Remedial

The crowd full of students roars at the end of the Know About Me. They make sure to show their appreciation to the performers for their amazing work on stage. 

“Thank you Korea University! You guys have been amazing, this has been NMIXX!”

The six girls bid farewell in unison to the festival crowd after their 3 song set. They start waving to their fans in the crowd, doing some last bits of fan service before they leave the stage. Sullyoon, however, was taking her time in waving to the crowd, giving herself an alibi as she carefully scans the audience. Disappointment was starting to wash over her face when she couldn’t find who she was looking for. That is, until she spots you in the crowd.

The second your eyes meet, Sullyoon’s face instantly lights up. Honestly, you couldn’t help but give her a big smile in return too. She waves frantically at you before calming herself, trying not to raise any suspicion for her suddenly brightening up even more. After a moment that felt like eons, she eventually had to leave the stage. You were about to make your way to the exit before you noticed one of her managers waving at you trying to get your attention. When you approach them, they lead you to the holding room where the group was resting before leaving. The second you open the door, your ears are met with laughter before a high pitched shriek invades your ear drums.

“AAAAHHHH! Oppa you made it!” Sullyoon happily exclaims as she rushes towards you. You meet her with a hug and lift her up in the air before setting her gently back on the ground. “I thought you would miss this one too when I didn’t see you in the crowd.” She pouts as she whines. 

“Hey, I promised I was going to make it to this one. I intended to keep it.” You reassure her by kissing her, which is met by playful gags and barfs by the other girls in the room. “You did great by the way. You all did!” 

“Thanks, Oppa!” the rest of the NMIXX girls reply in unison. They all go back to their own worlds while you talk with Sullyoon.

“Are you guys done for the day?”

“Yep! That was our last performance.”

“Cool. I was thinking we could get some food on the way home.”

“I’d love that, oppa. But I kinda want to walk around the campus for a bit. Maybe get some fresh air while we’re out here. Is that okay?”

“It’s fine, Yoona. I don’t mind. Though, is there anything we need to put in the car?”

“Not really. Most of our stuff is going back to the company with our managers.”

“Alright, then. Let’s go on that walk.”

Sullyoon’s smile grows wide before she goes to her manager, who helps her wear a heavy coat. Her manager asks if you can handle her, which makes you scoff. Of course you can. She relents and gives you a final reminder that their van leaves in two hours, though you reassure her that the two of you will be back by then. You and Sullyoon sneak out of the waiting room while the other NMIXX members continue to relax.

You and Sullyoon walk through the campus, escaping the crowded areas into the more secluded parts of the university. Everyone was still focused in the area where the performers were, leaving only a few stragglers that you helped Sullyoon hide from. Eventually, even the stragglers started to dwindle down to a few bodies before only the two of you were virtually the only ones left walking.

“The campus is so pretty, right oppa?” Sullyoon asks.

“Yeah, it reminds me of my old campus back when I was still studying.” You say as you can’t help but feel nostalgic. You remember your first day of college, the freshie tour that your seniors organize as they show you around the campus. The large trees, the art deco buildings, the fresh air from the greenery. It really does take you back to when you were still a young, bright-eyed, and plucky freshman.

“What was it like? For you back then, when you were a student?” Sullyoon asks out of curiosity.

“Well the campus is pretty similar, though ours is a bit more… rundown?”

“Are you roasting your own alma mater?” Sullyoon asks as she chuckles.

“I mean, I didn’t say it wasn’t beautiful or anything. Since we’re a state university, most of our funds came from the government. And maybe some ‘well meaning’ donations from alumni. But aside from that, the budget was always tight so some of the buildings weren’t always in shape.”

“Okay, maybe not the campus. How were you like back then?” Sullyoon clarifies what she wants to know.

“Alright, alright.” You relent. “You already know I was a varsity player before… you know.” You say as you motion to your knee. “They offered me some suggested programs that weren’t really heavy on requirements, but I still chose Political Science. How I managed to juggle that and training for games, I can’t remember. But yeah, as a star recruit the whole campus kept treating me like a king.”

“I bet you liked it.”

“I mean, at first. But it started feeling fake. Like I didn’t know who my actual friends were from those who liked me just because I was a star player.” You confessed. “I mean, my teammates were great. We had a real brotherhood. But outside of them, I didn’t really know who I could trust.”

“You must have felt lonely, Oppa. But I bet you had a girlfriend back then who helped you through it.” Sullyoon cheekily accuses you.

“Unfortunately for me, it was just basketball and academics that took up my time.” You try to make an excuse. Instead of being content with the answer, you earn a glare from Sullyoon.

“Oh come on, oppa! I know girls were throwing themselves at you left and right!”

“Yoona! I wouldn’t—”

“Oppa!” she says with an annoyed look.

“Fine. Maybe a few flings here and there, but nothing serious!” you finally relent. “They never really stuck around after…” your gaze drifts to your knee. Sullyoon notices, so she holds your hand to comfort you. You give her a smile to let her know you’re alright. “What’s gotten you so curious about my student life anyway, Yoona?” 

“It’s just…” Sullyoon replies with hesitancy, “the other day, when we were at the university in my hometown, and today, while we’re walking through the campus, it got me thinking how my life would be if I didn’t become an idol.” She says in a moment of vulnerability. “Like, would I have gone to college? What program would I have taken?”

“And it’s not like I’m ungrateful for everything I have now.” Sullyoon continues. “I worked hard to get to where I am and I appreciate everything I’ve earned thus far. It still makes me wonder how my life would be like if I was… normal.”

“That would be kinda sad for me and Dahyun.” you joke, “It would be a bummer if we never met you.”

“Who said we’re not going to meet?” Sullyoon argues back. “What if I ‘accidentally’ bump into you when you’re here scouting one of our players for the draft?” she jokes. It gets a laugh out of both of you.

The two of you continue to stroll along the campus before you find yourselves in an empty building, far enough from where the festival was taking place that no one else would accidentally come wandering through. It wasn’t closed off, so you both assumed that you were free to enter.

“You know Yoona, if you really want to go to college, it’s never too late to try.” You tell her, earning a confused look in reply. The cute expression she makes gets you to chuckle before explaining further.

“There are tons of people who go to college at a later age while they focused on work earlier in their lives.” You assure her. “Athletes, actors, writers, you name them. They all chose to finish their education when they were more stable, regardless of how old they were. Hell, Dahyun told me that Tzuyu’s finishing an online psych degree. I’m sure if you ask the company they would be more than happy to help you with that when you’re ready.”

“Are you sure, oppa?” Sullyoon asks you.

“I’m sure, Yoona.” You hold her hand tight reassuringly. “It might not be the normal life you thought of, but it’s close.” She lets go of your hand to hug you instead.

“Thanks, oppa. I’ll think about it more at a later time. It’s just nice to know that the option is available.” Sullyoon says. “For now though, I think there’s something else you can help me with.” She says with a smirk that gets you just a tiny bit worried.

As the two of you were walking down the hallway, Sullyoon was checking if any of the lecture rooms were left unlocked. Though the first three wound up locked, you saw Sullyoon’s smile grow when the fourth was left open. She sneaks in, dragging you along with her into the lecture hall.

“Yoona! Are you sure we can be in here?” You whisper.

“It’s their fault for leaving it open, Oppa.” She jokes, “Besides, this helps me with crossing off a few things on my bucket list.” She says with a mischievous grin.

“What do you mea—” you’re unable to finish your sentence as Sullyoon makes her way down the hall. She drops her heavy down coat on the way down. When she gets to the professor’s table, she bends over and takes off her safety shorts. With a grin, she launches them towards you, nearly making you stumble down the hall as you try to catch it.

“Were any of those flings a cheerleader, Oppa?” Sullyoon suddenly asks.

“Uh… no. I don’t think so.”

“Good.” Sullyoon says as she hops on the desk. “How about you pretend that you’re in your freshman year again and that you’re the star of the campus, while I’m one of the girls that’s throwing themselves at you.” She says with a smirk, as she slowly spreads her legs and reveals her exposed core. “And try as you might, but you just can’t help falling for this cheerleader.”

Yup. She’s gonna be the death of you.