The Competition II

Min-sun's warm smile lit up his face as he inched his chair nearer to her. Although Chin returned the smile, a pang of guilt tugged at her conscience - she had a loving and attentive boyfriend, yet her thoughts strayed elsewhere.

"Are you here to support someone?" His deep voice reverberated in her ears. Though Min-sun's soothing voice held a masculine charm, it failed to tug at her heartstrings. Observing her distant gaze, he planted a quick kiss on her cheek.

"I'm here for my friend, Mia," she stated, his brief silence echoed understanding as they shifted focus towards the stage.

This year's Linguistics Competition attracted a gathering of linguistic enthusiasts, language aficionados, and grammar gurus. As more people trickled in and occupied the seats, the competition venue was buzzed with excitement and scholarly fervor as participants, each armed with a deep understanding of phonetics, syntax, semantics, and more, prepared to engage in a battle of wits and linguistic prowess. Chin-sun's gaze landed on Mia amidst the crowd. Mia stood with a posture exuding confidence, her stature tall and commanding in the midst of the contestants.

The department exclusively invited expert linguists, language professors, and scholars to serve as judges, to evaluate the participants' responses with keen eyes and scholarly insight. Their role served as a motivation as well as pivotal in assessing the depth of understanding, analytical skills, and creativity displayed by the contestants, ensuring a fair and rigorous competition.

In the first challenge, contestants were faced with a series of diverse challenges to test their knowledge and analytical skills across various branches of linguistics. From deciphering phonetic transcriptions to identifying syntactic structures, from unraveling the mysteries of morphology to analyzing language acquisition theories,

Mia shone as she exhibited her linguistic acumen, which left the crowd impressed.

The competition unfolded through with multiple rounds, each designed to probe different facets of language study.

Round two included the task of identifying dialectal variations, Mia bagged this in her belt. Round three; translating linguistic texts, solving language puzzles, round four; engaging in live phonetic and syntactic analysis. As Ae-cha joined the friends, an air of anticipation filled the space. Fingers were crossed, collective hopes pinned on Mia's success in the competition. Meanwhile, Baek Hyeon found solace in a tranquil corner, accompanied by Eun-woo, observing the unfolding events from a secluded vantage point. The audience also crackled with anticipation as the competition got fierce, every contestant trying to outshine the other.

After intense rounds of linguistic battle, the winners emerged, Mia's jubilant victory resonated through the air as she claimed the top spot alongside her team. The thrill of success surged within her, prompting an exuberant leap of celebration, echoed by the cheers and elation shared among her teammates. Chin, Bai, and Ae-cha, enveloped in a wave of joy and relief, joined in wholeheartedly, their applause and cheers radiating with genuine enthusiasm. They were heralded for their linguistic virtuosity, analytical prowess, and dedication to the study of languages. Prizes are awarded not just for linguistic prowess but also for creativity, critical thinking, and their ability to navigate the intricate world of language with finesse.

As Baek Hyeon prepared to depart, his gaze chanced upon Chin-sun, her countenance aglow with a radiant mix of joy and delight. Entranced by her expression, he found himself momentarily lost in contemplation.

"Baek Hyeon, back to earth with you. The competition is over," Eun-woo interjected, breaking the spell.

"It's time to head out. Let's go."

Mia dashed from the stage, her face a picture of pure exhilaration as she joined her friends, radiating with excitement.

"How did I do?" she inquired eagerly. "You were absolutely fantastic; I was genuinely impressed," praised Bai with a touch of admiration in her tone. Ae-cha offered a silent nod of approval, her quiet comment "You are knowledgeable."

"You were amazing," Chin added enthusiastically, flashing a thumbs-up.

Mia's face lit up with joy upon hearing her friends' compliments, and her eyes caught sight of Min-sun.

"Hi there," she greeted warmly, extending her hand.

"I'm Mia." "Min-sun, Chin's boyfriend," he introduced himself as they shook hands. Chin-sun blushed in embarrassment, while Min-sun chuckled and shook his head.

"Let's head out and celebrate," Mia declared with a bright smile. "It's on me." As her friends began to protest, Mia swiftly interjected, "No objections allowed."

In the campus cafe, a man was clad in a barista's attire, his charm evident as he deftly shook the cocktail with a grin directed at the ladies.

"Here you go, ladies. Perfectly blended and delightfully creamy, just as you requested.

As he winked at a group of girls, their giggles filled the air with playful laughter.

"Yuanhao sunbae, you know how to

make us blush," one of the girls cooed, her voice laced with delight.

Mia and her friends strolled into the cafe, finding a cozy spot by the window as they settled in.

"Hey! Min-sun is here!" hushed whispers traveled from other tables as some girls discreetly reached for their phones, prompting a subtle stir of curiosity and whispers around the cafe.

"He's so handsome."

"He's really cute."

Amidst the buzz of admiration, Yuanhao scanned the cafe to pinpoint the source of the attention, his gaze alighting on Min-sun. "Pretty," he mused to himself, his eyes flickering to Mia and her companions.

Intrigued by Mia, Yuanhao settled back, propping up his arms, resting his chin in his hands.

"I'll take care of our orders," Ae-cha volunteered, attentive to their preferences. Making her way to the counter, she began listing their requests,

"One milk latte, strawberry milkshake, chocolate..."

However, mid-sentence, a sudden blush painted her cheeks, causing her to pause momentarily. His handsome features exuded a sense of charm, his beige hair carefully styled back, framing his face with precision. Resting his head on his hand, his emerald eyes slit lazily. Rising from his posture, he directed his gaze towards her,

"And?" His physique portrayed a masculine, well-sculpted form, adding to his alluring presence.

"Choc...co.. chocolate drink, black coffee, and green tea," she stuttered, her voice trailing off in a gentle mix of nervousness and shyness. Yuanhao's smile reflected a knowing charm that often captivated the attention of those around him, particularly the ladies. Slick and efficient, he swiftly prepared Ae-cha's order as her gaze remained fixed on the floor, overcome with a mix of awkwardness and embarrassment.

"Here you go," he offered as he set the tray down on the table, his gaze lingering on her as she quietly nodded and retrieved the order before swiftly departing.

"You really took your time," Bai lamented with a hint of playful teasing in her tone. "My apologies," Ae-cha muttered softly,

"It seems like someone took her time," Chin chimed in with a wink, eliciting laughter from the girls and causing Ae-cha to sink lower with a bright blush coloring her cheeks. Observing his girlfriend's actions, Min-sun smiled warmly, his gaze filled with affection and amusement. His phone beeped with a notification, Min-sun's expression shifted slightly to a frown as he glanced at the screen.

"Sorry but I must be on my way." he announced with a tone of regret. Turning to Chin with a tender smile, he planted three affectionate pecks on her cheek, causing her to blush intensely as the girls around them responded with a chorus of delighted coos whiles Ae-cha smiled at the exchange.

"Have a good day," she murmured in response as Min-sun acknowledged with a nod before quickly departing.

Meanwhile, on the campus grounds, Hee Young and her entourage en conversation, with a nerdy-looking girl dutifully carrying their books and bags. Her appearance bore a slight resemblance to Hee Young, yet exuded an air of innocence and beauty amidst the group. With a tall and slender frame, she possessed striking beryl eyes complemented by a pair of sleek black and gold-rimmed glasses perched delicately on her flawless button nose. Her hair, styled in a casual and slightly disheveled bun, added a touch of effortless charm to her appearance. Despite her natural beauty and the potential rival to Hee Young, as one of the school's beauties, her choice of shabby, boyish attire downplayed her inherent attractiveness, rendering her seemingly plain and unremarkable in the eyes of others.

"I'm parched. Let's grab some cold drinks, Hee Young, " one of the girls remarked, fanning herself in the heat.

"The cafe is just a short walk away. Let's make our way there," another suggested, signaling toward the cafe's direction.

"Eww... gross. Do you seriously expect me to go to..." Her words trailed off abruptly as her gaze landed on Mia and her friends.

"You know what, let's go," she declared with a mischievous grin, her tone shifting as she made a sudden decision spurred by the sight of Mia and her companions.

Chin-sun and her companions were engrossed in lively chatter when a sudden slam against their table jolted them with a start. Bai and Mia cast a discerning gaze towards the source of the disruption. "Well, well, look who we have here—the newcomer and her plebs," Hee Young, with a smug smirk.