"Alright, Park Ye-young."
She looks a bit tense.
We came for fun, but...
Maybe my freakout got her focused.
"Your fate's not bad."
Oh...
Not a bad review.
"You've got decent talents.
Good judgment, focus, and you know how to seize opportunities.
A solid path ahead."
Fuck, why's Park Ye-young getting such a good evaluation?!
"Job luck's good, money luck's good.
Everything's pretty solid. But."
What's this? Feels like a sharp turn's coming...
"You've got a lot of fire.
Your fate's fiery, but your face is worse.
Too much anger ruins everything.
Already screwing things up big time, aren't you?"
...Suddenly throwing shade.
Her face crumples.
Like, *Is this old fart crazy?*
"A good fate's useless if your temper wrecks it.
Too much fire—you miss every opportunity 'cause of it. That's your shitty fate."
She sighs, closing her eyes briefly.
H-Hik... looks like she's about to snap...
"If getting mad solved things, your life would be great.
But it's not, so you're a mess.
You need to learn to control your temper.
Keep someone with strong water energy nearby. Alone, you'll burn everything down."
Kinda accurate, though...
Or not? Is he just pissed 'cause she mumbled about the price earlier? Fuck, can't tell.
"Let's see. Yeah, Joonhyung's got strong water energy.
Stick with him, and your fire might cool a bit."
...What?
This old fart! Why drag me into this?!
"Stick close to him. You can't tame your fire, so someone's gotta hold it back.
Or ask every guy you meet if they've got water energy."
...Our eyes meet.
She gives a faint, creepy smile.
Don't look at me like that...
"Your compatibility's not bad.
Fire needs water to balance it. Though Joonhyung's gonna suffer."
That's not good compatibility—just good for *her*!
What do I get out of this?
He narrows his eyes, continuing.
"Business-wise, you two aren't bad either.
Could do well if you start something together.
Her fire drives things forward; his caution backs it up.
What's your relationship?"
...Relationship?
"Just school friends."
"Just friends?"
He tilts his head.
"Doesn't seem like it."
Again! Stop saying weird shit!
"Whatever. That's it. Anything else?"
Hah... this old man... messing with my heart...
My lifespan's shrinking...
"What about my love fortune?"
She asks quietly.
She's holding it together well today. Impressive...
"Love fortune? Not bad.
Finding guys isn't hard.
But every guy you meet will run screaming."
...
Why the extra jab every time?
He's got some fire energy himself.
They're practically at each other's throats...
"Find a guy with strong water energy or work on controlling your temper.
Job luck, money luck—same deal. Anger's the issue. Focus on cooling it."
"Hoo..."
She's trembling, holding back.
Normally, she'd have tackled him by now...
Impressive restraint.
"Look. If you came alone, you'd have headbutted me.
Joonhyung's here, so you're holding back.
He's gotta douse your fire with buckets of water."
Hoo... really?
He glances at me, sighing.
"But Joonhyung'll dry up and die."
AAAGH! Why the curse?!
"Tell me how to recharge water energy..."
"Go to the beach often to refill.
If you're overflowing, hit the fields or woods.
If it's running low, back to the sea.
Park Ye-young, go near water to cool off. That's it."
Thanks for the energy refill tips... fuck...
So, avoid her if I don't wanna dry up...
Hngh...
"Don't wanna dry up..."
"Wanna die?"
He yawns, tapping the keyboard.
Hoo... uses a computer despite his vibe. Thought he'd be scribbling on paper.
Total MZ vibes...
*Ziiing.*
He prints a few sheets and hands them over.
Fortune-telling papers...
"Didn't cover everything due to time, so read these.
Fortune-telling's not 100% accurate.
It's just stats, so don't take it too seriously.
Anyone can change their fate with effort."
Now he sounds mature...
"Did you change your fate, sir?"
"Couldn't, fuck."
...
That was 20s grandpa talk just now.
"Can I take a business card?"
"Business card?"
Gotta come back. Maybe with others. Curious about Juha's reading...
"It's printed on the paper. Come back with full pockets and sincerity."
"...Y-Yes."
Is he a fortune-teller or a shaman?
Probably says fortune-teller so people show up...
"100,000 won, right?"
"Yeah, but."
He chuckles heartily.
Oh, a discount?
"I also take sincerity fees.
About 150,000 won."
"..."
Knew it...
---
"Fucking expensive, old fart..."
Old fart?
150,000 won's a lot...
But feels like we got a shaman consult, not bad.
He printed a ton of papers—reading these'll kill time.
"You didn't blow all your cash, right?
I'll send half. Give me your account."
She sighs, tapping her phone.
Nah, I suggested it. I had fun.
Been a while since I enjoyed something.
"It's fine... fun's enough."
"It was fun. Should've done tarot too?"
Thought she didn't believe in this stuff earlier...
I glance at the papers. Five pages packed with fortune-telling...
Super generous. This'll eat up time.
But what's this Post-it note?
*"Leg workouts essential.
Strong thighs needed.
Neglect them, die early."*
...
Advice or curse?
I stuff the papers in my pocket, sighing.
She stretches, yawning again.
"Wanna drink?"
"Hmm..."
Knew she'd say that.
Not much else to do, though.
"Or drink at the PC bang?"
"...That okay?"
"No customers anyway."
Drinking while gaming sounds fun, but...
Isn't that illegal? Whatever. Feels kinda wrong, though.
"Or drink in the lounge?"
"Lounge?"
"You wouldn't know."
What's a lounge...?
Sounds ominous...
Not the women's lounge, right?
"Yo, you good staying out?
Your seniors won't care?"
"Oh, right."
Came out 'cause she called.
Should check in. Probably cleaning up and heading to the girl group...
Gotta go back for cleanup and the afterparty, though...
"Call them."
"Yeah."
*Ring ring...*
The call echoes into the void.
No one's picking up. All at the girl group?
"Gotta go help with cleanup."
"Yeah? Go then. I'll send the location."
"Cool."
Surprisingly chill about letting me go.
I'd have bolted anyway...
Her back's visible, hands in pockets, shuffling off.
Under the dim campus streetlights, her thighs gleam.
From afar, she looks like she's got a lot of stories...
---
"Good work!"
"Man, you worked hard."
Fuck.
Took longer than expected.
Cleaning food and folding tents, it's already 11 p.m.
Park Ye-young's waiting...
"Took longer than planned.
Afterparty tomorrow?"
"Just a few today, big one tomorrow?"
"Sounds good."
Time's awkward.
Got classes tomorrow.
Decided to do a big afterparty tomorrow, small drinking group tonight.
I said I've got plans...
*She sent a location.*
Where is it?
Was too busy cleaning to check my phone.
*Creative Innovation Building, 1st floor, women's lounge.*
...
Thought she'd say PC bang.
Why the women's lounge? Can I even go there?!
"Joonhyung, where you headed? Need a ride?"
"Oh, meeting a friend up there..."
"Cool, cool. Be safe."
"Thanks."
Feels guilty...
What if they find out I'm going to the women's lounge?
Either I'm a crazy pervert or my dick's getting ripped off...
Legs trembling, fuck...
"Ugh..."
Gotta take off this hair and stuff.
Where's the Creative Innovation Building? Up the hill?
I retrace my memory, heading there slowly.
Old building in a weird spot by the hill.
No reason for engineering students to come here.
Empty, kinda creepy...
Do people use this? No clue if any classes are here.
No one's around, so I'm a bit relieved.
[Women's Lounge]
I'm here...
Can I even go in?
There's a door lock. It's slightly open, though.
What if someone comes? So careless!
*Creak.*
"Anyone here...?"
I peek in—Park Ye-young's passed out, head on a table.
D-Dead?
Soju and beer bottles scattered around.
Guess she drank alone waiting and knocked out. Lucky? Kinda feel bad...
Can I go in?
She's here, so it's probably fine...
I close the door cautiously. *Click.*
"Pretty cozy."
Didn't know the school had a place like this...
Like a big studio apartment.
Sofa, table, chairs, even a bunk bed. Got everything.
So comfy, it's shocking. This real?
"Wild..."
Never imagined the school had a spot like this.
Could sleep here!
During finals, crash here, study, sleep again.
Blankets, pillows—fucking jackpot...
"Hmm... ugh..."
Her head's fully down, totally passed out.
How much did she drink? Looks like two or three bottles...
I sit on the sofa, looking around.
Cozy, spacious... everything but a bathroom.
Fuck, I was sleeping with my head on desks in the library...
Girls just come here and crash comfortably?
This fair? Give us a men's lounge! *Hngh...*
"Hoo..."
Sofa's comfy... I'm melting... total jackpot...
What about her? I nudge her shoulder—no response.
Completely out... better lay her down and go.
"Hmm..."
Is it okay to use the lounge as a drinking spot?
Guess it's fine if she's doing it? Should I clean up just in case?
"Ugh..."
Passed-out Park Ye-young...
I grab her shoulders, dragging her to the bunk bed's bottom level.
Her messy bangs reveal a flushed forehead. Wanna flick it...
"..."
She's really out.
Kinda feel bad. Didn't know I'd be this late.
I cover her with a blanket—she stirs slowly.
...Knows it's comfy, huh.
"Hah..."
Gotta clean up and leave.
Can't sleep here...
I gather the leftover alcohol, pouring it out.
"Dump the booze first—"
*Clunk.*
I grab the doorknob—*clunk* sound.
...Huh? What's this?
*Clunk clunk clunk.*
H-Huh? Why's it doing this? Won't open! What's wrong, fuck?!
*Clank clank clank.*
Cold sweat drips.
W-Won't open? What's going on?
It shouldn't lock from the inside, right?!
*Beep beep beep.*
Yanking it sets off an alarm.
H-Hup... keep messing with it, and it'll trigger a full-on siren...
Calm down. Think like an engineer. I squint—there's a magnetic card reader.
...Need a card to get out too?
*Beep beep beep.*
...Seems like it.
Or is there a passcode?
The alarm keeps blaring, so I let go.
A chill crawls up my spine.
"Huh..."
Am I... trapped?