Part 13

The Math Study Group

[This takes place after Sunjoon and Yoonhee's first two classes--Yoonhee is pretty much dejected after the first class when Professor Jang scolded her. He asked her about the reading, and when she answers, he tells her, "I told you to tell me the meaning, not to recite it."  Then he asks Sunjoon, who is able to answer correctly.  Yoohee is also scared about the level of difficulty of the classes. The second class is with Professor Yoo. The next scene is after Professor Yoo leaves the class after assigning them the reading.]

Yoonhee lets out a deep sigh, and says to Sunjoon as she is packing up her books, "did you understand everything? I have no idea what's going on."

"It's not any different for me--I have a hard time following it as well."

Yoonhee becomes a little peeved--it's obvious he understands everything; she is the one having a hard time following.

"You're terrible!" (This I had a hard time translating. The original was "얄미우십니다!", which is kind of way of saying "I hate you!" or "You suck!" but not with the same amount of harshness or bite that it means in english. She is simply exclaiming with no intention of actually saying that she hates him or that he sucks, that he is being a little patronizing. lol. I hope that make sense.)

Sunjoon is surprised at her exclamation--her peeved tone made him feel as though he was with a woman. Yoonhee is a little startled, as well, because she thinks the same thought. She is reminded to earlier when Jaeshin said that she is like a woman in front of Sunjoon.

Even though she tries to be careful, her real self tends to come out when she's with this person, strangely enough. It's fortunate that Sunjoon seems as though he doesn't sense these type of things, but if it was Yongha, she might have already been found out.

"Hey you all. Let's go back to Dongjae."

Yoonhee jumps at the sound of Yongha's voice. She forgot he was in the same class. She turns around to find him smiling--what is he thinking? Yongha's smile makes her uncomfortable; the thought of what is behind it sends chills through her body.

"Your books look heavy. Should I help you?"

Yoonhee is extra weary of her words, so she deepens her voice, and responds, "I'll be okay. It seems like you're having a harder time with your books. Should I help you, instead?"

"I'd be grateful. Thanks, Daemul."

With his answer, he puts his pile of books on top of Yoonhee's. He pretends not to see Yoonhee's eyes widen at the weight and says to Sunjoon, "I heard your morning class was with Professor Jang (I think they made professor Jang into Professor Jung, but anyway, this professor is not the famous historical figure 정약용 Jung Yak Yong, like in the drama). And your afternoon class is with professor Yoo... You are really unlucky. Be warned. These two professors' classes are the most difficult. Even the brightest of students give up when it comes to them.

Sunjoon just smiles as he takes Yongha's stack of books from Yoonhee and puts them on top of his. Yoonhee suddenly thinks about how Yongha has just referred to her as_Daemul--in fact, she's heard herself referred as "Daemul" by a lot of other people today.

                                           
"W-wait. Did you call me Daemul?"

"Yeah, it seems like it just naturally because your nickname."

"W-what? How can it--- I have a nickname I was thinking of for myself! Can't I just--"

"It's too late. All the students already know you as so."

"But Daemul... it means..."

"What? You're so perverted! It doesn't necessarily mean that it's your "thing" that's big. It could just refer to your character!"

Yoonhee's face reddens. The latter is obviously just an afterthought.

"But what kind of nickname is Daemul?! I agree that Garang is a nice nickname, but Daemul is..."

"Wait! Garang... is that referring to me?"

Sunjoon remembers how other students were calling him by this nickname earlier that day. He looks at Yoonhee as he says, "as a matter of fact, it seemed like you were also calling me that..."

"Ah, it just happened that way, since other people were already..."

"I got it. I understand, Daemul doryung."

He turns his back to a stammering Yoonhee and leaves with that answer. Yoonhee chases after him, saying, "are you mad? The nickname suits you so well that I just naturally... Please don't call me Daemul."

"Your nickname suits you as well."

Yongha shows up behind the two again. "Wait for me!"

"Ugh, it's so noisy."

Jaeshin glares at Yongha, who is chatting away. Yongha replies, "there's no one here_as_noisy as you are. What keeps you here on campus today?" as he clings onto Jaeshin.

Jaeshin twists his arm and throws him down onto the porch, pressing down on his neck. "Stop touching me, it's disgusting!"

"A-ack! Let me go!"

Sunjoon puts Yongha's books down. Jaeshin presses Yongha's neck down even harder when he sees Yongha's books. "You've been making new students carry your books?"

Sunjoon answers calmly, "No, it's not that. It's only right that we should carry the books for a sunbae."

"It was just because I was teasing Daemul a little. I'll carry my own books next time."

Jaeshin lets Yongha go. Yongha tidies his clothes and sits down. "You're so monstrous! Doing all that just because I hugged you. Even after I saw your bare butt yesterday."

Jaeshin ignores him and turns to Sunjoon and Yoonhee.

"You had class with Professor Yoo? Well, you should be grateful. If you had either Professor Yoo or Professor Jang for any harder subjects, you might have actually died."

Yoonhee feels her spirit draining away from her. She just wants to collapse into a deep sleep in her room. It's partly because she didn't get any sleep last night, but also because she is tired out just by the thought that she won't get any tonight, either. Sunjoon takes_her books from her hands and sits her down. He calls to the jaejiks to bring some water.

One jaejik runs towards the cafeteria and brings a bowl and a jug. Sunjoon holds the bowl as the jaejik pours the water, and Yongha is about to reach his arm out for the bowl, but Sunjoon's hand extends the bowl past Yongha's hand and to Yoonhee.

"Drink this; it'll make you feel better. You don't look so well."

Yoonhee starts gulping down the water quickly, and Sunjoon takes away the bowl from her before she finishes. "Stop! You should leave some room so you can eat later."

Yongha, surprised, looks back and forth at Sunjoon and Yoonhee. Sunjoon is completely unaware that his actions make Yoonhee seem more like a woman.

"Look here, Garang. Daemul is a man. Do you really have to treat him like your woman?"

"I think you mean, like a younger sibling." says Sunjoon.

Yoonhee tightens at Yongha's question, but is strangely not very relieved to hear Sunjoon's answer. It's fortunate that she won't be found out, but she isn't very happy that Sunjoon is not at least a little suspicious that she is a woman. Yoonhee's shoulders drop in disappointment.

"Are you tired?"

"No, I'm just discouraged. I don't know if I can do well in these classes."

Jaeshin taps her with his feet. "Don't take Professor Jang's criticism too hard. From now on, things like that are going to happen so many times you'll forget about it. If you let it affect you so much, you won't last."

"Geol-roh, I think you should take some criticisms to heart," jokes Yongha.

Sunjoon asks, "it seems as though Dongjae is pretty empty. Where is everyone...?"

Yongha, after a drink of water, replies, "most of them are probably playing around in Banchon, since any leisurely activities like chess is forbidden within campus. Some of them might have already formed a study group. There are a few people who go to Banchon to read forbidden books, since the law hardly extends into those parts."

Yoonhee has also read her share of forbidden books. Not to learn, but to copy and sell at a high price.

Sunjoon asks, "Do you, Geoh-roh or Yeorim sahyung, have a study group?"

"Why would we? Sounds annoying."

"Yeah, I don't have enough time to spend with my gisaengs as it is."

"Then, are there any study groups studying 산학 san-hak (mathematics)?"

Yongha, as though he welcomes the thought of a study group for math, says, "there was one before, but I don't know about now. Are you interested in doing one with me?"

"Eh?"

Yoonhee's eyes widen and she turns to Yongha. She is surprised because she can't imagine Yongha or Jaeshin studying. She realizes, even with their character, there's no denying that they are also scholars, and must be well learned, despite having different reasons for being here, whether it be for women or whatnot.

Yongha, glad at the idea, starts chatting Sunjoon up about possible books to study from. "In any case, math is a subject that could benefit from a large group! We should try to find other people outside us four."

"What do you mean, 'us four'?"

"'Us four'?!"

Jaeshin and Yoonhee both shout simultaneously at Sunjoon and Yongha. Jaeshin has no intention of joining a study group, and Yoonhee is already burdened with the existing courseload.

"It's difficult enough with my classes."

"If you two want to do it, just do it and leave other people out if it!"

Despite Jaeshin and Yoonhee's protests, Yongha acts as the plan is already set, going on about who else to drag into the group. Sunjoon sits between Yoonhee and Jaeshin to try and convince them. "Math should be made familiar to a Sunbi, just like archery. This is a necessity, not a study. Later we might not have the same opportunity to study like this, so it's important we do it now. How can one look after the country's people without having learned the subject? And you might find it fun..."

Even if she does learn math, she won't have to look after her country's people, so what is it to her? But Yoonhee looks at Sunjoon. She shouldn't have looked at him, because she weakens at the sight of his eyes. She sees his pleading expression, and an answer slips out of her. "Ok, I'll do it, too."

She gasps in her head. What did she just do? Her entire body is tired and beat--how is it that her mouth just shot off so energetically? She feels her spirit draining away from her body once again. She remembers back when she used to think that all Sungkyunkwan scholars were lazy noblemen who learn to memorize like parrots. How wrong she was then. If she knew how hard they had it, following their coursework, she might not even have dared set foot in the place.

Yongha tries to coax Jaeshin into joining as well, but Jaeshin only retorts angrily, "You expect me to study across the table from a Noron?!"

"You're already sleeping side by side, so what's so bad about studying together?"

"I told you! It's best if Garang just goes to Seojae."

Sunjoon jumps in between the two. "Goel-roh sahyung. You don't want to join because you think I'll end up teaching you, right? Just leave your pride behind."

The three see Jaeshin's eyes ablaze with anger. And like Yoonhee, he ends up saying something he regrets seconds later.

"What did you say?! You think I'd be worse than you? Fine, I'll show you. I'll be the one teaching you, you'll see."

"Alright, you can teach us. So we've decided! You've promised all to join, so you can't go back on your word."

Sunjoon, at the sound of the bell signaling that it is mealtime, turns to go, leaving Jaeshin agape at what just happened. He realizes he got trapped into the ordeal by Sunjoon's maneuvering, but acknowledging would only make himself more laughable, so he just sits in a daze, watching Sunjoon walk away.