The fluorescent lights of the campus cafeteria buzzed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the scene before me. Jihyo, my best friend and resident queen of sarcasm, was meticulously dissecting a plate of chicken nuggets, her brow furrowed in concentration.
"So," I began, my voice a hushed whisper, "I need your advice."
Jihyo paused, her fork hovering mid-air. "Oh, dear," she drawled, her eyes widening with mock concern. "Is this about the existential crisis you're having over the fact that your favorite brand of ramen is out of stock?"
I rolled my eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "No, it's about Professor Chou."
Jihyo's eyes widened even further, her fork clattering onto the plate. "Professor Chou? The one who makes you look like a lovesick puppy every time she walks into the lecture hall?"
"It's not like that," I protested, my cheeks flushing a bright red. "I just...I think I have a crush on her."
Jihyo's laughter erupted, a cascade of giggles that echoed through the cafeteria. "A crush? On Professor Chou? Sana, you're delusional!"
"It's not delusional," I insisted, my voice rising in defense. "She's brilliant, beautiful, and—"
"And impossible to get," Jihyo finished, her laughter subsiding into a mischievous grin. "Sana, you're a college student. She's a professor. It's like trying to date a unicorn – it's just not going to happen."
"But I want it to happen," I said, my voice a desperate plea. "I don't know what to do, Jihyo. I'm trying to get closer to her, but she's so guarded."
Jihyo leaned back in her chair, her expression turning serious for a moment. "Okay, okay, maybe I'm being too harsh. But seriously, Sana, you need to think about this rationally. You're a student, she's your professor. It's a recipe for disaster."
"But I can't help it," I said, my voice filled with frustration. "I'm drawn to her. I want to know her better."
Jihyo sighed, her gaze softening. "Okay, okay, I hear you. But if you're going to pursue this, you need to be careful. You can't let your feelings cloud your judgment. And for heaven's sake, don't get caught staring at her during class. It's creepy."
"I know, I know," I said, my voice dropping to a whisper. "But what can I do? How can I get closer to her without crossing any lines?"
Jihyo's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Well, I'm no love guru, but I have a few ideas."
She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "First, you need to find out her favorite brand of coffee. Then, you can 'accidentally' leave a bag of it on her desk, with a little note saying 'For the best professor in the world.' Or you could try to get her to go on a 'study date' to the library. You know, to 'collaborate' on your assignment."
I stared at her, my mouth agape. "Jihyo, those are terrible ideas!"
"Oh, come on," she said, her laughter erupting once again. "It's all in good fun. Just be yourself, Sana. And if Professor Chou doesn't fall for you, at least you'll have a good story to tell."
I shook my head, but even as I scolded her for her ridiculous advice, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Jihyo's crazy ideas weren't so bad after all. Maybe, just maybe, I could find a way to make Professor Chou laugh, to show her that I was more than just a lovesick student.
After all, what was life without a little risk? And who knows, maybe a little bit of chaos was just what I needed to break down her walls.
.
.
.
The next few days were a whirlwind of caffeine, awkward encounters, and a healthy dose of self-doubt. I had decided to take Jihyo's advice, albeit with a healthy dose of skepticism.
After all, what could possibly go wrong?
My first move was to discreetly investigate Professor Chou's coffee preferences. Thankfully, she had a habit of bringing a travel mug to class, and I managed to catch a glimpse of the label: "Dark Roast, Extra Strong."
Armed with this crucial information, I ventured into the campus coffee shop, my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. I bought a bag of the darkest, strongest roast they had, along with a small card. On the card, I scrawled a message in my best handwriting: "For the best professor in the world. Hope you enjoy this!"
The next morning, I arrived early for class, my heart hammering in my chest. I carefully placed the bag of coffee on Professor Chou's desk, my fingers trembling slightly. Then, I retreated to my usual seat, trying to appear nonchalant.
Professor Chou arrived a few minutes later, her face a mask of composure as she surveyed the classroom. She picked up the bag of coffee, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"Ms. Minatozaki," she said, her voice a calm, steady melody that sent a shiver down my spine. "Did you leave this here?"
I gulped, my cheeks flushing a bright red. "Um...yes, Professor Chou. I thought you might like it."
She looked at the bag of coffee, then back at me, her expression unreadable. "Thank you, Ms. Minatozaki. I appreciate the thought."
She placed the bag on her desk, her gaze never leaving mine. Then, she turned to face the class, her voice regaining its professional tone. "Good morning, everyone. Let's begin today's lecture."
My heart sank. It seemed like my grand gesture had gone completely unnoticed. Professor Chou was as unfazed as a rock in a storm.
Determined to make a bigger impression, I decided to try Jihyo's second suggestion: the "study date" at the library. I waited until after class, then approached Professor Chou, my voice trembling slightly.
"Professor Chou," I said, trying to appear casual. "I was wondering if you might be free for a study session at the library this afternoon. I'm having a bit of trouble with the assignment, and I thought maybe we could work on it together."
Professor Chou's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Ms. Minatozaki, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I'm afraid I have a meeting this afternoon. Perhaps we could discuss the assignment during office hours?"
My heart plummeted. It seemed like my attempts to connect with her were falling flat.
"Oh, okay," I said, my voice a little deflated. "No problem. See you in office hours then."
As I walked away, I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. It seemed like Professor Chou was immune to my charms. But I wasn't ready to give up. I had a feeling that there was more to her than met the eye, and I was determined to find out what it was.
The next day, I decided to try something a little more daring. I printed out a large banner with the words "Professor Chou, you're the best!" and hung it outside her office door.
I watched from a distance as she arrived for work, her face a picture of bewilderment. She stopped, her gaze fixed on the banner, her eyebrows raised in disbelief.
"Ms. Minatozaki," she said, her voice a mixture of amusement and annoyance. "I'm afraid I need to ask you to remove this."
I approached her, my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and fear. "Professor Chou, I just wanted to show you how much I appreciate you. You're an amazing teacher, and I'm really enjoying your class."
She looked at me, her expression unreadable. "Thank you, Ms. Minatozaki. I appreciate the sentiment. But I must insist that you remove the banner. It's a bit...unprofessional."
With a sigh, I reluctantly took down the banner. It seemed like my efforts to make a grand gesture were only met with disapproval.
As I walked away, I couldn't help but wonder if I was making a fool of myself. Maybe Jihyo was right. Maybe this was a hopeless cause.
But then, as I turned the corner, I saw Professor Chou standing by the window, a faint smile playing on her lips. She was looking at the banner, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
Maybe, just maybe, I was making some progress after all.
.
.
.
.
The cafeteria buzzed with the usual lunchtime chaos, but I was too preoccupied to notice. I slumped into a chair across from Jihyo, my shoulders slumped with defeat.
"So," Jihyo began, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "How did the 'Operation: Win Over Professor Chou' go?"
"Disaster," I sighed, resting my head on the table. "Total disaster."
"Oh no! Did she reject your coffee offering? Refuse the 'study date' at the library?"
"Worse," I groaned. "She took the coffee, but didn't even blink. The 'study date' was a bust, she had a meeting."
Jihyo's eyes widened in mock horror. "Oh, the humanity! But surely you didn't give up there, did you?"
"Of course not," I said, my voice regaining a bit of its usual pep. "I went all out. Printed a banner with a message for her, hung it outside her office."
Jihyo choked on her fries, eyes bulging. "A banner? Sana, you're going to get us both expelled!"
"It was heartfelt," I insisted, cheeks flushing. "Said 'Professor Chou, you're the best!'"
Jihyo burst into laughter, shoulders shaking. "Oh, Sana, you're a walking disaster! I can't believe you actually did that."
"But it was a good banner," I said, a little defensive. "And she actually smiled when she saw it!"
"She smiled? Oh my god, Sana, you're a genius! Maybe you're actually onto something here!"
"But she made me take it down," I said, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Said it was unprofessional."
"Unprofessional?" Jihyo snorted. "That's just her way of saying she's flattered. You're getting to her, Sana! You're making her question her professional boundaries!"
I stared at her, eyes wide with disbelief. "You really think so?"
"Absolutely," Jihyo said, voice filled with confidence. "You're playing the long game, Sana. Chipping away at her defenses. It's a slow burn, but it's working. Trust me, I'm a professional in the art of love and chaos."
I shook my head, but a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Maybe Jihyo was right. Maybe I was making progress, even if it was in the most ridiculous, over-the-top ways.
