ladyjlb's manga / #College(69)

Read ch 31 as of 26/05/20 (*ch 32 all scrambled)

(FL cries way too much. Very Kdrama like) - 25yo FL Seo Namwoo’s name means “rain falling on a camphor tree”. Her mother is a famous actress Shin Hyunhee, who is secretly abused by her husband. He is the CEO of TM Design. - A famous campus couple, FL dated Chae Shinjoon (4yrs older) since high school and they were even engaged, but broke up when he graduated and went abroad to study. She took a semester off and will graduate in a year. - FL was diagnosed w/ an incurable disease that affects her immune system (ITP). It can cause excessive bleeding and even internal bleeding in worst cases. She gets her blood count checked regularly. - FL found out about her disease when Shinjoon’s mother forced her to have a prenatal exam to check her fertility. With her ill health, weak body and broken family, FL was called selfish for wanting to be with Shinjoon. That’s when FL suggested they break up and Shinjoon just apologised instead of fighting for their love. - 35yo ML Seo Yihyun is a strict, handsome English Literature Professor. He has a British accent and a black cat called Inky. - His father is a famous author, Seo Taeil. FL is a fan of his. - His sister is a cellist and his older brother is a poet. - Out of his siblings, he’s the only one still unmarried. - He has a niece who is 1 yr older than FL. - ML’s bday is on Valentine’s Day. He wears a rosary ring. - His baptismal name is Valentino. - FL drops off at his place a boxed set of black tea as a bday gift. - Dept retreat: ML ends up driving FL there. - 23yo Yoo Youngwon has had a crush on FL for 4 yrs. He confesses to her while drunk and moving away she cuts her hand on a rock. While helping apply 1st aid to her hand, FL becomes conscious ML may have feelings for her. Back at college, she avoids him for days. She even hospitalised herself to not see him. - ML finds out which hospital and visits her. There he confesses his feelings and tries to calm her fears and doubts. He promises he will never hurt her. The next day, FL visits his office and returns his confession. (ch 24-25) - In his regular newspaper column, ML published a poem about a tree and dedicated it to FL. - Youngwon apologises to FL but says he will keep liking her despite her rejection. ML advises FL to be careful not to be alone with Youngwon. - FL and ML go on their 1st date. FL has bought a new dress and new shoes which give her feet blisters. They go to ML’s place and he treats her feet. He goes to buy new shoes and returns to find her asleep. He drops her off and she pecks him on the cheek. - He kisses her forehead at the end of the next date. - The next day they finally have their 1st proper kiss. - College anniversary event: ML had asked his father to speak as the special guest. FL is surprised to find out about his father as she’d received an autograph before via ML. His mother recognises FL’s name when they greet eachother. - FL feels miserable and alone after seeing how warm and close ML’s family is. She thinks ML is out of her league and she doesn’t deserve him. Her father is cheating with yet another actress and she doesn’t want to enter her home. - ML finds her outside and takes her away in his car. He lets her cry as much as she wants. He cares about her for who she is, regardless of her family and her circumstances. He asks her to see him in the same way. He says I love you to FL for the 1st time. - FL visits ML when he’s sick and looks after him. - They sleep together for the 1st time. - ML casually mentions that they will get married. - It’s just 1 semester left until FL graduates. - End of semester party: Shinjoon turns up and ML tries to call FL to let her know. Youngwon gets into an argument then a fist fight with Shinjoon outside. They stop when FL arrives. ML takes Youngwon aside and lectures him about his selfish love, while feeling like a hypocrite. ML feels anxious as he will be away for half a month in the US for a conference. - FL comes to see ML to talk about Shinjoon but ends up unable to say anything. While she’s asleep, ML sees a text from Shinjoon asking to meet up. In a fit of jealousy he deletes it then immediately regrets it. He returns from the US early and can’t reach FL on her phone so he drives to her house and sees Shinjoon hanging around outside. He whisks FL away to his father’s studio and FL reveals who her parents are and the circumstances around her breakup with Shinjoon. She is relieved to see ML can get jealous, making him more human and less perfect. - Shinjoon sees ML outside his office and gives him a knowing look, but he is going back to his studies overseas. - He arranges a final meetup with FL and offers to be there for her if her current relationship fails. FL has the final word and says she doesn’t want anyone as insurance, especially not an already broken relationship. They both say their final goodbyes this time. - ML sees his family and is bombarded w/ questions about FL. - He let it slip to his sister in the US that he wants to marry the woman he’s seeing. His mother guesses correctly when she asks ML in private if it’s FL. - ML invites FL to attend a cello concert by his sister. She’s introduced as his girlfriend to his parents, sisters and niece for the 1st time. The couple are invited to ML’s parents house for formal introductions. ML’s mother says some harsh truths to FL and can’t approve of their relationship. - FL is at home and her parents are fighting, this time over a younger actress demanding FL’s mother get a divorce. FL doesn’t want to be with either parent or stay in that house. She just wants to be happy. ML come to pick up FL and is upset she didn’t discuss with him what his mother told her. FL is scared of being thrown away again, this time by her parents and can’t bring herself to talk about it.

3.5 stars