Chapter Text
Minju had one goal when she entered Yonsei university- become a lawyer. It had been her dream since she was a kid watching K-dramas about people who’d defend the weak and seek the truth. Add that to how her parents were both also in the profession, and it just felt like something she was destined to do. The job just resonated with her.
When she received her acceptance to the university, Minju was ecstatic, but she knew it was only step one of her journey. She needed to do well in her four years there, so she could be accepted into the Yonsei’s Law School afterwards. With that in mind, she wanted to make sure that from the start, she was all business, drowning out as many distractions as possible.
Throughout her whole freshman year, Minju didn’t go to any parties, preferring to spend her time in the library. She made some friends, but she never accompanied them on long trips away from campus. And the one thing she avoided like the plague was dating. Minju had never considered if she was attractive or not, but it seemed a lot of people did. Countless guys and girls would ask her out, and she would reject them all without a second thought. It earned her the reputation in the Sociology department as “The Ice Princess”. Not exactly the label you want in a course about understanding people, but Minju didn’t really care. She was there because she knew it would be a good pre-law course. Nothing more, nothing less.
Entering her second year, Minju expected it to be much of the same. Little did she know how wrong she would be.
~~~~
From the second Chaewon stepped into Yonsei University, she was the center of attention. Guys and girls alike would stop and gawk whenever she passed by. Her good looks and bright personality made her someone everyone wanted to be with. As if she couldn’t be more perfect though, Chaewon was also very diligent when it came to her studies, always doing her parts in group assignments and taking leadership roles. There may have been people who were smarter and people who looked a little bit prettier, but she had the best of both worlds. Her reputation had spread so quickly that she had been coined as the Business Management department’s Angel.
Despite her popularity though, Chaewon was very frugal and down to earth. Sure, she’d go to the occasional party and drink with friends, but she never went overboard. She didn’t want to get distracted from her goal of graduating and providing for her family. Not many people knew about Chaewon’s background as it was something she kept close to her chest, but the reason she chose Business Management as her course was because it was a quick way to get a solid paying job right after college. It was the least she could do for her parents who spent the whole year saving money to pay for her tuition after seeing how devastated she was for missing enrollment the year before due to lack of funds.
This fixation with her financial situation is what ultimately kept Chaewon away from dating. While she would sometimes flirt back with her many suitors, she never took any of them seriously. Chaewon knew that being in a relationship would cost a lot of money she didn’t want to spend.
Entering her second year, Chaewon expected it to be much of the same. Little did she know how wrong she would be.
~~~~
“So, Chae, you figure out which elective you want to take?” a Japanese girl with puffy cheeks, Honda Hitomi, asked as they walked through campus. While Chaewon got along with everyone, her circle of friends was small, and Hitomi was one of the few people she considered to be very genuine.
“Hmm, maybe accounting?” Chaewon said after skimming through a brochure the upperclassmen were handing out.
Hitomi stared at her blankly. “Yah, are you serious?”
“I hear accountant salaries aren’t bad. Maybe I could pivot if I can’t find anything in corporate.”
“Unnie, you’re supposed to choose an elective you find fun. Something ideally outside of your current specialization,” her friend said with crossed arms.
“Hii, I told you not to call me ‘unnie’ on campus,” Chaewon chided. It wasn’t that she was self-conscious about being a year older than her peers, but that she didn’t want to explain the reason she was delayed over and over.
“I’m going to keep calling you that if you keep thinking like a boring adult,” Hitomi huffed.
Realizing she wasn’t going to win the argument, Chaewon sighed and opened the pamphlet again.
“Something I might find fun…” she thought as she traced her finger across the many options.
Eventually, Chaewon saw something that caught her eye.
“Alright, Hii, I’ve decided,” she announced.
“What is it?” Hitomi asked expectantly.
Chaewon smirked. “I’ll tell you later. The orientation is happening right now.”
The short-haired girl then bolted away like a cheetah.
“Yah, don’t forget about dinner! We’re eating with one of my friends!” Hitomi yelled as the short-haired girl ran.
****
“Minju, how many times do I have to tell you that there is a life outside of law? Surely there’s a more interesting elective out there than business law!”
“Nako, that elective could help me understand the motivations behind work-related crimes.” Minju argued back to her much shorter friend. The two were coursemates who met in freshman year. Minju had actually been the one to approach Nako to learn about the differences between Korean and Japanese law. As time went on though, they eventually became proper friends… at least most of the time.
“Yah, it wouldn’t kill you to live a little, Minju. All you do is study and watch true crime shows. Maybe, just maybe, you should look for a hobby outside of that.”
Minju groaned. “Will you get off my back if I do?”
Nako shrugged. “Depends, just give it a shot for this semester. If you really hate it, you can just shift out.”
“Ugh. Fine. You still have one of the brochures?” Minju was incredibly stubborn, but she did have a soft spot for Nako, who she knew was always just looking out for her.
Nako handed her the one they’d been given by the upperclassmen and started reading through.
“While we're young, Minju,” Nako commented.
“Yah, you told me to get a new hobby, and now you’re rushing me?”
The Japanese girl chuckled as she began to walk away.
“Wait, where are you going?” Minju asked.
“To my elective. I trust you to take my advice.” Nako replied before turning around. “Oh, and don’t forget we’re eating dinner out, okay? I’m meeting a friend. Maybe you’ll finally expand your circle this year.”
“Very funny…” Minju replied without even looking back, her eyes focused on the elective brochure. Eventually, one of them made Minju pause and think.
Well, this one seems interesting.