I entered the classroom, sat down on the chair, and waited until the lecture started.
I was fiddling with my phone. Behind me, my juniors were sitting, greeting each other and chatting. I didn't want to disturb them, and I figured they wouldn't be too happy about me going over to say hello.
'I heard today's lecturer is Professor Lee Won-min...'
Then, suddenly, the professor's name popped into my head. Since we were both from the same university, WM University, I wondered if there was some similarity. As I was on my phone again, I heard a commotion behind me. I stopped and turned around.
"I heard there was a goddess among the freshmen, and it was our class!"
"And it's our department!"
The younger students waved and chatted with a classmate, and the child smiled and waved back. She was indeed beautiful. But I felt like I was too old to befriend her, so I turned my head back toward her.
"Talking to my juniors about my topic is out of the question."
While I was on my phone again, someone tapped my arm gently, and I turned my head to the left. And for a moment, my heart almost stopped.
The classmate my juniors were talking about was right next to me. She smiled at me and opened her mouth.
"Hello, I'm Choi A-rin, a new student in class 24!"
"Oh, yes, I'm Seong Do-ni, a sophomore who recently returned to school. Please take care of me."
"Oh my! It's you, senior! Please take good care of me~"
"Okay, please take care of me too."
I was a little touched by his kind greeting. Of course, other classmates had greeted me, but I was still dumbfounded by his approach. Arin, who smiled at me, struck my heart again.
"Can I take class next to you today?"
"Oh, yes, please do that.. haha"
It felt strange to have a freshman take a class next to me. But, hey, I'm the type of person who gets shy around people I'm not close with, so I think I'm starting to feel awkward.
'This awkward air... I feel like it's going to fill the classroom.'
I was paralyzed by this feeling, a feeling I felt alone. Then, like a savior, Professor Lee Won-min opened the front door of the classroom and came in, greeting me.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Wonmin Lee, the professor in charge of this Miracle Department. Please take care of me."
"Nice to meet you, Professor!"
The professor wasn't exactly welcoming, but I was grateful that he broke the awkward silence. Anyway, the lecture began... and it was just as boring as ever. Still, I focused on the lecture and took notes.
"Miracle in March 2016..."
While I was concentrating on the class and taking notes, I felt something leaning on my left shoulder. I turned my head to the left wondering what it was.
Wow, Arin was leaning against my left shoulder, dozing off, and then falling asleep. And so quietly that I could barely hear her breathing.
I was frozen in that position. I felt like I'd have a hard time waking up if I moved even a little. After five minutes in that frozen position, the lecture finally ended.
"I'll end today's lecture here. Thank you for your hard work."
"Thank you, Professor!"
Arin, who woke up to the sound of the professor greeting her after class, was surprised to see me leaning on her shoulder and apologized to me.
"Senior, I'm really sorry ㅠㅠ Your shoulder must have hurt a lot.. I'm really sorry."
As he said that, he gently rubbed my shoulder, and even then, I felt like my heart had been bombed. I smiled and said to Arin, who was worried and apologetic.
"No, I'm fine. I'm just glad that my friend Arin is resting comfortably."
"Thank you and I'm sorry, senior."
I smiled and told Arin, who kept apologizing, that it was okay. Arin said goodbye to me, saying she'd see me again in the next class, and left. I cleaned up the classroom, turned off the lights, and left. Then, from a distance, I saw Arin talking with her friends.
'As expected, she's pretty and has a kind personality, so she's popular.'
I, a mere fossil, thought about my juniors enjoying their campus life and then went to take a short break.
- Next time -