Chapter 330: Group Project Hell Arc
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 330: Group Project Hell Arc
Group projects.
College students face many horrors, but this one is so notorious it has become a universal meme—and it is, by far, the most malicious.
It’s a time when you get to witness the full spectrum of human archetypes.
It’s the suffocating feeling of being handcuffed at the wrists and ankles to total strangers and being forced to move in unison.
It’s a rare opportunity to see just how ugly a human being can truly be.
To be honest, the last group project wasn't that bad.
Accidents happened frequently along the way, but Senior Ju-hee, our glorious leader, held the steering wheel firmly and guided us through.
If that was the "Heavenly Edition"...
Then this time, it seems, I’ve landed in the "Hell Edition."
"Whew, so..."
I couldn't hide my sigh as I listened to the teaching assistant's explanation over the phone.
I had briefly explained my situation and asked if they could either swap out my group members or move me to a different group.
The TA had relayed my request to the professor.
And the professor, in turn, had supposedly contacted the other students.
"So they're saying they'll show up starting from the next lecture?"
— Yes, they said they'll be there. Apparently, they each had their own personal reasons this time. I even got permission to give you their phone numbers. I'll text them to you.
"Haaaah."
Why do I have zero faith in this?
The professor and the TA clearly seemed to be trying their best to help me, but...
"Honestly... I don't think these people actually had 'reasons.' What do you think?"
The TA had spent much more time in the university system than I had.
I wanted an honest opinion on the current situation.
— .......
The TA remained silent for a moment.
— Well.
Then, with a low lament:
— You’re going to have a very hard time.
It was a statement that felt like a grim prophecy of my future.
"Wait, then just change my group! It’s over if you just put me in another one!"
— I suggested that to the professor at first, too. But the other groups are already set with six people each. He said if you joined one of them, the group would be too large, and it wouldn't be fair to the others.
— Also, the professor spoke to the other five members personally, and they all promised to work hard on the assignment.
— He said if you were to leave now, it would actually be unfair to the other five...
"Of course they’d say they’ll work hard if the professor calls them! I would’ve said the same thing!"
— P-please calm down. For now, try contacting them separately.
In the end, screaming here would achieve nothing but venting my frustration.
I barely managed to compose myself and hung up.
"Whew, okay. Let's do this."
It hasn't even started yet.
Who knows?
Maybe they really did have deep, personal reasons.
I took the contact information I received and created a group chat.
[Mandatory Gen-Ed Humanities Writing Group F Team Project.]
In case these bastards forgot this was a mandatory course, I made sure to include "Mandatory Gen-Ed" in the title.
Tap, tap, tap.
I waited, tapping on the phone screen. I found myself biting my lip unconsciously as ten minutes ticked by.
'Well, ten minutes is fine.'
Everyone could be busy.
Maybe I'm being too sensitive...
Vibrate!
"Oh!"
A reply came.
I swear, I’ve never waited for a reply from my three girlfriends with this much anticipation!
"Oh, Jesus! Motherfucker!"
What the hell is this guy saying?
Can he not read Korean?
A reply came back a moment later.
He's in the class too?
I waited with a sinking feeling, and a moment later:
"Ah, I'm screwed."
To make matters worse, the couple was assigned to the same group.
Just how bad is the professor's luck to draw a group like this?
Patience.
I need superhuman patience.
I briefly explained the assignment.
I conveniently left out the part where the professor said the points for this section were relatively low for a group project.
And then.
Silence.
"Heh, hehehe."
I'm going crazy.
Did I live my life that poorly?
Just as you need bait to catch a fish.
I threw out the ultimate bait to lure out those who had gone underwater.
Look at these bastards crawling out of the woodwork.
'Wait, one's still missing.'
One of them was either truly busy or just didn't carry their phone.
Since they were active, I set a meeting for tomorrow.
'I've reached my toxicity limit for today.'
If I try to communicate with these people any more, I’m going to have a brain aneurysm.
* * *
The next day at lunch.
On my way to the meeting spot, my phone buzzed.
"......."
It was the girl who hadn't replied at all yesterday.
No reply.
Vibrate! Vibrate! Vibrate!
— Seo Ye-rin -
It was Seo Ye-rin calling.
— Woo-jin-ah! Did you meet your teammates? I called because I was worried you'd forget about us and cheat with some other girl!
"......."
— Even if there's a super pretty girl, you can't look at her for more than five seconds... what? Oh, three seconds? Okay. You can't look for more than three seconds!
It sounded like Yoo Ah-rin and Choi I-seo were with her.
"Where are you guys?"
— Huh? We're at the burger place.
"I'm coming right now."
— You're coming?
I need to see you guys.
* * *
When I walked into the burger joint, I saw the three of them sitting in a corner.
"He's here!"
"Ugh, look at him. He looks half-dead."
"It must be hard."
Choi I-seo and Seo Ye-rin were sitting together, and Yoo Ah-rin was sitting by herself, so I should have gone to Ah-rin's side.
Instead, I went straight to Seo Ye-rin and buried myself in her arms.
"Waaaaah!"
"There, there. It's okay, it's okay."
As I made crying noises against Ye-rin's chest, she patted my head gently.
Being buried in her ample chest made me feel like I could finally breathe again.
After a moment, I stood up and sat next to Yoo Ah-rin.
"This guy... the seat next to me was empty, but he went straight to Ye-rin because her boobs are bigger, didn't he?"
Caught.
"Yep."
Choi I-seo replied nonchalantly while munching on a fry.
"The power of the milkies."
Seo Ye-rin declared triumphantly, cupping her breasts from below.
"......."
I stayed silent, only to be punished by Yoo Ah-rin stomping on my foot under the table.
"So, your teammates aren't normal?"
"Yeah! They're seriously insane—Ow! Ah-rin, stop stepping on me! You're going to crush my foot!"
"You little shit!"
I desperately tried to calm her down by feeding her fries. I kept shoveling fries into her mouth like fuel while answering Choi I-seo.
"Two of them are a couple, one only gives one-word answers, and another just keeps sending those damn rabbit emojis. And the last girl checked the chat ten minutes before the meeting and bailed!"
"That is pretty bad."
"Bad people!"
Munch, munch.
I tried to stop feeding her, but she stepped on my foot again, so I kept going.
Munch, munch.
"I think I'm going to get a stress-induced ulcer because of them. We've only just started, and I can't even imagine what's going to happen next."
It’s only been a day since we got the assignment, and I’m already wondering if we should all just fail together.
Or should I just do it all myself and leave their names off?
"How's Group A, I-seo?"
Munch, munch.
"...Why are you only feeding Ah-rin?"
"Mmm, our group... is great. Everyone does their part. I'm the leader, and the person in charge of research already sent over the first draft of the data."
They already... picked a leader, a topic, and started research?
"The person doing the PPT sent me some templates they made before and is asking me to pick which one I like so they can start the layout."
Holy shit.
That’s a miracle.
I guess I should have lived a more virtuous life.
Munch, munch.
"Feed me too!"
"Then how the hell am I supposed to eat?!"
"I can feed you!"
"Why does it have to be so inefficient?!"
Seo Ye-rin started hitting me under the table in annoyance, so I ended up using both hands to feed everyone fries.
Munch, munch.
Chew, chew.
"It feels like all the bad luck for this project went to you, Woo-jin."
A sympathetic Choi I-seo popped a fry into my mouth.
I nodded, looking like I was about to cry, and accepted it.
Munch, munch.
Chew, chew.
Gulp.
* * *
The next day.
I was in a lecture when my phone buzzed.
What is she sorry for?
I thought about it for a second and realized she hadn't even apologized for bailing on the meeting yesterday.
'Is she just sending this now?'
Dumbfounded, I sent a text back.
Does this girl have jet lag or something?
The reply came the next day.