Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: The Confession Fallout
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In the solemn atmosphere...
"Aaahhh!"
Chilling screams echoed through the hallways.
It was the girls from the other classes hurling whatever they were holding and shrieking in disgust, as if it had happened right in front of them instead of me.
Our class girls were no different.
Amid friends jumping back and recoiling like Do Ha-jun was right there, Yeon-hee whispered softly.
"Fuck."
Yeon-hee, who was usually so prim and never swore or even said anything rude. Swearing. Twice already today.
The boys, who had been sparkling with excitement and ready for entertainment the moment Do Ha-jun started spouting his confession-like nonsense, now went silent, thinking, This is a bit much.
Even Park Su-hwan's crew, who had surely egged him on from behind, were hanging their heads.
Static... Static...
-If I head back to the classroom now, will you welcome me...?
-Do Ha-jun!
-What! Ow, why'd you hit me!
Finally, someone must have reached the broadcast room, because the announcement cut off.
Click.
The sound of the mic being hastily shut off brought silence to the classroom.
The mood turned icy.
It felt just like being selected as a tribute in The Hunger Games... or like my name coming out of the Goblet of Fire in Harry Potter even though I hadn't entered it...
With everyone staring right at me.
Jeong Eun-seong's eyes widened as our gazes met.
"Kang Da-hye, are you crying?!"
"Hic... sniff..."
I grabbed the hem of Jeong Eun-seong's uniform shirt right in front of me and wiped my tears on it.
The flustered Jeong Eun-seong didn't know what to do and let me drag him along, holding his shirt out for me with his arms awkwardly raised.
"Don't cry..."
A large hand patted my back awkwardly.
"Hic... sob..."
I couldn't help it...
Sob sob hic waaah thunder crash... As I burst into tears.
"Jeong Eun-seong..."
"Yeah...?"
"Do... Do I look blind to you?"
"Huh?"
"Do I look like I have no eyes? Like I lack any sense to judge a guy's character? Like any guy will do as long as he's a guy? Like I'm so desperate for romance that I can't live without a boyfriend for even a day?"
If that's how I seem, just tell me straight up without holding back for my feelings!
I clutched the hem of Jeong Eun-seong's shirt, where I'd buried my face, and grilled him.
He looked extremely uncomfortable, bent over at the knees because I was gripping his clothes, but I had no time to care.
Do Ha-jun's distinctive nasally shout echoed in my head.
-Go out with me, kiddo!
Kiddo? Kiddooooooo?!
Even the word choice is so Do Ha-jun! Gives me chills!
We're about the same height, what kiddo!
I snatched the chocolate milk Jeong Eun-seong had on his desk and chugged it. Gotta drink this and work hard to grow to 198 cm from now on!
Jeong Eun-seong, finally freed from my grasp as I gulped down chocolate milk and then banana milk, looked down at his soaked shirt.
"Uh... hey, calm down..."
"Does this look like a calm-down situation?!"
I yelled, then stopped abruptly.
"Wait a sec."
"What?"
"Is this some advanced strategy to rattle my mental game and tank my finals?"
Jeong Eun-seong snorted at my serious mutter, then sobered up.
"That's not funny."
The friends who had gathered around my desk chimed in agreement.
"Yeah, not funny at all. Has Do Ha-jun forgotten why he got disciplined? How does it make sense for him to confess to you after that?"
"No way he forgot. We haven't."
"Even if feelings popped up, anyone with a conscience would hide them. How do you confess so openly?"
"He never felt sorry toward us from the start."
The kids listening to the convo all nodded in agreement.
"Hey, Jang Ji-won. Did you really egg Do Ha-jun on?"
Kim Ga-eun, arms crossed, shot at Jang Ji-won. Suddenly under everyone's harsh glares, Jang Ji-won panicked.
"Why are you coming at me again?"
"You just said it yourself. That you told Do Ha-jun to do it."
"I didn't tell him to. I just helped."
"So you helped instead of stopping him from acting like that?"
"You should've stopped him from doing crap like that. Egging him on? Hey, what did Da-hye ever do to you?"
"Even if she did something, I'd help her in this situation."
"Are you sane?"
"This makes you secondary harm, you know?"
Criticism of Jang Ji-won erupted from all sides. The boys watching joined in.
"Wow, seriously. Epic."
"Jang Ji-won must really hate Kang Da-hye."
"Why hate her?"
"Dunno. Jealousy?"
Caught in the crossfire, Jang Ji-won floundered. The vibe was nothing like she'd expected.
"Hear that, Jang Ji-won? Secondary harm."
"What secondary harm! Don't overreact!"
"Then what is this? Real talk, is it jealousy like Jeong Na-jun said?"
"Why would I be jealous of Kang Da-hye!"
"Then what?!"
"I told you! Ha-jun consulted me that he liked Da-hye, so I just helped a bit!"
"Oh please. Helped because he said he liked her. Next time a sex offender says he likes the victim, you gonna help him too?"
"Her brain is just..."
I didn't even get a word in.
The furious friends tore into Jang Ji-won verbally on their own. Cornered, she lashed out.
"How do you know Kang Da-hye hates Do Ha-jun! According to him, she came onto him first! She's the one stringing him along behind his back and playing innocent in front!"
"That's Do Ha-jun's all-knowing perspective..."
Kim Ga-eun facepalmed.
I wanted to facepalm too.
Do Ha-jun... you were spreading that crap behind my back?
Are you insane?
Well, once he puts it out there, some people will think, "Even so, Do Ha-jun wouldn't make it all up," or "She must've given him some opening," so he banks on that?
"You're hopeless."
Do-yeon said coldly, staring at Jang Ji-won.
The usually quiet Do-yeon speaking up silenced the chatterboxes.
"Jang Ji-won. Da-hye won't drop to Do Ha-jun's level just by getting involved with him."
"What?"
"Isn't that what you thought? That if Park Su-hwan's lackey Do Ha-jun hooks up with Da-hye, she'll sink to his level and end up worse than you."
"No..."
"Then the kids would snicker, tease Da-hye, and you'd chime in that they suit each other, egg her on."
"......"
"Sorry, but the kids are all smarter than you. Especially you... dumber than average."
"Hey, Do-yeon! That's harsh! How do you know if I'm dumb or not?"
"You date Park Su-hwan."
Do-yeon's tone was firm.
That one line sealed the proof of Jang Ji-won's intelligence.
The kids burst out laughing at the sharp words. Tears welled in Jang Ji-won's flushed eyes. As she screamed in genuine grievance.
"Why only pick on me!"
Slide.
The door opened, and Do Ha-jun appeared.
Behind him, kids from other classes peeked into our room. The girls who met my eyes pointed at Do Ha-jun's head and mouthed curses.
I couldn't read lips, but I knew exactly what they said.
Is he crazy? Or Crazy bastard?
Ignoring the kids behind, Do Ha-jun shrugged his shoulders as he entered, wearing... a thrilled expression.
Makes my blood boil, for real.
Utterly repulsive...
No, he's not seriously into me. He just wants a girlfriend, thinks I'm the easiest target, figures I'll fall with a little sweet talk.
Bonus: dating me boosts his bottom-rung status in class.
That's what pisses me off!
Why would I fall for him!
I have eyes!
Two of them!
Do Ha-jun, shrugging in confidently, noticed the frosty class vibe unlike his expectations and chin-nodded at me.
"Kang Da-hye, come out for a sec."
"......"
Beside me, holding back a double curse, Ye-su-a spoke.
"Do Ha-jun, are you nuts?"
"Wasn't talking to you, Ye-su-a. Kang Da-hye, come on. I got something prepared."
What did he prepare now...
"Do Ha-juun..."
"Don't."
I grabbed Jeong Eun-seong's hem as he surged forward, not even knowing the name right.
Did I drool? It's pretty soaked. I yanked him back while retorting to Do Ha-jun.
"No."
"Just a sec."
"No."
"It'll just take a minute."
"......"
This guy really... doesn't take my words seriously?