Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Class President Election
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The one who nominated me was some kid whose name I still hadn't memorized (sorry!).
Receiving my wide-eyed stare, the boy's face turned beet red as he stammered,
"So... Kang Da-hye is the acting class president right now. And she does a great job announcing homework..."
"So you're saying nominate her because she helps with homework?"
"W-well, and she takes good care of everyone else too."
"When? I didn't see that."
"Do Ha-jun, shut up for a sec."
"Yeah. Let Lee Seo-jun talk."
Kim Ga-eun and Ye-su-a snapped at Do Ha-jun, who kept sniping.
"Th-that's it."
Lee Seo-jun, whose face was now fully tomato ripe, lowered his hand. Right away, Ga-eun shot her hand up from the fourth row.
"I nominate Da-hye too."
Ga-eun glared at Do Ha-jun, seated diagonally in front of her, and said,
"I've gotten really close to Da-hye these past few days, and she takes great care of people. She notices things others miss. She's diligent and meticulous. I think she'll make sure no one feels left out."
"Yeah. I nominate Da-hye too."
"Me too!"
Ye-su-a and Gyeong Se-in raised their hands.
"Me too."
Even Do-yeon.
And unlike her usual self, Do-yeon even added a long opinion.
"Handling the class's performance assessments, supplies, and homework announcements isn't easy—it's a hassle. But Da-hye volunteered to do it for almost a month without even being assigned. I think it's already proven she'll do great as class president."
"Yeah. Honestly, it must've been a total pain."
"Right. Da-hye is super detail-oriented."
"Exactly. I really appreciate that, Teacher."
Even the teacher.
I hadn't done anything special, but suddenly praise was pouring in. I didn't know where to put myself.
'I just sent a quick message to the group chat while handling my own stuff.'
I hadn't done anything impressive...
Was this a prank camera?
No.
I wasn't important enough to be on one of those.
So just messing with me?
Embarrassing.
Pretending to brush back my hair, I used it to hide my face. Just then, Seo Jae-kyeom broke the stares aimed at me at the perfect moment.
"Teacher."
Seo Jae-kyeom, hand raised, asked,
"Can I nominate myself again?"
"Huh? Oh, Jae-kyeom wants to be class president too?"
"No. Vice president. If Kang Da-hye is president, I'll be vice."
"......"
His confidence that he'd get elected if he ran was admirable, at least.
"What if I don't get elected...?"
"Then I won't do it."
"Jae-kyeom, vice president isn't refundable..."
The homeroom teacher rubbed her forehead.
"Alright, anyway. Su-hwan and Da-hye. Anyone else? You can nominate yourself."
The teacher paused briefly, then clapped sharply.
"Okay, nominations closed. Time for campaign speeches. Su-hwan, you're up first. Give us your pledge! Why vote for you!"
"Whoa..."
I hadn't prepared a single thing.
Of course—I figured I wouldn't get elected, so no prep...
While I panicked, Park Su-hwan stepped forward first. The boys, Do Ha-jun included, cheered wildly.
"He's hot!"
Some even banged on their desks.
Standing at the podium, Su-hwan flicked his bangs once and said,
"Ah, what, this is silly."
It wasn't much, but the boys cracked up. Watching made me even more nervous. Su-hwan continued,
"Honestly, I didn't even expect my name to come up... As you all know, I'm not great at the nitpicky stuff. Nothing special draws you to me. But if you pick me, I'll give it my best."
He touched the side of his head to wrap up.
Bowing slightly cockily, Su-hwan sauntered back to his seat.
From the front row, Ye-su-a muttered softly,
"What a load. I saw him telling Do Ha-jun to nominate him earlier."
"Eww. Then why say it like that?"
"Yeah. Does admitting he wants it hurt his pride or something?"
"Hm."
Seeing that, I knew what to say.
"Okay, Da-hye's turn."
"Yes, ma'am."
I stood, chair scraping, and went to the podium.
Seo Jae-kyeom, who'd been propping his chin and staring out the window, lowered his hand and looked at me. Do-yeon, eyes meeting mine, mouthed 'You got this.' Se-in and Ye-su-a made fists of encouragement. Ga-eun, from behind Do Ha-jun, mimed choking him. Jeong Eun-seong's empty seat.
I scanned the room right to left, making eye contact with each kid. Even the ones goofing off focused when they realized, 'Huh? Why isn't she talking?'
In the now-silent classroom, all eyes on me, I grinned.
"Guys. I can really do this well. If you pick me, I won't let you regret it—I'll work hard. Specifically..."
Honestly, like Su-hwan, I wanted to play it cool too.
But after they pushed this hard, losing would be mortifying.
Still.
'I want to be class president! What can I do about it!'
Isn't society wrong for mocking people who try hard?
"I'll keep up the supplies, assessments, and homework announcements like always. Plus, weekly summaries of key subjects' notes. During exam week, any hints from teachers—I'll compile and post to the class KakaoTalk. And..."
Hm...
"Even if you ask me the same question a hundred times, I won't snap—I’ll teach you all."
"Whoa, for real?"
"Even at 2 a.m.?"
"Not..."
No.
"Yeah. Ask away. Answers after 8 a.m., though."
Am I coming off too desperate? Too clingy? They laughed at the serious question.
"If you share all your notes, aren't you worried someone else might snag top of the school?"
Se-in giggled, hand up. I winked smugly.
"Even if I share everything, I know most of you will just hoard them without reading."
"Oof. Hits hard."
"She knows us too well."
"As expected from number one."
Even Seo Jae-kyeom, arms on his desk watching me, chuckled.
"Please vote for me..."
I ended with a plea.
The homeroom teacher, beaming proudly, patted my back.
"Great. Da-hye, back to your seat. Time to vote. I'll pass out ballots now."
"Can't we just raise hands? Boys will all pick Park Su-hwan, girls all Kang Da-hye anyway."
Do Ha-jun piped up again. Some boys agreed.
"Yeah. I'm going Su-hwan."
"Me too."
"Same."
"Any guy picks Su-hwan."
"More boys in our class. Su-hwan wins."
"Lee Seo-jun who nominated Da-hye is a guy too?"
"Pfft, he's a traitor."
A girl from first row grumbled irritably, brushed off lightly by her desk mate.
The homeroom teacher, who looked twenty years older after just twenty minutes into fifth period, stepped in to mediate.
"Ha-jun, you don't know the results till we count. No hand votes—that breaks election rules."
"Teacher, we're not electing the president."
"This class president vote is practice for properly using your vote in society later. We follow the rules, obviously."
"Tch."
"Kids, what are the four principles of elections?"
The teacher tried slipping in review, seizing the chance.
"......"
"......"
"You guys... don't know...?"
"Kang Da-hye knows!"
"Not answering till I'm elected!"
That was when.
Scraaaape.
The back door opened, and Jeong Eun-seong walked in.
He glanced between the huge -Class President Election- on the board and me awkwardly heading to my seat, then raised his hand.
"Kang Da-hye for me."
"Eun-seong, it's secret ballot..."
"Oh."
Eun-seong sheepishly went to his seat.
"Kids, you know the four principles, right? Remember? We learned it last week!"
The teacher was nearly in tears now.
"This is exactly why the school's top student—me—should be class president!"
I kept appealing whenever an opening appeared.
"Universal, equal, direct, secret election! One vote per person, direct vote, who you pick stays secret! Got it?"
We voted one by one amid the teacher's desperate attempt to cram one more letter into our heads.
"Su-hwan, I voted for you!"
Ugh. Tense.
Why am I so nervous over this?
Let's fast-forward to the results.
📊 Vote Tally 📊 Kang Da-hye: ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Park Su-hwan: ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ "......"
Ah, sorry.
Too nervous, misread it.
Rub eyes and look again.
Right. But you know what really ticks people off? Stopping mid-sentence.
So the real results are...