'Concentration, time and precision are three things crucial to being a healer', Professor Kim's voiced boomed in the hall. 'You didn't choose your birthmark; neither did you choose this profession. Many Caladrius I've known in my eighty years have done something else in their lives; traversed the path less trodden, and fulfilled their passions.'

Faint laughter echoed in the hall.
'Who's that?', Kim snapped.

Jake sniggered.
Of course it's Park Wooseok.

Professor Kim Hyejong looked like nun. Clad in white from head to toe, with her grizzled hair tied up in a high bun and gigantic black spectacles, she looked like she was a force to be reckoned with. Or at least that's what she thought.

'You', Kim said icily. 'Care enough to tell us all what made you laugh?'

'You, what else, professor?', Wooseok said with a poker face. The entire hall erupted into laughter. Kim Hyejong looked calm, her coal black eyes scanning the hall. She headed back to the podium and fetched a sealed document.

'Your name?', she looked at Wooseok.

'Park Wooseok', he grinned. 'Also the three times winner of world's sexiest abs but you don't hear me bragging about that, bitches!' The entire hall laughed and cheered.

Jake shook his head in disbelief. This idiot will get himself into trouble someday.

Kim calmly walked up to Wooseok and handed him the document. 'I don't want to see you in the orientation hall anymore'.

Wooseok sighed.

'Fine old girl, I'm leaving. See ya later!', he did a dramatic hair flip and blew kisses in the air. Everyone hooted and clapped.
This doesn't look good, Jake thought.
Professor Hyejong smiled.

Jake shuddered.

It was the creepiest smile Jake had ever witnessed. She looked uncannily similar to the girl in the momo challenge.

'You should give your friends a proper farewell later, Park Wooseok', she smirked. 'I don't want to see you in this orientation or on any day following the orientation'.

The students gasped.
Wooseok's face drained colour.

'B-but I was just-'
'No ifs and no buts!', she said irascibly. 'Park Wooseok, you have been rusticated owing to your rowdy and unruly behavior. You need to leave the campus now', Kim's hoarse voice reverberated through the hall.  'Security!', she motioned them toward Wooseok.

The boy struggled as the security dragged him out. 'It was a joke ma'am, I swear to god I'm sorry...I-', his voice trailed off.

Kim Hyejong's piercing coal black eyes scanned the hall again. 'I'm not like the previous Dean, you see. I'm a pretty hard nut to crack,' her pencil thin lips twitched at the corners. 'Bro she's so scary,' Sunghoon nudged Jake. 'It's okay man, we never really cause any trouble so it should be fine', he patted Sunghoon's back.

'I think I made myself pretty clear,' Hyejong glared at Jake and Sunghoon.

'Shit'.  Jake's heart skipped a beat.

'This is the country's best healing school. We come here to become healers, not hooligans. Keep that in mind. Would be in your best interest', she said sternly.

'I, Kim Hyejong, welcome you to your third year at Seoul National College of Alleviating Sciences', the screen behind her lit up, showing the institute sigil. It was a caladrius surrounded by the staff of Asclepius in a wreath like manner.

Jake scoffed.

Two years at this college and the logo never seemed to look any less dumb to him. They should've left the designing part to an alkonost.

'I hope to get to know each of the young bright minds sitting in front of me and make some lovely memories', she smiled. It was a different smile, not the momo challenge girl smile. It looked genuine.
'At least she knows how to smile', Sunghoon whispered. 'Yeah right,' Jake chuckled. 'I would prefer to not make any "memories" with her though'.

They sniggered.

Professor Hyejong left the podium as the announcer's voice blared through the speakers. 'Second year students may now head to the cafeteria for lunch. I repeat, second year-'

'C'mon Jake let's go', Sunghoon said. 'Yup. Right after you, monseiur', Jake proceeded to make  exaggerated gestures and bent down to kiss Sunghoon's hand.

'WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM IN LIFE!', Sunghoon proceeded to wipe his hand aggressively. He looked infuriated. 'And what's up with the french , dude?'

Jake giggled.

Park Sunghoon and his quick temper. He's either completely chill or has zero chill, there's no in between. He smiled at him and put an arm round him. 'C'mon bro, let's go'.

The duo had to bump into a lot of first and third year students while on their way to the cafeteria. Needless to say, they exchanged a lot of 'sorrys' and also met with some angry grunts on their two minute walk to the canteen.

'Ah', a red haired girl bumped into Jake's shoulder. Yes, she's a part of a fictional story but that in no way protected her from Newtonian physics. Her collision ended with her hips on the ground and her coffee on Jake's brand new sneakers. Don't ask me where the coffee mug went. The red haired girl quickly regained her composure and got up.
'Oh shit I'm so sorry', the red haired girl's cheeks flushed. She looked up at Jake, her eyes wide  with embarrassment. Jake was too stunned to speak.
'I- my shoes-', he faltered.

'I'm extremely sorry, I'll just clean them up', she quickly pulled out a handkerchief and began to wipe Jake's white sneakers. She was able to rub all the coffee off, except for the tongue of the sneakers.
Jake pulled his feet back.

'It's just...Sunbae, I'm sorry. I'll pay for them', she looked down guiltily, unable to keep eye contact with him.

'You'll pay?', Jake said in a low voice.
'Yes sunbae, I will', she shook her head vigorously. 'You can't and don't have to pay for these, Kang Yejun', he looked down at his sneakers intently and gulped.

'It's fine', he smiled faintly.

'Thanks sunbae, you're the best!', she grinned and showed him a finger heart. Jake nodded and Sunghoon dragged him to the nearest table.
'It's fine? Are you serious Shim Jaeyun?', he shook him. 'It's fine Sunghoon', Jake sighed. 'It was an accident', he said, his eyes droopy and downcast. 'Well, if it was an accident, you are an idiot for wearing these shoes to school', Sunghoon said. 'This the last gift your mom gave y-'

'I know that pretty well', Jake snapped. A distant memory he had buried in deep came swimming to the surface. His face turned pale and his lips began to quiver.

'Jaeyun-ah', she held his hand. 'Eomma', Jake pressed her hand and cupped her face. 'Please stay with me', his eyes brimmed with tears.

Jake could feel blood ringing in his ears. His heart thudded in his chest. His palms felt clammy and sweat dripped off his t-shirt. 'Bro you okay?', Sunghoon looked at him with widened eyes.
He shook him.

'Hey,' his voice trembled. 'Look at me', he whispered. Jake's stomach churned. He could almost taste bile in his mouth.

'I ruined it....It's all my fault, I'm the pathetic one, I couldn't save her, she died because of me, I-', his voice cracked. He started shaking uncontrollably, tears streamed down his cheeks. 'No Jake, it's not your fault, okay?', Sunghoon's face looked haunted with worry.

'Jaeyun-ah', she looked at him with her thin, pale face. 'I can't breathe', she clutched his arm, digging her nails in.

Jake's vision turned blurry. He felt faint.

'I can't breathe Jaeyun', she squeaked.

'Hey, is everything alright?', a fourth year student barged  in, pushing a few other students gathered around Jake.

'It's fine guys, please leave us alone', Sunghoon said firmly.

Jake could feel his head spinning. His heart felt like it would burst.

He collapsed.

Author's note
Hey engenes! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter :)
Any kind of constructive criticism would be appreciated. I would try my best to update regularly. Please bear with me if I don't 'cause I'm also trying to prepare for my entrance exams simultaneously😭

Sunbae - Senior
Eomma - Mom

Votes and comments would be highly appreciated ❤