Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: A First Ally
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“I hate it when ugly people tell me I'm handsome.”
“……”
Just for that reason...?
“Hey... Seo Jae-kyeom, you're handsome.”
An absurd remark slipped out, met with a firm reply.
“That's why I hate you too.”
“Huh...”
Thanks for telling me on purpose?
“Why do you call ugly kids handsome?”
“No...”
Because you really are handsome...
Ridiculous. I muttered to myself.
“Jeong Eun-seong will never like me in her lifetime.”
“Yeah.”
Jeez.
“I hate Jeong Eun-seong too, you know?”
“I hate you more.”
“Yeah, no~ I hate you more.”
“Think again~ Jae-kyeom it.”
“Ah, damn it, really...”
Getting pissed!
“You gonna keep Jae-Jae-ing me?”
“You have a mouth—why can't you speak? Are you a dictator or something?”
Exchanging nonsense like that, we'd arrived at our classroom before we knew it.
This time, I tried to go in first and shut the door, but Jeong Eun-seong caught on and slipped around to the back entrance, foiling my plan.
“Tch.”
I clicked my tongue and scanned the classroom.
Amid groups of kids chatting in twos and threes or doing homework, there was Do-yeon, sitting alone with her nose in a book.
I pulled all today's textbooks from my locker—which had no lock—and stacked them under my chair before approaching her.
“Hi.”
Do-yeon, who had been expressionlessly absorbed in her book, looked up in surprise.
As if she couldn't imagine anyone talking to her—yet maybe hoping a little. A complex, subtle expression flickered across her pale face before vanishing quickly.
“Whatcha reading?”
“Maze Runner.”
“Oh. Has it wrapped up yet?”
“No, not yet.”
“Oh.”
I'd read it to the end! I know all the spoilers!
“In the end, all the protagonists get infected.”
I tossed a fake spoiler her way while glancing around the classroom.
A classroom buzzing with new-semester excitement.
Kids arriving one by one exchanged cheerful or shy greetings, but no one came over to where Do-yeon and I were.
Don't talk to U Do-yeon. That atmosphere had already taken hold, dominating the room.
For kids stuck in one classroom all day, following the group's consensus and staying in the majority is the top priority. Defying it is harder than death for teenagers.
I knew, because I'd been one once.
Me being one friend isn't enough.
To pull Do-yeon out of her long isolation, I had to shatter this atmosphere above all else.
What could I do?
If just one more person reaches out...
And that chance came sooner than I'd expected.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Break time before geography class.
I was previewing the day's lesson with Do-yeon when someone cautiously called out to me.
“Um, Da-hye.”
“Yeah?”
I looked up to see a light brown-haired girl holding out her workbook to me. Her cheeks were flushed.
“Could you maybe teach me this?”
“Oh, sure. Ask away.”
But your name is...
Gyeong Se-in.
The girl who'd been next to me yesterday when I smashed open my locker.
I remembered her as mild-mannered, getting along well with everyone.
Not the outgoing, assertive type, though.
Yet here she was, approaching me—someone she wasn't close with.
And right now. On purpose.
It was just a question about a problem, but she looked like she'd psyched herself up for it—lips pressed tight.
It couldn't just be nerves about talking to me.
Then maybe...
“But I don't really get this one either... Is it okay to ask Do-yeon?”
Do-yeon was better at math than me. I added that bit.
The hesitant Se-in gave a slight nod.
Holy crap!
“Sit here!”
I excitedly cleared the seat next to me.
I poked Do-yeon, who had her mouth slightly agape in surprise.
“You heard? Teach us this.”
“...Yeah. Okay.”
Do-yeon blinked, then slowly gripped her mechanical pencil.
Likewise rigid, Se-in clenched her fists under the desk.
The focus pouring onto the workbook she'd brought was excessive for just one problem.
Gulp. No clue which of the three of us swallowed.
“This one's super easy once you recognize the pattern...”
“Oh...”
“Ooh...”
Awkward reactions floated in the air, everyone trying their best to seem sociable.
“If you can't figure it out, just plug in the choices one by one. For multiple choice, that might be faster.”
Do-yeon drew a star next to the answer and finished her explanation.
“Got it?”
“Yeah! Thanks, ...Do-yeon.”
“...No problem.”
Se-in added softly, and Do-yeon replied even softer while shaking her head.
And then a brief silence.
Like the magic fizzling out on a blind date...
As for me, I was so proud of Se-in for breaking the ice that I wanted to plant one on her cheek...
But I had zero idea what to say next.
My wandering gaze landed on Se-in's smartphone on the desk—and the idol photocard slotted behind it.
A member of a boy group that, in my future, had basically disbanded with everyone going solo. But right now, they were fresh rookies.
“Oh, Se-in, you like this guy?”
“Yeah! Da-hye, you too?!”
Bingo. Se-in's voice suddenly got louder.
She asked if I was in the fanclub too—then whipped out her phone gallery, shoving dozens of photos of the same heavily eye-made-up guy in my face.
“I seriously wanna marry him. But the problem is...”
“Problem?”
“The age gap's way too big.”
“You're worried you're too young for him?”
“Yeah. I don't think he'd see me as dating material.”
“Don't sweat it.”
He's gonna marry someone seven years younger than you later.
Age is an issue, sure.
You're just too old!
“And I've got this worry...”
Eyes sparkling, Se-in showed skinship pics of her future hubby with another member and launched into a rant about how those two were totally dating.
“So the guy you wanna marry is going out with another member in his group?”
I could only chuckle, knowing who they both ended up with, but surprisingly, Do-yeon listened intently.
“If they're flaunting it this much, all the insiders already know.”
“Exactly! So...”
Se-in paused and snuck a glance at Jeong Eun-seong in the corner.
She lowered her voice conspiratorially.
“Da-hye, are you close with Jeong Eun-seong?”
“Huh? Not at all?”
I matched her volume and glanced his way.
He'd apparently bought a 1L milk carton sometime, now perched on his desk while he applied hand cream. From this distance, I could clearly see the girls in our class constantly side-eyeing him.
“For real? You two were messing around during class.”
“Messing around? I was the one getting unilaterally attacked.”
“Still. You're the only one in class who's talked to him. I wanna get friendly too, to ask about my faves... He seems kinda quiet.”
Talkative, more like.
“How is he? Nice guy?”
“He's a total nutjob.”
“He's so cute...”
“Uh...”
“Oh yeah, there's this handsome guy on the morning #12 bus too...”
“Huh? I know him!”
“Right? Want some Mike & Ike?”
“Yeah!”
Just like that, the awkwardness between Do-yeon, me, and Se-in had vanished.
-What high school girls need to bond-
1. Mike & Ike 2. Handsome guys
“So, Da-hye, you don't go to cram school?”
“Nah. I just study alone.”
“Lucky. You must be super smart.”
“Nah, I'm gonna ask Do-yeon for math help too. It's tough.”
“Right? Do-yeon explains it so well. ...Hey, guys, if you don't get something, ask Do-yeon.”
Se-in suddenly addressed some other girls.
One was in the seat ahead of me, the other at a four-desk cluster. They looked like Se-in's friends.
Her expression was resolute, as if they'd already gossiped about Do-yeon and me among themselves.
The girl in front of me (Se-in's friend 1) stayed silent with a reluctant look, while the one at the four-desk flatly refused.
“I'm good.”
If it weren't for the class bell ringing right then, the vibe would've turned super awkward.
Se-in gave an embarrassed smile and whispered,
“Sorry. She's been kinda sensitive lately. Says she hasn't been sleeping.”
“No, it's fine! That happens.”
And then another silence...
“Why hasn't the teacher shown up yet?”
“Yeah, seriously.”
What's the holdup?