Three months changed people.
Not all at once.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
The nervous freshmen who had arrived on campus clutching maps and schedules now moved through the university with confidence. Hallways that once felt unfamiliar had become routine. Students knew which professors were strict, which cafés had the best coffee, and which benches received sunlight during winter mornings.
The university had settled into its rhythm.
Friendships had formed.
Rivalries had quietly taken root.
And despite sharing the same campus for three months, Choi Do-hyun and Hwang Yerin remained complete strangers.
The irony would've been amusing if either of them cared.
Unfortunately, neither did.
At least not yet.
The morning air carried the familiar noise of student life as Yerin crossed the courtyard. Conversations drifted around her from every direction. A group of engineering students argued over an assignment. Two athletes raced each other toward class. Someone was loudly regretting staying awake until three in the morning.
Normal.
Predictable.
University.
Behind her, Emily struggled to keep up.
"Yerin!"
No response.
"Yerin!"
Still nothing.
"Yerin, I swear if you don't slow down, I'm reporting you for attempted murder."
That finally earned a glance.
"You'll survive."
Emily placed a dramatic hand over her chest.
"Your confidence in my physical abilities is concerning."
"You complain every day."
"Because every day you ignore my suffering."
"You exaggerate."
"I absolutely do not."
Yerin continued walking.
Emily continued talking.
Their friendship worked surprisingly well despite being built almost entirely on this exact dynamic.
By the time they reached the classroom, most students already looked exhausted.
First-period classes had a unique ability to destroy enthusiasm.
Several students rested their heads on desks.
Others stared blankly at their notebooks.
One student looked as though his soul had quietly left his body sometime during the morning commute.
Then the classroom door opened.
And instantly, the atmosphere changed.
Ms. Han Soo-jin entered carrying a stack of papers.
Unfortunately, she looked far too happy.
Students noticed immediately.
That expression never meant good news.
"Good morning, my favorite future physicists!"
A chorus of groans greeted her.
Ms. Han placed a hand over her heart.
"That hurts."
"Professor," a student muttered, "it's eight in the morning."
"Exactly. A beautiful time to learn."
Several students looked personally offended.
Emily leaned toward Yerin.
"She's not human."
Yerin nodded slightly.
"Probably not."
Ms. Han smiled brightly.
"Oh, I heard that."
The room laughed.
Even students who wanted to remain miserable found it difficult around her.
She placed her papers on the desk.
Then folded her arms.
Immediately, the class grew suspicious.
Whenever professors smiled that much, disaster usually followed.
"I have an announcement."
The room collectively sighed.
There it was.
The disaster.
"The university's annual Physics Competition is next month."
Silence.
Then came the complaints.
"Already?"
"Why?"
"I just got my grades back."
Ms. Han ignored every single one.
"As always, participation is mandatory."
The complaints doubled.
She continued reading as if nobody had spoken.
"And this year, you'll be competing in assigned groups."
Now everyone sat up.
Group projects were dangerous.
Success depended entirely on who ended up with whom.
The classroom suddenly became very interested.
Ms. Han picked up the list.
Names began filling the room.
Some groups celebrated.
Others looked ready to transfer universities.
The tension grew with every announcement.
Finally, Ms. Han reached the next group.
A small smile appeared on her face.
The kind teachers wore when they knew something students didn't.
"Group Three."
Several heads lifted.
"Choi Do-hyun."
Min-jae immediately looked interested.
"Kang Min-jae."
His grin widened.
"Hwang Yerin."
Emily slowly lowered her pen.
"Emily Carter."
"Oh no," Emily whispered.
"And Seo Jina."
The room froze.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
Emily turned toward Yerin.
Yerin turned toward Emily.
The silence between them lasted two seconds.
Then Emily sighed.
"Of course."
Yerin leaned back in her chair.
"This feels deliberate."
"I think she hates us."
"I think she's entertained."
Across the room, Seo Jina appeared surprisingly calm.
She applied lip balm as though nothing unusual had happened.
Although the brief glance she sent toward Do-hyun suggested otherwise.
Meanwhile, Min-jae looked delighted.
Which honestly made him suspicious.
"Guys," he whispered, "this is perfect."
Emily stared.
"In what universe?"
"Think about it."
"We'd rather not."
"We have different strengths."
"We also have different chances of surviving this."
Min-jae ignored her.
As usual.
Do-hyun remained silent throughout the entire discussion.
His expression didn't change.
Not when his group was announced.
Not when students began whispering.
Not even when Seo Jina openly glanced in his direction.
He simply adjusted the strap of his bag.
As though none of it mattered.
Unfortunately, group projects had a way of forcing people together whether they liked it or not.
And this one had only just begun.
The bell rang.
Instant freedom.
Students poured into the courtyard like prisoners escaping confinement.
The campus instantly became louder.
Livelier.
Messier.
Yerin walked beside Emily toward the sports field.
"We should probably find the others."
Emily groaned.
"That sentence ruined my mood."
"It needed ruining."
"Fair."
Finding Min-jae wasn't difficult.
He stood near the edge of the field looking like he had consumed an unhealthy amount of caffeine.
Beside him stood Do-hyun.
Hands in pockets.
Black hoodie.
Expression permanently set to 'leave me alone.'
"Group meeting!" Emily called.
Min-jae immediately waved.
Finally.
People willing to cooperate.
Or so he thought.
"Okay," he began enthusiastically, "I was thinking we should meet tonight and start planning—"
"No."
The response came instantly.
Two voices.
Perfectly synchronized.
Everyone froze.
Yerin blinked.
Do-hyun blinked.
Min-jae stared.
Several nearby students looked over.
For the first time ever, Do-hyun and Yerin had agreed on something.
Neither seemed happy about it.
"I can't tonight," Yerin said.
"Neither can I," Do-hyun added.
The timing was suspicious.
Emily looked between them.
Interesting.
Min-jae looked personally betrayed.
"You both said that way too fast."
"Family event."
"Business obligation."
The excuses arrived almost simultaneously.
Again.
Emily bit her lip.
Yerin looked away.
Do-hyun adjusted his sleeve.
Min-jae narrowed his eyes.
Very suspicious.
"Tomorrow then."
Relief immediately appeared on both faces.
Tiny.
Brief.
But there.
"Fine."
Again.
At the same time.
Emily almost laughed.
Min-jae definitely noticed.
Neither commented.
For now.
Then came the next problem.
Seo Jina.
She stood several meters away, checking her reflection in her phone while pretending she wasn't watching them.
Everyone looked at her.
Then looked away.
Then looked back.
"Who's telling her?" Emily asked.
"No."
"Not me."
"Absolutely not."
The answers arrived immediately.
Min-jae sighed.
Deeply.
Painfully.
"Why am I always the one suffering?"
Nobody answered.
Because everyone knew the answer.
He was the only one willing to do it.
That evening, the university's annual business networking event transformed the grand convention hall into something entirely different.
Elegant chandeliers illuminated polished marble floors.
Expensive suits.
Designer gowns.
Powerful names.
Powerful families.
The atmosphere felt less like a university gathering and more like a gathering of people who quietly controlled things.
Do-hyun hated it.
Unfortunately, attendance wasn't optional.
He entered the hall wearing a perfectly tailored black suit.
Simple.
Sharp.
Expensive without advertising itself.
Exactly the way he preferred.
People greeted him.
He greeted them back.
Every handshake identical.
Every conversation brief.
Every smile professional.
Nothing genuine.
Across the room, another arrival immediately shifted attention.
Whispers spread.
Heads turned.
Conversations paused.
Yerin entered beside her older brother, Ji-Hoon.
The effect was immediate.
Not because they demanded attention.
Because they naturally commanded it.
Yerin wore an elegant ivory gown that balanced sophistication and simplicity effortlessly.
Nothing about it was excessive.
Nothing needed to be.
Confidence handled the rest.
Beside her, Ji-Hoon's presence felt colder.
Sharper.
Like someone accustomed to authority.
Like someone who rarely heard the word no.
Together, they moved through the hall as though they belonged there.
Because they did.
The whispers followed.
"Who are they?"
"That's Ji-Hoon."
"No wonder."
"They're here?"
Across the room, Do-hyun noticed them immediately.
For the first time all evening, his attention lingered.
Not on the dress.
Not on the attention they received.
On the way the room reacted.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
His gaze followed them briefly.
Then stopped.
Because something suddenly felt familiar.
Not the man.
The girl.
He had seen her before.
Somewhere.
Campus.
Physics class.
The competition group.
Hwang Yerin.
The realization arrived quietly.
Yet somehow it refused to leave.
At that exact moment, Yerin looked up.
Their eyes met.
Only for a second.
One brief second.
Then someone stepped between them.
The moment disappeared.
Gone as quickly as it came.
Yet neither immediately looked away from where the other had been.
And for the first time in three months—
the distance between two strangers felt noticeably smaller.
Neither knew why.
Neither planned to think about it.
Unfortunately for both of them...
fate had already started paying attention.
…To Be Continued...