Sora was having a relaxing spa night while enjoying some of her favourite chocolate and there was good pizza waiting to be eaten in the kitchen. Any other person would be either fuming or having a nervous breakdown because of stress, but Sora was rather unconventional.

The group presentation was tomorrow and she had her part done and ready. There was not a word from her teammates... Well, that was not exactly true, they all sent her their lame excuses, trying to explain why they were unable to send their ‘already finished’ parts. Not today though, Sora only received silence today and her messages were ignored.

In the end, Sora could not bring herself to care in the least. Honestly, what she had to lose? Grandma already said she was going to take care of everything in case she failed, which she would do, so why bother when she could be doing better things with her time.

So Sora decided to pamper herself. She took a long bath, exfoliated, was wearing a mint clay cleansing mask (or at least that is what the package said), and was currently enjoying some chocolate as she read a book that had been on her reading list for far too long. It was perfect.

After eating two slices of pizza and saving the rest for breakfast, Sora went to bed. Stomach full, muscles relaxed, and hugging her purring cats, she drifted to sleep, not a single worry about what the next day would bring.

Sora woke up early, something quite normal for her, and decided to stay in bed a bit longer. She felt she earned that right. So after half an hour or so of reading in bed, her growling stomach took the decision for her and she dragged herself out of bed, not bothering to even making it up, something quite unusual in her routine.

She entered the kitchen and immediately heated last night’s pizza while sipping on a bottle of lemon tea as she waited. After enjoying her tasteful yet not exactly healthy breakfast, Sora decided to get ready for the day. An hour later, she was out of the house, there was a spring in her step betraying her good mood.

Whatever good mood she had vanished when she remembered she had a session with the university’s counsellor. With a sigh, Sora decided to take a cab. Her reputation as being punctual and responsible was not worth avoiding a session of career consultation she deemed useless but Mina forced Seo Jun and her to schedule. Seriously, it was not Sora’s fault that that girl’s tastes changed daily and she was constantly considering changing careers, only to remember she loved her fashion and designing too much. Besides, Mina’s father would kill her if she dropped business administration.

Sora guesses parents in general were not particularly pleased to see their children taking the path of the arts instead of what they considered was a nice, normal, and stable career. Well, at least that is the impression that Sora had.

The moment she knocked on the door, just a minute before the set time, Sora knew the day was going to go downhill. The sour expression of the career consultant was what she needed to confirm it. And to think she planned to enjoy her morning in the coffee shop, what a shame.

“I reviewed your curriculum vitae,” the stern woman began saying and Sora could swear the woman already disliked her despite of not knowing each other. “Quite impressive for someone your age.” By the way the counsellor said it, it almost sounded like an insult instead of a compliment.

“Thank you, ma’am,” Sora said despite of her painfully tight smile.

“I read that you graduated high school quite young, may I ask the reason why. I read that you were offered to skip grades before and you rejected them, so why that change of heart?” For some reason, that question sounded more as an accusation than anything else did.

“I left Korea quite young because of different circumstances. My parents were quite... I don't know if traditional is the right word, but I guess it fits. They were traditional and supported my brother’s ambitions much more than my own.”

“Did you ever consider your parents only wanting your well being? Every parent wants to see their child enjoying their childhood, perhaps they would have supported you when you were older, as they obviously eventually did.”

Sora suppressed her desire to scoff and kept her tight smile in place. “Of course,” she said, not really answering or giving the woman any additional information. “Due to those certain circumstances, I ended up going abroad and finally being able to progress my education at a rate I found satisfactory.”

There was it, the non-answer was basically a declaration of war and Sora was fully aware of that fact. However, it was not her fault. If the woman tried to pry in her life then she would get the treatment she deserved. The counsellor gave her a sharp look that she answered with one of her closed lips smile that made the dimple on her right cheek stand out.

“I see...” the woman said in a strained tone and Sora suspected the cordiality was out of the window. Fine by her. “So, I read you already finished your studies in Chemical Engineering and even managed to get a PhD. Why did you decided to study Business Administration when you already have one career under your belt.”

“The University of Zürich was extremely kind to allow me to advance at a rate I felt comfortable with. They gave me the option of participating in the fast-paced courses so I decided to take that option,” Sora said, purposefully not answering the question. “I decided to use the advantages they are offering me to further my studies in fields that will undoubtedly be useful for me in a future.”

“Mhm, is that so?” the counsellor said in a clipped tone, her lips thinning as she gave a disapproving look at Sora. “I also read you are quite proficient in different languages and I want to know what motivate you to achieve this goal. I am sorry to tell you this, Miss Kim, but unless you are planning to be a linguist all those language certificates you managed to hoard are useless.”

Oh, now we are talking, Sora though when the woman finally revealed her fangs. It was only natural for her to return the favour. Right?

“Well, what can I say, I am an ambitious individual,” Sora said, smiling at the counsellor and making the woman scowl in the process. “But as I said before, I decided to use all the tools at my disposal to sharpen skills I will undoubtedly use in the future.”

“If you believe so, who am I to contradict you, Miss Kim?” the woman asked sweetly, disgustingly so. “Let’s see what else you got.”

This time, the woman took out a thick folder with a mark that indicated the page she was in.

“Ah, I see. So I am reading that you are also beginning to do your MBA this semester... Let me ask you something, Miss Kim, why don't you find a job already? All your credentials almost seem as a waste when you are unable to support yourself,” the woman said in a condescending tone, looking far too pleased with herself.

Sora did not even react and kept her smile in place.

“I actually have a job,” Sora said without missing a beat, containing her satisfaction at the woman’s souring expression and making sure her smugness did not show on her face. “I am a paid intern at Namu Cosmetics.”

“Ah, this must be quite recent because it is not written on your curriculum.”

“It is, I started working there a few weeks after arriving to the country,” Sora said in a saccharine tone.

“I see,” the woman said, composing a tight smile. “So I have to ask what are your plans for the future. While you are young, you don't have all the time in the world. Do you have any plans after finishing your MBA?”

Sora pretended to think about the answer and even went so far as tapping her chin in faux thoughtfulness. Seeing the counsellor’s clear annoyance was more than worth the wasted seconds.

“I actually do, I will get a PhD,” Sora said cheerily and could swear she could hear the woman’s patience snap, or at least what was left of it.

“And after that?” she asked though gritted teeth and extremely fake smile.

“Ah, well, let’s see...” Sora said, pretending to think about it again. Finally, when the silence stretched for ten breaths, she decided to talk. “I will work in the family business.”

The woman scoffed and looked at Sora with an unbecoming intense glare. So rude.

“I guess you are one of the lucky ones that don't need to worry about their futures so perhaps scheduling this appointment was a waste of both of our times.”

“Oh, I am quite aware of that ma’am, but my friend insisted and I couldn't refuse,” Sora said in a dismissive tone and the woman’s jaw tightened.

“I guess I no longer have questions about your future plans for your career or job. However, allow me to give one piece of advice I hope you find useful,” the counsellor said and the atmosphere changed, making Sora uncomfortable with the unexpected turn of events. “You are pretty enough, but no matter how beautiful you are, there is not a single man who wants a woman smarter or with more accomplishments than him.

“Men have this thing called masculine pride and, once threatened, they tend to react in negative ways. I know you are a quite ambitious youngster, but it will take time to achieve your goals. Once you achieve them, you may no longer be beautiful enough and being so well prepared will repel any possible suitors.”

The woman seemed honest enough and Sora suspected the counsellor was giving that advice because based on personal experience. However, if there was one thing she hated, was when people assumed she needed someone else to be happy. So long she had done everything herself and was quite satisfied with the result, thank you very much.

A silvery giggle escaped Sora’s throat and she immediately tried to cover it up by coughing and placing a hand over her lips.

“Excuse, I apologize for my outburst,” Sora said in a small voice, looking at the floor as if she was embarrassed. It was a shame because she was unable to see the woman’s reaction. “It is just a bit hilarious, not your counsel, ma’am, just how different your opinion is to the one my boyfriend has.”

It was a bit scary, how easy it was to lie, but honestly, Sora was tired of this woman and would not allow her to believe she somehow affected her. If she had to lie in order to achieve that goal, then she had no problems with that.

“It is just that he is constantly telling me how one of us has to be the smart one in order to help the children when they go to school and actually set a good example because he is too lazy to do it.”

Another lie, a big one. The day Kim Sora planned to have children was the day they were dragging her to a mental asylum, white containing shirt, white clad nurses, and all that paraphernalia.

“Do you have any other question, ma’am?” Sora asked in a sugary sweet tone, enjoying the way the woman’s face contorted into a pronounced scowl.

“No. You can leave, Miss Kim,” the counsellor almost barked.

Sora bowled low and tucked her hair behind her ear, smiling at the woman.

“Have a good day, counsellor.” With those words, she left the office.

As Sora walked towards her next class, considering skipping and read a little, but deciding to go in the end. Her reputation as a good girl allowed her to get out with behaviour that otherwise would classify her as a troublemaker.

Though not everything she told the woman was a lie. Nam-Jun and her did agree on getting married if both of them reached their mid forties unmarried and childless. Heavens knew their grandmother would come back to haunt them as a ghost if they did not give her any great grandchild to spoil. They would adopt two kids and Nam-Jun would become a home father, or at least that is what they agreed on because Sora was a disaster with children. Or humans, as a general rule.

So she tolerated her morning classes with a smile, pretending her head was not in other place. Once she was finally free, Sora walked towards the cafeteria and thanked it was still not totally full of people. She took out a worn out book and opened it in her favourite page as she waited for her friends.

This was a poem she constantly read when she was in a strange mood. What could she say? Rimbaud wrote magic and his words usually calmed her. A Season in Hell. One of her favourite poems.

“A while back, if I remember right, my life was one long party where all hearts were open wide, where all wines kept flowing.

One night, I sat Beauty down on my lap. And I found her galling. And I roughed her up.

I armed myself against justice.

I ran away. O witches, O misery, O hatred, my treasure's been turned over to you!

I managed to make every trace of human hope vanish from my mind. I pounced on every joy like a ferocious animal eager to strangle it.

I called for executioners so that, while dying, I could bite the butts of their rifles. I called for plagues to choke me with sand, with blood. Bad luck was my god. I stretched out in the muck. I dried myself in the air of crime. And I played tricks on insanity.

And Spring brought me the frightening laugh of the idiot.

So, just recently, when I found myself on the brink of the final squawk! it dawned on me to look again for the key to that ancient party where I might find my appetite once more.

Charity is that key. This inspiration proves I was dreaming!

"You'll always be a hyena etc. . . ," yells the devil, who'd crowned me with such pretty poppies. "Deserve death with all your appetites, your selfishness, and all the capital sins!"

Ah! I've been through too much:-But, sweet Satan, I beg of you, a less blazing eye! And while waiting for the new little cowardly gestures yet to come, since you like an absence of descriptive or didactic skills in a writer, let me rip out these few ghastly pages from my notebook of the damned.”

As she read the last sentence, she felt someone staring over her shoulder and immediately snapped her elbow back, hitting whoever was behind her and turning around only to see a familiar figure clutching her stomach. Then Sora winced, knowing she would need to pay for Mina’s meal in order to make up to her. Especially by the way she was clutching her stomach and Seo Jun watched horrified from the sidelines.

After much apologizing and paying for the day’s meal, Mina was finally over her sulking.

“So what happened, you only read that when you are in a bad mood,” Seo Jun said, looking at Sora and pointing her backpack, where her book was hidden away.

“Well, I had that appointment with the career counsellor and was told that no man would ever want to be with a woman more accomplished than them,” Sora informed her friends in an almost cheerful tone. “Was she not a sweetheart?”

“Thank goodness I was not the only one,” Seo Jun said, “I even though I was crazy when I complained to one of my classmates and they said that counsellor was great.”

“What did she told you?” Mina asked while munching on her burger.

“Disgusting, close your mouth,” Sora scolded the girl.

“You lost your right to complain when you attacked me!”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“She was all strange and judgemental from the beginning,” Seo Jun said before Mina and Sora began another debate on who was to blame for Mina getting hit. Both were. “She asked me what my plans after taking the bar exam were and I answered honestly, I plan to take a good old vacation and go backpacking for a few months to South America. Then all hell broke loose and the woman went all judgy grandma on me.

“So then she began asking me why were my grades so low. They are not that bad, they are average! Then she almost demanded to know why I don’t have a part time job. I do! My mum has me as an unpaid intern in her firm and tortures me daily but I can not exactly say that so I did not say a word and she kept scolding me. In the end, she told me that I should stop being so sheltered and get a part time job already.”

Sora patted Seo Jun’s shoulder awkwardly as he buried his face on his arms. Yes, that woman was definitely weird.

“Well, I had my appointment yesterday and am ready to join the pity party,” Mina sighed, looking genuinely bothered.

“So what did she tell you?” Sora asked Mina, making her sigh.

“The counsellor was really pleasant in the beginning. I actually kind of liked her when we began talking until she suggested me to change careers. Apparently, fashion is not a suitable career choice for if you want to actually earn some money and not leech on your parents and end up as yet another waitress in a low paying restaurant.”

Sora stared speechless at Mina. Wow, that woman was extremely set in her ways. Offensively so.

“That is... oddly specific,” Seo Jun said and placed an arm around the pouting girl’s shoulder.

“I cannot believe she actually told you that,” Sora huffed, feeling offended on Mina’s behalf.

“She actually did. Do you know? Once I told her I planned to begin my own fashion line she actually laughed, as if I told her a joke,” Mina confided them and Sora sighed.

Mina was a really confident girl, but having her own fashion line was her dream and she worked too damn hard for it only for an antiquated moron to tell her she was wrong.

“So I guess we can conclude the counsellor is an idiot,” Sora told them, smiling when Mina gave her a wobbly smile of her own.

“I second that motion,” Seo Jun said theatrically and Mina left out a watery laugh.

“Hey today is your group presentation, right?” Mina asked Sora after a few moments of silence and she nodded absently while taking another spoonful of her meal.

“Well, you are going to fail,” Seo Jun happily informed her.

“Thank you for that information, what would I ever do without your insight?” Sora deadpanned.

“Yah! Do not be rude, brat, I am still older than you!”

“I am your sunbae,” Sora retorted, unimpressed. “All the respect I could have for you flew out of the window the day I met a crying teenager that swore he was going to fail his math class and begged me to kill him already and end with his misery.”

That memory actually forced Sora to smile. She was just a twelve year old girl going from school to her evening classes when she met a snotty teenager, quite literally, sobbing on the bench she usually sat on to wait for the bus. Once he saw her, Seo Jun literally began telling her his life story and how his father was going to kill him when he saw his port card and how his mother was going to bring him back to life only to kill him herself.

Ah, of course, that snotty teenager also begged her to end his misery and at least give him a fast death. In the end, feeling a wet spot on her shoulder was enough for Sora to slap some sense into a younger and even more theatrical Seo Jun. Yes, that was possible. Not slapping sense into someone, that was more to vent her anger, but the more theatrical Seo Jun. He was quite the drama queen back then.

After that, Sora took five minutes of her time to help him out with his math homework. As the strange human being she was, Sora always loved math and they came easy to her. So despite of Seo Jun being older, she knew more than he did, at least in that subject.

Then he followed her like a lost puppy to the bus because she was actually forcing his brain to understand. What Sora clearly remembered was clutching the Swiss knife in her pocket like a lifeline in case he had other intentions. However, once they arrived to the station he called his mother to pick him up because he was lost and Sora walked away.

After that day, she always met him in that bench and explained for twenty minutes or so. That is how she earned herself an extremely loyal and dramatic shadow, but it was not that bad. Seo Jun’s mother actually loved Sora for helping her clueless son and tended to give her rides. She was nice, no matter what her children said about her being scary.

“Ah, I remember that!” Mina almost yelled, looking far too gleeful. “I didn't go to school that day because I was dying with a cold and this guy,” Mina said, patting a blabbering Jun’s back, “called me to tell me he was going to die and I better attend his funeral or he would haunt me forever.”

“I swore my parents were going to kill me,” Seo Jun groaned at last, his cheeks were a hot pink, matching quite nicely with his red ears. “They didn't and I have to thank my ugly sister for that. She went to a party and kind of scratched dad’s new car and threw up in the back, right on the leather seats.”

“Your brother also killed the television while gaming, right?” Mina asked, apparently remembering that day clearly.

“Yep, and my parents were so angry at them. Not for ruining the things, but for trying to hide them and pretend nothing was wrong, I think they were offended. Anyway, my bad grades in math were nothing compared to those two, though they didn’t give me any allowance until I showed them my improvement,” Seo Jun finished saying.

Actually, these were all news to Sora. She only remembered the strange teenager that rode the bus with her in order to get math explanations.

“I just know your mother gave you a bus card to come back on your own because she was tired of picking you up from the station and your dad gave you some sunscreen to walk back home and not get sunburnt,” Sora told Jun and Mina giggled.

“Yes, thank you for reminding me,” Jun pouted. “Ah, by the way, you do know my mum expects you to hang out with her and dad wants you to come by the house one of these days.”

“Yeah, she told me,” Sora nodded as she took the last bite of her food. “I will have to make a bit of time to visit your dad though.”

“According to them, you are their favourite daughter.”

“Yeah, my dad also says that,” Mina agreed, also pouting.

“Do I have to remind you who steal my grandmother every time she comes?”

“She loves us,” Seo Jun declared, pointing at Mina and him.

Sora laughed softly and decided to let the matter be for today, their six-year debate had yet to reach a conclusion.

“Okay, okay. I have to go now,” she said, looking at her phone to check the hour.

“Good luck!” Seo Jun said, wearing that bright smile of his.

“Don't commit murder today!” Mina added her unhelpful suggestion.

Sora simply waved at them and walked out of the cafeteria, thinking the day did not go as bad as she thought it would. But then again, she had yet to face the worse part of it. Whatever happened, she was ready.

Sora arrived to her class in high spirits. Despite of not being able to munch on some of her favourite M&M’s because the aftertaste of toothpaste tended to ruin the flavour of food, she was still quite cheerful. She was more than ready and eager to play her part as the sweet innocent girl that would eventually fail a subject because of her irresponsible teammates.

With a sigh, Sora noticed she spilled something on her hoodie and, unfortunately, she was not willing to wear that for a presentation, as hopeless as it was. With reluctance, she took off her hoodie and hoped she did not freeze to death in the following hour and a half.

Finally, she pulled her laptop out of her backpack, along with the folder containing the written part of the assignment and waited for the fireworks to start.

----------------------------------------

Yunho was the first one to arrive to the class and not exactly because he enjoyed it or even remotely liked the professor. No, he was the first because he was eager to see what would happen next. This group assignment was worth sixty percent of the final grade, or at least that is what the professor said. If anyone asked him, it was pretty obvious she got tired to deal with certain people and was finding a way for them to pass without getting directly involved.

Of course, that plan involved dumping the hopeless students with the smart, responsible student of the class. And of course, she added an extra and quite stupid rule. Make sure I don't find the freeloader or you all fail, that is what she said and Yunho knew many groups were having problems because of that senseless rule. Of course, no one was as bad as the little girl’s team.

He really wanted to know how everything played out.

Little by little, people began trickling in the room and soon enough Yunho was surrounded by acquaintances that considered him a friend. Finally, he saw the little girl entering the classroom. She looked oddly cheerful, though he doubted it had anything to do with the class. Then a wild idea crossed his mind, what if she actually finished the project herself?

Honestly, that didn't seem as something the little girl would do, but then again, he didn't really know much about her so it was a possibility. However, if his suspicions were correct, then his silly little crush would suffer a swift death. Perhaps that was for the best, but he would still be disappointed.

She took off her sweater with a small pout, something definitely strange, she never took out her sweater, no matter how hot it got. The guys tended to talk a lot about the anatomy of their female classmates, Yunho normally ignored this because, in his opinion at least, it was a bit creepy to talk about certain physical features of a person. However, he heard enough to know they suspected Sora was either lacking certain attributes they considered essential or had a rather undesirable one below. Personally, Yunho didn't care at all.

This put things into perspective though, after all, he was just a man with a perfectly healthy libido and ability to appreciate the female body. And what a body he was appreciating. She was wearing a tight fitted Henley shirt and, even from this distance, he was able to appreciate how aesthetically pleasing her figure was. Great, now he was just as creepy as the other guys were.

“What are you looking at,” Somin said, turning his face with her hands and Yunho immediately recoiled at the contact.

Somin knew he wasn't a fan of physical contact outside of those few times they used each other to relieve some stress. Her face was set on stone and her eyebrows were slightly pinched. Yes, she definitely knew whom he was admiring and didn't like it at all. Well, that was hardly his problem.

“Your hands are cold, keep them in your pockets,” Yunho admonished her lightly, knowing he could not exactly scold her in front of so many people.

“Warm them up for me,” Somin almost simpered, making him wince.

“I am not one for exhibitionism,” he said easily, giving her his patented smile that made the people around them laugh, though she scowled slightly before composing a pout.

Yunho concentrated on the conversation, or at least he tried to, though his eyes constantly strayed at the little girl. Oh, thinking about it, that nickname sounded quite strange. If anyone heard he was ogling someone he called a little girl, he would not only be classified as a creep, but a paedophile. Yeah, he needed to change her nickname, at least in order to feel less creepy.

“Sora! I'm so sorry!” Kangin almost yelled as he ran inside the classroom, immediately walking towards the girl in question, and earning the attention of the whole room. “I was dying with a cold yesterday so I couldn't send you my part, I'm really sorry!”

Well, that was a stupid excuse and, judging by his group’s faces, they shared the same though.

“Do not worry about it, sunbae-nim,” Sora reassured the man and Yunho almost scoffed, was she being serious? “Are you feeling better today?”

“Yeah, but I was really sick. I even had to go to the hospital and all that stuff.”

Sora simply smiled brightly at him. Finally, Kangin’s eyes strayed from her face down her body and she immediately hugged the sweater on her lap, covering the view. Kangin was definitely an animal. Before Yunho could keep mentally insulting the man, the other half of the team stormed in, being amongst the last ones to arrive.

“Oh my gosh, Sora, I was so busy this week that I forgot to send you my part,” a guy said, what was his name again? Jumo, Jorogumo, something with J, it wasn't really that important.

Kangin’s expression soured when the guy said that, but he remained silent.

“Hi – I mean, hello, Sora-ssi,” a girl said in a really low tone and the only reason Yunho was able to hear it was because the whole room was silent, paying attention to that interaction. “I could – I couldn't send you my part either. My laptop stopped working and I... I lost all the information. I'm really sorry.”

Well at least the almost mute one had some manners, Yunho thought. She actually bowed and looked apologetic enough. Kangin looked on the border of a temper explosion, judging by his flaring nostrils.

“Come on, don't worry about it. Hurry up and send me your presentations now or give me your pen drives. Also give me your printed parts to hand in the report,” the no longer little girl said and Yunho was left speechless, just as the rest of the room.

Oh, so that was her plan. How utterly simple and ruthless yet completely reckless and unpredictable. That was the last straw that Kangin needed to explode.

“What do you mean by that?” he asked in a low tone, towering over Sora.

“Hey, you are kidding, right?” the guy whose name Yunho was unable to remember said in a shaky tone. Apparently, realization finally slapped him and he seemed in the border of breaking down in hysteric sobs. “Sora, you finished the presentation, right?”

“What is wrong, sunbae-nim? You said you had no time to send it, you can give it to me now,” Sora said, as though butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, but Yunho knew better. She was far too relaxed for someone who was about to fail a subject.

The sharp sound of Kangin’s palms slamming on the desk resounded in the room and more than one tensed. Aside from his bad habit of being a constant partygoer and heavy drinker, Kangin was well known for how violent he could turn in the blink of an eye. It was pretty obvious more than one would jump to stop him, even if he was attacking a normal student instead of the golden girl.

“Why the hell didn’t you two work!” Kangin barked and the quiet girl shrunk on her sit. “And you, what the fuck were you thinking? You know what will happen if I fail this subject, do you have any idea of how many problems I'll have then?”

Kangin actually had the audacity of grabbing her arm and that was enough for the closest students to act. The moment they interfered, Kangin recoiled immediately, taking a few steps back. He backed down, though it was obvious it was only because of the public. Kangin’s anger issues already bought him many problems with the university so the least he needed was another report for aggression.

“Either you calm the fuck down or we are reporting you,” one of them snapped and Kangin glared at him, but walked slowly towards his seat.

Before Sora could say anything, the door was snapped open and the professor entered, her heels clacking horribly with the ground.

“What is going on in here?” the woman demanded, her perpetual disapproving scowl in place. “Is this the cafeteria? Go to your sits now,” the professor ordered and everyone scramble to their seats.

From the corner of his eye, Yunho saw the really silent girl handing Sora a hideous neon pink pen drive and taking out a folder where he assumed her written part of the assignment was. Well, at least half of the team did something.

“Good evening students. Now, let’s begin the presentations and stop wasting time. Group one to the front, you have fifteen minutes. Leave your report on the desk,” the professor ordered and took her chair to the back of the class as the group scrambled to get ready.

A minute later, they were finally beginning but the woman was already writing something on her notebook. Apparently, they took too long for her standards.

Groups went to the front one by one and Yunho took some notes on the few subjects that managed to capture his attention. However, he was not concentrated on them.

He was fascinated by the little girl. A shudder went through him when he remembered why he decided to stop calling her that not even an hour ago. In any case, colour him impressed by the way on which she managed the situation and he was eager to see what happened next.

“Group five, you have fifteen minutes.”

Yunho’s gaze snapped to the front when Sora’s group walked to the front and the projector immediately showed the first page of the presentation. Then she began talking.

He never realized how different her voice was when serious, a tad deeper and few to no inflections. The presentation sheets were perfectly timed with her exposition, she never looked back once as she used the control to move forwards. Well, damn. That took a hell lot of practice or countless hours invested in the presentation and exposition to know it so well, probably it was a mix of both. Damn it. In any case, she just set up a really high bar that would be hard to overcome. Especially when Yunho caught a glimpse of the professor, she was nodding at certain points and her pen never touched her notebook. Triple damn.

Apparently, Yunho was not the only one to feel the pressure. The quiet girl was muttering under her breath as she read a crinkled sheet of paper while the other two were fidgeting, clearly uncomfortable. Well, they would certainly go through a great public embarrassment soon enough.

Her presentation was over and the slides continued. Sora handed the control to the quiet girl and patted her forearm in a gesture Yunho guessed was supportive, but only served to make the girl even more nervous.

“As you know the... the micro market strategy is focused on a small group of t-tightly targeted costumers...”

It was obvious to notice the girl was terrified of speaking in public. She never met anyone’s eyes and she was constantly looking down. She even forgot to use the control in her hand so her presentation remained in the same page until Sora began manually manipulating the presentation sheets from her laptop. All in all, it was not terrible. Heavens knew Yunho witnessed worse. Much, much, much worse.

However, there was a problem. Compared to Sora’s fluid exposition, it was utterly lacklustre. The professor was writing on her notebook, but at least she was not looking too eager to fail them.

Yunho looked at the hour on his wristwatch and raised his eyebrows. The first hour of the class was about to be finished, but they still had half an hour. Well, thinking about it, it was not that surprising considering most groups finished their presentation before the professor’s timer rang. Besides, the others learnt from the first group and their laptops were already connected to the projector so they were ready to start immediately after the group was done.

As everyone learnt, this professor in particular didN't appreciate questions during classes. However, she did ask a few whenever she felt the group didN't know enough of their theme.

The quiet girl was done and the image of the projector turned black for a second, signalling it was over, before it returned to the previous page. Neither Kangin nor that guy Yunho was really unable to remember the name of moved. It was actually pretty uncomfortable to wait to see what would happen next.

“Who is next? Come on now, you are wasting invaluable time,” the professor snapped, clearly annoyed at the situation.

Yet, the two guys only fidgeted while the quiet girl looked at the floor as if it held the secrets of the universe. Sora was silent, looking at the front with no expression. Then, she began walking to the centre.

“Micro and macro economics, despite of all their core differences, share these particular principles-”

“You already exposed, Miss Kim, it is your teammate’s turn. Who is the next one?” the professor interrupted Sora, her scowl deepening with each moment that passed in silence. “So no one is going to expose next? Very well, go to your places and stay after class. Group six, you have fifteen minutes,” the woman said and her chronometer started while the group scrambled to the front.

The presentations continued until there were only five minutes or so left, when the professor walked to the front, clearly displeased.

“I was expecting much more from all of you, I hope the ones that have to expose next week do a better job. The groups that didn't expose today leave your written assignments on my desk on your way out. Class dismissed, group five, stay behind.

Oh, how Yunho wished he could stay behind and eavesdrop on whatever happened next, but he couldn't really do it while being surrounded with so many witnesses that wouldn't leave him alone. With a sigh, he left the folder on the table and stole one last glance at her before walking out.

He really wanted to know what that devious little thing had in store.