Swallowed - Chapter 1.2

“What, why is stagnant water coming into the crowd? Is there a rumor that this place has pure water?”

Ji-yeon, the assistant teacher, recognized the third years and laughed as students crowded the small department office. Next to her stood an attractive tall man.

He was wide-shouldered and thick-chested as if he worked out diligently. The white shirt was tight only on the chest. Even though he was a man, his long legs that fell below the narrow waist were beautiful.

He bowed and greeted politely.

“Hello. I’m Baek Je-ha, a first year.”

The freshman, who introduced himself as Baek Je-ha, gave off a clear and strong impression from his handsome appearance. It could only be described as perfect, with a tall figure well over 190 cm, a handsome look, and a trendy style.

“You are so dazzlingly handsome…”

Someone was mesmerized and poured out admiration. Everyone in the place agreed wholeheartedly. The rumor wasn’t exaggerated. Everyone was so overwhelmed by his breathtakingly handsome features and couldn’t speak to him.

Je-ha, who looked around the group of third years, soon made eye contact with Se-yeong and greeted her with a nod. A subtle smile laid around his eyes.

“Han-se, are you acquainted with the first-year?”

Yoo-jeong asked with amazement. Se-yeong didn’t answer and stared at Je-ha.

“You see, Je-ha is Se-yeong and Jin-wook’s junior. He comes and visits once a year.”

It was Ji-yeon, the assistant teacher, who solved her curiosity. Yoo-jeong wanted to scream, but she saw Ji-yeon and shut her mouth. Ji-yeon, who would usually nag for everyone to lower their voices because she hated noisy things, quickly called the department representative as if she didn’t want the office to be noisy.

“What’s up with the third years?”

After hearing from Dong-hyeon about the one-on-one meeting with the professor, he handed her (Se-yeong) a table with times written on it.

“Come on, come on. It’s cramped, so don’t do this here and get out.”

The third years rushed out upon receiving the notice to leave. Se-yeong also went out without hesitation, but as soon as she went outside, she was caught by Yoo-jeong.

“Hey, Han-se.”

She looked carefully at Se-yeong with a face dying of curiosity. The two didn’t pretend to know each other, but somehow, it didn’t feel like they were complete strangers.

“Why didn’t you tell me? He must have been famous in high school.”

Se-yeong nodded her head. Even when Baek Je-ha just entered high school, the school was noisy, talking all about his good looks and talents. A famous agency came for him everyday, and photos were spread on SNS saying [These days, the school meal service is about appearance level.jpg]. Among the third years, it was popular to carry pictures of Baek Je-ha as amulets.

Reminiscing of her high school days, Se-yeong’s expression became stiff. She was also famous enough that everyone at her school knew her, but it was not because she was as good as Baek Je-ha, but because she was unique.

No. 1 unspeakable. The modifier followed Se-yeong throughout all 3 years of high school. She was bullied, and because of her good grades, she received complaints from parents. There were the bullies’ parents who came out of frustration, asking if they (their children) should have teased her if she spoke well, and there were parents who stormed into the principal’s office, saying they didn’t want Se-yeong to be in the same class just because she couldn’t speak.

‘Then, I’ll apply to the same university as Senior.’

She thought there was no way he would keep his words. Se-yeong’s chest was throbbing so much her ribs were stiff and painful. Although she had been hiding her facial expressions, her hands trembled ever since she saw Jeha.

「I didn’t know who the first year was. How could I have known it was Baek Je-ha. I haven’t been in touch.」

“Ah…. But it’s still fascinating. High school senior and junior. Did you know each other when you were in school?”

When asked if she knew, Se-yeong’s fingers did not move immediately and paused for a moment. She vaguely remembered her high school days.

The clothes she saw on Baek Je-ha were not much different from the high school uniforms. Even when he wore a white shirt and navy uniform pants, he was bright and refreshing, unlike his peers.

「A little. He’s more handsome. He’s tall. I don’t think he was that tall.」

Se-yeong, who was a little less than 170 cm and wasn’t small for a woman, had to look up a lot. Two years ago, he was a little taller than Se-yeong, but he always played basketball with his friends, so he seemed to have grown taller.

“You’re right. He’s really tall. You think he’s over 190? That build. His shoulders are like the Pacific Ocean. Did you see the thick chest? I almost had a nosebleed.”

“When did you see the thickness of the chest?”

“Middle school students don’t know the taste yet.”

“What taste? Are you a pervert?”

While Da-ram and Yoo-jeong argued, Se-yeong recalled the moment Je-ha and her made eye contact. She only met his eyes, but she felt like she was going to get sucked into them. She blinked a few times as if to shake off the afterimage of that look.

“Senior Se-yeong!”

At that time, the office door opened and Je-ha urgently looked for Se-yeong. Even though the friendly address attracted attention, he looked around without any signs of care. A bright smile was drawn around his mouth, quickly finding Se-yeong among the third years who gathered here and there.

As if he had teleported, he approached quickly and grabbed Se-yeong’s arm. As if he thought she would run away if he took his hand off, his hold on her was very strong.

“Hey, you’re the only one left. What time are you going to have the meeting? The time remaining….”

At that time, with his eyes fixed on the timetable, the exaggerated Choi Dong-hyeon approached. Holding the almost filled table, he frowned upon seeing Je-ha holding Se-yeong’s arm.

(P/N: The exaggerated in here is referring to Choi Dong-hyeon’s overly dramatic personality.)

“What, first year? Why are you holding her arm?”

Would he let go of Se-yeong’s arm on Dong-hyeon’s criticism? She looked up at him. He had no reason to hold onto her otherwise. However, Je-ha answered with a friendly smile without taking his hand off.

“I’m afraid I’ll miss it.”

“What?”

At the incomprehensible answer, Dong-hyeon answered with a puzzled expression. However, before the two continued the conversation, Se-yeong took the table he was holding and wrote her name in an empty spot.

“…….”

Passing the table over to Yoo-jeong, Se-yeong’s eyes were asking ‘Satisfied?’. Dong-hyeon knew that Se-yeong didn’t like others interfering with her affairs, so, although unsatisfied, he didn’t talk long and told Yoo-jeong to decide quickly.

Da-ram took Yoo-jeong, who looked at Se-yeong and Je-ha with an interesting expression, and brought her off to the side. Je-ha thanked in a soft voice for the consideration to allow the two to converse with some privacy.

Se-yeong, who looked down at her captured arm, looked up. Je-ha was smiling, but his eyes clearly showed that he didn’t want to let go. He revealed his feelings without hiding anything.

“I missed you.”

When their eyes met, Je-ha laughed with a sigh. He felt relieved that he finally caught her after playing tag for a long time.

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“When did you change your number? I called you right after I passed, but it said the number was out of service….”

Before he finished speaking, Se-yeong lowered her head and touched her cell phone. Although he held her arm, it wasn’t too much not to be able to move.

「Long time no see. Nice to meet you. I didn’t know you passed. Congratulations.」

“…….”

「His name is Kim Jin-wook in the second year, and he’s your senior, too. It’ll be more comfortable because it’s the same guy. Ask him if you have any questions. I’ll tell him to be nice.」

After saying everything, Se-yeong turned her head to the side. Da-ram and Yoo-jeong, who had already finished their business, were watching as if they were interesting. Although she tried to move her steps there, Je-ha stood in her way. He stood with his back facing the other third years and looked down at Se-yeong. His shadow sank, as if enshrouding Se-yeong.

“That’s not it. Why do you say that. We….”

“Ah, it’s Baek Je-ha. Hey!”

It was the moment when laughter disappeared from Je-ha’s voice. It was just as someone was climbing the stairs as they called out happily to him (Je-ha). Se-yeong’s gaze slid down the stairs.

“Baek Je-ha, are you going to have lunch? We’re going to eat pizza… Heuk!”

Three or four students came up talking to Je-ha, and when they saw Se-yeong, they exchanged glances curiously. It was not until they reached Je-ha’s side that they noticed there were others. Realizing that she was their senior, they greeted awkwardly with a nervous face.

“Hello!”

Se-yeong took advantage of other colleagues’ greetings and moved around Je-ha to her friends.

Je-ha realized that Se-yeong was avoiding him, but understood that the place was not good to question her, so he no longer held on. His clenched fist slowly gained strength.

“What. Didn’t you guys only know a little?”

「It must have been nice to see me after a long time.」

No matter how glad you are, would you usually express that you missed them? Yoo-jeong thought it was strange, but she kept her mouth shut when she realized Se-yeong was walking with an attitude of wanting to leave this place.

Da-ram glanced at Je-ha, surrounded by a group of first years. Je-ha, who was looking this way, caught his gaze and smiled. He had large eyes, so he had a strong impression when he smiled – bold and powerful.

“Were you guys dating?”

Da-ram furtively asked after they left the International Studies Hall and were on their way out the back gate for lunch. And speaking of dating, Yoo-jeong couldn’t be left behind. She poked Se-yeong in the ribs to tell them the truth.

「No way. You know, it’s a little….」

Se-yeong burst into laughter, saying she was ticklish and for Yoo-jeong to stop by typing letters on her cellphone. In order to escape Yoo-jeong’s tickling, she had run away, leaving no chance for them to ask anything out of her. Da-ram recalled Je-ha’s eyes he saw a while ago, and shook his head to shake it off.

“That’s the senior, right? The Little Mermaid of the International Studies Department.”

It was not until the third years had completely disappeared that a freshman opened his mouth. Since a while ago, he had a difficult time holding back what he wanted to say.

The Little Mermaid of the International Studies Department. It was Han Se-yeong’s nickname. Se-yeong hated being called the Little Mermaid because the title The Little Mermaid was based on the information that she cannot speak. However, there were many people who called her that, regardless of the opinion of the person concerned. It was because there was nothing better to express Se-yeong than that.

“She’s really pretty. She’s really just like the Little Mermaid. How do those big eyes, nose, and mouth fit in that little face?”

“But why can’t she speak?”

“I heard it’s some kind of aphasia. She thinks about everything, but she can’t talk, so her grades are really good.”

“What’s the point of getting good grades? You can’t get a job anyway, right?”

“I heard she came into our department to enter a foreign company.”

Se-young’s direct junior in high school, Je-ha remained rather silent, and his peers talked about rumors of this and that as if they knew her well.

He didn’t respond and just listened. No, actually, it didn’t even enter his ears. He didn’t care about what others said about Han Se-yeong.

Rather, his heart ached from the cold attitude Se-yeong had shown a little while ago. Why did she act like they didn’t know each other? He had been waiting for today to meet Han Se-yeong.

Even when he was surprised that her phone number had changed, he was not shocked because he knew he could meet her when he was admitted into the university.

“I heard she can’t talk at all? A stutterer? Something like that.”

“What’s a stutterer? Instead of being unable to speak, you’re just stuttering?”

“I guess so.”

“Then, does she really need to do that? What’s wrong with stuttering a bit?”

“Isn’t it because she’s embarrassed? She’s so pretty, but you sober up when she stutters.”

It was a conversation they could have because they were freshmen who did not know much about Se-yeong’s condition. They tilted their heads as they didn’t understand.

“Kim Woo-rim.”

Then, Je-ha called her name. Woo-rim, whose name was called, blushed slightly. Since she fell in love with him at first sight, her heart kept beating and she kept losing herself. She originally had a bustling personality, but she would become meek in front of Baek Je-ha for no reason. She got to know him a little at the freshman orientation, but she did not confess.

“Who said that?”

“Huh?”

“Who said that she was just stuttering?”

“…….”

Woo-rim, who was pointed out, blushed, and her breathing became short as if she were embarrassed. He was clearly criticizing her now. She judges others’ suffering at will and thinks it’s ridiculous.

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The broad smile seemed rather sharp, so Woo-rim shut her mouth. She was guessing because she didn’t know, but she was embarrassed to be criticized like this.

“No matter who said it, did I say something wrong?”

“I’m not sure. I hate seeing people do this behind their back when they don’t even know. Can I talk about my 2 years seniors like this?”

His smile disappeared, and Je-ha’s visage turned cold. Her friends, who she had been speaking to, hurriedly shut their mouths when he told them that they were talking behind their senior’s back. No matter how much they say they don’t have military discipline in college these days, it’s not a good thing if what they said carelessly about this senior and that senior were heard.

Je-ha turned around while everyone was exchanging glances. She (Woo-rim) offered to eat lunch together, but no one caught him.