Chapter 25 - Strangers

"I think warm food could bring out the optimistic side of me. Is the ramen treat still available?"

Son Jin Ae silently scolded herself for giving promises to people she only met once. Actually, she only said that just to leave an impression, she thought she'd never meet them again. Well, she could treat him to a ramen house. No problem.

Suddenly, her phone rang and so she excused herself first.

"Hello."

"Where are you?"

"Huh? Who's-" She glanced at her phone, an unknown number was registered on the screen.

"You disappeared and I thought you went home already."

Jin Ae tried to decipher who the caller was and a certain person crossed her mind. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"How did you get my number?"

"I'm in front of your house now."

He sounded like he wanted her to go home immediately. A while ago, Chae Yeon called her that she would be staying at Jenny's house tonight to finish their research, so she went off early to meet her. She almost forgot that she still had an unwanted visitor in her house. Kang Dong Won smiled when she glanced in his direction then an idea crossed her mind.

"You said you're looking for a place to stay tonight, right?"

* * *

Jun Ho was struck when Jin Ae arrived and a tall figure from her back stepped beside her, completely unveiling himself from his eyes. The first thought that came to his mind was what the hell he was doing here.

"I believe you already knew each other, let's get inside."

Jin Ae unlocked the gate and led the way, her sister would be very shocked for sure if she found out that she let two men sleep in their house. She was actually initially shocked when she told him about Jun Ho, but it was easily replaced by ease knowing someone was in the house with her.

Before heading to the kitchen, Jin Ae made Dong Won feel comfortable first by offering him a seat. Jun Ho could help himself, she thought. Unknown to her, he was actually following her from behind and just noticed him when his hand suddenly appeared and took the ramen she was reaching in the cupboard first.

"Do you easily invite men at home?" His tone was grave.

She snatched the noodles from him first before answering him.

"Well, I can do what I want, it's my house," she snapped.

"But you haven't even known him well. You are complete strangers."

"Well, you have a point. I shouldn't easily let STRANGERS inside my home," and gave him a quizzical stare.

Jun Ho was about to retort but knowing that she was also referring to him, he just held his nape and sulked instead.

"The truth is, I let him in not because I feel like I know him already but because YOU know him... I heard you were college best friends," she nagged with a tone of reproof for his obvious displeasure in having his buddy in.

His eyes blinked repeatedly and as he could not find any words to say, he turned around to leave. He was a few steps away when he suddenly turned around to face her again. Jin Ae stared at him, waiting for what he was going to say.

"I don't want mine soggy," he said sternly. Then he exited the kitchen.

Jin Ae scoffed, "Who told him I'm making some for him too." Then she looked at the noodles she snatched from him. It was three.

* * *

Jun Ho plopped himself down on the single chair, calming himself first. Dong Wan caught his attention when he straightened himself on the sofa. Trying to look very comfortable, Jun Ho raised his arms on the chair as if embracing it. He cleared his throat loudly.

"Jin Ae knows we are college friends so when he found out you had trouble finding a place to stay she thought of letting you stay tonight."

Dong Wan turned to him.

"Are you saying that she is doing it because of you?"

Jun Ho nodded with a pointed mouth. "You can say it like that."

He saw Dong Wan smirking to himself and noticed him look around.

"Are you looking for a comfort room? Come on, let me show you. I know this house so well," he said standing up as he continued to give Dong Won the impression that he had been practically living in the house due to his relationship with the owner. One could say he acted like the owner of the house, and of course, that he also owned the owner. He talked non-stop even after they had returned to the living room.

".... she is pretty stubborn sometimes. She ate so many last Alumni that my back got hurt from carrying her to her bed. You got a bad back, right? Poor you, I have to say not all people can handle h-"

Just then Jin Ae came out of the kitchen.

"What are you guys talking about?"

"Just catching up with each other's lives," Jun Ho responded cheerfully, much to her curiosity. She gave him a suspicious look.

"Ramen's ready. I also cooked some dishes for dinner," she told them and headed to the dining room.

* * *

It was a beautiful night for a campfire, the blazing flames and blankets gave them enough heat to endure the cold. The boys and the girls were separated and they rounded up to make a circle around the three campfires.

Everyone was singing the school's hymn, igniting their camaraderie. Son Jin Ae glanced at the opposite end where Jeong Won was sitting, he wasn't singing but was giggling among his friends. She held her knees closer, sitting with a considerable space between two students. An exact opposite of the boys who were shoulder to shoulder. Kim Min Jung sat at her left side and a large girl in the class sat at her right.

The opening program started with talks and intermission. Some were practiced, most were impromptu. The camp was filled with laughter, cheers, and jeers for each performance.

"I think we should hear something from your new classmates. Kim Jeong Won? Son Jin Ae?"

Surprised by the sudden suggestion of the teacher, Son Jin Ae froze and the only moving part of her body was her head, shaking briskly. She shot an eye to Jeong Won who was being pulled and cheered by their classmates.

'Come on, just do it!' She mouthed softly. Her eyes were doing the talking as she stared sharply at Jeong Won. Thinking that she would be excused if he volunteered.

Jeong Won finally took the guitar being passed to him. Jin Ae exhaled gratefully that the 'cup was passed', but much to her dismay, Jeong Won walked in her direction. He stopped in front of her and offered his hand.

"What are you doing? Just do it yourself!" She complained.

"Come on! I'm not just the new student here," he insisted.

"I don't want to! I can't sing!" she bellowed in a retrained voice so he could only hear it.

On the other side, Hyeon Seong saw that Jeong Won couldn't force Jin Ae. To help his friend, he cheered loudly:

"SON JIN AE! SON JIN AE!"

And the other students followed him. They were cheering her name loudly.

Jin Ae looked around surprised by the cheer and then stared back at Jeong Won. Her gaze narrowed into a squint.

"Alright, give me this," she said and snatched the guitar from him, startling him.

"You sing."