Chapter 41
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Curry and Top Tens
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"Eat up good! Auntie! More rice for me, please!"
The cafeteria was where Woo-sik was most in his element.
The aunties, already used to Woo-sik's appetite, recognized him and piled on an extra-heaping serving of rice.
"Auntie! Just a little more than this guy for me!"
Lee Cheong-ha, following right behind, had her eyes sparkling too.
There was another one who could pack it away like nobody's business.
"You two look extra happy today."
I hung back, watching them fondly, and asked.
They always got excited at mealtime, but today they seemed even more pumped.
Maybe because of the curry.
Woo-sik, who had been sweetly begging for curry overflowing his tray, turned around.
"You bet. Mom gave me allowance for the first time 'cause I finally cracked single digits."
Woo-sik stopped mid-tray to announce it proudly.
He'd placed 9th in yesterday's dance test, puffing out his chest.
It was his best ranking yet, so no wonder.
He seemed to play around all the time, but guess he put in some real effort collaborating with that flute girl.
Though he totally struck out on his real goal of hitting it off with her.
I started to say something but shut my mouth.
No point making him gloomy again.
"Me too! First time squeezing into the top ten all by myself. Hehe."
Lee Cheong-ha had come in 10th.
She'd aced 1st with me in our first singing test together, but then hit 11th in acting.
So, landing top 10 solo for the first time? She had every reason to be thrilled.
"Lee Cheong-ha, work just a bit harder and you'll hit single digits too."
Woo-sik teased her with a mock-serious face, grinning mischievously.
Says the guy who barely scraped 9th himself.
"Shut it! Hurry up already. Can't you see the line behind us?"
"Yeah, yeah. Double digits? I get why you're mad. Totally understandable."
"Ugh, seriously!"
I watched Woo-sik and Lee Cheong-ha bicker all the way to grabbing dessert.
When had those two gotten so tight?
Probably their bright, pure personalities—easy to click.
"Plenty for you too, kid?"
"Oh, no. Just a regular portion for me. Thanks."
Hmm. Maybe time to start watching my diet.
I smacked my lips at the curry plopping onto my tray.
Subject tests were done, but the semester wasn't over.
The big comprehensive stage eval was still waiting.
Cutting back suddenly might shock my body.
From today, smaller portions.
I didn't need to lose weight, but managed my diet moderately to minimize food's impact on my condition.
"Auntie, two yogurts no good?"
"Quit whining and move it! I don't give two to anyone."
So that's why they were taking forever.
Woo-sik was haggling for extra dessert too.
"Why not? Here."
The auntie smiled warmly and plopped an extra yogurt on Woo-sik's tray.
He always cleaned his plate spotless, so he was the cafeteria's idol.
"Thanks!"
"Two... is okay...? Then me too...."
Lee Cheong-ha, eyes wide next to him, timidly slid her tray forward.
Those two took forever getting their trays.
"Take it easy and hurry up. I'm grabbing a seat first."
Seemed like it wouldn't end soon, so I cut ahead to snag a spot.
Scanning the packed cafeteria, a familiar voice rang out.
"Argh. Fine, eat one of mine then!"
"Here!"
"There! Happy now? Ugh!"
Moon Woo-hyuk and Song Ha-na bickering.
I could guess from context.
Conveniently, the table next to theirs was empty, so I sat and tossed out an offhand comment.
"Wow, you really do count them every time. Almonds. Impressive, impressive."
Guess what he said at the gym was true.
Counting every almond? Wild.
And she was only 17—what's with that discipline?
But... did I mess up?
Song Ha-na shot me a death glare.
And then,
"Finally saying something right for once, Lee Do-hyun. Right? You never saw a girl get pissy over one almond either."
Wait, when did I say that?
I just marveled innocently at her counting habit.
But Moon Woo-hyuk and Song Ha-na had heard exactly what they wanted.
Moon Woo-hyuk beaming triumphantly, Song Ha-na fuming—I just gave up.
Whatever.
"Haha. Enjoy."
Laughed it off, best I could.
Ignoring Song Ha-na's ongoing glare, I picked up my spoon.
Perfect timing—Woo-sik and Lee Cheong-ha sat down across.
Good, you two.
"Cheong-ha, it's wild every time I see it."
Talking to them should defuse the glare.
Her tray was always piled high, so I struck up convo.
Not just for show—it really blew my mind every time.
How did that tiny frame pack away that much?
And she didn't even do special vocal care.
A voice like that with no maintenance? Insane.
Some people are just born gifted.
She was gifted top to bottom.
"Do-hyun, aren't you eating too little?"
Compared to her tray, mine was maybe a third.
Seeing her worry over my portion, I could only chuckle wryly.
I did take less, sure—but she took way more. This was awkward.
Then Moon Woo-hyuk spotted Lee Cheong-ha's tray from next door.
"Hey, pumpkin. That's a ton. And you call that little?"
Thought I'd cleared one hurdle to eat in peace—now a new one.
Shouldn't have sat here.
"Worry about your own plate, melon."
That's right. Don't back down, Cheong-ha—nice.
Ever since the pumpkin-melon fiasco, Moon Woo-hyuk and Lee Cheong-ha growled whenever their eyes met.
...Forgot about that and sat here anyway.
Song Ha-na finally clocked Lee Cheong-ha's tray and gawked.
"Oh my. You eat all that?"
"Yeah."
"You...."
Song Ha-na eyed her seriously.
Lee Cheong-ha, casually lifting her spoon, tensed up for no reason.
"Eating that much and you can only do one push-up?"
Song Ha-na still couldn't get over Lee Cheong-ha's pitiful stamina from gym class.
Wait, one push-up?
I turned to her—she flinched hard and dropped her spoon.
For real?
"Eats all that, so one push-up's her limit."
Moon Woo-hyuk jumped in like it was his chance.
Nope.
Why keep ragging on her eating?
This time, I had to back her up solid.
"You're being harsh. For Cheong-ha, this is actually less than usual."
Nailed it.
Why pick on her for eating light today?
I'd carefully taken her side, but Moon Woo-hyuk and Song Ha-na's faces twisted weird.
Even quiet Kim Sun-woo looked shocked.
"Whoa... that's her eating less...?"
Oh crap.
Did I just dig her hole deeper?
Luckily, Kim Sun-woo was an angel.
"Packing that away and not gaining a pound—killer metabolism. Amazing."
His praise smoothed it over perfectly. Phew.
Thanks, Kim Sun-woo. Knew you were solid.
"Alright, alright. Everyone mind your own. Let's eat. Dig in, Cheong-ha. Good food's for enjoying."
"Yeah!"
At my words, she forgot her jitters and shoveled a huge spoonful.
Everyone at the table gawked.
Except me, grinning warmly.
***
"Uwaa! Home!"
"Dorm, you mean."
"What's wrong, Do-hyun? Our sweet home."
Woo-sik, who'd napped through class complaining of a full stomach from lunch, flopped straight onto his bed and squirmed.
But.
"Hey, skip dinner and order chicken?"
"Weren't you full earlier?"
"Aw, that digested ages ago. It's Friday! Gotta live it up."
"Pass."
Woo-sik bolted up and started miming chicken with his whole body.
"Crisp, thin batter in pure, clear olive oil."
Musical kid through and through—even nailed the frying sizzle.
"Bite in—juices squirt out. Spicy-sweet sauce. Ahh..."
Woo-sik dropped to his knees, hands clasped to the ceiling like praying to chicken.
Whoa. He's gonna cry. Straight-up tears.
"Even if we suck at dieting, basics matter. Greasy stuff's bad for the throat. Calories through the roof."
"Teacher. Chicken doesn't make you fat. I do."
"Where's that bullshit coming from."
I ignored him, digging in my ear, and unpacked at my desk.
"Hey!"
"Whoa."
"All this for gaining weight someday—really? It's Friday night! Friday!"
His desperate plea drew a sigh.
No taming Woo-sik's chicken obsession with plain logic.
"Fine. Just this once."
"Yeah yeah!"
"And quit musical theater."
I smiled sweetly—his face darkened instantly.
"Ugh, forget it! No chicken."
"Nah, order it. Right now."
I loomed over him sprawled on the bed, whispering menacingly.
"Order it, bomb the test, get chewed out by teacher, parents called, expelled, life ruined...."
"No, sir! My bad—I messed up big time!"
Woo-sik shook his head frantically, yelling like he'd seen a ghost.
Good. Should've caved sooner.
"Come here. Knock out one reflection essay before dinner. I'll help."
"What sin did I commit last life... to get a roommate like this...."
Grumbling, Woo-sik plopped down beside me anyway.
We sat at the desk like routine, watching the ongoing eval video.
He eyed it with forced enthusiasm, but yawned.
"You're unreal. Don't you ever tire?"
"Nope. Thinking of regrets later? That's worse. Sleep's for the grave."
"Right, Do-hyun.... Nail 1st in comp eval."
"Will do."
Woo-sik genuinely thought his roommate was incredible.
Made me curious.
Why was I so desperate?
Especially at Cheongyeom Arts High.
Kids killed to get in—graduate safe, and you're set.
He could've chilled more, but I went all-out every time.
"But you're grinding that hard for the scholarship, right?"
"Huh?"
"Morning workouts, class, assignments... You said you needed it before. That it?"
His words gave me pause.
Why I pushed so hard.
"Just. Today better than yesterday...."
Yesterdays—pre-regression days—flashed by.
All-nighters at the convenience store for auditions.
Vocal cord nodules diagnosis, hiding under covers crying, not even telling Mom.
I trailed off without thinking.
"Today better than yesterday?"
"Wanna be a better me."
"What?"
I grinned at his baffled face.
"This time, I wanna prove effort pays off."