Semantic Error

It was a mainstream play with dialogues such as ‘What’s that?’ or ‘It’s the Eiffel Tower.’ The second play was about a Hanguk University student who gave a tour of the campus to their Chinese friend (they seemed to have overheard Sangwoo’s idea). Then it was their turn.

“Next. Jang Jaeyoung and Chu Sangwoo, please do your presentation.”

Jaeyoung got up, stretched, and smiled down at Sangwoo. His confident expression made it seem like he was going on a picnic. Jaeyoung picked up props such as grapes, a phone, and a baton from his bag, and Sangwoo followed him empty-handed. The students clapped their hands when they stood in the front. They weren’t a problem, but the professor was holding a camcorder.

Sangwoo said his first line once they had gotten everything ready. They were lines about a sales promotion for cheap fruits. Then, Jaeyoung, who was hiding behind the pillar, arrogantly came forward while fanning himself with a paper fan, and then fiddled with the grapes on the desk while asking the price.

Sangwoo made eye contact with him. His eyes were telling him that everything would go well, that they were doing something really entertaining. The excitement he felt from everything working out well was unfamiliar to him.

Jaeyoung had been preparing for this much harder than Sangwoo had thought. Props are props, but he had prepared the dial tone and the end tone, and he played it back during the phone call scene. When they changed roles, Sangwoo changed his clothes behind the teacher’s platform during the short time Jaeyoung had his monologue. He showed his acting skills as a member of the theater department, and even if the lines were slightly different from the script, the meaning didn’t change very much. Apart from the inappropriate ad-libbing he did in the middle where he asked Sangwoo if he was a robot, he did well enough to make the person look different.

The reaction was explosive. A camcorder and five phone cameras recorded the play, and they were showered with the sound of shutters clicking. The professor dropped her grading pen because she was laughing so hard. Sangwoo received applause and cheers even though he only said the lines he had memorized. He was forced to admit it: Jang Jaeyoung “carried” them through this skit as he once assured he would.

After the play, Sangwoo high-fived Jaeyoung’s extended hand. At that moment, he completely forgot all the negative feelings he previously had and felt a comradeship instead.

“It was fun, you two. The best skit I’ve seen in these 10 years.”

The professor who ended the class early approached them with two thumbs up.

“Sangwoo, you too. You need to work a lot on your pronunciation, but you managed to memorize all of those lines perfectly. It’s amazing,” she said, while looking at Sangwoo.

“Thank you.”

“What do you think about becoming a teaching assistant for this class?”

“What?”

“You wouldn’t have to do anything on normal days, but I would only need for you to come in early and copy the handouts on the specific dates I request. You would take care of exam papers during the midterms and finals, and collect the homework later. You’d get extra credit at the end of the semester, and I’ll even treat you to a meal.”

Only then did Sangwoo understand what she was talking about. His eyes moved in Jaeyoung’s direction. Jaeyoung looked at the professor with a calm expression.

“Jaeyoung recommended you as his replacement.”

The withdrawal period without causing damage only lasted for two weeks. Sangwoo knew that Jaeyoung would drop all his classes before the third week, and he had been waiting for that day. There were only two days left before the two weeks were up.

“… Yes. I’ll do it.”

When Sangwoo nodded, the professor told him to do his best while greeting him with her eyes, and then turned to face Jaeyoung.

“Good job, Jaeyoung. Thanks for taking responsibility in helping your hoobae.”

“Not at all, professor. I’m sorry that I’m dropping out like this when I said I’ll be the TA.”

“What are you talking about? Getting such a good opportunity is an event worthy of celebration. Can I congratulate you in advance for getting accepted?”

“I reapplied, but there’s no guarantee I’ll get accepted again.”

“That’s not possible. You’ll definitely get in.”

Sangwoo finished packing his bag, but he didn’t leave, because he was absentmindedly listening to their conversation. When the professor asked what he was going to do next, Jaeyoung replied that he was thinking about taking a break while preparing to study abroad. They then spent a few minutes talking about the location of the graduate school that Jaeyoung was going to attend.

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“I envy you. It makes me think of the time I went to study abroad.”

“Come and visit.”

“You’re funny. You haven’t even gotten accepted yet.”

“You said that I’ll get in, Professor, so it’ll work out.”

The atmosphere was great, but Sangwoo didn’t laugh. A thick layer of sadness had bloomed in his heart for some unknown reason.