The first week was spent keeping Baekhyun under close observation.

Jieun doesn’t trust him. The less she could read someone, the more wary she was. 

Becoming acquainted with Chanyeol didn’t automatically make them friends. He was the type to give a friendly hello in passing, but had his own established crowd which in turn, meant neither Jieun or Baekhyun were forced to acknowledge each other. 

He’d left her alone, for the most part. They didn’t share any individual workshops or studios and in a lecture hall of nearly a hundred students, Baekhyun attended to his own priorities rather than enabling Jieun’s irrational fear of tormenting her. 

Jieun believed without a doubt Baekhyun and Chanyeol were popular in high school. Their status translated well into university, effortlessly turning heads from the way they carried themselves. Baekhyun didn’t shy away from female attention; he played into the flirtatious exchanges of those brave enough to approach him, while simultaneously maintaining a respectable distance so as to appear silver-tongued instead of sleazy.

“Thank you for explaining yesterday’s topic! I was so confused. Sunbae’s analogy always makes more sense than the professor’s.”

“Not at all, I was only paraphrasing my interpretation. Say, you’re wearing different barrettes today, Eunju-ssi?”

“Oh yes! Does sunbae like these better?”

“It matters more if you like them. This particular shade of yellow just happens to be my favorite.”

“U-um it’s also my f-favorite color too! What are sunbae’s other preferences…”

Jieun wonders if Baekhyun was aware Eunju was the one who corrected a professor in her tutorial section. 

She’s always had a bad habit of absentminded eavesdropping. There were the occasional comments Jieun would overhear from other girls admiring his good looks - many harboring innocent crushes wishing he’d glance their way. Jieun wants to tell them not to be naive; they’d only set themselves up as a disposable conquest. But she can’t. People would think she was the insane one if she was out there calling him a heathen. 

The apartment next door remained peculiarly silent. In fact, Jieun’s sleep schedule never looked better. Maybe Baekhyun understood the implications of someone discovering their compromising living situation. He hadn’t brought anyone home since then. Although Jieun tells herself it’s none of her business whether he was actually there in the evenings, she could tell the lights reflected from his bedroom window were usually on. 

Contrary to his outgoing persona on campus, her neighbor spent a surprising chunk of his spare time by himself instead of engaging with the crowd that consistently surrounded him. This proved to be a deviation from Jieun’s calculations - the unexpected factor that keeps her dangled onto someone she has no reason to be invested in. 

Inessential neighbor-watching aside, Jieun considers herself doing just fine. She’d become class friends with some of her workshop peers, including the gorgeous bombshell Park Sooyoung, who she’d accidentally started a compliment war with for liking each other’s sense of style. Seulgi was Jieun’s closest company during and after the dreary lectures, sometimes along with Seungwan and fellow classmates wanting to get to know each other. 

University was still well in its introductory phase. Despite being a bit overwhelmed, Jieun was content. That much was enough for the time being.

It was on the following Friday afternoon that Seulgi spontaneously asked: “Would you be interested in going to a ‘meeting’ with me?”

“When? Tonight?” Attending parties with matchmaking agendas wasn't exactly on Jieun’s bucket list. That and the fact her mom gave too many lectures on not bowing down to peer pressure at events which may involve excessive alcohol. 

Seulgi nods, chewing slightly on the bottom of her lip. “Chaeyoung invited me. It’s more of a dinner social than a blind date situation. She said I could bring some friends if I wanted.”

The free spirited Chaeyoung was a memorable freshman in her cohort: leopard-streaked blonde hair, sleek self-designed tattoos, and abundant connections with accomplished upperclassmen. She’d managed to convince some sophomores to coordinate an intimate gathering between their respective groups. All influences considered, receiving an invitation was kind of a big deal. 

“Is it fine if I come? I don’t want to intrude.” Jieun mentally checks over her own outfit - the floral blouse and skirt combo was presentable enough, though she’d rather choose a nice pair of heels over worn Mary Janes for such an event. The prospect of a last-minute social was making her anxious.

“I’m not good at events like these,” Seulgi confesses with a hint of nervousness in her voice, “Chaeyoung said it’s a good opportunity to make friends with your seniors. Plus she promised the boys are all really cute.”

It quickly occurred to Jieun that Seulgi was looking for moral support. Even if she had no motive to attend, she wanted to be there for her friend. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt to try meeting someone, right? Jieun hides her reluctance with an enthusiastic smile. “Sounds like a plan! I’ll come as long as everyone’s fine with it.”

Relief washed over Seulgi’s face as she squeezed Jieun’s hands with delight. “Okay! I’ll add you to the group chat later. We can head over together after our last class.”

She forgets to do so, leaving the guest list a pure mystery for the unsuspecting Jieun.

The gathering was hosted at a trendy barbeque joint near campus, sportin