Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Perfect Scores
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“Crazy. Kang Da-hye's average is 100.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means she didn't get a single one wrong. Perfect score in every subject.”
“Meh? Is that possible?”
“She's insane.”
The kids' gazes all focused on me. Everyone had the expression of people seeing a legendary creature.
As I walked toward the bulletin board, the kids stepped aside to clear a path for me.
A bit embarrassing...
I cleared my throat awkwardly and looked up at the board.
Ji-su got 2nd.
99.6 means she got maybe one or two wrong in total?
Ji-su was good at studying, but she'd never climbed to 2nd before. She must have really buckled down this time.
The spots below were all separated by just a problem or two.
As expected. You shouldn't try to beat others. Just get everything right.
While I was drawing that lesson, the whispers around me showed no sign of stopping.
“Wow, she's seriously amazing.”
“Isn't she a genius at that level?”
“Ji-su must feel bad. 99.6 and still 2nd.”
“No helping it. Kang Da-hye's a total monster.”
I was the one who got 1st, but I couldn't figure out why our class kids were acting so proud. Amid the ones getting vicarious satisfaction, I spotted Ji-su.
I'd been worried she might feel down with everyone openly comparing them.
“Congrats on 1st, Da-hye.”
Ignoring the whispers entirely, she linked arms with me.
“I really studied my butt off this time, but I still couldn't beat Da-hye.”
“No way, you did super well too?”
“Still just 2nd, though.”
But one voice instantly shattered the heartwarming vibe.
“Someone who studies their ass off and still can't snag 1st is just stupid.”
Park Su-hwan deliberately raised his voice so everyone would hear, then flicked his bangs as the stares turned his way.
“Even a random stray dog would get 1st if you drilled it that hard.”
“What the hell, you little shit...”
“Shh.”
I grabbed Bang Eun-ji's arm to stop her from unleashing a barrage of curses.
Hold it. Look at his face. He looks like the type who'd hit girls... no, only girls.
I'll take care of him.
“Did I say something wrong? Counter me if you can.”
I coolly conceded to the sneering Park Su-hwan.
“You're right. I studied like a maniac.”
Twice or three times what others did, and barely scraped 1st. Not great cost-performance.
“But so what? Does the report card show study hours?”
I tapped the ranking board.
1st. Kang Da-hye. Average 100.
Just those three things listed.
“The report card doesn't say if I'm a moron who grinded 100 hours for 1st or a genius who got 2nd in 30 minutes. It just says I'm 1st.”
“......”
“If you hate putting in the time, keep being the efficient 2nd-place guy. I'll keep grinding till I drop for 1st.”
“......”
“Oh, wait—you're not even 2nd? Let me check. Where's our Su-hwan at?”
I dragged my finger down the board. Naturally, no Park Su-hwan name here. I looked right at him and sneered back.
“It's not there?”
“Pfft!”
“Park Su-hwan's throwing a total salt fit.”
One of our watching classmates blurted it out. That kicked off everyone else chiming in one by one.
“He curses out kids with fancy tutoring more every year, knowing he can't keep up. So why couldn't he even crack top 30?”
“Park Su-hwan lost class president to Da-hye and held a grudge, right?”
“He lost class pres?”
“Fuck... Hey!”
“What.”
Seo Jae-kyeom stepped up as Park Su-hwan needlessly yelled at some easy target.
“Hey, Park Su-hwan. I busted my ass and still only got 13th. You calling me worse than a dog right now?”
“Seo Jae-kyeom, don't hit him.”
“Nah, let go. I'll show you my friendship.”
“What are you even saying...”
And you didn't even study that hard.
I caught Seo Jae-kyeom's elbow as he wildly swung his arm. With his arm grabbed, he whined at me like a kid.
“Buddy. Just let me land one hit.”
“Buddy, don't call me that. You sound like a full-on thug.”
“Jae-kyeom's so cute~”
A sincere mutter came from someone behind us.
In the now-relaxed atmosphere, a sudden click rang out.
It was Jeong Eun-seong—who'd shown up without a sound—snapping a photo of my name at the very top with his phone camera.
“Ah, me too!”
Bang Eun-ji spotted it and suddenly whipped out her phone, rushing over.
Why are you guys even taking pictures of that...
I pressed a hand to my forehead.
In the end, this score reveal wrapped up as a total farce.
A few outraged parents who heard the news complained to the school.
(Not saying Han Ji-su's mom is one of the complaint-free ones.)
The PTA that had demanded full public disclosure suddenly lost all interest once it happened, and the posted scores vanished without a trace one day.
I ended up as the girl who bragged about her perfect scores.
Midterm lesson: You never know when scores might go public, so give every test your all.
“Seriously a relief. Honestly, I lucked into a few for 29th place. No confidence I'll hold it next time.”
“Same. My cumulative with finals tanks hard. PE and music murder me.”
“Gyeong Se-in, you're never even in the top 30 to begin with.”
“Just pretending I was...”
Se-in slumped her shoulders dejectedly.
Post-exam celebration: Me and the friends eating injeolmi bingsu and chocolate matcha bingsu out front of school.
We'd planned Han River ramen, but they switched spots to accommodate me needing to head home quick to check on Mom.
Ye-su-a poured the refilled syrup over her bingsu, glanced around, and lowered her voice.
“But hey, that thing... was it for real?”
“What thing?”
“That... Jeong Eun-seong's parents being gone.”
“Ah.”
I stirred my spoon and dropped my gaze.
Yeah. About time this came up.
The kids had been quietly mulling over the bombshell Jeong Eun-seong casually dropped in modern history class.
How could they not? Parents gone!
“Maybe just a joke? To shut the class up.”
“Even so, who'd joke about their parents being dead?”
“Da-hye, you don't know anything about it?”
“Nah... I don't really know either.”
“Makes sense. Kinda rude to straight-up ask.”
“Yeah. Best to just play dumb.”
“Can't even fake knowing. Never get a chance to talk to Jeong Eun-seong.”
“On a human level, shouldn't Jeong Eun-seong high-five everyone at the front gate in the mornings?”
“Eun-seong for arrivals, Seo Jae-kyeom for dismissals.”
“Can I be honest?”
“About what?”
“Entrance ceremony, first time seeing Seo Jae-kyeom—I went home and crashed with a fever... Same day one for Jeong Eun-seong.”
“You too?”
“Me too!”
“We don't get many chances to see guys that hot...”
Se-in fidgeted. Su-a declared solemnly.
“Girls fall sick three times in life. First: entrance ceremony spotting Seo Jae-kyeom. Second: sophomore year spotting Jeong Eun-seong. Third: graduation, knowing we'll never see them again.”
“Ha...”
Amid my friends praising good looks like gospel, I just scraped up the leftover syrup with my spoon.
“......”
Jeong Eun-seong.
Really a great kid.
Deep inside, hardworking, sneakily funny.
Looking back, it was the same before my regression.
How were we back then?
Not as tight as now, but we'd chat during club stuff... Casual hellos in passing. Pretty sure we texted good luck the night before CSAT.
If I hadn't bombed the CSAT back then.
What would've become of us?
“Da-hye, heading to the hospital then?”
“Ah, no. Home. Mom got discharged.”
“Already?”
“You sure that's okay? They said traffic accidents can have lingering aftereffects.”
“I said the same thing.”
Mom said we can't afford more hospital bills.
I glossed over it vaguely, not wanting to dump negativity on my friends.
Thankfully, they politely pretended not to notice my situation, just like with Eun-seong's parents. Proper ladies.
That said.
Mom hurt her wrist, so she can't run the shop for a while.
How are we gonna cover living expenses in the meantime...?
Should apply for the school's summer intensive soon too.
Asking for money right now feels a bit...
“......”
Guess I'll just grind the library.
“Any hot Korea University guy out there for free tutoring?”
They always show up at times like this in dramas and novels.
If you're waiting for your cue, now's the time.
Ladies and ladies~
Height 190cm, apple-like face, sculpture body—allow me to introduce my tutoring teacher!
(And no one appeared)