Autumn Calculus

Ch.14.

The weekend arrived quietly, bringing with it a crisp autumn breeze and the rustle of golden leaves across the sidewalks. Eun-ji had planned a relaxing day of catching up on assignments, but her plans were quickly interrupted by an unexpected group text from Ha-rin.

Ha-rin: Surprise outing today! Be ready by 11 a.m. No excuses!
Eun-ji: Outing? Where?
Ha-rin: You’ll see 😉 Bring comfortable shoes!
Min-seo: Define “comfortable.” I am not hiking.

Eun-ji sighed, already knowing resistance was futile. Ha-rin had a knack for organizing last-minute adventures, and somehow, Eun-ji always ended up going along with them.

By 11 a.m., Eun-ji was waiting outside her dorm in sneakers and a light jacket, her backpack slung over her shoulder. She spotted Ha-rin approaching with Min-seo, who looked less than thrilled but still impeccably dressed.

“You’re lucky I like you,” Min-seo said, narrowing her eyes at Ha-rin.

“You’ll thank me later!” Ha-rin chirped. “Ji-hoon’s coming too, by the way.”

Eun-ji blinked. “Ji-hoon? How did you—"

“I ran into him yesterday,” Ha-rin said with a shrug. “He said he had no plans, so I invited him. Thought you wouldn’t mind.”

Before Eun-ji could respond, Ji-hoon appeared, jogging toward them with his usual easy grin.

“Am I late?” he asked, slightly out of breath.

“No, but you’re lucky we’re not on a schedule,” Ha-rin teased.

Eun-ji shot Ha-rin a look, but her friend only winked in return.

---

The outing turned out to be a visit to a nearby traditional market. The bustling streets were lined with colorful stalls selling everything from handmade crafts to steaming plates of street food.

“This is amazing,” Min-seo admitted, despite her earlier reluctance. She admired a stand selling delicate ceramic cups, running her fingers along the intricate designs.

Ha-rin clapped her hands together. “See? I told you this would be fun!”

Ji-hoon had already gravitated toward a food stall, eyeing the skewers of tteokbokki and freshly fried hotteok. “Who’s hungry?” he called, waving them over.

They spent the next hour wandering the market, sampling snacks and taking in the lively atmosphere. Eun-ji found herself smiling more than she had in weeks. Ji-hoon, as usual, kept the mood light with his jokes, while Ha-rin dragged them from stall to stall with boundless enthusiasm.

At one point, they came across a booth selling matching bracelets.

“Group bracelets!” Ha-rin declared, holding up a set with small charms shaped like stars.

Min-seo raised an eyebrow. “A bit childish, don’t you think?”

“Childish and cute,” Ha-rin countered. “Come on, let’s get them.”

Ji-hoon glanced at Eun-ji. “What do you think?”

Eun-ji shrugged. “Could be fun.”

They each picked out a bracelet, and Ha-rin insisted on taking a photo of their wrists together once they’d put them on.

“For the memories,” she said, smiling brightly.

---

By the time they left the market, the sun was beginning to set, casting the streets in a warm, golden glow. They found a quiet park nearby and settled on a bench, watching as the sky turned shades of pink and orange.

Ji-hoon sat next to Eun-ji, his shoulder brushing hers. “Thanks for coming today,” he said softly.

She glanced at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. “It was fun. Thanks for letting Ha-rin drag you into this.”

He laughed. “She didn’t have to try very hard.”

There was a comfortable silence between them for a moment. Then, Ji-hoon leaned back, tilting his head toward the sky.

“You know, days like this make me think life isn’t so bad,” he said, almost to himself.

Eun-ji watched him, feeling a strange warmth in her chest. She didn’t reply, but something about his words stayed with her.

---

That evening, back in her dorm, Eun-ji carefully placed her bracelet on her desk before getting ready for bed. She thought about the day—the laughter, the food, the shared moments—and realized how much she had come to cherish the friendships she’d built over the past few months.

Her phone buzzed with another message from Ha-rin:

Ha-rin: Today was perfect. Let’s do it again soon!
Min-seo: I’m still recovering, but fine.
Ji-hoon: Next time, I’m picking the snacks.
Eun-ji: Deal.

As she set her phone down, Eun-ji smiled to herself. Life didn’t feel so overwhelming anymore. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she truly belonged.