Yi Soo woke up early in the morning, ate a simple breakfast, and brewed a cup of coffee.

The distance to school had become much closer than before, so she had relatively more free time in the morning.

Since Yi Soo studied out of habit, the exam period wasn’t particularly different, but she reduced her sleep and kept her review notes in hand at all times.

Perhaps because of that, she didn’t think much about Ji Ho unexpectedly.

True to his promise not to interfere, there were no text messages or calls since that day.

Ji Ho would be affectionate enough to make her heart flutter, then carelessly not contact her, then suddenly appear one day and be casually affectionate.

In the past, she would worry about him whenever there was no contact, but while studying and reducing sleep, there wasn’t much time to think about Ji Ho.

Not that much yet. Fortunately. She thought briefly.

She worried about what would happen when the exams were over.

**

“Yi Soo, did you do well on the exam? I studied hard for a few days, but I really messed up. Why was it so difficult?”

Immediately after the medical biochemistry exam, which had the widest scope and was the most difficult to study among this midterm’s subjects, Aera looked like death.

It was also the subject Yi Soo had invested the most time in.

“The scope was no joke. It was too much to cover in just a few days. A lot came from the study guide, didn’t you look at it?”

“I did look. The problem is I couldn’t memorize it all. You did well, huh?”

Aera narrowed her eyes and looked at Yi Soo as if staring at a traitor.

“Hey, I’ve been studying for a month. If I put in that much effort, it’s normal to do well.”

Yi Soo smiled with a face full of fatigue.

Who said pre-med studies were easy?

If you tried to study properly, it was just as difficult.

Even though she started early, not being able to sleep during exam period was the same.

“You’ve been clocking in at the library every day, so it’s different.”

“For finals, you should clock in with me.”

“I’ll think about that when the time comes. Yi Soo, are you going to the library now?”

“No. I’m planning to study in the lecture room. The library will probably be full.”

“Then let’s study together. I feel more assured when you’re next to me.”

“Okay. Did you study a bit for human biology tomorrow?”

“I’ve been doing biochemistry for days, so I’m cramming biology today.”

Aera’s dark circles, from pulling an all-nighter yesterday too, reached down to her chin.

“You’re going to do all of biology in one day?”

Yi Soo asked with wide eyes, as if in disbelief.

“What choice do I have? I have to do at least that much.”

“Phew. You’re brave, so brave. I’ll lend you my organized notes, so copy them and at least look at those. Even that’s a lot, I’m not sure if you can see it all in one day.”

Yi Soo took out her notebook, which combined the biology study guide and 9 lecture notes, from her bag and handed it to Aera.

“Wow! Really? Yi Soo! You’re truly my savior. I will never forget this favor! Thank you!”

Aera clasped her hands together in front of her face with an expression of deep gratitude.

“Alright, alright. Just do well on the exam.”

“Of course. I’ll stay up all night if I have to and review all of this before the exam. Since you organized it, it should be enough if I just review this thoroughly. Hehehe. I’m going to go make copies right now. You go to the lecture room first.”

After parting with Aera, Yi Soo headed to the lecture room.

Studying with classmates who were serious about their studies was more comfortable and helpful than the library during exam periods, as they could motivate each other and share necessary materials.

So Yi Soo hardly left the medical school throughout the exam period.

When she immersed herself in studying obsessively, distracting thoughts would disappear and her mind would become calm.

Though physically exhausting due to lack of sleep, her mind was rather composed.

For Yi Soo, the time of focusing solely on the immediate goals and plans before her was rather comfortable.

**

The day after midterms ended.

Ji Ho left home to go to Hyung Joo’s studio.

It was to finish the song production work that had been postponed until after the exams.

Originally scheduled for the evening, he deliberately moved up the time.

It was the day he was going to meet Yi Soo after two weeks.

As he had promised Yi Soo not to interfere, he hadn’t done anything since that day.

He planned to act as if he didn’t exist at all and then visit her today.

‘I wonder if she thought about me at all during this time. Or did she decide to completely draw the line?’

He considered giving her a little more time, but he was concerned about Dong Woo also going to the MT today.

Ji Ho took out his phone and called Ha Joon.

[Oh, Ji Ho. You’re going to the MT today, right?]

Ha Joon had been pestering him to go to the club MT together since before the exams.

At first, he said he couldn’t go because of postponed work, but he changed his mind to go later.

“Yeah. But I called because I think I’ll be a bit late.”

[How late?]

“I think I’ll leave around 3 at the earliest.”

[Then you’re taking your car, right? Should I go with you when you leave?]

“I’m fine with it, but are you okay with being that late?”

[I’d rather go in your car, it’s more comfortable. Let me know the time and place, and I’ll come to where you are.]

“Alright. If you want to drive my car, do it today.”

It was a reminder of Ha Joon’s words, who always said it was his wish to drive such a car whenever he saw Ji Ho’s car.

[Really? Is that okay? I’d love to.]

“Okay then.”

[Don’t change your mind later. Got it?]

“What do you mean change my mind. See you later.”

Ha Joon’s voice was full of excitement at the thought of being able to drive Ji Ho’s car, which could be said to be every man’s dream.

It would take at least 2 hours to get to Gapyeong on a congested weekend afternoon.

Ha Joon’s mouth corners rose up to his ears.

**

Yi Soo met her club friends at Yongsan Station to go to the MT location in Gapyeong.

“Yi Soo, did you rest well yesterday? You went home without even playing after the exams ended.”

Aera asked while walking to platform 1.

“We’re going to play today, so. I slept well yesterday. Did you drink again yesterday?”

“Yeah. I couldn’t sleep much and came out, so I’m dying of exhaustion now.”

“Drink moderately. We’re going to drink again today.”

“I’ll be energized again by evening. Today I don’t have to worry about going home, so I really need to drink comfortably.”

“You have such good stamina.”

Yi Soo, who had barely replenished her depleted energy from the week by resting for just one day yesterday, was simply amazed at Aera.

Aera sat by the window on the train, and Yi Soo sat next to her.

As they left the city, the scenery spread out refreshingly through the window, making her heart flutter with excitement.

The train arrived at Gapyeong Station in an hour.

Before going to the accommodation, they stopped by a nearby mart to do some generous shopping.

The accommodation, reached after about a 10-minute walk from the station, was a private pension with a loft structure.

There was a room large enough to fit 30 people, and another room of the same size up the stairs.

“The air here is definitely different. Drinking in a place like this, you probably won’t even get drunk.”

“Guys, let’s rest for about two hours and then prepare dinner.”

“Okay.”

After organizing all the groceries in the refrigerator, Yi Soo spent time lying in a hammock in front of the pension.

Leisurely.

There was a stream flowing in front, mountains spread out like a folding screen behind, and white clouds floating in the clear sky.

It felt like being compensated all at once for the intense days she had just been through.

‘So this is what healing feels like.’

Yi Soo closed her eyes gently in the peaceful and quiet atmosphere.

All the thoughts that had complicated her mind seemed trivial now.

**

As evening approached, everyone gathered at the outdoor barbecue area.

Yi Soo, who was in charge of setting the table with Ju Hee, placed plates at appropriate intervals on the table.

“Yi Soo, prepare 14 plates.”

“Why? There are 12 of us.”

“Ha Joon and Ji Ho said they’re coming in the evening.”

“Ah……”

Yi Soo’s hands paused at Ju Hee’s words.

She had been relieved thinking they weren’t coming.

At the mention of Ji Ho coming, Yi Soo suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

It had been about two weeks since she last saw him after going to the cherry blossom festival.

Even though they had the same class once a week, whether they saw each other or not was a matter of will, given the nature of large lecture halls.

What would it be like to see him today?

Would he greet her nonchalantly as if nothing had happened, as he always did, or treat her familiarly as if they had met yesterday?

“You didn’t know. Actually, I just heard it too. Hehe.”

Ju Hee hummed happily, seemingly pleased about something.

In contrast, Yi Soo finished setting the table with a heavy heart.

The large table was densely filled with food.

Next to it, meat sizzling and emitting white smoke wafted a mouth-watering smell.

“Wow. It looks so delicious.”

The meat full of charcoal flavor was moved onto the table.

Everyone, hungry, reached for it with chopsticks without needing to be told, and focused on eating with no words other than how delicious it was.

At that moment, there was a commotion from the parking lot direction.

“Oh, Ji Ho and Ha Joon are here. Looks like Ha Joon drove Ji Ho’s car instead.”

“Look at Ji Ho’s car. It’s really in a different class. I should ask for a ride when we go back tomorrow.”

Ju Hee said as she suddenly stood up from her seat while eating.

“You’ve ridden in that car, right? It must have been really nice.”

Yi Soo just nodded at Aera’s quietly whispered words, looking straight ahead not knowing what expression to make.

“Sorry we’re late.”

“We bought a lot of alcohol and snacks on the way to make up for it.”

Ji Ho and Ha Joon’s voices were heard in turn.

“Come and eat dinner. You came at just the right time. We just started eating.”

Ha Joon and Ji Ho sat down at Ju Hee’s call.

Yi Soo only exchanged a light eye greeting with Ji Ho.

**

After finishing dinner and cleaning up, they went into the pension.

The second floor of the loft-style accommodation was to be used by the women, and the first floor by the men.

Yi Soo washed off the meat smell and changed into comfortable clothes.

In the meantime, a drinking party had already started on the first floor.

Yi Soo drank a lot without realizing she was getting drunk in the joyful atmosphere.

While Dong Woo, who had been drinking with her, briefly left his seat saying he had a phone call, Ji Ho came to Yi Soo’s side.

“You drank a lot.”

“Yeah.”

Yi Soo turned her head to the side with a relaxed expression.

Ji Ho’s face was visible less than a hand’s width away, but Yi Soo didn’t flinch or avoid it like before.

It was the power of alcohol.

“Are you okay?”

“If I’m not okay, will you help me this time too?”

Yi Soo looked at Ji Ho with an expression asking what he would do.

Since he had appeared like a savior to help whenever the situation was bad, she was curious how it would be this time.

Yi Soo looked at Ji Ho with unfocused eyes and grinned.

Thanks to the alcohol, something impossible when sober became possible.

It seemed like the first time she had shown such composure in front of Ji Ho.

So it felt good.

“Anytime.”

As Yi Soo had expected, Ji Ho spoke calmly and affectionately as if nothing had happened this time too.

Every time Ji Ho spoke into Yi Soo’s ear, a gentle breeze tickled her ear.

She felt like she might melt at his sweet voice.

Yi Soo was glad she was drunk.

If not, her face would have turned red from embarrassment by now.

‘This time, I’ll act as nonchalantly as you do.’

Ji Ho lovingly gazed at Yi Soo, who was smiling brightly like a child.

‘So you need to be this drunk to show such an expression.’

He couldn’t make her drink every day.

“What are you going to do?”

“Let’s go out together. I have something to ask you, and it’ll help sober you up too.”

“Go outside? I’m drunk, so I don’t think I can walk well……”

Yi Soo shook her head as if bothered.

“If you can’t walk, I can carry you, so don’t worry. It’s not the first time anyway.”

“……What?”

Ji Ho liked Yi Soo’s flustered expression, which he saw for the first time today.