Anyone would feel alienated in a new environment and she was no exception. This big city had a distinctive atmosphere which Jennie was completely unfamiliar with.
The moment she entered her first undergraduate year, she knew that even as others took it easy and enjoyed their university years, she had to work doubly hard to catch up to their humanities basics.
She didn't have close friends in class or in the hostel but maintained good relations with most. She didn't think she was very much different from the quiet girl back in senior high but now, she was at least happy. All the low self-esteem and dark days of senior high school had ended with the goodbye that fateful night.
In universities she had her own admirers.There is a saying that the girl who's not aware of her own beauty is the most alluring and this was the category that Jennie belonged to.
When she visited Jiyeon campus once, the latter's classmates tried to dig out more details about her. But seeing that the person in demand had no inkling of her beauty, Jiyeon didn't bring it to her attention either.
At this juncture, it would be completely remiss not to mention Jiyeon. It was quite odd really. After they received their university Jiyeon had even been accepted into the exclusive medical course and was a source of pride back in senior high as well.
Jennie was on the train on her way back to her hometown when she spoke of Jung Jaewon for the first time to Jiyeon.
Jung Jaewon was Jennie's faculty senior in his third year.
Before she knew him personally, she had already heard of his name during the many gossiping sessions back in the hostel.
On the other hand, Jaewon was student body President and was well liked by the teaching staff and thus appeared there often. Because of their constant meetings, they eventually became friends.
In the beginning, She didn't think much of Jung Jaewon. However, after becoming friends, she started to realise that a person couldn't be this popular without reason. She had never seen a person, who had long bid his adolescence goodbye, with such clear eyes.
If she had to describe him in a words, it would be godly handsome or perfect from head to toe.
Jung Jaewon was a gentleman and had the ability of making the people around him feel at ease.
Jennie did not know when she started taking special notice of him. Perhaps it was that one summer afternoon when she lifted her head from the messy pile of documents she was in and saw his peaceful side profile.
She couldn't help but think to herself today is great and life was good. Then, he must have sensed her gaze as he turned and smiled at her. Jennie blushed.
"So, can I take it that you like him?" Jiyeon had asked.
Jennie pondered this for a long while before saying "I'm not sure myself. I only know it's comfortable being around him and that I can envision us growing old together."
"Growing old together? Then what about Taehyung ? What was it like when you were with him?" Jiyeon teased.
Jennie was taken aback before replying "hell."
The moment the word was uttered, both girls burst into laughter.
During the summer vacation, her high school classmates organized a gathering. Somehow a resourceful person managed to contact Jennie and insisted that she attend. Jennie had no intention of going but then thought
"What am I afraid of? If I really want to break out of my shell, I have to start somewhere."
Out of courtesy, Jennie had fully intended to greet him. After all, she couldn't have attained her highest ever Mathematic score in the national examinations without his help.
When their eyes met, Jennie smiled and nodded at him but he looked away. They didn't look in each other's direction again.
His hair was shorter now which made his features more striking. His lips were pursed at the corners and he had more fine lines than before.
Even at his university this boy must surely still be the centre of attention, Jennie thought to herself. But maybe all he really needed was the undivided attention of one individual Haeun was seated close to him and was barbequing food for him continuously.
They looked really close. But this was to be expected, the two of them were childhood friends and now were studying in the same city one was handsome, the other was pretty, them being a couple was expected.
Jennie prepared to barbeque some food for herself when a flawless pair of hands offered up a plate piled high with meat.
She looked up to see Jeon Jungkook grinning widely. While she didn't feel any sense of goodwill towards him, she uttered her thanks.
"I love serving pretty girls." He said candidly as he sat beside her.
She chuckled. "Mister Jeon, you're too direct.
Jungkook laughed with her.
"That's the spirit! So you can joke as well. Funny, I never noticed your beautiful eyes before."
Jennie half teased and was half serious as she said "It's not the only time you've missed the beautiful things around you."
"Is that so?" Jungkook arched his eyebrows slightly before teasing
"Well, why don't you give me a chance then?"
Jennie was just about to respond when she heard a stiff chortle coming from nearby. She looked over and saw Taehyung staring at Jungkook
"Such chances will only land you in trouble with Yu Hua."
Jungkook scrunched up his nose in annoyance "Now that we're here having fun, can we not mention that fierce woman?"
So he had a girlfriend. Jennie thought of Jiyeon and felt bitter. For the past year,Jiyeon may have appeared to have put him behind her but she knew that first loves would invariably leave a scar.
Following that, Jungkook cracked a few jokes but on seeing that Jennie was not in the mood, he left. Taehyung on the other hand, was in surprisingly high spirits and was joking openly with Haeun.
Even till the moment Jennie took an early leave, he never looked at her again.Jennie struggled over the dilemma of informing Jiyeon.
Finally, one night in the dormitory, she dialled the familiar number. After mentioning a few casual events, she blurted out "I hear he's with someone.
There was no proper opening to what she said, neither did she furnish other details but the person on the other end had no need for clarification.
Jiyeon was silent before saying calmly "That's perfectly normal. I have the right to like someone, so does he."
But why must the person you like be him?" That boy with a frivolous attitude, how could he have attracted someone as innocent as Jiyeon?
Jiyeon said "Sometimes rationale tells us what the right thing is but the heart remains resolute on its course."
