Today was the day.
The day I infiltrated normal society.
The day I, Yoon Chae Ah—formerly of Yoon Group boardrooms and black card brunches—officially became Yoon Ah Ra, freshman business administration student at Daehan University.
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my collar for the fiftieth time.
White blouse? Tucked.
Denim skirt? Modest.
Sneakers? Painfully new.
Frog pen? Safely packed.
I looked like a normal person. At least, I hoped I did.
"Stop adjusting," Nari said from the doorframe, arms crossed. "You'll wear out the fabric."
"But what if I look too clean?" I whispered. "Too crisp. Too rich."
"You are rich."
"Not today!"
She rolled her eyes. "You'll be fine. Just don't flash your titanium card or offer anyone a business proposal."
"Noted."
Daehan University looked different today. There were banners hanging from lampposts that read "Welcome Freshmen!" and cheerful upperclassmen waving around balloons and clipboards.
"Group A to the left! Group B to the right!" someone shouted from a megaphone.
"Wow," I murmured, eyes wide. "So this is orientation…"
It looked like an idol fan meet had collided with a career fair. There were booths, sign-in tables, even icebreakers set up on the lawn.
I clutched my bag tighter and took a deep breath.
You are Yoon Ah Ra. You are just a normal freshman. You've definitely ridden public transportation before and you have definitely not been featured in Forbes Asia.
I found the booth that said Business Administration – Class 1-A and walked over, trying to channel my inner normal.
"Name?" asked the girl holding a clipboard. She wore a headband that said "Welcome" in glitter foam.
"Yoon Ah Ra," I said.
She scanned her list and gave me a folder, a name tag, and a tote bag with a tiger logo on it.
"Thanks," I said politely.
I turned around—and promptly bumped into someone.
"Oh! I'm sorry—!"
The guy barely moved. He just blinked at me with sharp, dark eyes. His earbuds were still in, and he didn't say a word.
He was tall. Way taller than me. Pale skin. Black sweatshirt. A canvas tote slung lazily over one shoulder.
And the scariest part?
He was good-looking. Like, drama-lead-walking-in-slow-motion-with-wind-machine good-looking.
"Oh… um," I stammered. "Sorry, I didn't see—"
He pulled out one earbud and tilted his head slightly. "You done?"
"Huh?"
He pointed to the sign-in booth behind me. "You're blocking the line."
"O-oh! Sorry, yes!" I jumped aside, clutching my folder like a shield. "Totally done! I was just—standing. In a… thoughtful way."
He blinked. Then, without saying anything else, put his earbud back in and walked past me.
Rude.
No—cool. No—wait, rude and cool?
Ugh. He looked like he hadn't smiled since kindergarten.
I found my way to the small groups area. Apparently, the department had split everyone into smaller teams for games and campus tours.
My name tag said: Group 3 – Team Tiger
A perky voice called out, "Team Tiger over here~!"
It was Han Seo Yoon, looking cute in a yellow cardigan and skinny jeans. She waved me over enthusiastically. "Ah Ra-ssi!"
"Hi!" I said, grateful to see a familiar face.
"I saved you a seat!" she whispered like it was a state secret. "Let's sit together before the icebreakers start!"
She was glowing with main-character energy. And apparently, so was the rest of our team.
Because seated next to Seo Yoon was none other than Mr. No-Smile-Earbuds himself.
"Oh," I blurted, and immediately regretted it.
He looked up from his phone. One earbud still in.
Seo Yoon smiled at him brightly. "Ji Hoon-ah, this is Yoon Ah Ra. She's in our class!"
He nodded once. "We've met."
Had we?
"You bumped into me earlier," he added.
Ah. Right.
"I bump into people a lot," I said, trying to laugh it off.
He didn't laugh. Of course.
Seo Yoon leaned toward me. "That's Seo Ji Hoon. He's kind of… famous."
"Huh?"
"He was top of the entire Daehan High School. Full scholarship. Professors love him. Students kind of worship him. But he doesn't like being approached."
"…Ah."
"And he's rejected like—dozens of confessions."
I tried not to stare. But my curiosity peeked over the edge of my dignity like a nosy cat.
Seo Ji Hoon was flipping through a schedule sheet, brows slightly furrowed. His fingers were long, his jaw sharp, and his vibe? Immaculate but unbothered.
And yet, he was seated right next to me.
This was fine. Totally fine. Just don't say anything weird.
"So," I said.
He looked at me.
"Do you like…tigers?"
Pause.
"What?"
I pointed at the team sign. "We're Team Tiger. That's fun, right?"
Another pause. Then—
"…Sure."
Seo Yoon looked like she was choking on silent laughter. I want to disappear immediately.
—
The icebreakers began, and we were forced to do horrifying things like shout our names in animal impressions and play Two Truths and a Lie.
When it was my turn, I panicked and said:
"Hi, I'm Yoon Ah Ra! My favorite food is ramyeon, I went to a countryside school, and I once fed a baby tiger!"
There was a silence.
Seo Ji Hoon blinked.
Seo Yoon tilted her head.
"Which one's the lie?" someone asked.
"The tiger," I said quickly. "Obviously."
(It wasn't.)
—
Later, we broke off for campus tours. Our team wandered through the Business Admin building while an exhausted-looking sunbae explained where everything was.
"This is the economics lab. Don't sleep here, the professors will find you. Trust me."
I nodded diligently.
Seo Ji Hoon walked a few paces ahead of the group, earbuds back in. Every once in a while, someone tried to ask him a question—and got a blank stare in return.
I fell into step beside Seo Yoon again.
"Do you think he's secretly nice?" I whispered.
"Hmm… maybe," she said. "Or maybe he's a robot."
I snorted. Then instantly covered my mouth.
Unfortunately, he must've heard.
Because without looking at me, Seo Ji Hoon said, "I'm not deaf, you know."
Seo Yoon turned bright red. "Sorry! We were just—joking…"
"I know."
He walked faster.
Seo Yoon leaned in. "He's definitely a cat person."
"What?"
"You know, those guys who act cold but secretly like tuna and being scratched behind the ears."
I gave her a horrified look.
"Figuratively," she clarified.
After a painfully awkward lunch of kimbap and awkward silences, the groups gathered for the final event of the day—something called the Freshie Tag Challenge.
Each group got a flag and a list of riddles. We had to find clues hidden around campus. Last team standing wins snacks and bragging rights.
Naturally, I tripped over the first riddle card, smacked my head into a vending machine, and somehow became the official flag bearer of Team Tiger.
When I held up the little orange flag like Simba on Pride Rock, Seo Ji Hoon stared at me for a long beat.
Then said, "Are you always this…clumsy?"
"I prefer the term 'spontaneous.'"
He said nothing.
But I swear his lip twitched.
As the challenge started and our team scattered across the campus green, I sprinted after Seo Ji Hoon with my little tiger flag waving like I was leading a battle.
"Where's the second clue?" I asked, panting.
"Under the stone tiger statue," he said coolly. "It's a pun in the riddle."
"…Ohhh."
I didn't get it.
But I smiled anyway and ran after him.
By the end of the day, my feet hurt, my blouse was wrinkled, and I had no idea how to properly close my team tote bag.
But I'd survived. Orientation: Part 1—complete.
And as I stood watching the sunset over the campus steps, sipping a warm can of peach soda, I heard a quiet voice beside me.
"You shouldn't trust people so easily."
I turned. Seo Ji Hoon stood next to me, earbuds out for once.
"…What?"
"People who act nice," he said. "Sometimes they're not."
Who was he talking about…?
But before I could ask, he turned and walked away.
Leaving me on the steps, confused, sipping my soda, and feeling the tiniest flutter of something I couldn't quite name.