Chapter 10: Extra Whipped Cream.

“Joowon, are you heading out right away?”

“They say everyone’s already gathered.”

“Already?”

“Yeah. We’re going straight to Let’s Beer.”

Min Gihwan asked Shin Joowon in an easy, familiar tone as he gathered the books he had checked out.

Yooha swallowed dryly as he looked up at Joowon, who replied without much thought.

‘I didn’t even apologize properly yesterday… Should I say sorry now? If Shin Joowon dropped the class, I won’t see him tomorrow. And who knows when I’ll see him again.’

“Ah, um—”

“Let’s go.”

Just as Yooha hesitated and opened his mouth, Min Gihwan stepped closer to Shin Joowon and urged him on.

Joowon turned away without hesitation, and Yooha was left silently mouthing words he never got to say.

Thinking he couldn’t just let him leave like this, Yooha took a step forward and at that moment, Shin Joowon glanced back and met his eyes.

“See you tomorrow.”

His voice was quiet, but each word was clear.

Yooha stared blankly at the gentle smile formed by Joowon’s slightly upturned lips, then bowed deeply toward Joowon’s already-turned back.

He hadn’t mentioned yesterday at all. No sign of discomfort, no reproach, just a warm goodbye and “see you tomorrow.”

Realizing once again that Joowon was being considerate of him made Yooha’s chest churn, his breathing turning unsteady. It took a while before he managed to calm his racing thoughts and take a deep breath, his expression finally easing.

“……”

‘See you tomorrow… That means he didn’t drop the class, right?’

Yooha patted his chest, where his heart was still pounding.

‘Tomorrow, I’ll apologize properly. I have to.’

****

‘What time will Shin Joowon come to school today?’

Yooha wondered as he trudged toward the lecture hall. So lost in thought that his pace slowed, he didn’t notice that everyone who had exited the elevator with him had already gone into their classrooms.

‘Maybe I should buy him coffee and talk then.’

Yooha rarely went to cafés, thinking them a luxury he couldn’t afford—but somehow, spending money on Shin Joowon didn’t feel like a waste at all.

A single cup of coffee was far too cheap to fully express his gratitude and apology, and it certainly couldn’t replace the ruined sneakers.

Still, it was the only thing Yooha could do right now.

He checked the time on his phone.

Since he’d left home earlier than usual, there was still plenty of time before class.

‘Should I go to the café now and buy it ahead of time?’

‘No—what if he doesn’t like coffee?’

As Yooha stood alone in the hallway, lost in thought, someone tapped his shoulder from behind.

“Hi.”

“Ah! Hello…!”

Startled, Yooha turned around with wide eyes—and found Shin Joowon standing there.

He bowed deeply, almost excessively, and Joowon let out a soft laugh, a faint smile on his face.

“Why are you just standing here? Not going in?”

“Uh… I was thinking about something…”

Yooha couldn’t bring himself to say he had been thinking about Joowon, so he answered vaguely, touching his slightly warmed cheeks.

Still smiling, Joowon nodded toward the classroom as if telling him to come inside and started walking first. Yooha hurriedly called out to him, words spilling out before he could stop himself.

“Um—Sunbae!”

“Hm?”

“I—I want to buy you coffee…”

Joowon stopped and tilted his head.

“For me? Why?”

“I felt really bad about before…”

“Ah. About the sneakers I can’t wear anymore? I spent some money, sure, but it’s no big deal. Don’t worry about it.”

Though he hadn’t mentioned it at all in the library, Joowon brought it up openly now.

Yooha stiffened, eyes dropping as he fidgeted in embarrassment. After a brief pause, as if considering something, Joowon spoke again.

“Well, if doing that will make you feel better… I won’t refuse.”

“Shall we go down?”

Joowon smiled warmly and turned first.

For a brief, chilling moment, Yooha wondered if Joowon could see right through him.

Snapping back to himself and realizing Joowon was already walking away, Yooha hurried to follow.

They stepped into the elevator Joowon had held open.

At this hour, people were heading up to classes, not down, so it was just the two of them inside. As the elevator descended toward the café on basement level two, Joowon finally spoke.

“Come to think of it, I don’t even know your name. What is it?”

“Ah… I’m Jin Yooha. I’m two years below you. You can call me comfortably. You don’t have to speak formally either…”

His voice came out stiff with tension. Seeing Yooha so visibly nervous, Joowon chuckled once.

“Then I’ll call you comfortably too, Yooha.”

“Yes…”

Hearing his name spoken in that low, pleasant voice made Yooha’s shoulders tense.

It wasn’t unusual to hear his name from others—so why did it feel so strangely ticklish when Shin Joowon said it? The unfamiliar sensation made his whole body feel sensitive, and he hurried after Joowon, who was already walking ahead.

Keeping up with those long strides left Yooha slightly out of breath.

Only after arriving at the café in the business building did Yooha finally relax.

The place was filled with students half-dead with exhaustion, waiting for their coffee.

As Shin Joowon stepped inside, heads turned instantly, gazes sticking to him—but he didn’t seem to care at all, merely brushing back a stray lock of hair.

Yooha clutched the wallet he’d taken out of his bag.

“…Is there anything you’d like, Sunbae?”

Joowon studied the menu on the wall carefully. Even the way he deliberated looked impressive.

Thinking that he was someone who naturally drew attention wherever he went, Yooha absentmindedly fiddled with his worn wallet. Joowon glanced down at it briefly, then smiled.

“I’ll have a chocolate frappuccino. Extra whipped cream.”

The moment Joowon said it, Yooha froze, as if thorns had filled his mouth.

The menu instantly brought back memories of his past mistake. Swallowing hard, Yooha forced himself to move toward the empty counter.

Joowon stepped up quietly behind him.

“One chocolate frappuccino, please. Extra whipped cream… is that okay?”

“It already comes with whipped cream. Would you like extra added?”

“Uh… yes, please.”

“That’ll be an extra 500 won. Anything else?”

Yooha nodded, about to hand over his card—since he’d planned from the start to buy only Joowon’s drink—

“I’ll have another one, same thing.”

—if Shin Joowon hadn’t suddenly cut in.

“Ah—Sunbae, I—”

“It tastes better when you drink together.”

Joowon ordered a second drink without asking.

The cashier immediately adjusted the order, staring at Yooha expectantly, leaving him no choice but to hand over his card.

As 10,000 won disappeared in an instant, his phone vibrated twice in warning.

After briefly glancing at Yooha’s awkwardly raised hand, Joowon said he’d wait outside and turned away.

With card, receipt, and buzzer in hand, Yooha stepped aside for the next customer. The expense was unplanned, but thinking of it as the price of ruining Joowon’s sneakers made it bearable.

Deciding to eat cup noodles for lunch, Yooha let out a small sigh.

As the café gradually emptied, Yooha’s chocolate frappuccinos were ready.

Carrying both cups and some napkins, he stepped outside to find Shin Joowon leaning against the glass wall, scrolling through his phone.

“Sunbae, here…”

“Oh, thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”

Joowon slipped his phone into his coat pocket and took the cup.

When his cool fingertips brushed Yooha’s hand, Yooha flinched and dipped his head slightly.

Expecting them to head to the lecture hall, Yooha instead watched Joowon turn down the opposite corridor in confusion.

Joowon looked back at him, tilting his head as if Yooha were the strange one.

“Why?”

“Aren’t we… going to class?”

“There’s still time.”

Joowon answered casually, then continued while looking at Yooha standing a short distance away.

“Professor Oh Sanghyun is always at least ten minutes late. Wasn’t he last week too?”

“…Yes, he was.”

“He doesn’t really check attendance anyway. We won’t be late even if we take a short break.”

His confident, trustworthy tone made Yooha nod without thinking.

Joowon headed toward the lounge without hesitation, gesturing for Yooha to follow.

Yooha trailed after him, unable to shake his nervous worry about being late.

“Shall we sit over there?”

“Yes…”

When they stepped inside, the clean, orderly lounge came into view.

Despite being in his third semester, Yooha had never been here before, and his eyes darted around on their own.

The empty space felt larger than expected, and after a brief moment of surprise, Yooha hurried to the table Joowon indicated—a seat overlooking the lawn outside.