* * *
As soon as Jeongseo lifted his head, one of his eyes twitched.
“Seo Jeongseo, why aren’t you answering my messages? I thought something happened.”
It was Park Doyoung.
It was Thursday today, and he knew they had a class together, but that didn’t make the discomfort go away.
Unfortunately, since Shin Junhee had arrived late due to some errands, the seat next to Jeongseo was left empty. Without hesitation, Park Doyoung took the spot.
“That’s Junhee’s seat.”
Despite Jeongseo’s reprimand, Doyoung simply smiled and placed his bag on the desk.
Recently, Shin Junhee had been sitting next to Jeongseo after a fight with Nam Seungho.
“Oh, really? Tell him to sit in the front. First come, first served.”
Then, as if nothing was wrong, Park Doyoung casually greeted the classmates around Jeongseo.
Seeing this, Jeongseo didn’t say anything further.
He needed to have a conversation with him anyway.
“You didn’t actually block me, did you?”
Doyoung’s tone was playful, but his gaze was anything but lighthearted.
Jeongseo met his eyes without flinching.
“I didn’t block you. I just only check messages from close friends. What was so urgent?”
Doyoung’s lips pressed together before releasing slightly.
Clearly drawing a line, Jeongseo’s actions made Doyoung rub his mouth with his finger.
“Oh, really? Then I guess we need to get closer. It wasn’t anything urgent—I just wanted to ask something. You said you were in the same class as Pyo Yoontae in high school, right?”
“Yeah, for two years straight. Why?”
“Oh, two years? I’m jealous. So that’s why you guys are close.”
Even such a casual remark somehow irritated Jeongseo.
He couldn’t pinpoint why, but it left an odd, unpleasant feeling.
“Then… he didn’t, by any chance, date anyone in high school, did he?”
At that, Jeongseo straightened his back.
What a perfect setup!
It was as if Doyoung had served him the opportunity on a silver platter.
With confidence, he opened his mouth.
“He didn’t date anyone in high school, but right now, he and I—”
“Oh, of course! Someone like Pyo Yoontae wouldn’t date in a place like that. I shouldn’t have even asked.”
Doyoung cut him off before he could finish, nodding as if he had already decided the answer.
Jeongseo was left speechless.
Someone like Pyo Yoontae? A place like that?
No matter how he heard it, Doyoung was looking down on both the neighborhood Jeongseo grew up in and himself.
The atmosphere around them cooled instantly, but Doyoung, oblivious or indifferent, acted as if nothing was wrong.
“Just because you went to the same school doesn’t mean you’re the same. Even if he did date, it was probably just for fun, right?”
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
Jeongseo’s voice turned sharp, but Doyoung just shrugged.
“I’m not trying to insult you or anything. I’m just saying the reality is that Pyo Yoontae and us… we’re different. Am I the only one who thinks that?”
Doyoung glanced around as if seeking agreement, just as Shin Junhee entered the classroom.
Noticing Doyoung in his usual seat, Junhee furrowed his brows and placed his bag in the seat across from Jeongseo.
“Why are you talking about Pyo Yoontae again? You’re going to stress Jeongseo out. Is he a celebrity or something? What makes him so different from us?”
At Junhee’s scolding, Doyoung scoffed and crossed his arms.
“Oh, come on, let’s be real. If you had to be reborn, would you choose to be yourself again, or would you rather be the son of a chaebol chairman?”
Pyo Yoontae wasn’t someone who judged people by status.
But right now, Doyoung was not only looking down on himself but also making Yoontae out to be some elitist snob.
That, more than anything, made Jeongseo furious.
“Doyoung, that’s not the point. Yoontae is just a regular college student like us. He didn’t treat anyone differently when we were in school together. If you talk like this, you’re insulting him too.”
“Oh, sure, I’m sure it looked that way. But Jeongseo, did you ever actually ask him? You didn’t, did you? You’re such a joke. I heard you act all high and mighty with other people too, like you’re something special. Do you think you’re someone just because Pyo Yoontae hangs out with you?”
Doyoung’s face reddened as he spoke, glaring daggers at Jeongseo.
Was this really something to get this mad about?
Jeongseo felt both taken aback and exasperated.
Looking at Doyoung’s expression, he suddenly understood why Yoontae had just told him to give his number instead.
Doyoung’s obsession with Yoontae was obvious even to Jeongseo.
No one in their right mind would want to hand their lover’s number over to someone like him.
As Doyoung’s reaction grew more extreme, Jeongseo let out a quiet sigh and glanced at the clock at the back of the lecture hall.
There were only two minutes left until class started.
“Doyoung, let’s step outside and talk.”
“Why? If you have something to say, just say it here. Why sneak off like a thief?”
Jeongseo didn’t like Doyoung.
But since Doyoung didn’t know about his relationship with Yoontae, he didn’t want to humiliate him in front of everyone.
At least, he didn’t—until about three seconds ago.
His expression twisted as he spoke.
“Yoontae called you a fucking clingy freak. And we’re dating. So stop. You’re making things uncomfortable.”
A heavy silence filled the room, as if someone had poured ice water over it.
Doyoung stiffened, staring at Jeongseo, before suddenly bursting into laughter.
“…You’re such a delusional liar. I must’ve been an idiot to ask you for a favor. I’ll just meet him myself.”
With that, Doyoung got up and moved to another seat.
Surprisingly, Jeongseo was the one caught off guard.
This wasn’t the reaction he had expected.
Glancing around, he saw his friends also looking at him.
The atmosphere felt strangely off.
Just as Jeongseo was about to say something, the professor entered the room.
Everyone immediately turned their attention to the front, breaking eye contact with Jeongseo.
But for some reason, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something had gone wrong.
As he reached out to tap Junhee’s back, a message notification popped up from Pyo Yoontae.
[Black Cat: I think I’ll finish class early today. Wanna go see a movie after you’re done?] 2:01 PM
[Black Cat: (Attached movie poster)] 2:01 PM
[Black Cat: You said you wanted to watch this one.] 2:01 PM
Just seeing Yoontae’s message made the turmoil in his chest settle.
For now, he decided to ignore the strange atmosphere he had felt earlier.
But the fact that Doyoung didn’t believe him was a serious problem.
[Yes! Let’s go watch it!] 2:03 PM
[Black Cat: Should I pick you up after class so we can go straight there?] 2:03 PM
Jeongseo’s thumb hovered over the screen.
‘I’ll just meet him myself.’
Doyoung’s voice, laced with obsession, echoed in his ears.
Maybe he should just ask Yoontae to confirm their relationship openly.
‘Anyway, Jeongseo, that guy is ridiculously clingy. Just give him my number. If he contacts me, I’ll deal with it.’
Still staring at the chat, Jeongseo only snapped out of it when Yoontae sent another message.
[Jeongseo?]
[No, it’s fine. I need to drop off my bag at home anyway! You don’t have to come!] 2:07 PM
Park Doyoung didn’t have Pyo Yoontae’s phone number, didn’t know where he lived, and didn’t even attend the same school.
While it was known which school Pyo Yoontae went to, if Park Doyoung had truly wanted to meet him, he would have found a way already.
So unless someone deliberately connected them, there was no real reason for him to ever meet Pyo Yoontae.
It was only after some time that a reply came from Pyo Yoontae, saying he’d think about it.
As Jeongseo slipped his phone back into his pocket, he felt a sharp prickling sensation at the back of his head.
Turning around, he found Park Doyoung glaring at him.
This kind of peer harassment was something Jeongseo was quite used to.
Since this was his last class on Thursday, Jeongseo slung his bag over his shoulder and left the lecture hall.
The discomfort he had felt right before class had turned out to be unnecessary, as his friends greeted him and parted ways as usual.
Only Park Doyoung had snapped, “So even lies work now, huh,” before storming off.
Jeongseo ignored him without a care and exited the building when Shin Junhee suddenly called out to him from behind.
“Junhee, what’s up?”
Shin Junhee lightly tapped Jeongseo’s back before speaking.
“Don’t let Park Doyoung get to you too much. I heard something from a friend who went to the same school as him…”
Junhee bent slightly, bringing his face close to Jeongseo’s ear.
The warmth of his breath made Jeongseo flinch, but before he could react further, Junhee dropped an even more shocking statement.
“Park Doyoung confessed to Pyo Yoontae and got rejected.”
* * *
