The hum of the lecture hall was different today. Normally, it was just background noise: papers shuffling, keyboards tapping, the occasional cough. But as soon as the professor cleared his throat and started talking about a "major group project," the whole room buzzed like a hive of restless bees.
I hated that sound. It meant one thing—chaos.
"Alright, class," Professor Lee said, adjusting his glasses. "You'll form groups of four. This project will account for thirty percent of your grade, so choose wisely. You'll be working together over the next month. Presentation day is already scheduled."
Thirty percent. My stomach dropped. It wasn't just a little assignment. This was the kind of grade that decided whether I'd skate by or sink.
Around me, chairs screeched as people turned to their friends. Hands waved, voices overlapped. Alliances were forming in real time, and I just sat there, frozen. I didn't have alliances.
Jason elbowed me in the ribs. "Don't look so scared, man. We'll group up."
Relief washed over me instantly. "Really?"
He smirked. "Of course. Can't let my only friend here die in the trenches."
At least I wasn't completely alone. Jason had this easy way about him, like life never really scared him. He could joke his way out of a hurricane, while I could barely joke my way out of awkward silence.
"Okay, that's two of us," he said. "Now we just need two more—"
And then the professor dropped the bomb. "Groups will be assigned randomly. No picking."
The groans were almost theatrical. Jason threw his head back. "Oh, come on, man. That's criminal."
The professor only smiled. "Fairness matters more than comfort. Pairing based on the roster saves time. Now, let's see…" He pulled up a spreadsheet on the projector. Names appeared in neat little boxes, four per line.
Jason leaned forward, squinting. "Group 12… Jae Han, Jason Park…" He paused, then his grin widened. "Emily Carter."
My throat tightened.
"And… Michael Sung."
If the universe had a sense of humor, it was cruel. Out of all possible combinations, it had to be this.
Jason chuckled. "Oh man, this is gold. You, your dream girl, and your nemesis. With me stuck in the middle."
I sank lower in my chair.
---
When class ended, the four of us shuffled into a corner of the room. Emily smiled politely as she set her bag down. "Looks like we'll be working together."
Her voice was light, effortless. It felt like sunlight compared to the storm in my chest.
Michael, of course, was already in motion. He extended his hand to her with the confidence of someone who never doubted himself. "Michael Sung. Business major, but I've dabbled in computer science electives. I'm sure I can help steer this along."
Emily shook his hand with an equally polite smile. "Emily Carter. Design major. I'm not too technical, but I can definitely make our presentation stand out."
I swallowed hard, my palms clammy. Jason nudged me. "Go on, man. Introduce yourself before it gets weird."
Too late. It already was weird.
"I—I'm Jae Han," I stammered, bowing my head slightly instead of shaking hands like a normal human. "Computer science. Uh… yeah."
Emily gave me a small nod, nothing more. Michael's smirk barely lasted a second, but I caught it. He'd already clocked my awkwardness, filed it away as ammo.
Jason, ever the savior, jumped in. "Jason Park. Also comp sci. But my specialty is making sure Jae here doesn't overheat his brain trying to look cool."
That earned a chuckle from Emily, and my ears burned. At least someone found Jason funny.
---
We sat down, spreading notebooks and laptops on the desk. The project outline was simple but intimidating: design a working prototype of a software solution that addressed a real-world problem.
"Alright," Michael said, leaning forward, "let's talk division of labor. I can handle the presentation and business strategy side. Emily, you can handle visuals and design."
Emily nodded. "That works."
He turned his gaze to Jason and me. "You two are the tech guys. Programming, testing, the hard lifting."
It made sense. But something about the way he said it—like we were the hired help—made me bristle.
Jason shrugged. "Sure, coding's our thing. But maybe we should brainstorm before dividing roles, yeah?"
Michael raised an eyebrow, but Emily jumped in before the tension could thicken. "Yeah, let's throw ideas out first. What kind of problems are we interested in solving?"
There was a brief silence. Michael broke it smoothly: "A scheduling app for students? Something polished, with a business model attached."
Emily hummed thoughtfully. "Not bad."
Jason scratched his chin. "Classic. But maybe too safe. What about something fresh?"
Everyone looked at me. My chest tightened, but words slipped out before I could stop them. "What about… a campus navigation app? Like, using real-time data to show which study rooms or labs are free. Saves people from wandering around."
It wasn't groundbreaking. But it was practical.
Michael smirked. "That's… basic. Feels more like a class exercise than a real project."
Heat crept up my neck. I wanted to sink into the floor.
But then Emily leaned forward, eyes bright. "Actually, that could work. It's relatable. Everyone's struggled to find free space on campus. With the right design, it could be really useful."
Her words landed like oxygen in my lungs. For the first time, I felt visible.
Michael leaned back, conceding with a shrug. "If that's what the group wants."
---
The rest of the meeting blurred. We scribbled notes, tossed ideas back and forth. Emily sketched quick wireframes on her tablet, Jason joked about branding, and Michael polished every thought like he was pitching to investors.
Me? I just sat there, clinging to the spark of confidence Emily had given me. One small nod, one simple agreement, but it felt huge.
When class ended, Emily excused herself first, heading toward the door. Michael followed soon after, already talking about setting up a group chat.
Jason and I lingered, packing slowly. He slapped me on the back. "Not bad, man. You actually spoke up. And she agreed with you. That's like… step one complete."
I shook my head. "Michael's still better at all this. He knows how to lead, how to talk—"
"Yeah, but he's not you," Jason interrupted. "And Emily noticed you today. Doesn't matter how small—it's a start."
We stepped out into the sunlight, students spilling around us like a rushing river. Jason stretched his arms above his head. "So, how's it feel to be in a love triangle with a group project on top?"
I groaned. "It feels like hell."
But deep down, beneath the embarrassment and nerves, there was something else.
Hope.
Because maybe, just maybe, this project was my chance to prove I wasn't just the guy in the background.