【Episode 19 – Unsent Feelings】
Knock, knock-
Monday, right after Criminal Law class, I went to Professor James Madison’s office. Because to compete in the Moot Court Competition, I needed a professor who could coach me in argumentation.
I’d thought he would readily agree since I was already working as his research assistant, but...
“What am I going to do about this? I have a paper I’m writing right now, and the Immigration Law Moot Court Competition final round is in February, isn’t it? I think I’ll be even busier then, you see. I’m sorry, but I think you’ll need to find another professor.”
He didn’t.
His busy schedule was part of it, but Professor Madison had politely declined, saying it would be wiser to find another professor rather than himself, who had no moot court coaching experience.
*
“I heard you asked Professor Madison to coach you?”
Mia, whom I’d met in the library regarding research work, asked.
“Yeah.”
“He won’t be able to. He’s busy. He has classes in the spring semester, and he also has a conference presentation at the end of the semester.”
“He told me the same thing and said to look for another professor.”
“Do you have any other professor in mind?”
“No, not really. I was just thinking of asking Professor Cox in Commercial Law or Professor Lindberg in Criminal Law. I’m taking both of their classes.”
“Professor Cox won’t do it. He’s not interested in anything unrelated to commercial law. Professor Lindberg probably would, but... instead of that, how about asking Professor Alastair Mitchell?”
“Professor Mitchell?”
“Yeah. I happened to overhear the professors talking. They said he won the Jessup Moot Court Competition back in his school days. As Harvard’s representative in ’88 or ’89, I think.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I don’t know if he’ll do it, but you should still ask.”
Professor Alastair Mitchell had diverse practical experience as well, so if someone like him coached our team, it was clear he would be a great help.
“I should do that.”
“Ah! He can be a bit strict, you know. You know how British people are, acting like they’re not but secretly being snobs. I don’t know the details, but I heard you should never visit him outside of office hour. He thinks it’s bad manners or something.”
It was a valuable tip.
It was advice that thoughtlessly knocking on a professor’s door, as I had with Professor James Madison, could actually cost me points instead.
“Got it. Thanks, Mia.”
“What are you thanking me for... You even brought me that delicious jopchwee.”
“It’s not jopchwee. It’s japchae.”
“That’s what I said. Jopchwee.”
“It’s ‘jap,’ not ‘jop’... Forget it.”
“What? You’re giving up that easily? Are you saying I’m a lost cause? That I’m not even worth teaching Korean to right now?”
Pfft-
I hadn’t realized it at first, but the more I got to know her, the more I saw how sociable she was.
She had readily introduced me to a room in her apartment, and she knew a lot about the school and the professors, so she was always a great help.
Getting to know her was truly a fortunate thing.
“Ah, right. Did you get a ticket from Jen?”
“What ticket?”
“Uh... you didn’t get one?”
“Yeah, nothing.”
“Why? Did you have something to give me?”
“No. Jen got some tickets and was going to give them to someone else, so I told her to give them to you. Since you’ve been feeding me and all.”
“Feeding you... All I did was give you instant food and leftovers I’d packed up.”
“Still. Anyway, I guess she gave them to someone else. Don’t worry about it.”
“Okay.”
“If I get a ticket later, I’ll give it to you.”
“What kind of ticket is it anyway?”
---*---
Columbia Law School,
Jerome Green Hall,
Donald Drabkin Student Lounge.
Jennifer looked around for an empty seat and settled by the window where sunlight streamed in nicely.
Shortly after, Lawrence and Claire, who had just finished class and entered the lounge, spotted Jennifer sitting by the window and approached her almost simultaneously.
“Jennifer.”
“Hi, Jen~”
“Hi, Claire. Lawrence.”
The three were chatting about their hectic school lives as freshmen on a Monday morning. When Lawrence’s attention turned to the tickets on the table, the topic changed.
“Jen, what are these tickets? They’re Empire State Building observatory tickets. Wow, if they’re Express tickets, they’re over a hundred dollars each.”
“You can have them if you want.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
At Jennifer’s words, Lawrence’s lips curled up to his ears.
“So these are those tickets?”
“What do you mean, those tickets?”
“Professor Hancock, who teaches Criminal Law, had a quiz and offered two Empire State Building observatory tickets as a prize. Our smart Jennifer got it right and won the prize.”
Claire, who was taking the same Criminal Law class as Jennifer, explained on her behalf.
“Ah, so that’s what it was. What was the quiz?”
“A Latin phrase related to criminal law.”
“Ah, Latin is really hard. But are you really giving these to me?”
“Yeah, I don’t have time to go anyway.”
“Why? You could go on the weekend. They say it’s pretty at night since they’re preparing for Halloween these days.”
“It’s fine.”
“Really? Then I won’t refuse and I’ll take them.”
“Take them.”
“Yoohoo—thanks, Jen~. I’ll go with Rodrigo this weekend.”
At the excited Lawrence’s answer,
“Who’s Rodrigo again?”
Claire asked.
“A Mexican hottie I met at last week’s freshman party.”
“Weren’t you trying to get with Robin, the second-year, just a little while ago?”
“I thought dating someone from the same school would be a bit much... I decided to lose interest in Robin.”
“What kind of logic is that? You just said you met Rodrigo at the freshman party too.”
“Yeah. But Rodrigo isn’t a student at our school. He goes to Parsons. He said he came along with a friend who goes here.”
“Anyway, there’s no talking sense into you. Instead of that, let’s go together, Lawrence.”
“Haven’t you been to the Empire State Building?”
“No, I have. But I have no plans this weekend, and I really love the New York night view from there.”
“Claire!”
“What? What?”
“Who goes to the Empire State Building observatory with a friend?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“Ah, of course you can go. If it’s someone who’s never been, or a tourist visiting New York, sure. But if not, you absolutely go with a lover or someone you’re seeing. Sorry, but I’ll have to decline, Claire.”
“Tch.”
“Don’t be too hurt. If Rodrigo says he can’t go, then I’ll give both tickets to you.”
“Forget it. I don’t have a lover or anyone I’m seeing anyway, so according to your logic, I have no one to go with.”
“Shall I introduce you? Among the decent guys I know, there are some who are unfortunately interested in the heterosexual side.”
“Forget it. I’m not smart like someone else, so studying alone is tough enough.”
“Really? Still, if you get stressed while studying, let me know. I’ll introduce you anytime. That’s the best thing for when you’re stressed.”
“What is?”
“Dating.”
“Ah.”
“What? You were thinking something weird.”
“No! I wasn’t.”
“You totally were. Your face is flushed. You naughty girl.”
“Look who’s talking, you lewd gay.”
“Yeah, I am. I’m lewd.”
While Claire and Lawrence bickered among themselves, Jennifer was unusually quiet. Lost in other thoughts.
“Jen, what are you thinking so hard about? Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“I got two tickets worth over a hundred dollars. I can’t just end it with one ‘thank you.’ I’ll buy lunch. Is there anything you want?”
“Can I come too?”
“Hm—naughty girls aren’t allowed.”
“Hey, Lawrence.”
“I’m joking, joking. Of course you’re coming with us.”
“A lewd but loyal gay, huh? Jennifer, what should we have Lawrence buy us?”
“Anything. I like everything.”
“Should we ask him to buy us pasta at Dutti? Ah, but what were you thinking so hard about just now?”
“Huh?”
“You were quietly worrying about something until just now, weren’t you?”
“Ah—it’s nothing...... Ah, but what you said—if you go to the Empire State Building with a friend of the opposite sex, that means you’re dating or seeing them, right?”
“Huh?”
---*---
Tuesday afternoon, after my last class, I headed to Goldin Lounge.
It was to hold a meeting about a professor who could coach our team for the Immigration Law Moot Court Competition.
“Where’s Michael?”
“He said he’s almost here.”
At Sein’s words that he would arrive shortly, we began our meeting.
“So Professor James Madison can’t do it?”
“Yes.”
“And your roommate who’s doing her master’s recommended Professor Alastair Mitchell because he has experience winning the Jessup Competition?”
“Yes, Hyung.”
Since I’d sent a rough summary of the situation by email after coming home last night, everyone knew.
“Why?”
I asked because Dongwook Hyung’s expression didn’t look good.
“Well, I used to take Professor Mitchell’s class.”
As expected, he had concerns.
“Yes.”
“I switched classes, so I was worried he might refuse because of that.”
“Come on—no way.”
“Right? Surely he wouldn’t be that petty? Ah, but after I switched, I went to see him, and he somehow didn’t look too pleased. That’s been bothering me.”
“Would he hold a grudge over something like that?”
“Yeah, probably not. Ah—but he did seem a bit strict.”
Between what Mia said and Dongwook Hyung saying this, he definitely seemed like a difficult person.
“Wouldn’t it be better to ask Professor Dreyfus, who teaches Immigration Law?”
“Ah, I asked. He said he wouldn’t. He refused, saying that since he had served as a judge, it wouldn’t be right for him to coach a team he had selected.”
It seemed Sein had already asked.
“Then we have no choice but to go see Professor Mitchell.”
“It’ll be okay, Hyung.”
“Then go without me. You never know.”
While we were exchanging opinions like that, Michael arrived.
“What the hell, you said you were almost here.”
“Sorry. I had arrived, but I got a text from Clemens. The freshman party that was postponed because of the power outage is happening this Saturday. You guys are all going, right?”
“Hey, what’s more important, the Moot Court Competition or the freshman party?”
“Sein.”
“What?”
“You know what?”
“What?”
“The freshman party is more important.”
“You can’t be serious...”
“Heon, you’re going, right? Hyung, you’re coming too, right?”
Sometimes being politely insistent is effective.
“So it’s got to be Professor Mitchell after all?”
“It seems that way.”
“But what if Professor Mitchell refuses?”
“...”
I had worried for a whole week about asking for a coach for the Immigration Law Moot Court Competition, but as expected, there was no one as qualified as Professor Alastair Mitchell.
Since Dongwook Hyung seemed uncomfortable with Professor Mitchell, I had looked into other professors.
After class, I had subtly sounded out Professor Rachel Lindberg of Criminal Law and Professor Heyman Lark, who teaches Lawyering.
Both seemed like they would do it if I made a formal request, but neither had shown much interest.
“Yeah, it can’t be helped. No, actually, maybe it’s for the best. He might even be happy to do it. Honestly, looking at his credentials alone, he’s the best there is as a moot court coach. Yeah, let’s go.”
“Don’t worry too much.”
“Am I nervous?”
“A little.”
“Actually, I’m very nervous. That I won’t understand what Professor Mitchell is saying and will just go ‘Ah, yes. Yes,’ and then he’ll ask, ‘Dongwook, what did I just say?’ and I won’t be able to say anything and it’ll be like ‘Pardon me?’”
“It’ll be fine. We’re all going together.”
“Do I really have to go? Can’t you guys go on your own?”
“Still, I think it’s better if we all go together.”
After deciding to ask Professor Alastair Mitchell, we told Michael to find out what kind of person he was and what the rumors around school were.
And I once again carefully racked my brain to see if I had any ‘future memories’ related to him.
Full name: Alastair Blaise Mitchell
Age: 50
Origin: Scotland, Aberdeen
Education: Earned his bachelor’s degree from Oxford and his master’s and doctoral degrees from Harvard
Qualifications: UK lawyer, Hong Kong lawyer, New York attorney
Personality: Strict and values manners. Tends to be snobbish.
Other: Heavy Scottish accent, so he’s hard to understand if you don’t listen carefully. Dislikes being visited outside of office hour. Likes Latin. Dislikes hesitation. Dislikes thoughtlessness.
“Heon, will this be okay? You heard Professor Mitchell dislikes people coming to see him outside of office hour.”
Honestly, it would be a lie to say I was one hundred percent confident. But if I acted awkwardly polite, I could be rejected before I even asked.
Knock, knock, knock-
We knocked on Professor Mitchell’s door.
“Yes. Who is it?”
He had only asked who it was, but already I could sense the rich aroma of English black tea.