Chapter 38 – A Strange Start to Freshman Orientation
Gevran's first day at Seoul University.
He woke up early, excited but anxious.
"Orientation at a top university has to be brutal," he thought.
What he didn't expect… was that the real chaos would come from his own group members.
Group 7 consisted of:
Park Jiwan, son of the Minister of Education. Within five minutes of meeting, he suggested their group perform a mass magic show during the group cheer.
"To stand out!" he said, pulling a deck of cards from his jacket pocket.
Mi Yong, an influencer with 1.2 million followers. Daughter of a conglomerate owning an airline and TV network. During introductions, she went live on Instagram.
"Hi guys! I'm at orientation! Look at my new friend—cute, right?" she said, pointing the camera at Gevran.
Ryu Haesung, son of the Attorney General. Calm, neat, and seemed born with lawyer energy. When asked to help with the cheer, he opened his laptop and said,
"We should draft a role contract first. Clear delegation avoids conflict."
Choi Eunwoo, younger brother of top actor Cha Eunwoo. Handsome, stylish, and very aware of it.
"If you're taking photos, shoot from the right side. My left cheek's more photogenic," he told Mi Yong.
And then there's Gevran, who just wanted to survive orientation.
Instead, he felt like he'd stepped into an alternate universe.
---
After introductions, each group was told to create a group cheer to present that afternoon.
Most groups sat in circles, writing ideas down.
Group 7?
Jiwan stood on a bench, tossing cards into the air.
"Picture this! In the middle of the cheer, I appear in a magician's cape. Then Mi Yong sings a K-pop remix of the school anthem!"
Mi Yong grabbed a portable karaoke mic from her bag.
"I can EDM-ify the anthem. Just need to tweak the beat a bit."
Haesung raised a hand.
"Um, legal concern. We should check copyright laws, especially if this ends up online."
"True," Mi Yong replied. "I'll just tag the law professor. He'll forgive me."
Meanwhile, Eunwoo was checking his reflection on his phone.
"I want to be front and center. The camera needs to focus on me at least 70% of the time. I practiced my 45-degree smile last night."
And Gevran?
He sat in the corner, thinking,
"Is this orientation… or a talent agency showcase?"
But then—during their chaotic rehearsal full of musical theater vibes, EDM remixes, and failed magic tricks—something unexpected happened:
They all laughed. Not fake laughs, but real, belly-aching laughter.
Their absurdity turned into chemistry.
Gevran, who only wanted to make it through, ended up laughing the hardest.
"You guys are insane," he said, wiping away tears.
Jiwan grinned, "Insane? That's what friends call each other, bro."
---
That afternoon, each group performed on the university field.
Group 7 was last. Some audience members already looked skeptical.
But as soon as they began:
Jiwan popped out from behind a banner with a hilariously failed card trick.
Mi Yong sang the anthem in EDM style, dancing like she was on TikTok.
Haesung narrated with the gravity of a national speech.
Eunwoo puffed his chest after every move, striking poses.
And Gevran?
Forced into a blue chicken mascot costume. It was hot. It was humiliating.
But the crowd? Roared with laughter.
Seniors: "What even is this group?"
Everyone agreed—Group 7 stole the show.
After the performance, they collapsed under a tree, wiping sweat.
"Gevran," Jiwan said, "you should lead this group."
"Why?"
"Because you're the only sane one when the rest of us go off the rails."
More laughter followed.
On day one of orientation, amidst all the chaos…
Gevran realized:
Friendship comes from the most unexpected places.
---
Evening arrived.
After the cheer session, all freshmen gathered in the main hall for announcements about day two.
Staff members began describing the camping trip—and the infamous midnight survival challenge.
"Tomorrow night, you'll enter the forest behind campus. No signal. No lights. No mercy," said a senior with a sinister smile, prompting nervous murmurs.
"Ugh, horror-themed?" Mi Yong whispered. "I'm scared of the dark… but if there's a camera, I'll manage."
Haesung opened his notes.
"I should research forest entry laws. Do we even have a permit for this?"
Eunwoo was picking outfits.
"I have to look good, even while screaming. Do we get portable flashlights?"
Jiwan clapped.
"I brought my homemade ghost detector. I'm serious. It works."
Gevran shook his head—but smiled.
He looked at his new friends and thought,
"This is only the beginning, and it already feels like family."
---
That night, they returned to their dorms—exhausted but happy.
Jiwan fell asleep hugging his magic cards.
Mi Yong edited her content.
Haesung read an e-book on legal permissions.
Eunwoo took a selfie before bed.
And Gevran?
He wrote in his little journal:
> First day at Seoul University.
Wasn't hell…
I just laughed nonstop.
Crazy how life can surprise you like this.