Ball-Boy Tactics

At that moment, it seemed like I was finally grasping the situation. So, I approached Kwon Jungwoo, who had been quietly standing in the parking lot…“We’ve arrived, sir.”Startled by the dry voice, I opened my eyes wide. Then, Kwon Jungwoo, who was still looking at me through the rearview mirror, shrugged his shoulders.“Isn’t this what you wanted? Or should I have called you ‘Master’?”“I made a huge mistake… I thought you were a chauffeur….”“It’s fine. Just get out.”“How can I apologize for this…”My voice grew quieter, and my shoulders started to hunch. Perhaps feeling frustrated with me, Kwon Jungwoo turned around and unfastened my seatbelt with his long fingers.In the dim light of the underground parking lot, Kwon Jungwoo stared at me intently. Every part of him touched by the light looked smooth. His well-defined brow bone, the straight bridge of his nose, the balanced nostrils, and even his cheeks contributed to his handsome appearance.His thick lips were closed in a straight line, so I couldn’t read what he was thinking at all. To be precise, his cold expression, which discouraged any casual conversation, frightened me so much that I couldn’t think of anything. His dark eyes, full of light, were staring straight at me, and it was hard to endure his gaze.“Han Jiwon, are you sorry?”“…….”It wasn’t his question that made me flinch, but the way he said my name. Even though I didn’t answer, Kwon Jungwoo seemed to notice my apologetic expression and continued to ask.“How sorry are you?”“…I sincerely regret what happened…”“If you’re that sorry, I’ll take this car today. Because of you, my car is left alone at the school, shivering in the cold.”Get out, he said, straightening up and putting on his seatbelt again. He was firm, as if he didn’t want to repeat himself.The scent of his body wash, mixed with his natural scent, hit me strongly. He must have showered after finishing his workout. He must have been very tired, yet he drove me without a word of complaint. The shame and guilt I felt made me shudder.I couldn’t refuse to lend him my car in this situation.As I got out of the car, the distinctive smell of the underground parking lot hit my nose. I had sobered up a long time ago. As I hesitated beside the car, the driver’s side window rolled down, and Kwon Jungwoo showed his face. Unlike before, he looked quite content, which was surprising for someone who had just played the role of a chauffeur for a stranger. His voice even had a relaxed tone.“Come get the car keys at the basketball court tomorrow.”“…Um…”At my call, the window, which had been rolling up, went back down. His raised eyebrows seemed to suggest that he’d be willing to hear at least one more question. I decided to speak casually like him. It seemed Kwon Jungwoo was aware that we were the same age.“You could’ve refused. So, why did you go out of your way to drive me here?”Kwon Jungwoo shrugged as if it was no big deal.“Our team won today.”“…What?”“I felt good enough to give you a ride. Was that explanation enough?”Saying he was leaving, Kwon Jungwoo turned off the hazard lights, then rolled the window down a bit more, as if he had just remembered something.“Oh, by the way, you’re good at a lot of things. Folding towels neatly, for example. Keep it up.”This time, the shame successfully turned my face red.As I adjusted my cap to hide my blushing face, Kwon Jungwoo drove off. Watching my car disappear into the distance, I wondered why wearing a hat seemed pointless in front of him.***The weather at five o’clock in the afternoon, as I headed to the basketball court, was bright and sunny. It was as if the world was showing off how far it had moved away from winter, with the sun setting later, making everything bright. Even pink cherry blossoms were starting to bloom on the tree branches, oblivious to my feelings.I was too embarrassed to go to the training center in the morning. I was worried that I might run into Kwon Jungwoo, like the last time.I took a moment to catch my breath in front of the large basketball court building. I pulled down my hoodie and readjusted my department jacket. I was so focused on covering my face that I completely forgot that the jacket had large letters spelling out “Photography Department” in English on the back, in a bright yellow color that really stood out.Unlike last night, the entrance to the basketball court was closed. I could hear the sound of bouncing balls and shouts from inside, indicating that practice was in full swing.I hesitated to open the door, thinking that if I did, everyone’s eyes would be on me. Basketball players are intimidating because they’re so loud. Maybe I should just wait outside until practice is over. I regretted not getting his number yesterday. Although, considering how I didn’t even have the courage to ask, it’s a useless regret.I was standing there awkwardly at the entrance of the basketball court when suddenly—“Are you here to see someone?”Startled by the sudden voice from behind, I turned around. I don’t know if it was because the person approached silently or because I was too tense to notice, but when I turned around, I found myself face-to-face with the lower half of a basketball player’s face, clad in a dark blue uniform. It wasn’t Kwon Jungwoo. The voice was different, and more importantly, Kwon Jungwoo was a bit taller than this guy.“Ah, um… I’m here to see Kwon Jungwoo….”I hesitated, unsure whether I should hide or show my face while asking for a favor. My voice was so faint that the guy in front of me didn’t catch what I said, which was a problem.“Sorry, who?”“I’m here to see Kwon Jungwoo. Could you call him for me, please?”“Oh, Jungwoo? He just stepped out for a bit. If you wait here for a moment… Oh, wait… Are you…?”Our eyes met for just a brief moment.The freckle-faced basketball player recognized me immediately and gasped, covering his mouth with his hand. After a moment of apparent breathlessness, his face turned bright red, and he screamed in excitement.“Oh my god!! I’m such a huge fan!!! This is crazy, wow!! I seriously—no!!! …Aahh!!!”His reaction was intense. Despite his tall stature, he stomped his feet in excitement, keeping his hand over his mouth and his shoulders hunched as he continued to shout. He said he had high-definition videos of every match I’d played in. When he mentioned how great I looked in yellow, he almost seemed on the verge of tears.It had been a while since I had encountered such an openly enthusiastic reaction, so I awkwardly smiled. I was about to back away and say that I would come back later.That is, until the man threw open the gym door and shouted.“Hey!!! Han Jiwon is here!!!!”All at once, about ten people inside the gym turned their heads towards me. In that short moment, my name, “Han Jiwon,” was mentioned a few times. As I instinctively tugged at my hoodie, they approached me, and just when I felt my heart might burst from the desire to flee, I found myself surrounded by them.“Wow, it’s really you! I’m a fan!”“Amazing, this is the first time I’ve seen a celebrity.”“Wow, seriously, I knew I’d run into you someday since you go to our school. My little sister is a huge fan—can I get a picture with you?”The sound of phone camera shutters went off from various directions. Some passing students, curious about the crowd of basketball players, came closer and spotted me. Even though I tried to back away, I was cornered against the wall with no place left to escape. I felt like I was surrounded by towering walls as they called out my name from all sides.Now it was my turn to be out of breath.It had been a while since I was trapped in a crowd, and I found it difficult to handle the situation. I was so overwhelmed by their growing pressure that I couldn’t even ask them to step aside, merely panting like a fool. My heels touched the wall, leaving me with no room to retreat. I felt like my lifespan was being drained away.How did I manage to perform while being unable to handle these kinds of stares? It was a good thing I got injured. I often thought this way when situations like this arose. At least I no longer wasted time on gymnastics. Just as I was about to cry from being completely drained, I heard a familiar voice amidst the noisy crowd.“What are you doing, cornering someone like that?”With that single remark, all eyes shifted to the voice’s owner. Latecomers who joined the scene began mentioning Kwon Jungwoo’s name, unabashedly showing their admiration.Dressed in a navy basketball uniform with a white tracksuit jacket, Kwon Jungwoo frowned as he approached. The crowd parted to make way for him, and he stopped in front of me, glancing at my tightly clenched fists before looking back up at my face.Then, the freckled player who had spoken to me earlier moved to stand next to Kwon Jungwoo.“Hey, Kwon Jungwoo, someone came to see you? Are you acquainted with Han Jiwon?”Kwon Jungwoo gave a short nod, and our eyes met directly. His handsomely straightforward face, especially his strikingly red lips, drew attention. Those lips curved into a beautiful smile once more.“He’s my master.”I was taken aback by the word he used to describe me.Master? I recall Kwon Jungwoo saying something similar in the car yesterday, but hearing him say it like this was highly misleading. While the overwhelming emotions that had cornered me transformed into simple confusion, clearing away my earlier distress, I still couldn’t bring myself to speak.The freckled player looked back and forth between me and Kwon Jungwoo as if something was off.“Master? Oh, you mean like the owner of your house? Wait, are you saying Han Jiwon is your landlord?”“If you don’t have any business with him, everyone go inside. Even if you do, go inside. Byeon Seungjin, what are you doing, bringing all the freshmen out here during practice? Get your act together.”“Hey, don’t tell me to go inside when Han Jiwon is right in front of me. …Can’t I stay a little longer?”Kwon Jungwoo didn’t respond. He just looked at me, gesturing with his head for me to follow. The crowd cleared the way for us, and we headed toward the side of the indoor basketball building. I could hear the freckled player, whose name seemed to be Byeon Seungjin, urgently calling out behind us.“Han Jiwon! I’ll come to the photography department soon! Please sign an autograph then!”I pretended not to hear and didn’t look back. Looking back would have felt like granting permission for him to visit the department. While I was grateful that he thought well of me, I didn’t want the attention. I had no idea what people wanted, and their interest in me was overwhelming.Even after we transitioned from the concrete ground to the grass-covered dirt path, Kwon Jungwoo kept walking. It was a curious thing. Although we had exchanged a few words before, our relationship was mostly formed through awkward encounters. So, if there was anyone I should feel uncomfortable around, it was Kwon Jungwoo. Yet, as I followed this man I barely knew, I felt a sense of relief. It was as if I were a believer following a savior.It wasn’t until we were hidden from the view of students passing by the gym, shielded by trees, that Kwon Jungwoo finally stopped walking. Then he quietly asked,“Which one is the real you?”I naturally faced him with the brown gym building behind me. I could feel the uneven grass beneath my sneakers. Perhaps my attention was divided between the small cherry blossoms beyond and the light green grass on the ground, making it difficult to understand Kwon Jungwoo’s question.“What do you mean…?”“Out of your many personalities, I mean. Is the real you the one who can’t speak up and just stammers, or is it the one who hands over car keys to anyone and makes them play chauffeur?”Even though his face was cast in shadow, it seemed to shine. I couldn’t bear to meet his gaze, so I tilted my head slightly downward.“I guess the stammering one…”“You’re being sarcastic.”“……”“I’ve always wanted to tell you to be a bit more shameless.”As Kwon Jungwoo said this, he lifted his hand towards my chest. Startled, I flinched, but he paid no attention. As his fingertips brushed my collarbone, I felt something slip out from under my clothes. Before I could even register his intention, the hand that had suddenly approached was now pulling taut on the long drawstring of my hoodie, which had been tucked inside my clothes. It was only then that I realized one side of the string had been caught inside.As if it had been a meaningless and natural action, Kwon Jungwoo continued speaking in an impossibly gentle tone.“But maybe that was just me overstepping. After all, when it comes to me, you’re beyond shameless—you’re excessive.”I caught a brief glimpse of his long, slender fingers. They were large enough to grip a basketball with one hand, yet too big to carefully fix my clothes. I was just being tossed around by Kwon Jungwoo’s mix of kindness and sharpness.No wonder he found me frustrating.If Kwon Jungwoo had been in my situation earlier, he would have handled the conversation efficiently, finished his business, dispersed the crowd, and gone on his way. I couldn’t even imagine him getting intimidated or acting dazed like I did.I awkwardly smiled at such an open and enthusiastic reaction, something I hadn’t experienced in a while. I wanted to step back and say I’d be back later.But that was before the man flung open the door to the basketball court and yelled.“Hey!!! Han Jiwon is here!!!”At the same time, about a dozen people inside the court all turned their heads towards me. In that short moment, I heard my name, “Han Jiwon?” mentioned several times. While I habitually pulled my hood down, they approached me, and by the time my heart felt like it would explode with the urge to flee, I was already surrounded.“Wow, it’s really you! I’m a fan!”“No way, this is the first time I’ve seen a celebrity.”“Wow, I heard you go to our school, so I figured I might run into you someday. My sister is a huge fan—can I take a picture with you?”The sound of camera shutters from their phones echoed around. Students passing by saw the basketball players gathering and approached out of curiosity, then noticed me. I tried to step back belatedly, but I was blocked by the wall and had no way to escape. With everyone being so tall, it felt like I was surrounded by a wall. My name was called from all directions.Now, I was the one who couldn’t breathe.It had been a while since I was trapped in a crowd like this, and it was overwhelming. I couldn’t even ask them to step aside and just stupidly panted for breath. As my heels touched the wall, I realized there was no space left to retreat even an inch. It felt like my life was wearing thin.How did I manage to play sports when I couldn’t even handle being stared at like this? I was glad I got injured. This was a thought I always had in moments like these. At least now, I wouldn’t waste any more time on gymnastics. Just as I was about to be mentally overwhelmed and on the verge of tears, I heard a familiar voice through the noise.“What are you doing, cornering someone like that?”With just that one sentence, all eyes shifted to the owner of the voice. Latecomers mentioned Kwon Jungwoo’s name, openly expressing their fondness.Kwon Jungwoo, wearing a white tracksuit over a navy-blue basketball uniform, frowned as he approached. The people blocking his way stepped aside without resistance, and he stopped in front of me, his gaze moving from my clenched fists to my face.At that moment, the freckled player from earlier stood next to Kwon Jungwoo.“Hey, Kwon Jungwoo, they came to see you? You and Han Jiwon know each other?”Our eyes met as Kwon Jungwoo, who had nodded briefly in acknowledgment, looked directly at me. His face was handsomely plain, yet his red lips, which had been drawing attention, opened beautifully once more.“He’s my master.”I was taken aback by the word he used to refer to me.Master? I remember Kwon Jungwoo saying something similar to me in the car yesterday, but saying it like this was incredibly misleading. While my overwhelming emotions shifted to simple embarrassment, relieving my earlier discomfort, I still couldn’t find my voice.The freckled player looked back and forth between me and Kwon Jungwoo, as if puzzled.“Master? Oh, you mean your landlord? Wait, was Han Jiwon your landlord back home?”“If you don’t have business with him, everyone go inside. Even if you do, go inside. Byeon Seungjin, what are you doing, bringing out all the freshmen in the middle of practice? Are you out of your mind?”“Hey, don’t tell me to go back inside when I’m standing in front of Han Jiwon… Can’t I stay just a little longer?”Kwon Jungwoo didn’t answer. He just nodded slightly, signaling me to follow him. The crowd made way for us, and we headed to the side of the indoor basketball court building. I heard the freckled player named Byeon Seungjin urgently call out behind us.“Jiwon! I’ll visit the photography department soon! Please sign for me then!”I pretended not to hear and didn’t look back. If I looked back, it would seem like I was agreeing to his visit. Though I appreciated the positive attention, I really didn’t want it. The interest people showed in me was overwhelming for someone who didn’t understand what they wanted.Even when the concrete path changed to a grassy one, Kwon Jungwoo kept walking. It was quite a curious thing. Although we had spoken a few times, each time it had been through some sort of unpleasant incident, so he should’ve been the most uncomfortable person for me. Yet, following this man I didn’t know well, I felt a strange sense of relief. It was as if I were a disciple chasing after my savior.It wasn’t until the trees blocked the view of the students coming and going in front of the basketball court that Kwon Jungwoo finally stopped walking. Then, he asked softly.“Which one is the real you?”I naturally faced him, standing with my back to the brown basketball court building. I could feel the uneven grass beneath my sneakers. Maybe it was because my attention was scattered between the small cherry blossoms and the light green grass on the ground, but I didn’t fully understand Kwon Jungwoo’s question.“I’m not sure what you mean….”“Among your many personalities, I mean. Is the real you the one who can’t say a single harsh word and gets flustered, or the one who hands over their car keys to anyone and makes them act as your driver?”Even though his face was shaded, it seemed to glow. I couldn’t bring myself to meet Kwon Jungwoo’s gaze and looked down at an angle.“It’s probably the flustered side….”“You’re being sarcastic.”“…….”“There were times when I wanted to tell you to be more shameless.”As Kwon Jungwoo said that, he raised his hand near my chest. I flinched in surprise, but Kwon Jungwoo didn’t care. Just as his fingertips touched my collarbone, I felt something slip out from inside my clothes. Before I could even grasp his intention, his hand, which had suddenly approached, tugged at the long drawstring of my hoodie and pulled it out. It was only then that I realized one end of the string had been tucked inside my clothes.As if it were a meaningless, natural action, Kwon Jungwoo continued in an incredibly gentle tone.“But now I think it might have been meddlesome of me. When it comes to me, your shamelessness isn’t just strong; it’s excessive.”His fingers, which I caught a glimpse of, were straight and long. They were large enough to grab a basketball with one hand but too big to delicately adjust my clothes. I was simply tossed back and forth by Kwon Jungwoo, who oscillated between kindness and sharpness.It was understandable if Kwon Jungwoo found me frustrating.If Kwon Jungwoo had been in my situation earlier, he would’ve handled it just right, having the conversation as long as necessary to get things done, then dispersing the crowd and moving on his way. It was impossible to imagine him getting intimidated or being unclear like I was.Given that Kwon Jungwoo believes interest should naturally correspond to skill, standing in front of the public must be as easy as ordering a cup of coffee at a café for him.In some ways, Kwon Jungwoo and I had a lot in common. Even though it’s in the past for me, we were both athletes, both had high profiles that often put our faces in the news or on portal sites. But unlike him, I only knew how to shrink in front of others.Suddenly, the man in front of me felt even more remarkable. Kwon Jungwoo was an impressive person.“About yesterday, I’m really sorry. Sorry for showing such a frustrating side because I was so flustered… I’m just not as good-natured as you.”“That’s what I’m talking about.”“Huh?”“Instead of saying ‘sorry,’ you should’ve said, ‘Cut the crap and get lost.’”Saying that it was the first time he’d ever heard someone say he had a good personality, Kwon Jungwoo laughed, as if he found the idea absurd.Even with a smile on his face, Kwon Jungwoo was someone who exuded a strong presence, and I felt completely overshadowed by that presence. How could someone be so much like the sun?“It’s a well-known fact that I have a bad personality. Thanks for being considerate.”Honestly, for someone as timid as me, the best way to live would’ve been quietly, without drawing attention, in a crowded city. I ended up taking the wrong path when I started gymnastics, though….Kwon Jungwoo looked down at me, fiddling with the hoodie string he had pulled out. He just stood there quietly, watching. Just as I found him fascinating, Kwon Jungwoo probably found me equally curious.It wasn’t long before Kwon Jungwoo frowned.“Let’s not waste time. Take this.”Kwon Jungwoo pulled car keys out of his tracksuit pocket and handed them to me. The plain car key, with no accessories attached, moved from his hand into mine. That was the end of his business.“About yesterday, really….”“If you’re just going to apologize again, stop. I’ll take back what I said about your personality. You might as well add that to your list of strengths: ‘Over-apologizing when someone says it’s okay.’”My face flushed again athis words. The voice that had said, “That’s hilarious,” in my half-sleep played vividly in my mind.“That wouldn’t be the best thing to showcase as a talent….”“I ate all the gum in the car. There wasn’t much left, though.”Kwon Jungwoo, who nodded indifferently, as if he didn’t care, ended the conversation about the gum and turned around. I quickly followed him again. Unlike when we arrived, on the way back, Kwon Jungwoo’s back caught my eye. His broad shoulders stood out as much as his height, yet the fit of his tracksuit was loose. For some reason, I felt an urge to touch it, but I wasn’t stupid enough to act on it.After that day, I started behaving as if I were allergic to basketball players. I would avoid anyone wearing a white jacket, even if it just resembled the basketball team’s tracksuit. Thanks to Byeon Seungjin, who said he’d come to get my autograph, I couldn’t even feel comfortable in the department building.If I had to run into someone, I would’ve preferred it to be Byeon Seungjin. The thought of running into Kwon Jungwoo left me unsure whether I should greet him or not. Were we even on greeting terms?Just thinking about Kwon Jungwoo made me uncomfortable. It wasn’t just a matter of feeling grateful or apologetic—there was something more, something deep and hard to define.What do others call this feeling? Could it be that I’ve discovered a new emotion for the first time in human history? It felt like I had become a Columbus, discovering a new continent.Until I figured out what this feeling was, or at least until Kwon Jungwoo graduated, I planned to avoid him. Honestly, if I had kept my wits about me, I wouldn’t have gotten entangled with him in the first place, so I was confident.As it turned out, there was no interaction between the photography department and the basketball team, making my cautious behavior seem unnecessary. Three weeks into the university semester, classes were in full swing, and my mind was steadily filled with assignments and practical work.Despite that, I remained a spectacle to others, so on days like today, when I had a liberal arts class, I couldn’t help but feel tense. I deliberately arrived just in time for class and took a seat by the window in the far back. It was the best spot in this large lecture hall, where students were least likely to pass by.Today, too, I sat in that seat, took out my writing tools, and looked out the window. The lecture hall was packed with students just before the professor came in, and the atmosphere was quite solemn.I thought about how I wanted to capture the entire view of the green campus outside with my camera. The more I studied photography, the more I felt like I couldn’t capture the emotions I wanted on film. Was I regressing, or was my ambition growing?I habitually rotated my injured left ankle, checking its condition. Suddenly, loud voices came from the back door.“Is this the right lecture hall? Whoa, so many people. The class hasn’t started yet, right?”“Hey, lower your voice a bit, would you? It’s embarrassing to walk around with you.”“This guy says this because he lost to me in Winning Eleven. If you have time to talk smack, practice more. Where should we sit? Wait, let’s let the guy who sucks at Winning Eleven pick the seat!”“I only won after a week, so I’m not affected by that. Should we ask Kwon Jungwoo? He needs to sit towards the back since he has to leave early, right?”It seemed I had exhausted all my luck when I injured my ankle. There was no other explanation for why I would make eye contact with Byeon Seungjin just as I turned to glance at them. Despite avoiding anyone wearing a white jacket for a while, they were wearing gray department jumpers, not basketball team tracksuits.Byeon Seungjin’s eyes widened as he quickly strode towards me.“Han Jiwon!!! No way, are you taking this class too?”As expected of an athlete, Byeon Seungjin’s voice was extremely loud. Even though he was right next to me, it felt like he was shouting. Because of that, the students who didn’t know I was taking the same class all turned to look, and since I was sitting in the back, I had to face dozens of people until they turned their heads back around.Among the murmurs, certain words stood out.Han Jiwon… photography… basketball player… Kwon Jungwoo….This was ridiculous. There shouldn’t have been a high chance of our classes overlapping among so many liberal arts courses.When I registered for classes, I had just randomly picked <Understanding Architecture> from the list sorted alphabetically. Why did it have to be this class? And it was too much for them to show up only after the course correction period ended.Unexpectedly running into Kwon Jungwoo again, I felt uncomfortable emotions rising. To my surprise, though, there was a hint of relief mixed in.Kwon Jungwoo, who had walked over to stand next to Byeon Seungjin, looked down at me with an equally surprised expression. Kwon Jungwoo, also wearing a gray department jumper, looked neat and tidy. He had a strange way of making any outfit look particularly put-together.“We meet often.”Kwon Jungwoo, who had spoken somewhat nonchalantly, placed a white backpack in front of me. A faint scent lingered in the air, as if he had sprayed some cologne. Feeling uncomfortable about making eye contact with him, I shifted my gaze to his slowly deflating bag.Starting with Kwon Jungwoo, the basketball players filled the seats around me in the back row. I was isolated, surrounded by tall guys. If this were a game of Go, I would have been a dead group already.“Excuse me.”The seat next to me was taken by Byeon Seungjin. As he carefully pulled out the chair and sat down, I quickly moved my bag that I had placed there.The player who had been bickering with Byeon Seungjin sat in front of him, next to Kwon Jungwoo. He was a tanned, rather rugged-looking player. As soon as he sat down, he quickly turned his upper body towards me and spoke somewhat bluntly.“Han Jiwon. Do you remember me? I’m Eunoh.”“…Sorry?”“It’s me. Yang Eunoh, your classmate from Sujeon Elementary School. Don’t you remember?”“Eunoh…? You mean the Yang Eunoh who used to live in front of my house?”“That’s right! We used to do volunteer work together and everything.”Caught off guard by the sudden memory, I was dazed as Yang Eunoh proudly glanced at Byeon Seungjin.“See? I told you we were classmates. We were pretty close when we were younger.”“I can’t believe it… You dare remember this guy? If you’re lying under duress, just secretly show me your front eight teeth at any time. And by the way, your expression doesn’t seem like it was all fond memories, right?”I definitely remembered Yang Eunoh. I usually remembered the few friends who had approached and spoken to shy me, so I was sure about it. However…“It’s just that… The Eunoh in my memory was short… and had a gentle face….”I spoke seriously, narrowing my brows in disbelief. Since I thought he was small even when I was rather petite back then, it was hard to reconcile that this tall, rugged person was the same Eunoh, causing confusion. Then, Byeon Seungjin burst out laughing. He laughed loudly, not caring if the other students were still looking this way.“Oh, this is too funny. So, what on earth happened for Yang Eunoh to end up looking like a delinquent now? Isn’t that so sad, huh-huh. And to top it off, this towering, thug-looking Yang Eunoh beat me in Winning Eleven today. Not just once, but three times. Oh no. Sniff.”“Hey, Byeon Seungjin, you just reminded me of someone.”“Who?”“A eunuch who won against me in Winning Eleven once, but then kept losing for the rest of his life until he died.”“Yeah, zero damage.”Byeon Seungjin shuddered as if hit by his own words.“Kwon Jungwoo, Yang Eunoh is getting all chummy with your friend, so you should be mad too!”Byeon Seungjin said, tapping Kwon Jungwoo’s back, while Yang Eunoh protested, saying how was it pretending to be close when he was telling the truth.Perhaps accustomed to this childish banter, Kwon Jungwoo silently observed them before glancing at me. His eyes, cool and elongated, didn’t reveal any of his thoughts. His eyelids blinked slowly.“It’s more like a master-servant relationship than a friendship.”He shrugged his shoulders slightly and even pouted his lower lip a bit.Byeon Seungjin twisted his mouth in displeasure at Kwon Jungwoo’s words.“You’re such a bad guy, not even telling me you knew Han Jiwon. I’m not saying this because I have nothing else to say; it’s just that I’m genuinely a big fan! I was planning to visit the photography department later anyway, ahem. And you’re not even Kwon Jungwoo’s landlord, are you? Seriously, people born boring just stay that way.”Byeon Seungjin, unable to calm down, kept rambling. He mentioned how he ended up in the hospital with acute stress disorder around the time I got injured and said Kwon Jungwoo scolded him, asking why he was the one making a fuss when I was the one who got hurt. But Byeon Seungjin ignored him, repeating how honored he was to sit next to me.The rumors that Korean university basketball players were noisy and chaotic weren’t unfounded. Even though the classroom atmosphere became noisy enough to attract glares, none of the students made any attempts to cough or clear their throats to signal for quiet; they just looked on curiously. My intention to hide by sitting in a corner was long gone.The classroom only quieted down when the professor entered. Although the basketball players only showed up for the third class, the professor made no particular comment, simply saying, “Looks like the athletes are sticking together.”*Understanding Architecture* was a two-hour class. Unlike in high school, students had drinks on their desks, some were fiddling with their phones, and some even came and went in the middle of class, yet the atmosphere was good. The more autonomous atmosphere, so different from high school, made me feel oddly buoyant despite my poor attendance record back then.Even though I had been exposed to the other students, and despite having three very distracting basketball players around me, I felt like an ordinary student while the professor lectured.As I underlined a handout and looked up, my gaze fell on Kwon Jungwoo sitting right in front of me. Even though he was sitting slouched with his chin resting on his left hand, his back still looked broad. He wore a black analog watch on his exposed wrist, having rolled up his sleeves. It suited the protruding wrist bone that emphasized its presence.With his athletic hands, Kwon Jungwoo was diligently taking notes. He would look at the professor, jot something down on the handout, then look back at the professor. It wasn’t even a model student’s posture, but for some reason, I found it difficult to take my eyes off him, as if something about his figure was compelling. Was it the prominent veins in his hand that stood out as he moved his pen?Before I knew it, I forgot about the class and just watched Kwon Jungwoo.Kwon Jungwoo seemed like the complete opposite of me. Unlike me, who could go unnoticed with just my face covered, Kwon Jungwoo, with his height, would attract attention no matter what, yet strangely, he seemed unaffected by people’s gaze. Maybe that’s why he could casually tell me to be shameless. It must have been so easy for him.How could Kwon Jungwoo be so composed? Curious about his way of thinking, I found myself drawn to him more and more. If I had even a little bit of Kwon Jungwoo’s traits, I could live more comfortably than I do now.I heard something drop next to me, and when I looked over, a pen was rolling next to Byeon Seungjin’s hand. He must have finally fallen asleep, as he had been dozing off for a while.I glanced at the meaningless doodles Byeon Seungjin had drawn in the corner of his paper. Then I realized that there were very few people I ever wanted to emulate. I had envied many people’s personalities, feeling that way toward lively people, famous or not. In fact, I felt that way toward almost everyone.But moving beyond envy to wanting to be like someone was a rarity. When it came to liveliness, Byeon Seungjin next to me was much brighter than Kwon Jungwoo. But… sorry, I didn’t particularly feel like I wanted to be like him.I looked at Kwon Jungwoo’s back once more. Just the sight of his cheek, barely visible, made my heart flutter.What is it about Kwon Jungwoo that makes me admire him?And what is it that makes me want to take a photo of him?“We’ll take a ten-minute break and then continue.”As soon as the break was announced, the classroom became as lively as it used to be in high school. It was as if the students had been waiting for this moment, and as soon as the professor left the room, they stood up. Many students glanced at me. Their eyes seemed to be checking if I was still in the classroom.Kwon Jungwoo also stood up. He even slung his bag over his shoulder, as if he was about to leave the class altogether. Somehow, his desk was already cleared of the class materials and writing tools that had been there just moments ago.As Kwon Jungwoo stood up, that subtle fragrance I noticed earlier wafted toward me again. I didn’t know what perfume it was, but it made my heart flutter like spring.“I’m heading out.”“Should I tell the professor for you?”“No. I’ll talk to him on my way out.”Kwon Jungwoo said as he lightly tapped Yang Eunoh on the shoulder. It seemed like he had some reason to miss the rest of the class. Although we hadn’t exchanged a word in class, I felt a strange disappointment at the thought of Kwon Jungwoo leaving. When he first showed up in the classroom, I felt uncomfortable and resented having the same schedule as him.Maybe it was because I had been watching Kwon Jungwoo so intently. If he had been sitting behind me, I would probably have felt relieved, glad to finally catch a break.As Kwon Jungwoo finished saying his goodbyes to Yang Eunoh and turned to leave, I quickly lowered my head to avoid meeting his gaze. As Kwon Jungwoo passed by, he grabbed the drink sitting on Byun Seungjin’s desk and took a long sip. Byun Seungjin immediately expressed his annoyance.“Hey! Why’d you drink half of it? Didn’t I tell you earlier to drink yours slowly?”“I’ll buy you another one tomorrow.”“Fine.”Byun Seungjin, who had been pouting, quickly softened and smiled, then looked over at me. When our eyes met, his freckled face showed a hint of bashfulness.“If I seemed a bit stingy earlier, it must have been your imagination.”“…Okay.”“Oh! By the way, don’t you have something to say to Kwon Jungwoo? You kept looking at the back of his head earlier, right?”After claiming he was quite perceptive, Byun Seungjin looked at me expectantly, as if waiting for praise. His eyes sparkled, showing how pleased he was.At his words, Kwon Jungwoo paused on his way out and turned his head toward me. His expressionless gaze felt like it was urging me to speak up if I had something to say.I couldn’t help but feel flustered. I was surprised that Byun Seungjin, who had been dozing off most of the time, had noticed that I was watching Kwon Jungwoo. I wondered what my expression had looked like while I was staring at him. Was it calculating? Did I appear creepy? What should I say to Kwon Jungwoo? I certainly couldn’t tell him that his back was so impressive that I spent the entire hour staring at him.“Uh… Well…”I was at a loss for words, trying to think of something to say, when I noticed Kwon Jungwoo’s gaze shift behind me. Soon, two female students approached me.“Here, this is for you.”The girls handed me a chocolate milk and a sandwich. Their hands, though shy, reached out toward me almost insistently.Ever since I gained some recognition, I had been receiving gifts like this more often, but no matter how many times it happened, it never became any less awkward. I always worried that my hesitant acceptance might come across as reluctant, which made me feel anxious. It was always uncomfortable trying to figure out the right reaction.When I hesitated to accept, the girls, as if expecting this, simply thrust the snacks into my hands.“Enjoy and stay strong during your rehabilitation!”They giggled and walked away. It all happened so quickly. I didn’t even have time to say thank you. I wasn’t even an athlete anymore.Byun Seungjin looked at the sandwich in my arms and remarked that it was the most delicious one on the market these days, while Yang Eunoh smacked his lips. Meanwhile, Kwon Jungwoo was still standing in front of me.“So, what did you want to say?”His tone was bored.To meet the tall Kwon Jungwoo’s eyes, I had to crane my neck. As soon as our eyes met, I regretted it. I was already struggling to come up with something to say, but the moment I met his calm gaze, my mind went completely blank.“So… uh… Well… This… looks tasty, right?”Incredibly, I found myself offering the sandwich in my arms as I said this. To be fair, part of it was Kwon Jungwoo’s fault. There was definitely something about his gaze that made people act like fools.Kwon Jungwoo looked down at me intently. Even though Byun Seungjin answered enthusiastically, “Yeah, it’s really good!” Kwon Jungwoo continued to stare.After a moment, when I still couldn’t manage to add anything more, Kwon Jungwoo finally reached out. He gently tapped the brim of my baseball cap.“Make sure to enjoy it. Don’t spill anything since no one will pick it up for you.”With those kind words, Kwon Jungwoo strode out of the classroom. I buried my face in my hands, feeling like I was going to die of embarrassment. I felt even more mortified because of how he had overlooked my strange remark. I didn’t know why I kept showing Kwon Jungwoo only my most foolish side. I might be shy by nature, but I wasn’t usually this scatterbrained.Though I rubbed my face with my cold hands, it didn’t cool down until nearly the end of class, only for it to turn pale again shortly after.“As I mentioned during the orientation, the upcoming midterm will include group presentations. Since it’s convenient that the athletes are sitting together, we’ll form the groups based on today’s seating arrangement. It would be difficult to coordinate schedules if we mixed the athletes with regular students. I hope you’ll all work well together without anyone missing out.”“……”“You four, including Kwon Jungwoo who just left for personal training, will be in one group.”At the professor’s words, most of the students laughed and looked in our direction, and I lowered my head to hide my shock.***<Byun Seungjin has invited Kwon Jungwoo and Han Jiwon to the chat.>[Byun Seungjin]: My players, my Jiwon. Do whatever you want!!!Byun Seungjin has pinned the message <My players, my Jiwon. Do whatever you want!!!> as the announcement.<Byun Seungjin has invited Yang Eunoh to the chat.>[Byun Seungjin]: Ah, right, this guy is in our group too.[Yang Eunoh]: ?