Ball-Boy Tactics – Chapter 3.1

Author: nicotine

The first library I visited was not as quiet as I had expected. On the fifth floor of what I thought would be a barren building, there was even a cafeteria.

Did I overpack? I was feeling self-conscious as I saw students moving around lightly, with just the essentials. Just then, someone running from behind blocked my way.

“Jiwon oppa!”

It was a female classmate who had given me a can of coffee before. Was her name Sojeong? I couldn’t quite remember her last name, but I was sure about her first name.

“Oh… hi.”

“Hello! Are you here to study? Which floor are you going to? I’m on the third floor!”

Sojeong was so happy that her face turned red. Was she really that happy to see me? We had even run into each other during class a few days ago…

Since Kwon Jungwoo had told me to go to the reading room on the third floor, I said I was headed there too, and Sojeong covered her mouth with her hands in delight. After saying she would come by my seat to greet me later, she turned and ran off. Every time I saw her, I felt she was a kind and polite friend. Even though I was a third-year student retaking the course, she didn’t need to come and greet me twice.

The reading room on the third floor had the quiet atmosphere I had imagined. The scent of books filled the space, and students were fully absorbed in their studies. The only sounds were the turning of pages or the occasional click of a pen.

Among all the students, it wasn’t hard to spot Kwon Jungwoo. Even at a glance, the group of students who looked like basketball players were gathered inside. They were so much taller than others that even sitting down, their height was noticeable.

Kwon Jungwoo was seated in the middle of five or six other players. He was wearing a baseball cap, so I couldn’t see his face well, but even with his face obscured, he drew attention. He was just wearing a plain white T-shirt, yet he looked so stylish. His well-built frame seemed like something even top models would envy.

Despite my sly desire to get closer and admire him, I didn’t have the courage to approach the basketball players, so I just found a spot in a random corner and sat down. I had imagined studying side by side with him, so it was disappointing that I couldn’t.

I hadn’t studied for exams properly since middle school. I had gotten into college as a special talent student, so honestly, I didn’t really know how to study. So, I just opened my textbook and began reading, underlining passages here and there slowly.

After some time had passed, someone lightly tapped my shoulder. The familiar scent of cologne filled the air, so I knew who it was without even turning around. My heart, which I had forgotten about, suddenly made its presence known.

“Hi.”

Kwon Jungwoo whispered as he sat down next to me, loud enough for only me to hear. Startled by the unexpectedly close eye contact, I leaned back, and Kwon Jungwoo silently laughed. The movement caused his neatly arranged bangs to fall, revealing his clean forehead.

Kwon Jungwoo picked up my notebook and quickly flipped to the last page. Before I could blink, he had taken my pen from my hand. The pen, which looked small in his large hand, started moving precisely across the notebook.

[Why are you sitting here alone? Do you prefer studying by yourself?]

He handed the pen back to me, waiting for an answer. I carefully took the pen, making sure not to touch his hand, feeling that it would be inappropriate if I did.

[Well, just because… But how did you know I was here?]

As soon as I drew a question mark, he reached out without hesitation. Whether my hand was in the way or not, he almost covered the back of my hand as he took the pen.

[I told you, you stand out.]

He wrote it casually and then started flipping through the textbook I had been reading. Whether he noticed how embarrassed I felt that my textbook was too clean, I couldn’t tell, but he quietly skimmed through the pages before picking up the pen again. His fingers, long and neat as they were, made me want to touch them as they effortlessly scribbled down notes.

[I have no idea about cameras. Are you going to stay here? There are seats over there too.]

He tilted his head to gesture towards his seat and made eye contact with me again. Kwon Jungwoo probably didn’t realize how misleading his gaze could be.

Trying not to fall into the misconception that Kwon Jungwoo wanted me to move to his seat, I answered him.

[I’ll just stay here. But aren’t you supposed to be training today?]

I asked, trying to change the subject. Normally, around this time, he would smell like body wash, not cologne. I hadn’t expected him to find it strange. As soon as he slightly raised an eyebrow, as if asking how I knew, I realized my mistake, but fortunately, Kwon Jungwoo didn’t press the issue. Instead, he drew five circles.

[ㅇㅇㅇㅇㅇ No training until the exams are over. So, study hard.]

After turning the notebook back to the original page and shoving the pen back into my hand, Kwon Jungwoo returned to his seat. As soon as he sat down, the player next to him leaned in to say something. Kwon Jungwoo listened seriously, then nodded with his characteristic smile.

Even from a distance, it looked like only that spot had been lit up with lights. Even in my corner, it felt like sparkles had been scattered around after Kwon Jungwoo’s brief visit. Students who hadn’t noticed I was sitting there before started glancing in my direction. Just by being there, Kwon Jungwoo left behind a trail of light like a firefly.

“…….”

My only reason for coming to the library was Kwon Jungwoo, but I still wanted to make it seem like I was there to study, so I tried to focus. But I kept glancing at Kwon Jungwoo without realizing it.

Unable to study properly or satisfy my feelings, I ended up making a deal with myself, like collecting coupons for delivery food: every 10 minutes of studying, I would allow myself one glance at Kwon Jungwoo. Surprisingly, it worked quite well.

There were about two minutes left before I could look at Kwon Jungwoo again. Someone lightly tapped my shoulder. The touch was careful, different from the firm and steady feel from before. I turned around to see Sojeong smiling shyly and pointing towards the exit.

“Oppa, could you….”

“Oh… sure.”

I wasn’t too eager, but I figured there must be a reason, so I got up. Just before leaving the reading room, I glanced at Kwon Jungwoo’s seat, but it was empty. Maybe he had gone to the bathroom. Realizing that I might have lost out if I had studied for two more minutes, I smugly thought it was a good thing I was leaving.

“It’s nothing special, but… I’m really sleepy. Could you buy me a cup of coffee?”

Despite claiming to be sleepy, Sojeong’s eyes were bright, though her expression seemed earnest. I had been worried when she called me out of the reading room, but it was just because she was sleepy, which was a relief.

How badly did she want to do well on her exams to ask me for something like this? She seemed so nice and cute, trying hard to stay awake and study.

“I’ll buy you as many cups as you want. Let’s go.”

Since I owed her a favor, I readily agreed to buy her a coffee. Sojeong’s face turned red with happiness, making her seem even more endearing.

Even though it was past 8 PM, the cafeteria on the 5th floor was still bustling with people. We ordered two coffees and, after searching for a place to sit, we luckily found a table in a quiet corner. It was a spot where we could be somewhat hidden from view, which made me feel more at ease.

Sojeong knew me very well.

She confessed that she had been a fan of mine for a long time and had attended several of my competitions in person. She frequently used the word “excited” while talking, her face often flushing with nervousness. I wasn’t surprised when she said she was a fan—I’d suspected as much from her earlier acts of kindness. I just gave her an awkward smile in response.

As Sojeong busied herself looking for a fancam video she had taken at one of my games, I started to think about heading back downstairs. While glancing around, I spotted Kwon Jungwoo at the café’s pickup counter, grabbing his coffee.

He was with another basketball player, and the two of them were laughing and joking together, nudging each other playfully. At one point, something seemed to surprise them, and they burst into laughter, eyes wide with amusement.

I kept watching him, hoping he’d notice me, but he never did. He just walked off without a glance in my direction. It was hard to believe this was the same person who had told me that I stood out from others.

“……”

Something felt off. My mood suddenly took a sharp downturn. I felt drained, and a long sigh escaped me. The coffee I’d been enjoying moments ago suddenly tasted bitter.

It wasn’t just because Kwon Jungwoo hadn’t noticed me. It was more complicated than that… but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Why is it that liking someone comes with such a confusing mess of emotions? Could it be that only a small part of my feelings for Kwon Jungwoo is affection, and the rest are unnecessary emotions? If I were to measure the purity of my affection, it felt like it was mostly impurities.

The more I thought about how Kwon Jungwoo had failed to notice me while happily joking with his friend, the more my chest ached. What if he had seen me, waved, or even smiled the way he sometimes does?

…But why am I feeling so resentful toward Kwon Jungwoo right now?

It made no sense. Kwon Jungwoo hadn’t done anything wrong, yet I was filled with this inexplicable sense of blame.

“Shall we head back? The later it gets, the more tired we’ll be….”

Sojeong, who was still looking for the fancam video, finally put her phone down. Her apology for wasting my time made me feel guilty instead.

“Do you want to take the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator?” she suggested. Since there were a lot of people waiting for the elevator and it was only two floors down, I didn’t mind.

As soon as we entered the stairwell, the door shut behind us, cutting off all the noise. Sojeong, usually chatty, suddenly went quiet, lost in her thoughts. Normally, this would have made me feel awkward, but I was too preoccupied with my thoughts of Kwon Jungwoo and my own guilt to care. The stairwell felt like an endless tunnel, filled only with the hum of the air and the sound of our footsteps.

Just as we reached the 3rd floor and I was about to open the door, Sojeong suddenly grabbed my wrist.

“Yes?”

At that same moment, I heard a door open from another floor, as if someone had entered the stairwell. But I didn’t pay much attention, as Sojeong’s eyes were too intense to ignore.

“Do you… have a girlfriend?”

“A girlfriend? No… I don’t.”

I knew immediately that this wasn’t just a casual question from a fan. When had it started? For the first time, I noticed the affection in Sojeong’s shy expression.

“Then, do you like anyone?”

“Um, well… There isn’t any ‘girl’ I like…”

“So, is it okay if I like you?”

Her dark eyes sparkled with hope.

I was at a loss. Her sudden confession caught me so off guard that I couldn’t find the words to respond. I couldn’t exactly tell her that I liked guys instead.

“Please, feel free to be honest with me. I don’t want to put any pressure on you. Just tell me how you really feel,” she said, her sincere words cutting through the hesitation that had been holding me back. For her sake, I knew I had to be honest. It wasn’t fair to just brush it off; I owed her the truth.

So, though I stumbled over my words, I found the courage to answer her.

“…It’s not up to me to allow or disallow your feelings for me, but if you’re leaving the decision to me…”

“……”

“I’m not someone who easily develops feelings for others. I’m not the type to seek out connections or get involved in relationships. So…”

“……”

“You understand what I’m saying, right?”

I felt uneasy as I spoke. Just earlier today, I’d decided to keep liking Kwon Jungwoo despite knowing it was a dead-end. Now, here I was, pushing Sojeong away, feeling like a hypocrite.

But Sojeong, unaware of my inner conflict, simply nodded with a bitter smile. I couldn’t bring myself to look at her face, so I focused on her wavy hair instead.

“I’m sorry.”

“…Oh, don’t apologize. I just wanted to tell you how I feel, even if it was just once. I’m lucky I even had the chance.”

“……”

“I kind of expected this, but it still stings a little. We won’t be awkward now, right? Please don’t hate me!”

Sojeong tried to keep her tone light as she spoke, then reached out to open the door. I quickly grabbed it to hold it open wider for her.

“Why would I hate you? Go on ahead. I’m just going to get some fresh air for a moment.”

“…Okay.”

When Sojeong left and I was left alone on the stairs, a complex mix of emotions welled up, starting with embarrassment. It felt like I had been the one to confess, and my breath gradually became labored. A sudden desire to escape the building overtook me, and I hurried down the stairs without paying attention to my injured ankle. Then, as I turned a corner, it happened.

I encountered Kwon Jungwoo on the floor below, where I had sensed no presence before.

I stood frozen as if I had stepped on a landmine, looking down at him. Meeting Kwon Jungwoo in the midst of my unsettled emotions was unexpected, but strangely enough, I wasn’t shaken.

In fact, the one who was uncharacteristically flustered was Kwon Jungwoo.

“Uh… sorry. I didn’t mean to overhear.”

He was more embarrassed than I was and made excuses I hadn’t asked for. I had seen him kiss someone and even get slapped, so hearing an apology from him pricked my conscience.

Slowly, I walked down toward Kwon Jungwoo. Though my exterior became more composed, my heart beat faster with each step. Before I could say anything, Kwon Jungwoo spoke first.

“Shall we go for a walk?”

He held a coffee cup with only ice left in it and carried the scent of outdoor air over his cologne. These were signs that he had just been outside. I hated the idea of imposing on this kind man more than I hated failing an exam.

“No, it’s okay. I’ll head back inside soon, so don’t worry about it.”

I sincerely thanked him and smiled. Kwon Jungwoo, unaware that he had been resentfully thought of in the cafeteria earlier, opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it quietly. His reaction puzzled me; it didn’t seem like it was just because he had witnessed a confession—he had received countless confessions himself, after all.

He stared at me intensely before eventually lowering his gaze. It seemed as if something else was on his mind, like he was deeply preoccupied with a particular thought. His fingers continuously tapped the cup as I walked past him down the stairs.

That night, I returned home shortly afterward. Despite the group of athletes gathered together, I didn’t manage to say goodbye to Kwon Jungwoo. And of course, I didn’t receive any message from him looking for me.

From that day on, when I truly felt how a crush could make someone act so strangely, I stopped going to the library. If I was going to study alone, I might as well do it at home without Kwon Jungwoo around—it helped me concentrate better. The only downside was that I missed seeing Kwon Jungwoo.

A few days passed by in this ordinary fashion.

Even during the exam period, messages from Byun Seungjin and Yang Eunoh continued as usual. Their conversations were mostly casual, rarely about the exams, and Kwon Jungwoo remained absent.

I often typed “Kwon Jungwoo recent news” into the search bar, only to delete it, fearing a repeat of past experiences. I couldn’t bring myself to press the search button. Besides, I would be seeing his face soon enough in the upcoming “Understanding Architecture” class.

And now, on the day before the final exam, I found myself thinking about Kwon Jungwoo once again.

Fiddling with my phone, I opened Kwon Jungwoo’s messenger profile picture. The photo was still of a professional overseas basketball player. I zoomed in and out of the picture repeatedly, feeling envious of the foreign athlete. He was lucky to be liked by Kwon Jungwoo.

Thud—

In a moment of foolishness, I dropped my phone. It hit the floor after colliding with the sitting table and knocking over a water cup. I hurriedly picked up the now-wet phone. I still had payments left on it.

As I anxiously checked the screen, I suddenly inhaled sharply.

“Ah!.”

Somehow, my phone had accidentally dialed Kwon Jungwoo. I quickly ended the call, but I was sure that my number had appeared on his phone. Sure enough, the phone rang shortly after. The caller was Kwon Jungwoo.

“…Hello?”

— Did you call?

His voice over the phone sounded unfamiliar. It was usually deep, but now it seemed even more grounded, making my heart tingle more. It was a voice I had longed to hear, yet I had no time to savor it as I frantically searched for an excuse. Nervously, I fidgeted with my lips.

“It was an accident. I dropped my phone, and the call went through. I tried to hang up quickly, but it seems the call connected. I’m sorry.”

— Oh, I see. Were you looking at my picture or something?

He playfully teased, having accurately guessed the situation with his low voice. So I instinctively denied it, even waving my hand despite being on the phone.

“No, of course not. Why would I suddenly be looking at your picture? It was just a coincidence.”

— Okay, sure.

“…I’ll hang up now.”

— By the way, why haven’t you been coming to the library?

“Huh? Oh… I just find it more comfortable to study at home alone.”

— What about the training center? I haven’t seen you there in the mornings lately either.

Just when I thought I had dodged the bullet, Kwon Jungwoo asked about my recent absence as if he had been looking for me. Maybe I had briefly crossed his mind once or twice.

“Lately, the place has been too crowded because of the new sign-up events. Since I only go to use the treadmill, I figured I’d just take a walk outside instead.”

— Ah, I see.

“…….”

— …….

The unexpected, purposeless call was soon enveloped in silence. I wanted to keep the conversation going but didn’t know what to say. I was also worried that I might be disturbing him since he was busy studying for exams.

“Well… see you tomorrow.”

— Yeah. Sleep well.

With that simple farewell, Kwon Jungwoo’s name was finally added to my call history. I spent the rest of the evening repeatedly checking the less-than-a-minute call duration, completely neglecting my exam studies.

And so, the last day of midterms arrived. Coincidentally, our final exam, Understanding Architecture, was the last for all four of us, making it perfect for a celebratory gathering afterward.

While getting ready for the exam, Byun Seungjin and Yang Eunoh complained about how the class had both group projects and a midterm. This was the first time I had seen Kwon Jungwoo since the incident at the library, and he sat one seat away to my left. We exchanged greetings, but that was the extent of our interaction.

As the exam sheets were being passed out from the front, Kwon Jungwoo reached over and started writing something on the empty desk between us. His black pen moved across the desk, forming thin letters as it went.

[Do well on your exam.]

A smile spread across my face at those simple words. So, I quietly mouthed back to him.

‘You too.’

At that, Kwon Jungwoo let out a small laugh.

***

— It’s no big deal. You just have to do what you’re good at, you know? Like those handsprings and backflips. All you need to do is show those off at the sports festival in front of all the art department students. Right?

“Sunbae, it’s not about whether I’m good or not… You promised back then that you wouldn’t put me on the spot anymore….”

— I know, and I really appreciated you doing the cover shoot for the school brochure for free. Thanks to you, our photography department got a lot of attention… But things don’t always go as planned, you know that from working early in life, right?

“It took a lot of courage for me to go to that shoot even before I was admitted… You can’t do this to me.”

I held onto my phone with both hands, feeling frustrated and wronged.

I had just finished my last exam and had come to the hot pot restaurant with everyone for dinner. As soon as I arrived, the third-year class representative called me, and what was supposed to be a short call turned into a lengthy one due to an unexpected request.

— I appreciate your courage. Didn’t I thank you back then too? Anyway, this time, it’s really just a one-minute favor. I’m not asking you to dance. It’s just that when your first-year classmates are doing cheerleading and split to both sides at the end, you can just come in and finish it off with a tumbling move. You’ve always said in interviews that it’s not that difficult, right? And it’s not like we’re asking you to jump over a vault.

“It’s difficult!”

My voice rose without me realizing it, and people passing by started to look my way. I quickly turned away and lowered my voice.

“It’s difficult. The environment is completely different from a gymnastics arena to the middle of a sports field. This is really too much for me, sunbae….”

— I’m in a tough spot too. Do you think I want to pressure you like this? This was the professor’s idea, so what can I do? Please help me out here.

The class rep seemed to have changed tactics, now pleading with me. He probably called knowing I wouldn’t easily refuse, but gymnastics-related decisions weren’t ones I could make lightly. Besides, I no longer wanted to be in the spotlight, and it had been too long since I last performed. I especially didn’t want to do it just for show, without any competition involved.

“There’s a high risk of injury since it’s not on mats, and on a sandy field, I could easily slip….”

— You need mats? I’ll get them for you. I can ask the PE department to help out. Just tell me what you need, I’ll take care of it.

“But how can you lay mats on the field….”

— You said you needed them. I’ll do my best to accommodate your requests. Do you want me to have paramedics on standby?

“Seriously, sunbae… Fine, but you have to promise me one thing. I’m not going to the MT ^[1] , right? We talked about this before.”

— MT? Hmm… uh…

His response was hesitant. Should I have asked for a written agreement?

Of course, building relationships is important in college life, but when I was first offered the opportunity, I set a condition, and the class rep agreed to it. Now that he’s trying to change his mind, it feels like a slap in the face. MT is just an excuse for drinking anyway.

“Right?”

— Well, that’s a bit….

“Then I’m not doing this either.”

— Alright, alright! I’ll tell the assistant professor that you won’t be attending the MT. But you have to participate in the sports festival, okay? I don’t need anything else. Just do what we talked about, and at the end of the talent show…

After several rounds of confirmations, the call ended, but the pressure of it happening in just a few days was enormous. My ankle had healed significantly, so physically, I wasn’t worried, but mentally, it was a different story. Even if I managed to pull it off, there was no guarantee the class rep’s demands would stop. My indecisive and easygoing nature was holding me back in college life.

When I returned to my seat, the hot pot was already boiling in the middle of the table.

“A girl?”

Yang Eunoh, who was sitting across from me, asked. It wasn’t just out of simple curiosity about the gender of the person I was talking to. His intentions were obvious, so I answered lightly.

“It’s the class rep. He’s a third-year in our department.”

“But it’s a girl, right?”

This time, it was Kwon Jungwoo who asked. Sitting diagonally across from me, his gaze was fixed on me, as if he was genuinely curious. It wasn’t that important of a detail.

“No, it’s a guy.”

“Why are you all so interested in who Jiwon was talking to?”

Byun Seungjin chimed in, putting down his chopsticks. His serious expression made it seem like he felt a duty to protect me.

“If Jiwon gets a girlfriend, I’m sure he’ll let us know.”

The next words were ominous. The conversation was heading in a direction that could easily reveal I was still single. To change the topic, I quickly picked up the soju bottle. All the glasses except mine were already filled.

“Shall we drink?”

“Give it to me. I’ll pour for you, and you just drink.”

Byun Seungjin took the soju bottle from me and carefully poured the drink. I brought it to my lips, ready to say thanks, but he quickly stopped me.

“Hey, wait a minute! You have to toast for the first drink.”

Our hands gathered over the table. “Cheers,” Yang Eunoh said, raising his glass the highest. Kwon Jungwoo barely clinked his glass before withdrawing his hand. Byun Seungjin, who was sitting right next to me and had turned his upper body to face me, clinked his glass against mine with a serious expression.

“To the day Jiwon escapes being single!”

With that loud toast, only two people at the table drank. I awkwardly smiled, just rolling my eyes, while Kwon Jungwoo lowered the glass he had barely brought to his lips. “Single?” he asked, furrowing his brows.

“Oh, Jungwoo didn’t know? Our Jiwon here doesn’t just date anyone. Why do you think he shines so brightly? It’s because he’s a pristine, never-dated-before solo!”

“The guy’s got some sense now that the exams are over. But when do we eat this? Does it need to cook longer?”

“I don’t know, just eat it. Or should we try it in the order of how badly each of us did on the exams?”

“Pfft, that’s hilarious. Move over, I’m going first.”

As they playfully bantered, Kwon Jungwoo asked, “Are you really single?”

“…….”

“Then why did you….”

Before Kwon Jungwoo could finish his sentence, his phone rang. Annoyance flashed across his face as he checked the caller ID. With a hint of frustration, possibly from being interrupted or maybe from something related to me, he slowly answered the call, all the while keeping his eyes on me.

I knew exactly what Kwon Jungwoo was about to say, and I couldn’t help but look away. I felt pathetic and embarrassed for lying, knowing it would eventually come to this. Why were our past conversations suddenly replaying in my mind with such painful clarity?

“Jiwon, stand tall! Is being single a crime? Everyone goes through a single phase.”

“Yeah! Yours just happens to be lasting over 22 years!”

“Exactly! And that’s only because you’re in Korea. If you go abroad and count by international age, it’s just 21 years!”

Under the guise of comforting me, Yang Eunoh and Byun Seungjin made me laugh as I downed my drink. Despite everything, the soju tasted oddly sweet today, as if mocking me.

Kwon Jungwoo’s call was brief. I expected him to bring up my situation again the moment he hung up, but to my surprise, his first words were directed at the others.

“The guys wanted to drink, so I told them to come here.”

“Okay, cool.”

“Oh! Let’s grab the table next to us.”

After glancing at the others, Kwon Jungwoo’s gaze finally settled on me as if he was checking my reaction.

If he meant his teammates, then the thought of them joining us was a bit uncomfortable, but I wasn’t in a position to express that, so I just nodded quietly.

“Sure….”

The conversation shifted naturally. Kwon Jungwoo seemed unbothered by my lie, laughing and joking as before. He even showed his usual sternness at Byun Seungjin’s silly jokes. I had expected him to grill me about why I lied for so long, but he didn’t. Maybe it was because he never had any expectations of me to begin with. He had criticized my character earlier in the semester, so that seemed likely. It should have been a relief, but instead, I felt oddly empty. The idea that Kwon Jungwoo didn’t care whether I lied or not left a bitter taste in my mouth, like sandpaper against my tongue.

For some reason, it felt like his attitude towards me had reverted to how it was at the start of the semester. As I sipped my drink, I noticed that we no longer had any real connection in our conversations. Whenever I spoke, Kwon Jungwoo either ate, drank, or fiddled with his phone.

Had my lie severed the bond we had slowly built? I worried about it, but when our eyes met a few times unexpectedly, I tried to take it as a sign of hope.

Just as the atmosphere was getting lively, three tall guys burst through the door with a loud entrance.

“Hey, so you’re all here getting drunk before going back to training tomorrow?”

“Quiet down and pick something from the menu first.”

“As for snacks, just get the same as them… Oh! Han Jiwon…!!”

When one of the players noticed me, his eyes widened in surprise, and the commotion began. I wasn’t as uncomfortable as I thought I’d be, since I’d met them a few times before. I was the first to greet them.

“Hello.”

“Hello! I never got the chance to say this before, but….”

One of the players wiped his hand on his pants before offering it to me. He said he was a fan.

So, awkwardly, I stood up to shake his hand, but thanks to Byun Seungjin intervening, I didn’t have to shake hands with the others. They started commenting on how soft my hand was and how I looked better in person, making me feel awkward, so I sipped my drink. When I glanced at Kwon Jungwoo, he was talking to Yang Eunoh, not paying me any attention.

“I also had something I really wanted to ask you if we ever met again!”

One of the players, with a mischievous grin, suddenly exclaimed. I knew that if I answered his questions, the attention on me would dissipate sooner, so I willingly asked what it was. The player, as if waiting for this moment, excitedly asked,

“If you know any pretty girls, can you introduce me? You don’t happen to have connections with any actresses or idols, do you?”

“What’s wrong with you? Why would our Jiwon set you up with a girl?”

“Why? Did Byun Seungjin ask and get turned down?”

“What nonsense is that? I don’t need setups; I have plenty of people interested in me, thank you very much.”

“I don’t need no damn setups.”

“Oh, shut up already.”

Kwon Jungwoo was the last to speak, and his cold expression as he stared at the players made it clear he was serious.

I couldn’t tell if they were joking, fighting, or if this was just how they usually talked. The players did seem a bit uncomfortable, though.

I felt most uneasy since it seemed like this was happening because of me. That’s why I eventually responded to the request for a girl introduction, even though it was a bit late.

“Introducing a girl might be difficult. I’ve never dated anyone myself.”

The problem was that I spoke too hastily and ended up admitting something embarrassing….

I couldn’t even bring myself to glance at Kwon Jungwoo, so I focused on the other players. They looked genuinely surprised, their eyes widening. Their voices dropped a notch, as if they were aware of Kwon Jungwoo.

“What? You’ve never dated anyone? Just say you don’t want to set us up. That’s a bit hard to believe.”

“It’s true. We were just talking about it earlier, actually.”

“Wait, really?”

One of the players sought confirmation from Byun Seungjin. In that moment, I sneaked a glance at Kwon Jungwoo, who was calmly pouring himself another drink.