As Joon-ho's eyelids fluttered open, he felt a sense of disorientation wash over him, momentarily forgetting where he was. Glancing around the dimly lit room, he realized that he had dozed off for a brief nap. With a soft groan, he stretched his arms above his head, feeling the stiffness from his impromptu nap dissipate. As he reached for his phone, he couldn't help but notice the time – it was already evening. The realization dawned on him that he would likely be staying up late tonight, given the accumulation of naps throughout the day.
Unlocking his phone, Joon-ho's expectations were met with a couple of new notifications, including messages from Soo-jin. His curiosity piqued, and he quickly opened her messages, eager to hear about her experiences in the dorm. Sure enough, Soo-jin had provided him with an update on her progress. She had finished setting up her living space and even made some new friends, courtesy of her roommate. A smile tugged at Joon-ho's lips as he read about Soo-jin's adventures, glad to hear that she was settling in well.
In her messages, Soo-jin extended an invitation for Joon-ho to join her and a friend as they explored the university grounds, familiarizing themselves with the various facilities and amenities. Joon-ho's heart swelled with gratitude for her thoughtfulness, appreciating the gesture despite his initial hesitance to reach out.
With a renewed sense of energy coursing through him, he quickly composed a response, expressing his excitement at the prospect of joining them. After sending the text, Joon-ho rose from his bed, eager to seize the opportunity to explore his new surroundings and perhaps make some new friends along the way.
As Joon-ho rushed to the bathroom, his mind racing with thoughts of getting ready quickly to join Soo-jin and her friend, he barely registered the door swinging open before him. Before he could react, he collided with someone emerging from the bathroom, a comical mishap that left both parties momentarily stunned.
As Joon-ho steadied himself, he took in the appearance of the man before him. With tousled hair and a casual demeanour, the roommate exuded a laid-back vibe, contrasting with Joon-ho's hurried state.
"Sorry about that," Joon-ho apologised, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I didn't realise you were coming out."
"No worries, man. Happens all the time," the man offered a reassuring smile, brushing off the incident with a wave of his hand.
"I'm Joon-ho Kang, by the way. Just moved in today," realising they hadn't properly introduced themselves, Joon-ho extended his hand.
"Nice to meet you, Joon-ho. I'm Kang-dae Muk. Been here for a little while now, getting settled in," the roommate, know known as Kang-dae, returned the gesture, his grip firm and welcoming.
Their brief exchange of pleasantries put Joon-ho at ease, his initial nerves dissipating in the warmth of Kang-dae's friendly demeanour. As they exchanged a few more words, Joon-ho couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie beginning to form between them, a promising start to their newfound living arrangement.
As much as Joon-ho wanted to linger and get to know Kang-dae better, the urgency of catching up with Soo-jin propelled him forward.
"I hate to rush, but I've got to meet up with someone," he explained apologetically to Kang-dae.
"No worries, Joon-ho. I'll catch you later. Go ahead and take your time," Kang-dae, ever understanding, simply nodded in response.
With a grateful smile, Joon-ho darted out of the room, relieved that Kang-Dae had been so accommodating. It was moments like these that made him feel hopeful about forging new friendships in his new environment.
As Joon-ho hurriedly prepared himself in the bathroom, he couldn't shake the feeling of urgency gnawing at him. With the sink providing a steady stream of water, he splashed his face, refreshing himself and banishing any traces of drowsiness.
Hastily drying his hands, he exited the dorm room, taking note of the absence of the mysterious roommate who had been lying on his bed earlier. It seemed everyone was out and about, exploring the university grounds.
Making his way out of the dormitory, Joon-ho's thoughts turned to surprising Soo-jin with a memorable spot on campus. With a quick inquiry to Kang-dae about interesting locations, Joon-ho's hopes were dashed when Kang-dae simply shrugged, explaining that everything seemed pretty ordinary unless one made their memories.
"Hey, Kang-dae," he began, pausing at the door. "Any interesting spots around campus you'd recommend? Something that could leave a lasting impression?"
Kang-dae glanced up from his task, considering for a moment before shaking his head.
"Not really," he replied with a shrug. "I mean, it's all pretty standard stuff unless you've got specific memories attached to certain places."
"Guess I'll have to do just that," Joon-ho replied with a chuckle, appreciative of Kang-dae's honesty. "Thanks anyway. See you around!"
With a nod of farewell, Joon-ho set off in search of Soo-jin, excitement coursing through him as he anticipated the adventures that awaited them.
As Joon-ho stepped away from the dorm building, he quickly dialled Soo-jin's number on his phone, eager to join her. After the initial greetings, he cut straight to the chase.
"Hey, Soo-jin, where are you right now?"
Soo-jin's voice came through the phone, slightly muffled by background noise.
"I'm by the sports centre," she replied.
"Great, stay there, I'll be there soon," Joon-ho said, his excitement evident in his voice.
With the call ended, Joon-ho quickly navigated to the university's website and downloaded the campus map. Within moments, he had pinpointed his current location and marked the sports centre as his destination. With determination, he set off in the direction indicated by the map, eager to reunite with Soo-jin.
As Joon-ho made his way toward the sports centre, he couldn't help but notice the eerie quietness that enveloped the university grounds. Despite the occasional presence of staff members scurrying about, the absence of students was palpable. The usually bustling pathways were eerily deserted, with only the occasional echo of footsteps breaking the silence.
With just a week left before the official orientation, Joon-ho pondered the reasons behind the desolation. Were the students who had arrived early, like Kang-dae and himself, opting to remain holed up in their dorm rooms, perhaps immersed in their activities or preparations for the upcoming semester? Or perhaps the majority of students were yet to arrive, choosing to delay their arrival until closer to the start of classes?
Lost in his thoughts, Joon-ho continued his solitary walk, the rhythmic sound of his footsteps the only accompaniment to his musings. He couldn't shake off the feeling of isolation that seemed to permeate the air around him, amplifying his sense of solitude.
Despite the quietness, Joon-ho found solace in the tranquil beauty of the university campus. Lush greenery adorned the pathways, and the architecture of the buildings exuded a sense of grandeur and sophistication. The sun cast a warm glow over the surroundings, lending an air of serenity to the otherwise deserted landscape.
As he approached the sports centre, Joon-ho's thoughts returned to his impending reunion with Soo-jin. He quickened his pace, eager to finally catch up with his friend and soak in her infectious energy. The prospect of exploring the campus together, even in its current deserted state, filled him with a sense of excitement and anticipation.
With each step, Joon-ho felt a renewed sense of determination to make the most of his time at NexaCorp Korea University. Despite the initial sense of isolation, he was determined to forge meaningful connections, explore new opportunities, and create lasting memories during his time here.
As Joon-ho approached Soo-jin at the sports centre, her playful demeanour was evident in the mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
"Hey there, sleepyhead!" she teased, her grin widening as she noticed the slightly tousled state of Joon-ho's hair. "Did you take an impromptu nap in your room or something? That's not like you at all!"
Joon-ho chuckled at Soo-jin's playful jab, his smile matching hers in its infectiousness.
"Well, you caught me," he admitted, feigning a sheepish expression. "I couldn't resist the temptation of a quick snooze after all the excitement of moving in."
Soo-jin laughed, nudging him playfully with her elbow.
"I should've known! You're always the responsible one," she teased, her tone affectionate. "But seriously, it's good to see you. I was starting to think you got lost on your way here!"
Joon-ho rolled his eyes in mock exasperation.
"Hey now, I may have taken a detour or two, but I made it in one piece," he protested, earning another laugh from Soo-jin.
Their playful banter continued as they set off to explore the campus together, the easy camaraderie between them evident in their lighthearted conversation.
As they stood by the sports centre, basking in the tranquillity of the evening, Joon-ho and Soo-jin found themselves immersed in a comfortable silence, punctuated only by the occasional chirping of birds or the distant rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze.
The fading light casts a warm glow over the surroundings, painting the landscape in hues of soft oranges and pinks, lending an ethereal quality to the scene. Despite the stillness of the campus, there was an underlying sense of anticipation in the air, a palpable energy that hinted at the excitement and potential of the days to come.