Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Unexpected Nomination
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"Liar."
"There really wasn't."
"Just tell me. Kim Ga-eun already spilled everything yesterday."
"Kim Ga-eun did?"
"Yeah. On KakaoTalk."
"...Then isn't that enough?"
Why ask me again? I looked up at him curiously. Seo Jae-kyeom dribbled the basketball once as he met my gaze.
"I wanted to hear it from you too."
Oh, so you like hearing the same story from different perspectives twice?
"Fine. Then."
Seo Jae-kyeom had helped fend off that creepy guy, so he had a right to know.
"Let's go inside first."
I grabbed Seo Jae-kyeom's elbow and pulled. He followed obediently as I dragged him to the corner between the front door and the blackboard.
I glanced around, and Seo Jae-kyeom leaned down on his own, offering his ear.
"So this happened, and then that went down."
"Crazy."
"Yeah, totally insane. But the director showed up, thank goodness. Jeong Eun-seong helped a ton too..."
"But Da-hye."
"Yeah?"
A chill ran through me, and I stopped talking.
Why's he suddenly calling my name so affectionately?
'Da-hye.' Isn't that what he calls me when he's pissed but forcing politeness?
Like if I ever confessed without reading the room.
I pulled my face away from Seo Jae-kyeom's ear and stepped back.
Only then did I see his expression.
...Aren't we way too close right now?
From the side, it looked like Seo Jae-kyeom had me pinned between the wall and his body. If someone shot at me now, he'd take all the bullets.
Seo Jae-kyeom, who'd basically caged me with his body, glared at me.
"Why didn't you call me?"
"Huh?"
"I've been the one helping you all along. So why does some transfer student suddenly pop up and take over?"
"He's not a transfer student anymore; it's Jeong Eun-seong."
It's been almost a month since he transferred. How long are you gonna keep calling him that?
"Why does Jeong. Eun. Seong. suddenly pop up and help?"
"Well... I just happened to be talking to Jeong Eun-seong at the time."
"You talk to Jeong Eun-seong separately?"
"Not usually, just yesterday."
"Why?"
"He said he had a Korean history question."
"What a load of crap."
"Huh?"
"No tutor? Why ask you?"
I don't have one either, a tutor.
Jeong Eun-seong... who knows.
He probably has one for dancing and singing.
"Anyway, that's how it went. You were at cram school then anyway. Anyone helping was fine."
"But why hide it? Why say nothing happened?"
"Because it wasn't my business."
"You don't tell me if it's not your business?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
"The other kids tell me everything about their friends."
"Who are the other kids?"
"...The ones I used to date."
"You have surprisingly low standards?"
How'd you end up with such blabbermouths?
Out of everyone you've liked so far, Han Ji-su seems like the best. Keep liking only her from now on.
I shook my head firmly. Seo Jae-kyeom, looking sulky with no comeback, said,
"Next time, call me. I can help way better."
"Better if nothing like that happens again."
"That's not what I—!"
"Da-hye, help the teacher a bit!"
Right on cue, the homeroom teacher walked in, cutting the conversation short.
"Ugh, Jae-kyeom. You're too intense."
The homeroom teacher, seeing us stuck together, smacked Seo Jae-kyeom's arm to pull him away from me.
Yeah, back off a little.
This kind of close contact is for after we're twenty, okay? Let's keep it PG.
"You know we're doing class president elections next period, right? I'm trying to wrap up partner switches too, but the teacher's still not done making ballot boxes?"
"Oh, yes. I'll help."
I gently pushed Seo Jae-kyeom's arm, which seemed annoyed, and left the classroom. As we walked the hall, the homeroom teacher winked.
"I didn't interrupt anything, did I?"
"Nah, no worries."
"I guess you're Team Eun-seong over Jae-kyeom?"
"Neither."
"Why? Both are hot."
"Plenty hotter guys in college."
"Ugh."
I was just trying to sound like a clueless teen who hasn't seen college, but she covered her face with her sleeve and sighed.
"...You're not crying, are you?"
"No, no. You're right, Da-hye. College is full of guys hotter than Jae-kyeom or Eun-seong. You can eat cafeteria food with Kim Su-hwan, join study groups with Jo Mo-im, go MT with Song Dae-gi. So study hard~?"
"......"
Teacher, you liar!
"Your motive changes every time your score goes up by one point!"
I cut off her false advertising.
"But class president elections right after lunch? Jeong Eun-seong's not here yet."
"Eun-seong's not here? He said before fifth period."
"Oh. He'll make it then."
Class president elections.
I was always top of the school and diligent, so I got interim class president at the start of every semester, but I'd never done the real thing.
Not because I didn't want to.
They never asked me.
Stuff like that...
Is for popular kids...!
'Truth is, I'm not the type kids like.'
Not strikingly pretty or stylish, not great at fun stuff. Not the friendly type who gets along with everyone.
More like a loner.
Ugh...!
It's fine...! I love myself...!
'But for my resume, maybe I should try class president once.'
Semester after semester, the usual nominees were Seo Jae-kyeom or Han Ji-su.
I remembered kids nominating Seo Jae-kyeom first this time too. He turned it down as too annoying.
My name never came up.
I swallowed my regret and rummaged through old memories.
Who ended up as class president first semester sophomore year?
"I nominate Park Su-hwan."
...Park Su-hwan, right.
Ugh. Hate that.
Oh, Park Su-hwan is...
The guy Do Ha-jun just nominated.
Yeah, that one sitting there touching his side-swept hair with both hands. The guy boys worship. Boys like him way more than girls do.
To me, he's short, narrow shoulders, creepy eyes, deep voice but forces it lower. I don't get the handsome hype, but boys praise him like a god.
And they compare.
Like this↓
'Jeong Eun-seong's hotter than Su-hwan?'
'Duh?'
'Pick one then. 150cm Jeong Eun-seong vs 180cm Park Su-hwan.'
'......'
'See? Can't choose.'
They'd laugh that even girls couldn't pick Jeong Eun-seong.
Jeong Eun-seong's actually 180cm, Park Su-hwan maybe 168 if generous. Why exaggerate like that?
And by second semester?
Girls would pick 120cm Jeong Eun-seong.
Why? He acts cool as president but screws everything up, tanking class vibe.
Won't stop Do Ha-jun types from yelling, forgets homework teacher collects, whole class loses 0.5 points!
Then excuses without proper apology, acting aloof!
How'd I forget him all this time? Hated him into oblivion!
📋 Dislike Ranking 1. Park Su-hwan
2. Do Ha-jun, Jeong Eun-seong
"Park Su-hwan!"
"Park Su-hwan!"
"Hey, stop. You'll turn people off if you overdo it."
Park Su-hwan reined in his cheering Do Ha-jun crew. His eyes met mine as I stared distastefully, and he shook his head to fix his bangs.
'Yeah, that pretentiousness is what I hate.'
Can't go a day without touching your hair?
+Acting cool.
+Looking down on everyone.
+Pretending he gets how the world works!
Skips group efforts, slacks in sports day to avoid messing up, hangs back fiddling with bangs!
That doesn't make you cool; it makes you a joke.
Everyone sees you're bad at sports.
Better to go all out even if you're bad!
'Still, wouldn't I be better than him?'
But if no one thinks so (=no votes), I can't force it.
Kids chose Park Su-hwan.
My popularity's lacking...
'Then class president stuff ends today.'
Focus on studying.
Math first.
I was solving workbook problems in my head at my desk when—
"I nominate Kang Da-hye."
"Huh...?"
Who nominated me?