The Close Strangers

e i g h t e e n

"I usually have lunch in this park," Mina says as they walk through the park of the Music Faculty.

"It's so nice in here," Yerim responds while she ties her long black hair up into a ponytail, "If only our faculty had this kind of place too."

"I know right," Yoojung adds, "What our faculty got is only a massive library."

"But, I heard your library has the most complete books in this university," Mina responds.

Yoojung chuckles before nodding, "Yes, we do, but who wants to read books?"

"Not us. Definitely not us," Yerim says.

Mina doubts their answer, "It's hard to believe that since you literally go to one of the hardest department to get into."

"You know what? Almost every day I wonder why I'm majoring in International Relations," Yoojung looks serious with her words.

"For me, I always wonder whether I'd probably survive or not," Yerim replies.

Mina shakes her head while laughing, "You're so innocent. I bet you don't know how amazed people are every time they see people who go to your department."

"If only you all know that our department is actually just the same as the others," Yoojung replies as they reach the cafeteria where her friends are waiting for Yerim and her.

"Our department got geniuses but also got the dumber, like me," She puts her hands on her chest.

"They got the ambitious one, but also the lacking one who goes to where the wind brings, like me," Yerim does the same thing as Yoojung.

Mina bursts into laughter when she hears that as she keeps following them until they see three other girls. All of them are busy eating their bibimbap. They don't even notice that Yerim, Yoojung, and Mina are already watching them from the side of the table where they sit.

Yerim and Yoojung introduce Mina to the others once the one with a curly long hair notice them.

"Do you know why we're gathering in here?" Yerim asks, receiving a headshake from Mina.

"We're going to eat this bibimbap because honestly, your faculty has the best bibimbap in the world."

"EXACTLY," Chaeyoung exclaims excitedly, "It's like it has something special that makes us want it more and more."

"I KNOW," Yoojung exclaims back while lifting a bowl of bibimbap to show Mina.

Yerim covers her ears, along with Hyewon who is sitting between them.

"I'm sorry, they just like being so loud."

"They usually louder than this," Yuqi adds.

Mina smiles widely, "You guys are just so funny. I wish I haveㅡ"

"ㅡfriends like this..." Mina continues as she turns her head because someone suddenly pats her shoulder.

"OH, Arinnie?"

The girl who just arrived smiles while brushing her long black hair back.

"You know her?" Mina asks Yuqi, the one who just greets Arin.

They all nod in sync as they look at Arin.

"Whoa, so you are already close to your boyfriend's friends too?" Mina teases Arin, causing the girl to smile shyly.

The two students who go to the Music Faculty don't know how the people around them are looking at each other in confusion.

"Wait, what was that? Boyfriend?" Yerim wonders, but she keeps looking at them with a smile plastered on her face.