Absolute Value of Romance (로맨스의 절댓값)

I'M THEIR HOMEROOM TEACHER

So the US, huh? I bet you're thrilled.

Then again, a lot of colleges wanted you to join them, right?

Then, are you going somewhere like Harvard or MIT to conduct research

or are you going there to teach?

How long would you be away?

A semester? A year?

I guess what I'm asking…

What I want to know is…

If you're going away for a long time,

does that mean I won't see you in my senior year?

It's late. Go home.

Get home safely, Eui-ju.

So, when are you leaving?

About that proposal from your friend Deul-i.

What do you think?

So seize this opportunity and go to the US.

Go do the research you want to do.

Still,

does he have to go with her?

So,

is she his girlfriend after all?

Well,

he's a person just like the rest of us. Of course, he's gonna date.

They'll do research together

in the US.

Just the two of them.

Good for them.

Hang on.

If I hadn't overheard them earlier,

when was he planning on telling me?

At the end of the year?

Like, "Bye, kids. I'm off to the US."

No.

Why would he bother saying anything?

It's his life after all.

I'm just one of his students.

EPISODE 11

- Good morning. - Good morning.

Is everyone here except Ji-a and Jenny?

- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.

The career experience program sign up closes this week.

Check the notice in our group chat.

If you're interested,

fill out an application and give it to Ha-su.

- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.

- Collect them and bring them to me. - Yes, sir.

Dismissed.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

Ji-a's absent again today. What are you going to do?

Won't he give you more demerits?

Do you think something happened to her?

Like what?

I don't know.

CLOUD YOUTH SHELTER

Can I help you?

Hello.

I'm Yeo Eui-ju, and I'm Ji-a's classmate at school.

Ji-a didn't come to school today, so I was wondering if she's okay.

She's not here right now.

I think she's at her part-time job.

Do you know where she works?

Where was it again?

I believe it's a burger joint.

The one at the intersection by the Red Cross Hospital.

I see.

- Thank you. - I should be thanking you

for coming here to check on her.

Bye.

Mr. Ga.

Ji-a isn't here right now.

She's probably at her work.

How come you're here?

I saw her write this place as her address last year.

I'll go look for her. You can go home now.

I don't want to.

I'm fed up with cleaning to offset my demerits.

I must see her myself today.

But…

- Ji-a? - Yes.

She quit.

What? When?

Maybe two weeks ago.

No, about three weeks ago.

Then do you know where she is right now?

Some barbecue place.

She said they offered a better pay.

- Do you know the name? - No, I don't.

I didn't ask, you see.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

I'll go this way, you go that way.

- Call me if you find her. - Okay.

What the…

Jeez.

What's wrong with them?

Come with me.

What do you think you're doing?

Are you crazy?

Hey, how can you just take drinks from them like that?

Do they know you're in high school?

They tip me.

Wouldn't you drink?

Even so…

Ji-a?

- Ji-a. - Is that you?

It's her, all right.

Today's the day we agreed on, no?

I haven't been paid yet.

- But next time... - "Next time"?

That's what you said last time.

Do you think we're running a charity?

We're not some philanthropists. We have to make a living too, you know?

I really don't have any money.

Then do whatever it takes to get it.

Plenty of places would hire you.

Convenience stores, coffee shops,

karaokes,

bars.

The way I see it,

- you could go far... - What are you doing?

Stop it.

Are you Ji-a's friend?

Oh, a friend?

We're not going to hurt her. We're not bad guys.

If you're that worried, why don't you pay on her behalf?

Do you have any money?

- That's enough. - So?

You're scaring her.

So then,

how much can you give us today?

I don't have any money.

I haven't been paid.

- You've got to be kidding me. - What are you doing?

- Let me go! - Stop that!

You shouldn't be…

What the heck?

- Oh, man. - What the hell?

What do you think you're doing?

And who might you be?

I'm their homeroom teacher.

- You scared me. - Oh, their teacher?

This is actually better. Perhaps you can repay us on her behalf.

You gave her this bruise, didn't you?

We don't know anything about that.

Sir.

She borrowed money from us, okay?

I guess you don't teach students to repay their debts.

Looks like it.

How much did she borrow?

How much? Let's see…

She borrowed 500,000 won.

But with interest, it's two million won,

sir.

And that's all?

Mr. Ga!

Oh, sweet.

Dang, you're pretty cool.

So sick.

In that case, here.

Wire the money to the account at the bottom there.

I've transferred it.

- Oh, now? - Did it come through?

- Yeah. - So it did.

Let's make video evidence of this.

-On November 10th, -Yeah.

We received two million won from Choi Ji-a.

Indeed, we did.

From now on,

we'll never contact her again.

- Is that okay? - Are we done?

Delete her phone number right now.

- Let me look up Ji-a. - Here.

Number deleted.

DELETE NUMBER

- Okay? - Satisfied?

I don't want to see you ever again.

- Yes, sir. - You got it.

- It really was an honor to meet you. - Totally.

-If you ever need money, -Oh, right.

Call us here.

- Yes. - At the number on this business card.

- Call us any time. - We'll give you a good deal.

- Bye. - Ji-a, we're off.

Bye now.

Mr. Ga.

I'll pay you back no matter what.

It might take a while,

but I'll make sure to pay you back.

There's no need.

Just make sure you come to school and try your hardest.

- Still… - If you really want to repay this debt,

save it for later

and pay it forward if some kid needs help.

- What are you doing? - Huh?

Well…

You never know. I'm taking a photo for evidence.

You just love capturing every single moment, don't you?

Let's go.

- Get a move on. - Okay.

Why didn't you report it?