I’m Too Lazy To Run away - Side Chapter 22

“So, that entrance piece?”

Yang Tae-Yang deliberately changed the subject to steer away from the uncomfortable topic. Even though his friend could tell what he was doing, he didn’t press further and instead showed him the painting saved on his phone.

“Here.”

The moment he saw it, Tae-Yang couldn’t take his eyes off the screen. A feeling he had never experienced from any artwork before crashed over him like a tidal wave. This wasn’t something you could simply call “technically impressive.”

“…This… is really an entrance exam piece?”

As if he had expected that reaction, his friend smirked teasingly.

“Sunshine, you’re not the only genius in this world, you know.”

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As time passed, the buzz around the entrance piece died down—but for Yang Tae-Yang, it stayed deeply etched in his mind. He looked at it several times a day. Yet, he didn’t even know what Kim Do-Yoon—the artist—looked like. They were in different departments, and there had been no opportunity for their paths to cross.

Even among painting majors, no one claimed to be close to Kim Do-Yoon. At this point, it almost felt like he didn’t even exist.

‘What kind of person is he?’

Judging by his fearless use of pastel colors, he must be someone bright and mysterious. The texture of the paint felt delicate, and the colors radiated warmth—as if he himself were a brilliant light, unaware of the world’s darkness.

As time went on, Tae-Yang’s imagination of the unknown artist only grew stronger.

Walking down the hallway for a general education class, juniors gathered around him.

“Sunbae, are you heading to gen-ed? Let’s grab lunch together after!”

“Sure.”

Another voice cut in, pushing the junior aside with their hip to take the spot.

“Oppa, I got those exhibition tickets I mentioned last time. What do you think?”

“Sounds good to me.”

Tae-Yang smiled at the junior clinging to his arm with both hands. The junior blushed, and a classmate watching nearby said sharply,

“Tae-Yang, did you forget you have to submit your assignment this week?”

“Oh, right.”

The moment he said that, his classmate forcefully pushed the two juniors away and grabbed his arm.

“I told you not to accept everything like that.”

Grumbling, the classmate pressed closer. Tae-Yang felt a bit uncomfortable but didn’t show it.

“I think my arm’s losing circulation.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Hahaha!”

“Sunbae, that’s so funny! Hahaha!”

“…??”

At his single comment, laughter broke out everywhere. He didn’t even know what was so funny, and it gave him a strange sense of fatigue. Still, it was such a familiar scene that he naturally moved at the center of it all. A subtle battle played out over who could hold onto his arm, but he didn’t interfere. He never rejected those who came to him nor chased those who left—making him terrible as a romantic partner, yet the people around him never decreased.

Even after arriving at the lecture hall, the same situation continued. With even freshmen—who were seeing the famous third-year sculpture major for the first time—turning their attention to him, his exhaustion doubled.

‘…Should I just drop this class.’

He was thinking that as he scanned the QR code for attendance when the professor spoke.

“Seo Gil-Oh, Choi Won-Jun, Kim Seo-Hee… and Kim Do-Yoon. If you’re here, please check in within five minutes.”

At the last name, Yang Tae-Yang’s head snapped up.

He was the only one who reacted. Kim Do-Yoon’s name had been overshadowed by his work, so almost no one remembered it. But not Tae-Yang. The name was as vivid as the painting itself.

‘Kim Do-Yoon… who is he?’

He sharpened his senses, searching—completely forgetting he had just planned to drop the class.

Then, a dull-looking back of someone’s head caught his eye.

‘Not that one.’

He immediately looked away.

Then he spotted someone with striking blond hair scanning the QR code.

‘That’s him!’

For some reason, Tae-Yang felt his heart race with excitement. Fixated on the blond man he was sure was Kim Do-Yoon, he couldn’t look away.

And as if by fate, in the group assignment, Kim Do-Yoon and Yang Tae-Yang ended up in the same group.

The blond man approached Tae-Yang and asked,

“You’re in Group C too, right?”

“Yes. That’s right. Go ahead and sit.”

The blond man plopped down and started fiddling with his phone, one leg bouncing. Tae-Yang glanced at him. Aside from the dyed blond hair, he was nothing like Tae-Yang had imagined. He didn’t seem particularly motivated for the class.

‘They say geniuses are a bit different from ordinary people… maybe Do-Yoon is like that too.’

Still, this wasn’t his type—appearance, behavior, even the unpleasant scent. His interest in Kim Do-Yoon as a person began to fade, though his curiosity about the artwork remained.

Group C had five members including Tae-Yang.

“I’m Yang Tae-Yang, third-year sculpture major. Nice to work with you this semester.”

Introductions continued.

“I’m Kwon Tae-Hyun, second-year design major.”

“I’m… Park Na-Young, first-year creative writing major. Nice to meet you.”

Two were done. That left Kim Do-Yoon and one other.

For some reason, Tae-Yang’s gaze shifted—not to the blond man, but elsewhere.

‘That one from earlier.’

The gloomy-looking person he had dismissed earlier.

‘That must be Choi Won-Jun.’

Just then—

“What, are we in elementary school? Why do we need introductions? We don’t have time.”

“We should at least know each other’s names.”

“Ugh, so annoying. Theater and Film major, Choi Won-Jun. Done. Can I leave now?”

Tae-Yang stared at the blond man in shock.

“What? Why?”

More accurately: Why are you Choi Won-Jun?

But Won-Jun frowned at Tae-Yang, already feeling competitive toward him.

“It’s just a gen-ed class. Don’t take it so seriously.”

Tae-Yang covered his face with his hand, confused. If that man was Choi Won-Jun, then there was only one person left who could be Kim Do-Yoon.

He quickly composed himself and smiled. Won-Jun was momentarily taken aback.

“Still, since it’s the first day, we should hear everyone’s introduction.”

Though said gently, there was something about his tone that made it impossible to refuse. Won-Jun flushed slightly and backed off, muttering.

Tae-Yang looked at the last remaining member.

As if sensing his gaze, the person spoke.

“…First-year Western painting major… Kim Do-Yoon.”

A skinny body, messy hair, and a somewhat vacant-looking man.

He looked tired. Unconfident. At best, quiet—at worst, timid.

The group didn’t seem pleased, their mood dampening. Won-Jun glanced at Do-Yoon and muttered mockingly,

‘Total loser.’

Tae-Yang felt slightly annoyed, but didn’t point it out. Despite Do-Yoon not matching his expectations at all, he couldn’t take his eyes off him—just like when he first saw the painting.

‘Those hands painted that?’

Even with traces of paint still on them, his hands were slender and beautiful. For some reason, Tae-Yang wanted to touch them. To see how they held a brush and painted.

“Sunbae Yang Tae-Yang?”

“…Huh?”

He snapped out of it at the call.

“One person will present, and the rest of us can split into pairs to start research…”

“Let’s do that.”

The moment he agreed, Won-Jun—who had been glued to his phone—quickly scanned everyone.

‘Tch, all three are Middles… still, better to pair with someone at my level.’

(Middle = Beta)

He didn’t want to work with any of them, but aside from Tae-Yang, the rest were below average. Especially that gloomy, awkward “loser” Middle—he absolutely didn’t want to pair with him.

‘Does that guy even shower? He smells weird.’

It wasn’t just Won-Jun. Tae-Hyun and Na-Young also exchanged looks, clearly not wanting to pair with Do-Yoon. Since one person would inevitably be left out, Won-Jun tried to take the lead.

“Then I’ll go with Yang Tae-Yang—”

“I’ll work with Kim Do-Yoon.”

“…Huh?”

“…What?”

Everyone looked confused. Even Do-Yoon flinched slightly before finally lifting his gaze to Tae-Yang.

Tae-Yang internally celebrated finally making eye contact. Smiling brightly, he said,

“Looking forward to working with you, Do-Yoon.”