Chapter 32

The girls froze in surprise as they witnessed Seok-Woo getting soaked once again, caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events.

Despite his evident displeasure, Seok-Woo managed to remain composed, directing his attention towards the person responsible for the mishap. With a quizzical expression, he addressed her.

"Nari?" Seok-Woo's voice held a hint of uncertainty, seeking confirmation of her identity. Nari, her hand still wet with coffee, met his gaze with an apologetic look.

"It's you?" Nari's question mirrored Seok-Woo's uncertainty, to which he nodded in affirmation.

"It's unfortunate that we meet again under such circumstances," Seok-Woo remarked, glancing briefly at her phone before offering a word of advice.

"Next time, be sure to pay attention to your surroundings before walking in the streets," he advised, a subtle sigh escaping his lips as he contemplated the situation.

Turning back to the girls behind him, Seok-Woo announced his intention to return to the department store to change his clothes. With a nod, he made his way back inside, followed closely by Nari, who seemed eager to make amends for her mistake.

Inside the store, Seok-Woo wasted no time in selecting a replacement shirt, opting for a quick change in the dressing room before heading to the counter to make his purchase.

However, his progress was interrupted by Nari, who approached him with a gesture of remorse, offering to pay for the shirt as an apology for her carelessness.

"Here, I'll cover the cost of the shirt as an apology. I'm sorry for using my phone while walking," Nari expressed her remorse, extending her hand toward Seok-Woo with genuine sincerity.

Seok-Woo observed Nari's face intently before accepting the card she offered. "If you insist," he remarked, his voice calm despite the mishap. Slipping past Nari, he made his way to the counter to settle the payment for the shirt he had chosen.

With a smooth motion, Seok-Woo handed over the card, swiftly completing the transaction. Retrieving his card from the cashier, he returned to where Nari stood waiting.

"Thank you for paying," Seok-Woo expressed his gratitude as he extended the card back to her. Nari accepted it with a nod, slipping it back into her wallet.

As they finalized the matter, Nari tilted her head slightly, seeking confirmation. "I think that's all sorted, right?" she inquired, her tone hopeful. Seok-Woo responded with a simple nod, indicating that the issue was indeed resolved.

"I'll be on my way now. See you again in class," Seok-Woo bid farewell, waving as he headed towards the exit. Nari watched him go, crossing her arms in contemplation.

"Well, there goes my allowance for the day," Nari murmured to herself, glancing down at her phone. A text message caught her attention, prompting her to ponder the expense of the shirt Seok-Woo had chosen.

"I can't do anything about it. I'll ask my parents for more allowance next time," Nari resolved, slipping her phone back into her pocket before continuing on her way.

Meanwhile, Seok-Woo emerged from the store to find the girls waiting for him. As he approached, he inquired, "Did you wait long?"

"Not really," Ja-In reassured him. Sunhwi then chimed in, noticing Nari's absence. "Where's the girl who followed you?" she asked.

"We parted ways. Let's not worry about her," Seok-Woo replied, brushing off the concern. Sunhwi teased him lightly, suggesting they not waste any more time in case he encountered another mishap.

Amused by Sunhwi's comment, Seok-Woo smiled and agreed. "Let's go," he said, leading the way. The group walked together towards where Seok-Woo had parked the car, Seok-Woo carrying the plastic bag of his wet clothes.

During the journey back, Seok-Woo remained silent, prompting the girls to speculate that he might be in a slightly sour mood after experiencing two mishaps in quick succession.

As they reached the car, Seok-Woo courteously unlocked the door for them, gesturing for the girls to enter one by one, which they did without hesitation.

Once everyone was settled inside, Seok-Woo slid into the driver's seat and started the engine, guiding the vehicle back toward the university. Sunhwi found herself once again seated beside Seok-Woo, with Eun-Ah and Ja-In occupying the back seat.

A palpable silence filled the car, catching Seok-Woo's attention. Breaking the quietude, he queried, "Why so quiet? It's not like you three to stay silent." His tone was light, not hinting at any displeasure.

Eun-Ah, speaking up from the back, explained, "We thought you might be in a bad mood, so we opted to stay quiet." Seok-Woo couldn't help but smirk at the notion, glancing at the trio through the rearview mirror.

"Sorry for giving off that impression. Didn't mean to," he apologized, genuinely unaware of the atmosphere he inadvertently created. Yet, little did he know, his presence alone evoked a sense of unease among the girls, like lambs in the company of a wolf.

Sunhwi, breaking the tension, remarked, "You're kind of intimidating when you're quiet, you know?" Her sideways glance met Seok-Woo's, his gaze piercing through her. Feeling exposed under his scrutiny, she averted her eyes momentarily before gathering her courage to meet his gaze again.

Unfazed, Sunhwi boldly asked, "Can we exchange numbers later?" Smoothly, she ran her hand through her hair, her intent clear. Seok-Woo, taken aback by Sunhwi's sudden change in demeanor, recognized the flirtatious undertone and responded with a question of his own.

"Why do you want my number?" he inquired, curious about her intentions yet aware of the subtle advances.

"Just to keep in touch," Sunhwi replied with a coy smile, awaiting his response. Seok-Woo returned her smile, agreeing to her request.

"Sure, I'll give you my number later. Sound good?" His grin mirrored hers as Sunhwi nodded in affirmation.

Meanwhile, Eun-Ah and Ja-In listened quietly to their exchange, feeling like bystanders in the unfolding flirtation. Yet, amid Sunhwi's boldness, Eun-Ah also harbored her own motives for wanting Seok-Woo's number, though different from her friend's intentions.

"Can I also get your number?" Eun-Ah asked, surprising everyone in the car, but she quickly explained her reason. "It's just to have someone to call," she said to Seok-Woo.

Sunhwi crossed her arms, not expecting her friend to ask as well, and she was further surprised when Ja-In also requested his number. Ja-In's reason was simple: she had no male contacts in her phone.

Seok-Woo agreed to exchange numbers later and then focused on driving. They eventually arrived at the university, and he parked the car. As soon as he parked, the group began to exit the vehicle.

After they got out, Sunhwi and Seok-Woo exchanged numbers, and then the two of them followed. Seok-Woo found it amusing to gain contact numbers from multiple girls in just a few hours.

Once the group finished exchanging numbers, they bid farewell to each other as they went their separate ways to their classes. Seok-Woo then headed towards the building where his next class was scheduled.

With some time to spare before class, he decided to settle into the classroom early. As he approached, he opened the door without much thought, only to realize he had interrupted a private moment.

In front of him, a couple was engaged in intimate activity. They and Seok-Woo locked eyes, sensing that he had disturbed them. Without a word, he slowly slid the door closed, his expression blank.

As Seok-Woo closed the door behind him, a sudden urge for fresh air pulled at him, compelling him to step away from the classroom for a moment's respite. But before he could make his move, a stoic feminine voice interrupted his thoughts. "What are you doing?" the voice queried.

Turning to the source, Seok-Woo found Gyeong-Eun standing nearby, her demeanor composed as she clutched a lesson plan to her chest. Before he could formulate a response, another door swung open, startling both of them.

Their attention diverted, they witnessed a couple hastily exiting the room, their disheveled appearance betraying their recent activities. As the couple hurried away, Gyeong-Eun's lips curled in a silent sigh. "Kids these days," she murmured to herself, a hint of resignation in her voice.

After their unexpected encounter with the amorous couple, Gyeong-Eun, clutching her lesson plan to her chest, turned her gaze toward Seok-Woo. Her expression remained stoic as she inquired, "Is this room your next class?" Her voice held a hint of authority, befitting her role as a professor.

Seok-Woo, unperturbed by her demeanor, calmly responded, "Yes, this room is for my next class, Professor." His acknowledgment was met with a nod from Gyeong-Eun, who then clarified, "If so, then you're one of my students in this class." She asserted her position as his teacher, though Seok-Woo's reaction seemed indifferent to the revelation.

Internally, Seok-Woo pondered, "Then what? Am I being singled out by you to tell Chae-Yoon that I didn't take class seriously?" His thoughts lingered as he observed her.

"Why are you looking at me so intently?" Gyeong-Eun's inquiry interrupted his contemplation, prompting Seok-Woo to retract his gaze. Attempting to alleviate the tension, he offered a compliment, "It's only because you're beautiful to look at."

Gyeong-Eun's expression flickered briefly, registering a hint of surprise before she resumed her composed demeanor. "Are you hitting on me?" she asked bluntly, her tone icy. Seok-Woo merely shrugged in response. "It depends on how you interpret that," he said cryptically as he opened the door and entered the classroom, leaving Gyeong-Eun to contemplate his words.

Gyeong-Eun crossed her arms at his response, then tried to push away the thought as she entered the classroom. She then began to set up for the class, with only her and Seok-Woo present.

As she worked, Seok-Woo sat in his seat, observing her. When he noticed that she was having difficulty setting things up, he spoke up. "Do you want some help, Professor?" he offered, noting her struggle.

However, Gyeong-Eun refused. "No, thanks. I'll handle it myself," she replied, and Seok-Woo didn't press further, opting to occupy himself with his phone instead.

Meanwhile, Gyeong-Eun continued to struggle. "What did the previous professor do to this room?" she muttered to herself as she untangled wires. With much left to do, she glanced at Seok-Woo, who was engrossed in his phone.

Conflicted about asking for help, Gyeong-Eun weighed her options. "Seok-Woo, can you... help me, please?" she eventually asked, dropping her stoic demeanor and revealing her need for assistance.

Seok-Woo looked up, recognizing her genuine need. Setting aside his phone, he stood up and walked over to her. "Where do you need me?" he asked, ready to lend a hand. Gyeong-Eun pointed out the tasks, and they worked together efficiently to complete them.

To Gyeong-Eun's surprise, they finished quickly. "He's effective and great at handling things," she silently complimented him.

The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as the start of the class approached. Gyeong-Eun completed her last-minute preparations for the lesson and took her position at the podium, her commanding presence palpable, her expression cold and stern. The room fell silent as the students settled in, but Seok-Woo remained engrossed in his phone, much to Gyeong-Eun's displeasure.

Taking note of Seok-Woo's behavior, Gyeong-Eun mentally marked him for attention once the class began. Finally, the lecture commenced, focusing on the topic of economics. Gyeong-Eun led the class with authority, her penetrating gaze keeping the students attentive.

As the lesson progressed, Gyeong-Eun initiated the dreaded recitation session, prompting a mix of reluctance and anxiety among the students. With few volunteers to answer her questions, she resorted to calling on individuals from her list, sparing no one.

Seok-Woo hoped to escape notice, but to his dismay, he became the target of Gyeong-Eun's scrutiny. "Seok-Woo, please recite," she commanded, catching him off guard. Rising to the challenge, he offered a response before retreating to his seat.

Gyeong-Eun assessed his effort internally, finding it barely satisfactory. Surprisingly, she directed another question at him, catching him unprepared. With arms crossed, she waited for his response, reprimanding him for his lack of attentiveness before moving on to another student.

The class endured the session, their first-day jitters compounded by the stern demeanor of their instructor. With relief, they welcomed the sound of the bell signaling the end of class, but their joy was short-lived as Gyeong-Eun assigned them an additional task before dismissing them.

Sighing in resignation, the students accepted the reality of Gyeong-Eun's teaching style for the semester. As they filed out of the classroom, Seok-Woo lingered, only to be summoned by Gyeong-Eun to stay behind, leaving him puzzled as to the reason for her summons.