As Ginger settled into his seat, two students approached him with friendly smiles. The first was James, a tall and muscular guy with naturally black hair. He exuded a warm and approachable aura, wearing a casually rolled-up blue long shirt and dark blue jeans. The other student was Eric, not as tall as James but still quite tall compared to others. He had an easy-going personality, though he was known for his clumsiness. Despite that, he was well-liked, though not as popular as James. Eric wore an unbuttoned short shirt in blue, with a white long-sleeved shirt underneath.
"Hey, long time no see," James greeted Ginger, coming closer with an outstretched hand.
"Yeah, I really thought you had left us," Eric added, joining the conversation.
Ginger smiled, appreciating their warm reception. "Yeah, sorry for suddenly disappearing without informing anyone."
James waved off his apology. "No need to apologize. At least you came back. We missed you."
Eric chimed in with a laugh. "Yeah, now that you're back, you'll be the one to answer the professor's tough questions."
They all chuckled together, reminiscing about their shared experiences. But then, a brief silence fell upon the group.
"But seriously, we've missed having a tank like you. None of the boys could answer the professor's questions," Eric confessed, a hint of frustration in his voice. "The professor seemed a bit disappointed."
James nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he kept asking about your whereabouts. He seemed quite down when you left."
Ginger listened attentively, realizing the impact he had on the classroom dynamic. "Is that so? Well, I'm glad I decided to continue."
James leaned closer, his eyes filled with sincerity. "You're not planning on leaving again, are you?"
Eric chimed in anxiously, echoing James' concern. "Yeah, we can't afford to lose our tank again."
Ginger smirked, teasing them. "Well, I might just leave again if you keep relying on me as the tank."
Eric sighed in mock exasperation. "Come on, man! You know we don't even understand half of what the professor says. Every time he finishes, I have to study it all over again just to grasp the lessons."
Ginger chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, maybe you should've taken the front seat then."
James joined in the banter. "You know that's reserved for the girls."
Eric nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we can't stay focused like the girls."
Suddenly, a voice interrupted their conversation. It was Mary, one of the popular girls in the university, known not only for her intelligence but also for her attractive looks. Wearing a blue casual dress and a jeans jacket, she sat in front of them, arranging her long black hair.
"You guys know that's one of the reasons you're still single, right?" Mary said, looking somewhat irritated. "Girls don't want to be judged; they want to be praised."
Eric shot back with a smirk. "Well, you don't have a boyfriend either. What's the difference?"
Mary glared at him momentarily before calmly taking out her book to study. "That's another reason you guys are still single. Anyway, welcome back, Ginger. It's nice to see you again."
Ginger replied with a grateful smile. "Thanks, and sorry for disappearing without notice."
Mary nodded and immersed herself in her studies. Eric turned to Ginger, grinning.
"See what I mean? They're hardcore learners," Eric whispered, his voice full of admiration.
James stood up, patting Ginger on the back. "Leave her be. It's good to have you back, dude," James said as he walked back to his seat.
"Thanks, guys. It feels good to be back," Ginger replied, feeling a sense of belonging in their presence.
Eric also made his way to his seat, flashing a playful grin at Ginger. "Don't leave again, okay? We need our tank."
Ginger nodded, determined to be there for his friends and make the most of his college journey. Opening his book, he immersed himself in studying, eagerly preparing for the upcoming lesson.