Haseul was convinced coffee could solve any problem one might have.

You’re falling asleep in class? A latte with two shots of espresso will get you right back on your feet again.

Is the sheer drop of the temperature’s numbing your hands while you walk around campus? Hit up the Starbucks in the library for a piping hot cup of your choice.

Done and done before you could even snap of a finger. Just sidle up in the line, tell the barista your order, and you get happiness all wrapped up in a paper to-go cup in less than five minutes and you could be on your way. Easy-peasy, right?

At least, that’s what Haseul thought. When she sees Kahei for the first time, the other girl is tucked into a book and sitting outside of the coffee house located in the Blockberry University library. Haseul didn’t know it yet, didn’t even know the girl’s name, but from that point forward, something in her changed.

Haseul remembers the moment clearly because she had nearly tripped into a pack of high schoolers on a tour of the campus grounds. She considers one of her biggest flaws is not watching where she was going for the millionth time, but she saved herself by swerving out of the way last second. As she recovered her balance (and a little bit of her dignity), she caught a glimpse of Kahei.

She was a flash of a cream colored knit sweater, a red beret, and a novel clutched in delicate fingers. There’s a hint of a smile playing on pastel pink lips and the motion of pale fingers turning a slightly yellowed page. A few seconds later, Haseul tore her gaze away and turned the corner, heading down the long marble staircase towards the first floor of the building.

She was late to class, and her mind was still recovering from almost knocking into a crowd of kids in the midst of class change, so she only remembered how pretty Kahei had been twenty minutes into her next lecture. Long, cascading tresses of chocolate brown and honey dipped eyes clouded Haseul’s mind. The tiniest of quirks to an artful arched eyebrow replays in her head. Haseul found herself smitten by a girl she’d merely glanced at.

Thankfully, her seatmate, Jinsoul, was too engrossed in their lecture to notice how zoned out the other girl was. As their professor droned on about philosophy, Haseul was elsewhere, walking back through the halls of the library and seeing that mysterious girl and her book again. Before she knew it, the lecture ended.

“Alright, exam next week. Remember to study!” Their professor said, cuing a flood of students to rise from their seats. Jinsoul leans over and nudges Haseul’s elbow off the armrest.

“You ready for this test? I can’t believe he decided to do it on a Monday,” Jinsoul says, clicking her tongue in disapproval. Haseul blinks out of her trance and begins to scoop up her things. “Doesn’t he know everyone’s going to be tailgating on Sunday? It’s our biggest game of the year,” Jinsoul continues, frowning as she stands and slings her backpack over one shoulder.

“No one, and I mean no one, is going to be sober enough the next morning to remember the difference between which virtue ethic is which!” The blonde haired girl throws a hand into the air, waving it to further emphasize how unhappy she is of the circumstances. “If ‘no one’ means you, then I’m sure you’re right,” Haseul chuckles, following Jinsoul out of their aisle and out of the room.

“I think you’re the only person I know who can ace exams while still drunk,” she chides, snickering when Jinsoul bows at her. “That wasn’t necessarily a compliment, Jinsoulie. I’m just amazed at how you manage to still be so smart even when you’re ed up.” The blonde shrugs nonchalantly and holds the door of the front entrance to the building for her.

“You know, all I heard were the words ‘amazed’ and ‘smart’, so I’d say that’s a pretty big compliment,” Jinsoul teases, giving Haseul a tiny two- salute. The pair make their way back towards the main campus, joining the throngs of other students heading to class. “How about we meet up tomorrow and go over the notes?” Jinsoul suggests. “I’m staying over at Jungeun’s place tonight so I’ll be around.”

They come to a stop just in front of the library, waiting for the stream of cars to pass by on the strip of road that cut clear across the campus. “That sounds like a plan to me,” Haseul confirms, smiling at her friend. Jinsoul pumps her fist in the air and begins to walk backwards towards the bus stop. “Alright! How about eleven, then? We can get coffee!” She calls out. Haseul nods her head and laughs when Jinsoul nearly mows over an unsuspecting student, “Eleven it is. Don’t have too much fun tonight!”

With one last wave, Haseul turns on her heel and makes her way towards the library. Something was pulling her there again. She reassured herself that it was