The day had drawn to a close, and the campus was quieter now, the hustle and bustle of the morning’s drama gradually fading into the background. Kim and Seo-joon walked side by side, each absorbed in their thoughts, the weight of the day's events settling in. It wasn’t just the bidding war that had shaken them; it was the realization that this place was like a pressure cooker, a breeding ground for ambition, greed, and power plays.
Kim’s mind kept returning to the rich boy—how easily he had assumed that money could buy anything, even a place that someone had worked so hard for. The thought still churned in Kim’s stomach, but it wasn’t just about the boy anymore. It was about what he had learned, about standing firm when everything around him tempted him to fold. It was about strength, pride, and self-respect, things he wasn’t willing to sell for anything.
As they reached the campus courtyard, Seo-joon broke the silence. “You know,” he said thoughtfully, “I’ve been thinking about what happened today. It wasn’t just about the seat, was it? It was about control.”
Kim glanced at him, intrigued. “Control?”
Seo-joon nodded. “Yeah. That guy, the rich one—he wasn’t just offering money for the seat. He wanted control. He wanted to show everyone that if he could buy the seat, he could have power over them, over us. But you didn’t give in. You didn’t let him have that control. That’s something.”
Kim felt a pang of realization. Seo-joon was right. It wasn’t just about the seat—it was about what giving it up would have meant. Giving in would have meant surrendering his dignity, his pride. It would have meant that money could define his place here, that his worth could be measured by what he could be bought for. But Kim wasn’t willing to let that happen. He was stronger than that.
“I didn’t even think about it that way,” Kim said, his voice quiet but thoughtful. “But now that you mention it, I guess it was a kind of control. And I’m not going to let anyone take that from me.”
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Seo-joon smiled, his expression sincere. “That’s why I’m glad we met. I’ve been alone here, feeling like I was the only one who saw through the game. But now... now it feels like maybe we can make it through together.”
Kim looked at him, a weight lifting off his shoulders. He hadn’t realized how much he had needed someone who understood, someone who shared his views. In the midst of a world that thrived on power plays and manipulation, having an ally felt like a lifeline.
“I don’t know if I can keep going like this on my own,” Kim admitted. “This place… it’s everything I’ve never known. The money, the influence, the manipulation. It’s all new to me.”
Seo-joon’s eyes softened, and he placed a hand on Kim’s shoulder. “You don’t have to do it alone,” he said. “We can support each other. You don’t have to give in to what they expect of us. We don’t have to play by their rules.”
Kim nodded slowly, feeling a flicker of hope ignite in his chest. “We’ll stick together then,” he said, a firm resolve in his voice. “We’ll face this world on our own terms.”
The two of them stood there for a moment, the weight of the world suddenly feeling a little less heavy, a little more manageable. Together, they could navigate this strange, ruthless new world. Together, they could resist the temptation of power and wealth and stay true to themselves.
As the sun began to set behind the towering buildings of the campus, casting long shadows across the courtyard, Kim couldn’t help but feel that this was the beginning of something important. Something bigger than just surviving. It was about building something real, something lasting.
For the first time since he had set foot on this campus, Kim felt like he had a purpose that wasn’t defined by money or status. It was defined by something deeper—by the people he chose to stand with, and the strength they found in each other.
“I’m glad we met,” Kim said quietly, looking at Seo-joon with genuine appreciation.
“Me too,” Seo-joon replied, his voice warm. “We’ve got this, Kim. We’ll make it.”
The two of them turned and walked away from the courtyard, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them. The world of privilege and power might be hard to navigate, but they had each other—and that made all the difference.
As they walked into the fading light, their footsteps in sync, Kim couldn’t help but feel a quiet sense of hope for the future. With Seo-joon by his side, he wasn’t alone. And that was all he needed to keep going.