Chapter 157
Chapter 157
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: The Truth Behind the Torn Costume
"Um..."
The fidgeting Ha-jun's mom in the corner tentatively raised her hand.
I turned around, thinking, Now what do you want?
"I'm really sorry, but... I wore those clothes."
Huh?
"What are you talking about?"
"The costume was so pretty... I wanted to try it on too... I put it on and took pictures to post on my profile..."
"......"
"......"
Everyone understood immediately.
Ji-su had a slender build. The costume tailored to her frame was naturally small.
On the other hand, Ha-jun's mom had a larger physique.
If someone like her tried to force herself into Ji-su's costume, it ripping wouldn't be surprising at all.
"Ah, what the..."
Disappointed sighs rose from all around.
"Hey, why didn't you say so earlier?"
"The clothes ripped, and you just left it like that here?"
The kids, deflated, scolded her.
That was when the second twist happened.
Ha-jun's mom's face flushed red as she shouted.
"B-but...! Ji-su said it was okay for me to try it on!"
"What?"
"Last time, I was touching the pretty costume...! Ji-su said if I was curious, I should try it on!"
"......"
"I told her right away it wouldn't fit! But she said since it's hanbok, it's free-sized and would go on if I tried...!"
"......"
"So I tried it like she said, and the skirt fit perfectly, my arms went in...! I thought if I just pulled a little more, it would close...!"
"......"
"......"
"I'm sorry......"
Silence fell.
In the quiet, someone sniffled.
It was Bang Eun-ji.
Bang Eun-ji, eyes brimming with tears, rolled her eyes up to stare at the ceiling.
The kids snapped out of it at her face, exploding with injustice. Embarrassed, they started speaking one by one.
"What? Eun-ji didn't do anything wrong."
"Yeah. She just tried it on forcefully and it happened."
"If she hadn't spoken up, Eun-ji would've been the only one suffering."
Hearing those words mixed with apology and embarrassment made her even sadder. Tears finally streamed down Bang Eun-ji's cheeks, which she'd been holding back.
"I'm sorry......"
"Don't cry, okay?"
The two closest friends hugged and patted Bang Eun-ji.
Soon, the blame shifted to Ji-su.
"Han Ji-su, why didn't you say anything?"
"Exactly. We didn't know and unnecessarily blamed Eun-ji."
"Why say stuff like it ripped because it couldn't handle the weight? You knew it wasn't Eun-ji's fault."
"You encouraged her to try it on and then..."
While the target of blame changed, I quietly watched Ji-su.
I couldn't believe this was the Ji-su I knew, getting caught in such childish, obvious scheming.
Still, wasn't Ji-su supposed to be smart?
She'd said the same to me. That we were smart.
But what was this, Ji-su?
Even as blame bordering on accusations flew at her, Ji-su's expression didn't change. Only when the kids quieted down after saying their piece did Ji-su speak.
"I never egged Hye-won on."
Hye-won was Ha-jun's mom's name.
"Huh?"
"Hye-won said she wanted to try it on. How could I tell her not to because she's fat? So I said it was okay, but I didn't think she'd actually wear it."
Shouldn't she have known better not to...? Ji-su added, lowering her eyebrows, sounding genuinely troubled now that things had escalated.
"I wasn't there when Hye-won tried it on. So I only saw it ripped just now."
"......"
"It's not even certain Hye-won ripped it, so if I asked first, it'd look suspicious. Plus, talking about weight issues casually is kinda rude......"
"That excuse sounds pretty specific for a frame job."
Jeong Eun-seong's snarky chuckle was buried under Ji-su's flustered words.
Ji-su continued, looking at Ha-jun's mom, who had turned red up to her neck and clamped her mouth shut.
"I did think of Hye-won when I saw the ripped clothes...... But I didn't want to bring it up carelessly and hurt her feelings. I was trying to smooth things over."
"Don't lie! You did it on purpose!"
Bang Eun-ji cut off her excuse.
"If you suspected something, you should've said so! Or at least asked her if she knew anything! You pinned it on me right away!"
"I didn't pin it on you. I said it was fine."
"You said it was a sewing problem!"
"That was just something I said....... So what was I supposed to say?"
That it seemed like Hye-won ripped it by wearing it, even if uncertain, and pin it on her? Ji-su said.
"It wasn't okay for you to be framed as the culprit, but okay to frame Hye-won?"
"Th-that...!"
Bang Eun-ji huffed, unable to win the argument. The watching kids intervened.
"Hey, hey, stop it."
"Yeah, let's not fight."
"Ji-su was trying to be considerate in her own way. It's not easy to bring up weight issues directly."
"It wouldn't have happened if Seong Hye-won hadn't tried it on."
"But she probably didn't know it'd rip."
"Yeah, no one's at fault."
...I hate that kind of thing.
When it's obvious who's wronged, but they go, Hey, stop fighting, why fight? and shut everyone up.
I looked at Ji-su.
She's smiling. Like always.
...Really, to the very end......
I was about to open my mouth in anger when...
Bang Eun-ji, face beet red, interrupted the kids and yelled.
"Your mom came to our store!"
Silence blanketed the clubroom instantly.
"Your mom came to our house because I talked to you, and said stuff to my mom! That's why my mom beat me like hell! And your mom was watching it all!"
"......"
"......"
"But since I kept doing drama club and even made your costume, and kids praised it, you got pissed and did this on purpose, right?! To screw me over?!"
"Hey, Eun-ji......"
"Shh. Let Eun-ji speak."
A friend trying to stop her was held back by another.
"Explain this too! Say this isn't true! Fuck, what, now that I said this, you'll come to my house again and beat me?!"
"......"
"......"
"What did she say?! That you need to study so don't disturb you?! That kids like me who can't study are a disturbance just by being near you?! What are you, a princess? Royalty?! Then go live in your castle and tell me to get lost! What excuse for this?!"
Bang Eun-ji panted heavily after unleashing her pent-up rage.
Everyone stood there shocked, mouths agape.
No one spoke.
Not even Ji-su.
"Kids, why are you all standing around?"
Until Yi Mong-ryong Teacher opened the clubroom door.
"Something happen? Huh? ...Why's that costume like that?"
"Ah... It just kinda..."
I glanced at the pale Ha-jun's mom and said.
"It's definitely not Eun-ji's fault. It got handled by a bunch of people here, so that's probably what happened. We have time before the performance, so we can just fix it."
"Really? Eun-ji must've been shocked. You made it so pretty. Want me to drop it off at a tailor on my way home?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. There's a luxury repair place across the street in that apartment complex."
Since it's Eun-ji's luxury costume, I'll take it to a luxury tailor. Yi Mong-ryong Teacher joked.
No one laughed.
Only the teacher looked awkward.
"Bang Eun-ji, you okay?"
"Yeah. Fuck, feels good."
Honestly, I blurted it out in anger without thinking, but damn, should've done it sooner. Bang Eun-ji added, hand on her chest, exhaling deeply.
"Not worried? ...You'll get in trouble."
Like Han Ji-su's mom showing up again and causing a scene.
"Of course it's not your fault at all...... But separately, we can't help if your mom scolds you."
Bang Eun-ji shrugged at my concern.
"It's fine. If she says something, I'll just leave home."
"Eh?"
"Sleep at a PC bang or sauna for a few days. Or a friend's house."
"Hey, still..."
"My mom kicks me out every time she's drunk anyway."
It's her house, so get out. Bang Eun-ji giggled. Not funny.
"...If your mom hits you, come to my house."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Really."
"Do I have to study if I go?"
"...You have to study even if you don't come to my house?"
"Ugh. Never mind, won't go."
Bang Eun-ji shook her head.
"Still, good thing Seong Hye-won told the truth. If she'd stayed quiet... fucking nightmare. I would've been the only one screwed."
"Right? Honestly, didn't expect her to step up like that."
"She looks like a coward anyway. No way she'd ignore it after causing this mess."
"Yeah, figured she'd hide because she's spineless."
People always have their unexpected sides...
As I nodded at the surprising realization, Bang Eun-ji said beside me.
"Ah, but seriously, Han Ji-su and I just don't mesh. Her mom said we're total opposites. Said my fate is to devour Ji-su."
I thought it was some cult bullshit when she mentioned it, but it's real? Bang Eun-ji laughed.
Hearing that, a thought flashed through my mind.
"......"
No way... That anonymous parent who said the fortunes on the Help Paper was Han Ji-su's mom?