Just teenagers | Chensung

Chapter 1

Jisung is a transfer student from the United States. He enrolled in Seoul National University (SNU) as soon as his parents divorced and his mom moved back to Korea.

As far as Jisung is concerned, it's going to be easy. He's not worried about studying in an unknown country as he had picked up some Korean from his mom from a young age and he knows a bit about their culture. He had also visited Korea before although that was when he was eight.

Jisung's POV

"Life is still going on, that's what matters". This is what I have been telling myself for years. Hopefully, it'll always be just that.

When I moved to Korea, mom told me that things would be better for us. She would stop drinking and start working again. To be honest, I still can't quite figure out what she does for a living, something about checking the books in corporates and businesses.

I have never given much thought into what I was gonna do in the future but that sounds cool. Maybe I'll check out what it is about. I am a business administration (BA) student anyways. Unless it has nothing to do with BA. Oh well...

It's my first day at university today and my only goal is to not make a fool out of myself. That would be pretty easy considering that nobody's really gonna be paying attention to me, right..?

As soon as he heard his mother's car engine roaring, Jisung snapped out of his daydream and got in the car before his mother drove away to SNU.

Although Jisung would not admit it, he is kinda nervous about making friends. Not because he is shy, quite the contrary actually. But because he had a glimpse of how Korean usually spoke and dressed like and he is far from that. It might take a while before he can fit in with them.

Once he reached the front gate, he got out of the car, bit his mother farewell and started walking to his first lecture.

Now the classes and lecture halls are not as easy to navigate, much less for Jisung who has little to no sense of direction, literally and figuratively.

The map says that room A3.7 is around the corner of the building but there's no lecture halls here. Maybe its on that side...

Ouch!

Jisung saw a blonde guy in a neat suit bowing repeatedly.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going"

Jisung chuckled and bowed timidly.

"No, no, it's my fault. I was trying to read this map but I don't quite understand it"

"Oh, are you new here? Where are you headed?"

"It says here that my first lecture is at room A3.7. Do you know where that is?"

"Room A3.7? I'm having business studies there too. Let's walk together"

"Alright, I'm Jisung, by the way"

"I'm Chenle. Where are you from?"

"The United States"

Chenle was visibly shocked.

"Wow, really? I've never really met anyone from America. Why did you choose SNU?"

"I just moved here a while ago and applied for SNU. Surprisingly, I got in. That's it"

"In that case, welcome to Korea. I hope you enjoy your stay here"

Jisung smiled widely and said

"Thank you, Chenle. You seem nice"

Chenle giggled lightly.

"We're here"

Just when Chenle was about to walk away, Jisung stopped him.

"Umm Chenle"

"Yea..?"

"Do you mind if I sit with you? I don't really know anyone here"

"Sure"

"Thanks"

With that, Jisung took a seat beside Chenle at the front most seats.

This is new. Front seat. Like the star student that I am. Or not. Whatever. Chenle seems nice. I don't wanna offend him by changing seats now. I wonder why he isn't seating with anyone.

Who's that guy?

Jisung thought referring to a guy seating at the corner of the lecture hall. He was dressed in all black with a hoodie over his head. Slightly showing the airpods that he was wearing.

He seems like one of those emo kids, except he's a emo kid with good fashion sense.

Ooh he's more of a cheerful guy.

Jisung was looking at the direction of a guy happily chatting away with his group of friends. They started cheering and patting the shoulder of one of their friends and laughing loudly after that.

Okay... maybe a little too cheerful.

That was when a tall man in his 20s entered the hall hastily with his papers in one hand and a cup of coffee in another.

"Hello, everyone. Sorry for being late. God knows why the line at Starbucks was so long. Anyways, I'm Professor Kim, Kim Doyoung and I'll be teaching you everything you need to know about Business Studies this semester"

"Before I begin, anyone wanna tell me why you took this subject?"

The hall fell silent.

A short guy in glasses raised his hand and answered "Because I believe in entrepreneurship as the future of our generation and I want to be the face of that".

"Hmm maybe"

"Because I wanna be rich", a petite lady with long black hair stood up and answered.

"Okay, that's an honest answer. Anyone else?"

Some yelled, "Because business seems fun".

"That's the first time I'm hearing that but I'm happy you think it's going to be fun. Now, there's no right answer but isn't it because it is a requirement to get your degree?"

The hall was filled with laughter.

"Enough fooling around. Let's dive into it now"

The lesson began and Jisung has never felt time move slower.

Urghh it's my first lecture and I'm already bored. Come on, Jisung. We promised to do better.

Jisung turned around to face a focused, Chenle.

How does Chenle focus? I guess he's one of those smart guys with a foolproof attention span.

After what seemed like eternity for Jisung, the lecture ended and everyone left the lecture hall. Jisung and Chenle were walking out of the place in no particular direction. Chenle stopped in front of a booth where they were handing out flyers.

"What is this?" Jisung asked, curious.

"It's a start-up competition where you'll have to work together with a few other people to form your own start-up company and compete for the best idea. The winner gets to represent the university in the national level"

"Sounds fun"

Chenle's eyes glowed.

"It is. I participated last year but we barely made it to the qualifying rounds. I'm thinking about signing up again this year."

"Do you wanna sign up too?"