February 4

Dear Daddy Long Legs,

Are you in a good mood today Daddy? If not, I will do my best to bring you into a good mood. After all, it is best to be calm before the onset of bad news right?

Anyway, I have spent most of my free time at Jan Di unnie's jjuk shop. I usually practice in the dormitory music room or this nice little spot I found near the swimming pool, but since it's winter, it is best to practice somewhere warm—or where there are warm people to help you. See how much of a coward I am Daddy, to seek criticism from people who like me. Before the Christmas vacation, our music application teacher told me it was far too abhorent to have only one instrument to play (and not very good to, she was quick to add) and demanded I should learn another instrument over the vacation and do a presentation for class. She suggested the violin, but I have seen my classmates who are experts on the violin and it's a really difficult instrument to play. So I decided on the guitar since it seemed much easier than the violin and can go along with the piano quite nicely. That and Song Yue has graciously allowed me to borrow hers. I have been practicing in the jjuk shop ever since Christmas, and the unnies are very nice listeners.

They say I play the guitar like Ji Hoo sunbae. I haven't met him, but Jan Di unnie talks about him a lot. Him and the rest of his friends. Apparently they are young chaebols who are friends with Jan Di unnie. One of them is also Jan Di unnie's boyfriend! How nice must it be, to have somebody who loves you that way. I don't mean a rich somebody Daddy, you know very well that I am only awed by your wealth, but it seems very nice to have somebody thinking of you even though they might be far.

Let's see...what other good things can I talk about? Oh! I have been chosen to represent the Freshman Piano Division Class in the end of the year Departmental Recital! It's a very high honor and fledglings like me don't usually get to perform. I'm so nervous I am alternating practicing the piano and the guitar that I can't seem to focus on my other lessons! You will come won't you Daddy? I have already invited Song Yue and the jjuk shop unnies but I would really like it if you came. After all, I owe everything to you!

Okay...Daddy, are you absolutely sure you are in a good mood? Honest? I have some bad news and please promise me you won't be too mad.

I failed my English Literature exams.

Don't worry Daddy,it was only one exam and I already promised my English literature seseungnim that I will do the re-examinations as soon as possible so I will pass. Will you forgive me just this once if I promise I will perform my very best in the Departmental Recital?

Yours,

Hyun Jae

March 3

SIR: You never answer any questions; you never show the slightest interest in anything I do. You are probably the horridest one of all those horrid Trustees, and the reason you are educating me is, not because you care a bit about me, but from a sense of Duty.

I don't know a single thing about you. I don't even know your name. It is very uninspiring writing to a Thing. I haven't a doubt but that you delete my emails without reading them. Hereafter I shall write only about work.

My re-examinations in English Literature came last week. I passed them and am now free from conditions.

Yours truly,
Kim Hyun Jae

March 11

Dear Daddy-Long-Legs, I am a BEAST.

Please forget about that dreadful email I sent you last week-I was feeling terribly lonely and miserable and sore-throaty the night I wrote. I didn't know it, but I was just sickening for tonsillitis and flu and lots of things mixed. I'm in the Medical Department hospital now, and have been here for six days; this is the first time they would let me sit up and use the computer. The head nurse is very bossy. But I've been thinking about it all the time and I shan't get well until you forgive me.

Here is a picture of the way I look, trying to eat the Chinese food Song Yue says I must eat to get better. Doesn't that arouse your sympathy? I am having sublingual gland swelling. I didn't even know there was such a thing! I can't write any more; I get rather shaky when I sit up too long.

Please forgive me for being impertinent and ungrateful. I was badly
brought up.

Yours with love,
Hyun Jae

March 17
Dearest Daddy-Long-Legs,

Yesterday evening just towards dark, when I was sitting up in bed looking out at the rain and feeling awfully bored with life in a great institution, Jan Di appeared with a bowl full of my favorite pumpkin jjuk and a long white box addressed to me, and filled with the LOVELIEST pink rosebuds. And much nicer still, it contained a card with a very polite message written in a funny little uphill back hand (but one which shows a great deal of character).

Jan Di unnie was up to visit me way after visiting hours because she is a medical student and met the delivery boy on her way up. Thank you, Daddy, a thousand times. Your flowers make the first real, true present I ever received in my life. If you want to know what a baby Iam I lay down and cried because I was so happy.

Now that I am sure you read my emails, I'll make them much more interesting, so they'll be worth reading and keeping in your inbox. Only please delete that horrible one. I can't bear the thought of you reading it again.

Thank you for making a very sick, cross, miserable Freshman cheerful. Probably you have lots of loving family and friends, and you don't know what it feels like to be alone. But I do.

Goodbye-I'll promise never to be horrid again, because now I know you're a real person; also I'll promise never to bother you with anymore questions.

Do you still like girls?