The sound of rubber against dirt filled the air as Ji-hoon and Min-jae pedaled back to town, their laughter and excited shouts echoing down the narrow streets. The crisp wind whipped past their faces, but they hardly noticed, their adrenaline too high to care.

“We actually did it!” Min-jae yelled over the rush of air, his voice filled with disbelief.

Ji-hoon couldn’t stop grinning. “I still feel like I’m dreaming.”

“Well, if this is a dream, I don’t ever want to wake up.”

They swerved past street vendors setting up their morning goods, the scent of fresh bread and roasted chestnuts filling the air. Children chased each other in the dusty lanes, their giggles blending into the lively hum of the town. Ji-hoon had never noticed just how alive this place felt. Perhaps it was because, for the first time in a long time, he wasn’t weighed down by stress or uncertainty.

As they neared Ji-hoon’s house, he couldn’t contain his excitement any longer. The moment Min-jae slowed down near his gate, Ji-hoon leaped off the bicycle without waiting for it to stop, nearly tripping in the process. His legs carried him forward before his mind could even catch up.

“Mom!” he called out as he burst through the front door, panting.

His mother, who had been standing in the kitchen stirring a pot, turned around in surprise. Her eyes widened at the sight of her son, flushed and out of breath. “What happened?” she asked, concern flashing across her face.

Ji-hoon didn’t waste a second. “I got it! The full scholarship!” he blurted out, his face breaking into the widest grin.

For a moment, the words hung in the air, as if time itself had paused to absorb them. Then, Ji-hoon watched as his mother’s eyes welled up with tears, her hands trembling as they came up to cover her mouth.

“Really?” she whispered, her voice breaking.

Ji-hoon nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, Mom! It’s real! They gave me a full scholarship! I don’t have to pay a single won!”

A sob escaped her lips before she rushed forward, wrapping her arms tightly around him. Ji-hoon felt the warmth of her embrace, the way her shoulders shook as she held him close. It was the kind of hug that spoke volumes—the pride, the relief, the years of struggle that had finally paid off.

“I knew it,” she murmured against his shoulder. “I knew you could do it.”

Ji-hoon swallowed the lump in his throat, his own eyes burning. He hadn’t realized how much this meant to her, how deeply she had been hoping and praying for this moment.

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Pulling back, he smiled. “Now, you don’t have to worry about the fees, Mom. Dad doesn’t have to take on extra work.”

She wiped her tears, her expression softening. “This is the best news we could have ever asked for.”

“And Min-jae also got accepted!” Ji-hoon added, glancing toward his best friend, who was standing in the doorway with a sheepish grin.

His mother turned to Min-jae and beamed. “That’s wonderful, Min-jae! Congratulations!”

Min-jae scratched the back of his head. “Thank you, Mrs. Kim. I still can’t believe it myself.”

She wiped the last of her tears and, with a determined look, stepped over to the cabinet near the kitchen. She rummaged through a small drawer and pulled out some neatly folded bills.

“Here,” she said, handing the money to Ji-hoon.

Ji-hoon blinked. “What’s this for?”

She smiled. “Go buy some sweets and snacks for yourself and your friends. And bring some back for the family too—we need to celebrate properly.”

Ji-hoon hesitated. “But, Mom—”

“No buts.” She placed a gentle hand on his cheek. “Today is a day to celebrate. Go.”

Ji-hoon finally accepted the money with a grin. “I will!”

Min-jae and Ji-hoon headed back outside, their spirits high as they made their way toward the small convenience store in town. The streets were more crowded now, bustling with morning activity. Vendors called out their daily specials, and the smell of sizzling street food wafted through the air.

“I can’t believe your mom gave you money to buy sweets,” Min-jae teased as they reached the store.

Ji-hoon laughed. “She must really be happy.”

The two stepped inside, immediately greeted by the comforting scent of baked goods and candy. The store wasn’t big, but it had everything they needed. Ji-hoon made a beeline for the sweets section, grabbing packets of tteok (sweet rice cakes), chocolate-filled buns, and colorful hard candies.

“Get some for your siblings too,” Min-jae reminded him, tossing a few extra treats into the basket.

Ji-hoon chuckled. “I was already planning to.”

After paying, they stepped outside, the bright sun casting golden light over the street. They walked over to the large tree near the town’s main square, sitting down under its shade. The air was warm, but a gentle breeze rustled the leaves above them.

Ji-hoon opened a packet of rice cakes and handed one to Min-jae. They sat there, chewing slowly, the weight of the morning settling in.

Min-jae leaned back against the tree trunk, staring at the sky. “Can you believe it? In just a few weeks, we’ll be in different cities, at our dream universities.”

Ji-hoon nodded slowly. He hadn’t really stopped to think about it until now. It all felt so surreal.

He glanced around at the streets, the small houses, the familiar faces of people he had known all his life. Soon, all of this would be behind him.

“I’ll miss this place,” he admitted. “Once we leave, it’ll be a long time before we come back.”

Min-jae smiled, though there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. “Yeah. But no matter where we go, this town will always be home.”

Ji-hoon exhaled slowly, taking in every little detail—the kids playing in the dirt, the old man selling roasted chestnuts, the sound of bicycles whizzing past. He wanted to memorize it all.

This place had shaped him. It had given him hardships but also dreams. It had tested him, but it had also given him people like Min-jae—friends who stood by him through everything.

As the afternoon stretched on, more people passed by, many of them stopping to chat and congratulate them. News had spread quickly, and their small victory felt like a shared joy among the town’s people.

Even the store owner, an old woman who had known Ji-hoon since he was a child, came by and handed them an extra bag of snacks. “On the house,” she said with a warm smile. “Make us proud, Ji-hoon.”

Ji-hoon bowed deeply. “Thank you, ma’am. I will.”

For now, he would enjoy this moment.

Because soon, his new journey would begin.