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KAP 16
"Your jokes aren't funny."
"I'd rather they've been serious."
Phew. Letting out a sigh of relief, Kora tapped on her phone screen.
"I'm contacting you because we need to coordinate our schedules for the group project. You and I have to watch about three movies or plays together, discuss them, and then write a report. I want to get this over with as soon as possible, so when are you free?"
"Got it. We need to decide on the topic and schedule first, so let's meet up. Are you free tomorrow?"
"I have a part-time job at the pub tomorrow too... I think I'll be done around 7 PM?"
"Then I'll head over there tomorrow to match your time."
Kora's pupils dilated slightly as she read Tristan's message.
It was unexpected for him to so readily offer to come to the pub where she worked.
But well, he'd probably prefer to knock out the assignment quickly before the official hockey season started.
"Fine. Just don't forget, like you did with the watch incident."
"Don't worry. If you say you want to see me, I'll gladly make an appearance."
"Stop talking nonsense."
"Typing..."
"Photo"
A few minutes later. Kora's finger, which had been hovering over the screen, froze at the notification that a photo had been sent.
'...What kind of photo did he send?'
She had a bad feeling about this.
Suddenly, a scene flashed before her eyes: not long ago at the pub, Angela screaming after receiving a 'dick pic' from an unidentified man.
'No way. Would a hockey captain with so much to lose actually pull such a low-class prank?'
However, it was an open secret that the athletes were promiscuous.
She had heard that under the plausible motto of 'College is a place for new experiences,' they engaged in all sorts of debauchery.
Apparently, things like anal sex and threesomes were considered rites of passage?
Perhaps that was why low-brow rumors invariably flooded the campus the day after a hockey team party. Who slept with whom, what they did in the restrooms, and so on.
But Tristan had never particularly been at the center of such commotion.
There were rumors that he didn't even consider college students 'ripe' enough and only dated mature women, but no one knew the truth.
Well, who knows what he gets up to where no one is watching. Kora opened the message window, feeling slightly tense.
Contrary to her worries, however, what filled the screen was not an unpleasant flesh tone, but a fluffy white ball of fur.
"Huh? What is this?"
In the photo was a white cat with clear, large blue eyes.
The cappuccino-colored fur lightly mixed into its face and body was a charming point, and Kora let out an involuntary moan at its unrealistic cuteness.
"Ah... it's too cute."
As she zoomed in on the photo to look at the cat's squishy nose, another notification rang.
"The cat I raise."
"Photo"
The second photo showed Tristan, dressed in hockey gear, holding the cat in his arms.
It felt strange to see a guy with a mountain-like build smiling while carefully cradling a tiny kitten.
The characteristic dominant and rough aura he radiated seemed to soften slightly.
Moreover, the visual contrast between his black hair and the cat's white fur was excellent. It looked like a pictorial taken by a professional photographer.
'Anyway, Tristan is a cat butler. That's kind of unexpected. Based on his image, I thought he'd raise a hunting dog like a Doberman or a Pitbull.'
After staring at the photo for a moment, Kora replied.
"It's really cute. Is it because it doesn't take after its owner?"
"By the way, how did you end up raising a cat?"
"The hockey team makes calendars every year for a charity event using photos with stray cats. While we were shooting, this one took a liking to me, so I just adopted it."
To think that someone who seemed so cold-hearted had adopted a stray cat.
Kora's guard lowered further at this unexpected side of him.
'Maybe he's not as mean as I thought?'
Even as she thought this, the vibrations continued relentlessly.
"It's even cuter in person."
"Typing..."
"Want to come see it?"
The moment she saw that message, she felt as if someone had splashed cold water on her face. 'Want to come see it?' This was such a typical booty call.
However, not wanting to be overly sensitive based on assumptions, Kora replied as calmly as possible.
"Show me later."
"You can come now if you want."
It is a booty call.
Kora's eyes narrowed as she read the text. She officially revoked the feeling of being touched that he adopted a stray cat.
Maybe he was just using the cat as a tool to lure women.
'Not even worth replying to.'
Kora was about to throw her phone onto the bed when she stopped.
Still, since they would be entangled because of the group project, she figured she should save his number.
After pressing the add contact button, Kora pondered what to save his name as, and instead of his name, she saved it as 'Hazard.'
It was a measure to remind herself how harmful a human being he was every time he contacted her.
Then, as if to wash away the unpleasantness, she grabbed her shower kit and headed to the communal showers.
Around the time she had drawn the curtain in the shower booth and was humming to herself while washing her hair with raspberry-scented shampoo...
The phone screen on her desk flickered incessantly with notifications.
Hazard
"Biscuit says he'll be waiting for the day he meets Kora."
"Photo"
What was sent was a seductive photo of the cat, 'Biscuit,' perched on his shoulder.
The next day.
At the sports pub, just before the main dinner rush began.
Kora, who was on the afternoon shift, diligently wiped away the remaining traces on the bar tables, counting down the minutes until 7 PM, her clock-out time.
Before switching with the evening shift, her hands were busy stacking pint glasses, still warm from the dishwasher, onto the shelves.
Her calves were stiff from standing and walking all day, but Kora squeezed out her last bit of energy at the thought of going home soon.
Tinkle.
As soon as the bell by the door rang, Kora put down the cup she was organizing and popped her head up like a meerkat.
Seeing this, Angela, who was nearby, asked.
"Are you waiting for someone?"
"Huh? Ah... yeah."
"Who? Luca?"
"No. Um... don't be shocked. Tristan Lockwood."
"Eeeh? The hockey captain? I thought you two didn't get along?"
"We somehow became group project partners. He said he'd come here today to talk about the assignment."
"Gasp, really? What kind of coincidence is that?"
"Tell me about it."
"Anyway, be careful. According to Jenkins, there are some intense girls around Tristan—Jersey Chasers or whatever they're called. They say they'll mess with anyone who even glances at Tristan."
At those words, Kora laughed as if she had heard an amusing story.
"I'm not really scared of that. Most of the students at our school are probably princesses who grew up pampered. At most, they'll just pick a fight. Besides, I already told the professor that I didn't want to be partners with him."
"Well... that's a relief then. Anyway, it's time for you to get off, so leave this to me and go."
"Is that okay? Thanks!"
After saying goodbye to the owner, Mr. Carlson, Kora went to the employee locker room and grabbed her bag.
As she stepped out of the shop with her coat over her uniform, she felt a cold breeze. Rubbing her arms with her palms, she checked her phone.
「Why aren't you here?」 7:06 PM
There was still no reply to the text she had sent a moment ago. Checking the clock on her phone, it was already past 7:12.
'He said he'd be here by 7... Typical. I should've known better than to trust him. Did he completely forget the appointment?'
Frustrated, she tried calling him, but only the disappointing ringing sound followed.
Eventually, Kora irritably typed a message.
「Are you kidding me?」 7:12 PM
After pressing the send button, she tightened her jacket and started walking toward the dormitory.
'I'll just do the assignment alone and leave Tristan's name off.'
But thinking about it again, discussion and interaction with a partner were essential for this assignment.
If Tristan didn't participate at all, it would be difficult for Kora to avoid a point deduction, no matter how perfect a report she wrote.
The young master who would head straight to the NHL pro stage wouldn't be affected if he failed, but Kora was in a situation where every single grade point mattered.
In the end, it seemed the thirsty one would have to dig the well.
Kora suddenly remembered hearing that the hockey players lived together in a 'Hockey House' near campus.
The Hockey House was a kind of private residence, and because the facilities were so luxurious, it stood out from anywhere, so Kora knew its location.
'I wonder if he's there at this hour?'
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