Autumn Calculus

Ch.3.

The following day, Eun-ji sat in the bustling student lounge, surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds of campus life. The aroma of instant ramen wafted through the air as students gathered around tables, laptops open, discussing their plans for the upcoming weekend. Eun-ji was immersed in her studies, a mountain of notes spread across the table before her, but her mind kept drifting back to Ji-hoon and their spontaneous coffee date.

"Eun-ji!" A familiar voice broke through her thoughts, and she looked up to see her best friend, Soo-jin Lee, bounding over with her signature enthusiasm. Soo-jin was a whirlwind of energy, her short hair framing her round face, and her smile always bright. "You won't believe what happened in class today!"

"What is it?" Eun-ji asked, pushing aside her notes to give her friend her full attention.

"Professor Kim accidentally spilled his coffee all over his desk right before he started the lecture! It was hilarious! You should have seen his face," Soo-jin said, laughing. "Everyone was trying so hard not to burst out laughing, but it was impossible!"

Eun-ji chuckled, imagining the scene. "Sounds like a typical Monday for him."

Soo-jin plopped down across from her, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Speaking of typical, I heard you went out for coffee yesterday. With a guy! Spill the details!"

Eun-ji felt her cheeks heat up, the memory of Ji-hoon flooding her mind. "It was just coffee with Ji-hoon Kim from my calculus class."

"Just coffee? From the way you're blushing, it sounds like it was more than just coffee!" Soo-jin teased, nudging her playfully. "Come on, give me the juicy details!"

Eun-ji bit her lip, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "He's... really fun to talk to. And he asked me to go hiking this weekend."

"Whoa, hiking? That's a big deal! Are you going?" Soo-jin leaned in closer, her eyes wide with anticipation.

"I don't know yet. I mean, I have a lot of studying to do," Eun-ji replied, her mind racing with the thought of stepping outside her comfort zone.

"Come on, Eun-ji! You can't spend all your time studying. Live a little!" Soo-jin urged, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "And who knows? This could be the start of something amazing! Plus, I can't wait to see the cute guy you've been crushing on."

Eun-ji laughed, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous. It's not a crush. We just met."

"Right, just coffee and hiking. Totally platonic," Soo-jin said, rolling her eyes playfully. "You should text him back and say yes!"

As they continued to chat, Eun-ji felt a surge of confidence. Maybe Soo-jin was right; a little adventure could be good for her. Just as she was about to voice her thoughts, her phone buzzed with a text.

Ji-hoon: Hey Eun-ji! Hope you're having a good day. Did you think about our hiking trip?

Eun-ji's heart skipped a beat. "Speak of the devil," she whispered, and Soo-jin leaned over to peek at her screen.

"Reply! Just say yes!" Soo-jin urged, practically bouncing in her seat.

Taking a deep breath, Eun-ji typed back a simple response.

Eun-ji: I'd love to! What time were you thinking?

She hit send, her heart racing as she awaited his reply. Soo-jin squealed quietly, her excitement palpable. "You did it! I can't believe you're going!"

Just then, another friend, Min-seok, joined them at the table. Min-seok was laid-back, with an easygoing demeanor that made him popular among their group. "What's all the excitement about?" he asked, glancing between the two girls.

"Eun-ji is going hiking with a guy she met! It's her first date!" Soo-jin exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with delight.

Min-seok raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Nice! Who's the lucky guy?"

"Ji-hoon Kim from calculus," Eun-ji replied, trying to sound casual, but her heart raced at the mention of his name.

"Solid choice! I've heard good things about him," Min-seok said, nodding approvingly. "Just make sure you don't let him distract you too much from your studies."

Eun-ji laughed, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. "I'll try my best."

As they continued chatting, Eun-ji's phone buzzed again.

Ji-hoon: How about 10 AM? We can meet at the main gate!

Eun-ji quickly replied, "Sounds perfect!" A smile spread across her face as she felt a flutter of anticipation.

"See? This is going to be amazing! Just be yourself, and don't worry about anything," Soo-jin encouraged, giving her a thumbs-up.

Later that evening, as Eun-ji settled into her bed with her textbooks, her thoughts kept drifting back to Ji-hoon. Her parents had always emphasized the importance of focusing on her studies, and part of her felt guilty for even considering taking time off for a hike. But another part of her craved the adventure, the chance to connect with someone new.

Her phone buzzed again, this time a video call from her mom. "Hi, sweetie!" her mother greeted, her face lighting up the screen. "How's school going?"

"Hi, Mom! It's going well, just a lot of studying," Eun-ji replied, forcing a smile as she pushed her worry aside.

"That's good to hear! Don't forget to take breaks, okay? You don't want to burn out," her mom reminded her gently. "Have you made any new friends?"

Eun-ji hesitated for a moment, her thoughts flitting to Ji-hoon and their spontaneous coffee date. "Yeah, actually. I met this guy in my calculus class, and we're going hiking this weekend."

Her mother's eyes widened with interest. "A hike? That sounds lovely! Is he nice?"

"Yeah, he seems really cool," Eun-ji said, her heart fluttering at the thought. "We got along really well."

"Just make sure to have fun and stay safe," her mom advised, her expression softening. "And remember, it's okay to balance your studies with having a social life."

As they continued chatting, Eun-ji felt a sense of warmth spread through her. Maybe this weekend would be the start of something special, not just with Ji-hoon, but with herself as well—a chance to embrace the world outside of her textbooks.