[Soon Duho]

Like every Thursday, it's council meeting day. As one of the most prominent members of the students' council, my duty is to make sure everyone can be heard while preserving the values of this college. Everyone takes my opinion very seriously, which is an honor for me.

When I take my usual seat, I'm met by a wave of greetings. I return them back with a smile, after which the actual meeting starts. We discuss the usual: study time after classes, both individual and in small groups; tutoring for rookies and exchange students; a wider range of products for the cafeteria.

At the end of the meeting, Lim Yongho, the vicepresident of the student council, stops by to ask me questions. Unfortunately, they have nothing to do with what we talked about until a few minutes ago. Instead, they're related to Seolha's party. "How was it?" he starts, not wanting to leave my side until he receives a satisfactory answer.

"Not bad, but it could've been better. PB was drunk as fuck, and so were his friends. I had to fetch some hangover remedies for them or they would've passed out, especially Seungyeol, that weirdo." Yongho chuckles at my response. He doesn't seem to believe me.

I insist. "I'm serious, Yongho. They could barely stand on their feet. They were also saying some disconnected shit." With this important piece of information, Yongho stops giggling.

"Okay, now I believe it." He changes topic, leading me astray. "On another note, what do you think of Ham Seoyeon?"

I answer in a dry tone, "Not my type?"

Yongho insists. "Are you sure? Not even close? Have you tried?"

I force a smile, not wanting to snap at him. "Our interests simply don't align. She's into parties. I feel out of my element at that kind of event."

"You had fun last time, though." He has a point, but this doesn't mean he's right about Seoyeon. We're not meant to be. Period.

"Can we change the topic, please? There has to be something more interesting to be talking about right now." Yongho understands I'm not in the mood for talking about girls anymore and apologizes for the distress. Since I don't hold it against him, I forgive him.

"So... Saeha thinks the Dean takes bribes from disgustingly wealthy families."

"Who? Kil Saeha? The one who barely sets foot at campus?" I can't help stifling laughter. Saeha is an idiot. I know for sure because he nearly got booted over organizing an unauthorized protest inside campus, all while drunk. How he's still enrolled is a mystery to me.

I continue. "Does he even have evidence of what he says? Or is it just his usual bullshit?"

I hear a loud voice erupting in the halls. "Bullshit? You don't know how deep corruption is inside those rooms." I facepalm. Kil Saeha is back with his conspiracy theory—this is what I think it is, nothing else.

Trying to restrain myself from insulting him, I point out, "Saeha, I think, if there were ever signs pointing to corruption, the Dean and anyone close to him would've already been investigated. Am I right?" He scratches his head and doesn't say anything else.

Yongho and I give each other a high five. It doesn't take a lot to shut that bozo up. Speaking of him, anyway, he leaves without turning back to us. He'll find someone else to spew his idiotic bullshit to, but that's no longer our business. At least for now.

***

I was dead wrong. I thought Saeha would leave me alone after yesterday; however, he's still in my business. I wonder what he wants this time. He'd better not reiterate the corruption case theory because the allegation hasn't been proven, at least not yet.

He's not alone. He has a girl in his tow. I wonder if they're dating—I hope they are, because he needs someone to distract him from his nonsense. "Duho, do you remember JJ? We're a thing now!" Saeha sounds like he has made a groundbreaking discovery. Well, at least in his mind.

Jang Jeongyeon, or JJ as Saeha calls her, is exactly like him: a total dork who easily believes the most out of the world bullshit and has no trouble spreading it like wildfire. How those two match perfectly is dangerous. I hope she grows some sense faster than him if he doesn't change.

Not wanting to sound rude, however, I just extend my congratulations to the happy couple. "I'm glad you two found each other! I hope you can be happy and healthy together for a long time." They're both genuinely relieved to hear these words. So much that, in particular, Saeha holds me in such a tight hug that it hurts.

I beg him to loosen his hold on me, but he does anything but. Instead, JJ joins him in the hug. I feel like I'm trapped inside a giant sandwich. Someone stop these two! I need someone to rescue me or I'll be stuck for a while.

"Oh, hi, Duho! What's going on?" Not Seoyeon, not now! Is she planning to squeeze me, too?

Only after three more minutes, I realize she's actually a good distraction for Saeha and JJ, who let go of me and start what seems like a lengthy conversation with Seoyeon. Meanwhile, I have enough time to recollect myself, take a breather and leave the premises before the trio notices me again.

***

I finish studying the next subject and am ready for the last one when the librarian calls me by her desk. I swear I haven't made a sound at all since I came here. So, why is she calling me out? I pray it's all just a misunderstanding.

When I arrive at the librarian's desk, she briefs me with a piece of information that has been relayed in secret. "There's someone waiting for you outside. They told me not to reveal their identity to you," she says. Not wanting to argue about it, I just do as she says and leave the premises.

At the campus entrance, expecting someone important, I'm shocked to see Seoyeon passing by. She can't be the one the librarian told me about. She's exactly the last person who'd keep her identity secret. Meanwhile, she waves me hello, but I don't mind her.

She notices that and greets me more directly. "Duho, hey, hi! What's up?"

Again, I don't warm up to her. I just mutter an unconvinced "hi" and let her go. I hear her groan. She must be annoyed, but she should actually be grateful I didn't lash at her. I've tried to be polite, which is the bare minimum.

Since I'm more than convinced that Seoyeon isn't the one I've been waiting for, I suspect the librarian's warning is a fluke. Not wanting to waste any more time, I prepare to go back inside when I feel something tapping on my shoulder.

I turn to find Heejoo, my sister. We haven't seen each other face to face for approximately two years because of our respective commitments. We have a lot of catching up, starting now. I'm even surprised she has shown up here.

"Oh, hi, it's a pleasure to see you!"

She gives me a pouty look. "When did you plan to tell me you're into someone?" What is she talking about? I'm not dating anyone at all. There has to be a misunderstanding.

"Are you referring to the girl that passed by before you? Oh, no, we just share a few courses. There's nothing between us." The more I try to make it clear to Heejoo I'm not into Seoyeon, the less she believes me. I feel trapped.

It will take me a while to get out of this mess. It's definitely not a situation I can escape through a few white lies. I have to be direct and set boundaries with Seoyeon once for all.