Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Apple Juice Da-hye
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"Apple Juice Da-hye, hello."
"?"
Morning.
As I entered the classroom, one of the guys from Do Ha-jun's crew raised his hand in greeting. The group huddled around him burst into giggles all at once.
"Were you calling me?"
"No, no~ Don't mind us~"
They smirked at my face while whispering among themselves, and it rubbed me the wrong way.
"Hey, hey, do the first verse~"
Park Su-hwan, lounging in the middle like he owned the place, pretended to stop them while grinning at me.
"……."
Something felt off, but calling them out on it seemed petty.
"Don't those guys seem weird lately?"
The friend sitting in the front row spoke up as I set the attendance book on the teacher's desk, holding back my irritation.
"Even during lunch, they huddle around the PC and won't let anyone else use it. When I ask what they're doing, they say it's none of my business."
"What...?"
"And they keep calling me 'sis'."
"Ah, seriously? They do that to you too, Yeon-hee?"
"Yeah. I asked why they're calling me 'sis,' but they wouldn't answer."
"...Lame."
From experience, nothing good ever came from guys acting like that.
"Wahahak!"
"Uhahahak!"
Right on cue, the group erupted in laughter again. Yeon-hee mouthed 'Told you so' as I patted her hand and raised my voice.
"Hey, keep it down. Some people are studying."
"Okay, okay, Da-hye sis~ Got it~"
"……."
I wanted to hit them.
I shook my head and headed to my locker. As I pulled out my books, Jeong Eun-seong slipped in through the back door.
Come to think of it, he was one of my worries too.
I approached Jeong Eun-seong, who was holding a 1L carton of milk in one hand.
"Jeong Eun-seong."
He turned to me when I called his name and handed me the small milk that came with his carton.
"Thanks. But that's not what I..."
"No Jetty."
"I don't need it... "
What I need isn't Jetty chocolate powder... it's an espresso shot...
"That guy who took us to the hospital back then. The trainee oppa."
The future gambling convict.
"Yeah."
"Are you close with him?"
"...Why?"
"...Just wondering?"
"……."
"What was his name again? He's twenty, right? What's his personality like?"
"Name's 'No need to know.' Personality's 'No need to know either.'"
Jeong Eun-seong snapped back curtly and cracked open his milk. He chugged it down, glaring at me with just his eyes. His look screamed 'get lost,' but...
"I want to know though..."
I'm dying to know how that guy ends up addicted to gambling and helps dismantle an already crime-ridden thug group.
Jeong Eun-seong just kept drinking without answering.
Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.
The silence and his glare continued.
After crushing the huge milk carton in one go, Jeong Eun-seong wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and called me.
"Kang Da-hye."
"Yeah?"
"Why do you keep showing interest in that hyung?"
"Keep?"
This is the first time.
"That hyung's already an adult. You know there's an uncrossable river between adults and minors, right? Even if you die."
"I know..."
"And he said no dating before debut. Far as I know, he's never even dated. Too busy training."
"He's diligent..."
So how does a guy like that end up gambling...?
"One more thing. I'm against older guys dating younger girls."
"Me too..."
But that's not the point right now...?
"Does he have any tendencies like... liking bets, or enjoying games of chance...?"
"Not at all."
"Or maybe he lacks self-control, or chases constant thrills...?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"……."
What I'm saying is.
'That hyung gets hooked on gambling years later, right when your group should be blowing up. He plays in a mob-run VIP room, loses everything, becomes a debtor.
Sells out his parents with lies and begs you for help, and whether his parents are really gone or not, your soft spot for him makes you-
Lend him money, and you get dragged through the mud too.'
How do I even say that?
'I'll be lucky if he doesn't call me crazy.'
I said something else instead.
"Jeong Eun-seong. Hypothetically... what if the people debuting with you all suck? Every single one's rotten, irresponsible, bound to cause trouble. No, it's guaranteed. What would you do?"
"Out of nowhere?"
Jeong Eun-seong frowned at the random question but answered straightforwardly, as always, without arguing.
"I'd deal with it when it happens."
"Ah, it hasn't hit yet?"
"Obviously. I'm just a trainee."
"Debut's not imminent?"
"No plans to debut in the next three years. Not even close. Same for that hyung."
"...Really?"
"Yeah."
Jeong Eun-seong nodded.
"No idea what you're thinking, but my debut's not even on the horizon. Chances of ending up in the same group as him are even slimmer."
"……."
"Having weird thoughts first thing in the morning. You sleepy?"
After scolding me, Jeong Eun-seong dug out a crumpled packet of Jetty from his desk. When I didn't take it, he snatched my milk and mixed it himself. As he focused on making chocolate milk, I asked,
"Then, if any problems come up, you'll tell me?"
"You gonna help?"
"Yeah."
"Sure. Not that it'll happen."
"Got it."
"Yeah."
"Remember this. Gambling counseling hotline: 1336."
"I got it."
Fine, whatever. The future's already changed somewhat, so obsessing over past events is silly. I can worry when it actually happens.
They don't even have debut plans yet.
No clue why not... but he said he'd tell me.
I sighed and took the milk from Jeong Eun-seong.
"Drink up quick. Height growth windows are tricky to catch."
"Height isn't as crucial for me as it is for you."
My mind felt lighter as I bantered with Jeong Eun-seong.
Slide.
Seo Jae-kyeom appeared, eyes heavy with sleep. His blank expression crumpled the moment he saw me and Jeong Eun-seong together.
"Why are you two stuck together again?"
"Having a wholesome chat about the future. Where've you been? Your bag's over there."
"Staff room."
"Why?"
"You always bring the attendance book, so I figured I'd grab it today."
"But I already brought it up~"
"Tch. Right. Han Ji-su's mom was at the staff room. Asked if your mom's okay."
"She must've heard from Ji-su. Why was she there?"
"About Han Ji-su's grades."
"Ji-su's grades?"
"She got the literature essay wrong, and her mom wants it marked correct."
"Ah."
Seo Jae-kyeom scratched his eyebrow in annoyance and added bluntly,
"Han Ji-su's mom said it'll make you nervous."
"Why?"
"Ji-su's rank might change if her score goes up."
"Ah."
No way that'll happen. I've got perfect scores across the board.
"Told her no chance. You swept all top marks."
"Ooh..."
He thought the same as me.
"You had my back?"
"That lady was talking nonsense."
Just admit when someone else's kid did well instead of whining about rankings.
Seo Jae-kyeom jerked his chin for us to head to our seats.
"She's coming for open house next week too. How many times a month does that mom visit school?"
"Heh..."
Can't say 'your mom comes a lot too' here... right?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Why watch dramas with gay guys? That's why there are so many gays in this country—kids grow up seeing that crap."
"Huh? No way. I grew up on [Secret Garden], so why aren't I a chaebol?"
"Me too. Watched and I'm not a detective."
We immediately shot back at Park Su-hwan's nonsense. Another friend from across the room chimed in.
During reading time, where the teacher encouraged debates and watched with a smile, Park Su-hwan was spouting nonsense again today.
I don't get why he keeps talking when he gets red-faced and huffs at any pushback. If you hate counterarguments, don't speak up!
I added to smooth over the tense mood.
"There is something called the Scully effect, but that's for career choices. I don't think it applies to sexual orientation like homosexuality because..."
"Yeah, yeah, Apple Juice sis is always right~ Here's a balloon!"
Park Su-hwan cut me off mid-sentence, despite me trying to be tactful.
"Wahahak!"
"Ahahak!"
"……."
Again.
That crew calling me some weird name, the girls confused, and only the boys cracking up.
I glanced around.
A few boys laughing knowingly, a few frowning, a few avoiding eye contact. And Jeong Eun-seong sleeping.
The observation didn't last.
Because Seo Jae-kyeom next to me suddenly kicked Park Su-hwan's chair in front of him.
"Hey. What did you just say?"
Thwack!
"What did you say? Say it again, you psycho. Huh?"
Seo Jae-kyeom shot up and slammed Park Su-hwan's head onto the desk by grabbing the back of his neck.