Jiho woke up that morning with a strange weight in his chest. He had spent the night reviewing the story that would be adapted into a play, but his mind couldn't fully concentrate. His interaction with Seungmin and Junwoo the day before kept replaying in his head. No matter how much he tried to avoid it, he kept going over the details—the exaggerated mannerisms of Seungmin, the critical gaze of Junwoo, and his own difficulty expressing himself around them.
The campus seemed busier than usual. Jiho crossed the main entrance, clutching his bag tightly, his eyes cast downward as usual. He knew he wasn't the kind of person who drew attention. In fact, he preferred it that way. Still, something about that group unsettled him: the idea that they would be a constant part of his life for the next few weeks.
As he walked toward the library, where the group had agreed to meet again, a loud and familiar voice made him stop in his tracks.
"Hey, Jiho!"
Seungmin waved from across the square, a wide smile on his face.
Jiho froze. He wasn't used to being called out so openly, especially by someone like Seungmin. He tried to pretend he hadn't heard, but Seungmin was already heading toward him, striding across the lawn with long, confident steps.
"I thought that was you!" Seungmin stopped beside Jiho, sliding his hands into the pockets of his casual jacket. "Heading to the library, right?"
Jiho nodded, unsure of how to respond. "Yeah… we're supposed to meet there."
"Perfect. Let's go together." Seungmin began walking beside him without asking for permission. He seemed so at ease that Jiho wondered if he acted like this with everyone or if he was deliberately trying to make Jiho feel comfortable.
"So, what do you think of our group?" Seungmin asked, breaking the silence.
Jiho hesitated before answering. "It's… interesting."
Seungmin laughed, as if he understood exactly what Jiho meant. "Junwoo's a bit intense, isn't he? Always so serious, always trying to impress. But you'll get used to it. I already have."
Jiho wasn't sure if "getting used to it" was something he wanted to do. Still, he nodded, keeping his eyes on the ground as they walked.
When they reached the library, Junwoo was already there, sitting with almost theatrical perfection, as if posing for a photo. He looked at the two of them with a neutral expression, but Jiho felt the weight of judgment in his gaze.
"You're late," Junwoo said, adjusting his watch.
"No, we're not. We've still got five minutes," Seungmin replied casually, tossing his backpack onto a chair and sitting down with an effortless motion. He looked at Jiho, who was still standing near the table. "Come on, Jiho. Let's get started."
Jiho sat down slowly, pulling out his notebook and pen. He noticed Junwoo watching him, as if already assessing his contribution before they had even begun to discuss.
"I reviewed the story last night," Junwoo began, opening his laptop. "I think the structure is simple, but the challenge will be bringing the characters to life. We need to ensure the play is dynamic, and that will require a more creative adaptation."
Seungmin chuckled softly. "That's just a fancy way of saying you'll need me, huh?"
"We'll need everyone," Junwoo corrected, his expression remaining serious. "And that includes Jiho. After all, you're the story expert, aren't you?"
Jiho shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "I… I can try to help."
"Try?" Junwoo raised an eyebrow. "We're not here to try. We're here to deliver."
Before Jiho could respond, Seungmin intervened, leaning across the table. "Relax, Junwoo. Let the guy breathe. It's only the first day."
Junwoo rolled his eyes but didn't reply. Jiho felt a mix of gratitude and discomfort at Seungmin's defense. He wasn't used to someone stepping in for him, and he wasn't sure if it made him seem weak.
—————
The first few hours of discussion were tense but productive. Over time, Jiho managed to gather the courage to share a few ideas, which Seungmin enthusiastically supported, while Junwoo scrutinized every detail with skepticism. Despite the difficulties, the group managed to create an initial outline for the adaptation.
When they finally decided to call it a day, Seungmin stretched in his chair and let out an exaggerated sigh. "That was intense. I think we deserve some coffee. What do you think?"
"I have other commitments," Junwoo said, closing his laptop with surgical precision. "See you later."
Junwoo left before anyone could reply, leaving a faint tension in the air. Seungmin turned to Jiho with an encouraging smile. "So, what do you think? Coffee? My treat."
Jiho hesitated. He wasn't used to accepting invitations like this, especially from people like Seungmin, who seemed to live in a completely different world. But something about Seungmin's friendly tone made him reconsider.
"Alright," he finally replied, putting his materials into his bag.
Seungmin smiled, satisfied. "That's the spirit. You need a break after dealing with our dear Junwoo."
—————
At the campus café, Seungmin made a point of ordering the most expensive coffee for himself and a tea for Jiho, without even asking what he wanted. As they sat down, Seungmin leaned forward, his eyes shining with curiosity.
"So, Jiho, tell me about yourself. Besides books, what do you like to do?"
Jiho was surprised by the question. He wasn't used to being the center of attention, especially in casual conversation. "I… don't know. I guess I don't do much besides reading."
"Really? Nothing? Not even watching movies or going somewhere fun?" Seungmin seemed genuinely intrigued.
"I'm not much of an outgoing person. I prefer staying home."
"Wow, you're really the opposite of me. I can't stand staying still. I always have to be doing something, or I go crazy."
Jiho gave a small smile. "I guess that's why you're into theater."
"Exactly. The stage is my home." Seungmin paused, looking at Jiho with an intensity that made him uncomfortable. "What about you? Have you ever thought about trying something like that? Theater, maybe?"
Jiho nearly choked on his tea. "Me? On stage? No way."
Seungmin laughed. "Relax, I'm not saying you need to step onto the stage tomorrow. But who knows? Maybe one day. I think you'd surprise a lot of people."
Jiho shook his head, still unable to fathom the idea. But for the first time, he felt that perhaps, just perhaps, working with Seungmin wouldn't be as bad as he had imagined.
Seungmin took a long sip of his coffee as he gazed out the window of the café. It was impossible not to notice how comfortable he was, as if the space was an extension of himself. Jiho, on the other hand, kept his hands tightly wrapped around his cup of tea, trying not to show how uncomfortable he felt. The café was crowded with students, and Seungmin seemed to attract glances wherever he went.
"You know what's funny?" Seungmin suddenly said, leaning slightly toward Jiho. "I never would've imagined working with someone like you would be so... intriguing."
Jiho furrowed his brow. "Someone like me?"
"Quiet, introspective... serious." Seungmin smiled, resting his chin on his hand. "Not that it's a bad thing. It's just not the kind of person I usually spend time with."
Jiho felt his face flush. He wasn't sure if that was meant to be a compliment or just an awkward observation. Before he could respond, an energetic voice interrupted them.
"Seungmin!"
A young woman with short hair and a bright smile approached their table, carrying a tray with two cups of coffee. She wore a lanyard with the Arts Department badge hanging from her neck.
"Ah, Yura!" Seungmin grinned as he turned to her. "What are you doing here?"
"I saw you through the window and thought I'd say hi." Her eyes flicked briefly to Jiho, curious, before returning to Seungmin. "Rehearsing something new?"
"Not today. Just spending some time with my new groupmate." He gestured toward Jiho. "This is Jiho, from the Literature Department."
Jiho nodded shyly, feeling the weight of Yura's inquisitive gaze.
"Oh, so you're the one working with Seungmin on that project. Good luck!" She laughed, though something about her tone made Jiho feel even more out of place.
"He won't need luck," Seungmin joked. "Jiho's a genius with stories."
Yura raised her eyebrows, clearly surprised. "Well, I'm looking forward to seeing the result. See you around, Seungmin!"
She left, but not before throwing another curious glance in Jiho's direction. As she disappeared into the crowd, Seungmin turned back to Jiho.
"She's a bit intense, huh?" Seungmin commented, laughing lightly.
Jiho didn't reply. He was more focused on the glances that continued to land on their table. The café was full of people who seemed to know Seungmin, and many were whispering or waving at him as they passed.
"You know a lot of people…" Jiho murmured, trying not to sound critical.
"Ah, it's not like I'm famous or anything. I just happen to be… memorable." Seungmin winked, clearly amused.
Before Jiho could respond, another group of students passed by, waving at Seungmin. One of them even stopped to greet him.
"Seungmin! You were amazing in last week's performance!" said the boy enthusiastically.
"Thanks, man!" Seungmin replied with a smile, giving the boy a light pat on the shoulder.
As the group moved away, Jiho's discomfort grew. He wasn't used to so much attention, and being next to someone like Seungmin only amplified his presence, even though he preferred to be invisible.
"Does this bother you?" Seungmin suddenly asked, as if reading Jiho's thoughts.
Jiho looked at him, surprised. "What?"
"All the attention." Seungmin gestured around them. "You look… tense."
Jiho hesitated before answering. "I'm not used to it."
Seungmin chuckled softly. "Relax. They're looking at me, not you."
That didn't help much, but Jiho simply nodded, trying to ignore the weight of the stares around them.
Seungmin seemed to notice Jiho's lingering discomfort and shifted the conversation. "So, tell me more about the story we're adapting. What do you think is the most important part?"
The question caught Jiho off guard. He hadn't expected Seungmin to actually want to hear his opinion, but at the same time, it was a relief to talk about something he knew well.
"I think the heart of the story is in the protagonist's journey… how he has to confront his fears and overcome the barriers imposed by society's expectations," Jiho said slowly, still uncertain about Seungmin's level of interest.
To his surprise, Seungmin seemed genuinely intrigued. "That's deep. I think there's a lot we can explore on stage. Like, his fear could be shown not just through words, but through gestures, through silences…"
Jiho blinked, surprised. "You actually think about how to turn that into something physical?"
"Of course! That's what theater is. It's taking something abstract, like a feeling, and showing it to the audience in a way that makes them feel it too." Seungmin smiled, but there was something more serious in his eyes. "I think, deep down, we all have fears we'd like to face."
Jiho stayed silent, reflecting on those words. He had never thought of theater that way, and it was strange hearing something so introspective from someone like Seungmin, who always seemed so carefree.
"Well, it looks like I chose the right group," Seungmin said, breaking the silence. "I think we're going to do a great job together."
Jiho didn't respond immediately, but for the first time since the project began, he felt a small spark of confidence. Maybe, just maybe, working with Seungmin wouldn't be so bad after all.