Chapter Text
Songhwa stands at the Medical faculty hallway of Seoul National University, sticking on her phone. She reads the announcement on campus website.
Community Service Program for medical students.
Two weeks in Gapyeong.
But the registration is already closed.
She sighs hopelessly knowing that she is late to enroll the program. She just got back from her trip in Greek three days ago and missed the information.
But she needs to join this program. She has to. She’s always interested to join any volunteer program since she has a plan to join UN program overseas once she graduates later. So she needs to build a proper portfolio about her community service activities. This term is the last term she can join because next term she will busy to intern at the hospital.
She is thinking hard to find a way to join this program. She can’t register at the website because it’s already closed. She need someone who organize this activity to help her. She reads the committee members on the website.
Ahn Jeongwon.
Yeah, Ahn Jeongwon can help her. He’s her bestfriend. Being classmate since the first day at campus.
She feels hopeful now.
****
She finds Ahn Jeongwon working on research journal in campus laboratory. She directly takes a seat beside him.
“Ahn Jeongwon…” she calls.
He turns to her. “Songhwa-ya, whoa, you are back” he surprises.
“Eo… I just got back three days ago”
“Cool…how’s your trip to Greek?” he asks.
“It’s beautiful, I will tell you later. I need your help now” she seriously talks.
“What kind of help?” he furrows.
“About this” she shows him the community program ads from her phone.
“The community program?” he furrows again. “It’s already closed. We’ll start in next week” he explains.
“I want to join this...please” she asks with her puppy eyes.
Jeongwon sighs. “It’s already closed by system. I can’t just add you just because you are my friend” he explains.
“Jeongwon-na…please you must help me. I need to join this program as my portfolio” she begs.
“It’s beyond my authority Songhwa-ya. I am not the one who make the decision” he says.
“So, who is the chairperson? Can’t you talk to them?” she insists.
“You can read it on the website. I bet you will be surprised” he says confidently.
Songhwa directly scanning the name of the chairperson in the website. She forgets to check before. Suddenly, her eyes furrows upon reading the name. “Lee Ikjun?” she slowly mentions the name.
“Yes, Lee Ikjun, your rival. He’s the only one that can help you now” he smirks, find the situation getting more interesting.
“Nooo…” she shakes her head.
“You don’t have any choice now, Songhwa-ya. If you want to join this program, talk to Ikjun. He can find a way if you are nice to him” Jeongwon advises.
“How could I be nice to him? We never talk. We have quarrel last semester.” she whines.
“It’s time to make amend. Put aside your ego. Learn to be compromised for the sake of your future. And you better find him now because we’re only counting down the days to D-Day. He’s in the music hall now, at this hour he practicing with his band”
” What if he rejects me?” she whines.
“Just buy him a coffee. Just do it and join the program or don’t do it and bye bye volunteer program. Bye bye United Nation” he gives her no choice.
She slumps on her seat, whining in frustration. She rakes her hair and rubs her neck. Is it worth to try?
****
She slowly drags herself to the music hall at the east of the building. She knows Ikjun always practicing there with his band. She can’t help herself but to accept this is a setback. She needs Ikjun now. He’s the only one who can help her.
She takes a deep breath when she’s arrived at the music hall. She looks around and sees some students on the seat watching the band practice.
And there he is. Lee Ikjun. At the center of the stage. He’s practicing singing with his guitar. Alongside him is Kim Junwan, his bestfriend and also a guitarist.
Songhwa takes a seat at the back and top row. She silently watches him, waiting him to finish his practice. To her surprise, she enjoys his performance. She doesn’t realize that she’s out of zone for a while with her arm props her chin. She is absorbed by his singing.
Meanwhile, Lee Ikjun who focus on singing and his guitar feels a strange feeling. From his peripheral view, he feels the presence of someone new among his audience. His gut leads his eyes roaming the hall and catches the intruder.
He takes a quick glance to one person who sit alone at the top row. He finds a tiny girl sitting there. It’s on the third glance he realizes that it’s Chae Songhwa.
What is she doing here? She’s impossibly just watching me.
Ikjun tries to ignore her and focuses on his practice. He thinks not to think about her. No matter what her intention, better he avoid her for their peace.
When he finished his practice, Songhwa is moving forward. She walks to the front stage and stands there waiting for Ikjun and his friend tidying up the music instrument.
She gathers up her courage to call him. “Lee Ikjun…”
Ikjun already feel her presence near him. He turns around to see her. It’s the first time after a long time they see eye to eye.
“Malhara Chae Songhwa” he keeps his cool tone and stays in his place to make a distance.
“Can we talk?” she asks firmly.
His furrows his eyebrows. He turns to Junwan who also seems surprise like him. Then he turns back to her.
“I think we are on ceasefire to keep our peace. I don’t think I will cross the boundaries that you build” he replies nonchalantly.
“Yeah, I know. But it’s kind of emergency now. I have a business with you. About the community service program” she adds.
Ikjun thinks for a second before he can make connection with her presence and the program he handles. A realization hits him.
Oh. She needs me to join the program.
He walks closer to her. “What do you want?”
“I need to join the community service program. But the registration is already closed. So I think you can help me to participate in the program” she honestly says.
Ikjun silently watches her, trying to digest her words. Then he shakes his head.
“I don’t think I can do that” he says firmly.
“Look, I know we are not in good terms. But this program is open for all university students who interested to volunteer” she argues. “So I have a right to join”
“Of course, that’s why you have to register online. You can’t just ask me personally to put your name on the list. Why don’t you register first?” he sticks to the rule.
“Because I was late. I just came back from my trip overseas and when I knew about the program it’s already closed” she explains.
He tilts his head. “I can’t roll out a red carpet for you. You have to follow the procedure like others. It’s been closed and the participants is only limited to 20 students because we don’t have big budget. So, Chae Songhwa, for our peace, I can’t do any favor for you. You can join in other program later”
He walks away after talking. Songhwa just about to call him but she immediately steps back. She can’t push him now and she doesn’t want to make any scene. Some people around are watching them wondering what happened with this two rival.
She sighs and bites her lips. She has to think another way.
*****
Ikjun is busy on his paperwork at the library. He’s reading his textbook and takes some notes. For the first hour, he seems immersed with his work, but all of sudden, what happened yesterday flashes in his mind. It seems bothered him.
He sighs and leans into his chair. He plays with his pen, doodling in his book while thinking. The image of Songhwa asking for his help is lingering.
He feels the guilt that if he should help her or not. May be he could help her. They are not friend but they never take down each other. They just compete. The rivalry started at the first year when he beat her on final exam. Songhwa is so stubborn that never could take any loss. Sometimes they compete to be the Professors’ favorite and last year they had quarrel over the position of teaching assistant. Even she won tough.
Getting deep in his reverie, he doesn’t realize that someone is walking towards him and putting a coffee cup on his table. The smell of coffee interrupts his reverie. He turns up to see the person.
It's Chae Songhwa. She directly sits on the chair in front of him.
“You look sleepy so I bring you coffee” she says in flat tone.
“This is still about yesterday?” he furrows, but he grabs the coffee tough. He indeed needs a coffee.
She sips her coffee before reply. “You know I have to put aside my ego to do this. We never in good terms. But I really need this program. I will do anything to join this program. So tell me what I should do so that you can enroll me to join” she asks firmly.
He stares at her for few seconds. He tries to find a way to close this case. “I can help you but I have terms and condition. If you agree, you can join the community program” he finally says.
“Jeongmal…” she is excited that her eyes sparkling. “What do I need to sacrifice?” she asks. She knows this favor has a price.
He nods. “I can’t put your name on the participant list because it’s already blocked by the system. But I can offer you a job in this program so that you can join freely. I bet you won’t like it”
She hesitates for a second. “What kind of job?”
He takes a deep breath. “My assistant. I need an assistant to help me handle this program. I can’t find the right candidate who has the experience. Like you”
She furrows. Being his assistance means working for him. Her heart is unwilling but her brain says that it is a good opportunity. She’s not just being the participant but she will also handle the program.
She thinks it’s worth to try.
“Deal” she quickly made decision. “I’ll take the opportunity”
“Listen, Songhwa-ya, it’s a teamwork, so I need you and me to be cooperative. You have to respect our boundaries. No hard feeling, no personal matter” he emphasizes.
She nods. “Agree. Don’t worry. You know my capabilities. I am always interested working as a volunteer and in community” she ensures him.
He can’t deny that. If there is a person who are reliable for this job, it's her.
She held out her hand to him. He accepts it. They shake hands for the agreement.
“Meet me on Monday. We need to prepare the schedule and some administrative task” he informs.
She nods. “Okay. See you on Monday” she stands up and walks away.
He lets out a breath after she left and continues reading his textbook.