Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Club Room Banter
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"Ji-su!"
I waved both hands in greeting to the smiling Ji-su.
Her smile, bright enough to light up the world, reached both me and Bang Eun-ji beside me equally.
Ji-su seems especially happy since school started.
The strange vibe I'd picked up from her during the first semester felt like it might've been my imagination.
I'd been worried when her KakaoTalk replies were late over break, but turns out she was busy with a special lecture at an academy.
Ga-eun attends that place too, and her grades skyrocketed; must be pretty good.
"Ah. Thirsty. I'll go grab some water."
"What? We're already at the club room. Hurry back."
"Yeah."
I sent Bang Eun-ji backing out the door and gave a quick bow to Teacher Yi Mong-ryong.
"Hello."
"Hi."
In this sweltering summer heat, the teacher—dressed in long sleeves without a single drop of sweat—went, "Ah," and said,
"Right. I read your piece. It was great."
"My writing?"
"The Help Paper."
"Ah."
So the teacher saw it too.
Bowing his head, Teacher Yi Mong-ryong whispered like he was sharing a secret.
"You know your homeroom teacher looked at the Help Paper in the staff room and called it a cult document?"
"Gasp, really?"
"Yeah. I had a hell of a time holding back my laughter."
"Oh my god."
"It's a secret from Teacher Seo Hee. She hasn't realized yet that she said it unconsciously."
"Kukuku..."
"Kukuku..."
We shared a conspirator's chuckle, faces close.
"Wanna hear something funny? Back when I was in school, every March they'd make us fill out forms: parents' final education level, annual income, whether your house was rented or owned, all that."
"Neh?!"
"For real. Even how many computers and TVs at home. Oh, and your best friend's name."
I was secretly tense back then, wondering if the friend I named had named me too. The teacher added with a laugh,
"Then they'd have us list kids who smoked, and anyone named got dragged in and beaten—no verification."
"Oh my god."
"Looking back now, it was total nonsense... I regret not speaking up like you did back then, Da-hye."
"If you'd said something like that back then, you'd have been the one dragged in and beaten..."
"True enough. Oh, and Ha-jun, he..."
"Yeah..."
"Haha..."
"Hehe..."
Lots of reasons to laugh today...
"Anyway, reading what you wrote gave me this vicarious satisfaction. Thanks."
"No problem."
Having an adult like you—who listens to a kid's opinion without calling it cheeky—makes the world a brighter place. I bowed and turned to take my seat.
Next to me, Ji-su and Jeong Eun-seong were chatting.
"So, how tall are you now?"
"187."
"Whoa. You've grown a ton."
"Yeah."
"I heard Seo Jae-kyeom's 187 too. You guys the same?"
"I'm taller."
"Both 187?"
"......"
"Right, last time my mom went to your company and..."
"Kang Da-hye."
Me? I looked up from flipping open my notebook. Jeong Eun-seong asked, with Ji-su between us.
"Decided yet?"
"On what?"
"Hand cream. I said I'd buy you a new one."
"Ah..."
That wasn't just talk?
"If you don't pick, I'll stuff your carrier with every kind again."
"No..."
"What's that about?"
Ji-su, suddenly stuck in the middle and listening attentively, asked with a smile.
"Hand cream? Did Jeong Eun-seong ruin Kang Da-hye's?"
"Ah. Not exactly..."
"It's a secret."
Jeong Eun-seong cut me off as I tried to explain. He locked eyes with Ji-su and repeated,
"A secret between Kang Da-hye and me."
Even with his tone that could feel a bit awkward, Ji-su stayed unfazed.
"Jeong Eun-seong."
Ji-su scrunched one eye cutely, scolding him like a puppy.
"We said we'd get along, remember?"
Jeong Eun-seong immediately shut his mouth and grimaced.
He grimaced but didn't deny it. I glanced between him and the smiling Ji-su.
"You two made that promise?"
"Yeah. We had a moment alone, so we did."
"I see... When?"
"A while back."
"Ah..."
That's great!
"I support you guys."
Wouldn't it be awesome if you two got close? Let's build some positive friendships! I clapped enthusiastically.
"Next time you don't get English homework, ask Ji-su. She's better at it than me."
I pitched it hard to the still-grimacing Jeong Eun-seong.
"We could study together during exams!"
"Kang Da-hye happy?"
"Yes!"
Seeing me excited, Jeong Eun-seong tossed out,
"If hand cream's lame, how about a towel?"
"That conversation's not over...?"
"Think about it seriously."
He grinned slyly and whispered,
"Super soft material, engrave something at the bottom. Like [Congrats to Top Student Kang Da-hye]."
"Eh...?"
"Don't like? How about [As always, you've taken top spot, so here's your towel]."
"No...!"
"Simply [Top Student Commemoration]."
"Don't."
"You like that one?"
"Don't!"
"Fine, that one then."
"You're serious."
Don't. I glared at Jeong Eun-seong.
Bang Eun-ji, sitting off to the side quietly, couldn't hold back anymore and jumped in.
"Print the one we saved and stick it on the towel."
"The one from before?"
"You know, the one on the bulletin board. The rankings."
"No way..."
She still had that?
"And add a bath scene for Jeong Eun-seong in the play, use that towel as a prop."
"That's a solid idea."
Other friends chimed in.
"Someone steals his clothes while he's bathing."
"Isn't that the fairy and woodcutter story?"
"Whatever. Just add it."
"Spread the word: Jeong Eun-seong abs reveal."
"That okay?"
"Korean film directors with way more budget than us hype their movies like that. Why can't we?"
"Whoa. That'd get attention."
"Hehe."
They're going nuts...
I chuckled and changed the subject.
"Bang Eun-ji, how far along are the costumes?"
"Another 2-3 weeks, I think. Gotta fit the leads first to check sizes..."
Bang Eun-ji, speaking confidently, suddenly trailed off.
"But finishing the supporting roles means no time to measure both leads. Da-hye, can you help with one?"
"Ah, sure..."
"Yeah, I'll handle Jeong Eun-seong."
"Oh?"
That's new.
She can barely breathe near him.
I couldn't hide my surprise, glancing between Ji-su and Bang Eun-ji. Ji-su was calm; Bang Eun-ji fidgety.
Bang Eun-ji, eyeing us both, said,
"Jeong Eun-seong's costume seems more complicated... Da-hye, you take Han Ji-su."
"Sure... I'm good with that."
"Okay, I'll quickly teach you how to do fittings then..."
"Yeah."
While Bang Eun-ji and I talked, Ji-su just smiled quietly. Her innocent face showed no sign of ignoring or disliking Bang Eun-ji.
"......"
Am I the paranoid one?
"Alright, let's wrap up for today?"
"Yeah. I'll go over the script again, list props, and share in the KakaoTalk group. Actors, start memorizing lines soon, got it?"
"Jeong Eun-seong, when do we run lines?"
Ji-su (as Yi Mong-ryong) asked Jeong Eun-seong (as Chunhyang) from beside her.
"We can practice whenever we're free. When works?"
"I'll head up first."
I left the club room, leaving Ji-su and Jeong Eun-seong mid-conversation.
"Bang Eun-ji, tell me more about what I mentioned earlier."
I pulled out my phone to take notes as we climbed the stairs.
"Kang Da-hye!"
Jeong Eun-seong chased after from behind, striding up with his long legs to my side.
"Mom...!"
Bang Eun-ji, startled by his handsome face closing in, plastered herself against the wall.
...How are you gonna do fittings like this...
And why'd he come up alone? Where's Ji-su?
"Ji-su?"
"Why'd you leave first?"
"Well."
"'Cause I'm making a towel? Hate the environmental impact? There are recyclable ones."
"No."
"After school, I'm donating to an environmental group."
"Wait."
"Our costumes are recyclable too. I'll take them home after the play and use as pajamas."
"Hey..."
Let me talk!