For a few seconds, their eyes remained locked on each other.
The noisy crowd around them slowly faded into the background.
Lee Yun didn’t know why, but the moment felt strangely heavy.
Han Tae kept staring at him with unreadable eyes before suddenly looking away.
A guy quickly walked toward Han Tae and threw an arm around his shoulder.
“Han Tae, join the English Literature club with me,” he said excitedly. “It’ll be fun.”
Han Tae looked completely uninterested.
He was about to reject him when his eyes casually moved across the crowd again—
And stopped on Lee Yun.
Lee Yun was standing near the Hiking Club booth, silently filling out an application form.
Without another word, Han Tae walked toward the Hiking Club booth.
Han Tae watched him quietly for a moment.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
“Interesting,” he muttered under his breath.
Without another word, he walked toward the Hiking Club booth.
A few minutes later—
The line moved slowly as students filled out their application forms one by one.
The club seniors busily answered questions while collecting paperwork from the freshers.
As they stood beside each other filling out the forms, their hands accidentally brushed against one another.
Lee Yun slightly froze.
Cold.
Han Tae’s hand was strangely cold.
Lee Yun unconsciously looked up at his face.
At the same time, a few club seniors were busy flirting with Han Tae, laughing loudly and trying to get his attention.
But Han Tae ignored all of them completely.
Lee Yun quietly pulled his hand back and finished writing before handing over the application form without saying a single word.
After collecting everyone’s applications, the club seniors guided the freshers toward the Hiking Club room.
The room was larger than Lee Yun expected.
Camping bags, climbing ropes, hiking photographs, and mountain maps decorated the walls. The atmosphere felt lively and warm compared to the outside chaos.
Freshers slowly sat down while talking among themselves nervously.
Lee Yun chose a corner seat near the window.
Of course—
Han Tae sat right beside him.
Some students immediately started whispering about Han Tae’s visuals while others secretly glanced at Lee Yun because of how quiet he looked.
One of the seniors clapped their hands loudly.
“Alright everyone!” she said cheerfully. “Since this is the first meeting, let’s start with introductions!”
A few students groaned nervously while others laughed.
The introductions began one by one.
Some students confidently talked about themselves.
Some bragged about achievements.
Some tried too hard to act cool.
Lee Yun quietly listened without paying much attention.
Then—
“Next.”
It was Lee Yun’s turn.
The room slowly became quiet as everyone looked at him.
Lee Yun stood up from his seat near the window.
“My name is Lee Yun,” he said calmly.
“I’m nineteen years old.”
Unlike before, his voice sounded softer this time.
“I like places with a lot of nature… especially places filled with greenery.”
Some students looked surprised hearing that from someone who looked so cold and distant.
One of the seniors smiled warmly.
“Oh? Then why did you join the Hiking Club?”
For a moment, Lee Yun stayed silent.
His eyes slightly lowered.
Then he answered quietly,
“When my grandmother was healthy… she used to take me hiking with her.”
As Lee Yun spoke, Han Tae—who had looked bored the entire time—slowly lifted his eyes toward him.
For the first time since entering the room, the coldness in Han Tae’s expression softened slightly.
“She really liked mountains and forests,” Lee Yun continued quietly.
“So… those places remind me of her.”
The room became silent.
Lee Yun’s face remained expressionless, but the loneliness hidden behind his words was impossible to miss.
Some students looked awkwardly away.
Some felt sympathy.
One of the seniors smiled gently.
“She must’ve been a wonderful person.”
Lee Yun quietly nodded and sat back down.
Beside him, Han Tae kept staring at him for a few seconds longer.
Not with mockery.
Not with boredom.
But with an unfamiliar softness in his eyes.
Then the senior smiled and turned toward the person beside Lee Yun.
“Alright, next. Han Tae.”
The atmosphere in the room instantly changed.
Han Tae slowly stood up from his seat.
The moment he did, everyone’s attention naturally shifted toward him.
Some girls straightened their posture nervously.
A few students whispered quietly among themselves.
Han Tae looked completely unbothered.
One hand casually inside his pocket, he looked around the room with calm, unreadable eyes before speaking.
“My name is Han Tae.”
The moment his voice echoed through the room, several students froze slightly.
His voice was deep and rough—
Low and calm, yet powerful enough to command everyone's attention
Just listening to it sent chills through the room.
“I don’t have any hobbies,” he continued calmly.
“And I joined this club because it looked interesting.”
As he said the last word—
His eyes briefly moved toward Lee Yun.
For some reason, the word seemed directed at him.
The meaning behind his gaze was unclear, but it made Lee Yun unconsciously tense for a second.
Some seniors laughed awkwardly, clearly affected by Han Tae’s intimidating aura despite his calm attitude.
Meanwhile, Lee Yun quietly listened to Han Tae’s introduction without saying anything.
But for some reason—
Han Tae’s deep voice remained stuck in his mind longer than it should have.
Han Tae simply sat back down.
After all the introductions and club activities ended, evening slowly arrived.
One of the seniors suddenly clapped loudly.
“Freshers party tonight!” he announced excitedly. “Everyone from the club has to come!”
Cheers immediately filled the room.
Most students excitedly agreed, talking about food, drinks, and games.
Lee Yun originally wanted to refuse.
But before he could say anything, one of the seniors dragged him along with everyone else.
The party was held at a small restaurant near Hanguk University.
The atmosphere was loud and lively.
Students laughed loudly, drank together, and talked freely like they had known each other for years.
But Lee Yun sat quietly in the corner of the table.
Just watching.
Not participating.
A half-filled drink rested in his hand as he slowly took small sips in silence.
Then—
A chair suddenly pulled out in front of him.
Han Tae sat directly across from him.
Lee Yun slightly looked up.
Han Tae lazily rested his arm on the table, looking completely relaxed despite everyone around him constantly trying to talk to him.
One of the seniors suddenly grinned mischievously.
“Han Tae, do you have a girlfriend?”
The table instantly became noisy.
Everyone looked curious.
Even Lee Yun unconsciously lifted his head toward Han Tae.
Han Tae noticed.
Then calmly replied,
“No.”
But while answering—
He was looking directly at Lee Yun.
A female senior sitting nearby laughed and pointed toward her friend.
“Then date one of our club members!”
Her friend immediately became embarrassed while everyone else laughed teasingly.
Han Tae glanced at the girl for one second before speaking in a calm voice,
“I have higher expectations.”
The entire table instantly became awkwardly silent.
The girl’s smile froze.
Some students coughed to hide their laughter while others avoided eye contact.
Lee Yun quietly lowered his eyes again after hearing Han Tae’s answer.
A few minutes later, he silently stood up from his seat and walked outside alone.
Cool night air brushed against Lee Yun’s face as he stepped outside the restaurant.
The loud noises from inside became distant.
Lee Yun quietly took out a cigarette and stood near the side alley.
He looked exhausted.
A few seconds later—
The restaurant door opened again.
Han Tae stepped outside.
His eyes immediately found Lee Yun standing alone beneath the dim streetlight.
But before Han Tae could say anything—
Lee Yun suddenly froze.
Completely froze.
His expression changed instantly.
Fear.
Pure fear.
His eyes locked onto someone standing farther down the street.
A man.
Lee Yun’s breathing suddenly became uneven.
His hands trembled slightly before he abruptly turned around and hurried away.
Almost running.
Han Tae frowned slightly.
“Who’s that guy…” he muttered quietly.
At that moment, Lee Yun accidentally crashed straight into Han Tae’s chest while trying to get away.
Lee Yun’s breathing was heavy and unstable.
Han Tae looked down at him in confusion, not understanding what was happening.
Han Tae glanced once more at the man standing in the distance.
Then his eyes returned to Lee Yun.
Lee Yun looked terrified.
Not nervous.
Not uncomfortable.
Terrified.
Han Tae's eyes narrowed slightly.
For the first time that day—
He felt genuinely curious.
Who was that man?
And why was Lee Yun so afraid of him?
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