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Join the Server“I hadn’t specifically studied to get into Korea University. It was simply because it was within Seoul, making it accessible by subway.”
“So you just happened to get good grades and ended up coming to Korea University?”
“You could say that.”
Her Suneung scores had turned out better than she expected. Her homeroom teacher, utterly delighted, had practically danced a jig while urging Eunhae to apply to Korea University.
“After I submitted the application, I realized it was a national university, so the tuition was quite affordable. I thought it was a stroke of luck.”
“If you say that anywhere else, people will call you insufferable.”
“…Really?”
“Next time someone asks, just say you aimed for a university in Seoul, including Korea University, and your scores turned out well. Only state it that way.”
“But that’s what I just said, isn’t it?”
“You simply don’t know how to phrase things properly.”
Eunhae nodded agreeably.
Communicating through a keyboard or a phone keypad was vastly different from speaking aloud. She severely lacked the skill of direct conversation with people.
“I think I’ll take a public speaking class next semester. There’s that mandatory elective for freshmen, you know.”
“If a third-year student takes it, even the professor will feel awkward. Just talk to me more.”
“It’s infuriating that you’re my only friend!”
Eunhae clenched her fist and sighed deeply.
Now that she had rested enough, it was time to return to the library.
“At first, studying in the library felt amazing.”
“And now?”
“Now it’s just a familiar prison, I suppose. I just want to finish midterms and escape.”
“That sounds like you won’t study after midterms are over.”
“You might enjoy studying, but I have a lot of other things to do.”
“What else do you have to do besides being with me?”
“Makoto is waiting. We just started dating, you know.”
“That game?”
“Yes.”
“This ‘Makoto’ person is a girl, right?”
“Yes. Probably?”
“Why ‘probably’?”
“Just because she appears to be a girl doesn’t mean I can blindly believe she is one. You have to keep an open mind to prepare for unexpected situations.”
“…What does that even mean?”
“It’s just… a thing.”
“I never thought I’d feel jealous of a girl, but I’m a little jealous now.”
“My character is dating, so why are you jealous?”
“…”
“…”
“Just go inside. Go study, Noona.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Freedom!”
The last exam was ‘Understanding Eastern Classics.’ Since it had been pushed to Saturday morning due to other classes, many people, like Eunhae, were shouting for freedom.
“Sob, sob, Makoto, wait for me. I’m coming.”
“Where are you going, Noona?”
As soon as she exited the classroom, Eunhae was immediately caught by Jung Seunghee, who hadn’t forgotten to grab her hand.
“Home?”
“All your exams are over, and you’re going straight home?”
“Because Makoto is waiting…?”
“You should pay some attention to your real-life boyfriend, too.”
“We saw each other every day in the library until yesterday.”
“But today, we’re going to see each other outside the library.”
What did he mean, seeing each other outside the library, when they were currently outside the library?
Eunhae tilted her head in confusion but followed Jung Seunghee. With her hand held, going anywhere else was impossible.
Jung Seunghee stopped in front of a black SUV and opened the car door.
“Get in. You said you wanted to see the cherry blossoms.”
“Is this your car?”
Eunhae asked, her gaze sweeping over the sleek body of the vehicle.
“Isn’t this an expensive car? I don’t know much about cars, but it looks like one from *that* company.”
The emblem—a sharp triangle within a circle—was familiar even to her.
“Is it really your car? Did you bring your parents’ car?”
“It’s my car. My father uses it when he comes to Korea, but the title is in my name.”
The car’s interior was spacious and comfortable.
“Wow, the inside of the car is really nice too.”
“Shall we get going, then?”
Jung Seunghee shifted gears and started the car.
“By the way, where are we going?”
“You said you wanted to see the cherry blossoms.”
“They’re already falling everywhere in Seoul. I think they’ve all fallen in Yeouido too.”
“If we go further north, there are still places where the cherry blossoms are blooming.”
Eunhae’s eyes sparkled.
Jung Seunghee was right. Though the peak blooming season had passed, the cherry blossoms scattering with the wind were a truly magnificent sight.
“It’s beautiful!”
“Do you like duck *baeksuk*?”
“Suddenly? Why duck *baeksuk*?”
“You haven’t had lunch yet.”
“Duck *baeksuk*… I haven’t tried it, but it sounds good.”
“I have a reservation, so we’ll go there.”
Cherry blossoms were in full bloom even in front of the *baeksuk* restaurant.
It was a quintessential *baeksuk* specialty restaurant. There were several rooms with traditional floor seating, and the pre-ordered food would be brought out.
Of course, all of this was new to Eunhae.
“It’s delicious!”
“This place is pretty good.”
“How did you know about a place like this?”
“My father’s friend brought me here. It suited my taste quite well.”
“You look like you’d only eat pasta and risotto, so this is surprising.”
“That’s a stereotype.”
Jung Seunghee tore a large duck leg and placed it in front of Eunhae.
“Eat a lot. It’s good for your health. Eat more meat than rice.”
“Even my dad doesn’t nag me like that.”
“I’m not your dad, so I can.”
“What kind of logic is that…?”
Regardless, the duck *baeksuk* was delicious. She had only thought of smoked duck, expecting it to be incredibly greasy, but it was surprisingly light and savory.
The duck was large, and the quantity seemed ample for two people. However, when she came to her senses, the earthenware pot was clean.
“Wow, I ate without thinking. I’m really full.”
“It makes me happy to see you eat well. This place is good, right?”
“Yes. It would be nice to come with my dad too. What’s the name of the place?”
Jung Seunghee told her the restaurant’s name and then stood up.
“The cherry blossoms haven’t fallen yet in front of here. Let’s take a walk around.”
“Okay, okay.”
As he said, the surroundings were still filled with unfaded cherry blossoms. Though not as profusely as during their peak, the sight of the petals slowly falling was quite pleasant.
“How did you know there were still cherry blossoms here?”
“You said you were sad you couldn’t go cherry blossom viewing because of midterms. I thought that if we went further north from Seoul, the blossoms bloom later, so they probably wouldn’t have fallen yet.”
“Oh, you’re smart.”
Jung Seunghee smiled at Eunhae’s compliment.
Standing beneath the cherry trees, he looked incredibly handsome. Like a model on a spring photoshoot, he was both striking in himself and perfectly harmonious with the surrounding scenery.
“You really are handsome, you know.”
“I never get tired of hearing compliments from you, Noona. Please give me more.”
“You’re handsome.”
“I’d appreciate it if you put a little more sincerity into it.”
“How can I put more genuine sincerity into it than this?”
“It’s fine. Let’s just walk.”
The two walked slowly along the path.
Despite it being a weekend afternoon, there was no one else around. It was as if only Eunhae and Jung Seunghee existed in the world.
The sound of the wind rustling through the branches was delightful.
Suddenly, Eunhae realized it had been far too long since she’d heard such sounds.
Ever since she had matured, she had been too busy trying to escape people and fate by running home.
‘I wouldn’t have felt this if it weren’t for Jung Seunghee.’
She looked down at their clasped hands. His large hand held hers firmly.
“Thank you.”
“Huh? You already said thank you earlier. I’m grateful you enjoyed the meal too.”
“No, not that…”
Eunhae chose her words carefully.
“I don’t think I would have felt so good in such a wonderful place if it weren’t for you.”
“…”
“That… I don’t really like going out. But thanks to you, I’ve learned that such wonderful places exist by going out.”
“…”
“So, thank you.”
“I’ll take you to even more wonderful places in the future.”
“Yes, thank you.”
The atmosphere was growing slightly more serious. Eunhae, feeling awkward, lightly tapped Jung Seunghee’s arm with her free hand.
“Wow, so this is what it means to have a good friend. I never knew before because I didn’t have any friends.”
“Boyfriend.”
“Huh?”
“Not just a friend, but a boyfriend.”
“Huh? Oh… right. Boyfriend.”
Jung Seunghee stared intently at her. Eunhae smiled awkwardly, trying to avoid his gaze.
However, with their hands still clasped, it was difficult to effectively escape.
To make matters worse, Jung Seunghee began to tighten his grip on her hand.
“Noona.”
“Uh, uh?”
“Can I kiss you?”
A startled Eunhae stopped in her tracks. Jung Seunghee, as if he had been waiting, also halted.
Her face slowly turned crimson.
“Ki-kiss… Isn’t that too fast? I don’t think we know each other that much, that deeply, yet.”
“A kiss is something you can do right after meeting someone.”
“I’m a conservative person! I-I’m not that open-minded!”
You’ve got to see this next! The Moon Reflected In The Water will keep you on the edge of your seat. Start reading today!
Read : The Moon Reflected In The Water
