wanna show me around?"
"Sure, I'll guide you."
Ji Hu was surprised by Yi Yeon's unexpectedly cool personality.
He'd thought she might get wary and brush him off as some pushy guy.
He'd said it figuring rejection was fine—he had nothing to lose.
But Yi Yeon accepted readily, showing him around campus and sharing her favorite spots. Like places guys might like, where the library was, where the cafeteria was—she was proactive about it all.
She really seemed to believe Ji Hu didn't know where the cafeteria was.
No pretenses whatsoever. Ji Hu felt ashamed and sorry for judging her based on prejudice.
Why judge someone without knowing them? Especially not by looks.
As Ji Hu and Yi Yeon walked the campus together, he felt eyes on them from all around.
Yi Yeon was just too pretty—people couldn't help staring. Ji Hu's shoulders puffed up with pointless pride at being beside her.
He wanted to get close to her. To Yu Yi Yeon.
And it seemed possible, thanks to her straightforward, cool nature.
A few semesters passed, and as hoped, Ji Hu claimed the spot as her closest friend.
At first, he really just wanted to be friends.
Until he realized his feelings were love.
Ji Hu stuck to Yi Yeon's side under the excuse of friendship.
Keeping her from going anywhere else. Keeping her fidgeting only in front of him.
If she wanted to see a movie, he'd go with her. If she pulled an all-nighter studying, he'd keep watch. He'd block the gazes of other guys chasing her.
Under the guise of friendship, he did everything he wanted.
But because Yi Yeon saw him only as a friend, their relationship never leveled up.
Ji Hu had high self-esteem and brimming confidence.
He was pretty popular wherever he went.
So he figured Yi Yeon would eventually like him back after spending time together. What a huge miscalculation.
Thinking back, he'd liked her from the start.
The thrill he'd felt seeing her first time was because she'd already captured his heart.
Love at first sight.
But he couldn't just blurt out his feelings recklessly.
Yi Yeon was cautious about guys.
Even guys Ji Hu fended off would still pester her from behind the scenes—there were always one or two.
But she never gave them the time of day.
At first, he thought she was picky about men, but that wasn't it.
She just didn't seem very interested in romance yet.
And so, three years passed.
For a full three years, Ji Hu had to hide himself and his feelings.
His one consolation was being the only one allowed in the seat next to her.
Then, as graduation loomed suddenly, anxiety set in.
If they graduated like this without him confessing, Yi Yeon would never know his feelings—forever. And since he still had to enlist, what if they lost touch completely? All sorts of worries flooded him.
Every time another guy hit on her, Ji Hu felt like he was going insane. How dare they target Yu Yi Yeon when I'm right here? Such gutsy bastards.
As his desire to be more than "just friends" grew, Ji Hu got drunk and messed up. His life's biggest mistake.
Three years of effort crumbled. The confession line, the timing—everything was so reckless.
He'd brought on the pathetic outcome himself. So he wanted to avoid it all.
Yi Yeon seemed to need time too.
He'd dodged the situation like a coward.
But Ji Hu had never once thought of letting Yi Yeon go.
First, let some time pass, then apologize. Beg on his knees until his hands and feet blistered—that was the plan. But Yi Yeon vanished.
Around graduation, he heard she'd gotten a job and frantically tried contacting her, but her number had changed.
None of their college friends seemed in touch with her either.
She'd hidden away completely. A one-sided game of hide-and-seek.
Where on earth was she? Shouldn't she at least give him a chance for a cowardly excuse? It was frustrating.
Even in the military, he checked if anyone had heard from her—nothing.
With looks like hers, she shouldn't be that hard to hide. She didn't seem to do SNS either.
Ji Hu kept digging for news on Yi Yeon, but not a single friend had seen or heard from her.
He never dreamed he'd run into her again at Woosung Card.
Not in his wildest dreams.
For some reason, Yi Yeon had thoroughly hidden herself.
Now he finally understood why he couldn't find her no matter how hard he tried.
She'd cut off everything and gone into hiding.
But thick glasses and stiff hair couldn't fool Ji Hu's eyes.
She looked unfamiliar at a glance, but still so pretty. Just her eyes made his breath catch wildly.
It was fate, destiny.
Even after years, no matter her appearance, one look and she stole his heart again.
The thrill of knowing the pearl hidden inside that shell was his alone.
This was his second chance.
To meet like this.
Ji Hu vowed not to repeat the same mistake.
She seemed to want to hide and not be found, so he played along.
Yeah, I'll pretend not to know too.
I'll approach slowly.
This time, not as a friend, but as a man—he'd show his feelings gradually.
But Yi Yeon's walls turned out tougher than expected.
Ji Hu grew resentful toward her for not even glancing his way.
How can I make you mine?
At this point, he'd even resort to blackmail if he could.
Anything to keep her by his side.
Then it hit him: Yi Yeon wanted to hide from him.
Maybe...
A smile crept onto Ji Hu's lips.
