The gazes are definitely gathering.
In the campus I haven’t stepped on in a while with my wife, the eyes following us everywhere felt somewhat burdensome, so I intentionally avoided wandering around and headed straight to the lecture hall with her.
Of course, not everyone here is aware of our presence. But still, with my wife’s appearance being something you can’t really hide, curiosity naturally attached itself wherever we went.
Having a wife who’s so popular is something to think about at least once, indeed.
“…Honey.”
“Yeah? What’s up?”
As I settled into our seats and observed the people entering one by one, my wife looked up at me with a somewhat sulky expression, tugged at my sleeve, and hesitantly spoke.
“C-Couldn’t you at least wear a mask?”
“…A mask?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected request, I tilted my head.
A mask? What’s with the mask? It’s not like we’re in the middle of a pandemic. Sure, it’s springtime and there might be some pollen or fine dust floating around, but even with that in mind, I didn’t think it warranted wearing a mask.
It’s nonsensical for my wife, who is usually sensitive to such things, not to be wearing one herself.
But why does she want me to wear one while she doesn’t?
“Why a mask? I didn’t bring one today.”
“I have an extra in my bag.”
She hurriedly opened the newly bought campus backpack she bought for today, speaking in a somewhat frantic tone.
Is she really feeling that strongly about me needing to wear a mask?
“Well, I could wear one, but… wouldn’t it be better if you wore one too?”
“I’m fine. But you have to wear it.”
“……?”
Her firm tone only deepened my confusion further. What kind of new rule is that, Mrs.?
If she was embarrassed to wear one because the weather was unpleasant, that I could understand, but why should I be the one wearing it?
As I tilted my head again, as if requesting a detailed explanation, my wife, red-faced, lowered her voice and opened her mouth after a bit of hesitation.
“Y-YOU’re the one attracting all the attention from the girls here.”
“…Huh?”
Who’s looking at me?
No, there’s no doubt they’re looking at you!
“Ugh, if I had known this would happen, I shouldn’t have dressed you up so much this morning. I should have just let you wear some simple sweatpants and a hoodie… No, but still, my husband is handsome. What should I do though?”
“Honey…?”
Before I could rebut, my wife dove into her own world, muttering like she was reciting the Lord’s Prayer while gazing at me pensively.
Anyway, it seems the reason she wants me to wear a mask is because she thinks people are staring at me?
If I share this later with the viewers, they’ll just laugh at how ridiculous it is.
“Hey, darling. We can’t let the young, vibrant freshmen pass us by, okay? Got it?”
“Oh dear, worrying has become a habit of mine.”
You’d think she’s not the one in her twenties. Looking at her, she appears even younger than me!
Moreover, with a wife like this next to me, I wouldn’t even want to glance at anyone else. Not to mention from their perspective, what kind of old guy returning to school would they approach?
As I ruffled her hair to ease her worries, she finally smiled and leaned against me.
“Um, excuse me… Is this seat taken?”
“Oh, no.”
In the meantime, a couple, or perhaps just friends who were flirting, approached our adjacent seat and asked for permission.
From the way they dressed with a fresh spirit and their somewhat freeze-frame looks, they were likely freshmen. Or maybe not.
“Are you new students?”
“Yes, yes… I’m Yang Jun-young, a first-year in Business Administration.”
Seeing that we’re both first-year students made me feel strangely happy, so I casually greeted them, and either they knew I was a returning student or just thought I looked older because they introduced themselves respectfully.
“Oh, I’m also a first-year, you don’t have to be so formal. I’m Kang Woo-joo, studying Business Administration as well.”
“Oh, I already know. Actually, I’m a fan of your show… uh, senior… uh, brother.”
“Oh, really?”
So, they intentionally sat next to me. I didn’t expect to meet a viewer here.
“I just got admitted to Business Administration, and since I heard you’re coming back, I wanted to meet you at least once. I’m really a fan!”
“Thank you! So, is this person your girlfriend?”
“Oh yes, we’ve been together since high school…”
“Wow, that’s impressive.”
The fact they studied together since high school and ended up at Seo-han University makes them a typical honor student couple, and I couldn’t help but admire them.
“Honey, who are they? Introduce me!”
“Oh, they’re both first-year students, and they’re fans.”
Meanwhile, my wife, who was still scanning the surroundings, noticed us chatting and showed interest.
After I explained, she widened her eyes and expressed her delight towards the young man.
“Hello! So you’re a viewer of my husband’s show?”
“Uh… yes, yes.”
“I’m Ryu Seo-ha. I transferred here as a first-year with my husband, so please take care of me.”
“Of course, it’s an honor to meet you.”
“Ehehe, the honor is mine.”
Even from here, I could feel her voice tremble.
Well, in some sense, it’s probably more nerve-wracking for them to meet my wife rather than me. If the youngest daughter of Changseong Corporation and the current owner of Changseong Corporation was to suddenly appear in front of someone studying Business Administration, it’s as if Jesus had descended in church.
“I watch your and your brother’s show a lot too…! Um, can I please ask for an autograph later?”
“Of course, that’s possible.”
And just like that, I gained a first-year junior and ended up getting friendly with the girl named Ye-seo who came along.
It felt a bit nostalgic reflecting on how much I’ve changed from the time when I first entered university, trembling in front of the lecture hall.
“…But, it seems like people aren’t really approaching us.”
“Of course not, brother. Word’s probably spread around the department, and nobody doesn’t know you.”
“Hm… I see?”
Muttering about how the area around the four of us feels empty, Jun-young interrupted, seemingly baffled.
To be honest, while it was somewhat expected having my wife with me, it still felt strange as though we had become a rare animal on the verge of extinction.
It might be better if people were openly watching us. The way they subtly turn their heads every time our eyes meet feels unbearably burdensome.
Squeak.
“Alright, everyone, please take your seats. Wow, it feels vibrant today with all you young folks coming in.”
As my wife and I tried to ignore the stares and chat, the professor walked in through the door on the right side of the lecture hall.
Though my memory was a bit hazy from three years back, I believe they were the same professor.
“Professor! You said the exact same thing last year when the freshmen came in!”
“Oh? Did I? I should change up my lines, huh?”
“Ha ha ha ha!”
While the professor respected the students and displayed wit with a warm demeanor, I realized he was a genuinely nice person. Back then, I hadn’t paid him much attention, but he truly seemed great. I need to remember that moving forward.
“By the way… it’s been a while since we had a guest among the freshmen. Ryu Seo-ha, is that you?”
“Yes.”
“Hm?”
As the professor scanned the attendance sheet, he suddenly called out a familiar name, and I wondered if I heard incorrectly. However, as my wife smiled and raised her hand, I could only feel perplexed.
“Is your father doing well?”
“Of course. He’s healthy.”
“That’s good to hear.”
After a light exchange of greetings, the professor soon lowered his hand, prompting me to quietly ask my wife.
“Honey, do you know that professor?”
“Yeah, actually, he used to work under my father as an executive at Changseong Electronics.”
“…Under my father-in-law?”
So he resigned from his executive position and now works as a professor in the Business Administration department? That’s quite an impressive resume.
“I only found out when I spoke with the president a few days ago. I heard there’s a professor in the design department that recently retired and used to work under me.”
“…Under you?”
“Right, we also have a fashion division at Changseong Corporation. The person who was the division head is now in the design department. I’m planning to visit and say hello one of these days.”
“……”
Hearing that someone who worked under her is now a professor at a prestigious university highlighted my wife’s class, leaving me momentarily speechless.
“Oh, and actually, the president here is also someone who served as a senior advisor at Changseong Electronics. If you ever face any discomfort during your campus life, feel free to tell me. The president told me not to hesitate in passing any messages.”
“R-Right…”
I couldn’t shake the feeling that my university experience, which I previously thought would involve quietly attending classes and somehow disappearing, was already far removed from that reality.
So, this is what being a freshman is like?
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