Autumn Calculus

Ch.7.

The week moved by in a blur of classes and study sessions. Eun-ji was back to her usual schedule—early mornings, long lectures, and late nights in the library—but she found herself distracted in a way she hadn't been before. She caught herself wondering when she might bump into Ji-hoon or if he'd ask to study with her again. It was infuriating, but the thought also brought a smile to her face that she quickly tried to hide.

Eun-ji was focused on her economics textbook one Tuesday afternoon when Soo-jin dropped into the chair across from her with a dramatic sigh. "I swear, if I hear the word 'project' one more time, I'm going to lose it."

Eun-ji glanced up, surprised to see her friend so flustered. "What's wrong? I thought you loved group projects."

"Not when it's with people who don't pull their weight," Soo-jin muttered, running a hand through her hair. "I've been stuck doing most of the work for my marketing assignment."

Eun-ji winced. "That's the worst. Do you need help?"

Soo-jin's face softened into a grateful smile. "No, I'll manage. I just needed to vent a bit. Besides, Min-seok offered to help, so we're meeting up later to go over everything."

Eun-ji nodded, her mind drifting back to the dinner they'd had over the weekend. It had been so natural to see Soo-jin and Min-seok together, laughing and leaning into each other's conversation. They seemed to have fallen into a comfortable rhythm, and she wondered if it had always been that way between them.

"How are things going with Min-seok?" Eun-ji asked, trying to sound casual.

Soo-jin's expression softened even further, a dreamy look overtaking her eyes. "Honestly, really well. I wasn't sure what to expect when we first got together, but he's so considerate. I think... I think I really like him."

Eun-ji felt a pang of envy, though she quickly pushed it away. Soo-jin deserved happiness, and she was glad her friend had found someone so dependable. "I'm happy for you," she said genuinely. "He's a good guy."

"Thanks," Soo-jin replied, then shot her a mischievous look. "But enough about me. I heard Ji-hoon's been hanging around you a lot lately."

Eun-ji felt a rush of heat flood her cheeks. "We're just studying. He's... persistent, that's all."

"Uh-huh," Soo-jin teased, her grin widening. "And you don't seem to mind, do you?"

"It's not like that," Eun-ji insisted, though she wasn't sure who she was trying to convince. "He's just different from other people, that's all. He doesn't take studying seriously, and I thought he'd annoy me, but... he's actually helpful. In his own way."

Soo-jin leaned back in her chair, looking far too satisfied with herself. "If you say so. But just remember, it's okay to have fun once in a while. You don't have to be all work, no play."

Eun-ji frowned but didn't respond, her thoughts swirling as she returned to her textbook. She knew her friend was right, but changing her habits was easier said than done.

That evening, Eun-ji sat in the library again, methodically highlighting passages in her economics notes. She was focused—until her phone buzzed on the table. A message from Ji-hoon.

Ji-hoon: Library? Again? I'm outside, come take a break with me.

She hesitated, staring at the screen. Her first instinct was to refuse—she had a test coming up, and there was still so much to review. But then she thought about what Soo-jin had said earlier, about finding balance and allowing herself to breathe. With a deep breath, she grabbed her things and headed for the entrance.

Ji-hoon was waiting by the fountain in front of the library, his face lighting up when he saw her approach. "You came out," he said, sounding almost surprised.

"Only for a few minutes," she replied, crossing her arms. "I can't afford to waste too much time."

He held up a thermos with a mischievous grin. "Well, good thing I brought coffee. Consider it a study break."

Eun-ji accepted the thermos, taking a cautious sip. It was warm and sweet—exactly how she liked it. She looked at him suspiciously. "How did you know?"

"I pay attention," he said with a shrug. "Besides, it's not like you're hard to read. You're predictable, Eun-ji."

She raised an eyebrow. "Predictable, huh? And what's that supposed to mean?"

He laughed, leaning back against the fountain's edge. "Just that you're all about routine. You have your set schedule, your habits... You need a little unpredictability in your life."

"Unpredictability is a distraction," she said, but her tone lacked conviction.

"Or it's what keeps you sane," he countered. "Come on, just for a little while. Let's walk."

Eun-ji hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. But only until I finish this coffee."

Meanwhile, Soo-jin and Min-seok were sitting at a crowded café off-campus, laptops open as they sifted through marketing notes and research papers. Min-seok had a gentle, encouraging way of explaining things, and Soo-jin found herself relaxing as they talked. She wasn't used to sharing the workload, but Min-seok's presence made everything feel easier—like they were truly partners.

"Thanks for helping," she said after a while, her voice sincere. "I was starting to think I'd drown in all this work."

Min-seok smiled, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. "Hey, we're a team now, right? I've got your back."

Soo-jin's cheeks flushed, and she looked down at her notes, hiding a smile. "Yeah... we are."

Back on campus, Ji-hoon led Eun-ji down a quiet path lined with autumn trees, their leaves beginning to turn vibrant shades of red and gold. As they walked, he told stories about his childhood—about getting in trouble for sneaking out to play soccer late at night or his tendency to procrastinate until the last minute. Eun-ji found herself laughing, surprised by how easy it was to be around him.

For the first time in a long while, she felt lighter, as if the weight of her endless to-do lists had lifted, if only for a moment.

As they reached the end of the path, Ji-hoon turned to her with a soft smile. "I know you've got a lot on your plate, but... I hope you'll keep letting me distract you now and then."

Eun-ji's heart fluttered at his words, and she gave a hesitant nod. "Maybe I will," she said, her voice almost a whisper.

And as they stood there, surrounded by the quiet rustling of autumn leaves, Eun-ji wondered if maybe, just maybe, a little unpredictability was exactly what she needed.