Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Chocolate and Confrontations
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"My mood's already shit enough, and what's with this goddamn headband?"
Song Yeo-reum spat out the curse without holding back and grabbed the ribbon on Bang Eun-ji's head, shaking it. With a snap, the ribbon detached from the headband and dangled loosely.
"You look ugly as hell already—think slapping this crap on makes you pretty? You just look like a decked-out pig. Don't try so hard, ugly."
Song Yeo-reum's sharp voice echoed loudly down the hallway.
Even though she was blatantly taking out her anger, Bang Eun-ji couldn't say a word. Her face flushed red as she frantically combed her bangs with one hand.
But Song Yeo-reum didn't stop.
"Get a grip on reality. Drawing lines on a pumpkin doesn't make it a watermelon, Eun-ji. Huh? You're just plain ugly."
"……."
"Spend that time getting plastic surgery or losing some weight."
With every word, Song Yeo-reum jabbed Bang Eun-ji's forehead. Bang Eun-ji stared at the floor in silence, her eyes brimming with tears.
After venting her frustration in front of everyone, Song Yeo-reum gave Bang Eun-ji's shoulder a final shove as she walked past.
Her eyes met mine just as she headed this way.
"You…!"
Spotting me, Song Yeo-reum stormed over and raised her hand.
"You little shit…!"
"Waaah."
Save me. I trembled and quickly ducked behind Jeong Eun-seong, who happened to be right next to me. When did this guy sneak up beside me?
A teacher coming out of the staff room shouted.
"Song Yeo-reum! I told you if you approach Eun-seong one more time, you're in big trouble!"
"F***…."
"Back off now!"
"F***ing…."
Whew. Listen to her curse.
"Kang Da-hye, one of these days I'll beat your ass for real."
Song Yeo-reum glared at me with a warning before turning on her heel and stomping off.
"Where do you think you're going! Song Yeo-reum!"
Ignoring the teacher's shouts, Song Yeo-reum stormed right out of the school.
"What are you looking at! F***!"
Over there, Bang Eun-ji—her face beet red—yelled at the kids glancing her way. Her friend linked arms with the sobbing Bang Eun-ji and led her away, consoling her.
With the spectacle over, the crowd dispersed one by one.
Jeong Eun-seong vanished too. Without a word. Geez. Enjoy your lunch, jerk?
As we headed to the cafeteria, Do-yeon asked.
"What do you think is Bang Eun-ji's reason for sticking with Song Yeo-reum even after getting humiliated like that?"
"She's scared of being ostracized from the group too?"
It bruised her pride because of Song Yeo-reum, but the benefits of hanging around her probably outweighed that.
Do-yeon shook her head at my answer.
"Even so, putting up with that kind of humiliation…. I don't get it."
"You never have to. Not us."
Let's just eat and study.
Today's lunch has black sugar bubble latte, they say.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "So, Song Yeo-reum…."
Seo Jae-kyeom tossed his phone onto the bed in speaker mode and pulled clothes out of his suitcase to unpack.
Even though Jae-kyeom hadn't said a word, the person on the other end was chattering away excitedly.
"She ran into Kang Da-hye head-on, started cursing and raising her hand, but Da-hye dodged right behind Jeong Eun-seong."
"…Behind who?"
"Jeong Eun-seong!"
"……."
"Hello? Seo Jae-kyeom?"
"Shut up. What about her locker?"
"Who? Kang Da-hye?"
"Yeah."
"That seemed fine…. She had all her books."
"What do you actually know?"
"Hey, I'm not her boyfriend—I can't know everything…."
"You never will be. Kang Da-hye's boyfriend."
After snapping at him, Jae-kyeom dropped what he was doing and slumped onto the floor.
Leaning against the bed instead of using the perfectly good chairs, he pulled over the phone he'd tossed aside.
He logged into Chasebook.
In the few days he hadn't gone to school, he'd posted five times—frequent for Jae-kyeom, who rarely used Chasebook.
Each post got a hundred likes within ten minutes and dozens of comments, but none from Kang Da-hye.
As he scrolled down, Jae-kyeom's thumb paused on a photo from winter break at an Australian beach.
The last post with Kang Da-hye's like.
That was already weeks ago….
'Did Kang Da-hye get hacked?'
Or maybe she lost her phone?
Scowling, Jae-kyeom checked the class group chat next.
He saw Kang Da-hye's announcement.
-Chemistry periodic table test today!!!
Kang Da-hye had posted three announcements total.
A few days ago: -Next week chemistry periodic table test!!!
Yesterday: -Tomorrow chemistry periodic table test!!!
This morning: -Today chemistry periodic table test!!!
Do Ha-jun
Quitting is easier lol 07:41
Study instead of KakaoTalk 07:55
Even though she was clearly in the same KakaoTalk group, Kang Da-hye hadn't made any attempt to get Jae-kyeom's attention.
No casual messages, no overreacting to his words.
Just post the announcement and vanish.
When Jae-kyeom irritably left the noisy group chat, it was the homeroom teacher—not Kang Da-hye—who re-added him.
After leaving, Jae-kyeom clung to his phone expecting a KakaoTalk from her, only to get scolded by his mom at dinner for staring at it.
"Ask Kang Da-hye what happened for you?"
"No thanks. Not curious."
"Why? I'll ask for you."
"I said I'm not curious."
"Fine. Hey, but Kang Da-hye…."
This guy's been talking about Kang Da-hye nonstop. Does he like her?
"Hey, do you like Kang Da-hye?"
"Huh? Nah, I don't like girls who are too intense."
"……."
"I prefer girls with some flaws, you know? Airheaded types. Ones who smile a lot. Honestly, Kang Da-hye's kinda scary…."
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"Even those girls hate your guts."
"Huh? The airheaded ones?"
"No. Girls like Kang Da-hye. They hate you too."
"What…."
"Girls like that don't date guys like you. They only go for guys just like them. Top guys! Those guys are lining up to catch her eye, so who the hell are you to judge her? What makes you think you can?"
"No, I…."
"Worry about your own life. Kang Da-hye's standards are sky-high. You'll never date her. Got it?!"
Jae-kyeom yelled, then hung up without waiting for a reply.
On the other end, Jae-kyeom's friend stared blankly at the disconnected phone and muttered.
"Why'd I get chewed out…?"
Because you spouted nonsense.
Whatever. Jae-kyeom lay back on the bed.
Resting the back of his hand on his forehead, his gaze drifted sideways to the desk—toward the neatly wrapped box of chocolates.
"……."
"Jae-kyeom, Vice President's leaving! Come down quick!"
"……."
"Seo Jae-kyeom! Aren't you going to say goodbye?"
"…Coming."
Jae-kyeom slowly got up.
Even after standing, he didn't head down right away. The boy's large hand tapped the chocolate box once.
Tomorrow was the day Jae-kyeom finally returned to school.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day, Jae-kyeom arrived at school early for once, carrying a shopping bag with the chocolates.
'I hate this girly crap.'
He'd given gifts to girlfriends before, but never brought chocolates to school. But Kang Da-hye wasn't his girlfriend.
It was just repaying a favor.
'Hand it over and be done.'
That was the plan, but Kang Da-hye was nowhere in sight.
Her familiar bag sat alone on her desk, where she usually sat writing or reading.
He considered just leaving it on the desk.
'But I promised.'
After a moment's hesitation, Jae-kyeom headed to the next class over.
"Gasp, Jae-kyeom!"
"Seo Jae-kyeom, long time no see!"
As soon as Jae-kyeom entered through the back door of Class 1, tons of kids greeted him. He gave half-hearted responses while scanning for a familiar face.
"Han Ji-su."
"Oh, Seo Jae-kyeom!"
Spotting him, Ji-su stood up.
"What brings you to our class?"
"Seen Kang Da-hye around?"
"…Da-hye?"
"Yeah. Her bag's at her desk, but she's not."
"No clue…. I just got here too."
"Ah."
Got it. Jae-kyeom nodded and turned to leave without lingering. Ji-su watched him go, alternating glances between the item in his hand and his profile, a subtle smile forming.
"Seo Jae-kyeom."
"Yeah?"
"First time. You've come to me looking for Da-hye."
"Has it?"
Come to think of it, he usually went straight to Kang Da-hye and ended up asking for Ji-su that way.
"Oh, there's Kang Da-hye. I'm out."
"Sure. Bye."
Ji-su, still smiling, waved lightly. Seo Jae-kyeom was already looking away from her.