café.

@ye heiran. jiho grinned, feeling a warm camaraderie in her teasing words. "just a number indeed. you know how it is, dealing with the lively bunch. but hey, it keeps things interesting," he replied with a playful glint in his eyes, appreciating the ease of their banter.

as she motioned to see the pictures, jiho obliged, sharing the visual fruits of his photography venture. her praise made him chuckle modestly. "no specialized classes, just a mix of passion and a good eye, I guess. still learning every day."

jiho was taken by surprise when she looped her arm around his and her infectious excitement tugged at his lips, and he willingly followed her lead to the next spot. "you're right, it's a gem. perfect for lunches, naps, or capturing the beauty with a lens. now, let's see what else this place has in store," he suggested, ready for the next chapter of their impromptu adventure.

jiho hesitated for a moment before gathering the courage to ask, "heiran, would you mind if I took a few pictures of you amidst this beautiful scenery? I'd love to create something special with you as the subject," he added, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation.

@ryan park. the quiet understanding in his eyes didn't go unnoticed, particularly when her father was mentioned in her story. it was a topic that always stirred a well of emotions within her and his sympathy touched her heart before offering him a soft, appreciative smile. "thank you, ryan. it means a lot." she said, genuinely touched by his compassion. his praise about her story caught her slightly off guard but left a pleased blush on her cheeks. "working for the school's nursing department would be quite an honor," she admitted with humility.

as he began to share his own journey into nursing, she listened intently, her curiosity piqued. his tale of falling ill while pursuing his passion for surfing and the kindness of the nurses who cared for him resonated deeply with her. furthermore, she admired his resilience and how his own experience had led him into the world of nursing. once again, a warm smile spread across her face as he concluded his story with a grin, acknowledging the irony of it all. "it's amazing how life leads us down unexpected paths sometimes, isn't it?" she mused, her eyes filled with a newfound appreciation for the twists and turns of fate.

returning to the topic at hand, his question about her placement inquiries refocused their conversation as she nodded, grateful for his willingness to help. "yes, about the placements," she began, her tone shifting to a more professional one. "i was wondering if you had any insights or tips about the upcoming clinical rotations. you know, the dos and don'ts, and maybe any specific challenges to watch out for in different settings." as she waited for an answer, elyse couldn't help but wonder about the growing connection between them. it appeared a bond had formed not only through their chosen careers, but also through the moments of vulnerability they had shared. the question lingered in her mind, unspoken but present. could this connection be the beginning of something more, or was it simply a fleeting friendship born from shared experiences?

@yoon jiho. "yeah. just a number. I wish you nothing but a successful class, jiho. the students gonna be really loud with you." she teases him, amused. the ease she feels around the man feels like he is a friend she has known for a while. "I ask around. know a lot of people who provide such valuable information." she motioned for jiho to show her the taken pictures.

"you really are so good. did you take any specialised class or born talented hm?" she hands back the camera, and out of usual habit, curls her arm around jiho's, dragging the man excitedly toward the next spot.

"tada! my favorite. the garden. not to brag but it's really nice out here. good for lunches and just napping or drawing. and usually where we took our pics for photography classes."

@ye heiran. jiho can only laughs at heiran's remarks. his eyes crinkled with a genuine smile at heiran's flattery. "well, if their heads turning around probably because of you, miss.."

as they strolled toward the university's symbol, jiho listened intently to heiran's question about his journey to teaching. adjusting the strap of his DSLR, he chuckled, "I guess I found a way to share my passion with the next generation and age is just a number, right?"

positioning himself to capture the statue's intricate details, jiho nodded appreciatively. "it's a beautiful piece. I couldn't resist capturing it through my lens." he snapped a few shots, the shutter sound punctuating the conversation.

"i'm sure my other students could learn a thing or two from your attention to the nuances of this place," he remarked, genuinely grateful for the insider knowledge she provided.

@yoon jiho. heiran isn't new to flattery nor unused to compliments that will put someone into cloud nine. yet — she takes glances at jiho and really studies the man for what he is: a hsndsome man with a smile so contagious and eyes so full of sincerity — she finds herself quite giddy with the praise. "says the pne turning everyone's head around huh!"

heiran knows the looks they received. curious. good or bad. it can not be judged. but she hopes jiho doesn't have to face any unpleasant gossips. she guides them through the entrance, toward the statue and symbol of the university. a place where usuallly art students are gathered to draw ankther iteration of it under the sun. a dedication heiran herself lacked.

"so how did you get here? I don't think you are that old to resign yourself to the duties of teaching lost kids the art of photography. not that I've anything against young teachers. they're rare."

she makes a gesture, showing the white marble statue. "the symbol of our university. art students try to draw it. suspiciously, always something goes wrong in theor version of it. and they're back again."

@elyse tu. "yeah, for sure." he stated to her comment, nodding in agreement about experiences. continuing to sip his drink, as he listened to elyse. ryan didn't say anything, listening and letting her finish her story. certain moments through her story, ryan reacted with the look in his eyes, particularly at the mention of her father. his gaze grew solemn when she mentioned her father.

"i'm sorry about your father.." ryan said, continuously rethinking of how just how bright and intelligent elyse was. he had known she was already smart, but the latter seemed more than just academically successful, she was hardworking, caring, compassionate—a really well put and eloquent human being. "wow, you need to work for the school's nursing department. if they wrote an excerpt on what you just told me, students would definitely get inspired." he then commented, amazed at how well spoken elyse had been. so well, that ryan begun to wonder if he was even the right or fitting person for her to talk to. as much as he did love his job, he also had a hateful, despiteful relationship as well. it was just the reality of the work that came with the profession.

ryan cleared his throat, before speaking. he taps the tips of his fingers lightly against the cup of his drink, debating on what to say. "well, my story is kind of similar to yours—i too experienced really good care from nurses when i was really sick." he started. "i used to surf a lot, and i had gone to canada to train, and i was also traveling and sight-seeing while i was there. long story short, went camping at a forest, got bit by a tick, ended up having bacterial meningitis, got admitted to the icu. nurses there were super nice and caring, so yeah. took an interest from there and now i'm here."

he grinned, thinking of the irony, the spark for his nursing career had started when he had been ill at the icu, and now he was full-time staff, having worked there for about a year. realizing he was reminiscing in the midst of a conversation, he reverted his attention to elyse.

"but yeah, that's me." ryan said. "you said you have some questions about placements?" he asked, returning to the actual matter that they had come to discuss.

@yoon jiho. if the universe has a weird satisfaction towards people's misfortunes, minhee would like to not feed such pleasure for her own discomfort. it isn't as grand or as explosive as how it usually presents itself most of her life — it's annoying, stressing; tantalizing. a succession of disappointment that looks like small hiccups here and there but it soon makes it harder for her to breathe without her realizing it.

the earliest recollection she have was when her alarm has been set 2 hours later than normal a couple of weeks ago, something so mundane yet breaks the flow of her supposed daily routine. then again, minhee might've changed it for reasons not stamped in her board of mounting sticky notes (she ought to clean it soon too). what small misstep follows another misstep in the form of losing her to-go hair clips in her bag; there quickly comes a follow-up trudge of breaking her brush after a handful of attempts to untangle some of her hair. it was stressful, surely, but she made it in time for her class with the dissatisfaction of her barely combed hair up in a bun and mismatched (albeit cute) strawberry hair clips. what seemed to be the cherry on top of the cake was when she received a different order of coffee that resulted in her being hyper awake until 4 am in the morning. minhee rarely goes out for coffee on weekdays afterwards.

as someone who's actively working to shape the perfect daily routine for years now, being thrown to different loopholes with the lack of initiative to patch it on her own took a toll on minhee. the changes do cling, an incessant dirt on her favourite shirt she couldn't get rid of. it's also to note that misfortune befalls anyone at any time without much thought behind it — then again, demanding a child to run without knowing how to stand on her own feet is a challenge on its own. minhee is the child in this situation.

her aunt, being as optimistic as ever, encourages such "peculiar events" as a good way to introduce herself outside her comfort zone. minhee is never an advocate to such idea, not for the time being that is, and it has immensely helped her life-work balance. even with the amount of productivity she received from such reliance, some colleagues share their personal distaste when it comes to her devotion to written schedules; always the receiving end of the lines along living life a little (only if they knew!) and that things happen without us expecting it to. a strong, valid point, yet quite an uncomfortable thought.

ample time spent with delibirating as well as consultations, minhee is compelled to try along the way. tries not to scratch the itch of dissatisfaction she feels when she lose one of any of her socks; tries the four seven eight breathing method when her pencil runs out of lead and the container in question isn't in her pencil case (and any of her study cabinets), and holds her tears in whenever she has to go out and buy more ramen in the middle of the night since she forgot to fill her personal stash. she's trying her best, but her best might not be enough just yet.

her aunt also suggested about a change of scenery during the weekends — outside rewatching comfort movies and inhaling instant noodles — and it sounds exciting and scary at the same time. being a homebody, what lies outside her dorm is an adventure that might take a horrible turn; as gullible as she is stubborn, minhee folds and prepares a line of a drink she never tasted before both in her notes and crumpled piece of paper. the queue from the inside has her stomach churning, still she musters up the courage to keep herself in line.

@ryan park. ordering her caramel frappe, elyse grasped the beverage in her hand and walked beside ryan before taking a seat across from him. her eyes twinkled as his mused aloud about the passage of time, a soft hum accompanying his thoughts. in response, she chuckled, her lips curving into a warm smile. "two years sounds like quite the journey, and don't worry about the exact dates; it's the experiences that count, right?"

leaning back slightly, her fingers danced delicately along the rim of her frappe cup before she took a thoughtful sip, savoring the sweetness of the caramel against her palate. "well, i'm currently in my second year," she began, her gaze drifting momentarily as she recollected the moments that had brought her to this point. "and as for nursing..." her expression shifted, a blend of warmth and earnestness painting her features. "it's a bit of a personal journey, you see. my father fell seriously ill when i was younger. it was a tough time for our family, watching him endure pain and struggle with his health."

gently setting her cup back onto the table, her eyes met his with a quiet strength emanating from within as she continued. "his battle was what truly opened my eyes to the power of compassionate care – the kind of care that nurses provide. witnessing how they not only attended to his physical ailments but also offered unwavering emotional support, it left a profound impact on me. that was the turning point when i realized that nursing was where i belonged, where i could truly make a difference in people's lives during their most vulnerable moments."

her words resonated deeply with a sincerity that couldn't be missed, a testament to the passion ignited within her during those challenging days. "and naturally, there are moments when i wonder about the alternate paths i could have explored," she confessed, her voice carrying a playful contemplation. "but nursing just feels like the right fit, you know? it's more than a career; it's a calling that comes straight from the heart."

as she maintained her smile, her thoughts briefly drifted to her father's well-being back at home before making a mental note to check on her parents when she returned to her dorm later. yet, in the present, her curiosity pivoted toward his own journey. "so, tell me, what led you to choose nursing as well?" she inquired, her interest genuine and eager to uncover the shared motivations that brought them to this point.

@elyse tu. taking their seats, ryan hung his backpack on the chair, taking a sip of his iced americano. he then hummed aloud for a bit, trying to remember exactly when he had taken up the teaching job with the school. "i think it's been about 2 years?... around there. can't remember the exact date to be honest, sorry." ryan stated with a shrug, adding in a chuckle. curious as to how she chose nursing from out of all the careers, he asked her a question.

"what year are you in? also, why nursing?" he genuinely asked, adding a teasingly note of despair to the latter part of the question. from her demeanor and the way elyse carried herself, ryan could see why she had chosen the same path as his own, but as well, he could see elyse in a different area of study. if they had gone to school together, ryan would have definitely tried to befriended her as a fellow student, probably bugging her with a bunch of questions, regarding their studies. due dates, assignment help, studying—the one friend you always tried to copy or base off your own answers from, because everyone knew that they were amazingly smart.

@ryan park. ( sorry moved the thread to the cafe room )

as they left the room and made their way to the campus cafe, elyse followed behind ryan, her thoughts occupied with the upcoming conversation about her concerns. the familiarity of the campus surroundings offered a sense of comfort, and the aroma of brewing coffee filled the air as they entered the café.

watching him step up to the counter to place his order, she took a moment to look around, noticing the other students scattered about, engaged in their own conversations or studying. however, her attention returned to him the minute he turned back towards her, his question drawing her focus.

"it's elyse, right?" he asked, and she nodded with a warm smile. "yes, that's me" she confirmed, appreciating his effort to remember her name even though she had told him not long ago. yet, she found herself once again impressed by his attentiveness and genuine interest in his students. it was evident that he valued the individuality of each student, and she felt a growing sense of comfort in their interactions, knowing that she could openly share her concerns and thoughts compared to other peers that she had worked with in the past. "so, how long have you been teaching the placement by the way?"

@ye heiran. () &££-£ help it's fine bb <3

Jiho's heart warmed as Heiran's eyes lit up, her enthusiasm contagious. He grinned in response to her playful motion, easily falling into step beside her as they strolled along the busy pathway.

"Definitely," Jiho replied, his voice carrying a note of genuine interest. "I'm actually new here, so a tour would be fantastic. And I must say, having you as my tour guide is quite the privilege."

He couldn't help but add a light tease, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Not everyone gets such a pretty tour guide, you know." He accompanied his words with a playful wink, appreciating the friendly and outgoing nature that Heiran exuded. As they continued their walk, he found himself becoming more intrigued by her easygoing demeanor and the prospect of exploring the campus with her by his side.

@yoon jiho. [ jshfkfk i don't even remember typing o(-( why i shouldn't do replies too late into right! ]

Heiran's an out going person and sometimes she forgets that the way she's so quick to drag anyone she meets and likes to hang out with her might not always have a positive outcome. she's quick to check for any negative response and feels her heart lighten up when jiho responded affirmatively. she grins wide, her eyes lighting up. she makes a playful motion for jiho to follow after her, keeping her steps small as she enjoys her sweetened drink.

"I'd like that. you should share your coffee breaks with people. at least I do so. everyday I learn something about someone."

they walk through the busy pathway, and heiran's pointed out at things, "so, I believe you're new to the campus? I'm in my second year by the way. though I didn't take photography classes last year, i know most of the staffs. would you like a tour around the campus, jiho?"

@ye heiran. (wonwoo? hehe it's okay.)

Jiho took the drink from Heiran with a thankful smile that graced his brims. "thanks. Oh? I didn't have anything to do for now. Do you want to walk around together then?" asked him as he looks at the female next to him. "maybe there are some other things we shared interests too."

Heiran's pretty figure makes Jiho feels slightly nervous somehow. never thought he would encounter a pretty girl like her. It makes him feel like how stone he was for not being able to go out more often since he usually locked himself up in his studio. "lead the way then, miss."

@yoon jiho. "Noted, sir!" Heiran prompted, soft laughter erupting past her lips, followed by a playful salutation, "I look forward to the class."

just then their drinks were ready and she insisted on being the one to get them as he waited. She strode to the counter snd grabbed the cups, returning quickly as possible.

"Here," she handed the one that was supposed to be wonwoo's, "are you heading straight to the staff room or walk around? I don't have classes until an hour later so—"

@ye heiran. Jiho chuckled, appreciating Heiran's consideration. "No worries at all. You can drop the honorifics for now, but just remember to call me 'ssaem' during my class. It's great to meet someone who's also interested in digital editing. And yes, I'll be your teacher this afternoon. I'll be leading a class on advanced photo editing techniques. Looks like we'll be spending more time together."

He nodded, finding it amusing how much they had in common. "It's nice to know we share similar interests. Keep pursuing what you enjoy, Heiran. It's a wonderful way to learn and grow. I'm looking forward to the class this afternoon, and I'm sure we'll have a lot to discuss."

@yoon jiho. heiran encounters various types of people everyday both online or offline and amongst them finding genuinely kind and nice people is always less likely. She didn't need some magical glasses to see the strang— Jiho — was truly kind.

She let out a small laugh, nodding along, "Right. Right. No more apologising. Nice to meet you too....." uncertain whether to add the honorifics or not, she fiddled with the strap of her bag. What could go wrong? Jiho appeared to be used to foreign culture and heiran herself had been getting an earful from her parents and friends because she got westernized too while studying abroad. "....ehhm....Jiho... I hope you are okay without using honorifics. Sometimes it catches me off guard.

"Yeah. It helps. Also I'm getting a better understanding of digital editing and all so it's a bonus. You do? That's amazing. Yeah. I have signed up for the club. In fact, today I have my first class ... wait, you are going to be the teacher then? What class you are taking? I have mine in the afternoon."

[post deleted by owner]

@ye heiran. As Heiran's cheeks flushed a shade akin to the setting sun, Jiho found her reaction endearing. Her gratitude warmed his heart, and he nodded with a friendly smile. "You're welcome. I'm glad I could help," he replied in a gentle tone.

Walking alongside her, Jiho listened attentively to her words. He chuckled softly at her nervous ramblings, recognizing the signs of someone caught off guard. "No need to apologize," he reassured her. "We all have our moments. It's nice to meet you, Heiran. I'm Jiho." He appreciated her candidness and the way her enthusiasm for photography shone through.

He nodded in agreement when she talked about her new interest in photography. He said, "That's cool! Taking pictures helps you remember interesting things." He then told her, "I teach photography at the university. If you want, you can join our photography club, or did you join one already?" asked him curious.

@yoon jiho. If it were possible for one to turn red like the setting sun (and possibly disappear from the eyes of many onlookers), then heiran would be the first human to become one.

"Gosh—" cheeks ever so warm despite the running air conditioner, she quickly dipped her upper half, voice faint, "I'm grateful. Thank you so much!"

Again, she couldn't help but bow her head a couple of times more, embarrassed, as she followed the kind stranger toward the waiting area while their orders were made, "And you really, really, really saved me back there. I had no idea I'm going out without a few changes to spare.

"Wait you too?"

Amidst the unexpected mess, she couldn't have paid any attention to the stranger's attire nor his features — the man was kind. Given. perhaps, a gentleman too, not too far fetched to assume. And unexpectedly a handsome face too.

(Heiran was sure no man can possess all the good qualities and she wondered whether she's hallucinating too.)

"Sorry. I mean….. that came out too rude. Sorry again, I'm a little out of sorts. Hahaha…." She laughed, her palms cupped her cheeks and she gave herself a few squeezes as if that would help her (it didn't except they made her cheeks redder).

"I'm Ye Heiran. And thank you for covering up the coffee. And yeah," She let go of her face and brought her camera up, a friendly and eager smile on her face, "I got interested in photography recently. It's fun and I get my own reference material shots and often catch interesting views. It's a newfound hobby."

@ye heiran. Jiho stood in line at the cafe, his eyes wandering over the menu board while he absentmindedly adjusted the strap of his camera bag on his shoulder. He had always found solace in capturing the world through his lens, and today was no different. As the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, he took a deep breath, a small smile gracing his lips.

Just ahead of him, a girl fumbled in her wallet, her brows furrowing slightly as she counted the bills. Jiho watched as her expression shifted from mild concern to a hint of disappointment, clearly realizing that she was short on money for her order.

Without hesitation, Jiho stepped forward, his voice gentle yet determined. "Excuse me, but I'll cover your drink too." Jiho shrugged casually, his smile growing warmer. "Consider it a random act of coffee kindness. Plus, I always order the bitterest coffee they have here. It might not be everyone's favorite, but it's worth a try."

As they waited for their drinks, a comfortable silence settled between them. Jiho's eyes wandered to the camera bag slung over Heiran's shoulder, noticing the hint of adventure it held. "You seem like you're ready to capture moments too," he remarked, nodding towards her bag.