2N.An unexpectedly coincidental occasion

How was it possible that everything in Nae-Yoon’s life was so monotonous that she needed a different “spark” in someone to change her perspective so much?

For some time now, everything in Nae-Yoon’s life had seemed predictable, repetitive, as if each day were a copy of the previous one. But that morning, something had changed: she had met someone new, a person with a different energy—her new friend, So-Rak. He was in the same year at university, although they didn’t share all their schedules. Maybe it was irony, or simply destiny, that had somehow brought them together at that moment, and that spark of novelty made her see her surroundings in a different way.

They had been chatting for a while as they waited for the professor’s arrival. It was strange; the professor had been delayed for quite some time, and although he was known for being punctual, there was no sign of him. The students murmured among themselves, some starting to get impatient. Could it be that he simply wouldn’t show up?

The campus always felt enormous and empty when silence settled among the students, and Nae-Yoon was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable. The university had a peculiar policy: professors didn’t share their phone numbers with students, so not even the class representative had a direct way to contact the professor. Then, a university employee, responsible for opening and closing the classrooms, poked his head through the door.

“Professor Walter hasn’t arrived yet?” he asked in a concerned tone. “How strange... he’s usually not late. Let me try to contact him so that you won’t have to wait unnecessarily.”

The students nodded in approval, grateful for a possible solution. Some looked relieved, others were already losing their patience, and the rest, like Nae-Yoon and So-Rak, remained relatively calm, in a strange mixture of resignation and curiosity. So-Rak, in his usual state of calm, was passing the time by reading a comic on his phone, completely absorbed, as if he were in another world.

The wait dragged on, and minutes turned into nearly an hour. Nae-Yoon felt a mixture of frustration and anxiety. If the professor didn’t show up, it meant that her opportunity for the presentation—and possibly her grade—would be delayed, which made her a bit uneasy.

To distract herself a bit, she glanced over at So-Rak, who was still immersed in his reading, a small smile appearing on his face.

“What are you reading?” she asked curiously, leaning slightly toward him.

So-Rak showed her the screen of his phone, which displayed vibrant drawings of an action-adventure comic.

“A comic,” he said with a smile. “I like reading them when I have some free time. Do you like them?”

“Yes, I love them!” she replied enthusiastically. “But I also like drawing characters and making my own sketches. It helps me relax after classes.”

So-Rak looked at her, surprised.

“Oh, really?” he said. “Maybe you could show me some of your drawings someday.”

Nae-Yoon smiled, a bit shyly.

“It’s nothing special, but… sure, I’ll show you something someday. Besides drawing, I sometimes play online games, so I usually spend a lot of time on my laptop.”

“Wow, you’re pretty active. I also enjoy online games, though my friends and I tend to prefer adventure and strategy video games. It’s fun to lose yourself in other worlds for a while.”

They continued sharing their interests, discovering common hobbies, and surprised by the little coincidences. The conversation flowed effortlessly, and Nae-Yoon felt that, although they barely knew each other, there was a natural connection between them. Suddenly, the professor’s voice echoed at the entrance of the classroom.

“My apologies for the delay, everyone!” said Professor Walter, looking tired but with a sincere expression of apology. “There was a family emergency; I had to go to the hospital and couldn’t notify you earlier. I really appreciate your patience.”

Murmurs of understanding and relief filled the room as some students began gathering their belongings.

The professor continued, looking at So-Rak and Nae-Yoon among the other students.

“So you don’t miss the class, I suggest we resume the topic virtually later. Does that work for you?”

So-Rak, always willing, nodded with a smile and replied:

“That sounds like a good idea, professor. It will be easier to catch up and make up the time without staying late here.”

The professor nodded, relieved at the students’ acceptance, and soon said his goodbyes, promising to send the link for the online session.

When they finally left the building, So-Rak looked at Nae-Yoon and smiled.

“Well, I guess we’ll see each other in the online class, and we can chat about how our presentations went.”

To which Nae-Yoon replied with a sincere smile:

“Yes… see you then.”

As Nae-Yoon walked across campus towards her home, the evening breeze seemed lighter than usual, and an unusual thought crossed her mind. Why did she feel so different about meeting someone new? Usually, the routines of her days at university tended to be fairly predictable, even calm. However, thinking back to the talk she had just had with So-Rak, she felt like something different had emerged, something fresh and vibrant, as if she had found a flash of color in her often monochromatic world.

The walk from university to her home always felt familiar, but today it seemed shorter, almost as if it had passed without her noticing. As she walked, she remembered the little coincidences she had shared with So-Rak, from games to an interest in drawing and comics. It was unusual for her to connect with someone so quickly. And though she still knew little about him, she felt that there was something intriguing about his easy-going personality, a calmness that seemed to rub off on her, making her feel less pressured by everything that normally weighed her down.

“It’s funny,” she thought as she turned the corner into her neighborhood. “Just a few hours ago I didn’t even know he existed, and now I can’t help but mull over the conversation.”

She kept remembering how easily So-Rak listened to her, how she responded to her comments, and how naturally she’d shown him the comic she was reading. She didn’t have to strain to fill the silences, or pretend to be interested. It had been… simple. It was something new for Nae-Yoon, who was usually reserved and preferred to observe before opening up to others.

Finally, she reached her building and climbed the stairs to her apartment, thinking about how much a simple chat had changed the outlook on her day. As she entered, she dropped onto her bed, her mind going over and over the moments of that afternoon.

"Maybe I'll show him my drawings someday… if we meet again," he thought, cracking a slight smile.

And as he stared at the ceiling of his room, he couldn't help but feel curious about what fate had in store for him. Maybe life at university was about to become a little less monotonous and a little more interesting.