Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: The Student Teacher
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"Student teacher?"
"Yeah."
"A guy?"
"Yeah."
"Is he hot?"
Is that what's important?
"He was decent-looking."
I recalled the face I'd glimpsed in the teachers' office earlier. He'd come by to say hello before starting his practicum, and it just happened to be today, so everyone was a bit flustered.
I'd only gotten a quick look, but since I'd seen him once before regressing, the memory was fresh. If I could still remember his face after ten years or so, doesn't that mean he was handsome?
"He looked like a model. Tall."
Seo Jae-kyeom frowned at my description.
"Tall?"
"Yeah. Taller than you and Jeong Eun-seong."
"Tell him not to come."
"Are you crazy?"
"Tell him to go to another class."
"You're insane."
I didn't bother responding and headed up first. Seo Jae-kyeom grumbled from behind.
"Why do they even need student teacher practicums anyway!"
"How else are student teachers supposed to get experience if they don't do practicums...?"
"Why do they need experience!"
"Sigh."
Just drop it.
Let's talk about something else. What should we talk about?
Oh, right.
"I was surprised your mom helped us out earlier."
Something that chaotic wrapping up so easily was partly thanks to Seo Jae-kyeom's mom, who has a lot of influence among the parents.
I figured she'd only care about her own son's issues and would just scowl through the mess. Turns out that was just my prejudice.
"Tell her thanks for me."
"Oh. About that."
Seo Jae-kyeom winked with one eye and leaned toward me.
"I told my mom that I punched Park Su-hwan too. Said if the girls get punished, I should too."
"...You did?"
That explains it...
"Where'd your mom go, though? I don't see her."
"She skipped the college counseling today and headed home."
"Ah."
"Mom said you're amazing."
"Me?"
"Yeah. That you... study well."
"Ah."
I knew what he'd glossed over. Probably something like, 'She studies well despite coming from a family with no prospects or money.'
She'd said something similar to me before I regressed. Da-hye, it's such a shame about you.
"Tell her it's the result of my natural study genius. And that it's a relief I at least excel at studying since there's no money at home."
"Why do you have to say it like that..."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Park Su-hwan and the other seven apologized in writing to the victims. On top of that, they got ten days of in-school service and a ban on contacting the victims.
We victims demanded they be transferred to different classes,
but
'If that goes on their student records, it'll ruin their college chances...'
'They're only 18. It's too harsh for one mistake to haunt them forever...'
'They're truly sorry...'
The perpetrators' parents begged, bringing up college admissions, and the teachers mediated. In the end, our own parents softened.
'I raise a daughter too, but my youngest is a son... Boys are just like that, you know...'
'We still have to send them to college. If we leave a record and ruin their futures, you'll feel bad about it forever, right? Our girl is so kind-hearted.'
Not at all!
They were the ones who did wrong—why should we feel bad?!
Apparently, even the in-school service punishment was thanks to Do-yeon's mom and a few other parents pushing for it.
"Don't schools have to report sex crimes to the police no matter what?"
"Yeah. They get fined if they don't."
"But the vice principal tried to hush it up until Do-yeon's mom pointed it out, and only then did they report it."
"Crazy."
"Without Do-yeon's mom, they probably would've let it slide."
"Da-hye, you met her mom before, right?"
"Yeah. Briefly when I went over during exam period to study."
Still, the perpetrators agreed to voluntarily attend counseling and education sessions until their grade changes, and they won't be allowed to sit next to girls until graduation.
"The real punishment is just starting, honestly."
Not just the girls—even the other boys who weren't involved won't talk to them.
Every time they walk the halls, female students who've heard the rumors shoot them dirty looks, and the bolder guys lead the charge, verbally and physically tearing into those eight.
Our class is the same. The guys are most scared of Seo Jae-kyeom, who's openly disgusted by the group.
"Socially, they're as good as dead."
"Hope it stays that way."
"Why are the boys overreacting so much, though?"
"Probably drawing a line so they don't get lumped in with them."
"Who knows what they really think. They might hit up a PC bang later and eat ramen while saying, 'You guys just got unlucky getting caught.'"
Do Ha-jun got hit with community service as a ringleader.
For the record, that goes on his student record too.
Park Su-hwan and Jang Ji-won's boyfriend had zero loyalty. When cornered, they dumped everything on the easiest target, Do Ha-jun.
Jang Ji-won's boyfriend is transferring to some boarding school the day after tomorrow. His mom shaved his head bald, saying she failed as a parent, and shipped him off.
Jang Ji-won, suddenly facing divorce, was bawling her eyes out.
'It's all your fault!'
Because what she wanted was her remorseful boyfriend apologizing and begging her—not actual punishment like this...
💬 KakaoTalk — Do Ha-jun At least Ji-won is super devoted to you lol 13:26 — Park Su-hwan Because you're ugly lol
> No pretty girls among those types anyway 13:27
— Ji-won's Boyfriend lololololololol 13:27 To think someone could still side with them after seeing that message. Impressive in a way.
Anyway, that's why Yeon-hee is eating lunch with us now... She'd cut ties with Jang Ji-won, who was blaming and crying at her.
"Let them spend the next two years in hell at school and truly realize what they did wrong."
"If we didn't have that USB filename and KakaoTalk logs, what would've happened?"
"Right? They said seeing a video like that in class isn't enough for punishment. We needed proof of direct sexual harassment. Ridiculous."
"But I was kinda touched by something."
Su-a said after gulping down a candied sweet potato skewer on her fork.
(Today's lunch: Sweet potato donkatsu and candied sweet potatoes)
"Kids from other classes took our side and beat them up too."
"Oh yeah, I got emotional then too."
"There was this girl I wasn't close with last year in my class? She charged right in and grabbed Do Ha-jun by the collar... I almost cried."
"So you made up with her?"
"Yeah. We say hi in the halls now."
"That's great."
I nodded.
"Homeroom teacher seemed stressed."
"Yeah. She apologized to me for not being able to do more. Said she'd love to expel them but doesn't have the power."
"What a mess for her first year."
"She probably wants to quit."
"No Teacher's Day event this year, huh...?"
"With the mood like this... Better to just let it pass quietly."
"Sigh."
"Sigh."
We returned our trays and bought ice cream bars from the canteen, sticking them in our mouths.
"Da-hye, want one?"
"Nah. I'm in my low-class aging phase."
"What's that?"
"Secret."
Truth is, I'm broke.
"We're not aging—we're growing."
Do-yeon, who'd bought a half-split ice cream bar, offered me half. When I refused, she shoved it in my mouth.
"What's next period?"
"Literature. Presentation."
"How many points is that worth?"
"Five."
"Not much."
"It's big for me."
I have to get full points on this.
"Da-hye, you prepared a lot?"
"I did... but I'm already nervous."
"You, nervous about speaking in front of people?"
"I was nervous during class president elections too..."
That's how I powered my phone with static electricity from freaking out...
"What about sports day? I don't wanna run with those guys."
"They're not entering any events anyway, so it's fine."
"They can't even do sports."
As we chatted and headed back up,
"Da-hye!"
A pale-faced friend from our class came running.
"Why didn't you pick up?!"
"Huh? Why... What's wrong?"
"Your KakaoTalk!"
"My KakaoTalk?"
"Your chats with Han Ji-su!"
"???"
With Ji-su? Like... inviting her for tteokbokki? Sharing mock midterms? Lamenting how messed up the world is while watching news?
"You, Han Ji-su, and Seo Jae-kyeom chats!"
She grabbed my wrist and whispered as she got close.
"Seo Jae-kyeom?"
Oh, from back then?
"Back then" was just a few months ago... I had a crush on Seo Jae-kyeom and talked about him with Ji-su every day.
What do you think of this convo with him today? How should I reply? What do you think he's thinking...?
The biggest black mark on my life.
"Seo Jae-kyeom saw it!"
"Huh...?"
What does that mean?
"How?"