Freshman Champ (4)
Please check the status of each group for Modern Artifacts' Advertising Expression Techniques
Group 1 Leader: Kim Hyun-min, Members: Kang Hyun-guk, Yoon Yesul, Han Seong-a
Group 2 Leader: Lee Soon-hyung, Members: Song Mi-a ....
....
Group 9 Leader: Park Young-hwan, Members: Gu Han-jin, Min Yu-ri, Kim Seonghwan
Gulp. Seonghwan swallowed dryly as he checked the notice posted in front of the classroom.
Given the nature of this class, where everything had to be done in groups from start to finish, he now had zero personal freedom when it came to participating. Before forcing collective responsibility on them, the notice outlined the scope of that solidarity—and one name in particular kept flickering in Seonghwan's eyes.
— Group member: Min Yu-ri
'Finally in the same space as our Freshman Champ, but fuck, it doesn't feel all that great?'
It wasn't so much unpleasant as it was awkward—that word fit better. Ever since he'd sent that warning message to Freshman Champ first thing and then avoided any further contact, Seonghwan had been steering clear.
He'd been the one flustered by her consistently arrogant, bold attitude, ending up avoiding her instead.
'Hang on, I figured out who she is, and she has no clue about me—why the hell am I the one scared?'
So last night, he'd searched the gym gallery again and logged into the site. But...
'What the hell? When did this girl DM me?'
Even though he'd been dodging contact, a message from Freshman Champ had landed in his inbox. Spotting the blinking light, Seonghwan panicked and quickly closed the gallery tab.
'...Why do I feel like the criminal being interrogated? No way she figured out it's me, right? She couldn't have seen me searching the gym gallery back then either... Fuck, she didn't. She couldn't have.'
For all sorts of reasons, fear had kept him from checking Freshman Champ's message last night.
'How did I end up like this...'
Tap tap. Someone patted the dazed Seonghwan on the back. He turned to see Yesul smiling at him.
"The groups were set last week—why are you spacing out staring at the roster now?"
"...Eh, you know. Let's just head in for class."
"We're in the same class and all, but ending up in different groups kinda sucks."
"Yeah. Tell me about it."
Seonghwan masked the awkward weight pressing on him, forced a bright smile, and headed into the classroom with Yesul.
'The other group members... over there.'
"See you later, Yesul."
"Yeah! Listen up in class."
Half-listening to Yesul, Seonghwan made his way over.
'Phew... here goes. She showed up quick.'
His eyes landed on Yu-ri, leaning on her desk with her chin propped up, expressionless between two male seniors.
Putting Min Yu-ri aside for the moment, Seonghwan greeted the seniors first.
"Hello, seniors."
"Oh! Seonghwan's here. Sit next to Han-jin. You saw the roster, right? Since we're stuck together like one body for this class, we figured the early bird grabs seats front and back."
"Got it. I'll come early next time too. But you're the leader, senior?"
"Leader? It's nothing big. We just did rock-paper-scissors with Han-jin."
Seonghwan glanced at Gu Han-jin, who replied indifferently.
"Dude, don't you think giving the leader seating rights is overstepping? ...Not that I'm saying it 'cause I hate you or anything."
"Ah, yeah, sure."
'Wipe that obvious look off your face first. Your expression screams 'I don't wanna sit here.'
Seonghwan chatted with Gu Han-jin and naturally took his seat. He could feel Yu-ri's prickly gaze but ignored it, keeping the conversation going smoothly.
"Any plans for group meetings or anything? This is my first group project class, so... I've read online stories, but I can't get a feel for it."
Han-jin, who'd been looking bored, finally cracked a serious expression.
"Group work's not a big deal, but apparently tons of ideas have come out of this class over the years. Seniors say focus on quality over novelty. Might eat up more time than you think."
"Whoa... gotcha. So, any meetings after class?"
Then Park Young-hwan, the group leader sitting behind them, chimed in.
"Not long sessions, but steady meetups to talk things over? Class just started, and the prof has their own agenda. We'll get the vibe after a bit, but yeah, we might meet up more later."
"Ah... I see. So no meetings right after class, right?"
Seeing Seonghwan's troubled look, Young-hwan asked why.
"What's up? Got plans in the evening?"
Seonghwan seized the chance, laying out his situation.
"Thing is, I had to pick up a part-time gig this semester. It runs 7 to 10 PM, so evenings are tight—I gotta eat quick and bolt to make it."
"Huh? Part-time? You're a sophomore—sure you can handle it? And close by if it's till 7?"
Gu Han-jin from the next seat jumped in with questions.
"Yeah, circumstances... needed the cash. I'll cram studying on weekends and free periods. You know 'Don Doni Ne' pork belly right by the main gate? Starting there."
"Whoa... seriously? Working at Don Doni Ne?"
'Huh?'
Han-jin's odd reaction made Seonghwan probe.
"You know the place, senior?"
"Of course. Our department's opening party afterparty's there. And not just us—most departments do their afterparties or freshman welcomes there."
'Screech?! What the—?'
Reading Seonghwan's face, Han-jin continued.
"Didn't know? You've been in the hall, right? Place is huge, and the makchang place next door's same owner. Side-by-side, easy to hop between, big enough for large groups. That's why it's top of the list for servers to avoid."
'Gah?! Fuck...'
Seonghwan slumped back in his chair, dazed. Park Young-hwan massaged his shoulders from behind.
"Hang in there, man. March is basically hell month. Peak season. And with work, you might miss the opening party?"
"Ah... yeah..."
Seonghwan was too out of it to hear properly.
'Screwed. Fuck. This shady boss exploiting a naive newbie—no heads-up about the massive influx...'
"Since Seonghwan's working, we should cut him some slack? Assign solo tasks for roles. Sound good?"
"Yeah... Editing, proofreading—post-production stuff. Even if we meet, use free periods or... weekends? What about you, Yu-ri? No part-time, right?"
Young-hwan asked Yu-ri, who thought for a sec before replying.
"Doesn't matter to me. But roles... shouldn't we think it over?"
"Huh? Why? Got ideas?"
"Prof said the point is collaborating on the project. If one skips, the other three carry extra load. Just meet weekends?"
'Skip? As if. You think I'm thrilled about special treatment?'
Seonghwan ground his teeth inwardly but agreed.
"Weekends work fine. I'll be studying here anyway."
"Cool. We'll schedule later. Hey, free meat at Seonghwan's serving spot? Haha!"
"Right? Grill for us sometimes, Seonghwan. I'll tip ya. Puhaha!!!"
No malice in Park Young-hwan and Gu Han-jin's teasing, but Seonghwan was too grim to laugh.
'Tough? Fine. But fuck, serving means my face gets known everywhere... How do I deal? Our department too, right?'
Then Yu-ri, who'd been listening, cut in.
"Skip the meat. Just pour drinks sometimes. You were good at bomb shots last time."
'This crazy bitch? Thinks serving's bartending?'
Young-hwan and Han-jin laughed, thinking it rare humor from her, but Seonghwan knew better.
'She'd do it too. Just wave her hand lazily with a glass. But when did I ever make her a bomb shot?'
Thinking back, Seonghwan's impression of Yu-ri hadn't been great since their first meeting.
No shared drinks with her that he recalled...
'Ah! That time!!!!'
****
Seonghwan's first encounter with Yu-ri was at freshman orientation. Unlike other colleges, the Social Sciences College student council had booked a full 2-night, 3-day MT retreat for the '23 freshmen.
The initially awkward orientation buzzed to life under proactive seniors' hosting, with hesitant conversations starting among the newbies.
Just as Seonghwan tried joining in, something isolated him again.
"Senior, what's next?"
"Senior, do we eat together?"
'...I'm a freshman too.'
His gap-year hell must've aged his skin. Or two years was an unbridgeable gap amid these fresh-faced kids.
The newbies blooming with smiles kept treating him like a senior—turns out they'd mistaken him for one.
The clincher came from a male senior guiding the crowd.
"You're Seonghwan, right? Heard from Minhwan. Haha! Tough repeater bro made it to our college. Don't think senior—think close hyung from now on."
The words drew all eyes to Seonghwan as the senior rushed off.
'...What a "considerate" fucking move.'
And his brother apparently hadn't asked the senior to look out—hadn't even acknowledged him since.
Standing awkwardly amid the growing wall, the MC grabbed the mic.
"Freshmen! As announced, training clothes packed? Head to the spots seniors show, change, and regroup. But first..."
The MC grinned mischievously, spreading his arms toward them.
"Time to form groups. Why drag everyone to an MT? Fun programs await—designed for groups to build bonds and teamwork, not individuals. So, groups now?"
Pointing to lines already split by gender per seniors' directions, the MC continued.
"Guys dash. Girls accept or reject. Friendship speed-dating. Guys, groups of four. Girls too. Pick leaders quick. Then guys' leader dashes to girls' group. Their leader decides. Last ones left? Seniors assign. Need speed. Go!"
Newbies buzzed in confusion.
'Total chaos...'
Every crowd has misfits. Unadapted guys eyed each other, then clustered.
'Why am I the center?'
Had they heard he was a repeater? Or bought the "hyung" bit? Guys slunk toward him anyway—quite a few.
"Hyung, right? Group with us?"
Already "hyung."
"Sure..."
"Hi, freshman Min Sung-bae."
"Hi, freshman..."
Suddenly leading three guys, Seonghwan ignored their heavy stares and eyed the girls. Roughly even numbers, golden ratio maybe.
"We'll get shot down."
He glanced back worriedly, but the young ones were firm.
"We'd get rejected anyway."
'...Masterfully assuming I'll get rejected.'
Tweet! Whistle blew. Seonghwan charged.
And saw her. A stately crane. Long black straight hair cascading over white padding down to her waist. Cat-like upturned eyes fringed with thick lashes. Glossy red lips. Skin whiter than her eyes, smooth. Delicate features. Prettier than a celeb—idol-level, standing expressionless before their group.
Seonghwan looked away instantly.
'Obvious leader. That girl's a no-go.'
Guys already swarming her. Ignoring his team's desperate hopes burning into his back, he bolted to another group.
'Any rational guy targets the niche market.'
Seonghwan got shot down six times total.