By the time they stopped practicing, the evening sun was setting, casting a warm glow across the room. They packed their bags, stepping out into the dusky light. Jung-hwa locked the door, then turned to Joon-won, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.
"Thank you so much for today, Joon-won. Your help was invaluable. I feel like I understand the role much better now. But it's a bit embarrassing—I was supposed to help you, yet it turned into a lesson for me. Your acting is just so much better," she said, scratching her head with a sheepish smile.
Joon-won shook his head with a reassuring grin. "No need to apologize. My part is simpler and requires less emotional range than yours. You have to tackle various complex emotions, so it's okay if we focused more on your role today. And don't doubt yourself—you're better than most of our classmates. Just have more confidence."
Jung-hwa nodded, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "Alright, then. I'll see you tomorrow morning. We can practice all day, and the day after, we start full-length rehearsals with everyone. I need to drop these keys at the staff room. See you!"
As she jingled the keys and turned to leave, Joon-won called out, "Wait, Jung-hwa. Do you know where the university library is? I need to go there."
"The library?" Jung-hwa looked puzzled. "Why would you need to go there?"
"I prefer looking things up in books rather than on my phone," Joon-won replied, trying to keep his patience.
"Oh, I see. Libraries aren't common stops for us acting students, so I was just curious. I'll show you the way after I drop off the keys," she offered with a slight chuckle.
Joon-won nodded gratefully and followed her through the campus. The silence between them grew, filled only with the ambient noises of the university as dusk settled in. Joon-won took in the sights, appreciating the campus life he had missed in his previous existence, while Jung-hwa seemed lost in thought.
"Here we are," she said as they reached a large, imposing building. "This is the university library. You just need your student ID to enter. I hope you find what you need. Bye!"
"Thanks for showing me the way. Have a good evening," Joon-won replied, stepping inside as Jung-hwa waved and walked towards her dorm.
Inside the library, the air was filled with the scent of aged paper and a quiet hum of studious activity. A middle-aged librarian at the counter glanced up and asked for his ID card. Joon-won handed it over, while his eyes wandered over the rows of bookshelves.
The librarian raised an eyebrow at his major. "An acting student? At the library?"
Joon-won suppressed a sigh. "I need to research world history for a project," he lied smoothly, hoping to quell her curiosity.
She gave him a dubious look but eventually shrugged and returned his card. "Sign in here, and you'll find the history section at the far end, first row."
With a nod, Joon-won filled in his details and headed towards the history section. The quiet rustle of pages greeted him as he navigated through the aisles. He found the history section, picked up a beginner's guide to world history, and began flipping through its pages, immersing himself in the knowledge he sought.