BIRTHDAY CHAPTER (2): Shred

The beginning of our relationship was exciting. We met every weekend, combining stories about what happened in our college life. He became a close friend of Ong Seongwoo at KNPU and I became friends with Jaehwan at SKKU. Although Jaehwan often complains that he shouldn't enter psychology major because his desire is actually to be a psychiatrist instead of a psychologist. Yeah, whatever you want, Hwan.

My relationship and Minhyun went smoothly until we didn’t realize we met August 9th again. Our family has known that their children become lovers. But the family meeting at that time was a bit quiet since Minki was already in the military and Jonghyun couldn’t join because he had a volunteering work charity in Japan. Instead, Minseok oppa joined and introduced his girlfriend. Sujin Unnie also came with Mel's new daddy. Fortunately at that time Aaron oppa didn't come, for what reason I forgot.

Getting closer to my new friends at the university, I forgot Minhyun a little. But Minhyun was the same, he was busy with his friends at the KNPU and the Judo club. I could not believe a Hwang Minhyun entered the Judo club, but I could no longer not believe it after Ong sent a photo of them being trained together.

My meeting and Minhyun which originally took place every weekend gradually diminished. I was getting closer to my campus friends. There are Nayoung, Myungeun, Sungjae, and also Jaehwan. Coincidentally we all love singing. Karaoke is a mandatory routine for us every weekend. I once invited Minhyun to join, but he still couldn't get too close to them. He can only chat with Jaehwan.

Basically Hwang Minhyun is indeed an introvert. Unlike the others, Minhyun has no close friends besides Dobong-dong kids. So I also didn't want to force him to make friends with my friends. Me either did not know his friends at KNPU other than Ong. But I heard from Ong, many female students on their campus like Minhyun. To be honest, I was not surprised. From the beginning, Minhyun had been loved by many girls. But I believe, he won't play behind me.

Besides, Minhyun said that he wanted to focus on his lectures. "There's no time to glance at another girl, Hanna .."

At first I thought that was only a playful sentence he said just to make me calm. But apparently he did not have time to glance at another girl. He didn't even have time to glance at me.

Every time we met, what he did was reading a book. He always asks to stop by the bookstore. By the time I was tired of walking around from the end of the shelf to the shelf on the different end, he was still busy choosing books. If he read a book, he will be so serious that he doesn't realize that I'm beside him.

I could still understand his behavior if it's in a bookstore, but even when we eat at the Cafe he will unconsciously pull out his book and ignore me.

Even when he was at home, he was still indifferent to me and was just reading. As I was already stifling about his attitude, I decided to act.

I pulled the table in front of him and sat sideways obstructing his view of the book.

"Hanna, why?" He asked in surprise.

"Looks like the document you are holding is far more interesting than me, uh?" I asked back.

"Ah, this is a summary of cases from five years ago that I have to read for my work next week." It seemed like he still not understanding the situation.

"Huh? Next week? Nyeon, you still have time to work on it until next week. But you only have time with me today!" I protested with a high tone.

Aaron oppa, who was originally in a room with us, finally decided to step aside and give us space.

"Are you mad?" He asked carefully.

"Do you think??"

Hearing my erratic response, he immediately put down the document he read and then hugged me while whispering, "Kwak Hanna is very adorable when she’s angry."

Hish!

But since then, he has become more understanding. Even though he hasn't been able to escape from the book, at least he then involves me in it. We often discuss cases together. Because his focus is criminals profiling, I who study psychology, can give him lots of suggestions.

After Minhyun became a student, I could see he changes. Hwang Minhyun, who used to look relaxed in academics, now looks very serious. He already had a plan, what courses he would take during the four years he attended college, what activities would support his lecture, what skills he should have to support his career in the future. Maybe it was during high school, he was under the shadow of Jonghyun, the model student. But now Minhyun shines by itself. And I feel proud. Especially when Minhyun was selected as an outstanding student for the year. It was just after that, there was a gossip circulated.

I heard from Ong, that Minhyun was close to Lee Kaeun, a noona who was also chosen as an outstanding student for her student year. Although Ong repeatedly said that he was just joking, somehow it ignited a jealous fire on me. Especially after seeing a photo of Minhyun and Kaeun together wearing a cadet uniform. I hate to admit that they match well.

Just by looking at the picture I can see that Lee Kaeun is a graceful and smart girl. Moreover, she is quite tall, so she looks so right standing next to Minhyun. Not like me who looks like minion next to him. Especially when talking about visual, I think I look like an ugly duckling next to a beautiful goose when I walk next to The Hwang Minhyun.

Why did I realize it now?

Suddenly I felt insecure. Especially when Minhyun called Kaeun as 'Eunnie noona'.

"Eunnie ?? Are you close with her??” I asked, surprised.

"Yes, I think we are quite close since we studied together. She helped me a lot, Hanna" Minhyun answered innocently.

Woah, Hwang Minhyun really!

Since that time, I have contacted him more often and have not forgotten to extract information whether his activities included his Eunnie noona. As I was blinded by a fire of jealousy, I decided to cut my hair to a shoulder-length without bangs. That was the first time I left my trademark hairstyle that I had been keeping since I admired Sailor Venus. And all that I do because I want to look like Lee Kaeun!

I was so stupid.

I could think of that idea after I remembered that Minhyun once said that his ideal girl was a short-haired girl with no bangs and was older! His ideal type of girl really matches Lee Kaeun, so I tried to meet the criteria of Hwang Minhyun's ideal woman. (read Chapter 28-Plan)

But you know what, Minhyun's response was really annoying. He laughed hard when he first saw my new hair style.

"Oh My God! Is this really Kwak Hanna ?? I didn't recognize you at all, Hanna! You look like ahjumma!"

!

Instead of persuading me not to be angry, Hwang Minhyun chose to say, "It’s only trivial thing, Hanna. Why do you really like to get angry? Do you know, if you often get angry you’ll easily get older!"

Minhyun is really stupid in dealing with woman. From that moment on I decided not to talk to him.

Even until the August 9th meeting that year, I was still in a fighting mode with Minhyun. I came to his birthday more because of respecting his parents. And also because I heard that Jonghyun can come.

Jonghyun returned to Korea with Soyeon Unnie and his mother. And for the first time in the history, Kang's family, both Mr. and Mrs. Kang attended the meeting. That's because Dongho couldn't attend since he was busy practicing for the Asian Games. I feel the little action of Kang's family touching my heart. If remembering how Mrs. Kang didn't allow Dongho to join Kendo, I never imagined to see her come and ask for other family support when Dongho competed in the Asian Games.

Better change. Much better and I like it.

Because there were no Dongho and Minki, and I was also not in good terms with the birthday boy, I decided to sit next to Jonghyun the whole time.

Jonghyun did not forget to comment on my new hairstyle. "You reminded me of Ai with that short hair, Hanna ..."

"Oh really? Ah, there's no way Ai looks like ahjumma ..." I responded while glancing at Minhyun.

Minhyun sat far enough, but I could see that he is sighing.

"Ahjumma? Who looks like ahjumma? Hanna, you are beau