Autumn Calculus

Ch.1.

Eun-ji Park had always believed that there were two types of students at Evergreen University: those who thrived in the chaos of college life and those who were buried under textbooks, desperately trying to stay afloat. She was undeniably the latter.

Sitting cross-legged on her bed in her small dorm room, Eun-ji was surrounded by a fortress of math textbooks and scattered notes. The room was a mix of vibrant colors—bright posters of mathematical concepts adorned the walls, and fairy lights flickered above her desk, casting a warm glow. But today, the coziness felt more like a cage. Her eyes darted between the complex equations sprawled in front of her and the clock on the wall, which ticked loudly, echoing her growing anxiety as it edged closer to the start of her calculus class.

"Why do I do this to myself?" she muttered, shoving her messy hair into a bun and reaching for the half-drunk cup of coffee on her desk. A quick gulp revealed it was cold and bitter, but she needed the caffeine boost.

Throwing on her favorite oversized hoodie adorned with her university's logo, she grabbed her backpack and rushed out the door. As she hurried down the narrow hallway, she glanced back at her reflection in the mirror, frowning at the dark circles under her eyes. She was determined to make this semester different—her GPA was on the line.

Stepping outside, Eun-ji inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the crisp autumn air tinged with the scent of fallen leaves. Evergreen University's campus was alive with the sounds of students chatting and laughing, their carefree demeanor a stark contrast to her chaotic thoughts. A pang of envy hit her, wishing she could be part of that world, if only for a moment.

"Focus, Eun-ji. One step at a time," she chided herself, tightening her grip on her notes. She quickened her pace, sneakers crunching against the fallen leaves, determined to reach class on time.

Just as she rounded a corner, her mind still racing through the complexities of derivatives, Eun-ji collided with a solid figure. Papers flew from her hands as her coffee cup tipped, splattering its contents across her notes. "No, no, no!" she exclaimed, her heart sinking as she watched her carefully organized work become a soggy mess.

"Whoa! I'm so sorry!" A warm, relaxed voice cut through her frustration. Eun-ji looked up, and her annoyance momentarily faded away. The culprit was a tall guy with tousled hair and an easy smile that seemed to brighten the gray sky above. He wore a casual t-shirt and jeans, looking effortlessly cool. "I didn't see you there. Are you okay?"

"Just peachy, thanks," Eun-ji replied, her irritation bubbling to the surface as she crouched down to gather the scattered papers. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. "You could try looking where you're going next time!"

"Noted," he said, brushing a fallen leaf off his shoulder with a laugh. "I'm Ji-hoon, by the way." He extended a hand, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Eun-ji," she replied, reluctantly shaking his hand, but couldn't help the small smile that crept onto her face despite the mess.

As they gathered her papers, Eun-ji noticed the curious glances from passing students. "I really didn't mean to cause such a disaster," Ji-hoon said, holding up a napkin as if it were a peace offering. "Want to grab some coffee together? I can buy you a new cup to make up for it."

She hesitated, battling the internal struggle between her workaholic tendencies and the allure of spontaneous company. "I really should—"

"Just one cup," he urged, his eyes bright with enthusiasm. "I promise I'll try to keep my clumsiness to a minimum."

Eun-ji sighed, glancing at the clock on her phone. She was already late for class, but there was something undeniably magnetic about Ji-hoon's charm. Maybe just a quick break wouldn't hurt. "Fine. But only for a few minutes."

"Great! I know the perfect place," he said, grinning as he gestured toward the student café—a cozy spot with outdoor seating surrounded by vibrant fall foliage.

As they walked side by side, the golden leaves swirling in the gentle breeze, Eun-ji felt her initial annoyance begin to melt away. Ji-hoon's easy banter and infectious energy made her laugh despite herself. She couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, this unplanned encounter wouldn't be so bad after all.

Little did she know, this was only the beginning of a journey that would turn her world upside down—one filled with unexpected equations of the heart.