Just College

¹⁴²

The 19th was the day before the official vacation and also the last day of the exams. The joy was radiating through SKKU students. Christmas was around the corner and their final exam was in the corner already. A sort of double blessings.

First thing in the morning of the 20th, most students would be leaving school grounds quickly for their various homes. The Jeong sisters were one of those. With the youngest being a student here now, the oldest had no choice but to pack early. That wasn't her sort of thing and a black haired girl named Yoon Nari wouldn't shut up about it.

Dayeon sat on a staircase next to the hall where her sister and Nari were having their last paper. They had asked she waited for them, once she was done with her exams and that's what she was doing. She can feel the excitement bubbling underneath her veins. She will be going home. She hasn't seen her mom and grandma for three months. She deserves a big hug for getting through this semester without them.

A Pepsi was entered her line of sight. Dayeon trailed her eyes up the veiny hand. She stared at the kind senior. "Hello", she bowed her head.

Seungmin's lips pulled to the side at the formality. It reminded him of the times when Daya was so reserved. "Hello", he moved the Pepsi again.

Dayeon wrapped her hands around the cold can. "Thank you"

Seungmin nodded, glancing down at the walls of the exam hall where the year threes were either struggling or writing well. "It's a token of apology for what you witnessed the last time", he leaned on the wall.

"A token, or a bribe?", Dayeon asked, turning her body to him, holding the can with both hands.

"Bribe?", Seungmin scoffed a quiet chuckle. "A can of Pepsi is little for a bribe"

Dayeon's brows jumped and she smiled, nodding. "A token, it is then", she popped the can open. On any other day, she wouldn't. He is literally a stranger and they were alone but she drank the cold Pepsi. Why?. It was just like with Jisung. She feels comfortable around them or maybe it's the other way. They make her comfortable. "Ah", Dayeon opened her eyes wider, smacking her lips.

Seungmin held back his comment. "You really needed that drink", he opted for.

Dayeon nodded. "I didn't even know I needed it", she crushed the empty can. "What year are you in?. Don't you have exams today?"

"I'm done", Seungmin replied. "And I'm a year four student"

"Oh. Wow. Daya made friends with a senior?. I'm surprised", Dayeon snickered.

Seungmin let her believe that. Friends. Seems like a perfect introduction. "Why are you surprised?"

"She is not the type to open up easily to even her peers, let alone a senior", Dayeon furrowed her brows. But I guess people change. She didn't say that aloud. The clamoring of students had them looking away from each other and to the halls. "I have to-", she paused at the empty space. The boy was gone.

"Dayeon?", Nari waved.

Dayeon stood up. She looked behind her and still didn't find him. He was just standing there though. She turned away, walking down. "Unnie, how was it?", she asked with a happy smile.

"Nice!", Nari chuckled, patting her hair.

"Pepsi?", Daya took the crushed can from her.

"A friend of yours gave it to me", Dayeon replied, loving the feel of Nari's fingers on her hair.

"Friend?", Daya asked again and she nodded. "We should recycle it"

"You are such a good citizen of the great Republic of Korea", Ryujin said, sarcasm laced in her tone. She joined the girls. "Hey, cutie"