Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Landlady Encounter
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Our villa's landlady.
Talkative, diligent, full of stamina, and way too interested in other people's business.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that 99.9% of the neighborhood rumors come straight from her mouth.
The moment our eyes met—her small eyes sparkling with curiosity—goosebumps shot up my arms.
This is bad.
"Looks like your boyfriend walked you home? Holding hands so tight in the dead of night~?"
"Ah, um. Landlady. It's not like that."
"Aigoo, no need to make excuses to me. Yeah, Da-hye's at that age where boys start turning your head."
Not really. I'm at the age to be buried in my studies.
"Since we ran into each other, introduce him to me too. Hey, Da-hye, what's your boyfriend's name?"
"He's not my boyfriend."
That's when Jeong Eun-seong spoke up.
"She's my girlfriend."
"Eung?"
"She's a girl."
"……."
"……."
A chilly silence fell, but Jeong Eun-seong remained perfectly calm.
"How do I look like a man? Some incomplete, smelly creature?"
"…Hey, stop it."
I jabbed his side with my elbow.
"Why stop when I'm just trying to reveal the truth?"
Because it's not the truth….
"Can't even call a woman a woman…."
"……."
"And yet, I am a woman."
"……."
I pressed a hand to my forehead.
The landlady looked just as dumbfounded as I felt. Even with her jaw dropped in disbelief right in front of him, Jeong Eun-seong stubbornly pressed on.
"It's true."
"Aigoo, fine. Da-hye, get inside quick."
The landlady, who had lost all will to fight, waved me off and left. Jeong Eun-seong yelled at her retreating back as she headed toward the flower bed behind the villa.
"Bye, unnie."
"Grumphle…."
"What, Kang Da-hye? Ashamed of your girlfriend?"
"Argh, seriously."
Honestly, up until a moment ago, I'd been feeling pretty resolute.
I'm gonna be a great adult! I'd clenched my fists and gritted my teeth with that determination.
Now it all fizzled out with a pathetic pop.
What took its place was absurd laughter.
I forcibly pulled down the corners of my mouth, which kept trying to curl up in ridiculous amusement, and shoved Jeong Eun-seong's back.
"Go home already. The taxi fare's gonna exceed 50,000 won at this rate."
I pushed with all my might using both hands, but he didn't budge an inch. Looking down at me, Jeong Eun-seong spoke in an arrogant tone.
"Kang Da-hye."
"What."
"Don't get the wrong idea. You're only the second person I hate in our class."
"Jeez."
At this point, is that line some kind of incantation?
"If you're gonna hate someone, make me number one. I want to be first at everything."
"Just get inside already. Before the landlady circles back and starts talking again."
"This is right in front of my house?"
"Yeah. Three seconds and I'm in. Hurry up and go."
"…Fine."
With no choice, I turned first.
Jeong Eun-seong really planned to stand there until I opened the door and went in, rooted to the spot.
'The landlady's not some monster.'
Even standing in that dingy alley, he looked like he stepped out of a photoshoot. I snuck a glance at him, then suddenly remembered something and asked.
"By the way, you haven't been teasing me about Jae lately?"
It felt like days since that topic came up.
Jeong Eun-seong rolled his eyes at my question.
"Ah. That."
"Yeah."
"Lost its fun."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Whoa, insane! What kind of cops act like that?"
"They just blew it off 'cause they were kids, right?"
"Totally!"
"My friend had something similar once. She got scammed trying to snag concert tickets secondhand and had to go to the station."
"Hee-min?"
"Yeah. But the cops were like, 'Come back with your parents.' She begged, saying if her parents found out she spent over 100,000 won on a concert, she'd be dead meat—please, isn't there any way…."
"And?"
"They told her, 'If you can't tell your parents, why tell us?' and sent her packing. Said to take it as a lesson, focus on studying from now on, and stop chasing celebrities."
"Crazy… Why talk like that?"
"Exactly. Needing parents? Fine, whatever. But why say it like that?"
"So frustrating!"
Gyeong Se-in glared. Do-yeon quietly chimed in from the side.
"Next time something like that happens, tell me. I'll ask my mom if she can help."
"Why? Is your mom a cop, Do-yeon?"
Do-yeon's mom is a prosecutor.
Leaning back in my chair, I said,
"Yesterday, I really wanted to grow up fast."
My mind's already an adult, but this kid body holds me back—it's so frustrating.
If Peter Pan showed up right now like, "Da-hye, let's go to Neverland and live as eternal kids,"
I'd whack him with my workbook and chase him off.
Voting rights, driver's license, R-rated movies, real estate contracts, working holiday visas—the perks of being a real adult! The best!
"Still, feels good. Se-in's auntie is the best."
"Right, Ga-eun. Auntie talked to your parents real nice, so you can switch academies."
"For real? I won't get in trouble?"
"Nah. She said your grades shot up so much, the advanced class would be better for you. And she'll hook you up with her friend's other academy."
Gyeong Se-in leaned in and whispered,
"Seo Jae-kyeom goes there."
"Crazy, I'm going right now."
This is all thanks to Da-hye. Kim Ga-eun said that as she shoved a ham-stuffed hotdog into my mouth.
Today's lunch menu had ☆Spicy Chicken Galbi Soup★, so we ate that plus the tteokbokki and hotdogs we'd talked about yesterday.
Eating like this and still hungry later.
"That day Seo Jae-kyeom chased off that creep—you know, I was wondering why you told me to KakaoTalk right after we split up? Turns out it was evidence."
"Ah, that."
I swallowed the hotdog and took over.
"They said even just telling a friend the specifics of what happened that day counts as evidence."
"How'd you know that?"
"Got dismissed at the station last time, got so pissed I couldn't study. So I did some research."
Good thing I did. Who knew it'd come in so handy.
"You did great too, Ga-eun. I never even thought of a whistle."
"I did some research too. Wanted pepper spray at first, but they said it's useless in real emergencies."
"That pervert's dumbstruck face…."
"He's getting divorced, right?"
"Rake him for alimony till he's broke."
"Still yapping about how pretty we were and couldn't help staring…."
"Who cares if we're pretty or not? Staring's creepy! Imagine someone staring at your face—it'd feel gross and uncomfortable, right? We feel the exact same!"
The fired-up Gyeong Se-in slammed the table.
"Is it that hard to understand we can feel the exact same emotions?!"
"Gyeong Se-in! Got energy to spare?!"
The PE teacher, who'd come to buy sausage bread from the canteen, spotted her and barked.
"Wanna burn that fighting spirit on the track with me? Go!"
"…Run."
"Let's."
"One, two… Argh, look at Kang Da-hye bolt first!"
"Sorry, guys!"
I've gotta survive too!
Panting, I dashed straight up to our 4th-floor classroom. Bursting in with the momentum, I nearly collided with Seo Jae-kyeom, who was heading out with a basketball.
"Ah, sorry. You first."
I stepped aside to let him pass.
Lunch break's got less than 15 minutes left—basketball now? He's got stamina. Always running around like that and never smells.
But for once, Seo Jae-kyeom didn't leave right away. He talked to me.
"Hotdog?"
"Hah, does it smell?"
"No. Ketchup on your face."
"Ah."
I rubbed my cheek sheepishly. Meanwhile, Seo Jae-kyeom just stood there blankly in front of me.
"Not going? Your friends are waiting."
"They'll start without me."
"How, when you've got the ball…."
Go quick so they don't wait. That's what I meant to urge, but he wouldn't budge.
Seo Jae-kyeom, staring straight at me, pouted.
"No talk for me today either?"
"Talk?"
"Nothing happen?"
"Ah."
Stuff did happen. Went to the police station, even—second time since regressing!
But I wasn't directly involved.
No way I'm telling.
"Nope."