The classroom buzzed with the low hum of conversation, a blend of excitement and trepidation weaving through the air as the professor distributed the syllabus for the semester’s group project.

The assignment was straightforward in its expectations: a comprehensive presentation on contemporary social theories, due in two weeks.

You adjusted your seat, mentally preparing yourself for the work ahead, when the professor’s voice cut through the din.

“I have paired you up for this project. You’ll find your partner’s name on the list posted outside the classroom.”

With a collective sigh, students began to file out, eyes scanning the list for their names. You followed suit, your curiosity piqued as you made your way to the bulletin board. Your gaze quickly found your name next to a familiar one—Bangchan.

Bangchan was the quintessential class nerd.

With his neatly pressed shirt, glasses perched delicately on the bridge of his nose, and an ever-present stack of textbooks, he was the archetype of the diligent student—known for his exceptional intelligence and reserved demeanor. While his brilliance was unmatched, his shyness kept him at the periphery of social circles.

You spotted him standing by the wall, an anxious figure amidst the crowd of bustling students. His eyes darted between the list and the students around him. As you approached, he looked up, his eyes meeting yours with a mixture of hope and trepidation.

“H-hello,” he stammered, his voice barely audible over the clamor.

“I’m Bangchan. We’re—um—paired together for the project.”

You offered a reassuring smile.

Bangchan’s face flushed deeper, the redness spreading from his cheeks to the tips of his ears. He adjusted his glasses with a gesture that was both deliberate and slightly anxious, attempting to maintain composure despite his evident nervousness.

“I was wondering if you’d like to work on the project at my place. I—uh—have a quiet study space there. If you’re—if you're interested, that is.”