YEAR 2014
The air on campus was thick with the scent of blooming magnolias and the lazy hum of students packing up for the day. Laughter and chatter drifted through the courtyard, mixing with the rustle of leaves and the soft buzz of vending machines.
Ga-young leaned against one outside the business faculty, two sodas in hand, her lips curving into a sly smile as she spotted Min-jae walking toward her, sleeves rolled, tie loose, that same unreadable calm that made him impossible to figure out.
"You're late," she said, straightening up and tossing him a can.
He caught it easily, raising a brow. "You told me to meet you after your class. It ended five minutes ago."
"Exactly," she said, cracking her drink open. "Five minutes is late in girl time."
Min-jae's mouth twitched, almost a smile, barely there, but she caught it. After a year of chasing him, she'd learned to read the smallest shifts in his expression.
"So," he said, leaning against the railing beside her, "you dragged me here just to teach me about girl time?"
"Nope," Ga-young said, turning to face him fully, eyes bright under the afternoon sun. "I dragged you here to ask you out. Properly this time."
He paused mid-sip, the can halfway to his lips. "Let's do it then."
She blinked, soda nearly slipping from her hand. "Wait—what?"
"I said let's do it," he repeated casually, like he was talking about the weather. "You've been at it for over a year. I decided to give it a try."
"You're… going to date me?" she asked, suspicious but hopeful.
"Possibly," he said, a small smirk appearing. "But don't expect me to be all lovey-dovey. That's not really my style."
Ga-young just stared at him, stunned, confused, thrilled, all at once.
Then he straightened his sleeves, glancing at his watch. "I have a meeting in ten minutes. Anything else?"
She shook her head wordlessly.
"Good," he said, stepping past her. "And try not to skip too many lectures. You're not in high school anymore."
That snapped her back to life. "I'm not interested anymore!" she yelled after him.
He stopped, looking over his shoulder with that cool, infuriating smirk. "Guess someone has to make you interested again."
Before he could take another step, she ran up and planted a quick peck on his cheek.
He froze — eyes wide, composure gone.
"I'm just claiming what's mine," she whispered near his ear, grinning. "You've got too many girls eyeing you. I can't risk it."
A few students nearby gasped. Someone whispered. The whole courtyard felt like it had stopped.
Ga-young just grinned, stepping back with that fearless glint in her eyes. "Don't worry about being lovey-dovey, I'll handle all the flirting. You just have to take it."
And with that, she turned and walked away, soda can swinging in her hand like a victory flag.
Min-jae just stood there, frozen, his calm composure finally cracking as a small, helpless laugh escaped him. How can someone be that bold?
Before he could even recover, Seok-min jogged up, panting. "Bro! what am I hearing?! Are you guys serious?"
"We have a meeting," Min-jae said, walking past him.
"You're not gonna deny it?!"
"Do you have a problem with it?" Min-jae asked smoothly.
"I..you said you didn't like her!"
"I said I didn't," he corrected, "not wouldn't."
Seok-min stared at him like he'd grown a second head. "She's a walking explosion! You sure you can handle her?"
Min-jae stopped mid-step, turning with that quiet, unnerving stare that shut Seok-min up immediately. "Are you going to keep talking, or do I have to start ignoring you now?"
Seok-min groaned, following him. "You're so cold, man."
"Then wear a jacket," Min-jae said dryly, slipping his hands back into his pockets.