The alarm clock sounded off at dawn. Couldn't stand it. Smacked it silent, then cracked my eyes open. A challenge, no doubt, but I managed. Swept my gaze across the room - absolute chaos. Garments strewn everywhere, noodle boxes half-eaten with a bunch of flies partying on top, and a real nasty smell wafting from the kitchen. A clear signal I didn't tackle the dishes last night.

Typical morning, really. Same scene for the past two years I've been living here. Only one year left, one last stretch and I'm out of here, I pep-talked myself. The same self-cheerleading I've been doing since this semester kicked off.

I had to force myself out of bed, it's the only way to get work done. I headed straight for the kitchen. Couldn’t make it past the sink without a retching fit. Ignoring this would only compound the issue. So, I decided to tackle this head-on. Slipped on a mask, slid into some gloves, and set about washing the dishes.

Washing dishes brought a startling revelation. It's been over a fortnight since I last cleaned them. No wonder the smell was so overpowering. It was two weeks old! But I couldn’t be disappointed in myself anymore. I mean you can’t sink lower than rock bottom, and that’s exactly where I was. Even those at the bottom have responsibilities, can't use that as an excuse.

This isn’t an old adage, it’s wisdom imparted by my mum. Yeah, moms do give the best advice, almost all the time.

Once the dishes were clean, I took a moment to breathe. A deep breath filled with the scent of dish soap. My relief was short-lived, replaced by the sight of noodle boxes scattered on the table. I exhaled, a sigh of resignation, and prepared for the real task ahead.

Fast forward half an hour, the place looked somewhat habitable. Noodle boxes stashed in a trash bag, clothes neatly folded into the cupboard, and a quick hoovering removed the dust and grime on the floor. It was far from spotless, but it was a good start. Why I chose to clean the house today, I’ve no idea. Usually, it's a post-work thing. But today, I just found myself doing it, as if instinctively aware that today was going to be a bit different.

A quick glance at my watch, and my eyebrows shot up. Damn, I’m late for work. No time to waste, I quickly stripped and hopped into the shower. Moments later, I was out, dried off, and dressed in a minimalist red shirt, blue jeans, and white trainers. My skinny frame made me look rather gaunt. A look in the mirror was enough to realise I needed to work out.

Just a few minutes later, I found myself sprinting to class, my bag jostling on my back. It was a good thing my apartment was one of those fancy student buildings, modern and sleek, conveniently located close to the university - a mere five-minute jog away. This saved me a load of time and stress compared to living in the city, where the rent could eat up an entire paycheck.

I headed straight to class the moment I exited the building, not wasting any time. As I repeatedly checked my watch, my mind became consumed by the need to be punctual. Two minutes left - this realisation made me increase my speed, pushing my stamina to its limit and causing my vision to blur. I was really pushing myself that day.

I was so focused on getting to class that I accidentally ran between two couples who were about to kiss. They hurled Korean expletives at me, which I didn't understand despite having a basic grasp of the language. Two years of living here had helped.

Finally reaching the main hallway, I sprinted up the stairs and rounded the corner to the classroom. To my relief, I saw Hanul waiting at the end of a now-thinning line of students entering the room.

Taking a moment to catch my breath, I was interrupted by Hanul's shout from the doorway, "Josh, come on, we're late!"

With a smile, I replied, "Yeah, I'll be there." I collected myself and strolled in, acting as though I hadn't just run a mile to get to class. But something kept nagging at me. Usually, I didn't rush to class - in fact, I'd never rushed before. If I was late, so be it. I usually avoided the embarrassment of arriving late by not showing up at all. But that day, something pushed me to get to class early. I couldn't quite put my finger on why.

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As always, the class was buzzing with chatter, loud voices, and a whirl of dramatic gasps.

"Did you hear Samdae cheated on Eun?"

Pretending to be surprised, I responded, "Oh my god, really? Why?"

"Apparently, Eun got a little too friendly with one of the soccer team guys at a house party a few nights ago. So, Samdae retaliated by cheating on her with her best friend. Everyone's talking about it."

Uninterested, I opened my notebook, simply replying, "Is that so?" I never cared much for gossip. Not because I thought it was morally wrong, but simply because it held no benefit for me. I was more concerned with things that directly impacted me, like understanding my coursework, acing my exams, and securing a good job.

Well, Hanul's probably the only mate I got here, so I gotta act interested in the chatter sometimes, right? Hanul seemed to pick up on my slight disinterest. It's not like I was trying to hide it or anything. Oh man, I just messed up, didn't I?

"You're not interested, are you?" she said.

"Nah."

"It's cool," she beamed, "Let's focus on the class."

I grinned back at her; thank God there was no gossip session today. I glanced towards the front of the room; the teacher was nowhere to be seen. Then a click caught my attention. The door creaked open, revealing a lady with auburn hair.

"Am I in the right class?" She asked.

We all, including me, exchanged looks before turning our gazes to her. It took a moment before someone finally spoke up.

"This is the bio-tech class, run by Professor Bong," Samdae announced from the back.

Strange, didn't spot him when I walked in. Maybe I wasn't really paying attention. I shot him a quick look but quickly turned away when he gave me a fierce glance back.

Samdae and I aren't exactly buddies. Heck, we aren't even neutral. For the past two years, there's been a ton of tension between us. Seems like I've made a lifelong enemy. I'll get into the details some other time.

The lady swung the door wide open. "Yes! I knew this was the place."

Her sudden outburst took a few students by surprise, prompting awkward laughs and hushed whispers about her behavior. At first, I couldn't tell if she noticed their reactions. But it became obvious when she announced that she was filling in for Professor Bong.

"Yes, that's right. I'm your new bio-tech lecturer, Areum." Her voice brimming with excitement.

Everyone, myself included, was stumped. I took a look around the room; no one seemed to be handling this any better than I was. Noticing the tension in the room, she tried to put us at ease. "I know this is sudden and seeing a new face without knowing their credentials can be unsettling. But rest assured, you're in good hands. I'm a scientist from one of the top five pharmaceutical companies in the US. I think my credentials speak for themselves."

"Wow," was all I managed. I was at a loss for words. It wasn't so much her credentials that threw me off, but the timing of Professor Bong's departure and her arrival. Midterms were coming up in two months, and they made up a big chunk of our final grades. Professor Bong's participation this year was crucial as this year's module carried a lot more weight than the previous ones. If he scored, it would significantly impact his overall average.

Besides, Bong had a knack for simplifying complex concepts. In a program like Bio-Tech this was a valuable skill. Plus, I had known him for two years; this new lady, not at all. Wasn't sure about her teaching style. Might seem like a stretch, but it felt like the university was playing games with our futures. And it seemed like everyone else felt the same when I glanced around the room.

"So, without further ado," she said, flashing a big smile, "let's get started."

I shared an awkward smile with Hanul. We both then turned our heads towards the new teacher Areum, our smiles faded while hers remained.