Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: School Trip (1)
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Monday and Tuesday flew by in the blink of an eye, to the point where he couldn't even remember how they passed.
The classroom, with the massive school trip looming ahead, had been buzzing with excitement for two straight days, and Siwoo's heart felt light as if he were walking on clouds—unlike before.
Ever since the misunderstanding was cleared up, his relationship with Iseol had become noticeably more comfortable.
She was still aloof and cool in front of others, but the faint smile she flashed whenever their eyes met was enough to fill Siwoo's entire day.
And finally, bright Wednesday morning arrived.
"Wow, there are so many buses."
Siwoo let out an exclamation of awe, hefting his heavy luggage bag.
At Daeseong Information High School's playground, around ten large tourist buses—each with class nameplates attached—were lined up, rumbling with the low growl of their engines.
Even though he'd stayed up late the night before, trying on outfits for the trip, Siwoo felt no trace of fatigue in that moment.
8 a.m.
The students, gathered in casual clothes, stood in front of the buses—some dragging suitcases, others lugging oversized gym duffels.
Despite the early hour, excitement rather than exhaustion lit up their faces.
"Hey? Yo! Namjjin! Over here!"
A familiar voice rang out from in front of Class 1's bus, where a crowd of students had gathered.
It was Juwon and Park Geon.
Siwoo scratched the back of his head sheepishly and walked over.
Today's outfit wasn't his usual drab hoodie.
It was the clothes Iseol had personally picked out for him last weekend—with Juwon footing the bill.
And with his hair neatly trimmed at the salon after Juwon's relentless nagging, there was no trace of his old self; he looked completely polished.
"Oh. Nam Siwoo, the fit actually suits you."
Park Geon, who had been plopped atop Juwon's suitcase, whistled at the approaching Siwoo.
Juwon nodded in satisfaction, arms crossed.
"Clothes make the man. Shoulders back like that, and now you're finally presentable."
"Ah, come on... quit teasing."
Siwoo waved his hands, his face flushing red.
That's when it happened.
"What's with all the noise this early in the morning?"
The sound of suitcase wheels rolling was accompanied by a familiar, subtle shampoo scent wafting over.
Siwoo reflexively turned to the side.
There was Iseol and the other girls from Class 2, who had stopped by Class 1 first before heading to their own bus.
She was dressed casually in a thin white cardigan paired with light blue jeans—a simple look that was rare for her, radiating a fresh vibe.
As she brushed her swaying bob behind her ear and approached, her gaze landed on Siwoo.
"..."
Iseol's steps hesitated ever so slightly.
Her dark eyes slowly scanned Siwoo's appearance from top to bottom.
"Whoa! No way. Hey, is this really the same guy?"
Dasom, standing beside Iseol, gaped and circled Siwoo excitedly.
"Hmm~ Gotta admit, the clothes look good on you."
Siwoo smiled awkwardly at Chaerin's compliment, stealing a glance at Iseol.
Iseol, whose eyes had locked with his, cleared her throat and sharply looked away.
"Well... it's not bad."
Her tone was as dry as ever.
But Siwoo caught the faint, satisfied curve at the corner of her mouth as she turned her head.
"Alright! Class 1! Load your bags in the compartment quick and get on the bus!!"
The homeroom teacher's booming voice echoed across the playground.
"Oh, let's load up and board quick!"
Juwon shoved Park Geon off his suitcase and hurried toward the luggage hold.
"We gotta get on our bus too! Catch you at the rest stop later!"
Dasom, Chaerin, and Jiyoon waved as they headed off to their class buses.
Siwoo, calming his pounding heart, picked up his bag to follow Juwon—
—when Iseol, en route to Class 2's bus, paused and glanced back at him.
"...See you at the rest stop later. Think about what you wanna eat there too."
Before Siwoo could respond in surprise to her gentle words, Iseol whipped her head away and strode quickly toward her bus.
Her silhouette, framed by her swaying bob, looked exceptionally poised.
Siwoo replayed her words in his head dozens of times, barely suppressing a grin as he hopped up the bus steps.
The moment he boarded, Ha Taemu—seated right by the entrance—gave him a pitiful look.
"...Siwoo. You planning to board hugging that giant bag?"
"Ah! Sorry!"
Only then noticing the massive bag in his hands, Siwoo jolted and dashed back down the steps.
Even as Ha Taemu's sharp scolding rang out, that dopey smile refused to leave Siwoo's face.
The tourist buses, brimming with the kids' anticipation and excitement, revved their engines powerfully, ready for departure.
As the tourist bus rumbled out the school gates with a heavy engine roar, the inside erupted into chaos like a herd of wild colts.
Siwoo and Juwon, seated side by side in the very back row, gazed out the window at the passing scenery amid the noisy backdrop of classmates blasting songs from a Bluetooth speaker.
"Ah, this jerk Park Geon—how long we been on the bus, and he's already spamming the group chat."
Juwon silenced his blaring phone and clicked his tongue.
Siwoo, head resting against the window, was lost in thoughts of her morning appearance.
'She looks pretty in bright clothes too...'
"Yo, Namjjin."
"Huh? What?"
Juwon snapped Siwoo out of his fluffy daydreams.
Juwon unzipped his backpack and pulled out a small square paper box, tossing it onto Siwoo's lap.
"What's this?"
"Mugwort and garlic to turn you human."
Siwoo picked up the box with a puzzled look.
[One-Day Transparent Soft Lenses]
"Huh? Lenses? These yours?"
"What kinda nonsense is that? My vision's 1.5. Why else would I keep asking for your glasses prescription?"
Juwon crossed his arms matter-of-factly and grinned.
Siwoo's eyes bulged.
"Yo! I-I've never worn lenses before?! How do you even put these in your eye!"
"That's why I'm helping you right now. C'mon, glasses off."
Juwon boldly reached out and yanked off the thick horn-rimmed glasses perched on Siwoo's nose bridge.
The world suddenly blurred, and Siwoo flailed in panic.
"Ah, yo! Can't see! I'm seriously scared of stuff going in my eyes! Just gimme back the glasses!"
"Hold still! Yo, don't you wanna look different for once today? How long you gonna rock those nerd specs?"
Juwon's words flashed Iseol into Siwoo's mind, freezing his squirming body for a split second.
"B-but... the bus is shaking..."
"It's fine. We're on the highway now—smooth sailing. Eyes wide. Look up, up!"
Juwon peeled open the package, placed the thin transparent lens on his fingertip, and leaned in close.
Siwoo plastered himself against the seatback, trembling as he forced his eyes open wide.
"Ah, tears!"
"Yo, don't blink! Almost in—relax your eyes, don't freak!"
In the back row, the two faced off in a bizarre, intense struggle—noses nearly touching.
A few failures from Siwoo's fearful blinks, but Juwon's determination won out over Siwoo's terror.
"Ah, eyes sting..."
Siwoo wiped the trickling tears with the back of his hand, blinking rapidly.
There was a foreign sensation in his eyes, but after a few more blinks, tears coated the lenses, and his vision sharpened crystal clear.
"How's it? Clear?"
"Y-yeah. Whoa. Insanely clear. No glasses, and it's this sharp..."
Siwoo peered out the window in wonder.
The unobstructed view—free of the glasses' stuffy frames—felt utterly novel and refreshing.
Watching him, Juwon pulled out his smartphone, holding the dark screen up like a mirror in front of Siwoo's face.
"Here, check it. Your face."
Siwoo stared blankly at his reflection on the phone screen.
His eyes, always small and cramped from the thick lens distortion, were actually quite long and straight horizontally.
"Whoa... kinda... looks like a different person."
Siwoo muttered dazedly, and Juwon grinned in satisfaction, shoving Siwoo's horn-rimmed glasses deep into his bag.
"Told ya. You got good features—they really pop when you show 'em."
Juwon playfully slapped Siwoo's shoulder.
"Kids are gonna flip when they see you at the rest stop. Get hyped."
Siwoo's heart began pounding with anticipation once more.
He was curious about his friends' reactions to his bare face, but above all, he wondered what Iseol would say.
"Kids. Rest stop in five. Wake the sleepers. Eat, bathroom, back by 11 sharp—no tardies."
Right on cue, the homeroom teacher announced in his annoyed tone.
A massive green sign reading "Rest Area 2km" whipped past the window.
Siwoo fired up his phone camera, awkwardly fussing with his hair and straightening his shirt.