The Best Friends

On a dreary morning, it was nearly impossible to catch a glimpse of Father as he left for work. In this country, the heads of families were always expected to earn a living, leaving them with little time to spend with their loved ones.

Even when parents managed to come home early, it was still challenging to catch up with their children, who were now teenagers attending high school. These teenagers usually didn't get back home until almost midnight, having spent their evenings in after-school classes or participating in endless private lessons.

Perhaps one day, a politician would run on the slogan, "A Life That Allows Time to Enjoy the Night," as part of their campaign promise. Ryu Jiho believed that having time to enjoy the evening was crucial not only for adults but also profoundly meaningful for children.

However, to make that happen, it wasn't just the working hours that needed to be changed but the entire educational system. If anyone knew Jiho was thinking about such things, they might find it odd, considering Jiho was just a high school student who supposedly shouldn't be bothered with such matters.

But what could he do? The past and the present always seemed to be compared against each other.

"Oppaaa~!"

The half-asleep voice of Ryu A-ra shattered Jiho's daydream. As usual, A-ra ran up to him, her steps quick and light, before wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug.

"My beautiful little sister," Jiho said with a warm smile, returning Ara's affectionate embrace.

Every morning before breakfast, Jiho always made time to show some love to his doting younger sister.

"Are you going to keep spoiling Ara like that? She'll only become more clingy and difficult to manage," Sim Youngsook chided Jiho in a half-joking tone.

"She's only eight, Mom. It's natural for her to want to be pampered," replied Ryu Sunho, carrying a tray of food into the dining room.

"Ara, do you want to help me set the table with your big brother?" Sunho asked gently.

"Yes!" Ara responded with enthusiasm, her eyes sparkling.

Watching Jiho carry the dishes from the kitchen to the dining table, Ara eagerly followed, bringing the utensil tray to the table. Ara might often ignore what her mother or her second brother said, but she was always obedient when it was her eldest brother who spoke.

Ryu Ji-ho always remembered Ryu A-ra as a woman who, after enduring the many trials life threw at her, left behind nothing but unwavering strength in her soul.

"A-ra, I hope you continue to grow like this," Jiho silently wished, gently brushing his younger sister's hair.

"Hehe," A-ra giggled with joy, innocently wrapping her arms around her eldest brother's legs.

✻ ✻ ✻

Learning is a lifelong journey, but the time to embark on it is crucial. Some drift through their youth without cracking open a book, lost in fleeting pleasures, only to realize the value of education once they reach college. Others may not discover their passion for learning until their thirties, eventually achieving success. There are even those who start their studies in their twilight years and still manage to graduate from university.

But no one can deny that adolescence is the best time to learn.

Ryu Jiho himself had failed to get into a prestigious university. If it weren't for his parents' relentless insistence, he might have stopped his education after high school, never moving on to higher studies.

Jiho was someone on the outskirts—lacking connections in academics, social circles, or even within his family.

"If I want to succeed, I need to get into a top university. That's the reality I have to face," he thought.

Jiho didn't want to repeat the mistakes of his past. To avoid that, he had to study with all his might. But determination alone wasn't enough. Whether in sports or academics, consistent effort was required.

Fortunately, Jiho had a friend who was exceptionally bright in his studies. That friend was Kim Seokmin, who had never lost his first-place ranking in school for three consecutive years.

"The problem is, Seokmin isn't selfish, but he's not exactly friendly either."

Seokmin seemed to radiate a laser-like focus from his eyes as he stared intently at his reference book.

"What a strange person," Jiho muttered to himself.

Knock, knock

Jiho tapped Seokmin's reference book with his finger. Seokmin immediately raised his head, shooting Jiho a glare, and then began to speak.

Ryu Jiho's eyes narrowed as he stared intently at Kim Seokmin, his finger tapping impatiently on the open study guide in front of his friend.

Kim Seokmin looked up with a flash of irritation, his expression darkening as his eyes narrowed.

"What?" he snapped, his voice edged with frustration.

"How are you studying?" Ryu Jiho asked, his tone flat but laced with an unmistakable emphasis.

"Properly, of course!" Kim Seokmin retorted, his answer immediate and unwavering.

Ryu Jiho took a deep breath, resisting the strong urge to smack Kim Seokmin on the head with the book in his hand.

"Just put your textbooks and the guide on the table and study. It's that simple."

Kim Seokmin snorted, disbelief coloring his expression. "That's what everyone does!"

"Then keep doing it, except when you're sleeping," Ryu Jiho shot back, his voice firm.

"You don't have any special tricks?" Kim Seokmin asked, raising an eyebrow as if doubting his friend's seriousness.

"If I did, I'd want to know them myself," Ryu Jiho replied, his frustration seeping through his words.

Kim Seokmin arched his brow higher, skepticism evident in his gaze. "So, you just stare at the textbooks and guides like that?"

Ryu Jiho simply nodded, while Kim Seokmin shook his head slowly, a small, almost mocking smile playing at the corner of his lips, as if he found Ryu Jiho's approach absurd.

"That's not going to be enough," Kim Seokmin said confidently, his voice firm with conviction.

"So what should I do?" Ryu Jiho asked, a note of confusion creeping into his voice.

"You've got to study as your life depends on it," Kim Seokmin replied, his tone now serious. "Like, really give it everything."

Ryu Jiho fell silent for a moment, Kim Seokmin's words echoing in his mind. "You'll only absorb as much as you put in," Kim Seokmin continued. "Except when you're sleeping, you need to be studying with all your heart."

Ryu Jiho wanted to argue, but he found it hard to come up with a solid counterargument. In the back of his mind, he'd always assumed that the top students in the school had some secret method, some special way of mastering their studies. But the reality was far less glamorous.

The students who got accepted into Seoul University with the highest marks always said the same thing.

"I just focused on my textbooks. That's it."

The entrance exams were a battle against time. How long you could sit at your desk, how many hours you could spend in that chair—that would determine whether you passed or failed.