Chapter 11: Back on Campus

“Seven in the morning? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Chaewoo gritted his teeth as he shoved his phone into his pocket.

The professor’s opera, which he had completely forgotten about, finally came back to him.
A sigh escaped his lips.

To make matters worse, tomorrow was Saturday.

There went his plan to sleep in.

Moreover, the students had to pay for the tickets out of their own pockets.

This practice of mandatory attendance at music college was nothing more than a way to sell tickets and boost the professor’s or senior’s prestige.

“And I don’t even have the money.”

Normally, he would have skipped it even if it were mandatory, but if the professor was personally checking attendance, that changed things.

Missing it could potentially affect his graduation.

Resigned, Chaewoo set his alarm for six in the morning that night before heading to bed.

****

The next day.

In front of the music building, early-arriving students were moving busily.

While other departments were said to be busy studying, the vocal department had mobilized over ten people at seven in the morning just to wait on a professor.

Yawning, Chaewoo approached Jeong Taehyun.

“Senior Chaewoo! You’re here!”

“What should I do?”

“Ah, we’re moving the professor’s gear right now. She told us to pack up everything in her office and bring it to the Seoul Arts Center… We just need to load it all into the cars and head out around eight.”

“Whose cars?”

“Beom is bringing his, and Seeun from the sophomore class is bringing hers. Kim Jun’s car was totaled in an accident recently…”

“It’s a miracle he’s still alive.”

“Tell me about it. I heard you used to drive a car too until your sophomore year, Senior. Why don’t you drive these days?”

Chaewoo froze at the unexpected question.

“Is it true the rumor that your parents took it away because your grades dropped? It was so cool seeing you drive that BMW 7 series back then. It’s a real shame.”

“Do you have time for this? When are we going to finish moving all this gear? Everyone else is working; we should help too.”

“Oh, right, right. First, please bring down the professor’s dress and her knee massager from upstairs. The others don’t know how to disassemble the massager. You know how to do it, right, Senior?”

“I’ll do it.”

Chaewoo naturally changed the subject and entered the building.

He hadn’t even properly started the day, yet he already wanted to go back to his studio and lie down.

But contrary to his wishes, there was too much to do.

Once they brought the gear to the opera rehearsal room at the Arts Center, they would have to run errands for the singers and the professor throughout the entire rehearsal.

From simple tasks like moving bags or bringing water to acting as assistant stage directors—there was practically nothing they wouldn’t do.

They would be subjected to such unpaid labor until just before the performance started at 3:00 PM, and after the show, they had to attend the cleanup and the after-party.

Since all of that involved costs that individual students had to bear, Chaewoo planned to slip out of the after-party as early as possible.

“Hello, Senior Chaewoo.”

When he entered the professor’s office, students were busy packing.

From small items like CDs and recorders to laptops, books, costumes, blankets, folding digital pianos, and makeup boxes—it resembled a moving company.

Whether all of that was actually necessary for the day of the performance was a mystery, but

Chaewoo carried the boxes without a word.

It was the tradition of the music department, so there was no helping it.

Furthermore, there were quite a few students who actually looked forward to this tradition of serving the professor.

Chaewoo had been that type until his sophomore year—no, until the first semester of his junior year.

Back then, following a senior’s or professor’s schedule as a group and learning even one small thing was enjoyable.

Even now, truth be told, he might have enjoyed it if his situation were more relaxed… but that wouldn’t happen anymore.

At least Chaewoo was an upperclassman, so things were slightly better for him.

The freshmen and sophomores had to personally order and pick up snacks for the professor and the opera singers—at their own expense, of course.

Chaewoo himself, during his freshman year, had spent all night searching for famous lunchbox catering companies on social media to arrange ‘tributes.’

This was why someone with an outsider personality like Kim Yunso couldn’t possibly survive in the vocal department.

“Senior Chaewoo, Senior Yunso, whose car are you taking?”

A junior asked as they carried the gear down to the parking lot.

At that, the class members nearby all stared at Chaewoo.

Kim Yunso, who had arrived late, approached with a puzzled face.

“Why are you all huddled here?”

Since the number of students with their own cars was limited, those who didn’t get a ride had to use public transportation or taxis.

In Chaewoo’s class, only Euigeon and Seeun had cars. Even if four people rode in each car after loading the gear, that only covered eight people.

The rest had to find their own way to the venue.

The choice belonged to the seniors, and Chaewoo and Kim Yunso were the oldest students in the class.

“I’ll take the subway.”

Chaewoo had no intention of catching a ride in Euigeon’s car anyway.

He didn’t want to take seats away from the juniors who were working hard.

“I’ll go with Chaewoo, too.”

Once Kim Yunso finished answering, the juniors seemed relieved.

“Eh? Are you sure you don’t want to take Euigeon’s car, Seniors? Beom Euigeon is a great driver.

He’s so safe! How could we juniors move comfortably in a car while skipping over our seniors?”

As expected, the meddlesome Jeong Taehyun didn’t miss his chance to chime in.

Euigeon himself was waiting, rolling his car keys in his palm as if he were listening to someone else’s conversation.

He looked as though he didn’t care who got in.

“It’s fine, so you guys decide among yourselves.”

Chaewoo set the gear down in front of the car, waved his hand dismissively, and walked back toward the music building. Kim Yunso followed behind him.

“That freshman Omega, you know? Doesn’t she make it so obvious that she likes Senior Euigeon? You guys saw it too, right?”

A sophomore junior who had followed them whispered.

At that, Kim Yunso responded, which was rare for her.

“What?”

“She was smiling from ear to ear at the chance to ride in Senior Euigeon’s car. There are even rumors that they have a ‘thing’ going on.”

“Wasn’t he dating that Omega from the dance department? Seol Chaewoo, do you know anything?”

“How would I know? Good for him, being popular.”

“By the way, what’s with your arm?”

Kim Yunso rolled up Chaewoo’s sleeve and pointed to the bandages stuck all over his arm.

“Oh, it’s from a blood test yesterday… Ah.”

Chaewoo shut his mouth too late. He had told the truth without thinking.

“A blood test? Are you sick?”

“Just a checkup.”

Chaewoo glanced at Euigeon standing by the parking lot.
He was busy talking to the juniors around him and didn’t spare a glance this way.

‘Let’s just move the gear.’
Chaewoo entered the professor’s office and picked up the piled gear.
Perhaps because they were working as a pack, there wasn’t much left.
The last box Chaewoo picked up was quite bulky and heavy.

“Senior! Put that one in Senior Beom’s car. Seeun’s car is small and already full.”

Chaewoo, who was heading toward Jo Seeun’s car, had no choice but to turn around after hearing the junior.

Since the trunk was open, Euigeon’s car was easy to spot even from a distance.
The surrounding area was quiet; everyone seemed to have gone somewhere in the meantime.

Chaewoo hesitated before putting the box into the open trunk.

It looked so full that it didn’t seem like the box would fit.

There were several costumes hanging in the corner as well, and if he shoved it in wrong, they would all get wrinkled.

It seemed he needed to rearrange the trunk first.

He set the box on the ground and began to painstakingly reposition the gear inside like he was playing Tetris.

“What are you doing?”

A voice he wasn’t happy to hear reached him.

“I was just rearranging things because there didn’t seem to be room for the box.”

Chaewoo explained to the approaching Euigeon.

Stopping right beside him, Euigeon pushed the back sheet of the trunk all the way in, creating more space.

It was a very simple solution that made his hard work feel pointless.

“…Then I’ll leave this here and go.”

Chaewoo quickly placed the box in the newly created space. Then, Euigeon asked.

“Is that the last of the gear?”

‘Why is he speaking so casually?’

Just as he turned around to say no, a bright answer came from behind him.

“Yes, Senior!”

A light Omega pheromone scattered into the air. It was a female student he recognized.

‘So that’s the freshman Omega they were talking about.’

As Chaewoo narrowed his eyes and stepped back, their conversation continued naturally.

‘Right, there’s no reason for us to act like we know each other at school.’

In an instant, the freshman’s pheromones grew stronger.

Since she thought Chaewoo was a Beta, her intention to catch Euigeon’s attention without caring about her surroundings was obvious.

Chaewoo ignored it, as he didn’t care who was dating whom in the department.

“I’m done moving the gear.”

He locked eyes with Kim Yunso, who was walking toward the parking lot.

“Then let’s get going.”

“Ah, I’m already tired. Seriously, the vocal department is the most extra. Why did I even enter this place? I want to beat up the me from six years ago.”

The two complained side by side as they walked out of the main gate.

“Still, it’s a surprise that you’re actually attending.”

“I have to graduate too, Chaewoo.”

While walking to the station and talking about trivial things with Kim Yunso, Chaewoo’s phone vibrated.

[The urgent debt is settled. Thank you, Chaewoo. Let’s talk later.]

It was a text from his uncle.

Chaewoo felt relieved at the news that the debt was settled.

‘Thank god.’

The corners of his mouth, which had been set in a straight line, lifted slightly.

To be honest, this arrangement wasn’t bad for Chaewoo.

If a child was conceived, he might suffer from pregnancy symptoms, but until then, he could attend school and he had gotten rid of the debt collectors.

Moreover, he didn’t actually have to sleep with Beom Euigeon.

It couldn’t be better.

As that foreign actor said, they were just taking what they both wanted as partners.

Thinking that way, his sharp hostility toward Euigeon seemed to dilute a little.

Chaewoo moved forward with a much lighter step.

****

As soon as the class members entered the quiet pub, the interior became noisy in an instant.

Students who hadn’t been able to eat properly while working since the morning took their seats with excited faces.

The professor’s opera ended successfully, and several singers also attended the class after-party.

“Whoa, Senior Chaewoo, it’s been forever since we saw you at an after-party.”

“Oh, you’re right. You were never around. Finally! Omigod, Senior Yunso, too…”

“Wasn’t Senior Yunso a person who only exists in legends? A fossil is walking around on its own feet. Is today some special day?”

It was truly rare for Kim Yunso to attend an after-party, so the juniors made way for her with exaggerated surprise.

“Experience the bitter taste of the Cretaceous period, you punks. Chaewoo-saurus, sit down quickly.”

“I’m going further into the corner, Yunso-saurus.”

“Hey now. I’m not such an uncivilized junior as to view my seniors as ammonites. Master Chaewoo-saurus, since you seem to like the corner, please step this way first.”

The juniors welcomed Chaewoo, offering their seats.

Chaewoo chose a corner at a table as far away from Euigeon as possible.

In any case, Euigeon was stuck to the center table where the professor and the opera singers sat as if it were his designated seat, so they wouldn’t cross paths.