I.N-A day like any other, without sparks, nothing special.

It was just another day, one of those without surprises or news, identical to so many others that had passed without leaving a trace. Nae-Yoon was in his free time, two hours away from his next class. Although he had those hours, he dedicated them to making progress on some tasks: assignments, presentation preparations and pending work. His biggest concern at that moment was a crucial presentation for one of his subjects, which represented 30% of his final grade. It was an opportunity that had been given to him as a second option, the last to improve his grade and ensure his advancement in the degree.

While he was organizing his material, Nae-Yoon could not help but think about the challenge that awaited him when presenting in front of a group of classmates whom he barely knew. The idea of standing in front of an unknown audience worried him, and even more so, the fact of not knowing how they would react. Throughout his time at university, he had come to observe that many of his classmates were scattered, somewhat immature and, at times, quite noisy in class. However, from time to time, she was lucky enough to meet classmates who were calmer, friendlier, and easier to relate to.

Nae-Yoon reviewed every line of code in her project, focusing on every detail. The lines of programming seemed endless, but finally, after a few hours, she completed her task. She reviewed her material one last time and, with a mix of relief and nerves, decided to head to the building where she was to present her presentation.

Nae-Yoon reached the fourth floor and stopped in front of the classroom door, sighing a little to calm her nerves. Just then, she noticed the boy sitting in the hallway near the classroom, wearing a black jacket, jeans, and a blue polo shirt she had seen before. He was sitting on a step, leaning over his phone, totally relaxed and oblivious to his surroundings.

Nae-Yoon didn't know him, or at least she didn't remember seeing him before. Still, the boy emanated a kind of aura that made her curious. Without quite knowing why, she noticed that she was slightly nervous; something in the atmosphere felt unusual. Maybe it was just the tension of the presentation, or maybe the fact that she was alone in a room with a stranger who seemed so... different.

She hesitated for a few seconds, feeling a strange mix of curiosity and nervousness. She didn't usually strike up conversations with strangers, but somehow she felt compelled to say something. Maybe to ease a little of her own anxiety before the presentation. In her casual style and almost without thinking, she approached with a casual smile.

"Waiting for class too?" Nae-Yoon asked him, without much ceremony.

The boy looked up, a little surprised. His eyes met Nae-Yoon's, and she noticed that his expression, although serious at first, softened with a kind smile.

"Yes, although it seems that I arrived too early," he replied, putting away his phone. "My name is So-Rak, by the way. Are you also coming for the same class?"

Nae-Yoon nodded, feeling a little more relaxed. She was surprised that, despite it being the first time they had spoken, he seemed... strangely familiar, as if they had somehow already met.

“Yes, I'm here to give a presentation. I hope it's not too bad,” she said with a half-smile, in a joking tone, although her words hid a slight nervousness.

So-Rak seemed to pick up on the discomfort in her voice and gave her a sympathetic look.

“Do presentations make you nervous?” he asked, in a kind tone that made her feel strangely comfortable, as if he could understand what she was feeling.

Nae-Yoon sighed and shrugged.

“A little, actually. I was given a second chance to save my grade, and I'm almost dying of nerves,” she admitted, laughing at herself, although her laughter did not completely hide her uneasiness. “Although, well, I am surprised to see someone waiting for class before me; I’m usually the only one who arrives early.

So-Rak let out a soft laugh, and Nae-Yoon noticed the sparkle in her eyes as she smiled.

“I guess we share something then,” he replied, a hint of humor in his voice. “I also have a presentation, and I decided to arrive early to… well, get my mind around it.”

So-Rak’s light chatter and calm tone made Nae-Yoon feel an unexpected warmth. Without realizing it, they began to talk more freely, sharing little anecdotes about their classes and the nerves of presenting in front of strangers.

Slowly, Nae-Yoon began to relax.

The conversation between them progressed with unexpected ease, as if they were old friends instead of strangers. Soon, the talk drifted to the topic of their cycles and schedules.

“So, what semester are you in?” So-Rak asked, slightly curious.

“Third term,” Nae-Yoon replied, smiling. “Although, sometimes it feels like I’ve been here forever. Every semester gets more intense.”

To her surprise, So-Rak nodded, giving an understanding smile.

“Third term? Same as me,” he said, with a hint of surprise. “Strange that we haven’t crossed paths before.”

“It must be because of the schedules,” Nae-Yoon suggested. “My classes are usually in the afternoon.”

“Ah, I’m also one of those who arrive punctually for afternoon classes,” So-Rak commented, with a slight smile. “I guess we’re both the typical ones who get to class before everyone else.”

Nae-Yoon laughed, feeling a little more relaxed at seeing that they had something in common. She liked that feeling of order and responsibility, and it seemed that So-Rak shared that same disposition, something that she found intriguing and refreshing at the same time.

“So, punctual and also a lover of exhibitions?” she joked, still smiling. “Because in my case… I only come on time because I'm afraid of not being late.”

So-Rak laughed softly.

“Let's say that exhibitions are very casual for me, it depends on my level of preparation, so if I master the subject it's casual, but if not, I consider it a test of nerves for me,” she admitted. “But I guess the secret is to show that you have everything under control, but there are times when that can't be done depending on the situation.”

Nae-Yoon felt her own concerns diminish as they talked. With each answer, So-Rak seemed more interesting; there was something in his calm tone and presence that made her feel at peace, as if she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

Nae-Yoon felt more and more comfortable in So-Rak's presence. She still had a while before class, so she decided to keep chatting, enjoying the unexpected conversation that seemed to ease her nerves.

"So, how are you doing this term?" she asked, wanting to know more about him.

So-Rak shrugged, looking down the hall as if she were recording something.

"It's been intense, actually. Although I think it helps me keep an organized schedule," he replied with a smile. "I like to keep things in order, and I try not to leave anything to the last minute. Are you like that too?"

Nae-Yoon laughed, unable to help it.

"Well, in theory yes," she said, laughing. "But sometimes chaos catches up with me anyway. Like today, for example. I still feel nervous about this presentation. They told me it's 30% of the final grade, so I don't want to fail."

So-Rak looked at her with a sympathetic expression.

“I understand. Presentations make me a little nervous too,” he said, though his calm tone suggested he was used to handling such situations. “If you want, we can go over them together. Sometimes it helps to practice with someone before going in.”

The suggestion took Nae-Yoon by surprise, but she felt warm gratitude toward him for offering his help so selflessly.

“Really?” she asked, noticing that her voice sounded a little more enthusiastic than she expected. “That would be great. I don’t usually have anyone to practice these things with, so… thanks.”

So-Rak moved forward, standing up and settling in to listen to her attentively. Nae-Yoon opened her notebook and began quietly going over the first few lines of her presentation, as So-Rak looked at her with interest, nodding from time to time.

After a few minutes, she began to feel much more comfortable. So-Rak made comments here and there, suggesting small changes or giving encouragement, and his words calmed her down.

The conversation between Nae-Yoon and So-Rak naturally changed the subject, moving away from the academic context and becoming more personal. Without thinking much, Nae-Yoon threw a question at him, wanting to know a little more about him.

“So, what do you usually do when you’re not in class?” she asked, with a curious smile.

So-Rak seemed to think about it for a moment, as if he wasn’t used to talking about himself. Finally, he smiled and shrugged.

“Well, it depends on the day. Sometimes I go out for walks with my friends or my family. We like to explore new places or just walk around the city, aimlessly,” he answered, with a calm that seemed so characteristic of him. “And if not, I spend time at home, playing on my computer. I relax after a long day.”

Nae-Yoon approached, imagining him walking through the city or concentrating in front of his computer screen. Something about that image seemed... comforting.

“Sounds good,” she said, sincerely. “Sometimes I think I need to go out more. Sometimes I don't usually take much time for myself, if I do go out but I tend to stick to my laptop more no matter what I'm doing. Maybe you should try to walk a little more too.”

“Absolutely. You don't have to go far to clear your head,” he said, looking at her with a kind expression. “Besides, it's always better if you have good company. Walks with friends or family have something special, don't you think?”

Nae-Yoon approached, although deep down she felt a pang of melancholy. It wasn't that she didn't have friends, if she had them she had more often kept certain distances from many people, letting her true emotions remain hidden. Still, something about the simplicity with which So-Rak spoke made her feel strangely comfortable, as if she were talking to someone she could confide those thoughts to.

“If you ever want to go for a walk or something, let me know,” he said, his tone light but sincere. “Sometimes sharing those simple days with someone makes them even better.”

Nae-Yoon was surprised by her own reaction. The idea seemed tempting, and for the first time in a long time, she felt like putting aside the routine of taking refuge in her own laptop instead of going out and clearing her head so she could experience something different.