If there was ever a class designed to lull students into a gentle coma, it was Business Ethics.
"Let's start with the case of the Trolley Problem in corporate decision-making," the professor droned.
Trolley problem? I'd rather be hit by the trolley.
I blinked twice, desperately fighting the temptation to rest my cheek against my palm. My head tilted dangerously close to my notes when—
Tap.
A capped pen poked my elbow.
Seo Ji Hoon, sitting next to me, didn't even glance my way. Just pointed to the front with a barely perceptible lift of his chin.
Oh. Right. The professor had asked a question.
I straightened so fast I nearly dislocated my neck. "Uh… the correct answer is… teamwork!"
The professor squinted. "Teamwork?"
"…Yes?" I offered, smiling weakly.
He sighed. "Let's move on."
Next to me, Ji Hoon didn't say a word. But I caught the tiniest upward twitch of his mouth.
That was basically a full laugh by his standards.
After class, I reached into my bag to grab my wallet—only to find air.
Empty. Hollow. Wallet-less air.
Wait.
Waitwaitwait.
WHERE WAS MY WALLET.
I frantically patted down my coat, checked my tote bag, then emptied everything onto the hallway floor in a panic: phone, lip balm, emergency chestnut bun, three pens, and a Hello Kitty compact mirror.
No wallet.
No card holder.
No emergency card holder.
No backup card I kept in a secret inner pouch.
"No. No. Nooo," I whispered, spinning in a slow, panicked circle. "I'm going to starve. I'll die on campus. They'll bury me next to the vending machine."
Ji Hoon, who had stopped a few steps away, turned around with an expression that somehow managed to look both annoyed and concerned.
"What now?"
"I lost my wallet," I said, clutching my bag dramatically. "It's over."
He blinked. "Did you check your other bag?"
"Which one?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Exactly how many bags do you own?"
"…That's not the point!"
"You're being loud," he said, walking back over. "People are staring."
"I'm spiraling! This is what spiraling looks like!"
"I can see that."
I dropped to a crouch and let out a sigh so loud it echoed down the hallway. "I'm going to have to sell my coat. Is that dramatic? I think this is one of those times when drama is justified."
Ji Hoon stood there in silence for a beat, then reached into his pocket and handed me something.
A small slip of folded paper. I opened it.
It was a sticky note with the words 'Lost & Found – Student Services 2nd floor' written in neat, blocky handwriting.
"…You just carry these around?"
"No," he said. "I wrote it five minutes ago."
I blinked. "Wait. You already knew I was going to panic?"
He shrugged. "You looked like the type to cry in public."
"I DO NOT CRY IN PUBLIC," I said, slightly louder than intended.
The girl walking past us jumped.
Ji Hoon sighed. "Come on. I'll walk you there."
I stared at him. "Wait—you're being nice. Is this character development?"
"Don't make me regret it," he muttered, already walking ahead.
I scurried after him, still baffled.
He didn't say much on the way, but he didn't walk too fast either. And when we reached the building, he opened the door for me.
Was he secretly polite? Secretly considerate?
Who was this man?
We found Student Services easily enough. While the staff checked the lost items log, Ji Hoon sat beside me on the hallway bench.
There was a vending machine across from us.
I stared at the bubble tea cans inside with longing. "I wish I had my wallet. I'd kill for one of those."
Without saying anything, Ji Hoon stood, went to the machine, and slid in a 1,000-won bill.
A minute later, he handed me a cold can of taro bubble tea.
My favorite.
I took it in both hands, stunned. "…Are you trying to make me fall in love with you?"
He paused. "…Is it working?"
I choked on air.
"I-I mean," I fumbled, blushing furiously, "I just meant, you know, you're being… oddly nice today. Suspiciously nice. Are you dying?"
"I'm regretting this already."
But he didn't take the tea back.
We sat there for a bit, sipping quietly. His can was plain milk tea. Of course.
I glanced sideways at him. Up close, without his usual unreadable stare, he didn't look cold at all. Just… thoughtful. Sharp eyes. Long lashes. Clean profile.
I suddenly noticed the mole under his ear. Huh.
I took another sip and looked away. "So… thanks. For helping me."
He didn't answer.
But after a moment, he said, "It's not a big deal."
Still. It felt like a big deal.
The receptionist returned holding a small box. My red wallet was sitting on top.
"You're lucky," she said. "Someone turned it in this morning."
I clutched it to my chest. "My savior."
She gave me a pointed look. "Maybe don't leave it in the bathroom next time."
"…Right."
When we stepped out of the building, the sun was brighter than I remembered. I turned to Ji Hoon.
"Seriously. Thanks for—"
"Ah Ra?"
A familiar voice interrupted me.
I turned—and saw Kang Min Woo leaning against the low wall near the bike racks, arms crossed, holding an umbrella like a cane.
He looked us up and down. Eyes lingering on the two empty bubble tea cans in Ji Hoon's hand.
Then his gaze slid to mine. "So this is what you've been doing?"
My spine went straight. "W-what do you mean?"
He strolled over, casually tossing the umbrella between his fingers. "I stopped by your class to give you a banana milk, but guess what? You were gone. And then I see you here… sipping tea with Mr. Robot."
Ji Hoon sighed. "Don't call me that."
"You're right," Min Woo said. "Robots have emotions."
I raised my hands. "Okay! Everyone breathe! We're not in a web drama!"
Ji Hoon looked unimpressed.
Min Woo pouted. "You said you liked banana milk."
"I do," I said weakly.
"Then I bought one for nothing?" He dramatically pulled it from his coat pocket.
It was warm now.
He handed it to me anyway.
"Drink it in memory of what we could've been," he sighed.
"Oh my god," I whispered. "You're so dramatic."
He turned to Ji Hoon. "So, what's this? Study date? Emergency rescue? Should I be jealous?"
"I found her wallet," Ji Hoon said simply.
"Oh." Min Woo blinked. "…That's actually kind of cool."
"Not everything's a competition," Ji Hoon added.
"Tell that to my ego," Min Woo muttered.
They stared at each other for a beat too long.
I carefully took a step back. "Okay. I think I'll go now. Before someone challenges someone else to a duel."
Min Woo grabbed the banana milk back from me. "Fine. I'll walk you."
Ji Hoon didn't stop him. He just turned and walked the other way without another word.
I watched his retreating back.
He didn't even look back once.
Min Woo fell into step beside me, sighing. "So. Are we going to pretend that didn't feel like a K-drama cliffhanger?"
I kept my eyes on the sidewalk. "It wasn't like that."
He glanced at me. "You sure?"
"…Yes."
I wasn't sure.
At all.