Yun Jiho held his tray and paused, internally screaming!
Again, what a weird bunch of people.
They really shattered every possible stereotype.
"Excuse me," Jiho said casually, sliding into the seat beside Seo Minjae naturally.
Only because he was slightly more familiar with Minjae than the rest.
And because there was no empty seat next to Kyungho.
Jiho looked up and immediately locked eyes with a pair of sharp, glaring orbs.
Gunwoo gritted his teeth.
"You've got some nerve showing up in front of me, Yun Jiho!" he snapped. "Do you know how many times I had to beg the professors just to scrape a passing grade because of you?"
Everyone turned to stare at the sudden outburst.
Jiho eyes stayed on him for a few seconds.
"...Do I know you?"
Sorry, but he was bad with faces.
Gunwoo looked like his veins might explode on the spot.
Sangmin jumped in to defuse the situation. "Uh, maybe it's a misunderstanding? You might be confusing—"
Gunwoo snarled before he could finished.
"I could recognize that bastard even if he dressed like a beggar in a typhoon."
That was a bit extreme but his meaning was clear.
"Yun Jiho…" Kim Hyunsuk mumbled at this time. "Wait, that name does sound familiar. Gunwoo was spamming the group chat about him. Something about a presentation disaster?"
"Presentation? Ah. Yeah, I think something like that did happen," Jiho said thoughtfully. Then he glanced back at Gunwoo.
"And you are...?"
The silence that followed could've frozen fire.
Kyungho coughed and placed a piece of kimchi in Jiho's plate.
"Jiho, why don't you try the kimchi?"
Jiho nodded and ate it without changing his expression.
Gulp.
Minjae watched him eat, mildly intrigued. "How does it taste?"
"It's okay," Jiho replied, then casually took another bite.
Minjae hesitated, then picked up his own chopsticks and followed suit.
Crunch.
Minjae: "…"
What the hell was this sorcery?!
Too SOUR.
He hurriedly shoved a big chunk of rice into his mouth, trying not to shed a tear.
Hyunsuk quickly handed him a water bottle. "Sunbae, are you okay?"
Minjae waved weakly. "I'm fine…"
Meanwhile, Jiho helped himself to more kimchi, completely unbothered by the taste.
Was it really that bad? He thought it tasted pretty good. Sour and… healthy?
Across the table, Sangmin had finally wrestled Gunwoo back into his seat and decided to shift the mood.
"Yo, Jiho. We're planning to celebrate Minjae's birthday next Saturday. You're coming, right?"
Jiho glanced at Minjae.
Birthday?
But unfortunately—
"Next Saturday? I already promised Juri noona I'd help out at her restaurant."
"Juri? Lee Juri?" Sangmin gagged, turning to Kyungho. "Is he talking about my elder sister?!"
Kyungho nodded calmly.
"Apparently, Jiho helps out there pretty often."
He didn't add that it was because Jiho always ran out of cash and occasionally worked part-time for a day or two.
Minjae's eyes lit up.
"Then let's celebrate at Juri's place! I haven't been to her restaurant yet."
Sangmin interrupted. "No, wait. Don't you feel weird about seeing your ex? Have some self-awareness, bro."
"Why?" Minjae said without hesitation. "That was ages ago. We're on cool terms."
How brazen.
Even after spending half his life with Minjae, Sangmin was still shocked by the man's shamelessness.
"I was planning to book a nice bar, invite the girls from Serin's, and party all night with their ethereal beauty—"
Minjae cut in, indifferently.
"That's just your personal fantasy."
Then he leaned over, resting his elbow on Jiho's shoulder.
"Great. It's settled. You can join us after your shift. That's fine with you, right?"
Jiho was chewing a mouthful of rice when he was suddenly cued.
Hmm?
He hadn't really been paying attention… but he caught the last part.
"It should be okay... I don't really have other plans."
"Then it's decided! I'll plan the party." Kim Hyunsuk grinned and turned to Jiho. "You're a design major, right? I think we're the same age. Just call me Hyunsuk, let's exchange numbers."
Jiho glanced at the phone being held out to him and took it.
He entered his number and gave it a ring.
An ordinary system ringtone echoed briefly.
"Here." Jiho saved the number with no frills and handed the phone back.
While, Sangmin scowled at the situation. He wasn't done protesting.
"Who even approved this? Did you check with my sister? What if the restaurant's packed that day?"
He hoped and prayed that it would be.
But his last glimmer of hope was shattered with Minjae's next words.
"I already asked Juri. She said it's fine."
Sangmin glared at the group chat on his phone.
Sis… how could you fold so easily? What about the tears you shed after that breakup?
Goodbye, Serin's beauties.
Meanwhile, Jiho finished his last bite and stood up.
"I'm done. I still have class, so I'll be on my way, sunbae-nim."
He picked up his tray and reached for his bag.
Drag—
Whoa.
Jiho suddenly dropped back into his seat, hands fumbling to keep the tray from spilling all over him.
It would be a disaster in white shirt.
He immediately glared at the culprit.
"Oh. My bad." Minjae removed his hands from Jiho's bag, smiling innocently. "I meant to call you. You forgot your glasses, dear."
He picked up the glasses from the table and waved them like a prize.
"…Thanks."
Jiho snatched them and walked off without looking back.
Dear?
Who the hell is he disgusting?
Seriously.
Jiho stood in front of the vending machine, trying to cool off.
He pressed the button for a can of grapefruit soda.
Clunk.
The wind blew softly, carrying the faint scent of gardenia through the rustling leaves.
His eyes accidentally met a pair of striking almond eyes.
The girl was quite tall and fashionable. Effortlessly put-together.
She looked away almost immediately while continuing her conversation on her phone as if nothing had happened.
He didn't mean to eavesdrop. Truly.
"Hera, did you see Seo Minjae today? Do you think he's avoiding me? Have you heard who he's been hanging out with…"
Jiho cracked open his soda and resolutely turned around.
Anyway, it sounds troublesome.
He wanted nothing to do with it.