Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Surprise in the Boys' Room
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"Oh, the dorms..."
"Not bad at all."
"There's even a convenience store. Let's raid it later for cup ramen and snacks."
"They sell booze too?"
"You think they'll sell to us?"
"Heh."
While the teachers went off to check in, my friends buzzed around the lobby, all hyped up and chattering away. And there I was in the middle, totally wiped out.
'I just wanna crash, shower, and sleep.'
But no such luck.
A school trip...
Doesn't really kick off until nighttime, when we're on our own...!
You know about those games? Truth or Dare where nobody spills the real dirt and everyone's just fishing for secrets. Mafia where you're secretly bummed if the moderator never picks you as mafia. That embarrassing game from way back whose rules I can't even remember anymore. Pillow fights and all that.
Did you know? If you search "Truth or Dare" on a portal site, the top result is some post asking, "Is confessing during Truth or Dare at a school trip a good idea?"
Posted seven years ago.
Just in case you're wondering, it's not like my pre-regression self looked it up out of seven years' worth of paranoia.
Really not.
For real.
"Looks like there's an annex here too."
This school trip dorm beats the one from before regression. Kinda weird how I noticed while glancing around.
That's when my eyes met Ji-su's. She was chatting with her classmates over there.
And just like before, she smoothly looked away.
Ji-su's friends whispered among themselves, shooting me dirty looks. Not friendly ones.
"......"
Ji-su...
She could go a whole year without talking to me after I bombed the college entrance exam and ghosted everyone. But asking her to apologize to Eun-ji, who got hurt because of her? That's too much to bear?
All that persistence she showed when she was the one doing the forgiving vanishes the second she's the one begging for it?
No point trying to grab her and talk it out if this is how it goes.
"Hey, everyone! One person from each room, come get your keys! Unpack and head to the cafeteria by 6:30!"
"You know there are kids from other schools here too, right? If I hear about any trouble..."
"No moving between floors or rooms after roll call. Got it?"
"Sigh."
I'd gotten mad, then disappointed, then beat myself up over it. Back and forth, I had no clue what I even felt about Ji-su anymore.
"Siiiigh."
Might as well go unpack.
"Make sure you come down for dinner! I'll swing by each room soon to check headcounts!"
What if the food's worse than our cafeteria slop?! Leaving our worried homeroom teacher behind, I headed for the stairs.
Su-a whispered beside me.
"We're meeting up at Jin-ha's room tonight. Boys are coming too."
"Oh."
By the way, excluding Park Su-hwan's crew, there aren't many guys left in our class.
So Jeong Eun-seong, Seo Jae-kyeom, Lee Seo-jun, Jeong Na-jun—the ones worth remembering by name—are all rooming together.
I worried Jeong Eun-seong might not mesh with them since he's such a lone wolf, but he fit right in. Guess it's the handsome factor? The other guys look out for him.
"So everyone except Park Su-hwan's group?"
"Yup."
Great team spirit. Class President Su-a puffed up with pride.
"Does chicken deliver here?"
"If it does, I'll take seasoned. I'll eat it all myself."
"You Do Ha-jun or what?"
"Harsh."
Unpacked with my hyped-up friends spouting nonsense, checked out the balcony too.
"Anyone got a hair straightener?!"
"Girls! Test the water? Hot water coming out fine? Lights all working? Doors locking properly? Anyone sick or need anything?"
Homeroom teacher did her headcount rounds.
We spilled out into the hallway all rowdy for dinner. Right then, the boys from the room across came out—bam, face-to-face.
Faces I see every day, but in casual clothes? Kinda fresh.
Seo Jae-kyeom had his bangs down since the post-rafting shower. Lee Seo-jun's loungewear was neat as ever, like him. Jeong Na-jun... dude, you sleeping in that?
"Where's Eun-seong?"
Su-a beat me to the question.
"Inside."
"Not eating?"
"He's on a regimen."
"Ah."
Of course. The penguin crew nodded sagely.
I tilted my head.
'Jeong Eun-seong eats dinner like a champ though?'
Stuffing his face then hitting workouts to grow taller.
Sick or something?
"......"
"Da-hye, you coming?"
"Yeah... one sec."
Forgot something. Save me a seat downstairs. I waved my friends on.
"Cool, I'll Kakao you from the table!"
They nodded and headed down.
"Grab it now and let's go together."
Even oblivious Seo Jae-kyeom hung back, probably thinking I had to hit the bathroom.
No clue I was checking on Jeong Eun-seong.
Waited till the kids cleared the hall, then eyed the boys' room.
"......"
He might really be skipping dinner for training, but he'd seemed off lately—drained. It bugged me.
After a beat, I knocked lightly.
Knock knockity knock.
"Jeong Eun-seong."
Silence.
"Can I come in?"
Yelled it, but no answer. Tilted my head, grabbed the knob—click, it turned.
Secret room unlocked.
Door swung open. Behind it, Jeong Eun-seong—shirtless upper body, half-sleeve tee dangling on his arm like he was putting it on or taking it off. Eye contact, dead-on.
"Aaah!"
Screamed and slammed the door.
What do I do!
What do I do!
No!
Whoa!
Am I getting arrested?!
Oh my god...
First time seeing a body like that...
What even is...
First semester Seo Jae-kyeom flashed abs, now this guy shows the full package...
While I spaced out, chaos inside—crash, bang! Something tipped and shattered.
Moments later, a now-dressed Jeong Eun-seong flung the door open. His thick hair a total mess.
"Come in."
Stepping over scattered shoes in the entryway. He rubbed his knee—must've tripped—and headed inside first.
I followed, stammering.
"Dude, sorry..."
"It's... fine."
"I just... grabbed the knob with no thought, and it opened..."
"No biggie..."
"Heard you were skipping dinner... thought maybe you were sick or something..."
"I'm good..."
"For real?"
Even if not today, you've looked down lately.
"Nothing going on?"
But he just shook his head.
After hesitating, Jeong Eun-seong spoke.
"Thought you were my stalker."
"Huh?"
"...Earlier. At the rest stop."
"Oh..."
That's why he told me to hide.
"Homeroom teacher said this morning she chased those creeps off when they showed up at school... Figured they followed our bus. Didn't want them messing with you. They know your face."
"......"
"Feels like I'm totally useless to you."
"Hey, no you're not."
I got serious.
"Forgot midterms last semester? You carried me all the way to school."
Without you, I wouldn't have made it to Mom's hospital that day, taken the exam, or gotten out of that drama club room alone before...
"Anyway. You're a huge help to me."
"Anyone with a body could've done that..."
Still, his face stayed gloomy.
Slumped his shoulders hard. Barely noticeable with those right angles anyway.
...I'd planned to corner him about debuting on this trip. Timing shot now?
I barely know the industry. What if he signs a contract? Can't back out then, right? Penalty fees?
If so, gotta stop him ASAP.
Today or tomorrow. No choice.
Hid my impatience, stuck out my hand.
"Jeong Eun-seong. Say stalkers crash here, grab our homeroom teacher hostage, and demand you ink a marriage registration. What do?"
"...? Carry you and bolt. Like before."
Hostage is homeroom teacher, but me?
"So what do you need for that? Stamina boost?"
"...Eat?"
"Bingo. Let's go."
Dinner first, then Truth or Dare.
"Su-a's been hyping it since morning. Skip it, and you're in deep trouble."
"Got it."
He nodded and stood.
"But Jeong Eun-seong."
"Yeah?"
"Your shirt's on backward."
"Oh."
"Fix it quick."
"Okay."
"......"
"......"
"......"
"...Undress in front of you?"
"Ack! No!"
Sorry!