All these young people around her shared a similar dream—to get an education, develop their talents, and one day add a title before their name that would open doors to their dream careers.

~•~

She did it.

Despite all the teachers' doubts, the hundreds of hours spent working part-time jobs, and the endless questioning of whether it was even worth it, she had finally made it to where she wanted to be. Now, standing in front of the campus gate, she smiled triumphantly like a Cheshire cat. She no longer had to worry that all her efforts would be in vain. She no longer had to hear that her average grades wouldn't get her into university. She was here.

Of course, it hadn't come for free. Because of financial struggles, she had to give up attending an academy and had studied most of the material on her own, often exhausted after work, late at night, when most of her peers were either having fun or already asleep. But that didn't mean she couldn't allow herself to feel proud now.

Her backpack was heavy, full of notebooks and documents she still had to submit to the student office, but that weight felt almost symbolic. She was carrying the years of hard work, doubts, and sacrifices on her shoulders. In her pocket, she held the key to something new—the future she wanted to build for herself.

Still, she couldn't stop looking around. There were so many students here. All these young people around her shared a similar dream—to get an education, develop their talents, and one day add a title before their name that would open doors to their dream careers. For a moment, she found herself lost in their voices, in the hum of life around her, unfolding like a scene from a movie.

"Close your mouth, or a fly will get in, Taeyeon," a teasing voice sounded beside her.

She startled. Her best friend, Hayun, had suddenly appeared at her side and didn't hesitate to playfully smack the back of her head. But Taeyeon didn't stop smiling for even a second.

"Nice to see you too," she replied cheerfully, pulling Hayun into a tight hug.

It had been weeks since they last saw each other. Hayun had gotten a boyfriend and spent most of her time with him, which Taeyeon understood. If she were lucky enough to find someone, she would probably act the same way. But love hadn't smiled on her just yet.

"Still not over it? Your excitement about university?" Hayun teased, crossing her arms.

"And why should I be?" Taeyeon tilted her head. "Maybe I didn't like high school, but back then, I had to study things that didn't interest me at all. This is different. Here, I can finally study a field I love."

"You should have come with me to art school," Hayun shrugged. "We could have been together from the start."

Taeyeon simply shook her head. "You know I couldn't."

When she found out that Hayun would be studying in Seoul at a high school focused on the arts—the kind of school where most idols went because it suited their schedules best—she thought about telling her grandparents she wanted to study in Seoul, too. But she couldn't do it. No matter how long or how often she thought about it, she never reached a conclusion where she could actually leave. She just couldn't abandon the people who had taken care of her all her life, especially when she had done nothing to repay them.

But now, she was doing it. She was older, and her grandmother had practically forced her to go to university, insisting that she had to. She was far from them now, farther than she had wanted to be. But this was the only way she could truly repay them—by graduating and earning enough money so that neither she nor her loved ones would ever have to worry again.

She had grown up in a small village where everyone knew each other. She and Hayun had been the only children among all the residents, and both were raised by their grandparents. Hayun was her only friend, and because of that, they had developed an almost sisterly bond—helped by the fact that neither of them had siblings, so they had no choice but to rely on each other. The only difference between them was that Hayun had parents. She knew who they were, and they visited her often. They had only let her live with her grandparents because their jobs kept them traveling abroad constantly, and they didn't want her to be alone.

Taeyeon, on the other hand, had no parents. Or at least... not anymore.

"So, what classes do you have today, our future director?" Hayun asked, changing the subject.

"Introduction to Film and Filmmaking, and then Screenwriting," Taeyeon replied excitedly. "I'm looking forward to that one the most. One day, I want to be a director who writes her own scripts. No one else knows exactly what I want to create."

Hayun sighed and shook her head. "That sounds just like you. You always have to be in control of everything. What if, just once, you let someone else write a script for you? Maybe you'd be surprised."

"That's like if someone hired you to photograph a wedding but told you exactly how to hold the camera and from what angle to shoot. You wouldn't be happy if you couldn't oversee everything yourself."

Hayun thought about it for a moment and then burst out laughing. "Alright, point for you. I just hope your enthusiasm lasts. I'd hate to see you crying in a month because university wasn't what you imagined."

"Don't worry, that won't happen." Taeyeon smiled, though a tiny doubt gnawed at her. What if Hayun was right? What if it wasn't like she had dreamed? But... she didn't want to dwell on that now.

"And what about you?" she continued, pushing away her thoughts. "What kind of classes does a photographer have?"

"Probably fewer than you," Hayun replied, happily skipping a step. "I only have two introductory lectures, and then the rest of the day is free."

Taeyeon rolled her eyes. "I envy you. I have two long lectures and then a practical class in the evening."

"You've always had a tendency to take on too much."

"Says the right person," Taeyeon chuckled. "Plus, I didn't take it on myself—the school made my schedule like this. I didn't ask for such a packed Monday! But at least I have a completely free Friday, and on Wednesday, I only have one morning lecture." She stuck out her tongue playfully at her friend, making both of them laugh. It felt like they were back in elementary school, worrying about nothing except whether the cute boy from the class next door had a crush on them too.

A group of students passed by, and for a moment, the two girls fell silent. Everyone here had their own world. Some walked energetically, full of excitement, while others dragged themselves across campus with gloomy expressions, as if someone had taken away their last hope of survival. Taeyeon guessed that the grumpy students were probably upperclassmen who already knew what awaited them. But she only wanted to focus on the excited ones—she didn't want a bunch of frowns ruining the amazing day she had woken up to in her dorm.

It was strange to be part of something as big as a university, especially in the capital of South Korea. Taeyeon had grown up in a small village where everyone knew each other. Being surrounded by so many people who had no idea who she was felt strange, yet also a little freeing. Finally, no one knew her, and she could start with a completely clean slate. Here, she could be anyone. She could decide how she wanted people to know her and make sure they remembered her that way. She could choose to be the quiet student who simply got through her studies and faded into the background. She could literally be anyone.

"Do you remember when we were little and pretended to be famous artists?" Hayun said with a smile. How could she forget? Even at a young age, they both knew they wanted to do something artistic. Whenever they saw math or chemistry in movies, they knew those subjects would never be their strong suit. That was when Taeyeon discovered her love for films and decided that one day, she would direct a movie that would bring South Korea another Oscar.

"You were a celebrity photographer, and I was directing the biggest blockbusters. Not much has changed, huh?" Taeyeon laughed.

"Maybe not, but now it's not just a game. Now it's becoming real," Hayun said excitedly, throwing her arm around her friend's shoulders. They looked at each other before turning their gaze to the faculty buildings appearing in the distance as they climbed the hill behind the university gates—an unfortunate but necessary ascent to reach the massive campus.

Taeyeon stopped and looked around. Students, professors, university buildings. She felt like she was part of a university-themed movie—the kind she never really liked because they were always predictable and unoriginal. But suddenly, it hit her: whether university turned out to be exactly what she expected or not, she had taken the first step toward making her dream come true. And that was the most important thing.

"Do you have a break at one o'clock?" Hayun suddenly asked, snapping Taeyeon out of her thoughts.

Taeyeon blinked, shook her head slightly, and looked at the brunette. Despite just climbing that endless hill, she was still smiling—maybe out of sheer determination or maybe to hide the fact that she was barely catching her breath. She was going to have to improve her stamina over the next few years, or this place would destroy her.

"I should be free. Why?" she finally answered, though she wasn't entirely sure about her schedule yet. She only knew that her second morning lecture ended sometime after twelve and the next one didn't start until around four. Plenty of time for lunch—and maybe even a short break if she could find a quiet spot on campus where she wouldn't have to think about the long week of responsibilities ahead.

"Aito and I are going for lunch, so I thought you could join us. That way, you don't have to eat alone," Hayun explained, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Aito.

The name immediately brought to mind a boy with bright eyes and an infectious smile. He was from Japan and had come to South Korea two years ago with one goal—to become a K-pop idol. But fate had other plans. His dream didn't come true, but instead of going back home, he stayed. Partly because he had gotten used to life here, and partly—or maybe mostly—because of Hayun.

He decided to study something he might have pursued in Japan if he hadn't chosen a different path—dance. But Aito never regretted it. He was the kind of person who could take any change and turn it into something positive. Taeyeon had only spent a few moments with him, but she had never seen him angry. And Hayun never mentioned him without a smile. Their friendship felt effortless, natural, like they had known each other forever.

Aito reminded her a little of herself—not in the way he lived, but in the way he tried to stay positive. But while Taeyeon sometimes used her smile as a mask, with him, it felt real. No matter what happened, he always seemed to find a way to see the world in a good light.

"I'd love to join," Taeyeon nodded with a smile. "Thanks for the invitation."

"I know you, and I know you won't make friends on the first day," Hayun laughed and gave her a pointed look. "Our introverted director."

"There's nothing wrong with being an introvert," Taeyeon nudged her with her elbow. "I just like my peace and don't want it disturbed by some stranger. I don't mind if it's someone I already know because at least I have an idea of how they'll act. How can I trust someone I don't know at all?"

"Well, you can't," Hayun agreed, amused. Over the years, she had learned that it was easier to just go along with Taeyeon in moments like this. Otherwise, it would turn into an endless monologue.

Because once Taeyeon started talking, there was no stopping her. She could take absolutely anything and debate it for hours—sometimes even against herself. She would argue one side, then pause, reconsider, and start dismantling her own argument. Hayun had once suspected that Taeyeon held these debates with herself even when she was alone. And she was probably right.

"See?" Taeyeon said, giving Hayun a meaningful look. "That's why you won't hear me saying I've made any new friends today."

"You haven't even bonded with your roommate yet?" Hayun asked, surprised. She couldn't imagine that—she got along great with her own roommate. They had met on the first day, gone out for coffee that evening, and had been close ever since. For her, forming a connection right away was natural. But Taeyeon? She was different. Even if her roommate was the kindest person in the world, it would take time before Taeyeon truly opened up.

Taeyeon just sighed. "And when exactly was I supposed to bond with her?"

She didn't wait for an answer and went on, "She's really into sports. She arrived, went straight to the gym, then came back, grabbed her things, and left for practice. What kind of practice? I'd love to know that too. She didn't tell me."

"That'll change," Hayun said confidently, throwing an arm around Taeyeon's shoulders. "Give it a few days, and you'll be coming to school together, laughing at your own jokes, and I'll be in the way. You won't even remember your old friend."

"I highly doubt that," Taeyeon smirked and deliberately bumped her shoulder against Hayun's. "I could never forget your unfunny ass."

Hayun burst into laughter. It was exactly the response she had expected. Taeyeon might sometimes seem closed off despite the big, bright smile on her face, but when she cared about someone, her loyalty was unwavering. She might complain, but she always valued those close to her.

"And on top of that, my roommate straight-up told me she'd be gone most of the time and would only be in the room to sleep," Taeyeon added, rolling her eyes. "She also made it clear that if there's ever a room inspection, I have to make sure it's clean. Because, of course, the mess wouldn't be hers."

"So, do we hate her?" Hayun raised an eyebrow, looking at Taeyeon teasingly.

The girl just sighed and shook her head. "Not really. I don't even know her yet."

She lifted her gaze to the sky, which was just how she liked it—clear but not too blinding, with a few light clouds stretching across the horizon. It reminded her of the first days in a new place—full of anticipation but also carrying a slight uncertainty about what the future might bring.

"And honestly," she continued, "she's right about this. She's barely going to be in the room, so it makes sense that the cleaning will mostly be up to me. If there's a mess, everyone would know exactly who caused it. I don't want her to get into trouble because of me."

Her shorter friend sighed and rolled her eyes theatrically. "You're so considerate. I never would've thought of that."

"Cut it out," Taeyeon chuckled, nudging her lightly with her elbow. "At least I'm nice."

"You definitely are," Hayun said, though her tone carried an amused irony. "But seriously, doesn't it bother you? Having a roommate who barely acknowledges you?"

Taeyeon thought for a moment. "I don't know if it bothers me... It just feels strange. I expected something different. I guess I thought we'd at least become somewhat friendly. But maybe this is better. We won't have to argue over stupid things."

Hayun smirked. "Are you referring to my amazing experience with my high school roommate?"

Taeyeon laughed and nodded. "Exactly that one. I still remember how you spent the whole year arguing because you couldn't even agree on whether to leave the window open."

Hayun made a face like someone had just reminded her of her worst nightmare. "Hey, that was different. She was unbearable. Who the hell closes a window when it's thirty degrees in the room?"

"And who leaves it open when drunk people outside are screaming, making it impossible to sleep?" Taeyeon countered, raising an eyebrow.

Hayun threw her hands up dramatically. "See? That's exactly why we argued! But you're lucky. If your roommate is never there, at least you won't have to deal with nonsense like that."

Taeyeon shrugged. Maybe she was right. Maybe this was easier. But still, a small feeling lingered inside her—like she was missing out on something. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have someone in the room to talk to every now and then.

But then again—she had Hayun. And with her, she was never truly alone.

~•~