Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: You're Not Cool Anymore
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Once the elevator started moving, it whisked us up to the fourth floor where the classrooms were in no time.
I stared blankly at the doors without a change in expression, and Seo Jae-kyeom stayed quiet too.
Maybe I'd hit him right where it hurt and he was flustered. Or maybe I'd pointed out something about his own feelings that even he hadn't realized.
I got out first, leaving the dazed Seo Jae-kyeom behind.
I was about to just keep walking.
'This is pissing me off a bit.'
Didn't you pull that on me?
You went through all the girls you've dated, then asked how I could possibly confess to you.
That was you telling me to know my place.
I knew my place because you told me to, so why are you acting like this? Or what, are you disappointed? Upset that your shuttle service—who did your homework without you even asking—is gone?
I turned back and pressed the open button.
Seo Jae-kyeom, still inside the elevator, widened his eyes at my sudden reappearance. Holding back the urge to stomp on his foot, I spoke.
"The reason I liked you, Seo Jae-kyeom, was partly because you're good-looking, but more than that, it was because you were cool. I envied how you didn't sweat the small stuff and weren't hung up on anything."
"……."
"But right now, you're not cool."
"……."
"Don't make me embarrassed for ever liking you."
Thirty, thirty-one, thirty-two…
When I reach ages I've never lived before.
I want to fondly remember your face and think, 'Regression was worth it. I got to crush on Seo Jae-kyeom and even be class rep with him… heh heh heh…' Don't ruin my memories.
"And Seo Jae-kyeom. You're friends with Baek Eun-ju, Yang Da-jeong, and Kim Hae-in, right?"
His mouth fell open as the names of his exes poured out of me.
"Uh, no, we're not?"
His voice even stammered, which wasn't like him.
Not friends, my foot. You always reply to messages from girls you used to date. You've even fought with your current girlfriends multiple times over it.
I've liked you for years—why pretend you don't know?
"For real. We're not close."
All traces of his usual sly smile and composure were gone from the hand-waving Seo Jae-kyeom. Whatever. I said it in the coldest voice I could muster.
"Ask them what happened to me over the weekend. They tell you everything about your 'friends,' don't they?"
"Huh?"
"If you're not getting out, I'm closing the doors."
I let go of the button and turned away.
As I headed to class, I heard him scrambling to catch up behind me.
He didn't walk beside me or say anything—just trailed a step behind, trudging along…
He looked so pathetic.
'Eighteen years old.'
Seo Jae-kyeom, you. You're not all that after all.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'If you're not going to like me, then let me stop liking you. I don't owe you anything.'
Then.
What if I still have feelings for you?
What if I end up liking you?
"…I'm going crazy."
Am I insane?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "So you're really saying you don't like Seo Jae-kyeom anymore?"
"Yeah."
"For real?"
"Ji-su, want me to make a two-line poem with 'Ji-su'?"
"…? Ji."
"Ji-su asks me."
"Su."
"The same question dozens of times."
"Hehe. I'm just surprised. You've liked Seo Jae-kyeom so much for so long."
"You're the one…"
"Huh?"
"You didn't have feelings for Seo Jae-kyeom that I ruined by jumping the gun, did you?"
I floated my long-held Kang Da-hye villain theory.
Han Ji-su and Seo Jae-kyeom had mutual feelings, and I barged in!
I acted out, so Ji-su couldn't say, 'Actually, I like Seo Jae-kyeom too!'!
"If that's the case…"
"No, absolutely not! I don't like Seo Jae-kyeom. And he…"
"Huh?"
"Lately, he's not paying attention to me. No messages, doesn't come by during academy breaks. Even when we run into each other, he just says hi and walks past."
"…Really?"
"Yeah."
"That's weird…"
Maybe he's neglecting his own feelings while trying to reel back in the fish (me) escaping his pond. As I blinked in surprise, Ji-su asked.
"Does Seo Jae-kyeom message you, Da-hye?"
"Um… no."
No need to make things awkward by saying, 'Yeah, he messages me.' Especially since he stopped after what I said in the elevator.
Sigh. Whatever.
Instead of thinking about Seo Jae-kyeom, I should memorize vocab.
"Sixth floor, right?"
"Yeah. We're meeting in the lobby by the concession stand."
Today was the day the drama club second-years were going to see the newly released movie as a group.
There's a play based on the same source material. We're watching the movie first, then comparing it to the play video during club time.
Ji-su and I met up early to grab food before heading to the theater. We could eat after, but I had plans later in the afternoon.
"What time's the movie?"
"Twenty minutes left. We can meet the others, buy popcorn, and head in."
"I'll have onion popcorn."
And churros, buttered squid, pretzels.
In the future, theaters barely sell churros anymore… Gotta eat them while I can.
Drooling, we got off the elevator. The theater's signature orange lights and black glass greeted us. Leaning against a pillar right away was a familiar face.
"Jeong Eun-seong?"
Ji-su spotted him first and called his name.
Jeong Eun-seong, who had been looking down at his phone, lifted his head.
Oversized hoodie, slim-fit pants. His already small face looked even smaller under the black cap.
'Damn, he's insanely handsome.'
Am I the only one who gets startled running into a hot guy when I'm off guard?
I took a deep breath to regain my composure.
Unlike me, Ji-su seemed unaffected by his looks and asked.
"What are you doing here?"
"Standing."
She asked, but he answered looking at me.
I craned my neck to look around the lobby. The drama club kids were already gathered chattering by the concession stand.
Ji-su, seeing the same thing, tilted her head.
"The others are right there—why are you standing here?"
"It's awkward."
"Jeong Eun-seong, are you shy?"
"Yeah."
"What? So you were gonna stand here alone forever?"
"Until she showed up."
He pocketed his phone and nodded toward me with his chin.
Oh, come on.
"I'm not your security blanket."
Anyway, he's here now, so let's go. I nudged Jeong Eun-seong.
"Oh, Da-hye's here!"
"Ji-su too!"
"And Jeong Eun-seong!"
"Everyone's here?"
"No, Do Ha-jun's not yet."
"…He's not late, is he?"
"No way. I saw his KakaoTalk status earlier—he was up."
"If he hasn't woken up by now, is he even human?"
The movie didn't start for another twenty minutes, but kids who'd already bought large popcorns and colas—and eaten more than half—shoved a handful into my mouth too.
Yum.
"Let's take a pic."
"Ji-su, can we hold the tickets for it?"
"Yeah, hold on. I'll get them."
Kids gonna kid. They were hyped just being at the theater.
I mean, this is my first time at a theater since regressing.
Movies that were only on Chuseok specials or OTT in my previous life were playing in theaters. The interior felt subtly retro too.
'This was number one at the box office back then.'
And ticket prices are so cheap?
Lost in nostalgia, one club member pointed at the poster I was eyeing.
"This looks fun."
I replied without thinking.
"Yeah, it is. I saw it twice."
"…How? It's rated for ages 19 and up…"
"Oh."
"Kang Da-hye, what? How'd you see a 19+ movie?"
"Ooh~"
They pounced, teasing mercilessly.
"They say since there's only one entrance, you can book screening 1 and sneak into 2. Is that what you did?"
"Kang Da-hye, you're wild."
"Thought you were just a bookworm, but you're sneaking 19+ movies on the sly."
"No…!"
I saw it when it re-released after I was an adult…!
Unable to explain, I flailed as they shook me around.
"You should've studied ethics more. Kang Da-hye."
Silent until now, Jeong Eun-seong suddenly chimed in.
"Study ethics?"
"Rule of law."
"What?"
I glared, baffled, but he didn't care. He even crossed his arms and looked down at me smugly.
"I think the most important thing for a leader is ethical awareness. Without it, society falls apart under their guidance."
"Am I a leader?"
"You're our class president."
"I have tons of ethical awareness."
"Then explain where you saw that movie."
"Well…"
I can't…
Then Ji-su laughed.
"You two must be close."
With that, she linked arms with me and smoothly inserted herself between Jeong Eun-seong and me.
"First time seeing Jeong Eun-seong talk this much? He doesn't even reply to my KakaoTalks."
Jeong Eun-seong lightly replied to Ji-su, who smiled up at him.
"You're friends with those cafeteria girls too."
"Huh?"
"The ones you ate bread with this morning."
What the heck?