Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Seatmate Shuffle
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"Hmm?"
The student teacher tilted his head and looked down at Jeong Eun-seong.
Jeong Eun-seong clenched his fist.
Not paying him any mind, the student teacher pointed at Jeong Eun-seong and asked me,
"Boyfriend?"
"No!"
"Oh, no?"
"Yes!"
I frantically waved my hands in denial. The student teacher grinned down at me as I desperately refused, then threw a punchline my way.
"Right, Da-hye's dating her desk partner, isn't she? That... vice class president."
"No?!"
"Oh, not that either?"
"Yes!"
Why would you even think that?! I glared at him with wide eyes.
The student teacher cocked his head like a curious puppy and asked,
"Then why were you two holding hands during class earlier?"
"...What?"
"During Mr. Yoon's class. I saw you when I passed by."
"......"
"Oh, was that supposed to be a secret?"
He slapped a hand over his mouth with a shocked expression... but I knew if he dropped it, he'd be smiling. I was certain. Beside him, Jeong Eun-seong glared at me with narrowed eyes.
I hurried to make excuses.
"You must have seen wrong."
"Both my eyes are 20/20."
"You. Must. Have. Seen. Wrong."
I gritted my teeth.
The student teacher laughed, alternating glances between me and Jeong Eun-seong, then smacked his forehead.
"You're right. Now that I think about it, my vision's 20/200. My bad."
"......"
Just stop talking.
"Why are you in the music room, anyway?"
"Oh, practicing for the talent show."
"Talent show?"
"The student teachers are doing a group performance for the sports festival. The music room's the only soundproof spot, so we're gathering here to practice."
"Oh."
Even student teachers have to deal with office politics...
"What are you practicing?"
"Secret."
Yeah, whatever. Not curious.
"You'll be done with your practicum after the sports festival, right?"
"Yep."
"Good."
"You want me gone ASAP?"
Yes.
"No way. You must be busy, Teacher."
"Doesn't feel like it... Anyway, Da-hye, you prepped a lot for the sports festival?"
"What's there to prep?"
With the Do Ha-jun and the other seven messing up Teacher's Day, I figured I'd make it up by doing well at the sports festival to cheer up our homeroom teacher. Something like that.
"Hmm..."
The conversation seemed over, but the student teacher didn't head into the music room. He just stood there with us. He asked about everything—how studying was going lately, my toughest subject, you name it.
"No tutoring for you, Da-hye?"
"No."
I couldn't even afford special lectures.
"No cram school?"
"No."
"You study alone at home and still get first place? Impressive. The teachers all say they're sending you straight to Korea University."
"Haha."
"It'd be fun running into you on campus."
Why was this kid so clingy? I narrowed my eyes and asked,
"Teacher, if it's not too rude... did you serve in the military?"
"Yeah."
"Then by the time I get to Korea University in two years, won't you have graduated already?"
So quit with the empty flattery. I hit him with the facts.
"When you enroll, I'll buy you a meal. Can't neglect my first student."
"......"
What's his deal, seriously?
Right then, the other student teachers came swarming up, cutting off the conversation.
"Do well at the sports festival."
The student teacher waved breezily and headed into the music room.
'No idea why he's acting so chummy.'
He wasn't like this before I regressed.
"Oh, right! Da-hye! My vision really is 20/20!"
"Sure..."
Just endure until the sports festival.
Then the nonsense ends.
I stared at the closed music room door with a fed-up look when Jeong Eun-seong suddenly spoke up beside me.
"See that?"
"What?"
"My feet are bigger than that teacher's."
"Oh. Yeah, I obviously didn't notice something so irrelevant."
"Ten millimeters difference. That's huge."
"What's the point?"
"Means I'll be taller too."
"Huh...?"
Are those connected? But Jeong Eun-seong was adamant. He emphasized it with intense eyes.
"I'm still growing. Just wait a bit."
"Like a puppy."
Big feet mean you'll grow tall.
"Keep at it."
I patted his arm. I made sure to tap over his short-sleeve shirt instead of his bare skin—didn't want to look too pervy.
After cheering him up, Jeong Eun-seong glared at me instead.
"You're killing my vibe."
"A bad vibe means you won't grow, right...?"
I almost said he was way handsomer than the teacher anyway, so have some confidence, but held back.
"Hope that teacher leaves soon."
"Don't worry. He'll be gone after the sports festival."
Why does time crawl?
Sports festival ends, then finals, then vacation.
So before the sports festival kicks off, time to handle the postponed stuff.
Right away.
Seat changes.
Our class had been sitting in the same spots since the class president election.
Park Su-hwan and Do Ha-jun's antics shuffled things once, then the criminal crew got exiled, leading to another awkward reshuffle.
Time for a full swap to refresh the vibe.
And.
'Tons of girls want to pair with Jeong Eun-seong or Seo Jae-kyeom.'
Need to rotate seats more often.
"We just got paired up, and you're swapping already?"
"What? It's been over a month."
I ignored Seo Jae-kyeom's nonsense and tore notebook paper into slips, numbering them.
"Da-hye."
Jang Ji-won, who used to ignore me completely—especially after her crush transferred—suddenly approached me all friendly.
"There's a guy I want to sit with."
"Yeah?"
"Mmm."
"Pray hard."
"Can't you help me out, Da-hye?"
"...? Obviously not."
What was she saying? I folded the numbered slips double and explained,
"You can swap with whoever you want after draws, but I can't just put you specifically where you want."
Jang Ji-won glared and stormed off without a word.
Kim Ga-eun across the room met my eyes and twirled her finger by her temple.
Haha. I chuckled and stepped forward.
"Row one first, come up in order."
After everyone drew, I unfolded the leftovers. My seat was mid-second row. Not the front like I wanted—bummer.
Wonder who my partner is.
"Kang Da-hye."
"Oh. Lee Seo-jun."
Lee Seo-jun approached with flushed cheeks and plopped his bag on the seat next to mine.
Reference: Lee Seo-jun. School rank 30. Recommended me for class president. First whistleblower on the Do Ha-jun and Park Su-hwan incident.
'Lee Seo-jun's fine.'
Quiet and well-behaved.
Seated beside me, Lee Seo-jun looked up at me with his big cow eyes.
"First time pairing with you."
"Yeah. This is only our second reshuffle."
"Mmm."
"If you like switching, should I suggest doing it more often?"
"N-no! No. This is perfect."
"Cool. Let's do well. Wake each other if we doze, share notes."
"Mmm!"
Hmm.
This pairing's solid.
Now, where's Jeong Eun-seong...
Thud.
"...You're here?"
"Yeah."
Jeong Eun-seong strolled over with his parasol and sat diagonally behind me, right after Lee Seo-jun.
"Da-hye!"
Yeon-hee came over with her textbook, saw her partner was Jeong Eun-seong, and dropped everything with a clatter.
Jeong Eun-seong glanced at it, picked up the book, and handed it to her.
"Thanks...!"
Yeon-hee's face was beet red.
I watched her stiffen up, sit rigidly. She was pretending to be calm, but I was tense too.
'What if my stomach growls during class?'
What if I scratch my itchy head and she thinks I didn't wash it?
Can she see inside my desk from there?
Probably!
I busily organized my stuff, shoving it into my desk.
Glanced back and met Jeong Eun-seong's eyes. He'd been resting his chin on his hand, watching me.
"What're you looking at?"
"...Nothing."
...Gotta eat breakfast starting tomorrow.
Anyway.
I slipped my hand into my pocket and touched Jeong Eun-seong's photo.
Just printed paper, but touching it felt as embarrassing and awkward as touching the real thing.
And it was huge.
You know how photo studios print an extra large one for your boyfriend or girlfriend when you take ID photos? For keepsakes?
That size.
☆Does NOT mean I'm Jeong Eun-seong's girlfriend★
I curled my fingertips, thinking.
'Where to put this.'
Between workbooks?
What if it falls out when I open them in front of friends?
At home?
Tuck it under my pillow, pull it out before bed to gaze at?
Ugh, why'd he give me this?
Really troublesome.
"Kang Da-hye, why're you smiling?"
"Not smiling."