Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: When You See a Handsome Guy
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When you spot a handsome guy.
Us girls exchange silent glances.
'Spring?'
'Spring lol'
Something like that.
We remember every single handsome guy we've ever seen, even from years ago.
'Hey, remember that handsome guy we saw at the national middle school event?'
'Yesss! That piercing!'
Stuff like that.
Because it's so rare to run into one. They're like endangered species.
If I saw a kangaroo hopping around near Sinyeong-san Station on my way home, I'd remember it ten years from now, right?
The expressions on the girls' faces as Jeong Eun-seong and Seo Jae-kyeom walked into the classroom right now were exactly that.
The look of someone spotting something precious.
"Whoa..."
Gyeong Se-in pressed the back of her hand to her forehead.
"I feel feverish..."
"A girl gets lovesick four times in her life..."
"The first time you see Seo Jae-kyeom, the first time you see Jeong Eun-seong, graduation day when you realize you'll never see them again, and today..."
"What happened over break...?"
They said the Paris milk was delicious.
As for Seo Jae-kyeom... no idea. Did he get some growth spurt vibes from the student teacher?
The classroom, buzzing with chats like 'Long time no see?' and 'What, get lost,' suddenly turned all soft and fuzzy.
Under the harsh fluorescent lights typical of classrooms, their flawless beauty shone without a hint of imperfection.
The girls with cheekbones up to the ceiling were busy exchanging glances.
But the two of them seemed disappointed, having hyped themselves up expecting to be taller than the other. They turned their heads away with annoyed looks.
Just get along already. Your personalities seem similar anyway.
Anyway, why'd they both dress up so fancy?
Aiming for the throne of new semester heartthrob?
"Kang Da-hye..."
"Jae-kyeom!"
A friend called out to Seo Jae-kyeom in the hallway as he headed straight my way, ignoring all the stares. I waved him off, telling him to go check on his friend first. He let out a deep sigh and stepped out.
"What!"
Jeong Eun-seong slammed the classroom door shut on the irritated Seo Jae-kyeom.
He came to the seat behind mine and set down his bag.
Our eyes met naturally.
"Hey?"
I raised my hand in greeting. Suddenly, Jeong Eun-seong froze stiff.
"I. See. You're. Way. Too. Pretty. Today. It's. Serious."
He spouted nonsense and headed to his locker.
"What's his deal."
Jeong Eun-seong, you're still as weird as ever even in the second semester.
"Da-hye, what'd Eun-seong say?"
"Dunno, he babbled something and left."
"He's too cute."
"Huh...?"
Yeon-hee, you okay?
Se-in whispered amid the cluster of friends who'd gathered around me.
"But I think I get Eun-seong a bit now."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. Watch. If I do this, he'll come over."
"Is Jeong Eun-seong some stray cat...?"
Ga-eun's eyes sparkled even as she scolded. The girls around us stopped talking and focused.
Se-in, basking in everyone's attention, pulled a Korean workbook from her bag and shouted.
"Whoa! He's so handsome!"
"......"
"The best! Hands down the hottest guy I've seen this year!"
And sure enough, Jeong Eun-seong peeked over, pretending not to care, and came our way...
"No way."
"He's actually coming."
"So cute."
The girls giggled.
Jeong Eun-seong walked over stone-faced, clueless why the girls were laughing at him. He blinked and asked.
"...Who's the hottest?"
"Oh, Hwang Sun-won!"
"Who's that."
He looked ready to track the guy down right then to check his height and face.
"Here."
Se-in opened the workbook and showed him the photo at the bottom: a famous black-and-white picture of young Hwang Sun-won, crew cut, collar up to his chin, staring straight ahead. She'd drawn a comma curl on his forehead with a ballpoint pen.
Before Jeong Eun-seong could complain, I cut in.
"Hwang Sun-won, from a family of independence activists."
"He's handsome."
Jeong Eun-seong surrendered quickly.
"Hotter than you, Jeong Eun-seong?"
"......"
"Answer. Hotter than you?"
"Yeah..."
He mumbled dejectedly and slunk out of the classroom.
"So cute."
The giggling friends returned to their seats.
"Lee Seo-jun, you're cute too."
Before leaving, Ye-su-a ruffled Lee Seo-jun's hair. He stayed still like a good boy. I asked him.
"Seo-jun, what were you gonna say earlier?"
"Oh, nothing..."
"Okay. Tell me if you remember."
"Yeah!"
It's nice being back at school with everyone after so long. This bustling vibe.
Of course, the whole class wasn't all cheerful—some kids were huddled in the corner, whispering darkly.
The outcasts: Park Su-hwan and Do Ha-jun's crew.
"Achoo! Achoo! This isn't noormal~ Do I always sneeze like this? Ah, stop iiiit~~~ Don't be grosssss!"
Jang Ji-won seemed the only happy one among them...
She was flapping around excitedly when our eyes met. Her expression flipped. She scanned me up and down.
Me, my desk, and the hand cream I was applying.
She lingered on the hand cream Jeong Eun-seong gave me and my face using it, then snapped her head away.
What's her problem.
I tilted my head, but then homeroom teacher arrived, cutting my thoughts short.
I shoved the hand cream deep into my bag when I saw Jeong Eun-seong following behind her.
He knows I have the cream he gave me, and I know, but it's embarrassing to apply it openly in front of him.
So I've been doing it on the sly.
"Teacher!"
"Teacher, long time no see!"
"How was your break?"
"Teacher, why'd you ghost our KakaoTalk~?"
But.
Normally, she'd be all hyped like 'Strongest! Class 2-2! Studied hard?! Especially politics! What was cross-voting, kids?! What's for lunch today!' But no response.
The chattering kids soon picked up on the mood and quieted down.
"Did you all have a good break?"
She forced a smile, lips twitching, stood at the podium, and cleared her throat loudly.
"We were supposed to watch the opening ceremony on the classroom TV, but the schedule changed last minute. Everyone, head to the auditorium now."
"The auditorium?"
"Whole school?"
"No. Just second years."
What? The kids murmured, but her expression was off, so no one pressed. We got up and followed obediently.
"What's going on? Why the auditorium all of a sudden."
"Gasp, is it School of Rock?!"
"That got canceled."
"Come on, hurry up and sit. No talking."
Class 1's homeroom teacher closed the auditorium doors after confirming all second-years were seated.
I waved to Bang Eun-ji over there and Han Ji-su here, then sat down.
Soon, Class 1's teacher took the stage and grabbed the mic.
"Attention, everyone."
She banged a shiny new wooden clacker for emphasis.
Doesn't look like (canceled) School of Rock.
Okay, time to close my eyes and nap...
"We've received a tip from an anonymous parent that a second-year girl from our school was seen entering a lodging with an adult."
What...?
My eyes snapped open. She continued.
"Dating an adult is a serious breach of Gogogo High School's prestige. Our teachers have unanimously decided not to tolerate students who tarnish the school's reputation..."
"There's a limit to embarrassing the school!"
The geography teacher (trait: punished me and Seo Jae-kyeom alone last semester) guarding the back door tsked loudly for all to hear.
"Kids who can't even grow peach fuzz yet, whoring around... Whoever it is, if we catch 'em, expect at least suspension!"
As the mood chilled, Class 1's teacher pressed on.
"You students might know who it is, even if we don't. You're friends, right."
"......"
"This isn't something to cover for a friend. Exposing it now and guiding them right is true friendship."
Didn't you just say suspension...?
"When you get back to class, your homeroom teachers will hand out papers..."
"......"
"If you've seen or heard about any friend hanging out with a sketchy adult whose identity you can't verify, or anything remotely suspicious, write it down and turn it in. We'll handle the judging."
"......"
"Completely anonymous, and confidentiality guaranteed."