The Model Student's Life 6
“Shouldn’t we go pick up Joo-shin?”
“We’ve still got time. I talked to the school, and starting tomorrow, his classes will end early...”
“Ah, so it can’t happen right away?”
“I have to get permission from his teacher too, the one who’s been staying late to teach him every day because of me.”
“Then how about one round before we go?”
On the way home, we veered off our usual path toward the PC bang, unlike normal. With college entrance exams over and classes ending early, kids were gathering in groups and heading the same way.
“At this rate, half the class will end up meeting at the PC bang after school.”
“They’ll run out of seats before that.”
“Should we head to the hagwon district instead? It’s a bit farther, but I hear they’ve got the latest setups.”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
“Oh, that bus goes toward the hagwon district.”
“First- and second-years haven’t been dismissed yet, so buses only come once an hour... What do we do?”
“No choice.”
We missed the bus to the hagwon district right in front of us and decided to walk for the exercise.
As we neared the hagwon district, I sensed movement in a nearby alley, but Jong-hyuk and Kyung-soo didn’t seem to notice and kept walking ahead.
Did I mishear?
Hurrying to catch up with Jong-hyuk and Kyung-soo as they walked away, my steps halted at the voice—and the name—I overheard.
“Hey, doesn’t it piss you off?”
“Who?”
“Ji-hye.”
“Ah, that ×××?”
“××, what the hell is she doing, slinking around Jae-ha one minute and ignoring him the next? I heard my friend got ××× because of her.”
“Your friend’s boyfriend?”
“No.”
“No my ass. She’s the one doing ×× next to Jae-ha?”
“She’s not.”
“Anyway, why’s Ji-hye acting like that?”
“Dunno. Ever since her dad died, she’s been kinda...”
“What’s with those hand gestures?”
“She seems crazy.”
“What?”
“Chasing after Jae-ha, who never gave her the time of day—it’s like she’s missing a screw.”
“Her dad dying must’ve done it.”
“Huh? What’re you talking about?”
“Her dad... he was a big-shot civil servant around An-nam City. Then he just up and died.”
“But it didn’t even make the news?”
“Famous here in An-nam, sure, but who cares elsewhere?”
“Damn, that’s kinda sad.”
“Sad? That bitch pretends she’s not like that, but when she thought she was gonna get ×, she played the victim first.”
“No way... for real?”
“I had my eye on her ’cause I didn’t like her, but she’s hanging with Jae-ha’s crew now, so I had to back off.”
“Then if Jae-ha’s group gets wrecked this time...”
“I don’t like her, so I’ll give her a little lesson.”
“What if the cops catch you...?”
“As long as you guys back me up, what can she do? She’s already branded a problem child at school... It’ll just look like drama between troublemakers.”
“Sounds like a line I’ve heard before.”
“You should’ve seen how shocked I was at what Jae-ha did... but it all blew over as no big deal.”
“No way, you don’t mean...”
“Watch. I’ll make sure she can’t show that pretty face around anymore.”
I wanted to slip into the alley to see their faces, but Kyung-soo’s voice calling me stopped me. By the time I got there, they’d scattered like startled birds, leaving only their backs in view.
Who were they? Looked like our school uniforms...
We arrived at the PC bang near the hagwon district and headed underground, bantering about who’d played more games, each insisting we were the pro, bickering all the way down about who’d prove it first.
“Isn’t that Jae-min?”
“Yeah... How many cup ramen cups are stacked next to his keyboard?”
We spotted Jae-min’s disheveled back but didn’t make a fuss, just grabbed seats and started gaming.
The first round ended in my easy win.
“How do you even micro Marines like that?”
Body strengthening takes care of it.
“I’m just... good.”
“What? This is bullshit! You cheating with hacks or something?”
“No hacks. Look at everyone else playing... Quit messing around and focus now?”
I wrestled Kyung-soo—embodiment of sore loserdom—back into his seat and cheered him on as he played Jong-hyuk, hoping he’d win.
God knows what tantrum he’ll throw if he loses.
Jong-hyuk ignored the noisy Kyung-soo like it was routine, playing along just enough. It stood out.
Jong-hyuk’s good at everything, huh? He could go pro in e-sports.
Unaware of my thoughts, Jong-hyuk barely held the front line until he fell into Kyung-soo’s trap, handing Kyung-soo the win.
With his burning competitive fire finally cooling, Kyung-soo suggested teaming up with randoms. I said I’d take a break, patted their shoulders, and headed to the bathroom.
Worried Jae-min might log off, I put a hand on his shoulder.
“Long time no see.”
“Hiiik... J-J-J...”
“That’s a rude greeting. And I hate that nickname, you know.”
Jae-min’s eyes darted in panic as he stammered a hello.
“Ahahaha. H-Hi...”
“We need to talk, right?”
“Uh...”
“I don’t think you meant it, and I’m not grilling you. Just curious about something.”
Realizing it wasn’t about last time, Jae-min followed me out of the PC bang without protest.
“About last time...”
“It’s fine—you didn’t mean it. Jae-ha? Don’t know him well, but you said the bitch led it?”
“Yeah.”
“Who the hell is she? Seems infamous at school.”
“Well...”
“Not dying to know if it bothers you. But I overheard something on the way here...”
I relayed the nasty gossip about Ji-hye I’d caught walking to the hagwon district. Jae-min’s face paled, and he leaned in close, whispering almost like rap.
“That’s gotta be a pack of girls. If they target you, your life’s really over...”
“What do you...”
“They... do compensated dating.”
“What?”
“Not exactly—they force it.”
“Why the hell...?”
“Dunno the details, but they make money and ruin lives of girls they don’t like?”
“What kind of girls do that? Why wreck someone else’s life?”
“That’s...”
“Where are they...?”
“I know spots they might be... But Jae-ha’s mess was recent—if there’s friction with them here, it won’t blow over quietly this time. Or... this area...?”
“Not planning that. But I can’t just let it slide.”
“Cops said the Jae-ha thing had nothing to do with you and dropped it, right?”
As I dodged with a troubled look, Jae-min sighed softly.
“Others call it cowardly, but I think it’s smart. Once you’re tangled up, it’s exhausting and no escape...”
“What about Ji-hye?”
“The bitch... has Jae-ha, right?”
“Why bring up Jae-ha suddenly?”
“The bitch is who Jae-ha’s after...”
Startled by my glare, Jae-min flinched, averted his eyes, and rephrased.
“Everyone knows Jae-ha likes Ji-hye. Just tell him, and it’ll sort itself out.”
“What if Ji-hye turns down his help?”
“No way. She knows better than anyone how scary those girls are.”
“Hope so...”
Still uneasy, I watched Jae-min go as Jong-hyuk and Kyung-soo emerged from the PC bang, game over.
“Two wins, one loss—my victory.”
“That’s some new logic, but whatever makes you happy.”
Kyung-soo grumbled, Jong-hyuk just nodded along amiably, and their approach made my worries feel silly—I burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny all of a sudden?”
I answered without thinking, leaving puzzled Jong-hyuk and Kyung-soo behind.
“Nah, just realized some worry was pointless.”
“What?”
“What worry? Spill.”
“Something like that.”
I smiled faintly, urging Jong-hyuk and Kyung-soo along to hurry pick up Joo-shin.
“What was that? Felt like something shady passed by...”
“Nothing like that.”
“Maybe... Ji-hye related?”
“No.”
“Denying it so hard makes it more suspicious, but I’m heading out first. See ya tomorrow...”
Kyung-soo split off toward home at the fork to Joo-shin’s school. Jong-hyuk looked concerned.
“Lately, Kyung-soo going home early bugs me.”
“Didn’t he always come home around now?”
“No, even if I got home early, Kyung-soo stayed at school or the library studying late. Now with exams over, he hangs at my place, but at home, he barely slept.”
“Really? Doesn’t that leave no rest—must be exhausted.”
“That’s why I admire him. He says I fell behind in studies because of him... but how many can study like Kyung-soo?”
“True.”
I hold up with body strengthening stamina, but how does Kyung-soo manage?
Without Kyung-soo’s lively energy, we picked up Joo-shin and headed home. Jong-hyuk and I shared a smirk and parted to our places.
Joo-shin eyed us oddly but soon busied himself washing up and prepping dinner. Just before Mother arrived, I picked up the receiver in the brief time left.
If I can’t do it alone, just ask for help.
“An-nam City Jungjang-dong Police Station.”
“Hello. Sergeant Heo Soon-kyung, please.”
“Huh? Joo-in? I told you to call me hyung. What’s up?”
“Uh... hyung. I’ve got something to report.”
“Yeah?”
“Overheard something worrying...”
Today too, I diligently played the model student. Not the gullible pushover who falls for “nice guy” flattery like before regression, or the one excusing inaction with “normalcy is best” while pretending ignorance.
No— the kind others peg as model student and fall for, getting what I want.
Different from before... but I won’t ignore what bothers me.