Chapter 11: The Chilly Walk to School

There were two ways to get from the dormitory to school: either indoors or outdoors.

Most students chose the former. Going directly through the building was significantly shorter and quicker than circling outside.

Although it only shaved off about five minutes from a ten-minute walk, those five minutes during rush hour were as precious as Seo Gi-hyeon’s sleep.

“The weather’s nice,” he commented.

“I don’t think so.”

“It looks good, though?”

“It’s chilly this morning.”

Despite my repeated protests, it was no use. I reluctantly conceded to Seo Gi-hyeon’s insistence on walking outside, as he claimed the weather seemed nice for once.

I knew I would regret it the moment we stepped out.

“Ugh, what the heck? Why is it so cold?”

‘I knew it,’ I thought.

“It’s this cold even with the sun out? What kind of autumn is this?”

This wasn’t just autumn; it was late autumn. In Chicago, where winters stretched long, the difference between September and October was like night and day.

Even if the weather looked pleasant to the eye, by October, morning temperatures were virtually indistinguishable from early winter.

“It feels like Chicago’s weather is getting stranger and stranger.”

‘That can’t be right,’ I mused.

Chicago’s weather had been like this last year, the year before, and even further back. Despite having lived in Chicago for several years, Seo Gi-hyeon still hadn’t adapted to the cold.

“I should’ve listened to you.”

“You should have.”

“You should have tried harder to stop me.”

“Don’t you think I tried hard enough to stop you?”

“…I guess so.”

“Then let’s hurry up.”

I quickened my pace. Seo Gi-hyeon, wearing a hoodie, would probably be fine, but I, clad only in a polo shirt, was not.

Beyond just feeling cold, I disliked the very idea of walking outside in such attire on a day like this.

“They don’t seem cold at all.”

Seo Gi-hyeon blurted out the remark when we were about halfway to the entrance. At the end of his gaze, a couple was engaged in a passionate display of affection on a bench, even in the morning.

Such behavior would be unimaginable in Korea, yet it was a common sight in the hallways and various corners of America.

Though I had grown accustomed to it now, it was quite a shock at first. While I had seen couples holding hands or standing close in middle school, I never expected to witness anything beyond that.

Moreover, when I accidentally stumbled upon a scene of strangers overtly kissing, it left me with an unpleasant feeling, as if I had been forced to see something I wished to avoid.

Seo Gi-hyeon, who had arrived in America even later than me, accepted it much more calmly. So calmly, in fact, that he would stare at couples with such open curiosity that they sometimes fled to escape his gaze.

He was about to do the same thing again.

“Stop staring.”

“Why? They’re doing that in a public place, so it means it’s okay to watch, doesn’t it? Am I not allowed to look?”

“It’s not that you’re not allowed, but what’s the point of looking?”

“I’m just curious.”

“Curious about what?”

“If they really want to be that close, enduring the cold.”

“If they’re clinging that tightly, they probably aren’t cold.”

Upon hearing my words, Seo Gi-hyeon’s eyes sparkled.

“Jeong-woo.”

“What?”

“I’m cold too.”

“So what?”

“Let’s walk close together.”

“……”

“I’m cold.”

“……”

“I said I’m cold!”

“Then just walk faster.”

I playfully nudged his back and walked ahead, hearing his grumbling from behind. Lately, Seo Gi-hyeon’s jokes and antics had increased slightly.

It wasn’t that I found them offensive, but sometimes they subtly bothered me. Whenever that happened, I recalled a conversation Seo Gi-hyeon and I once had.

‘You’re too serious.’

‘Aren’t you too unserious?’

‘No. You’re too serious.’

‘Yes,’ I conceded. ‘I must be too serious.’

I tried my best to believe it.

****

“Gi-hyeon!”

At the entrance of the school, we met someone. That someone, of course, called Seo Gi-hyeon’s name, not mine.

When I was with Seo Gi-hyeon, nine out of ten people who approached us were his acquaintances.

“Oh? Hyung.”

“Why did you come outside today?”

“I came outside because the weather seemed nice, but I almost froze to death.”

Seo Gi-hyeon finally took off his hood, which he had pulled low, only after we stepped indoors. As I watched him, my eyes met the other person’s.

“Hello.”

“Oh, right. Jeong-woo, you must have been colder than Gi-hyeon.”

The person who greeted me also waved back. It was a scene I couldn’t have even dreamed of in the past.

Just two years ago, I wouldn’t acknowledge anyone unless Seo Gi-hyeon formally introduced them, even if I was standing right beside him. If someone acknowledged me and spoke, I would respond, but I couldn’t approach them freely first.

However, people generally adapt naturally to their given environment. The new environment that brought about a significant change in me was Seo Gi-hyeon himself.

Seo Gi-hyeon was always surrounded by people. Men and women, young and old. Seo Gi-hyeon was adored wherever he went. It wasn’t just because he was bright and smiled often.

He was quick-witted and adept at reading the atmosphere. For example, while he was usually talkative and lighthearted, he would never act that way when someone was serious.

He only made silly jokes with his closest friends; when interacting with others, he adjusted his behavior to each person’s personality.

His honest nature and keen observation skills also played a part. He would openly praise things he liked, found cool, or considered amazing, without embarrassment, and he knew how to look out for others.

It was a natural talent. To be someone who could make everyone feel joyful, comfortable, and uplifted was truly remarkable. It was only natural that Seo Gi-hyeon was loved by all.

I had spent several years sticking by Seo Gi-hyeon. The number of times I encountered new people became countless, and at some point, greeting strangers first became second nature to me.

Now, I could even engage in conversations with people with a fair amount of ease.

“Are you coming today?”

“Of course.”

“Come to the classroom next to ours, not ours.”

The two discussed their club. In Korea, it would be equivalent to an extracurricular activity or after-school club. Although it was a school activity that could be done or not, there was no way Seo Gi-hyeon, who loved to take initiative in everything, would miss out on it.

Upon entering school, Seo Gi-hyeon explored various clubs and eventually joined the gaming club. Given his love for games, it was an understandable choice.

However, it was surprising when he left the gaming club a month later to join the art club. Since I hadn’t known he enjoyed art, I was somewhat shocked upon hearing about his second club enrollment.

Another month later, when I heard he had joined the table tennis club, I could only let out a hollow laugh.

‘An acquaintance said it was fun,’ he had explained.

Regardless, knowing Seo Gi-hyeon’s athletic abilities, I predicted he wouldn’t last long.

After that, Seo Gi-hyeon went through the book club and the photography club, eventually ending his nearly half-year of wandering to settle in his current club.

It was a club for sharing customs and cultures of other countries, and honestly, it was the least fitting of any club he had joined so far. However, when I heard that half of the members were Korean, I immediately understood.

“Oh, and I was going to tell you when we met, but one more person is coming today.”

“Oh, the one you mentioned earlier?”

“Yes. David’s cousin.”

“Didn’t you say they were the same age as us?”

“That’s right.”

It seemed the conversation would be lengthy. As I subtly shifted to give them space, Seo Gi-hyeon firmly grabbed my arm.

“Leaving?”

“Yeah. You guys talk. I’m going to go somewhere first.”

“Where?”

“My locker.”

“Hmm, I’ll be right there too.”

“There’s no time for that. See you in the afternoon.”

After a brief goodbye to the person beside Seo Gi-hyeon, I quickly moved on.

Starting this semester, Seo Gi-hyeon and I had completely different class schedules. Until last semester, three out of our four classes were the same, but now, three out of our four classes were different.

Even our lunch breaks were different. Seo Gi-hyeon’s lunch was from 12:00 to 12:30, while mine was much later, from 1:30 to 2:00.

If we had at least been in the same building for classes, we might have run into each other during transitions, but unfortunately, the buildings were at opposite ends of the campus, making even that impossible.

All of this was because of a single science class.

‘Are we really going to be separated?’ I wondered.

Upon entering high school, my limitations became apparent. There was clearly a limit to effort, and I couldn’t keep up with Seo Gi-hyeon’s grades through simple studying alone.

In the science class, which was divided by academic performance, Seo Gi-hyeon was placed in the highest level, allowing him to earn college credits, while I was in the class immediately below his.

Due to that one class, our entire class schedule shifted, making it difficult to even see each other despite being in the same school.

Fortunately, however, we still had one last class together. I thought it was a good thing since we could walk back to the dorm on days without club activities, but Seo Gi-hyeon didn’t see it that way at all.

‘How is that fortunate? We should have been together the whole time.’

Why was it so obvious that we should always be together?

To say he simply wanted to see his best friend often wasn’t quite right, as we were already roommates living together outside of school. And to say he simply wanted to take classes with an acquaintance wasn’t right either, as Seo Gi-hyeon knew far too many people.

So why should we be together?

‘Why, exactly?’

Lately, I had started to feel that our relationship was excessively close.

And I was the only one who seemed to notice.

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