When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

(S02) Chapter 30

“I was going to do well even without your approval, but thanks,” I shot back.

Kyung Min laughed. “She’s still the same.”

Sun Woo leaned forward. “Okay, but does anyone remember that one time during finals when Joon Ho thought he failed and started planning his escape to another country?”

Joon Ho groaned, burying his face in his hands. “We don’t need to relive that.”

Min Ah grinned. “Oh, but we do. You were looking up ticket prices to Canada in the middle of the exam.”

Yeo Jin smirked. “You even tried to convince me to come with you.”

“I was panicking!” Joon Ho wailed.

The table erupted into laughter, and I found myself genuinely enjoying the moment. It was strange—these were people I had barely interacted with back in university, but sitting here, reminiscing, it felt easy.

Comfortable.

For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t just Dr. Ye Na or the quiet, studious girl from the past. I was just… me.

And it felt nice.

The table was still shaking with laughter as Sun Woo finished his ridiculous story about the time he accidentally sent a love confession to his professor instead of his girlfriend.

“Your professor must’ve been so flattered,” Min Ah teased, wiping tears from her eyes.

Sun Woo groaned. “I still have nightmares about it.”

As the laughter began to settle, I felt the chair beside me move. Someone had just taken the empty seat next to mine.

I turned my head, ready to see who had joined us, and—

“Oh.”

Tae Sung.

Looking completely at ease, one arm draped casually over the back of his chair, his lips curled into a small, amused smile.

I blinked.

“Oh, I totally forgot you were coming.”

His smile deepened. “And why is that?”

I hesitated. “I… don’t know.”

Seok Kyung nearly choked on her drink. “What?”

Ha Ya raised an eyebrow. “That’s so rude.”

Tae Sung, ever unbothered, simply chuckled. “No worries. I’m used to being forgotten.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “I didn’t say I forgot you. I just forgot you were coming here.”

Seok Kyung grinned wickedly. “Oh, speaking of forgetting things—” she turned to the rest of the table, eyes glinting mischievously—“guess what? When we were at the mall some days ago, Ye Na here didn’t even remember Tae Sung!”

The table went silent.

Then:

“Are you serious?” Min Ah gasped.

Joon Ho gaped at me. “You don’t remember Tae Sung?”

Kyung Min leaned forward, eyes wide. “The Tae Sung?”

Yeo Jin let out a slow whistle. “Damn. That’s cold.”

I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. “Okay, enough.”

Sun Woo smirked. “Wait, wait—so, you’re telling me Ye Na, the girl who remembers every page of a medical textbook, forgot a whole human being?”

Ha Ya nodded, grinning. “Crazy, right?”