Chapter 22

Yoongi entered the lecture hall, finding a seat near the middle. The room quickly filled with students, all buzzing with the nervous excitement that comes with the first day of classes. The professor, Dr. Emily Park, was known for her rigorous standards and challenging coursework. Despite her stern reputation, she was respected and admired for her deep knowledge and passion for English literature.

Dr. Park entered the room with her usual air of authority, her eyes scanning the room as she placed her materials on the desk. "Good morning, everyone. I hope you're all ready to dive into the world of English literature."

The students murmured their greetings, and Yoongi straightened in his seat, trying to shake off any lingering anxiety. Dr. Park began with a brief introduction, outlining the course objectives and expectations. Then, she looked up from her notes with a mischievous smile.

"To kick off the semester, we're going to have a little graded recitation," she announced, eliciting groans and whispers of protest from the students. "I'll be calling on a few of you to answer some questions about English language and literature. Let's see how much you remember from your previous studies."

Yoongi's heart raced as he silently prayed not to be one of the chosen ones. Dr. Park scanned the room, her eyes finally landing on him. "Mr. Min Yoongi," she called out, her voice firm but not unkind. "Let's start with you."

Yoongi stood up slowly, feeling the eyes of his classmates on him. He swallowed hard, trying to steady his nerves.

"Mr. Min, can you tell us about Noam Chomsky and his contributions to the study of language?"

Yoongi took a deep breath, grateful that the question was about something he was familiar with. He collected his thoughts and began to speak. "Noam Chomsky is a renowned linguist, philosopher, and cognitive scientist. He is best known for his theory of generative grammar, which revolutionized the study of syntax and language structure. Chomsky's work introduced the concept of the 'universal grammar,' a set of grammatical principles shared by all human languages. His theories suggest that the ability to acquire language is innate to humans and that the underlying structures of languages are remarkably similar, despite their surface differences."

Dr. Park nodded, encouraging him to continue. "Chomsky's ideas have had an impact on various fields, including psychology, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence. His work has challenged traditional behaviorist views on language acquisition, emphasizing the role of innate cognitive mechanisms. Chomsky's contributions have also sparked numerous debates and further research into the nature of language and its role in human cognition."

Yoongi paused, gauging Dr. Park's reaction. She seemed pleased with his response. "Very good, Mr. Min. You've covered the essentials quite well. Now, can you also tell us about another important figure in the field of English language studies, perhaps someone who has contributed to sociolinguistics?"

Yoongi nodded, feeling a bit more confident. "William Labov is another key figure in the study of language, particularly in the field of sociolinguistics. Labov's work focuses on the social aspects of language variation and change. He conducted pioneering research on language use in urban communities, particularly in New York City, and his findings have significantly advanced our understanding of how social factors influence linguistic behavior."

Dr. Park gestured for him to elaborate. "Labov's research introduced the concept of 'sociolinguistic variables,' which are linguistic features that vary systematically with social factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity. One of his notable studies involved the pronunciation of the postvocalic 'r' in New York City department stores, demonstrating how language variation is linked to social class and identity. His work has been instrumental in showing that linguistic variation is not random but is patterned and socially meaningful."

As Yoongi finished speaking, Dr. Park gave him an approving nod. "Excellent, Mr. Min. You've demonstrated a solid understanding of these key figures and their contributions to the study of language. Thank you."

Yoongi sat down, feeling a wave of relief washed over him. He had managed to navigate the unexpected recitation successfully, and the encouraging nods from a few classmates made him feel even better. Dr. Park continued with the recitation, calling on a few more students, each contributing to the lively discussion about various aspects of English language and literature.

After the class, Yoongi headed to Namjoon's place, where the rest of the group often gathered. Namjoon's house was their usual hangout spot, a cozy space filled with books, plants, and a surprisingly comfortable couch that seemed to swallow anyone who sat on it.

As Yoongi arrived, he found Jennie, Jin, Taehyung, Hoseok, Jungkook, and Yungmin already sprawled around the living room, chatting and munching on snacks. Namjoon was in the kitchen, making tea for everyone.

"Hey, Yoongi!" Jennie called out, waving him over. "How was your class?"

Yoongi plopped down on the couch, still feeling the residual stress from his graded recitation. "You won't believe it. Dr. Park gave us a graded recitation today. It's only the second day of school!"

Jungkook, who was lounging with a bag of chips, chuckled. "Sounds like she means business."

Yoongi nodded, exasperated. "She called on me to talk about Noam Chomsky and William Labov. My heart was pounding the whole time."

Hoseok laughed. "Graded recitations already? That's brutal. My engineering professor just gave us a 30-page reading assignment. It's like they think we have no lives outside of their class."

Jin groaned. "Tell me about it. I had to learn five new recipes for my culinary arts class, and they expect us to have them perfected by next week. I'm going to be in the kitchen all weekend."

Taehyung shook his head. "My business professor assigned a group project right off the bat. We haven't even had time to figure out who our group members are."

Namjoon emerged from the kitchen with a tray of tea and set it down on the coffee table. "And here I thought law school was tough. We've already started on case briefs, and it's only day two. I need a clone to get everything done."

Jennie leaned back, sipping her tea. "Tourism is no walk in the park either. My professors are piling on assignments about global travel trends and sustainable tourism. I just wanted to learn about beaches and fancy resorts!"

Yungmin, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. "Criminology isn't any easier. Jungkook and I had to read about ten different criminal cases for our class tomorrow. I feel like a detective already."

Jungkook grinned. "Yeah, and I was hoping we'd get to practice some cool interrogation techniques or something. Instead, it's all reading and analysis. So boring."

Yoongi laughed. "At least we're all in the same boat. Misery loves company, right?"

The group burst into laughter, their complaints mingling with jokes and light-hearted banter.

Jennie nudged Yoongi playfully. "So, Mr. Chomsky expert, did you impress Dr. Park?"

Yoongi smirked. "I think I managed to not make a fool of myself. But who knows with her? She could be plotting my next academic demise as we speak."

"How about the other Park?" Jennie says, smirking while drinking her tea as the whole group choked, especially Yoongi that was now red.

"H-Hey! Let's not talk about him hmp." He says, smacking the lady on the head as they all let out a laugh.

"Have you all heard about Jimin, though? He hasn't been answering all my texts." Yungmin says as the other shrugged their shoulders.

"Aish, I wanna be mad at him but I couldn't. My theory is that he finally got rid of that musty father of his that's why he flew off Korea." Hoseok says and Namjoon looks at him with shocked eyes.

"Hey! That's actually a good theory. Maybe he really did quit seminary and decided to pursue his course abroad! You're such a genius sometimes." Namjoon says, patting Hoseok in the shoulders.

"Duh? I'm not all looks." He answers, tossing his imaginary long hair but got serious again and said, "When he was here, he always tells me that he wants to be an Engineer."

"He could seriously be a model, omg." Jennie says, fanning her face like a fan girl that made Yoongi smack her on the nape.

Namjoon raised his teacup in a mock toast. "To surviving the first week and all the torture our professors throw at us!"

Everyone raised their cups, echoing the toast. "To surviving!"

As they sipped their tea and continued to exchange stories, the stress of their demanding classes began to fade away. Their shared struggles and the laughter that filled Namjoon's apartment made the challenges of their academic lives feel a little more manageable.

Jungkook leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Hey, how about we make a pact? Every time one of us has a particularly tough day, we meet up here and complain our hearts out. It'll be like therapy, but with snacks."

Hoseok laughed. "I'm in. This sounds like the best support group ever."

Taehyung grinned. "Agreed. And we can even make it a potluck. Everyone brings a dish. Jin, you can test out your new recipes on us."

Jin pretended to consider it. "Hmm, free taste-testers? I'm in."

Yoongi smiled, feeling a sense of relief and camaraderie. Despite the tough start to the semester, he knew he could rely on his friends to make it through. "Alright, it's a deal. Here's to surviving, one complaint at a time." The room erupted in laughter again.

****

Yoongi had already said his goodbyes to his friends as he decided he wanted to go grocery shopping tonight. It was the perfect time to do it since he just got his paycheck from the café he's been working at.

He still worked at Jimin's mom's café, though they moved to a bigger place since their business was really booming!

He grabbed a shopping cart as he went to every shelf, looking for something price-worthy. As soon as he thought he had all the things he needed, he went to get in line to pay.

"Oh shit, I forgot my Kumamon cereals," he said, leaving the cart in line to quickly grab the cereals.

The boy took three boxes; he must really love eating them. As soon as he grabbed them, he quickened his pace since he was worried he would be next in line to pay.

As he jogged, his whole body slammed into a strong chest. He muttered a curse and looked at the boy he just bumped into. The boy was already walking away, so casually, with his hands in his pockets, acting as if nothing happened.

"Fucker!" Yoongi yelled at the boy and rolled his eyes as he went back in line to pay for the groceries.

In the cab, he was silently cursing that fucktard who had just bumped into him.

That crazy motherfucker.

The boy was tall and muscular. Yoongi could still tell even though the boy was wearing a hoodie. His back was broad and his arms showed since the sleeves of his hoodie were pulled up, revealing his popping veins.

His arms almost looked like Jimin's since he had a slight kink for his popping veins, especially when the younger would fuck his brains out.

He shivered at the thought and shook his head, silently telling himself Jimin wouldn't come back.