Autumn Calculus

Ch.22.

Eun-ji woke up the next morning determined to clear the air with Ji-hoon. She wasn’t entirely sure what she was going to say, but she knew avoiding the conversation would only make things worse.

---

The kitchen was buzzing with life as Eun-ji came downstairs. Her mother was flipping pancakes while her father sat at the table, reading the morning paper. The aroma of sizzling bacon filled the air, and the sight was so comforting that Eun-ji paused in the doorway, soaking it in.

“Oh, good morning, sweetheart!” her mother chirped. “Sit down. You’re just in time for breakfast.”

Her father looked up, his warm smile lighting up his face. “We don’t see you much in the mornings anymore. Busy with your friends?”

“Something like that,” Eun-ji replied, pouring herself a cup of tea.

As she joined them at the table, the doorbell rang. Her mother wiped her hands on a towel and motioned toward the door. “Can you get that, Eun-ji? It’s probably your friend Ji-hoon.”

Eun-ji’s heart skipped a beat. Ji-hoon? At this hour? She walked to the door, trying to calm the nerves bubbling in her chest.

When she opened it, she was surprised to see a tall woman with a warm smile, holding a container of homemade kimchi.

“Hello! You must be Eun-ji,” the woman said, bowing slightly. “I’m Ji-hoon’s mother, Mrs. Han.”

---

Eun-ji blinked in surprise. “Oh! Annyeonghaseyo, Mrs. Han. Please, come in!”

Mrs. Han stepped inside, looking around the cozy house with a smile. “Ji-hoon always talks about how welcoming your family is. I’ve been meaning to stop by and thank you all for taking such good care of him.”

Eun-ji’s mother appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. “Mrs. Han! It’s so nice to meet you. We’ve heard so much about you.”

The two mothers quickly fell into conversation, exchanging recipes and stories as if they had known each other forever. Eun-ji sat on the couch, watching them with a smile.

Ji-hoon arrived a few minutes later, looking sheepish. “I didn’t know my mom was coming over today.”

“Neither did I,” Eun-ji said with a laugh. “But it’s nice. She’s lovely.”

Ji-hoon scratched the back of his neck, glancing toward the kitchen where their mothers were laughing over some shared memory. “She’s been wanting to meet your parents ever since I started spending more time here.”

Eun-ji hesitated, then decided to take the opportunity. “Ji-hoon, can we talk?”

---

Heartfelt Conversations

They stepped out onto the porch, the crisp winter air nipping at their cheeks. Ji-hoon shoved his hands into his pockets, looking at her expectantly.

“About yesterday,” Eun-ji began, her voice steady despite the fluttering in her chest. “You caught me off guard, but I’ve been thinking about what you said.”

Ji-hoon nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on her. “And?”

She took a deep breath. “You’re my best friend, Ji-hoon. You’ve been by my side through everything, and I don’t want to lose that. But... I think you’re right. Maybe it’s time to stop pretending we don’t feel something more.”

His eyes widened, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “You mean that?”

“Yes,” she said firmly. “But I need time to figure out how this works. I don’t want to rush into anything and risk ruining what we already have.”

Ji-hoon reached out, gently taking her hand. “We’ll take it slow. Whatever you need, Eun-ji. I’m just glad to know I wasn’t imagining things.”

She laughed softly, her cheeks turning pink. “You weren’t.”

---

When they returned inside, the house was filled with laughter. Their mothers had struck up a friendship that felt as natural as the bond between Eun-ji and Ji-hoon.

“Eun-ji, dear, Mrs. Han has invited us over for dinner next weekend,” her mother said.

“Great,” Eun-ji replied, exchanging a knowing glance with Ji-hoon.

As the day went on, the warmth in her chest grew. It wasn’t just Ji-hoon; it was the realization that her life was filled with people who cared deeply for her. With Min-jun, her parents, and now Mrs. Han becoming a part of their circle, Eun-ji felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

She didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time in a long while, she wasn’t afraid to find out.