Seoral University Freshman OT

They headed to the assigned dormitory room, which would double as the after-party spot.

"Oh, the freshmen are here!"

A senior girl who looked like a Class of '18 ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠student welcomed the newbies, then froze upon spotting Son Ji-hyun. In a comedic skit, Son Ji-hyun frantically waved at her behind everyone else's back and threw a wink. The senior girl plastered on a smile again.

"Freshmen, come on in! Big sibs! The kids are here!"

The first guy to emerge had a bizarre half-shaved head and was wearing a Marine Corps hex hat backward.

"Man, I was a freshman once too."

Kim Hyeonseok scanned the freshmen, his eyes locking onto me. He stared without a word, so I checked his status message.

Seeing Kim Hyeonseok's inner thoughts made me smirk. Just as his eyebrow twitched at my smile,

"Hyeonseok-ah, freshmen are here—shouldn't we head to your room now?"

Another senior called out, and Kim Hyeonseok turned away.

"I'll have one drink here first. They're all underclassmen anyway."

"Suit yourself. Hey freshmen, nice to meet you all! Come on in."

"Newbies and vets, alternate seats one by one! Gotta mix to get close!"

Following the seniors' gestures, we sat down. A friendly-faced, chubby guy stood up.

"Alright, after that boring orientation, time to have some real fun, right? Everyone, fill 'em up!"

As glasses filled, he continued.

"First off, intros. I'm Park Min-su, Seoral U Class of '15!"

"Woooah!"

"Old man vibes!"

"He's hot!"

"Not ugly... at all!!"

"Okay, okay, welcome our new fr—huh?"

Park Min-su spotted Son Ji-hyun among the freshmen and paused, grinning mischievously.

"Welcome all our freshman pals!"

Park Min-su downed his shot.

"Kaaah, hits the spot! Next up, vets, keep the intros going!"

The first girl who'd greeted us stood.

"Business Dept Class of '18! Former newbie turned vet, Bae Eun-ji. Same year as some of you, so hit me up! I wanna buy meals for my underclassmen too!"

Next was Kim Hyeonseok.

"Fil-seung!! Marines discharged today! Straight to OT! Class of '16, Kim Hyeonseok!"

That explained the hex hat. Fresh out of service.

Kim Hyeonseok sat, and the next vet began.

"Business Dept Class of '16..."

"Business Dept Class of '17..."

Finally, the last vet finished.

"Vets done—freshmen's turn!"

Park Gwanghyeok shot his hand up.

"Seniors, I'll go first!"

"Bold! Newbie, lead off!"

"Yes sir! Hello! Park Gwanghyeok, Business Dept Class of '19, straight from high school! Honored to be elected dept rep today! Brothers, sisters, classmates—please take care of me!"

"Whoa, our newbie's the dept rep! Ji-hyun noona must love that."

"Ji-hyun noona?"

Son Min-su grinned at fidgeting Son Ji-hyun.

"Oh, you guys don't know? This year's Business College student council prez is named Ji-hyun. Speaking of, there's a Son Ji-hyun among the freshmen—wanna go next, Ji-hyun sunbae?"

Son Ji-hyun glared murderously at Son Min-su, but as eyes turned her way, she flipped her expression and stood.

"Hello, seniors. Class of '19 freshman! Son Ji-hyun here. Took a year off, so I'm twenty-freakin'-one! Nice to meet you!"

"Our freshman's a total babe!"

"Twenty-one! Twenty-one!"

"Puhahaha! Twenty-one!!!"

Freshmen intros continued, and finally it was my turn.

"You're the Business Dept Kim Woo-bin, right, newbie?"

"Huh?"

Before I could reply, teasing shouts erupted.

"Looks like Kim Woo-bin!"

"For real? Semi Woo-bin!"

"Business Dept Kim Woo-bin! Intro time!"

Rumor spread to the seniors too?

Just my looks causing this ripple? Dazed, I stood.

"Hello. Song Yunho, Class of '19, accepted to Seoral U Business Dept!"

"Hot damn!"

"I'm a bit older, twenty-five. No age hang-ups here, so let's all get along."

Cheers followed as I sat, but my eyes met Kim Hyeonseok's.

Whoa, harsh inner thoughts. His desire was to be leader of the pack.

He'd come straight from discharge and got zero attention, but here I was soaking it up. Must sting.

"Alright, intros done for newbies and vets. Someone's due soon, right?"

One senior asked.

"Anyone else coming? No late crew today?"

"Not late crew, but the student council room-hop got rerouted—ours first."

Perfect timing—the door opened, and student council execs entered.

"Right on cue. Folks, here to make our fun OT possible!"

Park Min-su stood and pointed at one.

"Business College Vice Pres Go Jun-su,"

His finger swung to Son Ji-hyun amid the freshmen.

"and Student Council Pres Son Ji-hyun!"

Son Ji-hyun, who'd been trembling since the council entered, exploded.

"Hey! Park Min-su!! You messing with me right now?!"

"Hehe, noona's the one pranking—can't get mad if I do it back."

Park Min-su shot back smoothly.

"Even if pretending to be a newbie's tradition, prez can't do it. What, going undercover boss? Right?"

Spot-on, so Son Ji-hyun just grumbled, speechless.

Go Jun-su chimed in.

"Ji-hyun noona, let's go."

"Hey! You come running just 'cause Park Min-su calls?"

"Duh, have to. Been slaving over OT solo—gotta seize this break. Yeah?"

Stab number two. Son Ji-hyun sighed.

"Sigh. No one's on my side? Fine, leaving. But closing remarks first."

Son Ji-hyun waved at the freshmen around her.

"Ruined the reveal, but ta-da! Hello freshmen! Student Council Pres Son Ji-hyun!"

Freshmen finally got it and buzzed.

"Whoa... she spoke so well, total older sis vibe—council prez?!"

Park Gwanghyeok whispered to me.

"Never seen her?"

"Nah, not even helping with new student orientation."

"Wanted to hang more, but no dice. Everyone, glasses up!"

As all raised drinks, Son Ji-hyun continued.

"Freshmen, congrats on admission again. Toast: Prestigious Seoral! Culture Business!"

"Prestigious Seoral! Culture Business!"

"Kaaah, good stuff! And freshmen! Student council doors always open! Especially dept rep Gwanghyeok and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠top admit Yunho oppa! Come join! Bye!!"

Son Ji-hyun's undercover prez stint ended, but her parting bomb put me back in the spotlight.

"Top admit? Whoa? Number one?"

These folks aced school like breathing—they knew top score's weight.

"Pretty face and brains? Damn..."

"Okay, just drinking left—talk over booze!"

As ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠things got rowdy, Son Min-su stepped up. Real drinking party kicked off.

Son Min-su sidled next to me.

"One with me, hoobae?"

"If you pour, gratefully."

"Aigoo, no need to be so humble. I'm senior but you're older—drop formalities?"

"Sure?"

"Yeah. I'll call you Yunho hyung."

"Cool, Min-su."

Done with titles, two senior girls jumped in.

"We'll call you oppa too. Casual with us, oppa."

"Hyung to Min-su oppa means oppa to us. Right, Min-su oppa?"

"Yup yup. Cheers to casuals!"

"Cheers!!"

"Cheers!"

"Kaaah, pranking Ji-hyun noona back for once—feels great."

"But okay? She looked pissed."

"Hehe, seemed like infiltrating to recruit for council—had to block."

Son Min-su munched snacks and went on.

"Student council sucks—no perks. I did it before, know. Anyway, Yunho hyung top admit? Real?"

Park Gwanghyeok across joined.

"Yup, dept head said. Hyung's a total cheat char."

"Damn, Seoral top admit and handsome? Total cheat!"

Party rolled on. Thanks to Son Ji-hyun, spotlight-stuck from start, I stayed convo center.

Fun. So fun. Satisfaction swelled nonstop.

But as attention poured my way, someone seething approached.

"One with the newbies? Mind if I join, Min-su hyung?"

Kim Hyeonseok plopped by Park Gwanghyeok, playing nice.

"This freshman's kinda old, huh. Titles? Older but I'm senior year—casuals okay?"

"Hey hey, what the—"

Park Min-su eyed him as vibes chilled, but Kim ignored.

"Why, hyung? Gotta sort titles to bond. Right?"

Sounds fair, but ulterior motives oozed.

Power play?

Park Min-su frowned.

Irritated but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no intent to intervene. I stared down Kim Hyeonseok.

Fresh discharge. Military mindset still raw—hierarchy natural among guys. Marines especially strict till end.

How'd I know? Because,

"Of course. Casuals fine. But Marines, right?"

"Yeah."

"What a coincidence. Me too."

I'd enlisted Marines too. After failing third try at civils, dodged to army—chose infamous tough Marines for intense life.

Regretted instantly, but paying off now.

Kim smirked smugly, then paled 180 at my words. I pressed.

"What class?"