Five years ago..
Carrying my navy blue backpack, I walked down the school hallway, and past by the office where there is a bunch of people pressing their face against the windows. It happens all the time throughout my four-going-to-five years of University life.
Whenever there is a new student joining, juniors, sophomores and seniors would all flocked to the outside of the office to try and catch a glimpse but like as if they could see anything. The windows are all tinted with one-way mirror films which means those who are outside the office won't be able to see what is going on inside.
I squeezed my way through the crowd and went inside the classroom. Most of the tables are unoccupied. The perks of coming to class early is being able choose where to sit.
"Hey man!" I looked to the back row and throw my bag over to the guy sitting there, and went over to give him a fist bump. Meet Rye Il, the person who I've fortunately or, unfortunately been in the same class with for the entire university life.
Normally, students study for four years in university but for us, we are currently in our fifth year. We had to repeat our senior year; no prizes for guessing right. To be honest, I don't even know how did we became close buddies. I mean, he's a popular guy with a face that will make every girls squeal in excitement and I'm just an average-looking guy or what some of them called, 'ugly'.
"Seems like there's a new student," Rye Il says in a soft whisper which I don't get why since there are only the two of us inside the classroom. "I wonder how she looks like."
"How do you know if that new student is going to be a 'she'? That student might not even be in the same course and least to say, the same class as us. " I replied while unzipping my backpack to take my phone. There are five different design courses under the design faculty in the university and Rye Il and I are both studying about interior design.
"Wanna bet? 10 bucks. I'm betting that that student is a' she' and she will be in the same class as us." Rye Il suggested. I twisted my body to look at him. That smug face of his.
"That student will be a 'he'." I said and turned back to my desk.
The bell rang and the group of students who were standing outside quickly dispersed and scrambled back to their own classrooms. The chattering stopped when the door slide opened. The lecturer enters and there is someone else following behind. Oh no. I heard Rye Il trying to contain his laughter from the back.
"10 bucks." He whispered.
I reluctantly took out my wallet from my bag and slapped the $10 note on his table.
"Before we start the lesson, I would like to introduce a new student. She will be joining us starting this semester. Please introduce yourself." The lecturer gestured for her to move to the center.
"Hello, my name is Song Jihyo. Nice to meet you all." She gave a short and simple introduction, and bowed.
"Jihyo, your table is next to Hye Won." The lecturer said.
She was looking around blankly and I think for a moment there, our eyes met. She nodded her head towards my direction, before turning away to a girl waving her hand high up in the air. That's Hye Won. An extremely bubbly and outgoing girl, and in case you're wondering how I recognized her, yes, she's in the fifth year as well.
"Yah.. She's pretty!" Rye Il whispered. I could see how excited he was without even having to turn back.
"You won't stand a chance," I turned and said.
"Yah. Do you really have to be that straightforward?" Rye Il scowled.
I let out a smirk and turned back to the whiteboard. Not that I was trying to burst his bubble but with her pretty face and sweet voice, there will definitely be a long queue of guys trying to hook her up.
And I was right. Rye Il and I went to the cafeteria for lunch and there was already a group of students, mostly guys, following Hye Won and the new student.
She seemed to be enjoying the attention that she was receiving. Smiling and then bowing her head slightly. I hope she isn't another arrogant transferred student or someone acting like a diva. There are plenty of them here and there isn't a need for another one.
Rye Il is obviously smittened with her. He has been standing at the same spot, next to the coffee vending machine for the past five minutes, staring at her. I had to drag him away before he do anything stupid like going up to her and saying some weird pick up lines. It had happened before. Succeeded a few times, failed many times, and the rest is history.
