Whose Side Are You On? (2)
"What the hell? What's up with them? Someone just yelled, right?"
"I think the class president said something to Do-young. The vibe's super tense."
"Why? What'd she say that started a fight?"
"Couldn't hear it. The class pres said something to Do-young, then Sa-hyung got all serious and yelled."
When voices get loud in a classroom, eyes naturally turn that way. From the moment Sa-hyung and Hye-rang yelled at An Seong-gyeong, most of the class was already staring at our desk.
"Are they fighting? Ban Do-young versus An Seong-gyeong, one-on-one?"
"Nah, Sa-hyung and Hye-rang are there too. That's one versus three. Gotta add Ban Do-young's ball-less buddies."
"Where's Ban Do-young gonna get balls?"
"Huh, you're right. Ball-less buddies? More like no-bra crew."
The class's murmurs surrounded us.
"If it's a real fight, shouldn't the class pres stop it?"
"The one fighting is the class pres. How's she gonna stop herself?"
"Where's the vice pres at a time like this?"
"Teacher Mi-so's gonna bawl her eyes out again today. Her eyes were already red this morning."
Even the small voices built up from below, their low hum resonating and slowly shifting the room's atmosphere. One comment at a time gathering. Tension seeping in between. The classroom buzz soon hummed like the uneasy calm before a storm.
"But why's Ban Do-young got her leg on Do Ha-min's lap this whole time?"
"Oh... At that angle, you can probably see her panties under her skirt."
"Eww, gross. Is that all guys think about? No thought to breaking up the fight?"
"Shut up. You're the one hiding your phone under the desk watching Alps."
Of course, some spectators were fixated on totally different things.
"Why not grab quiet Do Ha-min and ask him? I'm talking to you, Ban Do-young."
"You said it yourself. That I hang out all night with guys like some slut. So I'm just doing what you said."
"…."
Murmur murmur.
My response aimed at An Seong-gyeong sparked immediate reactions from the kids encircling us.
"Whoa, class pres. That was harsh. She apologized for being sleepy, and you called her a slut?"
"Even so, that's too much."
"Hearing that to your face? No wonder she'd spitefully throw her leg on a kid like Do Ha-min."
"Class pres messed up. Sa-hyung had reason to yell."
"…."
Through her lenses, I caught An Seong-gyeong's eyes flicker. She sensed public opinion turning against her.
"W-what? Why's it all on me again…."
She bit her lip, frowning. Disappointment plain on her face. Her plan was for her class pres status to rally the kids against me—like what happened to Lee Jeong-gyu at the entrance ceremony. But a week wasn't enough to wield that position as real power.
"Do-young got called a goddess and all, but she never hooked up with a bunch of guys or anything. You went to the same elementary and middle school, so you know."
"If Sa-hyung and Hye-rang got mad hearing that, it must not be true."
"Misunderstandings 'cause she's pretty? Even with a face like that, it ain't all good. If everyone thought I was a slut just for being hot, I'd be pissed too."
"Teachers don't baby her just for looks either. Doesn't seem like it, but Ban Do-young? She's bad at studies, sure, but she doesn't run with the worst crowd."
Even the "Bulsago Middle Goddess" title An Seong-gyeong had dismissed and scorned was now drawing sympathy.
"And... grabbing some easy pushover, turning him into a puppet to speak for her... Yeah, fine. This is it."
Sensing no way back, An Seong-gyeong turned her gaze to Do Ha-min propping up my leg.
"Let's hear it like you said, Ban Do-young. How kids like Do Ha-min really see you."
Failed to sway opinion her way? Her only flip was Do Ha-min's answer.
"Do Ha-min... Whose side do you think is right?"
In the class pres's view, kids like Do Ha-min were her type. She'd been called a model student for handling duties and following rules. Do Ha-min? Just his grades made the teachers call him one.
She probably thought he'd get her point and agree.
"Be honest, Do Ha-min. Don't girls like Ban Do-young make you wonder why they pull this crap every time? Why's she messing with me? You never thought that?"
"…."
But An Seong-gyeong overlooked something. Do Ha-min's the protagonist here. I'm the main heroine of this world in Ban Do-young's body. You're just a side character, stuck doing stiff salutes to fill out classroom scenes.
"Yeah. Speak up, model student. Whose side are you on?"
Main heroine Ban Do-young versus side character An Seong-gyeong. Pick one? Do Ha-min's answer was obvious—no hesitation, he'd pick me.
"I'm…"
"Class 1-1, attention!"
"Agh, right at the good part."
-Scraaaape-
Then, Hyeon Myeong-su—the vice pres elected with An Seong-gyeong—flung open the front door as teachers entered and shouted.
"Third period's PE! Hurry and change into gym clothes and head to the field!"
"What? Myeong-su, that's bullshit. Monday third period's Korean Geography with Teacher Mi-so."
"Something came up with Mi-so, so they swapped it with tomorrow's third period PE."
"What happened? What the hell?"
An Seong-gyeong scowled and shot back at the vice pres. Not just another class same day—swapping across days? Confusion was natural.
"How should I know? PE teacher just told me our class got PE now."
"Why tell you, the vice pres, not me, the class pres?"
"Fuck if I know! You're busy bickering, so teacher told me instead!"
"What? Who do you think you're talking to?"
But An Seong-gyeong felt more than surprise—irritation at the vice pres bypassing her.
"For real? You didn't hear wrong?"
"Yes, for real! Can't you see PE teacher's waiting on the field? Anyway, third period PE today! Change and get to the field! Three minutes left in break—move!"
The vice pres slammed the door and bolted down the hall. Probably off to borrow gym clothes himself since he didn't have any.
"This is why I said we need a separate vice pres election... Nobody listens…."
Class pres and vice pres, but they didn't seem close. Myeong-su lost by one vote, so no love lost there.
"Shit, you got gym clothes?"
"Gym Friday, so I washed 'em and left 'em home. Gotta borrow some quick."
"Then I win this round—stashed mine in my locker since no gym Friday."
"Fuck off, don't stand next to me later."
After the vice pres's storm of an announcement, the crowd around An Seong-gyeong dispersed in seconds. Fun fight or not, don't be late for class.
Kids with gym clothes headed to the bathroom. Others scattered to borrow from other classes.
"What now? Hit up other classes for gym clothes first? I didn't bring mine either."
"…."
"Hey, model student. You neither, right?"
"Yeah, but I don't know anyone in other classes to borrow from."
"Tch, whatever. Come on. I'll ask around for you."
"M-me too?"
"Duh. You're on my side."
Ban Do-young: the story's main heroine, school's top beauty. Who'd say no to her asking for gym clothes?
"Want me to grab yours too, class pres?"
"...No thanks."
"Heh. Let's go, Sa-hyung. Hye-rang."
We left An Seong-gyeong alone and bailed.
"You're gonna borrow for that bitch too?"
"Same class. Gym for me means gym for her."
"After she called you a slut?"
"Oh, for real though—weekend slut duty."
"What?"
"Dojo floor mopping."
"You fucking bitch."
…
Third period PE. True to her top school beauty rep, I smoothly borrowed gym clothes from other classes' kids.
"Phew, barely scored one for Do Ha-min too."
"Where's that class pres bitch?"
"Oh, there she comes."
After everyone scrambled to borrow and gathered on the field, An Seong-gyeong finally showed—in her uniform, head down, having borrowed from no one. She trudged to the assembly spot.