Chapter 8: Visiting Hye-jin at University

After saying goodbye, Soo-jin left. She must really love her sister to run off like that.

As she left, I plopped down on the chair, exhausted and with pain written all over my face. Damn, this really hurts. It's not easy to hide pain. From morning until now, the injury on my leg had been stinging, but it wasn't so painful that it hindered my daily activities. It was merely slowing me down, so I ignored the slight sting.

However, after we started cleaning this room, the pain in my leg began to increase, and it's becoming unbearable right now. I didn't stop cleaning before, despite the pain, partly because it was for Soo-jin; I didn't want her to clean this room by herself and get exhausted.

Also, she seemed lost, not like the previous days I had seen her. I think something major happened to her yesterday; she even forgot I was injured.

Anyway, I was the man in the room, so I had to clean up all the high areas of the room despite my pain. After all, if she had done that despite my presence, I would have been ashamed for being a man.

That time when I went out to bring water, I almost blew my cover, and pain would have been all over my face if I hadn't gotten out in time. While bringing water as an excuse, I rested up and adjusted my expression from pain to a smile.

After all, no man in this world would show a weak side of himself to his beloved woman; he would only show his reliable side, which a woman can lean on.

As I opened the bandage from my left leg, I saw the wound was swollen and bright red. The scratches from yesterday, which were bleeding, had formed scabs, but it was still hurting like hell. I think my leg hit hard on the metal beside the dustbin when Kim Hye-jin threw me near it. Well, nothing can be done right now.

As I applied medicine on the wound and rebandaged it, I rested on the chair for ten or so minutes after Soo-jin left and then limped out of the film club room. I also needed to see to my gardening duties; if I skip that for even a single day, I won't be paid for this month's allowance.

In the past, when I was very sick for three days and couldn't even get out of bed, I skipped attending to the garden duties. After payday came, Butler Han, my father's personal assistant and right-hand man, told me that skipping duties for even a single day for any reason would result in not being paid for that month. So, please try not to skip any days.

This is the reason why I can't skip my gardening duties; I don't want the same thing to happen again.

As Joon-ho was limping and leaving the film club room, a girl was watching him limp. It was none other than Soo-jin.

When she recalled how she had made him stay and clean the room with her when he was trying to leave, tears formed in her eyes but didn't fall. She realized that he must have wanted to leave because he was in pain and scolded herself immensely for forgetting that he was injured.

She decided to say thank you instead of saying sorry because if he didn't want her to know that he was in pain, she would pretend not to know and take care of him. That's the least she could do for him.

"I should make some food for him to eat after class as a thank you for helping with the cleaning."

After Soo-jin decided that, she went inside the film club room and picked up the bag she had forgotten earlier while rushing out.

Inside that bag, there were different sizes of paintbrushes. These were the last birthday gift from my parents to me, so I treasured them very much. They reminded me of the happy days with my parents. Not even the packing was torn. Then someone might ask how I know that there are brushes inside. It's because I told my parents to buy them for me, and they were packed in front of me as my birthday gift.

Back then, I was really stubborn and really loved painting. Just like me, Hye-jin also loves painting. It has been several years since I have drawn a painting because, after the incident, I was unable to hold brushes. Every time I hold them, I tremble in fear. In the frame, while sitting at the table to draw, the image of my brother drowning replays over and over again. His voice calling for me to save him echoes in my ears.

That's why I never opened these brushes and kept them as they were, as a beautiful memory.

Now, giving this to my sister means I am letting go of my past and giving her the most treasured possession of my life until now.

As I closed the door of the film club room and started walking near the Konkuk University subway station, my destination was Seoul National University of Science and Technology. This is the university where Hye-jin studies. She is really enthusiastic about tech and started showing talent in PCs and computers from a young age.

Hye-jin must be in an IT department. Well, I am not sure about that; I only heard her mention it once. I need to find her before she leaves her university, or else I won't be able to give these brushes to her.

My parents always keep Hye-jin away from me. They think I might harm her. They keep her away from me as if I am going to devour her if they don't protect her from me. That's why, in these several years of living under the same roof, we barely talk to each other, and that's why I cannot give this gift to her at home. Hating her in the past for gaining all the affection of our parents, I never tried to talk to her even after she approached me. Giving this gift will be my first attempt at fixing our relationship.

As I arrived at the Konkuk University subway station and entered it, I opened the KakaoMetro app to know which lines to take and how much time the train would take to arrive. Entering the departure as Konkuk University Station and the destination as Seoul National University of Science and Technology, it showed I needed to transfer to Line 6 at Taereung Station and alight at Seoul National University of Science and Technology Station.

Following the guide, I tapped the T-money card on the card reader and entered the train. In no time, I arrived at my destination at Seoul National University of Science and Technology. It took me around 35 to 40 minutes to get here.

Seeing the time on my mobile, it showed 5 o'clock, nearly the time for classes to end. As I rushed inside, I asked the passing students for the IT department staff room.

Yes, the IT department's staff room, because I cannot look for my sister in each class now, can I? Seeking the help of the teachers is the best approach.

After opening the IT department staff room door, I saw many teachers or should I say professors working there. As I entered, one middle-aged teacher sitting at her table near the door looked at me. I approached her.

"Hello ma'am, I am looking for a student named Kim Hye-jin. Do you about to know where her class might be?"

As I asked this question, the middle-aged professor furrowed her brows, sliding her glasses down her nose. She looked at me and asked,

"Who are you, and why do you want to know her class?"

Thinking that this professor might know something, I replied,

"I am her older sister, Kim Soo-jin, and I wanted to go home together with her."

As I replied, the professor's expression eased. Smiling and extending her hand, she said,

"Hye-jin once said that she had an older sister, so it's you, huh? You look beautiful, young lady. Kim Soo-jin, right? You have come to the right place. I am Hye-jin's homeroom professor, Min Ji-won. Nice to meet you."

Lucky me. Grabbing her hand, I replied in a polite manner,

"Yes, yes. Thank you, professor. Nice to meet you."

After the handshake, seeing her troubled face, I asked,

"Did she leave already?"

"No, that's not it. You see, Hye-jin is preparing for GSoC, that's why she might not want to leave with you."

Hearing that, I thought how hardworking she is. The university has just started, and she is preparing for a competition already. No wonder she was promoted to the next grade for two years simultaneously. If she is diligently working hard, then I shouldn't disturb her. Raising my hand, I said,

"Then, Professor Min Ji-won, can you please give this to her?"

As the professor heard me, she tapped my hand and said,

"She might not leave, but she will definitely see you. At that time, you can give this to her yourself. After all, her sister has come to see her for the first time at the university."

Smiling, we both started walking, with Professor Min Ji-won leading me.

In no time, Professor Min Ji-won stopped in front of a door labeled IT Department Computer Lab No. 6. Opening the door, Professor Min Ji-won entered as I waited outside. Voices could be heard from inside.

"Hye-jin, your sister has come to see you. Go and meet her."

After some time, rushed footsteps could be heard, and someone hurriedly opened the door. It was none other than Hye-jin. As she saw me, she hugged me and, tugging my hand, started to lead me.

We were sitting in the university canteen. As I sat at the table, she had gone to bring some food. When I said I had brought some cold drinks and there was no need to order food, she insisted, saying that it's from her today.

These cold drinks I brought were bought at the station, as I had no time to buy something else with the lecture completion time nearing. I couldn't go empty-handed, fearing that Hye-jin might leave the university, so I bought these cold drinks. I should have brought something else to eat. After all, at this age, they are in a growing stage. I will remember this next time and bring something nice to eat.

While Hye-jin was bringing something to eat, I was thinking of what I should say to her. It had been a long time since I last spoke to her. Back when we met at the computer lab, she didn't seem to hate me. When she saw me, she had a bright smile on her face.

Even so, what should I say to her? Should I start with something like,

"Hey, it's been a long time."

No, this is wrong. We saw each other last night, so how can it be a long time? What a dumb idea. Or should I just start with,

"Hey Hye-jin, how are your studies going?"

Yeah, this looks pretty good to start with. No, it doesn't. I don't know a thing about her studies. Heck, worse, I don't even know anything about her.

Sigh, it's so hard. I should just give this to her and go. Yeah, let's do that. Well, thinking about it now, Joon-ho was easy to talk to. Unknowingly, a smile formed on Soo-jin's face. As Hye-jin neared the table. She said, smiling,

"You look beautiful when you smile now, sister."