Autumn Calculus

Ch.6.

Monday morning arrived far too quickly, and with it, a mountain of coursework that seemed to laugh at the idea of her "coffee shop break." Eun-ji felt like she was right back where she started—focused, isolated, and consumed by her responsibilities. The weekend had been a bright spot, but she knew she had to get back to reality.

And yet, as she walked through the campus, she couldn't help but hope she'd run into Ji-hoon.

As if he'd read her mind, Ji-hoon appeared just outside her calculus class, leaning casually against the wall with that easygoing smile she was beginning to recognize as uniquely his.

"Hey there, math genius," he said, straightening up. "Long weekend of studying?"

She smirked, brushing past him. "What else would I be doing?"

He caught up to her easily, grinning. "I don't know, maybe having fun?"

She rolled her eyes, but there was a playful spark in her voice. "Fun? You mean that thing people do when they're not cramming for exams?"

He laughed and shook his head. "Exactly. So how about this—you let me join you for a study session. You know, keep you from burying yourself too deeply."

She froze, looking up at him, a little shocked. Studying was her sanctuary, her one space to focus and shut out distractions. The thought of Ji-hoon there, with his laid-back approach, was... unsettling.

"I don't think that's a good idea," she said, trying to sound firm. "You'd just distract me."

He shrugged, undeterred. "Or maybe I'll help you relax. Look, just one session. Let's say, tomorrow after classes. If you don't feel productive, I'll leave."

She opened her mouth to protest, but the words caught. A small part of her wanted to say yes. Just to see what it'd be like.

"Fine," she said, trying to keep the reluctance in her tone. "Tomorrow, after classes. But if you're a distraction, you're out."

He grinned, clearly victorious. "Deal."

The next day, Eun-ji headed to the library, trying to mentally prepare herself for the "study session." She'd reserved a quiet corner, where they wouldn't be disturbed by the general noise of students chatting or socializing. But the moment Ji-hoon arrived, she realized her version of "quiet" and his were drastically different.

"Whoa, you really go all out," he said, taking in the neatly stacked notebooks, color-coded pens, and carefully highlighted textbooks.

Eun-ji gave him a skeptical look. "Isn't that the point of studying? To be prepared?"

He chuckled, pulling out his single notebook and a slightly battered textbook. "I usually wing it, but I guess I'll give your way a shot."

They began with calculus, and Eun-ji soon fell into her usual rhythm of solving equations and annotating notes. Ji-hoon, meanwhile, seemed more interested in watching her work than actually studying.

"You're a machine," he said after a while, clearly impressed. "How do you focus like that?"

She glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "It's called discipline. You should try it sometime."

He smirked. "Oh, I have discipline. Just... selective discipline." He leaned back, twirling his pen thoughtfully. "You know, it's kind of nice seeing you like this. So serious and focused."

Eun-ji felt a blush rising to her cheeks and quickly looked down, pretending to search for something in her notes. "Well, that's me. Serious and focused. Not everyone has time to wander around and drink coffee with random people."

"Oh, so I'm a random person now?" Ji-hoon put a hand to his heart, feigning hurt.

She snorted, rolling her eyes. "You know what I mean."

They continued studying, but every now and then, Ji-hoon would crack a joke or say something absurdly dramatic about their calculus homework, making her bite back a smile. Despite herself, she felt a strange sense of relaxation that hadn't been there before.

After about an hour, Ji-hoon's focus drifted, and he leaned back with a sigh. "Alright, I think that's my limit for the day. My brain's turning to mush."

Eun-ji looked at him, amused. "This is why you're falling behind. It takes practice to focus."

He held up his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine, sensei. But don't you think it's healthy to take breaks?"

She paused, considering his words. She'd always been strict with herself, pushing through long study hours without much rest. But lately, it was beginning to wear her down.

"Maybe..." she said slowly. "But there's a lot riding on my grades. I can't afford to mess up."

Ji-hoon's face softened. "I get it. But trust me, overworking yourself won't help you. Balance is everything."

She glanced at him, feeling a strange warmth at his words. He made it sound so simple, yet the idea of "balance" had always seemed out of reach for her.

"Maybe I'll try taking a break... sometime," she conceded, feeling slightly awkward.

Ji-hoon grinned. "That's all I'm asking. Maybe next time, we study for half an hour and take a walk after. Just to clear your head."

She tried to hide her surprise at the suggestion. "I... guess that could work."

They packed up their things, and Eun-ji felt a bit lighter than usual as they left the library together. The late afternoon sun was casting a warm glow over the campus, and for once, she didn't feel the urge to rush back to her dorm and continue studying. Instead, she walked with Ji-hoon, enjoying the moment for what it was.

As they reached the main gate, Ji-hoon turned to her, his expression thoughtful. "Hey, I know we haven't known each other that long, but if you ever need a break—or just someone to listen—I'm around."

Eun-ji felt her heart skip a beat at the sincerity in his tone. She wasn't used to people offering to listen or be there for her. Most people simply accepted her focused, closed-off nature without question.

"Thanks, Ji-hoon," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I might take you up on that."

They stood there for a moment, the world quiet around them. Then, Ji-hoon gave her a warm smile and a small wave before heading off, leaving Eun-ji alone with her thoughts.

As she walked back to her dorm, she couldn't help but feel grateful for the strange twist of fate that had brought Ji-hoon into her life. He was unpredictable and distracting, but he was also helping her see that maybe, just maybe, there was more to life than her rigid routine.

That night, as she settled back into her study routine, she found herself smiling every so often, her thoughts drifting back to Ji-hoon.