a cup of coffee • kim doyoung

three

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Kim Seyeon

I snapped out of my thoughts once again as the lecturer went on to the next slide. I managed to catch a glimpse of the grading rubrics and wrote it down in my notebook. Although it was supposed to be an important briefing, I couldn't help but drown in my own thoughts. His voice is just too painful and monotonous to listen to for more than 5 minutes.

Hyejoo wasn't any better though. She was sitting beside me with her phone up in landscape mode.

"What are you doing?" I whispered, with my eyes still focused in front. She should know better that missing out any pointers about this project will cost us valuable grades, but I shouldn't be the one talking.

"I'm recording, so shush," she hissed back. I peeped at her phone out of curiosity. It was focused mainly on the screen, with our lecturer half visible in the corner.

"Wait, you can do that?" A sudden wave of realisation and stupidity hit me like a water slap to the face.

"The laziest people come up with fastest solutions," she tapped her temple and smirked, "Now are you gonna continue taking notes? He's onto the next slide now."

I shifted my attention back to the screen, where he was already talking about our submission dates. I sighed and dropped my pen, taking out my phone from my bag.

"Send me your video later," I requested and snapped a picture of the screen. Hyejoo sniggered.

"Say please~" She dragged the last word a little too long.

"I'll treat you lunch tomorrow," I suggested.

"Deal, I'll send it after class," she accepted it immediately. One thing I've picked up from being friends with her since high school – treat her food and she'll do almost anything for you. I said almost.

"Alright then," the lecturer piped up, his voice echoing around the quiet lecture hall. I guess we're not the only ones waiting to leave.

"That's the end of the briefing," he continued, "If you have any questions, please email any of the teachers in charge. You may go."

Everyone instantly rushed towards the door, mostly because they're 10 minutes late for their next lecture. Luckily for us, we don't have one until 3 hours later.

"Remind me not to enquire him, who knows when he'll reply," Hyejoo said blatantly as we left the hall. Just then, an arm landed heavily on my shoulder.

"Yo guys!" A voice exclaimed into my ear. I flinched backwards and almost stumbled on my own foot. I snarled at Mark, who was laughing away behind me.

"Yah, don't do that," Hyejoo retorted as she slapped him hard on the back.

"Ah... that hurts..." Mark groaned in pain, "I just wanted to get lunch with you."

"You could've just texted us," I replied irritatedly.

"But it wouldn't be as fun as meeting you right here!" Mark chimed as he rubbed my head excitedly. Geez, this guy gets happy over the smallest things, although I couldn't help but smile. We've all been super busy during the break before school start – Hyejoo with her family business, Mark working part-time and me just chilling on my bed everyday. Today is literally the first day we met since the last day of school.

"You can't go a day without us, can you?" I returned the gesture by messing up his hair too, "Don't you have other friends though? Like that Donghyuck guy."

He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, "He's busy with his stupid Don't Need Your Love club. Apparently they're getting lots of sign ups this year."

I almost choked on his saltiness. Mark created this club when he got dumped back in high school and invited some of his friends, including us. We thought it was all part of his pity party until they had scheduled meetings and everything a club has. He got dumped again though, by his club members this time when he got another girlfriend 4 months later.

"Well, there are multiple depressed singles nowadays, so I guess Hyuckie is doing the right thing," Hyejoo thoughtlessly remarked. I nodded in agreement.

"Aish, stop talking about it already," Mark pushed us toward the staircase at the end of the hallway, "I'm getting hungry."

"Ah okay fine, just let us walk by ourselves," Hyejoo resisted as much as possible, her feet practically sliding against the floor.

I watched those two squabble until we reached the cafeteria, my mind wandering off again.

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