Sujeong stopped by the reception desk and returned her pass.
‘Where should I go now?’
She had obtained what she wanted.
If she had a specific goal, she could fill in the rest through her own efforts.
Just as she always had.
But separate from that, she felt lonely.
Looking back, she had lived a life without a single friend. She thought it was because she had built a wall around herself where human relationships were concerned.
But Seoha had always approached her without reserve.
She wanted to see him.
Not secretly watching him from afar, but greeting him brightly face-to-face.
Yet she still had not decided what sort of expression she should wear when meeting Seoha.
‘Should I go back?’
It wasn’t as though she had come here as a tourist.
Sujeong took a deep breath as if steeling herself, then turned her steps toward the hotel.
Once she left the campus, the scenery gradually began to change.
‘It’s quiet and nice.’
Old brick buildings stood at regular intervals. Between them, small cafés, bookstores, and old restaurants filled every available space.
Students crossing the street, large backpacks slung over their shoulders and venti-sized coffees in their hands, passed by her.
Sujeong looked to the side.
The sound of tree branches swaying in the wind, small puddles formed from melting snow, buses hurriedly coming and going. Everything around her seemed to have taken on a monotone hue.
She felt as though she alone had been cut off from it all.
She could not tell whether it was because of the unfamiliar air of America or because she had been unable to approach Seoha even with him right in front of her.
The road to the hotel felt unusually long.
Without realizing it, Sujeong stopped and turned around.
“Huh?”
Someone was running toward her from far away.
A tiny figure gradually grew larger.
A familiar silhouette, a jacket fluttering in the wind, and a face that was becoming clearer by the second.
“...Yu Seoha?”
Where had the neat appearance she had seen a little while ago gone?
His hair was completely tousled by the wind.
The sound of his ragged breathing seemed to carry all the way to her.
He was running with all his might.
Her heart swelled at the realization that someone had come looking for her so desperately.
“Sujeong... noona!”
At last, Seoha stopped in front of her.
His chest heaved violently, as though he still could not catch his breath. Sweat poured from his forehead despite the chilly weather.
Sujeong hurriedly pulled a handkerchief from her bag.
“Why did you run all the way here?”
After hesitating for a moment, Sujeong finally leaned toward him and wiped away his sweat.
Seoha lifted his head while breathing hard.
Welcoming joy, relief, and guilt—various emotions filled his eyes.
“You came all the way here, so why were you leaving without even seeing me?”
She must have been mistaken.
Seoha was still the same boy from Okcheon.
He gazed at her with eyes as gentle as a cow’s. His expression revealed his feelings just as plainly as it had when they first met.
“I just...”
Sujeong mumbled, unsure how to explain herself.
“But how did you know I was here?”
She had only just left the school...
“Theo told me. He said a friend from Korea had come... I knew right away it had to be you, noona.”
Theodore had?
That was unexpected.
She had thought he disliked her.
“Have you been well?”
It had taken her far too long to say those words.
Seoha smiled.
It was a plain yet beautiful smile, like an unknown flower blooming in a field.
“Of course. I have so much I want to talk about. Noona, did you come to America alone?”
“Huh? Yes.”
“Then come to our house. Mom and Seoeun will be happy, too. It’s just about time for lunch.”
Seoha took Sujeong’s bag from her as if snatching it away.
“Ah... no.”
Pretending she had no choice, Sujeong followed behind Seoha.
Whoosh—
A fierce wind blew.
Sujeong looked around without thinking.
It was strange.
She was walking along the same road, but everything looked subtly different.
The scenery that had been completely colorless slowly began to regain its hues.
“Just a moment. It takes a while to walk there.”
The place Seoha led her to was the bicycle storage area on campus.
He unlocked a bicycle and pulled it out.
It was an old bicycle that looked worn out at a glance.
Yet the chain gleamed unusually brightly, as though he had taken great care of it.
“Get on.”
Seoha pointed toward the back seat with his eyes.
“Huh?”
She was flustered.
She had never ridden on the back of a bicycle before.
“This, too.”
It was a bright yellow duck helmet.
It belonged to Seoeun.
Sujeong pushed out her lips as she accepted the helmet.
‘I didn’t want to take off my hat.’
Her skin, roughened by lack of sleep, bothered her.
“That’s enough.”
Seoha nodded, then climbed onto the seat.
“I’m setting off.”
The bicycle left the school grounds.
Seoha seemed to struggle a little at first, but he quickly found his balance and began to pick up speed smoothly.
Sujeong lightly grasped the hem of Seoha’s shirt with both hands.
‘When did he become so dependable?’
His once-small back had grown broad enough to hide her completely.
Suddenly, the past year of university life flashed through her mind like a panorama.
“Daughter, now that you’re in college, you should have some fun, too. Why do you only study like a high school student?”
“You still don’t have a single friend? I’m worried about you, even if you are my daughter. Your mother did everything she wanted while studying.”
“Hey, Im Sujeong, what’s with you? The girl who got a perfect score on the college entrance exam is getting crushed here?”
“Her nickname in high school was the Demon King, you know? Give up. You can’t beat her no matter what you do. We probably don’t even register in her eyes.”
Those days when she had driven herself relentlessly onward through a cold, dry daily life.
A small laugh escaped her.
‘That’s because we have different goals.’
There were people one could never reach, no matter how hard one tried.
But she could not give up.
The only thing she could do was continue working hard in silence.
Now, it did not matter whether anyone recognized her efforts.
Clatter.
They came upon a road with an uneven surface.
Seoha turned around and shouted loudly.
“Hold on tight. The road’s rough.”
“Okay...”
Sujeong rested her face against Seoha’s back.
The warmth she felt through the hem of his shirt, and the inexplicable sense of relief, made Sujeong close her eyes.
It would be a lie to say the time that had passed had not been difficult.
But sitting on the back of Seoha’s bicycle as they rode through the streets, she felt unbelievably as though everything had been repaid.
‘I must be crazy.’
She chided herself, but the complicated noise reverberating in her head soon faded into silence.
The bicycle gradually slowed, then came to a complete stop.
“We’re here.”
“Wasn’t it tiring?”
“It felt just like carrying Seoeun.”
“Hahahaha!”
Sujeong laughed cheerfully.
Ding-dong—
When the doorbell rang, the door opened.
Seoeun, who was still on vacation, broke into a huge smile when she saw Sujeong standing outside.
“Smart Unni!”
Though Sujeong had only played with her once several years ago, Seoeun still remembered her.
Led by Seoeun’s hand, Sujeong entered the house.
“Oh my! Sujeong is here?”
Miyeong was delighted when she saw her face.
Seoha felt a sudden ache in his heart.
Even if they did not say it aloud, his whole family must have missed Korea.
“You haven’t eaten, have you? Wait just a moment. I’ll make you something delicious.”
“Ah... well.”
There was no chance for her to get a word in.
Miyeong hurried into the kitchen.
“Unni, play with me!”
While the meal was being prepared, Seoeun led Sujeong around the house.
“This is what I’m growing.”
Seoeun raised her chin proudly.
In the corner of the garden was a tiny vegetable patch about the size of one pyeong.
Nameless sprouts were growing haphazardly in the soft soil.
The traces of careful watering, the crooked name tags—the space was unmistakably Seoeun’s.
“Hmm? What’s this?”
A plant she had never seen before caught her eye.
“This is a pumpkin!”
“A pumpkin? Why?”
Seoeun grinned, baring her teeth.
The missing front tooth she revealed made her look adorable.
“There were some in the garden at our house in Okcheon, too. When they grow, the vines get really long. The leaves are tasty, too!”
Sujeong’s heart tightened.
It must not have been easy for this little girl to settle in America.
Sujeong bent her knees to meet Seoeun’s eyes.
“That’s very good of you.”
When she stroked her head, Seoeun smiled shyly.
“Hehe.”
Seoeun grabbed Sujeong’s hand and pulled her along once again.
“Now let’s see my room.”
They went upstairs and entered Seoeun’s room.
There were a lot of books for a child’s room. Among them, a thick encyclopedia stood out in particular.
“You read things like this?”
“It’s what Oppa used to read. He says he knows it all now and doesn’t need it anymore. I read it whenever I get bored.”
A familiar golden medal lay on the desk.
“Oh? This!”
“Hehe. My number-one treasure! Oppa gave it to me. Do you know this too, Unni?”
Sujeong covered her mouth and laughed.
“Of course! I have two just like it.”
“Hmph.”
Seoeun puffed out her cheeks.
Sujeong thought of something and smiled mischievously.
“Did you know? There’s a medal that’s much, much more impressive than this one. No, it can’t even be compared. It’s a hundred, a thousand times more amazing.”
“Really?”
Seoeun’s eyes sparkled as though she had never been sulking.
“Of course! It’s so amazing that no Korean has one.”
“Hmph. Then I can’t have one either, can I?”
Sujeong clicked her tongue and wagged her index finger.
“If Seoeun says she really wants one, Oppa will bring it to her.”
“Really?”
“Of course! It’s absolutely possible. So let’s ask Oppa for one.”
Seoeun looked tempted.
“What’s it called?”
As though revealing a secret, Sujeong leaned close to Seoeun’s ear and whispered.
“The Fields Medal.”
She went on to look around Seoha’s room.
And reflected on how lazy she had been until now.
“This isn’t a room. It’s a library.”
Research papers were piled high throughout the room.
An unfinished notebook lay open on the desk. She could easily picture Seoha sitting there, absorbed in his research late into the night.
‘Was I just making excuses?’
She had thought that, at the very least, no one could surpass her in effort. It seemed that had merely been an illusion.
The words, ‘Seoha, that’s cheating,’ rose all the way to the back of her throat.
“Come eat!”
A voice came from downstairs.
“Unni, let’s go! My mom is an amazing cook!”
Before going downstairs, Sujeong took one last look around the room.
Delicious smells were already wafting through the house as she descended the stairs. The table had already been set.
Seoha was busily carrying out the dishes.
Steaming kimchi stew, beautifully fried meatballs, and bulgogi rich with the aroma of fire whetted her appetite.
“Let’s eat!”
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy the meal.”
Hungry, Sujeong hurriedly picked up her spoon and chopsticks.
It was a delicious home-cooked meal, sinking into a body accustomed to cafeteria food.
On the way back to the hotel, Seoha came out to see her off.
Sujeong slowed her pace to match his stride.
Walking alongside Seoha like this made her feel as though she had returned to the past.
“Was it difficult in America?”
At Sujeong’s question, Seoha thought for a moment, then shook his head.
“It wasn’t as difficult as I expected. The study environment is good, and my family has adapted well. Above all, I receive far more support for my research than I did when I was in Korea.
“It was a difficult decision, but now I’m grateful for everything.”
Sujeong nodded at his words.
“I see. I suppose that makes sense. You do love mathematics, after all.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Seoha looked genuinely startled.
“What? You don’t?”
“It’s not that. You’re the person I know who loves mathematics the most.”
“Huh? Me?”
Sujeong’s eyes widened.
Wasn’t mathematics merely a means for her to gain recognition from others more easily?
“Yes! That’s what I thought from the moment we first met. ‘Ah! This person really must love mathematics!’ You even asked me about the proof process in that situation.”
She remembered the humiliating moment when she had fallen flat on her face in front of hundreds of people.
Sujeong’s face flushed with embarrassment.
“And you’ve always been like that since then. You’ve always been sincere about mathematics, noona. You’re more passionate than anyone, and you never compromise with yourself. I’ve learned so much by watching you, too.”
It was the first time anyone had ever said such things to her.
“No. I’m different from you. Back then, I was simply in a situation where I had to do well... I’m not particularly talented. I just worked hard and made it that far.”
At Sujeong’s words, Seoha stopped walking.
“No. You tried to do well because you loved it. Think about it carefully. I realized this after coming here, too, but sometimes other people’s perceptions can be right.
“And I really hate seeing you underestimate yourself. I’ve met many people at MIT, but I haven’t met a student more outstanding than you.
“I’m telling you this clearly: you’re a born mathematician. And you have an extraordinary talent.”
Seoha’s face was filled with certainty.
Without realizing it, Sujeong nodded.
“Okay. I understand. If that’s what you say.”
When she returned to the hotel, Sujeong immediately began packing her things.
“How could I fail when there’s someone who believes in me this much?”
She wanted to go back and study as soon as possible.
She might still be lacking a little right now, but with Seoha’s endorsement, she had to be a genius too.
Thinking that way made her dull university life seem new. A foothold from which she could leap far into the distance.
“Just wait a little, MIT. I’ve never lost to anyone in my life except Seoha.”
She had not changed in the slightest.
The only difference from the past was that it was Seoha’s recognition—and nothing else—that filled Sujeong’s self-esteem.