Chapter 5. New Student

Undergraduate students seemed to flock to our lab, though I never quite understood the magnet that drew them in. Every month, a new face appeared, eager to learn. One afternoon, the professor walked into the our laboratorium with a newcomer in tow.

"Everyone, we have a new student joining us. Please, introduce yourself," the professor announced.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Kim Daehoon. It's a pleasure to meet you," he said, bowing low.

I was in the seminar room at the time; since I didn't have a dedicated computer yet, I had to use the shared stations. As I walked toward the main area, Daehoon caught my eye and delivered a formal, ninety-degree bow. I returned the gesture with a polite nod. Our main room was already at capacity, so he was stationed in a separate office with some of the seniors.

Later that evening, I went looking for one of my seniors to discuss my research, but the office was ghost-white. No one was there—except for Daehoon.

I asked if he was the only one left, and he nodded. He seemed genuinely enthusiastic to see a foreign student. As his senior in the program, I wanted to be welcoming.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Kim Daehoon. And yours, Sunbae?" he asked, using the formal title for a senior.

"No need to be so formal," I said with a smile. "Relax. We're probably the same age. Just call me Ryul."

"Alright, Ryul. The seniors might come back soon, so why don't you take a seat and wait here?" He pulled up a chair right next to his.

We began to communicate in a messy, charming blend of languages. We both struggled to bridge the gap; sometimes he would pause mid-sentence, murmuring to himself in Korean, "What was that word in English again...?" I appreciated the sheer effort he put into the conversation. I had pegged him as the quiet type, but he was actually quite engaging once he found the right person to talk to. I felt a rare sense of comfort.

Before we knew it, the clock hit 11:00 PM. The seniors were still nowhere to be found. Had they gone home without him knowing, or was he just pretending not to notice?

"Are you hungry?" he asked suddenly.

"A little," I admitted.

"Want to grab some ramyun?"

"Sounds good."

We headed to the convenience store. Even at that late hour, the place was buzzing with students taking a break from the library before heading home.

"What kind of ramyun do you like?"

"Anything, as long as it isn't spicy," I said.

He took my request seriously, meticulously checking the ingredients and spice levels of every cup on the shelf. Since spicy food is the soul of this country's cuisine, it wasn't an easy task.

"This drink is 1+1, so I bought this one for you," Daehoon said, handing me a bottle.

Even though instant noodles are the simplest thing to prepare, he insisted on doing everything for me.

"You don't have to go to all that trouble, I can do it," I told him.

"It's no trouble," he insisted. "In Korean culture, the younger one takes care of things

I watched him, thinking how he felt more like an older brother taking care of a younger sibling than the other way around. After we ate, we walked toward our respective dormitories. We lived in different buildings; his was the prestigious dorm where local students had to maintain the highest grades just to get a spot—a rule that didn't apply to foreigners.

"Does Ryul have a partner?" he asked.

There it was again. It was becoming a rhythm, a question I was finally starting to get used to.

"I've never been in a relationship. What about you, Daehoon?"

"I just broke up recently."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine now," he said quietly. "But she was the one who asked for it. I was very sad at the time. Anyway, we turn here—it's close to your dorm."

"You don't have to walk me all the way."

"It's fine. Just to the intersection. It's not far from my place."

When we reached the crossing, I realized we hadn't even exchanged numbers yet.

"Do you have a Korean number?" Daehoon asked.

"Of course. Here, give me your phone." I typed my contact info into his device.

"Alright, see you tomorrow."