Absolute Value of Romance (로맨스의 절댓값)

I'm going to try to understand irrational numbers.

Did he mean me?

But why?

What for?

Why on earth?

What?

SOMETIMES, THE TRUTH CAN BE DANGEROUS

Um, why…

Why would Pythagoras have killed his student?

Isn't it obvious?

He couldn't bear to see his world collapse.

5TH CENTURY BC

What is the matter?

Master.

PYTHAGOREAN MATH ACADEMY CROTON, GREECE

By any chance…

PYTHAGORAS, DIRECTOR

…have you discovered something new?

HIPPASUS, STUDENT

I tried to express the length

of the diagonal of a unit square

as a fraction.

Sure. All numbers can be expressed as a ratio of integers.

That is the truth we have always been spreading.

The thing is…

That doesn't seem to hold true.

What did you say?

This number

just cannot be expressed as a fraction.

Wait.

Just a moment.

Fine.

Prove it.

This is a square.

Please look closely.

It just does not work.

If your theory is valid,

then everything we hold to be true is false.

Have you…

Shared this with anyone?

I have not told anyone yet.

I wanted to tell you first, Master.

Good.

That is fortunate.

Hippasus.

Yes?

Let us pretend

your proof never existed.

Master.

Sometimes, the truth can be dangerous.

Master!

The existence of irrational numbers would have threatened the world order.

Gosh. What a math nerd.

Why does he get a gleam in his eye whenever he goes over math stuff?

It's freaky.

But still…

It is kind of attractive.

Are you okay?

Yes, I'm fine.

That's what happens when you keep daydreaming.

Yes.

So embarrassing.

Please, I've seen far worse.

They say suffering embarrassment

boosts your creativity.

I see.

So you're doing it deliberately? What more have you got in store?

Why would I share it and lessen the blow?

Fine, work on your creativity.

I'll be rooting for you.

EPISODE 9

I'm home.

Hit the bathroom before you do anything else.

No, I'm good.

I know you can't go when you're out.

From now on, go take a dump as soon as you get home.

I mean, when nature calls,

don't hold it in. Answer it straightaway.

Okay already.

I can take care of myself.

Why are you fussing about me pooping?

Obviously because you're not taking good care of yourself!

Fine.

I'm going.

Should I go and see your homeroom teacher?

Why?

He carried you all the way to the ER.

I'm both sorry and grateful.

Oh, no. There's no need for that.

I already thanked him.

He's swamped as is. Don't disturb him.

Promise me you won't, okay?

I guess he's got you good.

But then again, he's given you all those demerits.

No wonder you're scared stiff of him.

Gosh, he must be quite the hard-ass.

You're in for a tough time.

Well, he's not that bad.

He's just a bit blunt.

He's a bit on the prickly side,

but he's not a bad guy…

Sometimes he can be childish and immature,

but he's not a bad guy at heart.

…at heart.

I get it now.

They say smart people are masters of manipulation.

There we have it.

I'm being manipulated.

Just like Mr. Yoon.

When you're scolded and yelled at ten times,

one kind comment will make you go,

"Wait, maybe he's not so bad after all."

Yes, that's exactly it.

Seriously though, he's been so mean to me all this time.

The jerk says he'd try to understand me, then my heart skips a beat?

How ridiculous!

Pull yourself together, Eui-ju.

Starting tomorrow, don't even look at him.

SOMEONE I SHOULDN'T AND CAN'T LIKE

Hey, did you see?

That thing I sent in our group chat.

About Professor Na Deul-i at Princeton

becoming the first Korean to be awarded the Fields Medal.

What about it? Do you know her?

No, I don't.

But Woo-su does.

She was on his Olympiad team back in middle school.

Really?

Aren't you jealous?

Don't you think that should have been you?

If only you hadn't dropped out of the Olympiad.

If you had only studied abroad...

What's wrong?

I thought he was going places.

I had no idea he'd end up here,

bickering with math idiots like you over toast with me.

I'm talking about my friend Woo-su.

Woo-su, my freaking genius buddy.

Whatever. Forget it.

- He could've won the Fields Medal and... - Hey.

Give it a rest.

What's so special about some dumb medal?

Hey.

Do you even know what the Fields Medal is?

Of course, I do.

Then tell me who the first recipient was.

David Copperfield.

Forget it.

Why should I bother talking to someone so ignorant?

Anyhow, Woo-su, you're…

I won't bother with you either.

Enjoy your toast.

When is he going to come out?

It's normally about now.

Do I have everything I need?

Did I bring all my textbooks?

I'd better wear my puffer jacket.

Why isn't he here already?

We're going to be late.

Da-ju, get a move on.

Woo-su left an hour ago.

Jeez, he's a real pain in the neck.

- What on earth? - What time is it?

We're late for sure.

Jeez, he's always like this.

Isn't that Eui-ju?

Eui-ju?

She'll be late too.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

Good morning.

Why is he doing that with his hair?

Let's get started.

Why has he pushed his sleeves up?

Why are his fingers so long?

Why is he drinking water like that?

The way he's twiddling his pen…

It's so…

It's so…

So obnoxious.

What is it you want to tell me?

Let's take a seat here.

Go-ya.

Fangirling used to be my only joy in life.

I know.

Of course, many were fictional characters,

but my love for them

was always genuine.

Thinking about those characters

gave me the strength to carry on.

But now…

The fact he keeps cropping up in my mind…

It makes me mad.

The thing is…

I don't want to think about him.

I shouldn't think about him,

but I can't help myself.

You're in denial.

In denial?

You're always like this.

You watch countless videos of some idol while claiming not to be a fan