Of All Parks in All the World—Why This One?
Some days passed. I perfected the fine art of avoiding Joon Seo-hyun like a professional.
If he entered through one door, I bolted out another.
If his class was on the third floor, I climbed to the fourth and pretended I was deeply fascinated by fire extinguishers.
If I heard his name echoing through the hallway, I ducked behind Min Ji-woo like a spy avoiding facial recognition.
I even waited outside the classroom just to hang out with Ji-woo after, without being caught in His Majesty's coder-glare.
Then Sunday came.
A peaceful, well-deserved lazy Sunday.
I was at the park, pretending to be on a fitness journey. In truth, I was power-walking to justify the three hotteok I'd just eaten.
I was mid-step, earphones in, living my best "fake healthy girl" life—
And there he was.
Joon Seo-hyun.
In grey joggers.
With a water bottle.
Running toward me.
Hair pushed back like some K-drama fitness model.
My soul left my body.
I did a 360 pirouette so fast I looked like I'd been possessed by a breakdancing demon.
Then I ducked behind a bush.
A bush.
Not even a big one—like a half-dead shrub trying its best.
I crouched, frozen, praying to the gods of invisibility.
Too late.
"...What are you doing?"
That voice.
I peeked up.
Seo-hyun stood above me, wiping sweat from his brow.
His brows arched. His lips curled in that half-smirk, half-confused puppy expression.
His shadow fell over me like doom.
"Oh hey," I coughed. "I dropped my… self-esteem. Somewhere. Thought I'd find it here."
He blinked.
"You've been avoiding me."
"Whaaat? Nooo," I laughed like a malfunctioning android. "I just... have strong instincts. Like a deer. I sense predators. I run."
He folded his arms.
I stood up, brushing imaginary dignity off my jeans.
"Anyway, gotta go! I hear my laundry crying at home."
I bolted again, this time full speed, nearly crashing into an ahjumma with a poodle.
The Hoodie Betrayal and the Devil's Latte
I thought I had escaped.
I thought I had perfected the ninja-ghost-no-trace routine.
Until Seo-hyun caught me.
Literally caught me—by the back of my hoodie like a truant kid.
"You know," he said, his voice dangerously calm, "I've seen this hoodie running away from my class more times than I can count. Then, five minutes later, I see it gossiping with some girl in the courtyard."
He smiled.
A devil's smile.
And I—me, genius me—I just froze like a guilty potato.
Next thing I knew, we were in a coffee shop.
He was sipping his Americano like a villain.
I was nursing a cappuccino like it was my last defense.
"Are you avoiding me?" he asked smoothly.
"Why would I do that?" I said with an awkward laugh and too much eye contact.
He leaned in.
"You know, you're not very subtle. You wear the same hoodie at home. And those bright neon green sneakers? Really? It's like you want to be tracked."
"Detective, what are you up to?" I asked, hoping to change the subject.
He narrowed his eyes.
"You've been hanging out with girls lately. Quite a few."
I choked.
I actually choked on my coffee.
"Wait—are you watching me?? Like…stalking level watching??"
He shrugged, totally unbothered.
"It's fun. You're entertaining. Better than Netflix."
I slammed my cup down. "You're insane!"
Then I lowered my voice.
"Please. I'm just trying to survive college. Could you maybe pretend you don't know me? It would make my life 89% easier."
He leaned back in his chair like this was the best scene of his day.
"Even if you're in danger?"
I puffed my chest dramatically.
"Excuse you. I am a muscle monster. Nothing will happen to me."
Seo-hyun's eyes sparkled with amusement.
He grinned.
"Sure, Hulk. But even monsters need saving sometimes."
I stared.
And for one terrifying second, my heart did a somersault.
I stood up immediately.
"Okay BYE! My muscle monster duties are calling!"
He laughed again.
This time, it sounded suspiciously… warm.
So that afternoon, Min Ji-woo decided to meet up with her newly minted ex-boyfriend.
And guess who he turned out to be?
One of those suspicious-background, face-too-pretty-to-trust guys I'd been lowkey mentally tagging in my "might-be-a-spy-or-worse" list.
I stared.
Then, being the nosy gremlin bestie that I am, I blurted out:
"Wow, you two look cute together! Why'd you break up?"
Yeah. Like I actually cared.
(I didn't.)
But I smiled like I had invested stocks in their failed romance.
Min Ji-woo side-eyed me. Her ex blinked. I sipped my juice like it was popcorn.
Fast forward to hell—I mean, Seo-hyun's class.
Somehow, against all logic and survival instincts, I had started attending it.
Every time I sat there, I felt like I was a squirrel in a physics lecture.
My brain: static.
My notes: nonexistent.
My soul: crying.
And Seo-hyun?
Instead of being the cold, broody professor who ignored everyone—he decided to pay special attention to me.
Why?
WHY??
He'd randomly call on me, give me that tiny smirk, and ask questions like I was his star pupil. Or pet project.
"Miss Hoodie, care to explain that formula?"
And there I was—blinking, spacing out, barely able to spell formula.
I wanted to stand up and scream:
"PLEASE STOP. I'm already socially endangered in this class. If you keep this up, I'll be eaten alive by the fan club in the third row."
Seriously. The girls in that corner?
They were sharpening their pens.
Whispering.
Plotting.
I could feel it.
I was this close to being offered as sacrifice.
And yet, Seo-hyun smiled again.
Like he knew.
Like this was all a game.
And unfortunately, I was the unwilling player #1.