Snapshots.

일: Assigned

The syllabus called it a "Living Snapshot Project."

You called it "bullshit".

But as much as you would like to continue to hate it, Professor Lim had the kind of energy that made you feel guilty for not caring about General Humanities, and he'd spent the better half of forty minutes explaining it: two students, paired at random, tasked with documenting ten meaningful ordinary moments together over the span of six weeks. Photos, written entries, small physical objects sealed in a box at the end — a time capsule that’s actually real.

"Not staged," he'd said, finger pointed at no one but looking at you for some apparent reason. "I will know if it's staged."

You pointed at yourself, figuring out why he’s staring. You were in the second row because you'd arrived late and it was the only seat left. Architecture students didn't usually take electives like this, but your advisor had flagged it as a painless credit.

Painless.

You wrote that word down in the margin of your notebook and underlined it twice when Professor Lim started reading out the pairs.

"Jang Wonyoung."

You didn't look up.

"And—" A pause, the rustle of paper. He said your name.

You looked up.

The girl in the third row — one seat to your right and one back — was already looking at you. Not surprised, in a sense. She was looking at you the way people look at a specific piece of item they’ve always wanted to buy and now they have the chance.

She smiled. One corner of her mouth lifting, her eyes crinkling just a bit.

You smiled back, unsure, and then turned back to your notebook.

She found you after class in the hallway, you were the only one moving slowly, which helped her. You were reading the project rubric while walking, which was objectively dangerous.

"You're going to walk into a pillar."

You walked into a pillar.

You clutched your head and looked up, and she was standing in front of you in a red varsity jacket that probably cost more than your monthly food budget, white knee socks, black chunky shoes, dark hair over one shoulder. She looked like she'd been put together by someone very deliberate. That someone is probably her.

"Jang Wonyoung," she said, extending her hand.

"Everyone knows," you said, and shook it.

"You looked at me for a long time when Lim called my name."

"I looked at you for two seconds."

"Liar, it was three actually," she said with a smile and closed her eyes, looking very pleased with herself. "I counted."

You folded the rubric. "I was just trying to see where you were sitting."

"Whatever you say." She fell into step beside you without being invited, she’s very good at that, occupy spaces she hadn't even once stepped inside into and make them look like she'd naturally been there. "So. The project. When do you want to start?"

"I was going to read the rubric first."

"I already read it."

"You got it thirty seconds ago."

"I'm a fast reader." She glanced at you sideways. "Also, it's only one page."

You stopped walking. She stopped half a step after you, turned to face you fully with that same calm, slightly entertained expression.

"What are you studying?" you asked.

"Fashion design. You?"

"Architecture."

Something shifted in her face — confusion and surprise. Like she'd had a guess and you'd confirmed a different one. "Really?" she said.

"What?"

"Nothing. You just… don’t look like it" She paused.

"Looks can deceive people." You replied.

"I know." She smiled again, more confident this time.

You stared at her awkwardly for a moment. She stared back without flinching, with a small smile that made it seem like she’s very pleased at what she’s staring back at.

You got the distinct feeling that silences didn't make Jang Wonyoung uncomfortable the way they made most people uncomfortable. She just waited in them, like she had all the time in the world and you were the one who should be in a hurry.

"Saturday," you said. "We can meet Saturday. Figure out what our first moment is."

"Okay." She pulled out her phone, tapped it open, and held it out to you — contact page, already pulled up, name field blank. "Put your number in."

You did, and saved it under your full government name, formal, no emoji. Cause you’re cool like that.

You noticed she'd put her own name in your phone

Wonyoung ૮₍ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ₎ა🩷

이: “Ordinary” Moments.

She texted you at 8:47 AM on Saturday.

hiiiiii!! 𐔌՞ ܸ.ˬ.ܸ՞𐦯

good morning! ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა

are you a coffee person or a tea person?

You looked at the message for longer than necessary.