The campus library was almost sacred to Jiho. The scent of aged paper, the distant murmurs of pages being turned, and the soft light filtering through the curtains created a refuge from the chaos of the outside world. He sat at the same table every day, tucked away in the farthest corner, where he could observe without being observed. Here, he was just another face among the countless students immersed in their studies, invisible and untouchable.
On that particular day, Jiho was engrossed in a classic collection of Korean tales. His fingers skimmed the pages as he jotted notes in a notebook. He loved the depth of ancient stories, the layers of hidden meanings. It was a stark contrast to his own life, which he deemed simple and uneventful. But for Jiho, simplicity was comforting. Predictability protected him from the unexpected and from the discomfort of social interactions.
Adjusting his glasses, he kept writing, trying to ignore the buzz of a notification on his phone. It was from the Literature class group chat. Reluctantly, he unlocked his phone to read the new message.
[Professor Park]: Students, the interdisciplinary project has been decided. You will adapt a classic tale into a theatrical performance. Groups have been randomly assigned. Please check your teams on the academic portal.
A chill ran through Jiho's body. Group projects were his worst nightmare. He would much rather write an essay on his own than deal with the discomfort of exposing himself to strangers. With a resigned sigh, he logged into the portal.
Group 4: Kim Jiho, Yoo Seungmin, Han Junwoo.
His heart skipped a beat as he read the names. Jiho didn't recognize Junwoo, but Yoo Seungmin's name was unmistakable. He'd heard of the charismatic Theater student who was always the center of attention. The contrast between them was so striking that Jiho could already feel anxiety settling in his stomach.
While Jiho processed the message in silence, across campus, Seungmin was in the middle of the usual chaos of the rehearsal room. He was wearing an improvised costume—a torn cloak and a hat that barely balanced on his head.
"Seungmin, for the love of God, take this seriously!" complained Taehyun, watching his friend with a mix of exasperation and amusement.
"Take it seriously? Tae, theater is about freedom, not restrictions!" Seungmin responded with a radiant smile, spinning dramatically as if he were on a grand stage.
Taehyun rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smile. He had known Seungmin long enough to understand that his over-the-top humor was a mask. Seungmin was the kind of person who could light up an entire room, but he rarely let anyone see what lay behind the shine.
A notification from the professor interrupted the moment. Seungmin stopped mid-spin, pulled out his phone, and read the message with a slight frown.
"An interdisciplinary project... fantastic. Nothing like being forced to work with people you've never met."
"Maybe it'll be good for you. Who knows? You might finally learn to deal with people who don't worship the ground you walk on," teased Taehyun.
Seungmin ignored the comment and checked the portal. Seeing the names of his groupmates, he raised an eyebrow.
"Jiho... I think I've seen that name before. Isn't he the quiet guy from the library?"
Taehyun shrugged. "How do you even remember random names?"
"Oh, I have an excellent memory for important things," Seungmin joked, winking. "But Junwoo's in the group too. This is going to be... interesting."
——————
The next day, Jiho arrived at the library's study room far too early. He wanted to prepare, organize his thoughts, and avoid any embarrassing situations. He placed his materials on the table and began reviewing the tale they would adapt. His focus was absolute, but the looming anxiety of meeting his groupmates lingered.
When the clock struck the agreed time, hurried footsteps and loud laughter broke the silence. Jiho looked up to see a tall young man with a radiant smile entering the room. It was Yoo Seungmin.
"You're Jiho, right?" Seungmin asked as he approached the table without hesitation.
Jiho nodded, adjusting his glasses. "Yes. And you're... Seungmin?"
"In the flesh!" Seungmin dropped his backpack onto a chair and sat down with a carefree motion. "So, you like books, huh? Looks like we'll get along great."
Jiho didn't respond immediately. Seungmin's energy was overwhelming, and he wasn't sure how to handle it.
Before the conversation could go any further, the door opened again, revealing Junwoo. He entered with a confident posture, his eyes scanning the two already seated.
"Looks like we have an interesting group here," Junwoo said, pulling out a chair and sitting down with practiced elegance.
Seungmin glanced sideways at Junwoo, recognizing the familiar tension between them. "Interesting is... one way to put it."
Junwoo smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm curious to see how this works out. A bookworm, an actor, and... well, me."
Jiho felt the weight of the dynamic forming in the room. He wasn't a fan of conflict, but it seemed the next few weeks would be anything but peaceful.
——————
The first few minutes were marked by awkward silences and exchanged glances. Seungmin tried to break the ice with jokes, but Junwoo seemed more interested in scrutinizing the group's weaknesses.
"So, Jiho, have you thought about how we can turn this tale into something theatrical?" Junwoo asked, his voice formal enough to make Jiho feel even more uneasy.
"I... I'm still thinking," Jiho replied, avoiding direct eye contact.
Seungmin stepped in, sensing Jiho's discomfort. "Hey, take it easy, Junwoo. We're here to brainstorm together. How about we start with general ideas instead of putting Jiho on the spot?"
Junwoo raised an eyebrow. "I'm not pressuring him. I just think it's important to have a clear direction from the start."
"Right, but maybe we can do that without making it feel like a job interview," Seungmin shot back, keeping his tone light but firm.
Jiho glanced at Seungmin, surprised by his intervention. It was strange, but he felt a little more at ease.
The meeting continued, with ideas tossed onto the table and moments of tension between Seungmin and Junwoo. Jiho, though shy, managed to contribute a few suggestions that, to his surprise, were well-received by Seungmin.
When the meeting ended, Jiho quietly packed his materials while Seungmin leaned against the table, watching him with curiosity.
"You're pretty quiet, aren't you?" Seungmin commented.
Jiho paused for a moment, unsure how to respond. "I... prefer listening."
Seungmin smiled. "Maybe that's a good thing. I talk too much, so you can balance me out."
Jiho felt his face heat up but didn't reply. He wasn't used to people like Seungmin, but there was something about him that was both intriguing... and a little intimidating.