Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Grandpa Stops Talking
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"Grandma?"
"Yeah."
Sorry, Grandma. I'll be a good granddaughter someday. Please overlook this.
"There's this grandpa I got close to lately at the senior center. At first, we weren't that tight, but after going through some stuff together, we hit it off. But then..."
"But then?"
"One day, out of nowhere, he tells her not to talk to him anymore."
"Huh? Why?"
"That's what I'm wondering. What's the reason?"
"Did Grandma do something wrong?"
"Yeah, maybe she did something to get cut off."
"She says no. They even watched a movie together not long ago, and the vibe was good. They had some hot herbal tea, too."
"Hmm."
"Hmm."
No clue. Gyeong Se-in crossed her arms. Su-a and Ga-eun followed suit beside her. Do-yeon, who'd been quiet, chimed in.
"Maybe the grandpa found another grandma."
"Ah. But she says they're not like that. Just friends."
"Even if it's just friends with your grandma, Da-hye, it might not be with the other one. Maybe the other grandma told him not to hang out with yours anymore. Jealousy and all."
"Gasp. That's way too childish."
"Romance is childish by nature. Don't you think even grandmas and grandpas act just like us when they date?"
"Maybe."
"Or maybe she's been in his fish pond all along? Figured he reeled her in, so no more bait."
Su-a said.
That's a good point, but every time I hear 'fish pond management,' it really hits me that this is the past.
People of the future, do future teens even say 'fish pond'? What, you don't know 'cause you're not a teen anymore? Whatever.
"Grandpas do fish pond management too?"
"Saw it in The Old Man and the Sea."
"That guy's a fisherman, though..."
"This grandpa could be a fisherman too. Hooking hearts."
Amid my chattering friends, I sank into thought.
Doesn't seem like fish pond management.
A real other grandma, then.
But Jeong Eun-seong doesn't have any close grandmas...?
"Jeong Eun-seong!"
What? I looked up.
Han Ji-su was waving at Jeong Eun-seong from the hallway, toothbrush cup in hand. Jeong Eun-seong, who was just opening our classroom door, spotted her and...
"Hey."
And surprisingly, he didn't go in. He waited for her.
We—all of us coming up together, me included—froze at the uncharacteristic sight. Ji-su approached him with a pleased smile.
"Grabbing food now before heading up?"
"Yeah."
"Wearing your uniform today, huh."
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"No clean shirts."
"You do your own laundry?"
"Yeah."
Do-yeon whispered.
"Are those two close?"
"...Looks like it."
I hadn't known.
Wasn't he all distant even during the movie?
I told him to get friendly, but he never responded.
Then Ji-su spotted me past his arm and waved brightly.
"Kang Da!"
"Y-yeah."
I ended up heading over.
Ji-su, Jeong Eun-seong, me. We stood in an awkward triangle.
It was super awkward.
No, just for me. Ji-su and Eun-seong seemed totally chill. Ji-su bragged about her new cute toothbrush cup and tapped his arm.
"What's next period?"
"Dunno."
"What, why not?"
...He has a close grandma after all.
Han Ji-su's grandma!
But this grandma's close with me too. Not the type to say, 'Don't hang with Kang Da-hye 'cause I'm jealous!'
Grandma might be fine, but the grandpa could be self-regulating.
Does that make me the villain again?
Villain between Seo Jae-kyeom and Ji-su before, now between Jeong Eun-seong and Ji-su?
If he treats me like Seo Jae-kyeom did back then—cluelessly wedging in and ruining things...
What am I thinking. No delusions.
They're both in drama club, so they could get close. Just a few words exchanged, and I'm overthinking.
Does Jeong Eun-seong have to be close only with me?
At 29, I'm the most childish. Kang Da-hye.
No, but he said he doesn't talk to me, yet chats with Ji-su. That's weird. That's why.
Not weird, just... a bit upsetting...
"Kang Da!"
"Huh, what?"
"Why ignore meee. What's next period?"
"Not tellin'."
"What!"
"Heehee."
Even as I bantered pointlessly with Ji-su, Jeong Eun-seong standing beside us bugged me. All my attention was glued left, but he stood looking elsewhere, like he couldn't care less.
Seeing that expression made me feel like I was losing somehow.
"Gotta brush. Heading in first."
I slunk into the classroom.
While I dug toothpaste and brush from my bag, brushed, and returned, Ji-su and Eun-seong kept chatting in the hall corner.
I deliberately tuned them out and checked the clock: four minutes till bell. I sat by fidgety-legged Do Ha-jun and opened my workbook.
Do Ha-jun and Park Su-hwan, who'd been whispering to each other, clicked their tongues at me.
"Lives a boring life."
"All for show. Four minutes left—what're you studying? What can you do in four?"
...Then take 96 minutes on a 100-minute test like everyone else.
"Yeah, flail away. You'll get caught soon anyway."
"You're top of school now 'cause freshmen don't know better, Kang Da-hye. Higher years, it's all cram school and tutors. Can't keep up."
"Saw tons of kids who bragged in middle school tank in high school?"
"Kang Da-hye's future right there?"
What. Talking future to someone from the future.
I plugged in earbuds, no retort.
No feeding the losers.
Me ignoring them made Park Su-hwan and Do Ha-jun bristle. As Park reached for my workbook...
Thud.
A big hand slammed the desk.
"Hey, Do Ha-jun."
It was Seo Jae-kyeom.
Startled Park Su-hwan turned forward, ignoring him. Jae-kyeom didn't even glance his way, speaking to Ha-jun.
"Switch seats with me."
"H-huh? Seats?"
"Yeah. You and Park Su-hwan keep yapping in class. Ruining the vibe."
"B-but switching on our own, homeroom'll..."
"Not on our own. Teacher said first. Separate you two."
"......"
"What're you waiting for. Move."
Jae-kyeom nodded his head. Ha-jun stood blankly.
Jae-kyeom plopped into the empty spot. Our eyes met; he smirked.
"Improving a friend's study spot isn't flirting, right?"
"...Another fisherman here..."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Ugh. This seat stinks."
Jae-kyeom wrinkled his nose, leaned back, peered inside the desk.
"Chugged Piknik and stuffed it in here. Ugh, this bread rotten?"
Grabbed Ha-jun's sharpie, rummaged, covered nose with sleeve. Waved Ha-jun over.
"Hey, Do Ha-jun. Clean this. Bring wipes next class and scrub it spotless."
Warned, then kicked the front seat where Park sat. Park flinched around; Jae-kyeom warned.
"You—every time you're loud, one smack on the butt."
"......"
Is this vice president or a delinquent...?
"Hey, Jae-kyeom!"
"Switched seats?"
"Yeah."
As bell neared, kids trickled back, greeting Jae-kyeom. He replied casually, raised voice scanning around.
"To clear up misunderstandings: teachers said first Park Su-hwan and Do Ha-jun can't sit together. That's why I switched. Don't go whining to homeroom like 'Seo Jae-kyeom switched, why not us?'"
But then.
I asked Jae-kyeom.
"With this switch... what about Do-yeon?"
You're paired with Do-yeon.
Fine for me—Ha-jun to Jae-kyeom upgrade—but Do-yeon!
"Oh, that."
Jae-kyeom leaned to my ear.
"Do-yeon fully approved the switch. Said you're hugging two bombs alone... sharing the load's true friendship."
"...!"
Do-yeon...!
I glanced at the third row where Do-yeon sat. She met my eyes, thumbs-up with blank face.
Then slide—the front door opened. Jeong Eun-seong entered.
Eyes met unintentionally again.
Seeing me with Jae-kyeom, Jeong Eun-seong's face turned icy.
"?"
What. Why. What.