Congratulations on Your Acceptance

Beside the wardrobe that nearly touched the ceiling, on top of a drawer barely two handspans wide, sat a bulky old television.

It was so worn that a thick black line cut across the center of the screen.

On the faded pink display, a boy who had not aged in over a decade ran around mischievously with a toy gun in hand.

<Would you please tell him that instead of presents this year, I just want my family back.>

“…just want my family….”

Reading the subtitle stretched across the small, slightly cropped TV screen, Ju Hayan softly repeated the bits of English she could catch, fidgeting with the corner of the pillow she hugged.

The bustling excitement of Christmas felt far removed from the neighborhood she lived in.

Even the story that it was the birthday of someone famous in the world felt hollow; the only sign that the year’s end was less than a week away was the Christmas special movie that played every year without fail.

In the neighborhood where she worked, which was closer to downtown, trees wrapped in tiny lights stood every few steps, and since last week a small tree had been set up inside the café as well.

On her way home at night, the streets glowed almost like evening under the blinking lights.

Walking through them, she had found herself thinking, ‘So my teenage years are already ending,’ with unexpected sentimentality.

This neighborhood bleached away childhood and excitement.

Before boarding the bus, she had thought snow would be pretty.

But walking uphill toward home after getting off, she found herself relieved that this holiday would not be a white Christmas.

The steep road, never designed with pedestrian safety in mind, would be dangerous if snow froze over.

“I’m hungry.”

Ju Hayan, who had been staring blankly at the screen, blinked and looked up.

She had woken up late in the morning and lazed around, and now lunchtime had long passed.

If she wanted to eat something, she had to get up.

Even after deciding, the spot she was sitting in felt too cozy, and she lingered a bit longer until her stomach growled loudly enough to force her to stand.

Her sluggish body shuffled into the kitchen.

There wasn’t much to eat; it looked like she would have to settle for ramen.

She opened the cupboard, tore open a bundle of instant noodles, and pulled one out.

From the fridge, she grabbed a single egg.

Lately, this was all she ate at home.

Convenience store food and leftover bread from the café.

Otherwise, mostly ramen.

She had never been much of a cook to begin with, and trying to save even on grocery costs left her with few options.

She dropped the noodles into the boiling water.

Still, she was grateful that recently, thanks to unexpected kindness, she could eat decent meals now and then.

Thinking about it, trying to refuse his goodwill had been rather indulgent of her.

Her thoughts drifted naturally to that unfamiliar yet familiar man.

Ju Hayan absentmindedly held the chopsticks, their tips soaked in soup, between her lips.

“The sandwich was good.”

She tried to recall the taste of the ham sandwich, already fading from memory.

He must have bought it nearby, but the name alone didn’t tell her where.

The day he left her and the food behind, Shin I-hyeok hadn’t seemed particularly angry.

She had told him his consideration was uncomfortable; of course he wouldn’t be pleased.

The chocolate he had given her in thanks had become her snack the next day.

It was a cheap supermarket chocolate—perfectly suited to her taste.

“I’m hungry.”

Turning back to the pot releasing spicy steam, Ju Hayan stirred the noodles, now translucent and well-cooked, and tapped the edge of the pot to crack in the egg.

No matter how delicious the imaginary sandwich seemed, the scent of ramen in front of her made her mouth water.

She set the steaming bowl on the low table.

With food before her, other thoughts naturally retreated.

Really, there was no reason for her to dwell on Shin I-hyeok.

Or had fear made her more sensitive?

…Was she even still afraid of him?

Chewing a mouthful of noodles while staring at the TV, Ju Hayan suddenly reached for the phone she had tossed into the bedding.

She flipped open the worn folder phone, its corners frayed from careless handling, and entered her inbox.

[What are you doing?]

The reply came in less than a minute.

[I’m at church]

[So bored. Take me home.]

[Ah lol ok pray hard]

[You home?]

[Yeah]

[Alone?]

[Yep]

[Then can I come over later? Mass is in the evening anyway]

[Nope. Your mom would go nuclear]

[Ugh ㅅㅂ I’ve been trailing my parents all day. Don’t even know what we’re doing since morning]

Messages flooded in as if he had been waiting.

Ju Hayan chewed her ramen, her phone buzzing repeatedly in her hand, and took a sip of water.

Meeting at home would be difficult, but outside was fine.

[Then let’s at least see each other for a bit. I’ll come near the church]

[Oh damn]

[I’ll buy you coffee]

[I can probably escape around 4. Come slow]

[Ok]

[I’ll text when I arrive]

Her fingers tapped rapidly before pressing send.

She snapped the phone shut and tossed it back onto the pile of blankets.

Two hours left—plenty of time to prepare.

She placed the emptied pot in the sink and filled it with water, wiped her wet hands on her pants, and headed toward the bathroom.

Click. Click.

In the dim room, she sat pressed close to the monitor glowing painfully bright.

Her tense back had long since left the chair, her chest nearly pressed against the desk.

“What do I do. Three minutes.”

Multiple windows filled the large screen.

Ju Hayan clicked aimlessly while speaking into the phone tucked under her chin.

A long breath escaped her.

Her voice was tight with undisguised nerves.

– Hey. I’m telling you, you’re definitely getting in.

“Really?”

– Really. Your essay wasn’t even that much of a reach. You said yourself you’d get in. Why are you freaking out now?

“I mean… yeah, but….”

She dragged the cursor across the bold title on the homepage.

[20XX Academic Year Korea University Admission Results]

As if that weren’t enough, she refreshed the page again and again, reentering her exam number from the now-worn slip.

“I wasn’t even this nervous during the test.”

– Seriously. I already thought you got in.

The night before the exam, she had been filled with determination rather than nerves.

Her friends who tried to cheer her up had felt awkward in comparison.

She hadn’t woken up at dawn like today.

She hadn’t felt anxious searching for a PC café because she didn’t own a computer.

She hadn’t been so scared she woke Lee Jonghoon early on a weekend to talk.

He gave her teasing and encouragement in equal measure.

Having someone to share the emotion with helped.

– It’s almost time.

The time passed.

In the bottom corner, the group chat labeled “Korea Univ. Class of XX Please!” turned red.

When the clock hit :59, Ju Hayan gasped.

“One minute left. Oh my god. I’m shaking….”

Her hand trembled as she clicked wildly before forcing herself still.

“Please, please, please.”

Time seemed to speed up.

At ten sharp, she pressed the search button and covered her eyes with her hand.

She knew she had to look.

But she was terrified.

After one deep breath, she lowered her hand and slowly opened her tightly shut eyes.

“Wow… wow!! Wow!”

She had imagined how happy she would be one day.

Reality was nothing compared to that.

She clamped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from screaming.

Her eyes burned hot.

“What happened?” Lee Jonghoon shouted.

She stared at the words on the screen: “Congratulations on your acceptance.”

Then she lifted the phone to her ear.

“Hey. I got in.”

Her voice trembled.

She hadn’t thought she would cry over getting into university.

But lately, she had felt swept along by everything.

This was something she achieved through her own effort.

– I told you! I knew you’d get in! That’s insane. Congrats!

“I worked so hard. I studied late every day….”

– I know, I know. I saw you studying even during breaks.

“Wow. I’m so happy. Is it okay to be this happy?”

She inhaled sharply, exhaled like she was releasing everything.

But her heart only pounded harder.

– Of course it is. After all the years we struggled for this.

“Come out later. I’ll buy you food.”

– What? Wow. You must be really happy.

“I am. You answered my call this morning.”

– If you run off to Gimcheon after this, you’re dead.

“Relax. I’ll treat you to something expensive today.”

– I need thirty minutes to get ready.

“Okay. I’ll leave in a bit. Let’s meet at Sang-dong cinema.”

– Got it.

After hanging up, Ju Hayan pinched her cheek.

It hurt, but it didn’t dampen her mood.

It was a shame she was alone in this moment.

But the joy was too big for loneliness to matter.

Unable to stop smiling, she kept checking the university homepage again and again.

“I’m happy.”

It had been so long since she felt this way.

She buried her face in her hands.