Chapter 4

Next Day – Off-Campus Shared Housing Visit

The building was older, nestled just off the university's eastern side—half-covered in ivy, the other half sunbaked and cracked. It looked like it had stories to tell.

Mirae stepped out of the cab first, her notebook tucked under one arm, while Ray followed, hands in his jacket pockets and expression unreadable.

"You sure this is the place?" he asked, eyeing the creaky staircase warily.

She checked the text on her phone. "Yep. Yoi's friend lives on the second floor. Said she'd show me the available room."

Ray didn't like it. Too quiet. Too isolated.

"I'll wait here," he said. "Call me if anything feels off."

Mirae smiled faintly. "You always make it sound like I'm about to walk into a crime scene."

"I'm just making sure you don't end up living next to a weirdo."

She rolled her eyes but nodded. "Noted."

As she climbed up the stairs, Ray leaned against a rusty railing, glancing around—but his posture stiffened when a familiar voice cut through the quiet.

"Well. That's unexpected."

Ren stood near a parked scooter a few meters away, hands in his pockets, hair tousled slightly by the wind. He looked effortlessly amused.

Ray's jaw tightened. "What are you doing here?"

"I live two blocks down," Ren replied, tilting his head. "Didn't think I'd find you lurking outside someone else's potential apartment."

"I'm not lurking."

"Right. You're... hovering."

Ray shot him a look, but Ren only smiled.

"I wonder," Ren said, his tone lazy but probing, "do you go with her to every place she might move into? Or is this one just special?"

Ray didn't answer. He didn't have to.

Meanwhile—

Upstairs

Mirae knocked, and a girl with bubble-pink hair opened the door. "You must be Mirae! Yoi told me you're looking for a quiet, cozy place. Come in!"

The apartment wasn't bad. The light poured in from the balcony, and the shared spaces were clean, lived in, but warm.

As they walked through, Mirae's thoughts drifted. She liked this place. But somehow... she felt that same silent pull in her chest.

She was thinking about Ray. Again.

"Your boyfriend didn't come up?" the girl asked mid-tour.

Mirae blinked. "He's not—"

The girl raised her hands. "Oh! Sorry, I just assumed. You two seemed... like you knew each other too well not to be."

Mirae didn't respond.

Because honestly... she didn't know what they were anymore. Just friends? Or something else too tangled to name?

Back downstairs—

Ren leaned back slightly. "You know, it's kind of romantic. You're following her around like this. Most people would've confessed by now."

Ray's eyes darkened. "Don't you have somewhere else to be?"

Ren shrugged. "I'm always exactly where I need to be."

Just then, Mirae reappeared at the top of the stairs.

Ray turned instantly.

Ren watched quietly as Ray took two steps forward, looking up at her with that guarded tenderness only Mirae ever saw.

"Well?" he asked.

She paused. "It's... nice. I liked it."

Ray nodded. "Then that's good."

But his voice wasn't as steady as usual.

Ren's lips curved. "Sounds like someone's getting a roommate soon."

Neither Ray nor Mirae responded.

The wind picked up gently around them, lifting a page from Mirae's notebook. She bent to grab it—but Ray was already there, handing it to her, brushing her hand in the process.

Ren looked away with a slow exhale, already walking off. But behind his steps, tension quietly bloomed—between pasts unexplored and feelings unspoken.

Later That Evening – Campus Grounds After Club Meetings

The university buzzed with fading daylight. Street lamps flickered to life, casting amber glows on the walkways. Students moved in twos and threes, winding down from club hours.

Ray and Mirae stepped out from their club building in silence. The walk was quiet—but thick with things unsaid. Ray kept glancing sideways, as if Mirae might vanish if he looked away too long.

She noticed, but didn't call him out for it. Her fingers clutched her sketchpad loosely, her shoulders stiff from the earlier apartment visit, and from Ren's words that still echoed like static in her chest.

"Yo," a voice called out.

Yoi approached, her steps easy and sharp as ever, slinging her tote strap higher onto her shoulder. She was dressed in her usual laid-back way—cropped jacket over loose slacks and boots that clicked with purpose.

Beside her walked a tall, sharp-eyed third-year with a quiet smile and a camera slung around his shoulder.

"This is Yeol," Yoi said, nodding toward him as they stopped. "Visual Media major."

Yeol dipped his head slightly. "Nice to finally meet the infamous first-years."

"Infamous?" Ray asked, brow raised.

"The whole club can't stop talking about the electric pair that acts like they're starring in a drama every time they sit next to each other."

Mirae chuckled, flicking a look at Ray. "We just exist. Everyone else projects."

Yeol's smile widened. "Sure. That's one way to put it."

Ray narrowed his eyes slightly, but didn't respond.

Yoi casually leaned toward Mirae. "Did you check the housing spot?"

"I did," Mirae said, hesitating. "It's... fine. Still thinking."

Ray didn't say anything, but his knuckles were taut around the strap of his bag.

Yeol's gaze lingered, taking it in. "Nice place or not, sometimes it's the people around it that matter more."

Ray looked at him for a second longer than necessary. Yeol didn't flinch—he just smiled and looked toward Mirae.

"Well," Yoi said, glancing at the time, "we're headed toward the media lab. You guys heading back?"

"Yeah," Mirae said, and Ray nodded silently.

Yeol gave a small wave. "See you two around."

Yoi held Mirae's eyes a moment longer before turning. Her expression unreadable—but not without its questions. Then she walked off, relaxed and effortless beside Yeol. The quiet between them was filled with ease, not awkwardness.

When they were gone, Mirae exhaled softly.

"People are convinced we're... something, huh?"

Ray gave a half-shrug. "Does it bother you?"

She thought for a second. "No. Just... funny."

He glanced at her. "Is it?"

Mirae blinked.

Ray looked away before she could ask more. "Come on. I'll walk you."

She said nothing. Just fell into step beside him.

In the shadows behind the club building, Ren leaned one shoulder casually against the wall, having watched the interaction unfold.

And as Yeol and Yoi walked further off into the campus night, their conversation drifted softly—low, steady, and indistinct—but full of a familiarity that came from months of unspoken layers.

Late Weekend Afternoon – Shared House Visit

Mirae tugged her hoodie over her head and stared up at the quiet two-story house. The listing called it cozy and modern with flexible living options. It felt more like a mismatched Airbnb—students came and went, with rotating guests and no long-term certainty. One room was available. Rent was lower. Utilities split. Shared kitchen, lounge, bathroom.

Freedom.

Also unpredictability.

Ray stood beside her, arms crossed, lips pressed in a firm line. He hadn't said much since they reached.

"You sure about this?" he asked, voice low.

"I said I'd look," Mirae replied.

Ray watched as she moved toward the steps. "You'll be living with strangers. Not even other freshmen. You don't know who's coming or going."

"I'm not a kid, Ray."

"You act like I'm trying to control you."

"Then don't sound like it," she snapped—too quick, too sharp. She paused. "Sorry."

Ray didn't move. "I know you're trying to stand on your own, Mirae. But you don't always have to."

She looked at him—really looked.

"And you don't always have to follow me around like I'll fall apart."

Silence.

The front door opened. A student waved. Mirae gave a polite nod and stepped in to tour. Ray stayed outside, watching the windows, the light, her shadow moving inside.

Later That Day – Library Building, Art Wing

Mirae wandered the quiet second floor, fingers trailing the edge of a display board. Her sketchpad hung by her side. She liked the calm here—the colors, the light, the fact that no one asked too many questions.

"Didn't expect to see you here."

Noah's voice drifted from one of the art booths. He leaned lazily against a doorway, flipping through a journal. Mirae raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't expect you to be into art," she said.

"I'm into people," he replied smoothly.

Mirae rolled her eyes. "That's worse."

Noah chuckled, stepping closer. "People usually don't avoid me, but here you are, talking like you don't care who I am."

"Maybe I don't."

"That's what makes it fun," he said with a low laugh.

She turned toward a color board pinned to the wall.

"You're interesting," he added after a pause.

"You're nosy," she said without looking at him.

Noah grinned. "Fair enough."

Their eyes met for a second too long.

"I've got class," she said.

"I'll walk you."

"You won't."

But she couldn't stop him from following.

Club Orientation – Event Planning Society, Creative Wing

The second floor of the Activities Building was split into distinct zones—tech setups in one corner, decor mockups in another, mood boards, scheduling charts, camera gear scattered like organized chaos. This was the Creative Wing of the Event Planning Society, and the most competitive one.

Mirae, Ray, and Yoi stepped in just as one of the third-years pinned a new theme poster on the board.

"This is different," Mirae whispered. "The main event team last week was all logistics."

Ray smirked. "Guess we're in the flashy wing now."

Yoi folded her arms. "I signed us up. Thought we'd fit better here—more chaos, more mess, more fun."

Across the room, Noah and Ren arrived with Yeol in tow. The senior trio also handled the major creative direction of campus-wide events. Which meant, once again, everyone's paths were crossing.

Noah's eyes immediately found Mirae.

"Looks like fate keeps repeating," he said smoothly.

Ren glanced between Mirae and Ray, then gave Ray a knowing look. "Or someone's following someone."

Ray stepped slightly in front of Mirae without thinking.

Yoi grabbed a clipboard, ignoring the tension. "So, we're here for concept work, props, filming, and promo. If any of you screw this up, you'll hear it from me first."

"Bossy," Ren muttered.

"I've been called worse," Yoi fired back.

Mirae stifled a smile. Ray leaned closer and whispered, "She's terrifying."

"You like that."

"Maybe."

And like that, the team was unofficially formed: six people, each sharp in their own right. Tension, chemistry, confusion—fueled by late nights, overworked deadlines, and far too many unresolved feelings.

And this was just the start.

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