In Your Perspective || Jo In-Sung x Han Hyo-Joo

I

Han Hyo-Joo had been eagerly anticipating her first day of college as a freshman majoring in Civil Engineering. However, as she entered the university halls, a wave of anxiety washed over her. The sea of unfamiliar faces seemed overwhelming, and she couldn't help but feel a knot of nervousness in her stomach.

Hyo-Joo's POV

I settled into my seat, feeling a wave of nervous energy wash over me as I looked around the unfamiliar classroom. There was a girl sitting beside me who appeared to be in the same boat, her eyes darting anxiously across the room. I decided to take the initiative and ease the tension a bit.

I turned towards her and offered a small, reassuring smile. "Hi," I said, bowing slightly in a polite greeting. She returned the smile and nodded in acknowledgment.

My heart raced more as the Calculus professor entered the room. I couldn't help but wonder if fate had a cruel sense of humor, making Calculus the subject of my very first college class. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, but my palms were still clammy as I clutched my notebook.

As the professor called out each student's name, my heart pounded with anticipation. "Han Hyo-Joo," I uttered when my turn came, my voice trembling slightly. Beside me, her name is Han Ji-Min also responded with a clear "present."

The professor raised an intrigued eyebrow, no doubt noticing the shared surname. "What's your relationship, if you don't mind me asking?" she inquired.

Ji-Min and I exchanged uncertain glances before Ji-Min spoke up. "It's our first time meeting," she replied, her voice calm but tinged with curiosity, mirroring the professor's own interest.

With that settled, the class began, and I tried to focus on the lecture, pushing my initial nervousness aside. But then, just as the professor delved into the subject, the classroom door opened, and in walked some new students.

To my shock, among them was my former high-school classmate, Lee Seung-Gi. He was late on the very first day of class, and his entrance was hard to miss. He quickly scanned the room for a seat, and to my surprise and delight, he chose the empty one right beside me.

"Seung-Gi!" I couldn't help but exclaim in a half-whisper, a mix of surprise and excitement washing over me.

He turned to me, a sheepish grin on his face. "Hyo-Joo, what are the odds?" he whispered back, and we both shared a knowing smile as the professor continued with the lecture.

In that moment, as I sat between Ji-Min and my old high-school friend, the anxiety of my first day of college began to melt away, replaced by a newfound sense of camaraderie and connection with the people around me.

After the Calculus class finally came to an end, I gathered my things along with Seung-Gi, and we made our way towards the cafeteria, our stomachs growling in unison. But before we could reach the doors, Ji-Min caught up with us, her face still bearing traces of nervousness from earlier.

She introduced herself with a warm smile, bridging the gap that had formed during the lecture. "I'm Han Ji-Min," she said, her voice more relaxed now. "I'm from Heukseok-dong."

I returned her smile and replied, "Nice to officially meet you, Ji-Min. I'm Hyo-Joo, and I'm from Cheongju-si."

Seung-Gi, ever the friendly one, joined in, "And I'm Seung-Gi, from Seoul."