Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Ji-su Seems Upset
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What could it be?
Is she hurting somewhere?
No. That wasn't the attitude of someone in pain.
Is she in a bad mood?
No. Ji-su wasn't the type to show it to others when she was upset.
Then... is she mad at me?
Maybe...?
But I haven't done anything wrong to Ji-su. We haven't had much contact lately.
We haven't eaten together, haven't met after school, haven't even messaged much...
"...".
Maybe the lack of contact is what upset her?
'I'd have to ask to know for sure.'
Lost in thought, I entered the teachers' lounge.
"Da-hye!"
"Hello! Could you tell our homeroom teacher that we've collected the surveys and left them here?"
"Sure, sure. How've you been, Da-hye? Doing well?"
"Of course. I'm perfectly satisfied."
"Bang Eun-ji!"
The Classical Chinese teacher's irritated voice cut into our conversation.
I turned around to see Bang Eun-ji standing in front of him. True to form, she was wearing a flashy hoodie and a wild headband.
She scowled when she saw me.
"Hey, what're you looking at?"
"Why pick on the kid who's just standing there quietly? You got caught slacking off in class!"
The teacher snatched the book she'd left on his desk and shook it wildly in front of her nose.
"Instead of copying crap like this, why don't you study for once? Can you even write the numbers 1 through 10 in hanja?"
I was amazed she could even read the text.
Curious what book it was, I took a peek.
-Why Do Men Love F.O.X.-Type Women? The 3 Traits Men Can't Resist! ♡♥♡ Bonus: MP3 File to Attract Your Soulmate :D
"...".
"I thought Song Yeo-reum had gotten quieter since she stopped coming to school... If you want to copy something, copy The Cloud Dream of the Nine or something, not this garbage!"
Why isn't Song Yeo-reum coming to school?
The grumbling teacher flipped open the book and read aloud in a booming voice.
"'The fox's confidence that imprints herself on a man in 3 seconds'... Eun-ji, are you human or a fox?"
I could see the teacher across from him ducking his head behind the partition to stifle a laugh.
Eun-ji's face turned beet red with embarrassment. She stomped her foot and muttered "Damn it," but the teacher ignored her.
"Aren't you embarrassed? Yeah, you should be. I'll talk to Mr. Yi Mong-ryong later and borrow you a copy of The Cloud Dream of the Nine. Take it and read it. It's a great book. Right, Da-hye?"
Ack, why drag me into this?
I glanced at Eun-ji, who looked like she was about to cry, and answered.
"Did you copy The Cloud Dream of the Nine, sir?"
"I did! Back in college, copying it was a homework assignment. I got drunk and forgot, so I ended up sprawled on the subway floor copying it on the way to school."
"You copied desperately."
"What?"
"Is the purple sweater you're wearing today because you chose it 'purposely'?"
The barrage of dad jokes made the teacher let out a hollow laugh.
"Where'd you learn corny jokes like that?"
"Come on. You'll be laughing to yourself about them on your way home later. We all know it."
"Ha. Haha."
"Want to hear more?"
"No thanks."
The teacher waved me off, seemingly having forgotten what we'd been talking about in the first place. He chuckled a few times in disbelief, then looked at Eun-ji, who was still standing there.
"You can go now. Take the book."
Eun-ji snatched the book without a word and bolted out of the lounge. I stepped aside so her shoulder wouldn't bump mine as she rushed past.
"Kang Da-hye, if you pull one more rotten joke like that—!"
"Eek."
I slipped out of the lounge, leaving the wildly gesturing teacher behind.
So... what was I thinking about earlier?
Oh. Ji-su.
Why was Ji-su mad?
'No need to guess. Just ask her.'
So during the next break, I went straight to find her. She was talking to a boy from her class but came out to the hallway at my call.
"...".
"...".
"Why'd you call me?"
"Well."
It felt awkward since it had been so long since we'd had a conversation like this. I hesitated before asking.
"Did I do something wrong to you?"
I tried to sound like a puppy caught in the rain, but it didn't seem to land well. Ji-su averted her eyes and shot back in a pouty tone.
"Aren't you mad at me, Da-hye?"
"Me?"
Absolutely not! Why would you think that?
"Lately, I'm always the one messaging first on KakaoTalk. I call first. I always go to your class first. And even when I do, you're just hanging out with your classmates. U Do-yeon and Gyeong Se-in."
"Ah."
"You don't even talk to me during math or English."
"Oh."
"I thought you were mad at me."
"No!"
I waved my hands frantically. No way.
This was 100% my fault.
'Friendships at 18 aren't like at 29, where seeing each other once every few months counts as frequent.'
Seeing each other every day, messaging every day—even after spending all day together at school, you'd message again when you got home. That was normal.
A new semester's class assignments felt like life-or-death.
'Even I, before regressing, was super worried when Ji-su and I got split up in second year. What if I end up with no friends in class?'
After four years glued to Ji-su's side—from third year middle school through first year high school—being separated for the first time had me panicking.
I even got jealous seeing her get close with her classmates.
Somehow, the situation had flipped now.
"I wasn't mad at you. Don't abandon me."
I pleaded with the most pitiful droop of my eyes I could muster. Ji-su's expression already seemed to soften.
"...I really thought you were mad at me, Da-hye."
"No, no. Definitely not. I'm sorry."
"...Okay."
"Wanna grab some street tteokbokki? Just us?"
"Sure."
"Today?"
"I've got academy today."
"Tomorrow then."
"Sounds good."
Let's add some jjolmyeon and yangnyeom chicken fried rice too.
We made plans as Ji-su's smile bloomed.
But.
"Da-hye, I'm really sorry."
Life never goes according to plan...
"The teacher just called an urgent meeting."
"Ah... But is this due today?"
"Yeah... Could you help out just this once?"
No.
I glanced at Ji-su standing beside me.
"I've got plans today too..."
"It's fine. Let's do it together. It'll go faster that way, right?"
Ji-su said it coolly, but.
"Ah."
The homeroom teacher looked troubled.
"This has our class's personal info."
"Ah..."
So... I have to do it alone...?
"I'll stay."
Seo Jae-kyeom jumped in.
He waved his waiting friends on ahead, then came to stand beside me. I looked up, and our eyes met.
"No academy?"
"Ji-su's not going, so neither am I."
"Right."
"I'll handle it. You go ahead."
"I'd owe you big time..."
"You two can do it together. I'll be in the library. Hurry up."
Our homeroom teacher, who'd been glancing between me and Seo Jae-kyeom, nodded.
"Congrats on becoming vice class president, by the way?"
She smiled at him, then pulled out her workbook, saying she'd do homework while waiting. I handed her my uniform cardigan.
"Put this on. You get cold easily."
"Thanks."
"I'll be back in 30 minutes."
"No rush. Take your time."
Ji-su, an angel if there ever was one, headed briskly to the library.
"I'm really sorry..."
I took the work from our dazed homeroom teacher—who hadn't known about the meeting—and headed back to the classroom.
I gave Seo Jae-kyeom a determined look.
"Let's crush this in 30 minutes."
"Deal."
Looking back, I shouldn't have sent Ji-su to the library at that moment.