Episode 02

𝑬𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 02..

The mentoring hall was already half full by the time they arrived.

Rows of chairs stretched across the wide room, filled with groups of freshmen whispering, laughing, and nervously glancing around. The air buzzed with excitement and uncertainty—the familiar atmosphere of a new beginning.

Soha walked ahead confidently, waving her hand.

“Come on, this way.”

Tropa followed beside her, already discussing something about the mentoring schedule.

Behind them, Kysa and Feena walked in silence.

Not too close.

Not too far.

The space between them felt strangely noticeable.

Kysa tried to keep her eyes forward, but her mind refused to stay calm.

Why does it feel so awkward?

Two years ago she hadn’t even understood what Feena meant.

But now…

Now standing beside her again felt different.

Heavier.

As if there were words floating in the air between them that neither of them dared to touch.

They finally reached an empty row.

“Sit here,” Soha said.

Tropa sat down first.

Soha dropped into the chair beside her.

That left two empty seats.

Side by side.

Kysa noticed it immediately.

Great.

She hesitated for a second before sitting down.

A moment later, Feena quietly took the seat beside her.

The distance between their arms was barely a few inches.

Neither of them looked at the other.

At the front of the hall, a senior student tapped the microphone.

“Alright everyone, please settle down. We’ll start the orientation now.”

The room slowly quieted.

Kysa pretended to focus on the stage, but her attention kept drifting sideways.

Feena was sitting calmly, her posture straight, her expression unreadable.

She looked completely composed.

How is she acting so normal…?

Kysa wondered.

Does she really not care anymore?

The thought stung more than she expected.

Beside her, Feena noticed the slight shift of movement.

Without turning her head, she spoke quietly.

“…You cut your hair.”

Kysa blinked in surprise.

She turned slightly.

“Huh?”

Feena finally glanced at her.

“It used to be longer.”

Kysa instinctively touched the back of her neck.

“Oh… yeah.”

She shrugged.

“It was annoying in summer.”

Feena nodded softly.

For a brief moment, the corner of her lips lifted almost imperceptibly.

“I think it suits you.”

Kysa froze.

It was such a simple sentence.

Yet for some reason, it made her chest feel tight.

Before she could say anything back, Soha suddenly leaned forward from the row in front of them.

Her eyes moved suspiciously between the two girls.

“…You two,” Soha whispered.

Kysa stiffened.

“What?”

Soha narrowed her eyes.

“You said you’ve ‘met before’.”

She leaned closer.

“But the way you talk to each other… it feels like there’s a whole story there.”

Tropa lightly elbowed her.

“Stop interrogating them,” she laughed.

But Soha wasn’t convinced.

“Hm,” she murmured thoughtfully.

Behind them, Feena quietly looked forward again.

Her fingers still loosely holding the cup of coconut tea.

Meanwhile beside her—

Kysa couldn’t stop thinking about the past.

And the strange feeling that something unfinished had just walked back into her life.

The orientation ended later than expected.

By the time everyone stepped outside, the sky had already softened into the warm colors of evening.

Kysa stretched her arms with a groan.

“That was… way longer than I expected.”

“Welcome to college,” Soha said dryly.

Tropa suddenly clapped her hands.

“Alright! Since our mentees survived their first mentoring day—”

She paused dramatically.

“We should celebrate.”

Kysa blinked. “Celebrate?”

Soha raised an eyebrow.

“Oh? Are you paying?”

Tropa flipped her hair confidently.

“Of course I am. I’m the mentor.”

Soha immediately grinned.

“In that case, I support this idea.”

Feena stood quietly beside them, watching the conversation unfold.

Tropa turned to the two freshmen.

“I know a place nearby,” she said. “A small bar. Don’t worry, it’s pretty chill.”

Kysa looked a little surprised.

“A bar?”

Soha nudged her shoulder.

“Relax, freshman. It’s not that serious.”

Feena spoke calmly.

“…I don’t mind.”

Tropa smiled.

“See? Feena already agreed.”

Kysa sighed dramatically.

“Fine. But if I get kidnapped, I’m blaming all of you.”

Soha burst out laughing.

“You’re not that valuable.”

The bar Tropa mentioned was small but lively.

Soft music played in the background, and warm lights hung from the ceiling, giving the place a cozy glow.

They found a table in the corner.

Tropa immediately raised her hand to call the server.

“Four drinks,” she said confidently.

Soha leaned closer to her.

“Look at you acting rich.”

Tropa smirked.

“I am rich.”

“Liar.”

Kysa watched them bicker like an old married couple.

Feena muttered under her breath—

“Are they always like this?”

Kysa gave a small nod.

“…Yes.”

For a moment, their eyes met.

Then both of them quickly looked away again.

Across the table, Soha leaned toward Tropa with a playful grin.

“You know,” she said softly, “you look pretty cool when you’re buying drinks.”

Tropa raised an eyebrow.

“Oh? Are you flirting with me now?”

“Maybe.”

Their quiet teasing continued.

Meanwhile—

Kysa absentmindedly tapped her fingers on the table.

She could feel Feena sitting beside her again.

Close.

Too close.

And somehow, even in a noisy bar full of people—

that quiet tension between them hadn’t disappeared at all.

The drinks arrived a few minutes later.

Four glasses were placed on the table, the cold surface already fogging slightly in the warm air of the bar.

Tropa lifted her glass first.

“To surviving the first day of college.”

Soha clinked her glass against hers.

“To freshmen who actually showed up.”

Kysa rolled her eyes but raised her glass anyway.

Feena quietly followed.

The glasses touched lightly.

Kysa took a sip.

Then another.

Across the table, Soha suddenly frowned.

“Hey.”

Kysa looked up.

“What?”

“Don’t drink too much,” Soha warned. “You’re a freshman.”

Kysa leaned back in her chair with a small smirk.

“And how would you know if I drink too much?”

Soha raised an eyebrow.

“Because you look like a lightweight.”

Tropa laughed.

Kysa looked offended.

“Excuse me?”

She pointed at Soha.

“This is literally my first time drinking with you. How would you even know my tolerance?”

Soha crossed her arms.

“I just know.”

Kysa scoffed.

“You don’t.”

She lifted her glass again confidently.

Across from her, Feena watched the interaction quietly.

Then she spoke.

“…She might be right.”

Kysa turned to her immediately.

“What?”

Feena rested her chin lightly on her hand, looking almost thoughtful.

“You don’t look like someone who drinks much.”

Kysa narrowed her eyes.

“Oh really?”

Feena met her gaze calmly.

“Really.”

For a moment, neither of them looked away.

Then Kysa suddenly leaned forward slightly.

“Alright then.”

Her lips curved into a small, challenging smile.

“Let’s test it.”

Tropa blinked.

“Test what?”

Kysa gestured between herself and Feena.

“A drinking challenge.”

Soha groaned instantly.

“Oh no.”

But Feena didn’t react right away.

She simply looked at Kysa for a moment.

As if measuring her.

Then she lifted her glass.

“…Fine.”

Kysa’s grin widened.

“First one to give up loses.”

Soha rubbed her temples.

“I regret bringing you two here.”

Tropa, meanwhile, looked amused.

“Well,” she said with a laugh, “this should be interesting.”

Across the table—

Kysa and Feena clinked their glasses again.

This time—

not as mentees and seniors.

But as quiet rivals.

And somewhere between the laughter, the music, and the soft glow of the bar lights—

something unspoken began to simmer between them.

The challenge started off as a joke.

At least—that was what Soha hoped.

But five minutes later, it was very clear that neither Kysa nor Feena had any intention of backing down.

Another round of drinks arrived.

Kysa lifted her glass casually.

“Ready?”

Feena didn’t answer.

She simply picked up hers.

The glasses touched lightly.

And then—

both of them drank.

Across the table, Soha stared.

“…You two are ridiculous.”

Tropa, however, looked far more entertained.

“Wait,” she said, leaning forward slightly. “This is getting interesting.”

Another glass.

Then another.

The music in the bar continued softly around them while the small competition quietly intensified.

Feena was starting to feel the warmth spreading through her chest.

A slight dizziness tugged at the edges of her mind.

But her expression remained calm.

I’m not losing.

Across from her, Kysa placed her empty glass on the table again.

Still steady.

Still relaxed.

As if this was nothing.

Tropa blinked.

“…Hold on.”

She leaned closer, looking at the growing line of empty glasses.

“Kysa.”

Kysa looked up lazily.

“Yeah?”

“How are you still perfectly fine?”

Kysa shrugged, almost amused.

“Practice.”

Soha scoffed.

“Practice? Since when do you even drink?”

Kysa smirked.

“You’d be surprised.”

Feena narrowed her eyes slightly.

That calm confidence only made her more determined.

Without saying a word, she reached for the next glass.

Kysa noticed immediately.

“Oh?” she said with a grin. “Still going?”

Feena met her gaze.

“Of course.”

Their eyes locked again.

A silent challenge.

Another drink.

Tropa slowly leaned back in her chair, clearly impressed.

“…Okay, I did not expect this.”

She pointed at Kysa.

“You’re a freshman. Why do you drink like a senior?”

Soha shook her head in disbelief.

“I told you she was suspicious.”

Meanwhile—

Feena finally felt the room tilt just slightly.

Not enough to show.

But enough for her to notice.

Still—

she refused to stop.

Because across the table—

Kysa still looked perfectly steady.

And for some reason—

that only made Feena want to win even more.

By now, the table was filled with empty glasses.

Tropa had stopped counting somewhere around the sixth round.

“This is insane,” she muttered.

Soha looked equally shocked.

“Why are freshmen like this?”

Across from them—

Kysa leaned back in her chair with a smug grin.

“Still going?” she asked.

Feena rested her elbow on the table, blinking slowly.

The alcohol had already begun to blur the edges of her focus.

But her pride refused to let her give up.

“…Of course.”

Her voice remained calm, though slightly softer now.

She reached for her glass again.

This time—

she drank slower.

The warmth in her chest had turned into a light dizziness.

Meanwhile—

Kysa picked up her own glass and finished it in one go.

Then another arrived.

And she drank that too.

Tropa stared.

“…Wait.”

Soha leaned forward.

“Okay that’s enough—”

But Kysa waved her hand dismissively.

“Relax.”

She grabbed another glass.

Feena frowned slightly.

“Don’t—”

Too late.

Kysa finished it.

Then, with a triumphant grin, she lifted one more.

“See?” she said proudly. “Still perfectly fi—”

She suddenly paused.

Her expression froze.

The confident smile slowly disappeared from her face.

For a second—

everything went quiet.

Then—

THUD.

Kysa’s head dropped straight onto the table.

Her arms slid forward as she collapsed dramatically across the surface.

Tropa jumped.

“WHAT—?!”

Soha nearly stood up from her chair.

“KYSA?!”

Feena blinked in confusion, the room slightly spinning.

“…What just happened?”

Tropa stared at the unconscious girl lying across the table.

“…She drank like a monster just to pass out like this?”

Soha rubbed her forehead.

“I told her not to drink too much.”

Meanwhile—

Kysa remained completely still on the table.

Feena leaned forward slightly, squinting at her.

“…Is she… asleep?”

Tropa poked Kysa’s shoulder carefully.

No reaction.

Soha sighed deeply.

“Congratulations,” she muttered. “Our freshman champion is officially down.”

For a moment—

the table fell silent.

Then Tropa suddenly started laughing.

“…I can’t believe she tried to show off and died after two more drinks.”

Feena looked at the unconscious Kysa again.

Despite the dizziness in her head—

a small smile appeared on her lips.

“…Idiot.”

For a moment, the table remained silent.

Kysa was still lying face-down on the table, completely motionless.

Tropa slowly poked her arm.

“…She’s actually out.”

Soha immediately stood up from her chair.

“Oh my god, Kysa.”

She gently shook the girl’s shoulder.

“Kysa. Wake up.”

Nothing.

Kysa only groaned faintly and buried her face deeper into her arms.

Tropa tried not to laugh.

“All that confidence… just to pass out like this?”

Soha shot her a look.

“Not helping.”

Feena watched the scene quietly, the warmth of alcohol still lingering in her head.

Her vision wasn’t perfectly steady, but she could see clearly enough—

Kysa looked completely helpless.

Soha sighed heavily.

“Great.”

She placed a hand on her forehead.

“My mentee just died on the table.”

Tropa chuckled.

“To be fair, she drank like a champion.”

Soha looked back at the unconscious girl.

“…Idiot.”

She reached down and tried to lift Kysa slightly.

“Kysa, come on. Sit up.”

But the moment Kysa was pulled upright—

her body immediately tilted sideways.

Right toward Feena.

Feena blinked as the girl suddenly leaned against her shoulder.

“…Hey.”

Kysa mumbled something incoherent, clearly half asleep.

Soha paused.

Tropa raised an eyebrow.

“Well.”

Soha looked between the two of them.

Then she sighed again.

“…Why is she leaning on you?”

Feena frowned slightly.

“I didn’t ask for this.”

Tropa laughed softly.

“Maybe she likes you.”

Feena immediately pushed Kysa a little upright again.

But the moment she did—

Kysa almost collapsed forward.

Soha quickly caught her arm.

“Okay, that’s it.”

She looked at Feena.

“Help me hold her.”

Feena hesitated for a moment.

Then quietly reached out to support Kysa’s other side.

Between the two of them—

they managed to keep the unconscious girl standing.

Across from them, Tropa shook her head in amusement.

“…This freshmen celebration turned into a rescue mission.”

Feena glanced down briefly.

Kysa’s head had fallen slightly forward again, her hair covering part of her face.

For someone who had been so smug minutes ago—

she looked surprisingly peaceful now.

Feena exhaled softly.

“…Unbelievable.”

The night air was cool as they walked back from the bar. Kysa and Feena are already home

Soha adjusted her bag over her shoulder, glancing at Tropa.

“You know,” she started, a faint smile tugging at her lips, “I didn’t think this night would end up like this.”

Tropa chuckled softly, her eyes glinting in the streetlight.

“Yeah… freshmen drinking challenges… rescuing Kysa… pretty chaotic.”

“So chaotic it might’ve been fun,” Soha added, her voice low.

Tropa laughed, a light, airy sound, and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.

For a moment, they walked in silence.

Then Soha stopped abruptly.

Tropa looked at her, eyebrows raised.

“What’s wrong?”

Soha’s gaze softened. She took a small step closer.

“Nothing.”

Then Soha stopped. She didn’t speak. She just reached out… hesitated… and leaned in.

Their lips met suddenly, softly, almost shyly.

It was brief. Gentle.

Tropa’s eyes widened, a faint warmth creeping over her cheeks. Her breath hitched slightly. She froze, unsure how to move or even breathe.

Soha pulled back just a little, foreheads brushing. Her own heart raced faster than she expected.

Neither of them spoke. Neither knew what to say.

The world felt smaller, narrower, somehow suspended—only the sound of their slowed breaths filled the quiet street.

Tropa shifted slightly, not knowing if she should step back. Soha’s hand lingered just above hers for a moment before she dropped it awkwardly to her side.

Their eyes met again, wide, flustered, uncertain. And then—without another word—they started walking again.

But the tension lingered. Heavy. Electric. Silent.

Even in the absence of words, both knew something had changed. Something subtle, fragile… and profoundly theirs.

~𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆~

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***