Chapter 10: Joon-ho and Soo-jin Fell Down

As I was pushed out of the film club room, standing there rooted in place, I blanked out momentarily, thinking of what had just happened. A smile formed on my face. That smile widened when I thought of eating the cookies that Soo-jin had personally made.

"Thank you, Soo-jin."

Thanking her loudly from outside, my happiness echoed in my voice as I hopped in joy while walking.

When Joon-ho left, inside, Soo-jin was fully red up to her ears, covering her face with both hands as she scolded Joon-ho mentally, thinking, Why is this bastard shouting out loud?

No sooner than later, Joon-ho got home, completed his daily tasks, and, after opening the door to his room and getting inside, he washed up. The first thing he did after washing was to open up the bag and remove the plastic box that Soo-jin had shoved inside while he was getting out of the film club room.

Sitting on the bed with the plastic box in hand, I started to open it. After opening it and looking inside, there were various types—or should I say shapes—of cookies. Some were square, some were circular, and some were heart-shaped.

Picking up the heart-shaped cookie, as I was about to put it in my mouth, I remembered reading somewhere that the more beautiful a girl is, the more horrible her cooking might be. While looking at the cookie a second time, I wondered whether I should eat it or not. But it didn't look horrible from any angle; on the contrary, it looked really good and smelled extremely tasty.

Anyway, since this is made by Soo-jin, I definitely have to eat it—for future reference, that is. Thinking like that, I took the first bite. After eating the first bite, my mind was blown—it was perfect. Not to boast, but from appearance to taste, it was perfect.

I am a picky eater, not to mention that from the day I can remember until now, I have been eating meals from one of the richest families in South Korea—top cuisine with rich tastes. So if I am judging these cookies as top-notch, that means she is a fine chef—a fine chef indeed.

She must have started cooking from a young age to gain these culinary skills. These cookies had the proper amount of sugar—not too much or too little.

Eating one cookie was not enough; one by one, I finished everything without noticing. Emptying the cookie box, I was satisfied, fully packed with no space to eat dinner anymore.

Now I am looking forward to tasting her meal. Should I ask her to make a meal for me someday? Will that be too forward? Will she even make a meal for me?

Anyway, I should make something to eat and give it to her as a thank you for these great cookies. Since you shouldn't return an empty box, I should prepare something nice as well.

Thinking like that, I slept soundly, satisfaction all over my face.

At Soo-jin's place, after she had finished washing dishes and was preparing to sleep, she wondered if Joon-ho had eaten her cookies and whether he liked them. Wondering about that, she too slept soundly.

Today, Joon-ho woke up earlier than usual because he was going to make something for Soo-jin as a thank you for yesterday's cookies and would try to impress her with his cooking. Well, let's see if it works or not.

After washing up, he started to cook. Cooking was the second hobby I picked up. I'm not as good as Soo-jin or the mansion's chef, but I think I'm decent. Anyway, feelings matter more than cooking—if it turns out to be edible, that is. She won't judge, right?

After all, I make my meals for lunch, and they are edible. And, truthfully, not too horrible. Sighing and thinking, if it turns out good, I'll take it; otherwise, I'll give her something else. I turned on the gas and started preparing the best dish I know how to make.

It took me around two hours to make, but it didn't turn out as I expected, so I will be trying again tomorrow as well. Now, I think I will be late for university. After cleaning up, I rushed out as soon as possible.

Arriving at the university and opening the class door, I was panting as Professor Park Ji-hoon, our homeroom professor, looked towards me. I sighed in relief when I saw Professor Park because today, Professor Lee was supposed to have the first class, and I didn't want to get punished for being late again. I think Professor Lee hasn't come today; that's why Professor Park is taking his class.

"Can I come in, sir?"

As I asked for permission from the professor, ready to get scolded since the first lecture had nearly ended, but Professor Park didn't scold me. He just told me to get in and not to be late next time.

While I rejoiced, the whole day went smoothly as I awaited the lectures to end so I could present my cooking to Soo-jin.

After lectures ended, I rushed out and arrived at the film club room as soon as possible. While arriving, I thought of my half-brother, Kim Tae-hyun. He's not harassing or beating me up nowadays—did he lose interest in beating me or what? Well, it's good for me if he loses interest.

Opening the film club room door, I entered and, seeing no one there, realized I was the first to arrive. A happy smile formed—now she didn't need to wait for me this time. While waiting for Soo-jin, I started to read the book that was on the uppermost corner of the shelf. As I read, I found out it was a novel, but its cover and some pages were missing or damaged, so I couldn't read the book's title. Reading like that, an hour passed.

When Soo-jin arrived at the door and opened it, she saw Joon-ho immersed in a book and thought, What might he be reading that he didn't even notice her opening the door?

As I walked inside, not alerting Joon-ho and thinking of taking revenge for yesterday's startle, I went near him from behind. Looking at the book he was reading so intently, I, too, was curious. So, I started to read some lines from the book. It was something like, "Holding her hand, pushing her near the wall, he started to kiss her."

What the heck is he reading? Blushing slightly, she thought, Does he love romance novels? Blushing even more, while seeing him read this kind of novel so openly and so intently, she got angry. Even if you love this kind of novel, you shouldn't read it so openly! And, getting even angrier, she stood beside him, near his ear, and shouted,

"What are you doing, Joon-ho?"

As Joon-ho got startled, he stood up abruptly and dashed aside from where the voice came. With his eyes closed, not knowing Soo-jin was beside him, they both fell down, colliding with each other—Soo-jin underneath him and Joon-ho on top of her.

Both looked at each other, and a brief silence followed, with no one speaking a word. Joon-ho's breath stopped as he took a closer look at Soo-jin's face, smelling her faint and sweet fragrance. He was mesmerized once more.

Not knowing what to say or do in this situation, Soo-jin recalled the lines from that embarrassing book, comparing their situation to it. She blushed even more, turning red up to her ears, steam rising from her face. As she saw Joon-ho's face and neck with sweat dripping down from his jawline, she said whatever came to her mind, breaking the silence.

"Umm, sorry for that... umm, Joon-ho."

After Joon-ho heard her voice, he snapped out of the daze and got up, helping Soo-jin get up. As the reality of the previous situation dawned upon him, he apologized, kneeling down.

"I am sorry, Soo-jin... umm, Miss Kim Soo-jin."

What have I done? The only girl who was talking to me in the whole university, and I ruined it all. Now she must have started hating me. She probably doesn't want to see me anymore. I feel like crying right now, scolding myself hundreds, no, thousands of times. Why did I have to jump in that direction of all places? I ruined it all. I hope she forgives me.

Now, seeing Joon-ho kneeling down and apologizing, her mind froze, not knowing what to say for the second time. As she spoke whatever came to her mind for the second time,

"Umm, it's not your fault. I... I was the one who startled you."

Hearing her response, Joon-ho's wildly pounding heart became normal as he confirmed once more.

"So, do you forgive me?"

"Umm, yes."

After that, they sat opposite each other, not a word was spoken. Joon-ho thought that Soo-jin was still angry, and Soo-jin was silent because her mind had just started working properly as she gathered her thoughts. She spoke,

"So, Joon-ho, you arrived early today, huh?"

"Yes, I did arrive early."

"So, you heeded my advice from yesterday about not making a girl wait?"

"Yes, I did heed your advice from yesterday about not making a girl wait."

Furrowing her brows as Soo-jin thought, Why is he replying like this? she spoke once more,

"Why are you not speaking properly?"

While Joon-ho thought Soo-jin was still angry, he apologized once more,

"Sorry, I won't do that again."

When Soo-jin realized Joon-ho was still thinking that she was angry, she thought, He is kind of cute. What the heck are you thinking, Soo-jin? Keep your mind on track. As she spoke in a gentle manner,

"I am not angry, Joon-ho. It was not your fault. I was the one who startled you, so please forgive me. I just wanted to have some fun. Sorry for startling you."

When Joon-ho heard her gentle and soothing voice, he relaxed, thinking she truly wasn't angry at him and that they didn't need to stop talking to each other.

"You don't need to apologize. I was the one who reacted aggressively."

As I saw her smile, I too smiled, and the atmosphere between us relaxed and became closer than yesterday. After this incident just now, it's like we had a secret between us that no one knows besides each other.

"So, Joon-ho, did you eat the cookies I gave you yesterday?"

When I recalled the taste of those amazing cookies, my mouth started to drool, imagining the taste of those cookies. I replied,

"Yes, I ate them. They were super, super delicious. I loved them very much."