After biding Sophia and baby Jack goodbye, Linda headed for school. When she arrived at school, she spotted her friends right away.
As always, Sofia and Alex were waiting for her near the front gate. But this morning, something was different — Jae Min was there too. He leaned casually against the gatepost, hands tucked into his hoodie pocket, his expression calm but observant. His presence drew a surprised but subtle smile from Linda. Seeing all three of them together at the school entrance warmed her heart more than she'd admit.
Sofia spotted her and rushed forward immediately, her face tight with urgency. Without a greeting, she blurted out, "Did you know the exam starts today?"
"What?!" Linda froze mid-step, her eyes widening in disbelief.
She quickly fished out her phone from her side pocket, swiping and tapping until the digital version of the exam schedule popped up. Her heart dropped slightly — Sofia wasn't joking. The exam did begin that day.
And then a small breath of relief escaped her lips.
"Oh, thank God… It's English," she muttered, relaxing slightly. "It's my favorite subject. Even without reviewing, I'll be fine."
Sofia groaned and dramatically rolled her eyes. "Are you serious right now? I studied so hard last night that I thought my brain was going to leak out through my ears."
"Same," Alex chimed in, stretching his arms behind his head. "I went through six mock papers. I didn't even sleep until 2 a.m."
Jae Min, standing quietly beside them, gave a small nod. "I reviewed. A little."
Linda gave a sheepish laugh. "Well... I got home and just passed out. Didn't even open my bag. But really, it's English. It's all about understanding."
The four of them walked together through the school compound, weaving between other students, most of whom looked tense and preoccupied. Exam day energy always had a certain weight to it — that mix of anxiety, excitement, and caffeine.
As they approached their classroom, they noticed it was already half full. Most of their classmates had their heads buried in books and notes, lips moving silently as they revised formulas, vocabulary, or important dates. The usual morning chatter had been replaced by quiet murmurs and the occasional deep sigh.
Linda, Sofia, Alex, and Jae Min quietly slipped into their seats. Their desks were clean, their exam tags already in place. The fluorescent lights overhead hummed softly, adding to the tense atmosphere.
"I can't believe I almost missed this," Linda whispered as she pulled out her English notebook and flipped through a few marked pages. She tried to force some last-minute reading into her brain — figures of speech, essay formats, a few tricky vocabulary questions.
Sofia beside her kept her head low, pen tapping rhythmically on her book, mouthing keywords. Alex had his earbuds in but wasn't listening to music — just looping English sample questions from his study app. Jae Min, seated beside the window, calmly looked over a single page with a serene expression that made Linda wonder whether he was secretly a genius or simply too tired to care.
A few minutes passed like that. The room buzzed softly with the fluttering of paper and the tension of anticipation.
Then the door opened, and the class fell silent.
Their English teacher stepped in, holding a stack of exam papers in both hands. She wore a calm smile, but the way her heels clicked against the floor made it clear: it was time.
"Good morning, class," she said as she walked to the front. "As you know, today begins your promotion exams. I hope you've all studied well. We're starting with English, so I expect you to do your best. No cheating, and no talking. Phones off and in your bags."
Students began to shift uncomfortably, sliding their books into their bags and sitting up straight. The sound of zipping bags, shifting chairs, and nervous breathing filled the room.
Linda exhaled, gripping her pen tightly as the papers were passed row by row. When she received hers, she glanced at the first page and smiled. The comprehension passage was something she'd read before. Luck was on her side.
She whispered in her heart, Thanks, universe.
And began to write.
---
After the English exam ended, the classroom emptied like air from a balloon. The tension of the test melted into exhaustion. Students shuffled out with sluggish steps, carrying their bags like burdens. Linda left last, yawning as she stretched her arms.
"Man, I feel like my soul just left my body," Sofia said, slumping beside her.
"My hand's still shaking from writing so fast," Alex added with a grin.
"I almost wrote an essay with my eyes closed," Linda muttered. "Why did that last question feel like a trap?"
Jae Min walked quietly behind them. Though he didn't say much, he blended into their little group effortlessly now.
As they passed the school gate, Sofia turned to them, her eyes lighting up. "Hey, what do you guys say we go eat something good?"
"Again?" Alex asked, already smiling.
"Yeah. We survived the first paper — barely. Let's reward ourselves. Just a quick break before we bury ourselves in textbooks again."
Linda gave a small nod. "Sure. I could use something hot and greasy."
A few minutes later, the four of them were seated at their usual booth in their favorite restaurant — the cozy place just two blocks from school. The waitress knew them by now and greeted them with a knowing smile. Their table was soon filled with plates of golden fries, peppered wings, sweet chili noodles, and tall milkshakes.
They dug in with satisfaction. It wasn't fancy, but it was familiar — comforting.
In the middle of picking at her noodles, Sofia suddenly turned to Linda with a mischievous look in her eyes.
"Linda, by the way… are you still seeing to Adam William?"
Linda, caught off guard, froze with a fork halfway to her mouth.
"What's with that face?" Sofia teased.
"Seriously, shut up," Linda said with a groan, trying not to laugh. "You're starting to sound like my mom."
Sofia laughed. "Just asking. He's... interesting and you know, I was shocked that you've met the legendary Adam William, King of Fun. He kinda seem to like you."
"Annoying is what he is, and by the way, he hates me and I hate him. No big deal. He's a jerk that I don't want to see again." Linda replied, though her tone was far from serious.
Alex jumped in, clearly ready to change the topic. "Can we talk about how I almost died this morning? My dog straight-up stole my toast and dared me to chase him. I'm not even kidding. He looked at me like, 'Run, peasant.'"
Linda chuckled. "Your dog might be royalty in another life."
"Or a criminal mastermind," Jae Min added without looking up. His voice was quiet, but the sarcasm was crystal clear.
Alex blinked at him, then grinned. "Okay, okay — I'll accept that burn."
Linda smiled, amused by Jae Min's rare comment. "Look at you, talking more these days."
He shrugged, sipping his water.
As they ate, the conversation turned more thoughtful. Linda leaned back, her fingers tracing the condensation on her glass.
"I've been thinking," she said. "After college, I want to leave Seoul and visit my home again, then I want to explore the world. I want to see more of the world. Explore. I would spent a year exploring. And then I want to further my education."
Sofia tilted her head. "You have any place in mind?"
"Maybe Europe. Or even somewhere in Africa. I want to learn in different environments, meet people I'd never meet here. And I want to learn about my country. And I have a plan of getting to know who my father was. I mean, deep into it. "
"That's deep," Alex said. "Meanwhile, I'm just trying to pass chemistry without losing my sanity."
Jae Min gave the faintest smile, eyes flickering to Linda, then down to his plate again. "It's a good plan. You'd do well anywhere."
Linda met his gaze for a second, then looked away, smiling to herself.
Alex raised his drink. "To big dreams — and surviving day one of hell week."
They all clinked their glasses, their laughter filling the warm, bustling restaurant. It was just a simple meal, but in that moment, everything felt light. Safe.