Green Light in Operations Management

Operations Management wasn't exactly an easy subject. For someone like me who was weak when it came to memorization-heavy classes, courses like this were actually even harder. And then there was Professor Lee Gook-hwan. His lectures were so incredibly monotonous that fighting to stay awake was more exhausting than anything else. The professor began his explanation while projecting a PPT onto the screen in front of us.

"...Anyway, as I mentioned before, we'll be starting the team projects from this week onward."

Ah. So it was already that time. I must have subconsciously erased the fact that there would be group work because I didn't want to think about it. I mean, why assign team projects in a huge lecture class like this? Professors who teach large classes usually avoid them just to save themselves the hassle. But Professor Lee was no ordinary instructor.

"I've randomly assigned the groups, and from now on, please gather with your teammates to introduce yourselves and share your thoughts."

The moment I heard that the groups had been decided, Yuna immediately came to mind. This was a class we were both taking together, after all. I glanced toward the back seats by the window where she was sitting. The seat next to her was already taken by another girl. Not that I would have had the courage to sit beside her even if it had been empty.

"Okay. Look at the screen and let's have Group 1 sit over here, continuing down the line."

I scanned the screen projected by the beam projector, searching for my group and teammates.

Oh my god. I clenched my fist tightly under the desk. Should I actually buy a lottery ticket? My luck seemed way too good lately. It didn't really matter which group I ended up in, but if I had to pick, being with Yuna was definitely the best ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠option. A team project with my favorite streamer. Just thinking about it made my heart flutter. Though the words "team project" did kill some of the excitement. Still, maybe I could endure all the usual group project suffering while stealing glances at her.

When I walked over to the table for Group 7 that the professor had assigned, Yuna smiled and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠came toward me. She plopped down in the seat right beside mine.

"Oppa. It feels like we've been seeing each other a lot lately, doesn't it?"

"Yeah. Let's work well together on this."

"Me too. I'm so glad I'm in the same group as you, oppa. I don't know a single person in this class."

You too? Same here. Was this what people meant by "introverts gravitate toward each other"?

The problem was the other two members. They were probably both strangers to me. It would have been so much easier if Jaemin had been in this class. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of the lectures we shared.

The two others approached us as we sat there.

"Looks like those two are with us, right?"

"Seems that way."

A neatly dressed guy wearing round glasses and casual clothes, and a girl with long, straight hair in oversized, flowy outfits. Once everyone was seated, we started introductions. My awkward self-introduction came first, followed by Yuna's, then the guy with the glasses.

"Hello, I'm Kim Minseok from the Business Administration department."

His clear, bright voice left a good impression. From the way he dressed and spoke, he was clearly the typical outgoing, sociable type. How could I tell? I was an expert at spotting fellow introverts. Like recognizes like, after all. Personality-wise he might be tiring, but he looked like the type who would actually put in effort on a group project. Good. Not bad at all.

The problem wasn't Minseok. It was the girl who was still glued to her phone. While the rest of us introduced ourselves, she didn't even glance up, just kept staring at her screen. The unmistakable aura of a villain was already drifting over. I started praying. There was still a tiny sliver of hope left for humanity. Maybe she had something urgent to deal with?

Feeling anxious, I sneaked a glance at the person beside me. Yuna's expression was already far from pleasant.

"..."

It was her turn to introduce herself, yet she remained completely silent. People like me and Yuna were terrible at situations like this. We hated having to say anything negative to others.

After holding back as long as he could, Minseok finally spoke to her first.

"Um... it's your turn. Could you please introduce yourself?"

Oh. As expected from an extrovert. You've got this, Minseok. Fighting. I sent him intense telepathic cheers from the bottom of my heart. There were moments when I was truly grateful for friends like him.

"Ah, yes. Hellooo."

She gave a slight nod and immediately looked back down at her phone. Wait... was that seriously it?

A chill ran up my spine, making my whole body shudder. When I creaked my head to the side, Yuna was looking at me with the exact same expression.

...We're screwed. This team project was completely fucked. If I'd known this would happen, I never would have watched that "Group Project Villain World Cup" video yesterday. Looked like a villain had appeared in our group after all.

"Thanks for your hard work~."

"Yes, you too."

After saying goodbye to Minseok, oppa and I left the lecture hall. I already had a bad feeling that the team project was ruined. ...Of all people, why did we get stuck with someone like her? Kim Yujeong, was it? The girl who showed up in flashy, baggy clothes and stayed on her phone the entire class. Minseok had subtly brought it up to the professor, but it didn't change anything. The professor simply said the group numbers were perfect now and asked us to try persuading her.

It was obvious this team project would be nothing but hardship.

"Oppa. We'll be okay, right?"

I spoke to oppa as we left the lecture room together. Since I had to balance streaming with real life, I was extra sensitive to trolls in group projects. Problems in real life could directly affect my main job.

"You know how it is. When five people get together, one of them is always a problem."

"I know. I know it all too well. I feel it every time I climb in the Yeti ranks. But... having to deal with it in real life too?"

Since our next classes were in the same direction, oppa walked down the same hallway with me. The business lecture rooms in our school were all clustered together anyway.

And then there was the last member.

"The girl is definitely a problem, but... the other guy is just as exhausting."

The typical people-pleaser. Not a bad person at all. The type who would work hard on the project and show way too much interest in his teammates.

- Oh, so you two already know each other?

- Really? You're in the same department but you've never seen each other before?

- After the project ends, should we do something together? You know, like a team dinner or after-party. I love that kind of thing.

Minseok kept showing interest in us throughout the class. He was definitely the tiring type. Oppa nodded in agreement with what I said.

"I really hope we don't have to do any team dinner. Me too."

What the hell even is a team dinner? You damn nerd. Oppa's exhausted tone made me burst out laughing. Maybe it was the sense of solidarity between fellow introverts.

"You really are as much of an introvert as I am, oppa. You don't look like one though."

From our previous conversations, I'd already sensed that oppa was definitely an introvert. Our personalities and hobbies were incredibly similar. He didn't seem like the type who went out much, either.

"How do I look to you, then?"

"Hmm... like the quiet type who seems reserved at drinking parties but still says everything he needs to in a calm, steady way?"

"What kind of type is that supposed to be?"

"There is such a type. Anyway."

How could he not know? Maybe oppa didn't go to many drinking parties. Well, I didn't either. At first I'd thought he was the quiet sociable type—someone who listened well to others and spoke calmly about himself.

"I think I know your MBTI, oppa. You're an INTP, right?"

"Oh. Pretty good intuition. That's spot on."

"That's my main major, you know. Business is just my minor."

Lately I kept falling into MBTI topics whenever there was a chance, and my viewers were starting to complain. They called me an MBTI maniac.

"Still, I'm glad we're together."

"...Yes?"

Did I just get flustered for no reason? Sigh... It was because I'd talked with my sister yesterday. Now I was overthinking every little thing. Normally I would have brushed it off without a second thought. But now I couldn't help wondering if there was some hidden meaning behind oppa's words.

"No, I just meant it's better to be with someone you know rather than complete strangers."

Oppa tried to play it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠off like it was nothing, looking a bit embarrassed. Was that really all there was to it? Or was this an unconscious sign of affection that I was completely missing? The conversation I'd had with my sister yesterday came floating back to mind.

If I hadn't been a complete dating novice, I wouldn't have taken my sister's words so seriously. But with zero experience, her advice kept sounding more and more plausible. Now I kind of wanted to test it. To see if oppa really did like me.

Sister... I'll trust you this once.

I locked eyes with oppa, who happened to be looking my way, and gave him a gentle smile. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.

Oppa's ears turned red as he blatantly avoided my gaze.

He avoided it... he actually avoided it.

What? Was this for real?

"...Why? What is it, Yuna?"

"Nothing. It's nothing."

Sister. It looks like it's true. I think I just got the green light.

I hid my joy on the outside, but inside I was absolutely giddy with excitement.