Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Public Rejection
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"Hold on or whatever. I said no."
Even as I say it, I wonder what the point is.
Do Ha-jun never listens to me anyway. He just says whatever he wants.
His confession was creepy enough, but I can't even figure out why he's asking me out in the first place.
We barely even talk. He could've picked anyone else. Hell, he could date one of those dolls at home, right?
I felt skeptical about even speaking up, but I said it anyway.
"Do Ha-jun. I don't like you. And I mean extremely hate you. We're only together right now because it's high school and we have no choice. Once we graduate and go to college, I wouldn't even sit at the same table as someone like you."
If I got on the subway and the only empty seat was next to you, I'd stand for the whole hour. If I went to the movies and you were sitting beside me, I'd leave and cancel my ticket.
You move in next door? I'd emigrate!
"Have I ever replied to a single one of your KakaoTalk messages? I told you not to send them. I even said I'd report you if you sent one more. I've made my feelings perfectly clear..."
"So what? You're really gonna reject me? In front of everyone?"
See? He doesn't listen. I let out a hollow laugh and shot back.
"You confessed publicly, so you should be prepared for a public rejection, right?"
"Damn it..."
Wow. He's already swearing. He confesses five minutes ago, then flips out and starts cursing five minutes later when I turn him down. Fun times, huh?
The moment "damn" slipped from Do Ha-jun's mouth, I grabbed Jeong Eun-seong again as he tried to lunge forward.
I lowered my voice to a whisper.
"Stay put."
"Why."
"What are you gonna do about it? Are you my boyfriend or something?"
I just stated the facts, but he turned to me with shocked eyes.
Why... why are you looking at me like that?
But soon enough, Do Ha-jun started freaking out, so I didn't have time to worry about it.
Ugh. Looking from Jeong Eun-seong to Do Ha-jun makes him look even uglier. My poor eyes.
"Kang Da-hye, I wasn't even interested in you at first, okay? But you gave me an opening. And now you're playing with me like this?"
"An opening? Are you insane? When did I..."
"That time!!!!!!!!"
Screech!!!!!
"You asked for the vacation special lecture application form!!!!!!!! You smiled at me!!!!!!"
"?!"
"And when I didn't bring it, you even gave me yours!"
Do Ha-jun's sudden outburst shocked not just half the class, but even the kids peeking in from the hallway.
"Whoa..."
One of the guys in our class marveled.
"This whole mess is over a stupid application form? She lent me a pen and told me to fill mine out right then and there... Hey, Kang Da-hye. Was that your marriage proposal and I just missed it?"
He covered his mouth and muttered to himself.
"Being class president is tough."
The kids who heard him bowed their heads, stifling laughter.
Meanwhile, Do Ha-jun kept ranting to himself.
"Even during that presentation last time! You said, 'If you like Jae-kyeom but he doesn't like you back, don't give up if someone else has feelings for you!' You looked right at me! So why pretend you don't know?!"
This is driving me crazy.
His delusions are like a disease...
"I practiced a song just to sing it for you, and I even saved your prayer in front of the whole school! And this is how you ignore my sincerity?!"
When did you save my prayer? You attacked me with a confession! Right before finals! Zero manners!
And anyway!
Does your 'sincerity' mean I have to accept you?!
Good grief. If sincerity is all it takes, then I've been studying sincerely, so Korea University should admit me without test scores!
I've sincerely watched all those chaebol dramas. Make me a chaebol. Right now. Collect 100 won from every citizen in the country and give it to me!
Hand it over! 100 won!
"I even bought you a doll! Pay for it, you bitch!"
Do Ha-jun, fuming, hurled the thing he was holding at me.
It was a bear doll-shaped keychain.
Not a bear doll, but a bear-shaped keychain. Still had the 3,000 won price tag on it.
Maybe because he noticed Jeong Eun-seong standing in front of me, he timidly tossed it at my feet. The keychain hit the floor with a metallic clink.
If Jeong Eun-seong wasn't here, he would've thrown it right at my face. Hurt or not.
Jeong Eun-seong stared at the keychain rolling by his feet, his expression hardening.
He glanced up at the ceiling. Let out a sigh. Picked up the keychain and lightly tossed it up and down.
He turned to me and said,
"I just got hit by a doll."
"Uh..."
"Do Ha-jun threw it at me first, so can I get involved now?"
Bang!
Right then, the front door flew open as Seo Jae-kyeom stormed in. He must've come straight from basketball—his bangs were a total mess. He took one look at the classroom chaos and scowled darkly, jerking his chin.
"Hey. Do Ha-jun. Outside."
"Uh, huh?"
"I said outside."
"Wh-why...?"
"Come out first."
"N-no, I..."
"Why? I said come out. Go."
That's what you just demanded of Da-hye. Kim Ga-eun chimed in from the side.
Seo Jae-kyeom strode over, slung his arm around Do Ha-jun's shoulders, and started dragging him out.
Jeong Eun-seong followed. Seo Jae-kyeom glanced at him and shrugged.
"I have something to say to him too."
Seo Jae-kyeom furrowed his brow but they were on the same side for now. He sighed and reluctantly said,
"Fine, whatever."
"Yeah, you three have fun~"
"Talk it out nice and good~" Ye-su-a waved cheerfully. Shouldn't we stop them? As I turned, she patted my shoulder.
"Let the three of them sort it out. Do Ha-jun doesn't listen to you anyway. Just have Eun-seong and Jae-kyeom talk to him."
"Is that okay...?"
"What's not okay? It'd be great if Do Ha-jun died in the process. No need to bury him with pocket change."
"Ow."
Ancient history much?
Just before the door closed, Jeong Eun-seong glanced at Jang Ji-won.
"Yang Ji-woong."
He couldn't even be bothered to get her name remotely right anymore.
"Out of everyone I've met in my life, you're the second..."
He tilted his head, searching for the word.
"...dumbest."
Boom. He dropped the bomb on Jang Ji-won. As she gaped blankly, he added,
"First is Do Ha-jun. Third is your boyfriend. And."
"......"
"You're the one I hate most in our class."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The worst part of a public confession.
"Hey, Kang Da-hye! Ha-jun's not bad~"
"Just accept him~"
"Accept him!"
(clap)
"Accept him!"
(clap)
"Date me, shorty!"
"Heh heh heh..."
The bystanders laughing and enjoying the show like it wasn't their problem.
The guys egging him on despite knowing it was hopeless, just for the entertainment.
The ones hyping the mood, saying accept him, accept him.
This was exactly what Jang Ji-won had aimed for.
Luckily for me, the torment didn't last long.
"What did you say?"
"Oh, Jae-kyeom..."
Our class didn't even think to tease me with this from the start.
Some dumb guys from the next class who were giggling without reading the room...
"Don't you remember why Do Ha-jun got disciplined?"
"Oh, right..."
"'Oh right' my ass. Why are you still here? Just jump off. From there."
...Because Jeong Eun-seong and Seo Jae-kyeom charged over and beat the crap out of them.
Seo Jae-kyeom knew some of them, but Jeong Eun-seong didn't even know most of the school and still went straight up to tell them to shut up.
Thanks to those two making such a scene, every attempt to tease me vanished before the day was even over.
"There are just so many idiots out there."
"Too bad. I was gonna beat them myself."
"Right? That iron fist even Gyeong Se-in can't handle."
Do Ha-jun, whom Jeong Eun-seong and Seo Jae-kyeom had dragged out, came back looking totally cowed after whatever short talk they had.
And that's not all.
He'd blatantly violated the school's order not to contact the victim, so he might face additional discipline.
After leaving him like that, Jang Ji-won washed her hands of the whole thing.
Whatever. Not my problem.
(Honestly, I just want to forget it all now..............................)
For now, my current issue is...
"Hmph!"
Jeong Eun-seong, huffing and puffing from the diagonal back seat for the rest of class.
Not looking at the blackboard, just staring at me and hmphing like it's a protest. My head's gonna get drilled through.
"Hmph!"
"......"
This needs fixing.
After the last class ended, I couldn't hold back and asked,
"Jeong Eun-seong..."
"Hmph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Are you sulking...?"