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The problem is that when your parents are friends with other parents that also have kids you inevitably end up having childhood friends. This is not all that crazy. Cause and effect.
She’s seen enough of those dramas where it’s quite beautiful, actually. And boy, did she love noona. She was sweet and kind. Being an only child, Yeongeun always looked up to her like an older sister.
“Noona, catch me!” She would jump from the swing into her noona’s arms and laugh. Looking back on it now, those were some of the sweetest moments of her life.
The only problem is that there was a Baek Saheon, too.
[How don’t you even know what he’s up to? Aren’t you both in the same major?]
Her mom’s voice carried through the room on the phone.
“No, mom. He’s chemistry. I’m biology.”
[But your classes surely overlap!]
“There’s different times for different sections. It isn’t like high school. Getting the same class as someone multiple times is pretty rare.
[Aish… What is this? You two got along so well when you were younger.]
Okay, now her mother was being a bit delusional. She couldn’t get angry at her though. Her mother was just another one of the victims fooled by Baek Saheon’s ‘innocent’ act. He sure knew how to chum up to the adults when they were kids.
“I’ve gotta go. My shift is coming up soon.”
[Ah, right, okay. Did you prepare dinner-]
“Yes, yes, I did.” Go Yeongeun sighed, getting her shoes. “I did, mom. I’m eating, yes. I’m hanging up now. Bye. Mm, bye.”
The truth is.
She did see Baek Saheon. Four times a week, without fail.
Call it fate, call it destiny…
Somehow, the universe had decided that the two of them were destined to have overcrossing paths.
From childhood, to high school, to getting into the same damn college…
And now the library.
———————
-lmaooo this totally sounds like one of those enemies to lovers things
-....please don’t say that again
-lolololol but dude you’ve literally known him forever
-okay and also also
-he’s really cute
-are you blind
-LMAOOO
-idk what ur saying
-like half of the girls in the lab are in love with him
-...Yeongeun-ah? did you leave?
-TOT
———————
It went like this. Go Yeongeun was checking out some returned books. The door to the workers room opened. The Assistant Manager had already told her a few days prior that there was a new employee coming in, and she was going to show them around.
There was the sound of footsteps, and they abruptly stopped. That should’ve been her red flag.
Stupidly, she turned around and smiled.
“Hello! You must be the new–” She paused like a broken recorder, nearly dropping the books in her hands.
“.....”
“.....”
Baek fucking Saheon.
—
“Saheon-ssi.”
“Yes, Assistant Manager?”
“There’s new arrivals on the first floor. Go pick them up and bring them over here.”
“Right, of course.”
‘Hah.’
Go Yeongeun got a marginal bit of enjoyment from seeing Baek Saheon inwardly curse at their cold-hearted superior while having no choice but to obediently follow her orders.
Unfortunately, he could read the room well. Way too damn well. He saw the imposing aura surrounding their sharp supervisor and knew one wrong move meant instant death.
“You too, Yeongeun-ssi. There’s a lot.”
…
“Yes, Assistant Manager Nasol.”
***
For the most part, they had treated each other as if they hadn’t existed. Whether it was in class, their parents meeting up, or waiting long hours in the evening at the library, the most they had ever actually talked about was work-related.
She guesses she can be thankful for that. Their dislike for each other was mutual. That much was clear.
But there was something she was curious about.
For as long as she could remember, even before noona had….
For as long as she’d known him, Baek Saheon had always been one self-centered asshole. He would take anyone down if it meant he got the upper hand.
So, why in the world would this snake even consider doing a job where the most you could do was become an assistant manager that checked which books came in and out?
It was a good, but often thankless job. Nothing about that and Baek Saheon made sense together.
While she was thinking that.
“Yeongeun-ssi?”
A familiar voice called out. She tilted her head to the side, past the books she was carrying. In front of her there was a man in an office getup staring at her with surprise.
Kim Soleum!
“I didn’t know you worked here.” He stepped closer, noticing the books she was carrying. “Did you need help–?”
He paused when he noticed the person a few steps besides her. Speaking of–that guy was suddenly very quiet.
Confused, she turned her head and saw Baek Saheon’s face was…incredibly pale?
“Ah, Saheon.” Kim Soleum’s voice suddenly became incredibly dead toned, as though he were talking to an unpleasant coworker. “I didn’t know you worked here too. Having fun?”
“...”
“No?”
An answer immediately came out. “Yes, I am.”
“Haha, you can say if you’re not.”
“No, I am.”
“Yeah, okay.”
…
Holy. Holy shit.
She stared at this bizarre reaction, eyeballs nearly popping out of her sockets. She had never seen Baek Saheon act this docile in her life, ever. Maybe with noona, but noona at most only ever scolded him. And that was when they were children.
And it was Kim Soleum causing this, of all people?!
Kim Soleum, who literally saved her life for that organic chemistry midterm by giving him a copy of her notes?
Kim Soleum who was considered a godsent to all biology students, helping with tutoring for free?
Their eyes met, to which Kim Soleum very quickly flashed her a slightly embarrassed smile. Yeah. There was no way he was a bad guy. He was a very kind, gentle, and smart…
Oh. A text conversation a few months ago popped up in her head.
-I had some complications and had to room with a stranger.
Oh no… is everything alright? Do you two get along?-
-Well…
So that’s why he acted so strange when she asked.
Kim Soleum and Baek Saheon were roommates. And she could totally see Saheon terrorizing any new roommate he had. But, Soleum was smarter than that.
So he scared him into submission!
Soleum-ssi… I have even more respect for you now…
“It was nice to see you, Soleum-ssi! We’ll get going now. I’ve got it, so don’t worry.” Go Yeongeun winked at Kim Soleum while she was moving past. He stared at her, a little flustered.
“Are you coming along, Baek Saheon?”
“....”
Go Yeongeun found herself humming on the way back.
—
“I’m sorry again.”
The two of them were in lab class when Kim Soleum brought the library incident up. All around them, classmates were chattering as they struggled to get the necessary chemicals. Soleum and Yeongeun had already coordinated what they would get beforehand and ended up way ahead of the rest.
“Hah!” Yeongeun laughed, scraping the flakey substance collecting on the filter paper. Soleum stood next to her, dotting TLC plates. “Please, don’t apologize. That whole interaction made my day. Seriously, how did you even do that? He was literally shaking into his boots.”
“It’s complicated…”
Soleum groaned, closing his eyes. She could tell he would’ve face palmed if his gloves weren’t contaminated with chemicals.
“Really, though. Be careful with that guy. You never know what he might pull.”
“Yeah, thanks. I know–shit.” He scrambled to get a pair of tweezers. “I think I left the TLC in the gas chamber for too long…”
***
The two of them ended up getting instant noodles at the convenience store, since by the time they got out the school dining halls had already closed.
“By the way, Yeongeun-ssi…”
“Hm?”
“Uhm, about that thing with Baek Saheon.. It’s…”
“He thinks you’re super scary, when in reality you’re the scaredy cat?”
He winced.
Go Yeongeun chuckled. “I’ve known you for two years already. You hid it well, but..”
“I was hoping you wouldn’t notice.”
“Haha.”
“...It’s about something else, though.” He scratched the back of his neck. “He.. uh… he thinks… I’m two different people?”
“...?”
“It’s hard to explain. Just–if he acts a bit weird around me, don’t pay it any mind.”
“Uhm, okay?”
Soleum, seeming a bit embarrassed, took a sip of his coffee. Go Yeongeun sighed, letting the topic drop. “Why are you drinking so late, anyway?”
Soleum stared at her from over the cup. “...you of all people have no right to say that to me. Your eyebags are deeper than mine.”
“Ouch, coming from the Kim Soleum?”
She could see him grinning. Go Yeongeun playfully kicked his foot.
“Hey, I got access to the library after hours. Need a place to study tonight?”
“Oh. Are you sure..?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Thank you.”
She smiled, taking another bite of her instant noodles.
“It’s nothing.”
They end up staying there for quite a while. Soleum helped her best he could with a few physics problems she was having trouble with. But eventually, even the caffeine started to wear off. Kim Soleum walked her back, and she fell asleep the second she hit the couch.
…
…
…
Oh.
I’m here again.
She’s standing at the side and watching them lower noona into the ground. It’s a closed coffin. She doesn’t know what noona looked like when she died.
She won’t ever know now.
‘Sob!’
There’s a lot of people crying. Noona was a very kind person, so it makes sense that a lot of people are very sad that she’s gone too.
Go Yeongeun tries to quietly wipe her tears away. Noona wouldn’t have wanted her to be so sad.
-‘Don’t be so worried about me all the time, my little goral.’
-‘Goral?!’
-‘Because saheon-ie is a goat, so you’re a goral!’
-‘Noonaaaa! You’re so weird….’
And then.
She sees him. He’s standing next to his parents. They’re holding each other's hands, trembling.
But he isn’t crying.
Instead, his face is twisted into an ugly expression. It’s almost like he’s angry. There’s whispers in the crowd.
He turns around and leaves. No one makes a move to stop him.
…
She follows him into the house. He doesn’t acknowledge it, but she knows that he hears her. She doesn’t stop until she realizes where he’s going.
Noona’s room.
She freezes, head filled with static. It feels wrong to step into the room of someone who isn’t here anymore, who is still being buried six feet under the ground.
It’s unbearably quiet. Saheon has already closed the door.
She musters the courage to open her mouth.
“S…saheon?” She swallows. “I.. I’m…”
She forces her feet to move. Every creek of the floor feels like a jumpscare.
“..I’m coming in.”
She opens the door, and–
No one is inside.
Beepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-
She slams the alarm off, groaning. Through blurry eyes she looks at her phone.
9am.
“Hhhagh.”
God, why did she feel so shitty? Did she have a dream?
She can recall a vague feeling of dread, but when she tries to think of any details it all becomes a blurry mess.
‘Ah, whatever.’
There’s a loud ding from her phone.
-don’t forget!
“Huh?”
She squints at the sender.
Seonghae
-don’t forget!
‘...oh, yeah.’
Go Yeongeun groans again.
***
“Yeongeun-ie!” Lee Seonghae walked up to her, smiling. She’s wearing a blue knee-length dress with tiny white dolphins on the bottom. “You look cute!”
“Thank you. You as well, sunbae.”
“Let’s go!”
‘..hooh.’
Lee Seonghae was a very kind person. At least, to Go Yeongeun she was. They were in the same class. Seonghae was pretty small and her voice was quite high, and so she stood out quite easily from the crowd.
Unfortunately, it led to some unwanted attention.
The reason they had ended up becoming friends in the first place was because some asshole kept trying to flirt with Lee Seonghae, and when that didn’t work he got angry and started subtly insulting her…
Go Yeongeun, running an average of four hours of sleep, tired of it, and generally pissed..
She mmmay have gone a bit off on him.
After being yelled at in front of the class by someone half his size for thirty minutes, he didn’t come to class again. Those sorts of people were always weak willed.
But there were always pests like that. And contrary to their beliefs, this short woman with a cutesy way of speaking…
She was actually terrifying.
It was only after getting to know Lee Seonghae better that Go Yeongeun realized what she did was much more merciful than whatever Seonghae would have done if he had kept harassing her.
And currently, the two of them were going on a double date. But Yeongeun knew that whatever was going to happen to Lee Seonghae’s date…
‘It might be a little off kilter…’
‘But Seonghae-sunbae isn’t a bad person…! And, I seriously owe her…!’
She had been the one to help her get the job in the library. In exchange, she had promised to help Seonghae with a little something.
And this little something was the double date/potential beating of an asshole that Seonghae determined was a bad person.
“Nervous?”
“Oh, no. I’ve been to a few bars before.”
“Good, gooood. Oh! And, just to let you know, the friend I set up with you is gay. He won’t try anything funny. Just stick around for a little~ I’ll take care of the rest and call you when I’m donee~”
“...Uh. Thanks. Okay.”
“mhmmm.”
Without a further ado, Seonghae swung the door open. Bright lights immediately greeted the two of them. Since it was already 10pm, there were a decent amount of people on the dance floor, swaying to some techno pop. On the side, there were booths filled with people cuddling or laughing loudly over drinks and snacks.
“Let’s goooo.”
Lee Seonghae grabbed Yeongeun’s hand and led them over to one of the booths where two men were drinking.
“Seonghae-ie~!”
‘ugh…’
The man calling her sunbae’s name wore a sleazy face, already a bit tipsy. He grabbed Seonghae’s arm and laughed, pressing a big kiss on her hand.
Seonghae giggled, smiling wide. The green glint in her eyes shined unnaturally bright.
“This is my friend Go Yeongeun-ie~!” She then motioned to the other man in the booth wearing a black jacket. “Ah, and Yeongeun-ie, this is your date~”
“Nice to meet you.” The man in the black jacket held out his hand politely, smiling. “We’ve shared a class together before. I’m Chul Yoo.”
“Ah..”
“Haha, you don’t remember, huh.”
“Unfortunately not, but it’s nice to meet you.”
“Yeep. That’s fine, that’s fine~”
The four of them sat in the booth, chatting. From an outsider’s perspective, it seemed like an easy outing between friends.
Internally. Go Yeongeun was screaming.
‘Lee Seonghae, this person is NOT into men…!!’
She knew something was off the second Lee Seonghae had told her he was gay. Her sunbae, bless her soul, had an incredibly bad read on people unless they were classified as ‘good’ or ‘bad’..!
And she knew enough people to know–
‘This person was clearly not!!! Gay!!’
From the terrible jeans to the obvious way he moved–
He wasn’t even trying to pretend!
“Haha, yeah~ And then I went to go get her a drink, but when I came back she was totally slumped over and passed out. It was seriously tough to carry her all the way back.”
“Oooh, that must’ve been toooough.”
“It was the least I could do, hahaha..” The faker laughed loudly.
“Hey, dolphin-ie~” The man next to Seonghae smiled, leaning to whisper into her ear. Yeongeun silently shuddered at the sight.
Lee Seonghae giggled, before grabbing his hand and pulling him up.
“We’re gonna take a bathroom break, you two have fun! We’ll be riiiiight back, okaaay?”
Like a cat leading a mouse into its mouth, Seonghae led the poor fool to the bathroom. All Yeongeun could do was pray she didn’t do anything that would get her into too much trouble.
“Ugh. Those guys are going to fuck in the bathroom? Jesus, who makes it that obvious?”
As if on cue, Chul Yoo’s voice sneered at the two figures fading into the crowd. He shot Yeongeun a grin.
“Ah, have you not drunk yet? Here, you can try mine.”
“I don’t drink.”
“...oh. Ahaha oookay.”
He laughed, slumping forward a bit on the table.
“Hey, hey. I’m not actually gay. You can go ahead and stop acting uncomfortable.”
…
…what?
“What?”
“Lee Seonghae told you I was gay, right? I’m not, don’t worry. You would think the slut would know, but maybe messing around with all those girls–”
“I’m sorry, I think I have to go.”
She stood up, desperately convincing herself that punching this guy in the face here would only cause problems. She could control herself.. control…
A hand forcefully grabbed her wrist.
“Hey, hey~ sorry, did I upset you?” The bastard grinned up at her, putting an apologetic look on his face. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to, noona. If you like messing around with girls, that’s fine~”
Piece of shit! Die!
“...”
She smiled, gently touching the hand on her wrist and prying it off. The skin he grabbed slightly throbbed, but she couldn’t tell if it was bruising because of the lights.
“We really were in the same class. Last year. I thought even then you were super cute, but I never got the courage to ask you out…” He grinned. “But now..”
“Let’s go outside.”
“Eh?”
Go Yeongeun tilted her head to the side, smiling.
“Let’s go outside. I want to take a walk with you.”
—
The second they turned the corner, he slammed her into a wall.
“Haha.. woah…” He laughed. She could smell the booze on his mouth. “You’re pretty direct, noona.”
“....”
“You know, I really, really like you…. You’re super cute… and hot…”
“You like me?”
“Yeahhh.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Hmmmm?”
“I said that’s unfortunate.”
“Why-AUUGHH–!”
He screamed, scrambling away as Yeongeun took out a small bottle and immediately sprayed something into his eyes.
“Guh-uhhhh?!”
There weren’t many people around. She blankly watched him writhe on the ground. Quietly, she put the pepper spray back into her purse.
‘Haaah.’
“This was self defense, okay? Self defense.” She squatted down and smiled at him, though he probably couldn’t see it. “And don’t tell anyone, or else Seonghae is going to do to you what she’s doing to your friend right now.”
“Augghh…You...”
“And don’t call me noona.”
She stood up, pressing a hand to her forehead. The lack of sleep from today was seriously catching up to her now. And this whole fiasco had been the icing on top.
‘Just my luck.’
She was seriously going to take the longest shower when she got back. Just the thought of his skin touching her wrist made her want to throw up.
“You fucking…” The man groaned in pain, rubbing at his eyes. He got up in staggering steps, breathing haggard. “Bitch, I’ll–”
He took something out of his pocket. It gleamed under the moonlight.
A knife.
‘Shit.’
She took a few steps back, looking around. There wasn’t anyone nearby. She should go to the police. But what if this insane guy just ended up swinging at anyone..?
‘...Soleum would probably knock him out.’
She cried internally.
‘But I’m not Soleum!’
…So! What did Go Yeongeun, running on 3 hours of sleep, think of?
A tactical run! It would do for now. She’ll lead him straight to the police! She took out her pepper spray and started running.
A furious, slurred voice screamed from behind.
“I’ll kill you, you bitc-”
THUD.
The voice was cut off, followed by the sound of something hitting the floor.
Go Yeongeun quickly turned around, sweating.
What the hell–
…!
Someone was standing over Chul Yoo’s unconcious body, a flashing phone in hand.
…
Baek Saheon?
—
“Wait.”
Saheon ignored her, walking away. They had already turned the sleazy bastard into the police station, and Baek Saheon had started to leave just as quickly as he arrived.
“I said wait! Baek Saheon!”
She ran up to him, grabbing his shoulder on impulse. He turned around, wringing his hands in the air.
A short, exasperated laugh escaped him. The sight of it made Yeongeun stand on edge.
"What's wrong with you?!"
“Me? What the fuck is wrong with you?” He shouted, as though he was holding in the insult this entire time.
Go Yeongeun stared at him like he was crazy. “With me–? You just went up and left–”
“What do you think you are, some kind of superhero? He was twice the size of you!”
“I was going to run away and go to the police!”
“And if he caught up to you?”
“That wasn’t going to happen.”
Baek Saheon made an aggravated noise in his throat, face twisting into a snarl.
“You and that guy. And noona.. I’m surrounded by fucking idiots…”
He laughed. And then he spat out words that made Yeongeun freeze.
“What, do you wanna be more like noona?”
“...What?”
“You think what she did was noble? That she sacrificed herself to save me, and that was a good thing? So now, you’re just–going out at night with men who might hurt you because you think you’re this hero that can take down bad-”
“What the hell are you going on about! Noona saved your life!”
“It was a pointless thing. She died for nothing, you know. Absolutely–"
“Shut up Baek Saheon!”
The two of them gasped for breath. Yeongeun realizes with mortification that tears were starting to roll down her cheek. She quickly wiped them away.
“Don’t say that.” She said shakily. “Noona saved you. She didn’t die for nothing. She saved you.”
“You’re not her actual sister. Don’t act like that matters to you.”
“Hell, Baek Saheon.” She laughed, face pulling into a spiteful grin. “You’re so messed up. Do you take me for an idiot? I know that already.”
“So what the fuck makes you think you can just–act like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like–!” Baek Saheon pulled at his hair, frustrated. “Like you care! Like, because she’s dead, I’m now some sort of sad, lost little brother you need to take care of! I’m not! I’m not something you can stick to, as if knowing me better would magically bring noona’s spirit closer to you!” He panted harshly, words coming out in a tumble.
Yeongeun couldn’t believe he had just said all that.
“...haha. Hahaha!” She couldn’t help it. She started to laugh, doubling over. Baek Saheon stared at her, fists clenched. “Oh my god, you are so, damn. Self. Centered!”
She looked up, eyes red.
“You think this is because of you? I loved her too, you piece of shit. You had nothing to do with it. The only damn thing we have in common–is that I grieved her just as much as you, no, just like you.”
“...”
“Look, Saheon, I…” She closed her eyes, headache flaring. “I know we’ve never gotten along, okay? And I’ve never wanted anything more. What we have right now is fine. And if anything, it’s you who needs to stop. Why the hell did you help me today? I had it handled.”
“....I’m not doing it for you.” A hollow voice spoke out. “...Noona would have…”
“Hah.” Yeongeun opened her eyes, tired. She was so damn tired. “Hey. Baek Saheon. Why do you think I tried to talk to you after the funeral?”
“I don’t remember that.”
“Yes, you do.”
“....”
“Look.” Yeongeun said exasperatedly. “As much as we both hate it, I’m probably the closest you’ll get to someone understanding what you’re feeling.”
“...so?”
“So, what I’m saying is that–I want to talk to someone about it too!”
“Not my problem. Get a therapist.”
“You are so–!” She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “You can beat a guy unconscious but you can’t even talk to me?”
“What good would it do?”
“It would, okay, I don’t know…” She sighed. “But we should at least try….”
Saheon was staring at her like she was a rotten lemon. She was probably looking at him the same way.
"At least let me–” She motioned tiredly at the police station. “I feel like I should do something since you helped me… okay? If not for anything else, at least for that.”
Baek Saheon stared at her for an agonizingly long second. She half expected him to just turn around and pretend like the conversation never happened. She knew he was the type to.
Instead, he opened his mouth. In a very quiet voice, he spoke.
“...okay.”
...!
“Seriously?”
“Are you deaf?”
“Shut up.”
—
She did dislike a lot of people. That much she could admit. She couldn’t find herself to ignore it when someone tried to encourage the suffering of others, especially if it was just a power trip.
It ended up getting her in trouble sometimes, when she would find ways to mess with guys two times her size. But if she had to do it all again, she would.
And overall, she felt like she had a good sense of reading a person’s character.
It’s probably what led her to liking Kim Soleum so much. She knew he was a good person who really just wanted to help others.
And unfortunately…
It also meant she had to admit that Baek Saheon wasn’t a completely bad person. He was an asshole and self serving, but he didn’t derive pleasure at seeing others suffer.
Go Yeongeun could understand that, at the very least.
“Why were you at the bar anyways?”
“...”
“Hey, Baek Saheon.”
“Mhm.”
“You’re gay.”
He whipped his head around, eyebrows furrowing.
“What–?”
“Don’t deny it. I know you are.”
“I–” His shoulders slumped, accepting defeat. “And what makes you so sure.”
“Noona told me. And you’re obvious.”
“Hah.”
“So?”
“It doesn’t matter anyways. I'll just meet him a the library.”
“Ahh. Is that why you got the job? Does he come here often? Come on, maybe I can help. Was it a date?”
“No. He owed me something.”
“Who?”
“Kim Soleum.”
“Your roommate? Why did you have to go to a bar to see him?”
“No, it’s not my roommate."
“...what?”
“They just have the same name.”
“....uh.”
From what she could remember, there was only one Kim Soleum in the whole school. It was an unusual name.
“Do you understand, Miss Goral? Or is it just nonsense up there.”
“Shut up, you old goat.”
—
Much later, she sees Kim Soleum give out his number to a guy who was freaking out about his wifi.
When she asked Soleum about it, he surprisingly started to blush.
Shit Saheon. She thought. Looks like you’ve got competition…