Work Text:
1. Introduction
Romance and academics are difficult things to manage simultaneously when you are a high-achieving college student. Students in relationships are said to be forced to manage their time by facing higher stress levels than those who are not romantically involved (Kopfler, 2003). It is especially difficult for people who attend prestigious universities, such as the Seoul National Institute of Natural Sciences, as a relatively recent study claimed that teenagers who are engaged in romance are likely to experience emotional problems like anxiety and depression (Scott, 2015). That being said, the subject of romance is not unfamiliar to the students of SNINS despite the population having a mixed opinion regarding its importance.
However, it is a specially relevant topic to the majority of 3rd year students for a very good reason. Student A (Zhang Hao, Year 3) from the geology department and Student B (Sung Hanbin, Year 3) from the biology department tend to be the focus of entertaining rumors and well-meaning teases from their fellow classmates. According to Seok (2023), the two have been acquainted since their first year in the institution. Many sources backed up his statement, for it is a known fact that Student A and Student B have been harboring feelings for one another for over two years now. As reported by Kim, J. (2023), Student B, currently the vice president of the university’s dance crew, was the first one to approach Student A, currently one of the leading choir members. He accompanied Student A that night at the freshmen’s orientation party because Student A was “too much of an introvert at the time, to the point that he would go into a panic whenever anyone would stand remotely close to him.” Kim, J. further added that Student A was instantly charmed by Student B’s advances, and after that, they soon became inseparable.
Student A and Student B, over the course of two years, were seen to be holding hands around campus, buying matching items for each other, and posting the most typical lovey dovey pictures on various social media platforms. A firsthand witness from the biology department said that Student B once picked up Student A from his class, then proceeded to drive off in the former’s car (Kim, T., 2023). Seok, Student B’s housemate, also commented that he did not come back until midnight on that day, apparently smelling of Student A’s flowery scent and wearing an oversized turtleneck that he did not even own. Despite their unhinged and borderline suspicious behavior, the pair are adamant that they are not romantically involved, though it is acknowledged by their peers that they both like the other—they are, however, a bunch of cowards that refuse to admit it to each other’s faces.
This research study aims to engage Student A and Student B in multiple interactions that will assist in forwarding their romantic connection. It will be done through the range of five possible date ideas that were brainstormed by the researcher, along with some suggestions that were sourced from students of SNINS. This paper is particularly significant to the 3rd year students, members of the university’s dance crew, and members of the school choir, who all want them to stop their public display of affection (PDA) and finally go out together.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Outline of procedure
The study will occur for a time period of five weeks—one date per week. The days that will be utilized in conducting this research are Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. These were conveniently picked as to not disturb the hostages' participants’ schedules. Both of them have vacant schedules on Wednesday and Sunday, and also have no afternoon classes on Friday. As previously mentioned, the so-called date ideas were a collaboration between the researcher and other students in the institution, which include Shen Q. and Park G., who are both freshmen. Shen is Student A’s relative while Park is a fellow member of the dance crew that Student B is part of, which therefore makes their ideas reliable because they are close friends of the two.
During the first week, the researcher will bring them to the arcade for an unlimited amount of time. The second date will take place at the park near the university, where they will engage in a picnic. A week before Christmas break, they will go ice skating for their third date. In the fourth week, they will go to a concert by a local artist that both Student A and Student B are fond of. For the grand finale, the researcher will give them tickets to an amusement park. At night, there will be a fireworks show that the pair can watch together. The conclusion will only include the result of their relationship by the end of this study, and will not be focusing on how they got to that point. It is important to note that there are possible limitations that could hinder the procedure, such as the weather, financial issues, or conflict in the subjects’ schedules.
2.2. Arcade
The first date is the most simple one out of the five to purposely build anticipation for the duo as the research progresses. Furthermore, the researcher is aware that the two are regulars at the arcade, which will help in creating a familiar atmosphere between them. After their last classes on Friday, the researcher approached Student B and asked if he would like to receive two free passes. Initially, Student B did not think of asking out Student A at all, instead intending to ask his housemate. However, the researcher quickly brought up Student A, and suggested that he go out with him instead, as his housemate was busy at the time. Seok later on said that he was at their apartment during that time playing video games. This is not counted as manipulation of data because the researcher did not know that Seok’s schedule was free (fuck you, Ricky, your argument is invalid). Student B happily agreed and immediately left to find Student A. According to the latter’s Instagram stories, they were at the arcade from 4 P.M. until 7 P.M., and they later had dinner together. Upon querying about their experience, Student B reported that it was satisfactory to both him and his date, although nothing significant happened.
2.3. Picnic
The second date was an idea brought up by Park, as Student B was allegedly a big fan of impromptu dates. The researcher prepared the food and beverages for the picnic with the help of his accomplices Park and Shen. The menu consisted of Greek yogurt with granola, French fries from KFC, grapes, and Zero Cola. The researcher acknowledges that these are unusual foods to be found at a picnic. However, Park and Shen were very adamant about including these since they are important to the pair. The researcher agreed with them, and therefore set up the picnic as is. As a backup plan, he also made sandwiches and cookies if the menu was not enough to fill their hunger.
Student B, still unaware of this research paper, was ecstatic to discover that the researcher and Park and Shen prepared a picnic basket for the two of them. Student B was instructed by the researcher to lead Student A to the nearby park and have their picnic there once the latter woke up from his nap. As to not create suspicion, they were not asked about how the experience was. The researcher had Kim, J. on standby while the pair had their date. Kim, J. was visibly irritated by the end, complaining that he had to watch the two steal each other’s food and opening the Zero Cola cans for one another despite being completely capable of doing so by themselves. Taking this into account, the researcher would like to count the second date as a success.
2.4. Ice skating
This part of the procedure is considered to be the most disastrous of the five. The researcher suggested this idea while thinking of the romantic instances that could occur on an ice skating date. The subjects are also known to be hopeless romantics, so Park and Shen approved of it. This turned out to be a terrible thing to agree on because everyone forgot that Student A had horrible balance. As a result, he quickly opposed going out with Student B when Shen brought up the idea to him. By a miracle, Shen managed to convince him to go anyway, as he assured him that Student B would be there to guide him and catch him if he fell down.
Student A mustered up the courage to invite Student B to the ice rating rink located in the mall one day later. Kim, T., who was in the room when the conversation took place, said that Student B expressed his concern for Student A because he is well-aware of the older man’s tendency to slip and fall easily. Student A, because he is stubborn and determined, insisted that it would be fine. According to Student B’s post on Twitter, which read “had to help hyung-ah get up multiple times haha”, it was not fine. Student A’s wellbeing may not have had the best time, but judging from his wide smile and prominent apple cheeks in the pictures attached to the post, the third date was a success.
2.5. Concert
The fourth date was the most financially challenging part for the researcher, but it is, so far, the one that has shown the most progress. After queuing on the cursed ticket site for over an hour, the researcher secured two tickets in the upper box. Although the researcher is capable of buying VIP tickets, he would rather not use too much of his own money for the sake of this study. The artist that they were seeing was one that Student B introduced to Student A during their first year (Kim, J., 2023). This can be confirmed, for Student A once said that he added Student B’s favorite song, Honeymoon , to his playlists when he was asked what he was listening to. During this stage, Kim, J.’s cousin, Han, who is also a student of Student B’s dance classes found out about the research and insisted that he be a part of the study.
Student B, still as innocent and unsuspecting as ever, was over the moon when Han presented the tickets to him, saying that he received it from a classmate, but wanted to give it to him instead because he knows how much Student B loved the artist's music (again, this isn’t manipulation of data, I don’t care what you say). Although hesitant, Student B eventually accepted the offer from Han. Similar to the first date, his first thought was not to invite Student A, but instead ask Han, as he was the one who gave him the tickets. He quickly refused and said that he should go with a special someone instead, which is how Student B ended up asking out Student A right before his final choir performance for the year.
On the day of the concert, the first snow just so conveniently dropped down, which was documented by another one of Student A’s Instagram stories. The video depicted him walking toward the concert venue as the snow fell down, though the focus of the story is on his hand, which is secured by the other person’s. Even without the knowledge of who he was going to the event with, it would be obvious to anyone that the second person in the video is none other than Student B. Hours after the concert, Student B also posted a story on Instagram, which was a video of Student A singing along to ‘Honeymoon’, with the caption being “we will never be apart”, a direct quote from the song’s lyrics.
2.6. Amusement park
The researcher would like to retract the previous statement regarding the fourth date being the most financially challenging because it has been dethroned by this section. As all the students involved in this study, including Han, were not attending any more classes at the time, Park recommended that they all go to the amusement park to relax. Because Shen is a bitch, he agreed with Park. Though very worried about his bank account, the researcher gave in and purchased nine tickets to Lotte World. Aside from the two subjects, the trip consisted of Han, Kim, J., Kim, T., Park, Shen, Seok, and the researcher himself. Since everyone was preoccupied with their own destinations at the park, there are actually no reports about what Student A and Student B were doing before the fireworks show aside from Kim, J. and Seok saying that they saw the two go on the Ferris wheel together. Another comment from Kim, T. indicated that Student B won Student A a panda plushie, to which the latter hugged him tightly as a response.
By 9 P.M., Student A and Student B were reunited with the rest of the group for the fireworks show. The pair were seated in the front while everyone else took the space behind them. Amidst the show, Student B was seen admiring Student A instead of focusing on the fireworks, which was terribly noticeable to the set of onlookers. Student A also seemed to notice his staring and responded with a smile before laying his head down on the other’s shoulder. The two left early and drove home together without informing the group.
3. Results
One week after the happenings at the amusement park, Seok reported that Student B went out more frequently. Each time, he smelled just like Student A’s collection of perfumes. On Student A’s side, however, the results were more obvious because he apparently took Student B to his parents’ home (Shen, 2023). Though the label of their relationship is unknown, it is clear that both of them have gotten the courage to finally admit and acknowledge their feelings, with the fireworks show being their final push. Upon returning back to campus shortly after Christmas break, the researcher observed that the pair were happier than they usually were, and that Student B picked Student A up more frequently. This was not left unnoticed by the 3rd year students. Student B, deciding to put an end to the debacle, confirmed the rumors by affirming that he and Student A were officially a couple.
4. Discussion
The aim of this study was to forward Student A and Student B’s relationship, which was accomplished by sending them off to one date per week for a time period of thirty-five days. Although it was agreed on that the procedure may have influenced them in communicating their romantic feelings for one another, there are still external factors that the researcher did not have the chance to address. This includes peer pressure, internal stress from both individuals, and even the feels of the holiday season. Overall, the collected results were satisfactory to the researcher and successfully achieved the objective of the paper. If given the chance to conduct a similar study, the researcher would like to see how the aforementioned factors could change the outcome.
5. Conclusion
This study revealed the influence of spending time with someone you like for extended amounts of time. The planned dates were catered to the subjects’ taste, with the aim of letting them be more engaged and interested in the moment. It is helpful that Student A and Student B already have a lot of memories together, for it was easier for them to admit that they admire each other. It can be said that as the longer the research went on, the deeper their feelings got because they were given time to ponder on their decisions, which is why it makes sense that the result only became visible at the end of the final date.
Acknowledgements
This is not proofread because I simply could not care less. Anyways, thanks to Jiwoong hyung, Matthew hyung, Taerae hyung, Ricky (but fuck you at the same time), Gunwook, and Yujin for all the contributions you’ve made to this stupid project. You’re the realest people I know. I would also appreciate a formal thank you from Hao hyung and Hanbin hyung for helping them get together, like you’re welcome I guess?
Comment left by rui (11:28 PM)
lying is literally considered as manipulation of data???
Comment left by gyub (11:30 PM)
how many times do i need to say that i didn’t know that matthew was at home my god
Comment left by rui (11:31 PM)
OKAY AND WHAT ABOUT THE YUJIN PART
Comment left by geoni (11:38 PM)
i know this is just for like. shits and giggles but if this was a legitimate study, the IRB would actually DESPISE you. also where are your references
Comment left by gyub (11:41 PM)
i got too lazy to add them
Comment left by gyub (12:01 AM)
btw what’s an IRB
Comment left by geoni (12:07 AM)
??? how the fuck are you a student at an institute for natural sciences that crams out research articles like their lives depend on them but not know what the IRB is