The first week back home was a whirlwind. It felt like I had barely finished unpacking before I was being whisked away for all sorts of things.
Mom: “Let’s get you some new outfits for college, Muffin. You’ve grown so much, I bet half your wardrobe doesn’t fit anymore!”
That first shopping trip with Mom was both exhausting and fun. She pulled me into every store, picking out everything from comfy sweaters to stylish dresses. I loved it, though. We laughed, tried on clothes, and spent way more time in the mall than we should have.
In the evenings, Dad would come home from work and we’d sit together for dinner. It was surreal being around them so much. It almost felt like I was living with strangers, but in the best way possible.
Dad: “How’s it feel being back in the big city, Muffin?”
Me: “It’s weird. Good weird, though.”
Jiho, of course, wouldn’t stop talking. From the second he got home from school to the minute he went to bed, he was bouncing around, dragging me into whatever chaos he was up to. He kept talking about introducing me to his friends, wanting me to be involved in everything.
Jiho: “Wait till you meet them, YN! They’re so cool—you’re gonna love them!”
We spent afternoons playing video games together or watching movies as a family. It felt nice, like everything had fallen into place. I called my grandparents every day to check in on them, telling them how much I missed Busan and how everything here was so different.
Grandma: “You sound happy, sweetheart. That’s all we wanted for you.”
I’d laugh and tell them about the weird things Jiho had done, or how Mom and I had spent hours talking over tea.
By the end of the week, I started feeling like this was home again. The butterflies in my stomach about starting college were still there, but they weren’t as overwhelming as they had been. Between shopping, dinners, and family time, the days flew by.
But then came the day. The day I’d been waiting for. My first day of college.
I lay on my bed that night, diary open, scribbling down my thoughts. I always found writing helped me deal with my nerves.
Today was going to be huge. Everything was going to change. I couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like stepping into that new world—what kind of people I’d meet, what kind of friendships I’d make. Would everything go smoothly? Or would I make a fool of myself on the very first day?
Diary Entry: Tommorow is the day. My big day. I don’t know whether to feel excited or nervous, maybe a bit of both. There’s so much I don’t know—about the people, the classes, the whole college vibe. But here’s the thing: I’m ready for it. I’ve been waiting for this, and now that it’s finally here, I just have to trust that everything will fall into place. I can do this.
With that, I closed my diary and took a deep breath. Tomorrow would be the start of everything. The start of something new. -----‐---------------------💜💜💜--------------------------
The next morning, I felt someone shaking me, pulling me out of my dream.
Jiho: "Noona, wake up! It's your big day!"
I groaned, burying my face deeper into my pillow.
Me: "Five more minutes..."
Jiho: "You said that ten minutes ago!"
Jiho’s voice was way too chipper for this hour. "You don’t wanna be late for your first day of college, do you?"
My eyes shot open at that, and I sat up in a panic.
Me: "What time is it?!"
Jiho: "Relax, it's only 7. But if you don't get up now, you'll miss breakfast."
I rubbed my eyes, still feeling groggy. I had stayed up way too late last night, overthinking every possible scenario that could happen on my first day. My heart pounded just thinking about it again.
Me: "Alright, alright, I’m up," I muttered, pushing myself out of bed.
Jiho smirked, clearly satisfied with his wake-up mission.
Jiho: "You’re gonna rock it today, noona." He gave me a thumbs-up before running off to his room.
I chuckled. As much as he loved annoying me, Jiho always had a way of cheering me up when I needed it. I slowly got out of bed and headed to the bathroom, taking a deep breath.
Me (mumbling to myself): "Okay, YN, you’ve got this."
As I brushed my teeth, I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. My nerves were starting to kick in full force now. First days were always tricky—new people, new surroundings, and in this case, new beginnings.
I quickly finished up and went back to my room, deciding to go with something comfortable but cute. I settled on a casual pink top and jeans, throwing on a light jacket.
By the time I made it downstairs, Mom was already at the dining table, setting out plates with an array of food.
Mom: "Good morning, Muffin! Ready for your big day?"
Me: "As ready as I’ll ever be."
Dad peeked from behind his newspaper, a grin on his face.
Dad: "You’re gonna knock ‘em dead, Muffin."
Me: "Thanks, Dad," I smiled, taking a seat at the table.
Jiho was already there, scarfing down his food like usual.
Jiho: "You nervous?" he asked, his mouth half-full.
Me: "A little," I admitted. "It’s a new school, new people. I don’t really know what to expect."
Mom: "You’ll be fine. Just be yourself, and everything will fall into place."
Dad: "And don’t forget to enjoy it. College is one of the best times of your life."
I smiled, trying to take in all their advice while I munched on my breakfast. Despite the butterflies in my stomach, there was a part of me that was excited.
Once breakfast was over, I grabbed my backpack and headed toward the door.
Mom: "Don’t forget to call us if you need anything!"
Dad: "And let us know how it goes!"
Jiho: "Don’t trip on your way in," he teased, grinning mischievously.
Me: "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Jiho."
I waved to them as I walked out the door, heart pounding in my chest. This was it—the first day of the rest of my life. And as nervous as I was, I couldn’t wait to see what was waiting for me on the other side.
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