Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 213

Woo-jin had been talking to Professor Yoon Chi-hyung a lot lately. He learned that their university was quickly making plans for students to work with companies in other countries.

Professor Yoon told Woo-jin that Madrid University, which was friends with Bruno’s studio, wanted to start a project this semester! It was exciting news. But the semester had already started. So, they decided to try a small test first, using the student exchange program.

Because K University already had student exchanges, they decided to send just one student to Madrid and take one from there. Woo-jin knew someone from his department would go to Spain. But he was shocked when he found out it was So-yeon.

It made sense, really. So-yeon had worked with Bruno for almost a year. Bruno knew she was talented. Of course, he would recommend her to his friends at Madrid University. Plus, she was a junior – perfect timing for an exchange.

Woo-jin asked, watching Jayden eat chicken like it was going out of style, “So, even though the exchange is happening, So-yeon won’t leave until May, right?”

Jayden nodded, mouth full. “Yeah, but she doesn’t even need to come to school anymore.”

“Ah!” Woo-jin understood. “Since she’s getting credit from Madrid now, no classes here, right?”

“Exactly! But you know what’s funny? She was in class yesterday!” Jayden tilted his head. “Silly So-yeon. Why even bother?”

Jayden, still confused, grabbed another piece of chicken. The basket was almost empty – Jayden was a fast eater. Woo-jin quickly took a piece before it all vanished, chuckling. “She probably came to Professor Lee’s class yesterday. It’s a really important one. She’s serious about learning, even if she doesn’t need the credits.”

So-yeon was amazing. She lived life to the fullest, even compared to the other hardworking design students. Woo-jin often admired her energy.

The fizz of the cola can opening was sharp. Woo-jin took a long drink, the greasy chicken forgotten for a moment. Hearing about So-yeon going to Spain had surprised him. So-yeon… she made him feel things he couldn’t quite name. She was his closest friend, besides Jayden.

And… maybe the closest woman in his life. He always felt a little guilty around her, though he didn’t know why. ‘She could have called me about this,’ he thought. ‘It’s kind of a big deal.’

Woo-jin took a sip of cola and took out his smartphone from his pocket. He was going to call So-yeon and ask her to have coffee with him in the evening. But then he paused.

Woo-jin could only scratch the back of his head with an even more awkward expression. He hadn’t realized it because he had been so busy, but So-yeon had a missed call exactly two days ago.

Feeling suddenly apologetic, Woo-jin immediately called So-yeon. After a brief ringing, So-yeon’s familiar voice came from the other side of the phone.

“Yes, Oppa. What’s wrong?”

“Oh, no. I saw you called the day before yesterday. Sorry, I was busy and just checked now.”

Woo-jin felt a little relieved to hear So-yeon’s voice. Her voice was as cheerful as ever.

“Ah, it’s okay. I know you’ve been busy all day these days.”

But when Woo-jin’s next words followed, So-yeon couldn’t help but pause for a moment.

“Spain… you called because of that, right?”

She didn’t know that Woo-jin would hear about this from someone else first.

“Oh, uh, yeah. That’s what I wanted to talk about.”

And a moment of silence followed. Woo-jin was the first to speak again.

“Um… So-yeon. Are you free this evening by any chance?”

“Free? You’re the busy one, Oppa. I’m free in the evening after going to the language school.”

“Language school?”

“I started taking a short-term Spanish language course from today.”

“Ah.”

Woo-jin, briefly recalling his schedule for today, slowly spoke again.

“Then let’s meet around seven o’clock near Seongsu Station.”

“Okay. Are we having dinner?”

“Or maybe just a beer.”

“Sounds good!”

Woo-jin exchanged a few more words with So-yeon and then hung up the phone. He had more to say, but he thought they were stories to share when they met in the evening.

Jayden, who had been listening to Woo-jin’s call without a clue, asked with a bright expression, “Oh, are we having chicken and beer for dinner today too, Woo-jin? Am I eating with you guys?”

Of course, Woo-jin shook his head and answered firmly, “No, you’re not, Jayden.”

Woo-jin wasn’t stupid. Actually, he was very smart, especially about business and people. Someone smart at work is usually smart in life too. So, Woo-jin knew. He knew So-yeon liked him, even though she never said it. It was so obvious, even Jayden would notice if he were in Woo-jin’s shoes.

“Hoo.” But Woo-jin had been ignoring it for two years. He was too busy with work and his dreams. He didn’t have time for anything else. He had dated before, and he knew relationships needed time and care. He just didn’t have that time now. He felt like he would be a bad boyfriend. Like he would be there physically, but not really present in the relationship.

Woojin shook his head, feeling confused. He thought about everything, but still felt selfish.

He knew he had given So-yeon hope for too long.

‘Excuses,’ he thought. ‘It’s all just excuses.’

If he didn’t like her that way, he should have been clear.

He could have shown her without saying big words.

Saying he didn’t want to lose her as a friend? That was just another excuse.

Vroom – The engine roared as Woojin drove, trying to push the tangled thoughts from his head. He focused on the road, the city lights blurring past, hoping to clear his mind before seeing So-yeon.

He didn’t need to have a grand conversation today, but he still wanted to open up a little and share his thoughts.

And when Woojin arrived in Seongsu… bright lights flashed as someone took a photo.

“Welcome, CEO!” So-yeon called out, her voice a little louder than usual.

“…What’s with the sudden concept?” Woojin asked, surprised but a little amused.

“New employee concept!” So-yeon grinned, her eyes sparkling. She was wearing a pretty dress, something he hadn’t seen her wear in ages. She looked excited, but maybe a little nervous too, Woojin thought.

So-yeon took Woojin to a quiet lamb skewer restaurant in an alley in Seongsu-dong.

Despite dressing up in a pretty dress for the first time in a while, So-yeon chose meat over a fancy restaurant.

“What’s with the sudden new employee concept?”

“You heard from Jayden, right?”

“Ah, Spain…?”

“It’s called an exchange program, but it’s also about working with companies while studying. Really,”

“I suppose so.”

“When I go to Spain, I’ll be working at Bruno’s studio headquarters. A new employee, so to speak.”

“That’s great.”

“Yeah, it’s a really good opportunity for me.”

Woojin nodded at So-yeon’s words.

Woojin thought about it. For him, who already had his own company, studying abroad like this wasn’t really a big deal.

But from the perspective of a typical third-year undergraduate student, the opportunity that had come to So-yeon was the best opportunity to build an amazing career.

In absolute terms, the architecture department at the Polytechnic University of Madrid was not necessarily a higher-level school than the spatial design department at K University.

But building a career at a prestigious European architecture university, rather than just having a degree from a domestic university, would be very helpful in many ways.

Moreover, it was not just a simple exchange student program, but also an opportunity to intern at Bruno’s studio headquarters.

Among the architectural design studios around the world, it was a world-renowned studio that was always ranked in the top ten.

When So-yeon graduated from her undergraduate studies after completing all these courses, she would be a talent that would be welcomed with open arms anywhere in the world.

Of course, as sweet as the results were, she would have to endure even more difficult studies in the future.

So-yeon would not have decided to go to Spain without that kind of determination.

“Do your classmates know?” Woojin asked, taking a sip of his beer.

So-yeon blinked, then shook her head. “Know what?” she asked, pretending to be confused, but a small smile played on her lips.

Woojin chuckled. “Come on, Spain! That you’re going to Spain.”

“Oh, that!” So-yeon laughed softly. “No, not really. Just a few close friends.”

“They must be green with envy,” Woojin teased.

“Hee hee. They said they were really happy for me,” So-yeon replied, her smile widening.

Watching So-yeon put the lamb skewers on the grill as soon as they came out, Woojin chuckled once again.

The best kind of pride a friend can have is pride in grilling meat.

So-yeon was even good at grilling meat.

The voices of the two people, who had been chatting and giggling for a while, gradually subsided as they drank one or two glasses of beer.

In fact, today’s meeting was the last time So-yeon and Woojin would see each other alone before she left for Spain.

So So-yeon was a little anxious that Woojin had suddenly asked to see her alone.

She wondered if he was going to make a decision about the ambiguous part of their relationship today.

This was like a woman’s intuition, and unlike Woojin, who felt sorry, So-yeon didn’t actually want that.

Whether it was in a direction that would work out well with Woojin as a man, or in a direction that would not.

First of all, she didn’t even want to think about being rejected by Woojin, of course.

On the other hand, she didn’t want to be with Woojin right away either.

She still liked and admired Woojin, but she knew very well that it was not something that could be decided right away.

Dreams and love are not choices that can be made selectively.

So-yeon was also dreaming, so she knew that very well.

‘Even if Oppa accepts my feelings, that happiness won’t last long.’

If it had been So-yeon a year ago, her heart might have been pounding in this situation.

If she could be with Woojin, whom she admired, leaving everything else behind, that would have been enough.

But as she had grown her feelings over the past few months, So-yeon had been able to mature even more.

So, contrary to what Woojin thought, So-yeon thought she was being selfish.

Until she was fully prepared.

Or until Woojin had enough time.

She wanted to maintain their current relationship and protect that pure admiration.

So, as serious stories began to emerge, So-yeon carefully said a word.

“Oppa.”

“Yeah?”

“Just because I’m in Spain for a few years doesn’t mean anything changes, right?”

Woojin, who didn’t quite understand what she was trying to say, tilted his head and asked.

“Um… what do you mean?”

Then So-yeon, who had been hesitating for a moment, opened her mouth again.

“Whether I stay here or go to Spain… Oppa will still be busy, and I will still like Oppa.”

“…!”

Woojin was momentarily speechless at So-yeon’s sudden words.

It was the first time she had expressed her feelings so directly.

But whether Woojin was flustered or not, So-yeon continued to speak.

“If I add more to the story in case you misunderstand, I don’t want any promises from Oppa. I’m not Oppa’s girlfriend anyway.”

Woojin looked into So-yeon’s eyes.

Even though it was a story that might be bitter from So-yeon’s point of view, she didn’t have a dark expression at all.

No, on the contrary, she looked relieved.

“Just don’t worry about me… Just keep running forward as you do now. If you remain someone I can respect like that, that would be the happiest thing for me.”

Woojin felt a lump in his chest for a moment as he listened to So-yeon’s unexpected stories.

He could feel her sincerity in caring for and thinking of him in every word she said.

So Woojin pondered.

What would be the wisest thing to say to her at this moment?

What should he say here so that he wouldn’t have any regrets?

So the two stopped talking and looked at each other. The only sound was the sizzle of the lamb skewers on the grill and the quiet music in the background. Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken feelings.

Woojin looked into So-yeon’s eyes, searching for the right words. Finally, when the silence felt like it could break, Woojin said this, his voice low and serious.

“I won’t tell you to wait. But, it won’t take that long either.”