Start of Semester (1)
Start of Semester (1)
March 2nd. The long-awaited first day of classes dawned.
The past week was truly like a dream. Eating, sleeping, shitting, and playing S-Gong. I just fooled around.
The gym? Of course I didn't go. Director Im Chae-yang probably has bloody tears welling up in her eyes by now, but I don't care. If you're busy, you might not be able to go.
I left the house with a leisurely yawn.
The time was 10:00 AM. While others were running around like zombies to make it to their 1st-period classes, I was relaxed.
Because I didn't even look at 1st-period classes during course registration. For a freshman who loves sleep, morning classes are a sin. My schedule was strictly set for 2nd period and later.
I met up with Hyun-woo in front of the main gate.
"You're here."
"Uh... Jin-hyuk-ah."
Hyun-woo already looked like his soul had been sucked out. Dark circles reached all the way down to his chin. Apparently, he lives in a 'Male-only safe villa' near the school.
It's a place where a security guard is stationed 24 hours a day; in this world, that level of security seems essential for a man living alone.
"Let's go. There's some time before class starts, but we should go early and grab seats."
"Yeah... let's go together. It's a bit awkward going in alone."
We moved our feet.
On the way to the Engineering Building, the campus was full of female students. High-pitched laughter and chatter from all directions made my head spin. It was overwhelming.
When we arrived at the classroom, fortunately, it was still quiet. We wordlessly exchanged glances and headed for the corner-most seats. Positioning is important for things like this.
"Do you want to sit on the inside or the outside?"
When I asked, Hyun-woo answered without a second's hesitation.
"Inside. By the wall."
He knew too. The outside (aisle) is a spot with a high probability of people talking to you or bumping into you as they come and go. For guys lacking social skills, there's no better prime spot than the corner.
"Okay... I'll sit on the outside then."
I sat in the aisle seat. Then I plopped the backpack I brought onto the empty chair right next to me.
It was a silent expression of my desire to keep the seat next to me vacant. It's bothersome if a stranger sits next to me.
After a while, the classroom door opened and students began to enter one by one. The first to arrive was a group of three or four flashily dressed female students.
"Oh? It's Jin-hyuk and Hyun-woo~ Hi~"
Classmates I saw during OT greeted us. I just nodded awkwardly.
"...Uh, hi."
It was hard to continue the conversation. I didn't know what to say. I hurriedly turned my gaze to my phone. I just swiped the menu screen left and right for no reason.
It was then.
"Hey, Jin-hyuk-ah."
A soft voice tickled my ear. Looking up, one of the girls from that group was standing in front of my desk. A faint scent of shampoo wafted over.
She pointed to the seat next to me where my bag was and asked cautiously.
"Is this seat taken? Can I sit here?"
There are plenty of seats, why specifically next to me?
I don't have the confidence to listen to a lecture sitting side-by-side with a girl. It's obvious I'll be awkward for the whole hour.
I had to refuse, but no excuse came to mind. I just blurted it out bluntly, the truth.
"Ah... sorry, but I need to put my bag there."
"Huh? If you put the bag on the floor..."
"The floor is dirty, so I can't. I treasure this bag."
"......"
"Look, there are plenty of seats. Why don't you sit somewhere else?"
I gestured with my chin toward the empty front seats. After saying it, I wondered if I was being a bit rude, but it couldn't be helped. What can I do about my lack of eloquence?
The female student stared at me blankly for a moment. Her expression seemed to ask if a bag was more important than a person, but perhaps reading my determined gaze, she soon chuckled.
"Really? Okay. You treat your bag very preciously."
"......"
"Then we'll just sit in the front row."
She backed off coolly and took a seat in the row right in front of me. Her friends also swarmed in and filled the seats in front of me.
'...Exhausting.'
Now it was about time for people to start flocking in for real. It was awkward to keep looking at my phone, and it would be hard to deal with if someone else talked to me. In times like this, pretending to sleep is the best.
I leaned forward on the desk. Looking to the side, Hyun-woo was already curled up like a turtle. As expected, we're on the same wavelength.
A little later.
Mumble mumble.
The classroom became noisy. The sound of girls swarming in, the sound of chairs dragging. The seats in front of me and the neighboring section were packed.
But fortunately, no one bothered to touch us while we were lying down.
'Thank goodness.'
If someone saw this, they might curse us for being total losers. But don't curse. It breaks a loser's heart to hear it.
It can't be helped. I'm just born this way.
Squeezing in between strong-willed women, laughing and trying to please them, is something that won't suit my aptitude even if I die and am reborn.
While I was spacing out in the darkness like that.
Drrrr.
With the sound of the front door opening, the overall noise subsided. It seems the professor has arrived.
'Should I get up?'
It'll be a disaster if I keep sleeping and miss attendance. Just as I was debating whether to lift my head.
Tap, tap.
Someone poked my shoulder with their finger.
"Jin-hyuk-ah... Jin-hyuk-ah..."
A soft voice. The female student sitting in the front row, who had aimed for the seat next to me earlier, was calling me while turning her body back.
"Wake up... the professor is here."
I lifted my head, acting like I was groggy.
"Ah... right. Thanks."
I replied bluntly. The female student smiled brightly and looked forward again. Even though it was a small kindness, I scratched the back of my neck, feeling inexplicably awkward.
When I got up, Hyun-woo, who was next to me, also slowly raised his upper body while checking the atmosphere.
We rubbed our sleepy eyes and looked at the platform. A female professor with a strict impression was standing at the podium.
I habitually scanned the classroom scene.
"......"
Wow, holy shit. This is a sight to behold. To think there are this many women in the Engineering Building.
In my original world, this Engineering Building classroom would have been filled with dull plaid shirts, horn-rimmed glasses, and the stench of sweat. But here, it's a flower garden so fragrant it makes me dizzy.
A student with a short cut caught my eye in the front row.
From the back of the head, she looked exactly like a guy, so I felt excited for 0.5 seconds thinking, 'Oh? A comrade?' but.
'...Never mind.'
The thin, slender neckline and waistline. That's a woman. In this world, there's nothing strange about a woman having a short cut or a shaved head.
However, looking at the classroom scene, a strange leaning phenomenon caught my eye.
'Why is everyone crowded only in our section?'
The classroom is largely divided into three sections: left, center, and right. But the left corner section where we sat was bursting to the point where people dragged chairs into the aisle, while the other two sections were sparse and empty.
It was a malformed structure, as if the classroom floor was tilted to the left.
The reason... I don't know. No, I think I know, but I want to pretend I don't. Maybe everyone just likes the view from the left section. Or maybe the heating is warmer on this side. Or a water vein is flowing.
Let's not think deeply. Excessive self-consciousness is harmful to mental health.
The only silver lining was the fact that I had secured the very back seat.
For an outsider, the 'back' is the most vulnerable place.
The anxiety of not knowing who might talk behind my back or peek at my monitor. But if you sit with your back to the wall, at least there's no rear ambush. The psychological stability of having all enemies... no, classmates, within my field of vision.
Just this alone made me feel like I could breathe a little.
"I will call attendance."
The professor opened the attendance book.
"Kim Min-ji." "Yes."
"Park So-young." "Yes."
"Lee Su-jin." "Yes."
High-pitched, clear voices rang out in succession. As the turn for my name, sandwiched between them, approached, I felt the classroom air sink heavily for some reason.
"......"
"......"
It felt like everyone was holding their breath and pricking up their ears.
"Seol Jin-hyuk."
I answered as nonchalantly as possible, lowering my voice.
"Yes."
Instantly.
Swish.
Dozens of heads sitting in the front rows turned back all at once. As if they had made a promise, numerous gazes were pinned on me simultaneously.
'...Ah.'
Turning back as a group just because they heard a voice once. I feel like some kind of exhibit in a showroom.
Gazes mixed with curiosity and a strange heat stuck stickily to my face, neck, and shoulders. It was suffocating.
'Augh, shit. Just look forward.'
They should just listen to the lecture, why are they making a fuss looking back? I pulled my hat down lower and avoided their gaze.
From the first day of the semester, my fatigue level was rising vertically.
"Nice to meet you. I am Lee Jeong-suk, in charge of 'Introduction to Computer Programming' this semester."
The professor finished a brief self-introduction and put the syllabus on the screen.
Class progress, assignment submission tips, grading criteria... the same old, obvious, and boring orientation contents followed.
I rested my chin on my hand and stared blankly at the blackboard. Fortunately, once class started, everyone was busy looking forward.
Occasionally, curious gazes brushed the back of my head, but it wasn't at the level of being pinned down burdensomely like before.
'Just end quickly.'
While the battle with boredom continued, the professor threw out an angelic sentence.
"Well, since it's the first day, we'll stop the class here. Please prepare the textbook for next time."
As soon as the professor's declaration of ending dropped, I packed my bag and stood up. The goal was to get out as quickly as possible, without anyone knowing.
"Hey, Hyun-woo-ya. Let's go. To eat."
"Huh? Oh, okay."
It was just as we were about to turn toward the back door.
Drrrr, thud.
The female classmates who were sitting in the front row kicked back their chairs and stood up, surrounding our desks in an instant.
"Hi? Jin-hyuk-ah, Hyun-woo-ya!"
"Wow, you look even bigger up close."
A fragrant wall blocked all sides. The escape route was cut off.
"Hey, by any chance, you guys..."
One female student leaned in, placing her hand on the desk.
"You're the 'running away' guys from OT, right? Wow, that was seriously hilarious. How do you even think of that?"
"Ah... yeah. Thanks."
I replied awkwardly and took a step back. But the atmosphere was a bit strange.
The moment the female student (A) in front of me spoke, another female student (B) next to her very naturally pushed A's shoulder and squeezed into the gap.
"Oh, sorry. The space is tight."
B pretended to apologize while pushing A behind her, then rested her chin toward me and smiled brightly.
"Jin-hyuk-ah, have you eaten? We're going to the cafeteria now, do you want to come along?"
Then this time, a female student (C) standing behind pulled B's bag strap slightly and cut in.
"Hey, they're feeling burdened. Take it slow."
C pretended to be considerate of us while cleverly blocking B's view and taking the spot directly in front of me. Very high-level.
"Sorry. The girls' tension is a bit high, right? I'm Shin Ga-young. Do you know the school geography? If not, should I show you around?"
"No, it's fine..."
Tak.
Someone plopped a phone onto my desk. Turning my head, it was that flashy female student (D) who had aimed for the seat next to me before class started.
"Let's exchange numbers. We're classmates in the same department, so I should invite you to the group chat, right?"
"Huh? There's already a group chat."
"I mean personal chat. You might miss announcements and stuff."
While D was thrusting her phone, A and B, who had been pushed out, pushed back in.
"Hey, are you the only one getting it? Give it to me too."
"Jin-hyuk-ah, those girls aren't good at drinking. If you're going to eat, eat with me. I know a good place."
Rustle.
Thud.
Thump.
A strange physical battle was unfolding before my eyes. Bumping shoulders, stepping on feet, and subtly pushing each other out to desperately occupy the 'center' spot in front of me.
It wasn't just the four in the front row. Behind them, dozens of female students were surrounding us like a folding screen, just looking for an opportunity.
The laughter was high-pitched, but their eyes were all shining coldly. It felt like the gazes checking each other were throwing sparks in the air.
I looked around blankly.
Other ordinary female students had already sensed this murderous current and were slinking out the back door with expressions saying, "Ah, I don't want to get caught in a fight between whales." They instinctively knew that getting involved with that group would be exhausting.
'...Crazy.'
It was no different from a marketplace. The problem was that this siege was gradually narrowing.
"Jin-hyuk-ah, what kind of food do you like? Korean? Western?"
"Or should we go to a cafe first? I know a good place."
"Your number? Can you give me your number?"
The walls blocking the front persistently tried to converse. If they had at least grabbed my sleeve, I could have shaken them off.
They were just smiling brightly and subtly blocking my path.
If I push them and say "Move!", I'll be the only rude piece of shit.
Instantly, I heard the sound of a fuse snapping in my head.
'Ah... things have become bothersome.'
Polite refusal doesn't work, and ignoring them doesn't make them clear the way.
Suddenly, I remembered the schedule. This is the only class today. Then the answer is clear.
This is a blood-splattered marketplace. If I rashly go to eat with any one person here, it's obvious my college life will be sucked into a whirlpool of factional warfare and politics.
It means I'm fucked.
'For now, I'm running today.'
I've finished assessing the situation. Staying longer will only drain my energy.
I need a justification. A very powerful, undeniable, absolute justification.
I looked at Hyun-woo, who was trembling next to me, pale with fright.
Then there's only one way.
"Hey, get on my back."
"...Pardon?"
Hyun-woo's eyes went wide.
"Shut up and get on. If you want to live."
Without even listening to an answer, I grabbed Hyun-woo's waist and hoisted him onto my back like a sack of rice. He was light. That anchovy-like guy. Eat well and walk around.
When I suddenly picked up my friend, the women surrounding us widened their eyes and faltered.
"O-oh my? Jin-hyuk-ah?"
"What are you doing? Is Hyun-woo sick?"
Voices of half-worry, half-bewilderment.
Taking advantage of that gap, with the most urgent and serious expression in the world, I opened my mouth solemnly.
"Move out of the way!!"
When I shouted at the top of my lungs, the women surrounding us flinched and faltered.
"O-oh my?"
"What's going on?"
I gripped Hyun-woo on my back tightly and shouted.
"Hyun-woo-nim says it's an explosive poop emergency!!! Clear the way!!!"
"......Huh?"
Hyun-woo looked at me with a stupid expression. The women's faces distorted in an instant. When a 'poop emergency' nuke was dropped on the site of romantic flirting, they collectively experienced brain freeze.
"It's so urgent he can't even walk! Move! Move if you don't want to get it on you!!!"
The effect was magnificent.
The faces of the girls who were dreaming of romantic flirting were dyed with horror, and like the miracle of Moses, the path split wide open.
Tadatat!
With Hyun-woo on my back, I sprinted toward the opened path.
Hyun-woo screamed on my back.
"Hey! You crazy bastard! I don't need to poop! Let me down!"
"Shut up! From now on, you're a diarrhea patient! Tighten your sphincter!"
'Ah... shit.'
My face burned the whole time I was running. It's embarrassing. It's so fucking embarrassing.
From the first day of the semester, I'm going to end up with a title like 'The loyal guy who runs while carrying his pooping friend.'
But what can I do? Rather than having my energy drained to death among those strong-willed noonas, I'd rather be the savior of a pooper.
I dashed across the hallway and kicked open the emergency exit door.
Slam!
Friend... friendship... I don't know. I'll have to take care of the romance of college life later.
"...Ha."
In the end, the reason all this trouble happened is one.
It's my fault for having a decent physical frame but not knowing a single thing about how to deal with women. It would have been nice if I could have handled it skillfully, but since all I can do is either a sudden outburst or an escape.
It's sad, really.
When I get home, I'll just play S-Gong...
