Up to the day of the exam, Gary and Rye Il had been following the study schedule that Jihyo planned. Getting them to concentrate wasn't as easy as Jihyo and Hye Won thought it would be. There were times where Rye Il pretended to be reading his notes but it turned out that he was using it to cover his face so that he could sleep. When that happens, Hye Won would flicked his forehead to make him awake.
As for Gary, he was using it as an opportunity to be with Jihyo. To study and to date at the same time.
After spending days mugging, the day of the exam has finally arrived. Rye Il couldn't stop pacing back and forth along the corridor of the classroom. Gary leaned his back against the pillar with a stack of notes stapled together in his hands. Jihyo was standing beside him, carefully explaining to him about the things that he was still unclear of.
Ten minutes later, they were ushered into the classroom. They placed their bags at the front of the room and took their seats. Twenty students in the room, quietly stare at the whiteboard as Mr Ryu write down the subject title and duration on the board. He handed down the papers and the exam commenced.
They were given an hour and a half to complete the paper and within the hour mark, a few students have submitted the completed paper and headed out of the room. As Jihyo made her way out of the room, she saw Gary looking towards her direction. Since they were not allowed to communicate, she could only show him a smile of encouragement before joining Hye Won to wait outside the room.
Thirty minutes after, the door was pulled open and Gary and Rye Il, along with some other students came out from the room.
"How was it?" Jihyo immediately asked.
She noticed the weary expression on their faces as though they had just went through a battle. "It can't be that bad, right?" Hye Won chipped in.
"It should be fine, I guess." Gary said as he stretched his arms over his head and did some light stretches.
Rye Il shook his head and massaged the back of his neck. "I don't know. I feel so mentally drained." He let out a deep sigh and continued, "Can't we go somewhere to relax and have fun?"
"LAN?" Gary perked up in an instant and exchanged glances with Rye Il before giving each other a fist bump.
"This isn't the time for you guys to play. We still have another paper next week." Jihyo said to them, instantly bursting their little bubble of happiness.
Gary and Rye Il looked at her at the same time and then dropped their heads. A sigh escaped from Gary's mouth as the thought of having to study again enter his mind.
"You guys will thank us after this." Hye Won said and dragged them by the straps of their bags towards the library.
***
They spent days after days studying the same thing over and over again. Jihyo and Hye Won tried their best to coach them as much as possible up till the exam period was over.
The results were out two weeks later. The four of them gathered around the notice board which was crowded with other students trying to catch a glimpse of their own results. Only students who pass their exams are qualify for internships.
When they managed to squeezed to the front, Rye Il was frantically trying to locate his name and when he did, he drew his finger across the list and without any warning, he suddenly shouted, "I passed! I passed!"
"Go away if you're done." Gary said and pushed Rye Il away. He was getting impatient. He scanned the papers pasted on the board but no matter how hard he tried to search for his name, he couldn't seem to find it.
Just then, he felt a tap on his shoulder and turn to see Jihyo looking at him, beaming. She pulled him towards her and pointed at the paper that was stuck on the board in front of her. It was the top 20 list.
"You mean my name is in here?" He looked at her in total disbelief.
"We will be intern partners as well. See it for yourself. " She said with a huge grin on her face.
Gary slowly scanned through the list and found his name in the 18th spot.
He took a step back, glanced at her and then back at the list. He cover his agape mouth with his hand while trying to let the unexpected result settle in. "This isn't a dream," he said it out loud in his head.
He turned to look at Jihyo and threw his arms around her neck, pulling her in for a tight hug. "Jihyo-yah, I did it! I really did! Thank you so much!" He exclaimed, then released her and kissed her on her forehead. It all happened so fast that she hadn't had the time to react. She looked into his eyes and just smiled, never mind that she was feeling the heat rising up to her face and that her cheeks were probably as red as a tomato.
After they had confirm their results, knowing that Jihyo and Hye Won were in the top 5 and 6 position, and that Gary had unexpectedly gotten into the 18th position and Rye Il was just happy that he passed the exams, they headed to a less crowded area.
"We have a one week break. Any plans?" Rye Il spun around and looked at them.
"I guess I will stay at home and catch up on my shows." Hye Won replied.
"Maybe we'll go on a date?" Gary held Jihyo's hand and looked at her. She return his gaze and smiled at him.
"Can't we do something fun as a group?" Rye Il frowned.
"Hm.. Camping?" Jihyo suggested.
The three of them stared at her and she confusingly stared back. She wondered if she had said something wrong.
"It's going to be winter soon," Gary said.
"And we will freeze to death if we go camping." Rye Il continued.
"But camping would be fun.." Jihyo's voice trailed off and she gave them a disappointed frown.
"Instead of camping, let's have a staycation. I know a resort owner. Maybe we can book one at a discounted rate." Hye Won suggested.
"As long as we don't have to sleep on ice cold ground, I'm fine with it." Rye Il replied with his eyes looking at Jihyo, subtly teasing her.
"Gary, Jihyo?" Hye Won asked.
"We're fine with it." Gary answered.
***
