* * *
“What the hell? I thought this was supposed to be an easy class…”
“This semester, I’m trying something new. The groups we form today will stay for the entire semester, working together on both midterm and final presentations. I know this class has a reputation for easy grades, but I’ll be grading based on clear standards, so keep that in mind.”
“…”
“But I’ll replace the written assignments with something simpler. This should balance things out, right? Today is just the orientation, so form your groups by 2:30. Anyone left over will be randomly assigned.”
No.
Group projects for both midterms and finals were a nightmare, no matter what perks were offered. Siyoung stared at his schedule in silence.
“If I drop this, my whole timetable gets messed up. Are there any other classes open now? Doesn’t look like it. And I’ve already adjusted my tutoring hours around this…”
He’d signed up for this so-called “easy” course, only to have the curriculum change the semester he enrolled.
“It’s not like I know many people in my department anyway… This is a general education class, so it’s full of strangers.”
The few people he recognized had already grouped up.
With twenty minutes to go, Siyoung scanned the room.
Most people seemed to have formed groups.
Some sat alone, but they didn’t seem like the type to care about grades.
“And some people aren’t even here. That corner looks like they’re debating dropping the class…”
Every scenario spelled disaster.
Maybe he should drop it.
As he hesitated, someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind.
“You’re Lee Siyoung, right? The one everyone says is the top student in Business Administration?”
“…?”
Even someone as aloof as Siyoung recognized the face.
A well-known figure on campus, surrounded by rumors of being a conglomerate heir who drove a different car every day of the week.
“What was his name again…?”
“We’re just three people. Wanna team up?”
“…We literally just met today, though. Why so sudden?”
“Well, yeah, technically. But I figured we might complement each other well, with what we need and what we can offer.”
What was he even saying? Siyoung stared at Yeonseok in silence, prompting him to elaborate.
“They say you’re the top student in your department, right? That means you’re good at research and making presentations.”
“…Are you some kind of robber?”
The guys sitting behind him were just as notorious.
Famous for being good-looking and coming from wealthy families, they were always seen hanging out together.
Siyoung had a pretty good idea of what this was about.
‘So the rumor about solving assignments with money wasn’t just gossip. I really thought it was made up.’
“Hey, everyone’s got their strengths. I’m better at things other than studying. Financial power is a skill too, you know.”
“…How much are we talking?”
Siyoung shot back at Yeonseok’s audacity with equal boldness.
After a brief pause, Yeonseok leaned in and whispered.
“How about… this much per hour?”
“…!”
It had been a half-joking question, but the offer was surprisingly decent.
Anyway, even if Siyoung dropped this course to pick another elective, the remaining options were all dull, difficult, or both.
If he had to carry the team, it wouldn’t be a bad deal as long as the payoff was worth it.
“…You’re not gonna go back on your word, right?”
“Why would I? Want an advance payment?”
“You’ve got five minutes to finalize your teams! If your team list isn’t submitted by 30 minutes past, it’ll be assigned automatically.”
The professor’s announcement cut into Siyoung’s contemplation.
Eventually, he nodded with slight unease.
“…Fine. Write my name down.”
“Don’t worry; you won’t be doing everything. These guys do pull their weight.”
After scribbling down his name, department, and student ID, Siyoung glanced at the other two names on the list: Jung Hyun and Kim Jaeyoon.
Their majors were all over the place, with no clear connection.
“Well then, let’s have a good semester together?”
Siyoung wasn’t sure about this arrangement, but the list was already submitted, so there was no backing out.
All he could do was try to survive the semester.
That was how the four of them first met.
Yeonseok turned out to be someone who genuinely loved goofing off.
Even for other classes, Siyoung couldn’t fathom how he managed to scrape by, given his packed schedule of non-stop social engagements outside lecture hours.
“You’re surprisingly consistent about showing up to class.”
“I suck at exams, so I at least need to attend to avoid getting an F. My goal is just to graduate without academic probation. Besides, school’s kinda fun while it lasts. It’s like building memories or whatever.”
Was he attending university as a hobby?
Actually, for someone like him, it probably was a hobby.
“In this class, we’ll spend one hour on lectures and another hour in group discussions about the topics covered. Your midterm and final presentations must include content from at least one week of discussions, so take good notes.”
Having to talk with them for an hour every week brought Siyoung closer to the group.
Their schedules synced up more often than expected, and with the money he’d received, Siyoung even humored their random “I’m bored” texts a couple of times.
By then, Yeonseok acted almost like a real friend.
“Jaeyoon’s the same. But at least he gets the assignments done, so he’s a bit better than me.”
“If you’re gonna do it, might as well do it right. Like you said, we won’t get to do stuff like this after graduation.”
The youngest son of a major corporation.
The only child of a real estate tycoon.
A budding artist with a hospital director mother and prosecutor father.
For people like them, college was just another nostalgic chapter in their charmed lives.
Siyoung paused from typing his report to glance at them.
“What about Hyun?”
“He’s in the department studio, working on a painting he needs to submit. You’re only asking now after not seeing him for a week?”
“Does he treat college as a hobby too?”
“He’s different from us. But hey, his grades don’t matter. His family will just open an art gallery for him anyway.”
“And they’re okay with that? Don’t families like his usually expect their kids to take over the family business?”
“Hyun’s got three siblings. The other three will inherit all that, so one kid can afford to chase art.”
Yeonseok sipped his drink, shrugging.
The lives of the rich really were unfathomable.
Siyoung checked the time and asked, “Isn’t it time for your girlfriend’s class to end?”
“Oh, we broke up yesterday.”
“…Again?”
“I don’t like clingy people. She kept nagging me to stop going out so much, and yesterday, she was like, ‘Let’s just break up if you’re gonna keep this up.’ So I said okay.”
In the two months Siyoung had known Yeonseok, this was already the third breakup.
One after a week, another after a month, and now this.
“Do relationships that last less than two weeks even count?”
“Who knows. Guess I’ll meet someone more understanding next time. I thought we were doing okay, but I guess not.”
They’d only met during overlapping classes, and after that, he was always out with someone else.
Not that it was Siyoung’s concern.
He closed his laptop and stood up.
“I’ve got class. I’m leaving.”
“You’re taking your laptop? That’s heavy. Just leave it here.”
“You’ve got plans later, don’t you? You’re not gonna be here all day. I need it at home after class.”
“I’ve got nothing until six. You’re done at five, right? I’ll watch your stuff until then.”
It felt strange.
A small act of consideration, but it left Siyoung feeling oddly affected.
“Well… okay.”
“I mean, you do stuff for me. Gotta return the favor somehow.”
“What’s your evening plan this time?”
“Oh, remember that guy Gunjoon I mentioned? He was really obvious about liking me, but I couldn’t meet him ‘cause of my girlfriend. Thought I’d see what he’s like.”
“Don’t talk about him in front of me.”
Jaeyoon’s face turned cold.
Gunjoon had befriended Jaeyoon to get closer to Yeonseok, only to ghost Jaeyoon once he’d achieved his goal.
Jaeyoon had thought they were serious, and the betrayal had hurt him.
“Don’t worry. I’m not dating him. I’ve got standards. How could I date someone who hurt my friend? It’s payback.”
“Or you could just stop talking to him.”
“Where’s the fun in that? Relax. I’m just messing with him. Hyun’s cooped up in the studio, and this keeps things interesting.”
Yeonseok snickered at his phone.
What a piece of work.
Siyoung left the café, leaving his laptop behind.
‘Good-looking, sure, but too exhausting as a partner. It’d feel like dating someone who belongs to everyone.’
Without realizing it, Siyoung found himself pondering such things—things he’d never thought about before.
And so, his second year’s first semester slowly passed.
* * *
