Chapter 193: With Boldness
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 193: With Boldness
“Hey.”
“Don’t talk to me. I’m going to forget everything I memorized.”
I snapped at Yoo Ah-rin when she tried to strike up a conversation, and in response, she gave my calf a petty kick.
It didn’t exactly hurt, but it was distracting.
Still, I remained focused, desperately trying to commit my handwritten notes to memory.
The exam was starting in ten minutes.
I had arrived at the lecture hall early for a thorough review, and I wasn't about to let Yoo Ah-rin ruin it.
“Wanna make a bet?”
She continued to chirp beside me.
I was annoyed and had no intention of entertaining her. The exam was literally ten minutes away.
What kind of bet was she even talking about?
It was obvious she was going to say something ridiculous, so I just ignored her. Then...
“...If you win, I’ll accept the three-way relationship.”
“What are the terms?”
I whipped my head around at Ah-rin’s bombshell declaration. She immediately furrowed her brows.
“You piece of sh*t. The fact that you’re even taking the idea of a three-way relationship seriously proves you’re total trash.”
“Did you think I didn't know I was trash when I brought it up to you guys? Anyway, what’s the bet?”
As I set my notes down and asked, Ah-rin hummed, lost in thought for a moment.
“Hmm, how about whoever finishes the exam and leaves first wins?”
“That’s impossible.”
I gestured toward the students in the back rows. Some were playing on their phones, others were just chatting.
“It’s obvious those guys are going to walk out the second the exam starts, right?”
Just look at them—they already know they’ve tanked the test, so they’re just messing around.
It’s not like ruining your GPA makes your life miserable.
College and exams aren't everything in life.
Then again, ruining your college career and exams doesn't exactly make you happy either.
“Mmm, true.”
Ah-rin nodded, conceding the point. She tilted her head and clicked her tongue.
“Tsk, I thought the exam would be boring, so I wanted to kill some time. I guess that’s off the table.”
“It’s an exam; you’re supposed to take the exam.”
“I did study. I just wanted something fun to do. We’re going home right after this, anyway.”
Ah-rin let it go with a look of regret.
She eventually started scrolling through the Bamboo Forest, clicking her tongue again.
“Ugh, when is this fight with the freshmen ever going to end?”
The freshmen and the upperclassmen were currently locked in a war of nerves.
The freshmen were pouring out their grievances, asking what they had even done wrong.
On the flip side, the sophomores and juniors were pointing fingers, saying they’d brought it on themselves.
Honestly, at this point, I didn't even know who was right.
I just hoped it would wash away like a passing wave.
“It’ll probably settle down once exams are over, right?”
It all started with people asking for past papers and help during the exam period.
Ah-rin closed the Bamboo Forest app, figuring it would wrap up by then.
However, my mind was still racing, gears turning at full speed.
“How about this: whoever does the most shocking thing during the exam without getting caught wins?”
“...You’re still thinking about the bet?”
Ah-rin looked at me like I was absurd, but to me, this was more important than the exam.
“Yeah, I was. This is my chance to get your permission.”
“I shouldn't have said anything.”
Ah-rin looked like she regretted it, but you can’t take back words once they’re out.
“So, the goal is to do something weird during the exam without getting caught.”
“Right. But nothing noisy. People are trying to take a test.”
“Heh, sounds fun.”
Ah-rin grinned.
She glanced at the clock and stood up abruptly.
“Let’s move to the very back row.”
We moved to the back.
There were plenty of people around, but they didn't care.
They were the type who would leave as soon as the exam started anyway.
“Solve problems for the first 40 minutes. We’ll settle the bet in the final 10.”
“What if you haven't finished by then?”
“Then you lose.”
I was pretty confident about this exam.
When I answered boastfully, Ah-rin bit her lip slightly and nodded.
“Deal. And if you get caught, you lose automatically. Getting caught makes the whole thing pointless.”
“That goes without saying.”
“But if I win, what do I get?”
“Anything you want.”
Ah-rin was also putting my greatest wish on the line. Since I was confident, I raised the stakes. She stuck out her tongue and licked her lips.
It was as if she had found a very delicious piece of prey.
“Can you take responsibility for those words?”
“...As long as it doesn't involve the other girls.”
If I lost and Ah-rin told me I could only date her, I couldn't accept that.
“Okay. Deal. Get ready to get wrecked.”
“What’s with that? You’re scaring me.”
I felt a slight chill, but the bet was officially on.
The professor entered and distributed the exam papers.
We were seated with some distance between us. Fortunately, Ah-rin was by the window.
I was right next to her.
There was a guy with short hair on my other side, but judging by his mask and the hat pulled low over his face, it looked like he’d just rolled out of bed.
He’ll probably leave soon.
For the first 40 minutes, I focused on the questions.
They were exactly at the level I expected, so the exam itself wasn't too difficult.
I had a strong feeling I’d do well on this midterm, and I was able to immerse myself in the problems, momentarily forgetting the bet.
Then, with 10 minutes left on the clock...
I finished my final review and glanced sideways. Ah-rin was smirking.
It looked like she had already finished.
Or she had given up a long time ago.
Honestly, I suspected the latter.
Ah-rin wasn't exactly the studious type; her philosophy was to focus on a few subjects and just aim for the average on the rest.
Ah-rin stared at me, resting her chin on her hand.
Seeing her grin as if asking what I was going to do...
The first strike wins the war.
I immediately pulled down my pants.
“...?!”
Startled, Ah-rin stared at me blankly. I was sorry, but this was the level of my resolve.
If you don't have the confidence to win, then just obediently bear my children along with Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo.
Are you crazy?!
Her mouth hung open as she silently cursed me out in shock.
But it was fine.
The guy next to me had long since slumped over and fallen asleep.
I didn't know why he bothered taking the exam just to sleep instead of doing it in his own bed.
Regardless, it was fine.
Since we were in the very back row, the professor only paced around the front of the desks.
Of course, I hadn't pulled my pants all the way down—just to my knees.
My underwear was fully visible, but that wasn't a big problem for me.
I’ve won.
I squared my shoulders gallantly and looked toward the chalkboard.
Later, if I ever had children with Ah-rin and they asked how Daddy wooed Mommy...
I would tell them it was through sheer boldness.
Ah-rin, her face turning beet red, looked like she didn't know what to do.
Then, as if sensing that if things continued like this, she’d be whimpering in my bed tonight...
She tightened her grip on her pen.
Her eyes were filled with determination.
The moment the pacing professor turned his back, she thrust her hand inside her hoodie.
And then.
A black bra emerged in her hand.
H-how’s that?
Ah-rin asked defiantly, despite her embarrassment. But in the end, since it was hidden by her outer clothing anyway, didn't I still win?
But before that.
I tried to ask her something, but my lip-reading wasn't getting through.
Eventually, I carefully scribbled something on my exam paper and lifted it slightly.
— Are the panties black too?
This was important.
Extremely important.
In this situation, things could get very... tense... for my equipment, which was currently only covered by a single layer of fabric.
Ah-rin responded by raising her middle finger.
Too bad.
I thought she might actually answer.
But at this point, hadn't I won?
I had my underwear out in the open, whereas Ah-rin had taken off her bra but was still technically fully clothed on the outside.
Ah-rin looked conflicted about where to put the bra now that she’d taken it off.
She thinks she can compete with me with just that?
I was a bit dissatisfied, but the important thing was that there was no judge here.
If Ah-rin insisted, it would end in a draw, and a draw essentially meant a loss for me.
I can’t let this opportunity slip away.
Taking a deep breath, I tensed my legs.
The moment my butt left the chair, I stripped off the remaining layer with incredible speed.
When I sat back down, my bare skin touched the seat.
“....”
Now Ah-rin was staring at me with her jaw dropped.
Faced with a sight she couldn't have possibly imagined, she looked like she didn't know how to process it.
This is how much.
This is how much I want you.
Enough to strip off my pants and underwear in the middle of a lecture hall during an exam.
I love you.
When I made that silent confession, Ah-rin’s expression turned truly sour.
You crazy bastard, what kind of confession is—
I understood roughly that much.
She continued to mouth some curses after that, but she was going too fast to follow.
However, my eyes kept drifting toward the bra she was still clutching in her hand.
Ah-rin pulled at her clothes with one hand, seemingly uncomfortable with the fabric rubbing against her skin.
Ah, sht.*
I think I’m going to get hard.
Getting an erection wasn't part of the plan.
I tried to take deep breaths and imagine unpleasant things.
Like Chan-woo and the bald guy kissing.
Or my big brother confessing his love to my sister-in-law.
As I was finally starting to calm down...
I heard the announcement that there were five minutes left.
I won.
Ah-rin had already lost her will to fight.
She kept glancing toward her own pants, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
It was a victory for love.
“Phew.”
I smiled contentedly, savoring the joy of victory.
Perhaps because I was half-naked, I even felt a sense of liberation.
“....”
“....”
My eyes met the guy in the next seat.
Even through his mask, I could tell his mouth was agape after seeing me sitting there without pants.
And in that moment.
Something on the back of his hand caught my eye.
I stood up immediately, pulling my pants up in one smooth motion.
“Professor! This guy is cheating!”
I wondered why he was slumped over sleeping; he was actually looking at a cheat sheet written on the back of his hand!
“W-wait! Hold on! This guy was just sitting here with his pants off!”
The man shouted in a panic, but...
“What kind of bullshit is that? Don't try to talk your way out of cheating! Can't you see this?!”
I pointedly showed off the pants I had just pulled up.
“I never took my pants off.”
When Ah-rin provided backup from the side...
The cheater ended up looking like a lunatic who was spouting nonsense to avoid getting caught.
“Whew.”
I sat back down, exhaling a sigh of relief.
I thought I was seriously screwed for a second—
“You got caught, so I win.”
Ah-rin flashed a V-sign and grinned.
I’m screwed.