Back to School (2)
Back to School (2)
Immediately after the first class ended, Ga-young felt a sense of crisis.
This was because, in the brief moment she looked away, she clearly saw those hyena-like bitches surrounding Jin-hyeok and Hyun-woo, practically drooling over them.
'If I just stand by, they'll be snatched away..!'
Ga-young moved, even skipping lunch. Since Jin-hyeok said he was going to 'Utopia,' she had no choice but to wander around that area and wait.
Her legs ached and she was hungry, but she endured it, thinking of it as an investment for the future. If it was to protect her man(?), this much effort was nothing.
And finally. At the end of the hallway, she spotted Jin-hyeok walking toward her with a sluggish gait.
"Oh, Jin-hyeok-ah! Where are you going?"
A meeting disguised as a coincidence. Operation successful. Ga-young followed Jin-hyeok and even recovered Hyun-woo from Utopia.
The feeling of walking down the hallway with two male classmates by her side. It felt as if she had become a triumphant general. The envious and jealous gazes pouring from the female students were a bonus.
We arrived at the classroom.
Deureureuk.
The moment the door opened, the density of the air felt different.
Ga-young instinctively sensed murderous glares. It was that group of female students who had blatantly tried to hit on Jin-hyeok earlier—Group A.
'Control your expressions, will you? How tacky.'
Ga-young snorted and tried to pass by as if she hadn't seen them, but they eventually kicked back their chairs and approached. It was the start of a full-blown territorial dispute.
"My, Ga-young-ah. You brought them already? You're really quick to act."
'Bitches in heat. Look at them scurrying over the moment they catch a scent.'
Ga-young casually tucked her hair behind her ear and gave a beaming smile.
"Yeah. I ran into them on the way. Since I'm the Class Rep, I have to look after them."
'I'm just picking up what you losers dropped, you salty?'
The woman who seemed to be the leader of Group A smacked her lips and glanced at Jin-hyeok. Her eyes were dripping with lingering regret.
"Still, it's a bit much~ We had roughly talked about sitting together earlier. Right, Jin-hyeok-nim~?"
'You thief bitch. No business ethics? Spit him out.'
Before Jin-hyeok could respond in his flustered state, Ga-young took a step forward and naturally blocked his line of sight.
"Oh, really? I didn't know. But what to do? I have quite a few announcements to give them. I think I need to keep them with me today."
'What a load of bullshit. They ran away because they hated you, what the fuck are you talking about.'
The leader's eyebrow twitched.
"Hey, announcements can just be sent via text. Ga-young, aren't you being a bit too greedy?"
'Eat in moderation. You're going to hog both of them for yourself?'
"Greedy? They haven't adjusted yet, so I'm just helping them out."
'If you're incompetent, get lost. If you're salty, be more charming.'
Ga-young's eyes curved beautifully like crescent moons. However, deep within those pupils, they were cold as ice.
"And since there are so many of you, wouldn't it be hard to look after these guys too?"
'No, and stop coming on so strong. If these kids get scared by your pressure and drop out, are you bitches going to take responsibility?'
A brief silence followed. Invisible sparks flew.
Eventually, pushed back by the momentum, the leader of Group A swallowed a hollow laugh and nodded. Perhaps fearing her true colors would burst out if she said any more, she took a step back.
"...Is that so? Well, since Ga-young has such a devoted 'spirit of service.' We'll have to concede again."
'Filthy bitch. Fine, hog them all for yourself.'
"Thanks. I knew you guys were considerate."
'Yep~ Heard the loser's excuse loud and clear~'
As Group A turned away, they gave Jin-hyeok one last wink.
"Well, good luck~ See you later."
'Watch your back at night, you fucking bitch.'
As soon as they returned to their seats, Ga-young's expression changed instantly as if it had never happened, and she looked back. Wearing the most harmless and gentle smile in the world.
"Let's sit, Jin-hyeok-ah. Hyun-woo-ya. Let's go, your legs must hurt."
'I'm off~ Suffer, you fuckers~'
Ga-young cheered internally as she seated Jin-hyeok and Hyun-woo next to her. She could feel stinging glares piercing her back, but she didn't give a damn.
'See? These guys are mine.'
It was a perfect victory.
.
.
.
As I was roughly settling into my seat and organizing my bag, Jin-hyeok leaned in slightly from the side. He had a worried look in his eyes.
"But Class Rep-ya."
"Hmm? Why?"
"It hasn't even been a week since school started, is it okay for us to only hang out together?"
"What is?"
"I mean, you should mingle with your female friends too. If you only sit with us, won't they feel left out? What if you get bullied later?"
Jin-hyeok was sincerely worried. At that innocent concern stemming from his eyes, Ga-young barely held back a burst of laughter.
Ah, seriously. This guy knows so little about how the world works.
"It's okay, don't worry. I have plenty of friends."
"Still..."
"You don't need to mind it. They'll never leave me out. In fact, they'll probably treat me even better."
Ga-young dismissed it with a bright smile. Jin-hyeok was worrying for her, but in truth, the opinions of other girls didn't matter to Ga-young at all.
'So what if I get bullied.'
Actually, Ga-young knew. In this deformed society with an imbalanced gender ratio, how subtle and complex women's friendships were.
If you shove 100 women into a classroom, do you think they'll all get along laughing and smiling? Not a chance. In less than a week, they split into 25 factions of four.
And this was a place where they constantly kept each other in check, talked behind each other's backs, and formed precarious alliances based on the logic of 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend.'
In such a chaotic mess, having secured a male classmate—and a decent-looking one at that—didn't mean she had abandoned her friends and fled; it meant she was holding a 'nuclear weapon.'
In a desert where everyone is starving, who could possibly bully the person holding the only water bottle? Rather, they were the ones who had to suck up to her, hoping for even a few crumbs to fall their way.
'Right now, there's probably only one thing on those wenches' minds.'
How can I get close to Shin Ga-young so I can squeeze in between them?
But to Ga-young, such complex political games were secondary. The reason she was hovering over them—or more accurately, Jin-hyeok—like this wasn't out of a desire to flaunt power.
Ga-young rested her chin on her hand and stole a glance at Jin-hyeok sitting next to her.
The way he spoke bluntly as if he didn't care, and the way he sat there calmly with his large, bear-like frame.
'It's just... because I like him.'
The reason was simple. After playing mind games and reading the room among high-tension girls, looking at this blunt and gentle man made her feel like her eyes were being cleansed.
To be honest, he was quite her type.
'It's just... nice being together.'
This picture of Jin-hyeok solidly filling the seat next to her and Hyun-woo sitting quietly in the front row.
This heart that wanted to keep him by her side, take care of him, and not lose him to others. It was merely a pure desire for possession, wanting to keep the people she liked within her fence.
'So don't go anywhere else, just stay by my side.'
Ga-young rested her chin on her hand with a satisfied smile. She really liked this stable seating arrangement.
She pondered for a moment. Should she take this chance to introduce Yuna or the other girls and expand this circle?
'...No. It's still too early.'
It wasn't just because of jealousy. Choi Yu-na and the other wenches had too much tension.
If she prematurely introduced them to Jin-hyeok and Hyun-woo, who were already shy, it would be a disaster if they got overwhelmed or pressured and ran away.
It could end up being a case of doing all the work just for someone else to reap the rewards. Slowly, very slowly. First, the priority was for them to get close enough to me and feel comfortable with me.
Meeting the others wouldn't be too late if she arranged it slowly next week, or maybe the week after, while testing the waters.
Just then, Jin-hyeok asked as if he suddenly remembered.
"By the way, what was that announcement earlier?"
"Huh?"
"You said there was an announcement. What is it?"
Ga-young's brain momentarily stalled.
'Ah, right. That was just a makeshift excuse to chase away the hyenas.'
She racked her brain for 0.1 seconds and found the most plausible thing to say.
"Ah... that?"
Ga-young spoke nonchalantly as she pulled out her laptop and writing tools.
"It's nothing much. The school event schedule is coming out soon. I was wondering if you guys were thinking of joining the Student Council later."
Of course, she wasn't serious. These eye-catching guys joining the Student Council? That would be like throwing two plump lambs into a den of starving wolves.
There was no way the seniors or classmates would leave them alone. Absolutely, definitely, it could not happen.
As expected, Jin-hyeok shook his head in disgust.
"Ah... I'll pass. I hate that kind of stuff."
"M-me too..."
Hyun-woo, who was next to him, also waved his hands in refusal.
"Really? Well, it's not mandatory, so whatever."
Ga-young pretended to be disappointed, but internally she breathed a sigh of relief and cheered. Thank goodness. For the time being, having me as the only one interested in you is enough.
Soon the professor entered, and the classroom became solemn.
It was quite a long class, but it wasn't boring for Ga-young. While glancing at and admiring Jin-hyeok's profile, it was suddenly time for the class to end.
"Good work, everyone."
Time to close books and pack bags. Ga-young's lips twitched. It was a shame to let them go like this. She needed some kind of 'pretext' for the next time.
"Hey, Jin-hyeok-ah."
"Yeah?"
"Where do you live?"
"...Home?"
When Jin-hyeok looked at her curiously, Ga-young hurriedly waved her hands and added.
"No, I don't mean anything weird. I was thinking, what if we enter the classroom together? Instead of being troubled by being blocked at the entrance like today, it'll be easier if I go in with you."
She anxiously watched his reaction, wondering if he would think it was strange.
Jin-hyeok seemed to ponder for a moment.
"Walking slowly with Hyun-woo, it's probably about 30 minutes? Today I met Hyun-woo in front of the main gate."
The commute route was identified. The main gate. Actually, to get to school from Ga-young's studio apartment, the back gate was much closer. To go to the main gate, she would have to endure the trouble of going all the way around.
But what did that matter? Ga-young's eyes sparkled.
"Ah, really? Then from now on, I'll wait near the main gate. Let's go in together."
"...I don't mind, but."
Jin-hyeok slung his bag over one shoulder and added nonchalantly.
"If it seems like you'll be waiting a long time, you can just go ahead. No need to wait specifically."
It wasn't a rejection. Ga-young shook her head vigorously.
"No, I'll wait. We have to go together."
"...Fine, do whatever you want."
"Okay!"
His permission was granted. Ga-young bit her lip hard to suppress the laughter that was about to burst out.
Following the defense of the seat next to her, she had even secured a commute partner. Although it would take an extra 15 minutes every morning, what did that bit of time matter?
At this rate, today's harvest was a bumper crop.