Let's Not Falling In Love (1st Book) (FIXED)

First Day at the University of Seoul

It was a bright morning, and Yoo Jeongyeon stood at the start of a brand-new chapter: her very first day at the University of Seoul.
"Hi, puppy!" Nayeon called out from inside her car, which was parked right outside the dorm.
Jeongyeon only offered her an unfriendly glare. Deep down, she wanted to shoot back, 'What's up, bunny?' But the phrase reminded her of someone else, and besides, she didn't quite have the courage to address her lecturer in such a manner.
"Can’t you be a little friendlier to your lecturer?" Nayeon asked.
"Yes, Miss Im," Jeongyeon replied, flashing a smile that looked far more like she was gritting her teeth.
"Hmm, cute. You really are the father of my child, Kookeu! I’ve finally found your father," Nayeon shouted cheerfully.
"Kookeu? Child? How on earth could I be the father of your child?" Jeongyeon asked, her eyebrows knitting together in total confusion.
"Kookeu is the name of my puppy. You’re his father because the way you grit your teeth and narrow your eyes looks exactly like him."
"Miss... are you feeling alright?" Jeongyeon stepped closer to the car and gently placed her palm against the woman’s forehead. "Have you forgotten to take your medicine again?"
She stared down at Nayeon with a surprisingly soft gaze. Nayeon’s eyes widened, rendered entirely speechless.
"I hope you won't forget next time. As your new student, I’d hate to have to call you crazy," Jeongyeon said, a small smirk playing on her lips. "If you’ll excuse me, Miss Im... I have to catch the bus."
Jeongyeon turned and walked away, leaving Nayeon sitting in her unstarted car. It took a few moments for the words to process in Nayeon's mind before the insult finally hit her.
"Hey! Yoo Jeongyeon! You basically just called me crazy!" Nayeon yelled out the window.
I thought she’d never realize, Jeongyeon thought to herself, quickening her pace with a quiet chuckle.
"How dare she fool me... I’m going to give you a little punishment, Yoo Jeongyeon," Nayeon mumbled under her breath.
Jeongyeon’s POV
When I arrived on campus, my first task was to head to the faculty office to pick up my registration details. The campus was vast, but I was smart enough to navigate using the map on my phone, finding the main office without needing to ask for directions.
"Excuse me, I'm the new transfer student, Yoo Jeongyeon," I said politely to the staff member inside—an elderly gentleman.
"Ah, Jeongyeon! Welcome to our university," he greeted me warmly.
I offered a small smile in return.
"Here is your class schedule. As it happens, you can walk over to your first class together with the lecturer." He turned toward a woman whose back was to me. "Miss Im, could you guide her to the room?"
"Of course," the woman replied, turning around with a wide, bunny-toothed smile. "Hi, Yoo Jeongyeon."
"Miss Im?"
I sighed inwardly. She must have known I was her student all along, which explained her teasing warning earlier.
"Could you help me carry these?" she asked, her lips curling into a triumphant smirk.
"Sure."
I could hardly refuse a professor in front of the department staff. She handed me a heavy stack of document files along with her personal handbag.
"Let’s go to class," she said, gliding past me.
I followed behind her, feeling utterly ridiculous. I looked like a personal assistant, hauling her heavy belongings while she strolled like royalty, waving gracefully to the students who greeted her along the path. As we walked, passersby whispered and stared. A few guys even shot me sharp, glares.
"Please put them right here," she said when we finally reached the lecture hall, pointing to her desk.
"Thanks, my puppy," she said, gently patting my head.
Is she out of her mind? Doing this in front of everyone? I bit my lip to keep my temper in check and walked straight toward the back row. Class hadn't started yet, so plenty of seats were still open.
Third-Person POV
"Look at that handsome nerd over there. I’ve never seen him around—he must be new," a girl whispered to her friends as they walked into the room.
"I think 'he' is actually a 'she,'" her friend corrected.
"Doesn't matter, she's really handsome. I'm going to sit next to her."
Jeongyeon saw the group approaching. Before they could reach her row, she promptly tossed her backpack onto the vacant desk beside her.
"Sorry, this seat is taken," Jeongyeon said coolly.
The girl pouted and walked off with her friends.
From her desk at the front, Nayeon watched the exchange. I thought she was only cold to me, but I guess not... Even a girl as pretty as Tzuyu gets turned away.
A small sound broke her focus. "Achoo!" Jeongyeon sneezed, rubbing her nose as she looked up from her textbook.
"Feels like someone's talking about me," Jeongyeon muttered to herself.
Class began shortly after. Nayeon lectured briefly before assigning group work, using the remaining time to tackle the mountains of paperwork left by senior staff. Being the newest lecturer on faculty, she had arrived just before summer break, and the veteran professors were taking full advantage of her position by dumping extra tasks on her desk. She didn't complain, knowing that if she couldn't handle this, she wouldn't survive the academic world.
Every now and then, Jeongyeon glanced up from her work to observe the busy woman at the front. What kind of professor lectures for ten minutes and then assigns an entire mountain of paperwork? she thought.
"When you finish your assignments, leave them on my desk. You're free to go," Nayeon announced to the room.
As the period drew to a close, most students filed out, leaving only Jeongyeon and a few stragglers. Nayeon began gathering her things.
"Excuse me, Miss Im, do you need help carrying those?" a male student asked, leaning over the podium.
"Oh, no thank you. I can manage," Nayeon replied with a polite, practiced smile.
It was the fifth time a student had offered to help, and the fifth time she had declined. The young man walked out to the hallway, muttering to his friend.
"Damn it, she's impossible to get close to," Minhyuk complained.
"Tell me about it. I’ve lost count of how many times she’s shut me down," Jinyoung agreed, shaking his head.
Inside, Jeongyeon walked up to the podium and placed her completed paper on the stack.
"And here I thought you were supposed to be smart enough to transfer here," Nayeon teased softly, looking at the clock. "You're the last one to finish."
"You might want to read it before you judge, Miss Im," Jeongyeon replied, rolling her eyes as she turned to leave.
"Wait!" Nayeon called out.
Jeongyeon stopped and turned back, forcing a polite expression. "Yes, Miss Im?"
"I can't carry all of this by myself. Could you help me out?"
"Why me? What about those guys who just offered to help?" Jeongyeon raised an eyebrow.
"I only want your help," Nayeon said softly, reaching out to gently poke Jeongyeon's cheek.
"I'm a student, not your personal assistant. I don't get paid for this," Jeongyeon grumbled, brushing Nayeon’s hand away.
"I'll give you a kiss if you help me," Nayeon teased, puckering her lips.
Jeongyeon recoiled slightly, taken aback by the gesture. "No way. Goodbye."
"Please, Jeongyeon-ah? Don't be mean," Nayeon pouted dramatically.
Jeongyeon gagged in exaggerated disgust. "Alright, fine! I'll help. Just stop doing that cringe expression. Need I remind you how old you are?"
Nayeon shook her head with a childish pout, handing over the heavy stack of files. Seeing the playful look on the lecturer's face, Jeongyeon fought back a small smile of her own.
Outside in the courtyard, Jinyoung and Minhyuk watched from a distance as Jeongyeon walked alongside Nayeon.
"Who is that?" Jinyoung asked sharply.
"A new student, I think. They walked into class together earlier," Minhyuk noted.
"How does a random newcomer get to walk with her so easily when she rejects the rest of us?" Jinyoung muttered, his chest tightening with irritation. "Come on, let's follow them."
They trailed the pair through the corridors.
"Where are we taking these?" Jeongyeon asked, noticing the direction they were heading. "Isn't this the way to the faculty parking lot?"
"I need to bring them home. I'll have to finish reviewing these at the dorm," Nayeon explained. "Hold these for a second."
Nayeon stacked her own armload of files on top of the pile Jeongyeon was already carrying while she unlocked her car trunk.
"Alright, all set," Nayeon said.
"Finally," Jeongyeon sighed. She closed her eyes for a brief moment to stretch her sore arms.
Suddenly, a subtle scent of cherries drifted close. Jeongyeon felt something soft and warm press firmly against her cheek. She snapped her eyes open to find Nayeon leaning back, closing her eyes with a sweet smile after kissing her cheek.
Jeongyeon flushed red and quickly took a step back, wiping her face with her sleeve. "What do you think you're doing?!"
"Just delivering the reward I promised. Thank you for the help," Nayeon said simply.
"What if someone saw us?" Jeongyeon glanced around the parking lot nervously. Fortunately, it was empty, as most students were still in lectures.
"Look at you—blushing like a tomato. You're so cute," Nayeon teased, reaching out to tap Jeongyeon’s chin.
Jeongyeon slapped her hand away and turned on her heel, marching off toward her next building.
Nayeon touched her own lips with a smirk. She really is captivating.
Jeongyeon was halfway across campus when Jinyoung and Minhyuk suddenly stepped out from around a corner, blocking her path.
"You. Come with us," Jinyoung ordered.
Jeongyeon kept walking, trying to shoulder past them, but Jinyoung grabbed the hood of her sweater from behind, yanking her back.
"We tried asking nicely, but you clearly don't listen," he growled.
Without missing a beat, Jeongyeon grabbed Jinyoung's wrist, twisted her hip, and threw him over her shoulder. He hit the pavement with a loud thud.
Thanks, Jackson. Finally got to use what you taught me, she thought, brushing off her jacket and stepping forward.
"Grab her!" Jinyoung yelled from the ground, reaching out to trap Jeongyeon’s ankles.
Minhyuk hesitated, looking around the crowded walkway. "Are we really doing this here?"
"I don't care! I'm going to smash her face in!" Jinyoung scrambled to his feet, lunging forward.
"What is wrong with you two?" Jeongyeon demanded, trying to shake Minhyuk off her arms.
"You tell me! What were you doing with my girlfriend?" Jinyoung yelled, raising his fist.
"Who?"
"Im Nayeon, you idiot!"
Jinyoung’s fist cracked across Jeongyeon’s jaw. The sudden force knocked her back, leaving a stinging bruise at the corner of her lip.
Watching from a nearby bench, Dahyun turned to Tzuyu. "Should we tell them she’s a girl?"
"Let her handle it. I'm still annoyed she blocked that seat," Tzuyu replied with an amused roll of her eyes.
"I was just helping her carry files!" Jeongyeon yelled back.
"Does carrying files come with a kiss on the cheek?" Jinyoung snapped, throwing a second punch.
The blow hit Jeongyeon squarely in the face. Her glasses clattered onto the pavement, shattering on impact, and a thin line of blood trickled down from her temple.
Over by the bench, Tzuyu gasped slightly. "Okay, she actually looks way too handsome without glasses... but we should probably get Miss Im before this gets out of hand." She and Dahyun quickly hurried off toward the faculty offices.
Jeongyeon wiped the blood from her temple, her mind racing. So this was Nayeon's idea of revenge? Get her fan club to beat me up?
Anger flared in her chest. Jeongyeon drove a sharp backward elbow directly into Minhyuk’s ribs, forcing him to release his grip. Shaking her arms free, she grabbed Jinyoung by the collar and slammed her fist straight into his nose.
"I was trying to be reasonable, but you just had to push it!" Jeongyeon growled.
Jinyoung swung wildly, but Jeongyeon dodged the incoming blow, landing a quick, heavy combination that sent him sprawling onto the grass. She stepped over him, holding him down as she caught her breath.
"Yoo Jeongyeon! Stop! You’re going to kill him!"
Nayeon came running down the pathway, shoving Jeongyeon away from the fallen student.
"What is wrong with you?" Nayeon scolded, her voice tight with panic. "It’s your first day here! How could you get into a fistfight already?"
Jeongyeon ignored her entirely. She knelt down, picked up her broken glasses, and slipped them back on, despite the cracked lens.
She leaned in close to Nayeon, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "Take care of your boyfriend, Miss Childish."
Without another word, Jeongyeon turned and walked away, leaving Nayeon standing alone in utter confusion.
"'Boyfriend'? 'Miss Childish'?" Nayeon repeated to herself, bewildered. "What on earth is she talking about?"
Jinyoung groaned from the ground, holding his bleeding nose. "Why does he get to walk away when he’s the one who hit me?"
Nayeon turned on them, her eyes flashing with anger. "Because you started it! And for your information, you just got beaten up by a girl. Both of you—to the principal's office. Now!"
"Wait... what?!" Jinyoung gaped. "He's a she?!"
"Minhyuk, you idiot, you said she was a guy!"
"I didn't know!" Minhyuk whined, holding his ribs.
Nayeon turned back to the crowd of onlookers gathered along the walkway. "Clear out, everyone! Head back to your classes!"
Jeongyeon gave up on the rest of her classes for the day. In her current state, focusing was impossible, so she headed straight back to the dorm. When she walked through the front door, her hoodie was torn, her glasses were broken, and blood was drying along her temple and lip.
"Jeongyeon! What happened to your face?" Momo gasped, rushing over to reach for her.
"Don't touch me," Jeongyeon snapped, brushing Momo’s hand away firmly.
In the living room, Mina and Sana were sitting on the couch. They quickly lowered their heads, looking away awkwardly. Ever since the recent misunderstandings between the three of them, things had felt strained, and neither felt comfortable approaching her.
"Just let me grab the first-aid kit, okay?" Momo said gently, hurrying to the bathroom.
Jeongyeon didn't wait. She marched straight into her bedroom and slammed the door shut with a loud thud, making the living room tremble.
Mina sighed, looking up at Momo as she walked back out with the medical box. "Take care of her, please."
"And let us know if she tells you what happened," Sana added quietly.
Momo nodded. "I will."
She walked over to Jeongyeon’s door and knocked lightly before pushing it open, knowing Jeongyeon would only refuse if she asked for permission first.
Jeongyeon was sitting on the edge of her mattress, staring blankly at the floor. Momo sat down quietly beside her, reaching out to gently turn Jeongyeon’s chin toward her.
"Let me see," Momo said softy.
"You don't have to bother. It'll heal," Jeongyeon grumbled, pulling back slightly.
"Are you scowling because it hurts?" Momo teased gently.
"Ouch! Watch it!" Jeongyeon winced as Momo carefully dabbed a cotton pad over the cut on her temple.
"You're such a baby," Momo smiled, shaking her head. "How do you manage to get into a fight on your very first day of university?"
"I didn't fight anyone," Jeongyeon lied poorly. "The floors in the new building are slippery. I tripped."
Momo raised an eyebrow. "Do I look that gullible to you?"
"Did you just admit you're gullible?"
"Ow!" Jeongyeon winced again as Momo pressed a clean bandage against her temple. "Hey! You did that on purpose!"
"Come here, you need to be punished," Jeongyeon growled playfully.
She grabbed Momo by the waist and began tickling her sides relentlessly. Within seconds, both of them were tumbling back onto the bed, laughing loudly.
"Jeongyeon, stop! Let me go!" Momo gasped out between bursts of laughter, squirming under Jeongyeon's grip.
"Not until you take back what you said!"
"Okay, okay! I give up! Stop!" Momo pleaded, gasping for breath.
Jeongyeon finally stopped, sinking down onto the mattress beside Momo, both of them staring up at the ceiling as their breathing slowed.
"Man, I'm exhausted," Jeongyeon sighed.
Suddenly, the bedroom door swung open. Standing in the doorway was Nayeon, her eyes red and filled with distress.
Momo immediately sat up, looking between the two of them. "Eunnie?"
"I need to talk to her," Nayeon said quietly, her voice trembling.
"Right. I'll leave you two alone," Momo said, standing up.
"Stay here, Momo," Jeongyeon said firmly, catching Momo’s wrist to keep her in place. She kept her eyes fixed on the wall, refusing to look at Nayeon. "I have nothing to say to you. Please leave."
Momo looked back and forth between Jeongyeon's bruised face and Nayeon's tearful expression, quickly piecing together what had happened.
"Jeongyeon, you two need to clear the air," Momo advised gently, stroking Jeongyeon’s hair once before walking toward the door. "It's going to be miserable for everyone in the dorm if you don't work this out."
She leaned toward Nayeon as she passed, whispering softly, "Good luck, eunnie."
Nayeon closed the door quietly behind her and walked over to the bed, sitting beside Jeongyeon, who kept her back turned firmly toward her.
"I brought some medicine to treat your cuts," Nayeon said softly.
"Momo already took care of it," Jeongyeon replied coldly. "Why aren't you with your boyfriend? Shouldn't you be comforting him for getting beaten up after helping you get revenge on me?"
Nayeon winced. "I came to apologize. I was wrong to yell at you earlier, but he isn't my boyfriend. He's just a student who keeps bothering me."
"How am I supposed to believe that?" Jeongyeon turned her head slightly, her jaw tight. "You gave me that smirk in the hallway, and you knew he was watching when you kissed my cheek."
"Oh, goodness... is that really what you think?" Nayeon asked, tears brimming in her eyes. "Do you really assume the worst of people like that?"
"Yes, I do! So what?" Jeongyeon snapped, turning around fully to face her. "If that bothers you, then stay away from me!"
"The smirk was just a joke because you called me 'big front teeth' earlier!" Nayeon explained, a tear spilling over her cheek. "And I had no idea anyone was watching us in the parking lot! Please... just forgive me."
"I don't care. Leave me alone," Jeongyeon grumbled, turning back toward the wall.
Suddenly, two soft arms wrapped around Jeongyeon's waist from behind. Nayeon leaned her forehead against Jeongyeon's shoulder, her chest heaving with quiet sobs.
"Jeongyeon-ah... please. What do I have to do for you to forgive me?" Nayeon whimpered into her sweater.
Jeongyeon felt a pang in her chest. Why does every girl end up crying in front of me?
She gently unclasped Nayeon's arms and turned around to face her. "Fine. I forgive you. But on one condition."
Nayeon quickly wiped her eyes, looking up with hope. "What condition?"
"From now on, at campus, we pretend we don't know each other," Jeongyeon said flatly.
Nayeon’s expression fell, her shoulders slumping in sadness.
Seeing her look so defeated, Jeongyeon felt a slight sting of guilt. It's for the best, she told herself.
Then, Nayeon’s expression shifted subtly. A familiar, playful glint returned to her eyes. "So... we can do whatever we want when we're back at the dorm?"
She leaned in close, her fingers trailing lightly along Jeongyeon's jawline down to her chin.
Jeongyeon froze. Nayeon’s lips were inches away—cherry-scented and shaped like a small heart. For a fleeting second, Jeongyeon found herself wondering how soft those lips would feel against her own.
Wait—what am I thinking?! Snap out of it, Yoo Jeongyeon! She mentally slapped herself, shaking her head to clear her thoughts.
Nayeon leaned in further, her breath warm against Jeongyeon’s skin.
"What are you doing?" Jeongyeon asked, her voice tight. "Don't forget you're my lecturer!"
"So what?" Nayeon whispered, hovering just a millimeter away.
Unable to take the tension any longer, Jeongyeon grabbed Nayeon by the back of her collar—pinching the fabric like one might lift a troublesome kitten—and pulled her back before ushering her out the bedroom door.
"Time for you to go!" Jeongyeon declared, shutting the door behind her.
Standing in the hallway, Nayeon pouted like a disappointed child, staring at the closed door. She really is hard to get...