Episode 46
12 November 2025, Wednesday. Early afternoon. SNU, Building 25, Natural Sciences Library, reading room.
The reading room was filled with the low, oppressive silence that only appeared during exam season.
Tables were buried under textbooks, notebooks, printouts, and half-empty cups of coffee. Faces were pale, eyes tired, shoulders tense.
Mi-yeon and Han-bin sat side by side, both looking as if their heads were one chapter away from exploding.
Mi-yeon stared at the page without really reading it. Han-bin was massaging her temple with one hand while holding a pen in the other.
A little farther away, Den sat alone.
A textbook rested in one hand, a paper cup of tea in the other. He rocked slightly on his chair's back legs, calm and unhurried, turning pages at an even pace. His expression was neutral, almost detached—like studying didn't cost him anything at all.
Han-bin glanced in his direction and whispered through clenched teeth.
"Unbelievable… what an absolute menace. How can he study like that for hours without losing his mind? What if all Russians are alien-made robots?"
Mi-yeon followed her gaze. She looked at Den for a few seconds, then sighed deeply, her face a mix of exhaustion and quiet misery.
"I don't know…" she murmured.
"Do you think… if I die from overwork, he'll be sad?"
Han-bin leaned closer and whispered back, serious for once.
"Robots don't have emotions. Don't think like that. We are not giving up."
Then she pulled out her phone.
Without hesitation, she typed a message to Den:
How can you be so selfish, Oppa? Can't you see Mi-yeon is completely drained and exhausted from studying? And you bought tea only for yourself? Do you even have a heart? Go buy her coffee.
A second message followed immediately:
And while you are at this, I want a double americano with one sugar.
Den read the messages.
He calmly placed a bookmark in his textbook, stood up, and walked out into the corridor.
Mi-yeon, who had witnessed the entire exchange and instantly connected the dots, turned to Han-bin in a whisper filled with alarm.
"Han-bin! What did you write to him?!"
Han-bin smiled like a satisfied cat.
"I told him you want coffee."
Mi-yeon's eyes flew open.
"What?! Have you completely lost your mind?!"
Han-bin waved her off.
"Oh, relax. You wanted to know whether he'd care if you were struggling. Now we'll find out."
"I'm going to hit you," Mi-yeon hissed, shooting her a glare, already picturing the scandal of smacking her best friend in the middle of the library.
A few minutes later, Den returned.
Without saying much, he placed a cup of cappuccino—with sugar and cream—in front of Mi-yeon, and an americano in front of Han-bin.
"Thank you…"
Mi-yeon bowed slightly and accepted the cup with both hands, her voice barely above a whisper.
Den gave a small nod and went back to his seat.
Cappuccino. Sugar. Cream.
He remembers… even after all this time.
She took a careful sip.
Then she frowned. Pushed the thought away. Turned back to her textbook.
They studied in silence for a while longer.
Eventually, Den finished his section. He closed the book, packed his things, and stood up to leave.
Mi-yeon noticed immediately.
She began gathering her things in a rush.
Han-bin looked up, annoyed.
"Hey, where are you going? We were going to study chemistry more!"
"Not a chance," Mi-yeon whispered. "We'll study tonight in the dorm. I have somewhere I need to be."
Han-bin pouted.
"Wow… I get her coffee, and she runs off. So much for the gratitude."
But Mi-yeon was already in the hallway.
She caught up to Den and hesitated for half a second before speaking.
"Den… wait.
You're heading home, right? Maybe… we could walk together?"
Her voice was soft. Careful.
And for once, she didn't run away.
12 November 2025, Wednesday. Afternoon. SNU, outside Building 25.
Den and Mi-yeon left the building and walked slowly along the path leading toward the dormitories.
The fall air was cool, clean, already smelling faintly of winter.
Mi-yeon walked carefully, placing one foot directly in front of the other, as if balancing on a narrow line only she could see. Den walked beside her, hands in his pockets, matching her pace without effort.
She adjusted her hair, hesitated for a second, then asked quietly,
"What are your plans for the winter break?"
He answered after a beat, half-joking at first.
"Well… assuming I pass Korean Literature and don't get kicked out of the university for failing my exams?"
He paused, considering. No one had asked him that before.
"I really love skiing," he continued. "I'd like to go to a ski resort during the break. But realistically… that's probably not happening."
He shrugged lightly.
"I can afford lift passes and renting skis and boots. But hotels during the winter break are insanely expensive. So I'll most likely stay in the dorm. Read Min-jae's manhwa collection—he's buried half our room in them. It will keep me busy for a while."
Mi-yeon bit her lip.
Han-bin's words echoed in her head:
Take him with you. Show him Korea.
She spoke before she could talk herself out of it.
"I… I'm not completely sure yet. I need to ask my parents first."
She rushed on, nervous now.
"After I moved to the city, they were planning to rent out one room. We don't have much money, and it would really help them. If maybe… maybe you could stay with us instead."
She glanced at him quickly, then looked away.
"I'm sure the price my mom would ask for a room would be much lower than a hotel. And we don't live that far from the ski lift. About thirty minutes by bus. And my mom cooks really well…"
Her voice faltered.
"I'm sorry. That would probably be really awkward for you. Our house is old. Not nice like a hotel. I didn't think this through. That was stupid. I'm sorry."
Inside her head, panic exploded.
Mi-yeon, what are you blabbering?!
Why are you putting him in such an uncomfortable position?
Do you want him to start avoiding you?
What if Dad says no?
What were you thinking—just stop talking!
But contrary to all her fears, Den stopped walking.
His face lit up, genuine and unguarded.
"Really?" he said. "Mi-yeon, that would be amazing."
He looked almost excited.
"Skiing and staying in a real Korean village? That's a dream. We could ski together! And if the room price is low enough, I think I could even cover lift passes for both of us."
She flushed even deeper.
"You say it like living in a Korean village is something special. It's just… a village."
Den looked at her with a soft, amused patience.
"Mi-yeon, I was born in Moscow. Fifteen million people. Big cities don't impress me much. Seoul's glamour too."
He smiled.
"But seeing the real Korea—without neon lights and makeup. The natural, everyday Korea. That's priceless to me."
She hesitated.
"Still… I don't even know how to ski…"
"I'll teach you," he said immediately. "I promise."
She laughed despite herself.
"Okay. I'm not promising anything yet. But I'll ask my parents."
Then, flustered by how warm the moment had become, she hurriedly changed the subject.
"And anyway—why aren't you wearing a scarf? And where's your warm coat? Don't you know it's already mid-November? How can you be so careless?"
She stepped closer and zipped up his light leather jacket herself.
"You should wear a scarf. See?" she said, gesturing to her own. "Like me."
Den just smiled, saying nothing.
For the rest of the walk, that smile stayed with him.
13 November 2025, Thursday. Morning. SNU's chemistry faculty, auditorium 500-305.
Ha Jun-gi paced back and forth in the corridor, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he waited for the door of the lecture hall to open. Inside, freshmen of the chemistry faculty were finishing their calculus lecture.
When the door finally opened and students began to pour out, Jun-gi scanned their faces anxiously. The moment he spotted Mi-yeon and So-mi, he hurried toward them, bowing repeatedly, his voice almost pleading.
"Mi-yeon-ssi… So-mi-ssi… please, wait a moment. I—I need to say something. I'm sorry, just a moment…"
So-mi stopped abruptly.
"Ha Jun-gi-ssi," she said sharply. "Don't waste my time. What do you want?"
Mi-yeon said nothing. Her body reacted before her mind did—she shifted slightly closer to So-mi, unconsciously placing herself half a step behind her, as if that position offered more safety. The memories of that senior were still too vivid.
Jun-gi glanced down the corridor. When he saw that most of the students had already left, he suddenly dropped to his knees in front of them.
Both girls froze.
Even So-mi's carefully controlled expression cracked for a brief second.
Jun-gi bowed deeply, his voice trembling.
"I want to apologize for what I did. My behavior was inexcusable. I abused my authority as a senior and humiliated you. I'm deeply ashamed."
So-mi crossed her arms over her chest.
"Let's say I accept that you're ashamed. So what?" she asked coldly. "Why are you telling us this?"
Still kneeling, Jun-gi continued, his words tumbling out.
"Because of what I did… I've become an outcast. No one wants to sit next to me in lectures. No one eats with me anymore. Even my friends turned away. I know I deserve it. I really do. But please—just once—could you have lunch with me today? If others see that you've forgiven me, maybe… maybe they'll stop avoiding me so completely. I'm begging you. Please show me mercy."
So-mi let out a short, contemptuous laugh.
"You think saying sorry changes what happened? It doesn't. People pay for their mistakes themselves. They don't hide behind girls to save face."
She turned away without hesitation.
"I'm not forgiving you. And I'm certainly not eating lunch with you."
She walked off down the corridor, her steps firm and unyielding.
Jun-gi's head dropped even lower. His shoulders caved inward, as if his body were collapsing under the weight of his own shame.
Mi-yeon took a breath. Her hands trembled slightly, but she forced herself to speak, her voice soft.
"I forgive you, Jun-gi-ssi," she said quietly. "But only if you never do something like that again."
His head snapped up.
"Yes—yes, of course!" he said quickly, scrambling to his feet and bowing again and again. "I promise. I swear."
Mi-yeon hesitated, then spoke again, her voice unsure but sincere.
"I'll be eating in the cafeteria after my next lecture. I'll sit at an empty table… so you can join me."
Her eyes lifted to his, almost frightened.
"But this doesn't mean we're friends," she added quickly. "I just don't want anyone to be an outcast."
He bowed again, deeply.
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
Mi-yeon nodded faintly and hurried away.
Around the corner, So-mi was waiting.
Her arms were crossed. She wasn't angry—but the look in her eyes was one of clear disapproval, like a strict teacher addressing a student who had made a foolish choice.
"Mi-yeon," she said calmly, "do you understand what you're doing? If you eat with him, people will think you're too soft. Too kind. It's the same as announcing to the entire university that you're weak and can't protect yourself."
Mi-yeon exhaled slowly.
"Everyone already thinks that," she replied quietly. "They say it behind my back. They hurt me for no reason at all."
She looked down.
"I'm used to it. I've stopped feeling it—but that doesn't mean I don't notice."
She paused, then added softly,
"I think he's suffered enough for what he did. I don't want to believe I denied someone even one chance to become better."
She bowed slightly to So-mi and walked away before So-mi could respond.
So-mi opened her mouth—then closed it.
She watched Mi-yeon's retreating figure in silence, her expression unreadable.
13 November 2025, Thursday. Noon. SNU, Building 500, Natural Sciences Cafeteria.
Den, Min-jae, and Han-bin—who was practically glued to Min-jae's side—were having lunch in the cafeteria.
Han-bin spoke while simultaneously slurping ramen with impressive dedication.
"Why hasn't Mi-yeon come yet?"
Den calmly pointed with his chopsticks somewhere behind Han-bin's back.
"She did come," he said evenly. "She just didn't sit with us."
Han-bin spun around and stared at Den with open irritation.
"What did you do to her, Oppa? Confess. Now."
Den shrugged. There was a hint of confusion on his face.
"I didn't do anything… I don't think so."
Han-bin looked at him suspiciously.
"So did you or didn't you?"
Den thought for a moment recalling his memory.
"No. Though, with all your social nuances, I might have said or done something wrong without realizing it. But I'm almost sure it's not because of me."
Min-jae, who had been watching Mi-yeon from afar, turned back to the table, his voice tense.
"That bastard Jun-gi just sat there, at her table. The nerve."
Han-bin's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"What?! I'll kill him—"
She was already half-rising from her seat when Den stopped her.
"No. Wait, Han-bin. If we go over there now and make a scene, we'll only make it worse. We'll draw attention she doesn't need."
He kept his voice steady.
"He's not bothering her. He's behaving politely. There's no reason to storm in like we're carrying machine guns. Let's ask her after lunch."
Han-bin pressed her lips together, eyes narrowing dangerously. She jabbed her chopsticks in Den's direction.
"Fine. We'll do it your way. But if he so much as touches her—you, Oppa, will go and beat the crap out of him."
Then she turned sharply to Min-jae.
"And what are you smiling at? You too. You're coming with him. Both of you. Understood?"
Min-jae nodded quickly, grinning, and ducked his head back into his bowl of stewed vegetables as if hoping to disappear into it.
Meanwhile, Mi-yeon and Jun-gi had started eating.
"Enjoy your meal," he said politely.
"You too," Mi-yeon replied.
They ate in silence for a while.
Then Jun-gi spoke again.
"Thank you again, Mi-yeon-ssi. But… may I ask you something?"
She stopped chewing, swallowed carefully, and looked at him with visible caution.
"I suppose…"
Jun-gi set down his chopsticks.
"You probably don't fully believe that I've changed. And eating with me is, I assume, very uncomfortable for you. I just want to understand… why did you agree?"
Mi-yeon thought for a moment, then answered with a shy, strained smile.
"You're right. I don't completely trust your words, Sunbae. I'm sorry. But I think it would be cruel not to give you a chance to become better."
She paused, cleared her throat, and nodded faintly to herself, eyes lowered—as if reassuring herself that she stood by what she'd said.
"No one should be an outcast. That isn't right. It shouldn't happen."
Jun-gi looked at her for several seconds, clearly not expecting that answer. Then, choosing his words carefully, he spoke with genuine sincerity.
"Then I promise you this. If I ever get the chance to do the right thing—something that truly matters—I will. To be worthy of the trust you gave me today."
He lowered his head.
They continued eating in silence.
At a nearby table sat Yuna with several other students. As usual, she was glued to her phone, fingers constantly typing. She smiled now and then—at messages, at thoughts only she could see.
But despite the smile, she didn't look carefree.
Not the way she usually did.