The Garden of Dreams

Jungwon, in a white t-shirt and jeans, tied up her long black hair and put on a baseball cap. Apart from the dressing table, Jungwon’s simple one room apartment only had a few other pieces of furniture and it felt quite empty.

Rrrrrrrr.

While putting one foot in her sneaker, Jungwon pressed the call button without checking who’s the caller.

“Yes. I’m on my way. Just wait a little bit. I’ll be there in half an hour by bus. Stop whining. I don’t need to hear it.”

[Hey! How can you talk to me like that? You’re as mean as always. Ah, whatever! Hurry up!]

Jungwon snorted at Eonju’s playful voice on the other end. She is the only friend Jungwon has and they have been together since elementary school, now enrolled at the same university.

The cold Jungwon and the cheerful Eonju were complete opposites, but they got along so well together that they rarely fought.

“Hanging up.”

Jungwon hung up first and was about to open the door and leave, but went to her desk to pick up her black-rimmed glasses first. Only then was she satisfied with her look.

---

‘You’re as mean as always. White t-shirt and jeans again? At least take off your glasses!’

Muttered the agitated Eonju, then she happened to spot two men waving at her as she walked inside a cafe.

“Here! Over here!”

A bright smile spread across Eonju’s face when she saw the two. To anyone who sees it, Eonju’s smile is very cute.

“Wow! So cute. Totally my type!”

Said Kyungmin with a pleased look while patting Minsu’s shoulder, Minsu laughed it off and spoke.

“Stop dreaming. She’s my girlfriend.”

“Aye, I was so close.”

“You arrived alone?”

“Yes, Jungwon said she’ll be a little late. She’s usually punctual…but I guess she was busy with something today.”

The first part of the sentence was at Minsu, while the last part was at Kyungmin.

Eonju had arranged a blind today.

The date was specially arranged for Jungwon who had neither interest or desire in men, so she was reluctant to go, but Eonju had threatened to end their relationship if she postponed it for another day.

Eonju understood why Jungwon was like this, but she wanted to let her know that there are many good people in the world.

Jungwon was cold when they were in middle school, and now has gotten worse to the point where nobody talks to her first. However, the bigger reason why people find it difficult is because of Jungwon’s remarkable appearance.

Jungwon’s mother is an average looking woman, but her father, who made hundreds of women cry in the past, is one of the most handsome actors. And she had inherited her father’s looks, so since young others were always hesitant.

“Even though my Jungwon is a little blunt, there’s more to her than what others think. Unlike how she looks, she’s never had a boyfriend. Kyungmin, please take good care of my Jungwon. Hm?”

Said Eonju, then Kyungmin, who was glancing outside the glass window saw Jungwon finally arrive, forced a smile and spoke.

“Yes.”

To be honest, Kyungmin’s type was a woman like Eonju.

“Ah! Here she comes. Jungwon! Here! Over here!”

Kyungmin, who was wondering about this friend of hers for a while, opened the cafe’s door and looked at the woman, and without realizing it, frowned.

At first glance she was roughly dressed, had on sneakers and a hat, and no makeup. She was dressed without any courtesy to her date.

“The bus came late. Sorry. Did you wait long?”

But it was a speech that he couldn’t feel any sincerity at all. Kyungmin disappointedly bowed his head and reluctantly raised his face.

As soon as he got a clear look of Jungwon’s face, he became speechless.

Gasp!

He didn’t notice at first glance, but she was still pretty. Even without makeup she was more beautiful than any woman who was dressed.

Half of her face was covered with the thick black-rimmed glasses and hat, but that didn’t mean it was fully covered.

“N-no. I didn’t wait long. It’s very hot outside, isn’t it? Hahaha!”

“Yes. It’s hot.”

Briefly answered Jungwon dully.

“What do you want to drink? It’s on me today. Kyungmin, what do you want to drink? Jungwon, what about you? And you? I’ll have a chocolate latte.”

Excitedly asked the relieved Eonju when she saw Kyungmin’s expression.

“Iced tea. It’s hot.”

Said Jungwon bluntly, leaning her back against a chair and looking at the man in front of her indifferently.

With a reddish face, Kyungmin seemed to be at a loss for what to do. Jungwon was wondering if he was sick, but she didn’t have any interest in seeing him again anyway, so she picked up her cell phone absentmindedly.

The blind date which Eonju worked hard to accomplish for several months ended in less than an hour due to the tense Kyungmin and the short replies Jungwon gave throughout the blind date.

Kyungmin, who was fascinated by Jungwon’s appearance, slowly became offended by Jungwon’s lack of interest, so he said he suddenly had an appointment, then left.

“Hey! Crazy! I warned you! I told you to be nice since he’s Minsu’s friend. But what is this? What am I going to do now?”

While Eunjo was talking nonstop, Jungwon calmly drank her remaining ice tea. For the time being she didn’t have to hear anymore about blind dates, so it was one less thing on her mind.

“I have an appointment.”

“I don’t understand you! You and I are through! Whew. I feel so sorry for Minsu! Hey, and what’s with those glasses? Do you even need glasses? Give me your face if you’re not going to use it! Why do you always cover that pretty face?”

After not budging at the constant nagging by Eunjo, Jungwon jumped to her feet after finishing her tea, smiled blandly, and spoke.

“What do you mean you don’t understand me? You know everything about me. Anyways, I’ve done my part! I’ll see you later!”

The resentful Eunjo let out a sigh when Jungwon spoke her mind and left.

‘I hate seeing your face. Still, it’s awfully pretty. Argh…evil girl.’

She cursed inwardly and her face sanked with anxiety.

‘So, are you not going to open your heart to anyone?’

Jungwon felt relieved as if she had just finished her homework. She was indifferent when it came to men, but she didn’t want to disappoint Eonju.

If it was about money, Jungwon wouldn’t even give it a second thought if she had to give all her part-time money to Eunjo.

‘What time is it?’

Jungwon who was lost in her thoughts for a moment, checked the time again and began to run toward a bus stop.

‘Ah, I’m going to be late!’

---

She was in a hurry because it was a group project for class. Luckily, she arrived at the university on time after taking the bus, but still had to run to get to the lecture hall.

The early summer weather, which had just begun, heated the concrete floor, and the blazing heat could be felt below one’s feet.

Jungwon stopped and breathed heavily after running for a long time as a luxury car passed by. Along with it, the loud music and laughter disappeared at the same speed.

‘Ah, lucky.’

Those who don’t have to be in a hurry, run around, or work part-time so they have more time for their academics.

Since the starting line was different anyways, Jungwon started running again. However, because of the hot weather, the lecture hall felt farther away.

‘Come on! Fuck!’

The corners of Jungwon’s mouth instinctively curled up after she berated herself. Isn’t it some sort of escape people give themselves?

The time was already five minutes past five. In a hurry, Jungwon ran to the lecture room and stopped when she heard her name mentioned.

“…Jungwon?”

‘Huh? Who’s calling my name?’

Jungwon looked around to see where the sound came from, wondering who was calling her. It came from the classroom where the group was supposed to meet.

The door must have been left open since the sound could be heard outside the hall.

“Yes. Han Jungwon. Do you know more about her?”

“I don’t know. Even while in the classroom, I could only see the back of the head sitting in the front seat.”

“Is it a girl?”

Each voice of the conversation is different. Jungwon wondered if she should enter, but instead listened for a while to hear the gossip about her. She was a little nervous thinking she was eavesdropping on a secret conservation that she shouldn’t be hearing.

“It’s probably a girl with long hair.”

“Hey, but you know what? She always wears the same clothes. Jeans and white t-shirts. I thought it was a school uniform. Hahaha.”

“You said you didn’t know. Anyways, why is she in our group?”

“I don’t know. The assistant instructor probably arranged it. It’s annoying. It’d be better if we did it ourselves. Isn’t that right, Seungjae?”

Listening to the murmurs of nasally voices, Jungwon entered the classroom. Then, the confidence from a while ago seems to have disappeared as they looked embarrassed. Still, at least they seemed to have some basic conscience.

Finding a random seat, Jungwon sat down and looked them over. They were all wearing expensive clothes. She thinks it was the group that drove by in the red car from a while ago.

‘Childish.’

Sitting in the classroom were two girls and two boys, and they sprayed so much perfume that she felt dizzy.

‘Why do I have to meet up with these guys twice a week to do a group project?’

Although Jungwon was already tired, she said hello to them whether she wanted to or not because she has to do the project.

“I’m Han Jungwon. I’m sorry to be stuck here, but I can’t do much about it either, so please understand.”

Jungwon let slip the fact that she had heard their conversation. Then one of the girls quickly changed her expression and spoke.

“N-no. Let’s do our best. I heard your grades are very good…”

She wisely approached Jungwon, then gradually slurred the end of her words when she saw Jugnwon’s blank expression.

Jungwon was familiar with the way people stared at her, so she lowered her head and fixed her glasses.

“What are we doing today?”

Asked Jungwon, then two boys who had a similar atmosphere stared at her.

Long legs, dark hair, white skin as if she’s never had a sunburn, and an arrogant look that seems to look down on others.

Both were rudely staring at Jungwon that she almost wanted to vomit.

It was clear the kind of people Jungwon hated the most were gathered in this group. She was sure that the next month will be a really hard and tough time.

“If you haven’t decided yet, let’s start with one of the four topics.”

Hearing Jungwon’s words, one of the girls approached her and placed down a thick pile of papers.

“We’ve collected the data, so I want you to organize it.”

Jungwon was so dumbfounded she could laugh.

‘You want me to organize 400 pages of data by myself? You must think I was just born yesterday.’

Instead of answering, Jungwon unpacked the bundle of papers, divided it into five equal portions, and then laid down a pile before each of them.

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“We should organize it together. Who told you to collect the data in the first place? You didn’t even give me a choice on the topic.”

Jungwon’s tone was calm and straightforward without manners.

“Do you know who we are?”

Sharply asked a girl, who was the perpetrator of the strong perfume, while raising her eyebrows. However, Jungwon wasn’t afraid of such empty threats.

“Do you know who I am?”