Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Drama Club Turmoil
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Two boys whose faces looked familiar were walking toward us from the opposite end of the hallway, sticking close together. Before Ji-su even pointed them out, our eyes met right away, like they'd already been staring our way.
The boy with cheeks puffed out like a clown raised his hand in greeting, his face twisted as if he was holding back a laugh.
"Kang Da-hye, hi."
"Uh, hi."
"Club check?"
"Yeah."
Up close, I realized he was from the same class as me back in first year.
Beside Boy 1, who was smirking with the corner of his mouth twitching, was his presumed friend, Boy 2, who was staring at me with sparkling eyes.
This one wasn't in my class, I think.
"...Hi?"
I didn't want to ignore him completely, so I greeted him anyway.
"Uh, uh! Hi!"
He jumped in surprise and greeted me back. Soon, a grin spread across Boy 2's face too.
As they passed by, I overheard Boy 2 excitedly asking Boy 1 from behind.
"Dude, are you close with Kang Da-hye?"
"We were in the same class last year."
"Ah, you should've told me sooner! Man, my heart nearly dropped out."
"You into her?"
"She's even prettier up close. Is she always that nice?"
"You idiot, what do you mean nice? She just said hi."
...I could hear everything.
"See? She's popular."
Ji-su, who'd been watching from the side, whispered. Her voice was full of amusement.
"I was in her class last year too, but apparently I'm invisible."
"No way."
"She studies better than me, more popular than me. I'm below Kang Da-hye. Wow. From now on, I should back away from you in reverse."
"Ow."
I hooked my arm through Ji-su's as she bent over and took quick steps backward.
"Let's go already. The bell's about to ring."
"It's fine. Teacher's coming late today. Something about coordinating with another club's advisor."
"But Do Ha-jun..."
"Ah, didn't he say he'd show us the costumes he scouted today?"
"Wasn't he supposed to post them in the club chat first?"
"He was, but he didn't!"
"Sigh."
"No word to you either, Da-hye? You're partners, right?"
"He got caught playing phone games during homeroom and landed janitor duty... He's busy wiping the blackboard during break. And."
"And?"
"I just don't want to talk to Do Ha-jun..."
"Ugh."
"Ugh."
Do: Hate Ha-jun.
Ha: Hate Jun.
Jun: Hate me.
I shook my head and opened the door to the drama club room.
Jeong Eun-seong was already there, sitting in the dim corner away from the sunlight, carefully applying hand cream.
"Jeong Eun-seong, hi."
Ji-su greeted first. I lazily raised my hand from behind.
We're in the same class—why not come together? You're here all alone?
Jeong Eun-seong, seeing me wave...
...abruptly turned his head away, ignoring me.
I wasn't surprised or flustered. Jeong Eun-seong being weird wasn't a one- or two-day thing.
Just how it is, I guess.
Eun: Seong
Seong: Personality's weird.
Meanwhile, there was an unexpected person in the club room.
"...Kang Da-hye, hi."
"Bang Eun-ji?"
Bang Eun-ji, who'd been discharged from the hospital, awkwardly raised her hand toward me.
"Why are you here?"
At my question, Bang Eun-ji rolled her eyes dramatically.
"I'm trying to switch clubs."
"Ah."
Right. She couldn't keep doing her old club. All her close friends would be there.
I got that, but.
"Why the drama club, though...? Did you always like theater?"
"I like Jo Seung-yu. He's an actor."
"......"
He does musical theater.
"You can't just switch on your own. Did you get teacher approval?"
"Normally no... but my old club's advisor is talking it over."
"Ah."
Yeah, Yi Mong-ryong probably knows Bang Eun-ji's situation roughly.
'That's why he's late. Coordinating.'
Of course, I thought it was better for her to switch than awkwardly tough it out in her current club, eyes on her everywhere.
But out of all the clubs, why drama club?
Ji-su whispered from the side.
"See? You're popular, Da-hye."
"No way."
But didn't Ji-su's mom warn Bang Eun-ji not to hang out with her?
Is it okay to ignore that and join the drama club?
Well, Ji-su's mom scares only me—Bang Eun-ji probably doesn't care.
If Ji-su doesn't tell her mom, she won't know.
Anyway, more members mean more hands. Good thing. I nodded with that in mind.
"Welcome."
"Welcome!"
Ji-su clapped beside me too.
The other members trickling in and taking seats flinched at the sight of Bang Eun-ji at first, but soon clapped stiffly.
Rumors of her turning over a new leaf must've spread already.
Worried the mood might turn awkward, I voluntarily sat next to her. As I pulled out the chair, Bang Eun-ji whispered.
"I'm breaking up with my oppa."
"Suddenly?"
She'd been so fervent just days ago.
Has the blindfold finally come off?
'Don't pry. What if she changes her mind.'
"Congrats."
I gave her a thumbs up, and she smiled.
Once everyone was there, Ji-su raised her voice to get attention.
"Guys, teacher's late today. Let's start without her. Remember we're deciding on costumes?"
"Right, Do Ha-jun. What about the costumes?"
"Wasn't he gonna post in the chat?"
"Yeah."
Do Ha-jun, who'd been playing games on his phone sideways and pretending not to hear, finally stopped jiggling his leg and looked up.
"Ah, about that."
"You didn't scout them?"
"Not exactly."
"Then what."
"Sigh. Normally, stuff like this doesn't happen."
"So what is it."
I didn't want to listen to Do Ha-jun ramble, so skip to the conclusion.
Conclusion: There was a costume he wanted to buy, but he checked the secondhand market just in case and found a similar one cheaper. So he went for that...
And got scammed.
"...Where'd the money come from?"
We didn't give him activity funds—what did he buy it with?
Then the treasurer in the corner slyly raised her hand.
"Ha-jun said it was urgent... I gave it to him. They sell out fast if you don't buy right away..."
Reference: She's the one who's always subtly defended him whenever his name comes up, like 'Hey, Ha-jun's fine, he's cute.'
She's the one who preemptively clapped for his movie idea that day!
"What?"
The club room erupted at the treasurer's bombshell.
"What the—!"
"You bought it without consulting us?!"
"If we consulted, it'd be too late..."
"After getting scammed?! Why didn't you tell us?!"
"H-Ha-jun said he'd handle it before club time."
"How?!"
"...How much did you lose?"
Jeong Eun-seong, who'd been silent, finally spoke.
The room quieted at his sudden input.
"That is."
I clutched the back of my neck after hearing the treasurer's answer.
Dude. You're Ha-jun's wife from now on.
"We're broke now?"
"Whoa."
"Whoa."
"Pfft."
Hollow laughs and sighs.
The culprit, Do Ha-jun, hid behind his wife to dodge the blame. Ji-su, face hardened, spoke.
"Do Ha-jun. We clearly discussed and decided before buying."
"But it was seriously the best deal."
"That money was almost our entire budget, right? And it wasn't even a good deal."
Ji-su's mouth twitched as she held back her anger.
I stayed quiet, observing.
Hold it. Ji-su's the president. Not my place.
This conflict could be a good self-intro episode later. Calm down.
"Even if not the others, you should've told me, the president, first..."
Even as the usually sweet Ji-su said this much, Do Ha-jun showed no remorse. He pouted irritably, half-listening.
"Do Ha-jun, are you listening?"
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Did I do it on purpose? I was trying to do well. I'm a victim too—why yell at the victim?"
"......"
"You guys mad? I'm mad too. Honestly, wouldn't I be madder than you lot just flapping your mouths? You think it's right to gang up on someone over a mistake?"
"We're not ganging up."
"Oh, come on, do you buy stuff without mistakes~? Two mistakes and you'd kill someone. Should I just quit the club? Go up to the roof now, write a note blaming you guys, and jump? That work?"
Hold... it.
"What're you saying? You mess up and that's your excuse? Did you even apologize?"
"Ah, yeah yeah—wondered when apologies would come up. Got nothing to say, so nitpick semantics? Sor~ry~"
"......"
"That good?"
I can't take it anymore.
Does anyone think I should hold back?
Come to the next page real quick.