Eun-ji woke up to the sound of her alarm blaring, signaling the start of another busy day at the university. The excitement of the first week had started to wear off, replaced by the pressure of academic responsibilities. She glanced over at Min-jun, still asleep beside her. The sight of him always comforted her, but today, something felt different. She had officially started her journey as a university student, and the reality was beginning to sink in.
"Min-jun," she whispered, gently nudging him. "It's time to wake up."
Min-jun groaned, barely opening his eyes. "Five more minutes..."
Eun-ji chuckled softly. "No, we have class in an hour. Come on, lazybones."
Reluctantly, Min-jun rolled over and sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Alright, alright. But only because you said so."
As they got ready for the day, Eun-ji couldn't help but reflect on how much had changed in the past few days. University life was everything she had hoped for and more. There were new friends to make, endless lectures to attend, and, of course, the opportunity to work alongside Min-jun every step of the way. But with all that came the pressure of meeting expectations—both her own and those of her professors.
The two of them walked to campus together, their steps in sync as they navigated through the crowded hallways. Eun-ji was relieved that they shared most of their classes, especially the big lecture halls where it was easy to get lost. Today, they were heading to a group project session for their History of Art class. It was the first time they'd be working closely with other students, and Eun-ji couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
"Are you excited about the group project?" Eun-ji asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and anxiety.
Min-jun gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm sure it will be fine. You've got this, Eun-ji. You're more than capable."
Eun-ji smiled back, feeling a bit better. Min-jun always had a way of calming her nerves. She wasn't sure if it was his quiet confidence or the way he always believed in her, but it made all the difference.
As they entered the classroom, their professor greeted them with a warm smile. "Welcome to your first group project, everyone. Please pair up and start discussing your ideas."
Eun-ji and Min-jun sat together, naturally, but their classmates quickly formed their own groups. There was one pair of students, a couple, who seemed to be very into each other, laughing and whispering as they discussed ideas for the project. Another pair, who had met only that morning, dove straight into the topic with focus and determination.
Eun-ji and Min-jun exchanged a quick look. They weren't as focused on the project as their peers, but they knew it was important to at least get a start on it. Together, they brainstormed ideas for their presentation, bouncing concepts off each other. Their thoughts were all over the place, but they managed to put together a rough outline for what they wanted to cover.
After an hour of discussion, the professor called everyone's attention. "Great work so far. Please remember to stay focused and manage your time wisely. Group projects can be challenging, but they're also an opportunity to build important skills."
Eun-ji felt her heart race a little at the mention of challenges. She was no stranger to hard work, but the added pressure of university life made it feel more daunting. As Min-jun packed his things, he looked up at her and smiled.
"We'll get through it together," he reassured her, his voice calm.
Just as they were about to leave, Eun-ji spotted Hye-jin across the room, her eyes bright with excitement. She was talking to her boyfriend, who had a similar look of determination on his face. It seemed like Hye-jin was adjusting to university life well, though Eun-ji knew her best friend had her own set of challenges, especially with the news about her pregnancy.
Min-jun noticed Eun-ji looking at Hye-jin and gently nudged her. "You okay?"
Eun-ji nodded, trying to shake off the worry that crept up at the thought of Hye-jin. "Yeah, just thinking about everything... I hope she's doing okay."
"She's strong. She'll figure it out," Min-jun said softly. "We'll all be here for her."
The two of them left the classroom, the noise of the bustling campus filling their ears. Eun-ji felt a little better with Min-jun by her side, but the weight of the day's challenges had only just begun. The freshmen challenge was real, but with support from those she loved, she knew she could handle anything that came her way.