Ina took out several of the books he had given her and opened them.

Wherever she looked, the pages were filled with detailed notes on studying.

It wasn’t just one book.

There were small memos carefully attached between the pages of each one. They were meticulous — almost painstaking.

As she turned the pages, her gaze gradually sank.

[This type of question has never been left out of the CSAT. Make sure you check it.]

[It’s good to read this entire literature passage at least once. It hasn’t appeared in the past few years, so there’s a high chance it will. I attached the text—take a look.]

[For math, time management is everything. I wrote down the order in which you should solve the problems.]

“Ha…”

After closing the book, Ina shut her eyes and let out a long breath.

The words she had thrown at him earlier echoed loudly in her ears.

“Then take it back. I have no reason to contact you — I haven’t even become your junior yet. Even if I did get into that university, what relationship would we have that would make me accept something like this? It feels like pity. I don’t like it.”

“Don’t make me feel pathetic. I’m barely holding myself together as it is. I may not have anything, but I still have my pride.”

Pride.

It was nothing more than wounded pride, born of defensiveness and a sense of inferiority.

She had twisted his sincerity into something ugly.

Looking at the notes tucked into more than ten books, she could no longer deny it.

This was not something done out of mere pity.

Even if she spent two full weeks checking and organizing everything, it might not be enough time. The amount of work he had put into it was staggering.

Not even a private tutor would go to such lengths.

“It’s our first promise. I didn’t want to break it.”

She had thought it was just a casual remark.

Except for Director Ji, who cherished her more than his own child, she had never experienced true kindness from anyone.

Having been abandoned by her own parents, she had long since decided that nobody else would ever choose to be kind to her.

This was why, whenever someone reached out to her first, suspicion came before anything else.

She did not know if she was allowed to accept such kindness.

And yet, now it felt as though the belief she had held onto her entire life was shattering into pieces.

“……”

Looking at the stack of problem books piled on her battered desk, she felt an unfamiliar stirring inside her.

They were brand new and she almost did not dare to open them.

The pens and notebooks were so beautiful that she felt reluctant to use them.

It was still early spring.

Yet it felt as though a spring breeze had already begun to blow through her heart.

***

“You came all this way and have to leave again so soon. It must be exhausting.”

“I’m fine.”

Taeyun smiled brightly at Director Ji’s worried remark.

“Uncleee.”

Choa had already wrapped herself around his leg.

Taeyun’s warm gaze settled on her.

“I’ll be back soon. Hug the doll Uncle bought you and sleep well.”

“When are you coming? How many nights do I have to sleep?”

“Hmm… exactly twelve nights. I’ll come again on Friday in two weeks.”

Disappointment flickered across Choa’s face.

Director Ji, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.

“You’re really coming back in two weeks?”

“Yes. Midterms will be over around then. I think I can make time for about three days.”

“Isn’t that too much for you?”

“Not at all. It feels like I’m coming on a trip, so I enjoy it too.”

The distance from Seoul to Changwon was considerable. Although she was grateful to hear that he would visit every two weeks, she was also worried.

It would not be easy. He came, looked after the children and worked tirelessly, and then left again.

“Take care of your health during the seasonal change. Don’t catch a cold from the long trip.”

“Yes. I’ll get going now. I’ll contact you.”

Taeyun bowed politely to Director Ji. The junior members of the club who had come with him bowed as well.

“No, I’ll drive you. There’s no convenient way to get to the station from here.”

“That’s really okay—”

While they went back and forth, Director Ji gestured.

At that moment, Ina stepped out of the building and spotted them. She paused where she stood.

“Ina, you come too. I’ll drop you off at work. I’m heading to the station to take Taeyun anyway.”

“I can just take the bus.”

“Why would you? There’s room. Come on.”

“But—”

Before she could say another word, Director Ji walked off.

For a brief moment, Ina’s eyes met Taeyun’s.

She quickly looked away, pressing her lips tightly together.

Perhaps because it was the middle of the semester, he couldn’t stay long. He had come to see her yesterday, and now he was leaving again today.

She hadn’t even thanked him.

Nor had she apologized for misunderstanding him.

Not a single word.

While the others boarded the bus first, she lingered behind, unable to move.

Then the driver’s window slid down.

“What are you doing? Get in. You’ll be late.”

Director Ji’s voice suddenly sounded louder than usual.

Ina’s gaze wavered slightly as she stood there.

She found herself listening more closely to the conversation inside, unintentionally.

“No. I don’t.”

“Really? I feel like you would. You seem popular.”

“That’s right, Director. Hyung is insanely popular.”

Hyeseong chimed in from the back seat with a mischievous grin.

Taeyun shot him a look over his shoulder, but Hyeseong showed no intention of stopping.

“See? You can tell. He’s so handsome.”

“But brother’s standards are ridiculously high. He’s turned down tons of confessions.”

“Hey, quiet. Why are you talking nonsense?”

Taeyun ground his teeth as he spoke, prompting the juniors to burst into laughter.

Ina tightened her grip on the bag in her lap.

“Brother is insanely busy, too. He’s the department president, and professors adore him and call him all the time. He even tutors on the side. He barely has any time, yet he still ranks first in the department. Honestly, I don’t think he’s human.”

“But you even came all the way here to volunteer. You’re so busy as it is. I don’t know how to thank you.”

“It’s nothing, Director. You—stop it.”

Feeling embarrassed, Taeyun shot Hyeseong a sharp look.

Although Ina’s gaze was fixed on the view outside, she could still see Taeyun glare at the back seat out of the corner of her eye.

“We’re almost there. Travel safely. Thank you.”

“Thank you for the ride.”

The five tall young men got off the bus and bowed loudly.

Outside, Taeyun looked towards the back seat, where Ina was sitting.

Their eyes met briefly.

Without breaking eye contact, he spoke.

“I’ll see you again in two weeks, Director.”

“Don’t overdo it.”

“I’ll definitely come back.”

He spoke firmly, a faint smile touching his lips.

It was as if the words were meant for her alone.

As if that steady gaze and smile were directed at her alone.

Ina’s face flushed red.

Even as the bus pulled away, increasing the distance between them, Taeyun did not look away.

Bzzz.

The phone inside her bag vibrated.

Glancing carefully at Director Ji, who was sitting in the seat in front, Ina took out her phone and checked the screen.

[Finish all the problems before I get there. Mark the ones you don’t understand. See you in two weeks.]

It was from Taeyun.

As she read the message, Ina bit the inside of her cheek and pressed the back of her hand against her burning face.

***

He’s really come back!

On Friday evening.

He said he only had morning classes that day, so he took the train straight away.

This time, he was alone with Hyeseong.

After dinner, as she was heading back to her room, he stepped in front of her and blocked her path.

“Did you finish them?”

“……”

She had finished them all.

Above all, she was grateful for the opportunity to study difficult subjects through the online lectures. The notes he had written in the problem books were invaluable.

For someone who had never attended an academy, hired a private tutor, or been able to afford online lectures — someone who had always studied alone — it felt like rain falling after a long, relentless drought.

“When are you going to let me hear your voice today?”

He said he would drop the formalities next time they met, and it seemed he meant it. His words were shorter and more casual now, like a senior speaking comfortably to a junior.

At the change in tone, her brows drew together slightly.

“We only have two days. Won’t that be too short if you’re going to ask about everything you don’t understand?”

“I can study on my own.”

“There’s a limit to doing everything alone. If there’s something I can help with, I want to.”

Had he travelled all this way just to review her studies?

She had assumed he was there to advance his career.

But this was already the third time.

She couldn’t fathom why he would go to such lengths.

Especially considering how far Seoul was from here.

As she hesitated, Taeyun spoke first.

“Once everyone’s asleep, come to the dining hall. I’ll take your questions.”