Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Stalking Fan
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Jeong Eun-seong was a famous trainee from a famous company.
He had already appeared in several music videos and pictorials, and he even had his own fan cafe.
Whenever a few kids in unfamiliar school uniforms gathered in front of the school, nine times out of ten, they were Jeong Eun-seong's fans.
But even so, it was rare for anyone to set up camp in front of the school, waiting for him this late.
And by an adult, no less.
The moment I realized who she was, I hid my upper body behind my book. Jeong Eun-seong's name tag was pinned to the chest of the knit sweater I was wearing.
I examined the woman with her glossy eyes.
'Definitely her.'
She was the sasaeng fan who would send food to our class on special days like Jeong Eun-seong's birthday, school trips, mock exams, or festivals, and then come to the school just to catch a glimpse of his face.
She'd snap photos of Jeong Eun-seong with a camera that looked like something a war journalist would carry, and she'd even buy meals for the kids in our class who she recognized.
Then she'd accidentally capture Seo Jae-kyeom in a passing shot and circulate it in the sasaengs' group chat.
I remembered how she'd dug into Seo Jae-kyeom's info through his Facebook and started sending him messages, only to get caught by Seo Jae-kyeom's mom, who threatened to sue. There was a huge fuss.
...At some point, Jeong Eun-seong started taking taxis to and from school just to avoid her.
"......"
The sasaeng turned her gaze back to me as I stared at her. I quickly looked down.
'There's madness in her eyes.'
Jeong Eun-seong stepped in front of me and bowed politely to the woman.
"Hello."
"Yeah, hi~ Do you remember noona's name, Eun-seong?"
"...No."
"Tch."
The woman pouted cutely at Jeong Eun-seong's honest answer.
I wanted to tell him not to engage with her—she wasn't right in the head, coming to school this late at night to meet a minor—but...
'Is this a situation where I can butt in?'
As I hesitated, Jeong Eun-seong spoke up.
"Did you come to see me?"
"Of course! Noona left work on time today just to see you, Eun-seong. It was so tough... Praise me."
"Um, but coming all the way to school like this is a bit..."
Even as Jeong Eun-seong expressed his discomfort, the woman persisted stubbornly. She glanced at the watch on her wrist and winked with a smile.
"Ah, it is pretty late, huh? Sorry~ Noona's going on a business trip next week, so I didn't have time. Noona's a capable woman, right?"
"......"
"Noona didn't know about you during Valentine's. So I wanted to make it up on White Day."
White Day was coming up soon, right? She flaunted the shopping bag like it was on display and flipped her styled hair with one hand.
So... she'd only known about Jeong Eun-seong for less than a month and already came to the school gate?
"Noona sold stocks to buy this."
Once Eun-seong debuts, noona will cover the fan gifts and first-week sales too (first-week something? I didn't catch it). Just focus on debuting without worrying about anything. The woman added with a smile.
"Noona's really capable, no lie."
Once Eun-seong grows up, he'll be capable too...
"Here, take it quick. A gift from noona."
The woman shoved the shopping bag at Jeong Eun-seong again.
Jeong Eun-seong, looking troubled, glanced back at me. His tone grew firmer.
"Sorry, but I can't accept this."
"Why not? Your seniors all took them."
"I'll get in trouble with the company if I do."
"Liar. They all say that and take it anyway."
"I won't. If you keep this up, I'll call the company."
Like he really meant it, Jeong Eun-seong rummaged in his pocket and pretended to pull out his phone.
The sasaeng let out a scoff.
The shy, cute face from moments ago twisted into a mocking sneer. Tilting her head, she said,
"Eun-seong-ah, you don't have your phone."
"!"
"Your phone got taken away. Why pretend you have it?"
"......"
"Lying to fans before debut? You're hopeless. Hey, get it together. You haven't even debuted yet. No innocence to lose, and you're already losing it?"
"Excuse me."
This wasn't good.
I cut in, interrupting the sasaeng as she suddenly created a tense, frightening atmosphere.
"Self-study is over now. Teachers will be coming out soon... If an unfamiliar adult keeps standing in front of the school like this, you might get reported, unnie."
"......"
"And Jeong Eun-seong really can't accept this. Someone came to the school gate recently and did the same thing, got scolded by the teachers. They said if it happens one more time and disturbs the school, they'll transfer Jeong Eun-seong again."
"But who are you?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, you two coming out of school together this late. Who are you? Girlfriend?"
"No."
Jeong Eun-seong cut in sharply.
"She's our class president. I just transferred not long ago. The teacher told her to help me out, so we stayed together."
"I see..."
The woman looked me up and down and smirked.
She awkwardly shoved her hand into her pocket and fidgeted. That's when I realized she might be recording our conversation, if not filming.
'Good thing I didn't tell her to fuck off.'
Anyway, mentioning the teachers made her momentum falter just a bit.
"Let's go."
Seizing the moment, I quickly grabbed Jeong Eun-seong and dragged him away.
"Eun-seong-ah!"
The woman chased after us but stumbled as her high heel twisted her ankle. Undeterred, she ran toward us,
"What are you doing?!"
only to flinch at the shouts from some passing ladies.
"Why are you chasing those students? Do you know them?"
By then, I'd already pulled Jeong Eun-seong into an alley.
I slowly released his wrist.
Now free, Jeong Eun-seong rubbed his own wrist. When I asked about the leg we'd bumped earlier, he said it was fine. Peering out of the alley, I asked,
"Is she following?"
"Doesn't seem like it."
"She stopped when the adults intervened. But she ignored everything we said."
"Yeah."
She likes me, so why doesn't she listen to me? Jeong Eun-seong grumbled.
"There sure are a lot of weird adults these days..."
Like that uncle who chased Ga-eun yesterday.
If an adult said something to that uncle, would he stop too...?
Lost in thought, I heard Jeong Eun-seong suddenly say,
"I'll walk you home."
"Huh? No need."
"It's late. And you don't have your phone."
"I'm good. The way to my house is complicated. I'll just take the bus from here."
I pointed to the bus stop across the street.
"Bus comes in 6 minutes."
"...Fine."
He said fine, but he followed me anyway.
He sat me on the bench at the stop but didn't leave. Standing in front of me, Jeong Eun-seong looked down.
"......"
"......"
"Jeong Eun-seong..."
"What."
"You're going home to study, right? Science? You have to explain why the upper atmosphere is warmer."
"...You're such a nag."
He squeezed his eyes shut and opened them, looking dizzy. But he didn't seem upset.
"Even if I study my ass off, I can't beat you anyway."
"Have you tried?"
"No...?"
"Then what."
"Do I have to try...?"
"Don't make excuses. You can do anything. Except president."
Presidents have to be at least 40. At my addendum, Jeong Eun-seong's lips quirked up.
"Only people 40 and up can be president?"
"Didn't know?"
"Nope."
"Tsk tsk. Should've studied politics..."
"Instead of just studying."
Jeong Eun-seong finished my sentence.
"Bus is coming."
"Ah, yeah."
"Take care."
"...You too."
I waved him off to go.
But Jeong Eun-seong didn't leave. Not until I found a seat on the bus and it pulled away.
"...What time is it now."
I needed to get home quick and sleep to be in top form for studying tomorrow, but I thought it wouldn't have been so bad if the bus had been even a little later.
I buried my nose in Jeong Eun-seong's knit sweater that I'd forgotten to return. It still smelled nice.
"Kang Da-hye! Why are you so late! And you didn't pick up your phone!"
"Mom..."
"Why!"
"The night sky was just too pretty tonight."
"...? Are you sick or something?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day at school, I headed straight to the teachers' office.
I planned to plead with our homeroom teacher that Song Yeo-reum had locked me in the clubroom.
'She threw all the drama club props out the window. If I don't say something, it'll all come back on me.'
Times when you can't solve something yourself and have to tattle to an adult...
I felt like I was really back in my teens.
But there was already someone in the office.
"Jeong Eun-seong?"
He was sitting on the round chair in front of the homeroom teacher, tears streaming down his face like a chick's droppings.
Transparent droplets rolled down his cheeks from between his damp eyelashes.
"?!"
Why are you crying!?