One night, after taking her prescribed medication, Minjin drifted into a much-needed sleep.

Next, they went to Gyeonghoeru Pavilion. Minjun was dressed as a crown prince, and despite Minjin's short boyish haircut, she still resembled a crown princess in her hanbok.

Minjin was captivated by the view of the artificial lake encircling the structure. She stood at the edge, gazing at the serene landscape, while Minjun joined her, standing nearby and remaining quiet.

“We might have been a prince and princess in our previous lives, but we ended up tragically,” Minjun said, his tone suddenly becoming serious.

Minjin was momentarily taken aback. She remembered what Bang Eun-kyung had said to her recently—something about Minjun and her being destined to meet in this lifetime. 

She laughed quietly. “Minjun-ah, right now, our story is just beginning." 

Minjun smiled, but it was tinged with sadness. “I guess…” 

“If we ended tragically in a past life,” Minjin said, facing him, “then we have a chance this time. We deserve a happy ending.” Her smile was warm and genuine.

Minjun couldn’t hide the smile that spread across his face, so he looked away. “Yeah, we’ll work on that. You and I," he said, his face flushed.

Minjin teasingly smiled, bowing her head playfully. “Ne, Jeoha.” 

With that, Minjun finally caught her gaze again, and they both laughed lightly.

The adult Minjin jolted awake to the sound of her iPhone ringing beside her as she had fallen asleep at her study table. The vibrations shattered the silence of her room.

Momentarily disoriented, she realized she had dozed off in front of her MacBook. The screen was still showing a paused scene from Lovely Runner, and the light cast a soft glow over her tired face. 

She struggled to shake off the lingering emotions from her dream about Minjun as the ringing echoed. It had been a while, she thought. 

Finally, the ringing stopped, leaving a silence that felt almost deafening.

She glanced at her MacBook, it was a clip she had been watching. She sighed deeply to herself. “These kinds of first love stories have always been my favorites. But... I never thought I'd end up like this."

Her phone rang again. She fumbled for it but swiped the screen just in time to answer. 

“Hello?" Minjin said groggily. 

Peter's voice came through, “Minjin, where are you? Your class starts in 20 minutes." 

Minjin’s eyes flew open, and she quickly glanced at the clock on her MacBook. She had completely lost track of time. “Give me a few minutes! ” 

She hung up quickly, her fingers snapped her laptop shut with a bit more force than intended, and she pushed back from her desk.

She dashed around her small apartment, snatching her backpack from the floor and cramming her notebooks and pens inside. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror—her long hair was messy, and her eyes were a bit puffy.

She swiftly ran a hand through her long black hair, gathering it into a messy bun.

She went into the bathroom, splashed cold water on her face, and brushed her teeth. Then, she slipped into a clean blouse and jeans.

She glanced at her phone—only 15 minutes left. Hurrying, she slipped on her shoes, glanced back at her closed MacBook. She rushed down the stairs and out the front door, keys in hand.

She headed for her car at the curb but found it covered in bright red spray paint, with offensive words and crude symbols on the sides and windows.

“What the…? ”Minjin said. 

She stepped a bit closer when suddenly, a loud shout pierced the air.

"Go back to your country!" an unknown man said to her. 

Before Minjin could react, cold egg yolk splattered on her shoulder. She looked down to see it dripping on her blouse as another egg smashed against her car.

Her eyes shot up to a group of sneering men across the street.

One man, angered, held a carton of eggs. "This is our country! Go back to yours!" the man said.

An egg flew past and hit the ground near her feet. She sprinted to her car, fumbling with her keys. She opened the door and threw herself inside, slamming it shut quick.

Another egg struck her windshield, shattering and dripping down the glass. She sensed more shouting, but the words were overwhelmed by the blood rushing in her ears.

“Come on, come on... Start,” Minjin said. 

She turned the key, shoved the gear into reverse, and backed out quickly, tires screeching. Shifting into gear, she sped off down the street, gripping the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

As she drove, she tried to steady her breathing. However, her heart raced, and tears filled her eyes as she focused on the road ahead. She glanced in her rearview mirror to ensure she wasn’t being followed and kept driving.

###

Minjin parked in the university lot, gripping the steering wheel tightly. She took a deep breath to calm down. Looking at her blouse, stained with egg yolk and shell bits, she saw that the mess was drying. She grabbed a tissue from her bag, dabbing at it helplessly.

“Just get through this. Just get through today,” Minjin said as she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

She exited her car and straightened her shoulders, forcing herself to walk calmly toward the entrance. Inside, she felt the eyes of other students upon her as whispers filled the hallway.

She arrived at her classroom and paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before opening the door. As she walked in, the room went quiet. Her students halted their chatter, gasping softly at the sight of her. 

Minjin felt their concerned and confused gazes upon her.

One student who always sat near the front stood up. “Professor Minjin, are you... Are you okay?"

Minjin paused, sensing a lump in her throat. She managed a small, forced smile. “I’m fine, thank you. Just a minor incident on my way, but nothing to worry about.” She said, her voice steady.

She noticed their doubt and worry, but she said. “Alright, everyone, let’s begin. I hope you’ve all completed today’s readings. We have a lot to cover, so let’s not waste time.” Minjin clapped her hands lightly. 

"You’re strong. You can do this. Just keep going," she told herself internally. 

###

After her class, she went to her car with marked by red spray paint and took out rags and a small cleaner from her trunk. Crouching beside the driver’s door, she scrubbed the graffiti. The paint didn't easily come off, and her frustration grew with each stubborn streak.

While working, she heard footsteps. When she looked up, she saw a young man with curly hair holding a magazine to his chest, looking excited.

“Excuse me, are you Professor Minjin?" The student asked

Minjin straightened, wiped her hands, and smiled despite her frustration.

“Yes, that’s me. Can I help you? ” Minjin said, nodding her head. 

The student beamed, bouncing on his feet.

“I’m a freshman in the Department of Physics! My name is Steven. I just wanted to express how much I admire your work. I read all about your research on quantum gravity, and I also bought your Time magazine.” 

He nervously offered her the magazine, which featured a striking image of Minjin on the cover. She blinked, feeling embarrassed.

“Would you mind signing it for me? I’ve been following your work ever since I heard your lecture on the bridge between quantum mechanics and general relativity. ” Steven said with a voice filled with awe. 

Minjin smiled, warmth breaking through her tension. She took the magazine gently and nodded. “Of course, Steven, I’d be happy to sign it."

As she signed, Steven’s enthusiasm bubbled over. "Your theory on quantum gravity is incredible! You’re linking concepts others avoided. It’s mind-blowing."

Minjin handed the magazine back to him with a sincere smile.

“Thank you, Steven. It’s always wonderful to meet someone passionate about physics. The field needs fresh minds like yours,” Minjin said with a smile.

Steven’s face brightened even more. “I just wanted to say… don’t let what happened today bring you down. You’re inspiring so many of us, you know? I’ve read everything about you, and I understand how hard you’ve worked to get where you are. The world can be cruel, but... You’ve already changed it.”

Minjin’s smile softened his words. “Thank you, Steven. That means a lot to me.”

Steven eagerly clutched the magazine. He paused and glanced at her car. "Professor, if you ever need help, even with cleaning your car, let me know."

Minjin chuckled softly. "I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you, Steven."

###

After classes, Minjin drove to a nearby auto repair shop. The small shop was crowded with vehicles, filled with the sounds of machinery and the smell of grease. The kind-faced owner approached her, wiping his hands on a rag.

“It’s going to take a few days to get all of this off, maybe three. The paint’s pretty thick.” The owner examined her car. 

Minjin nodded, sighing. “Alright, three days. I’ll manage.” 

She handed him the keys and walked away, with exhaustion weighing on her.

Suddenly, while she walked on the sidewalk, flashes of light erupted in front of her, momentarily blinding her. She squinted and saw paparazzi capturing her from every angle.

“Professor Minjin! Is it true that you’ve been banned from Platform Kut because of your stance on war?” shouted Paparazzo 1. 

“What do you think about the founder of the platform suspending your account?" The Paparazzo inched closer. 

Minjin’s heart raced at the sudden swarm. She raised her hand to shield her face from the cameras, pushing past them as questions kept coming and flashes grew brighter.

“Please, I have nothing to say," Minjin said, tense and trying to remain calm. 

The paparazzi persisted, tailing her closely and raising their voices.

"Are your opinions justified, given the tensions?" Paparazzo 3 was insistent.

As the crowd closed in, Minjin's chest swelled with anxiety. She quickened her pace to distance herself from the photographers, but they kept up with her.

Desperate, she hailed a taxi and jumped into the back seat, slamming the door. “Please take me to Jefferson Street. Hurry!”

The driver nodded and drove her away. She glanced back at the crowd, leaving the paparazzi. As the taxi moved, Minjin took a deep breath before she opened the Kut app to see the fuss. She tried to log in, but a notification popped up:

"Your account has been temporarily suspended for violating our community guidelines." 

Minjin’s eyes widened with confusion and anger. She opened her browser and searched for her name, finding several articles: “Professor Minjin Park Suspended from Platform Kut for Anti-War Stance.”

She clicked an article, skimming with furrowed brows.

"In a surprising move, the founder of Platform Kut has suspended renowned physicist Minjin Park’s account following her comments on the ongoing war. Sources suggest her recent post, which questioned the ethics of the war, violated the platform’s guidelines, prompting the ban." 

She closed her eyes, calming the anger inside her, and said. “So, they want to silence me.”