The Model Student's Lucky Pen
I returned to the classroom carrying the milk crate with Do Ha-min, and somehow Yeo Mi-so had already finished checking at the school gate and come back.
"Ah, Ha-min. Good work... Huh? Do-young? Why are you carrying milk with Ha-min? This week's duty is definitely Do Ha-min and Kim Hae-ju."
Yeo Mi-so said, looking at me—the girl who wasn't on duty—carrying the milk alongside Do Ha-min. It was only natural for the sight to feel off.
"Sorry, Teacher. I accidentally knocked over Kim Hae-ju's desk earlier while moving desks, so I offered to cover her duty just for today as an apology."
"Oh my, is that true, Hae-ju?"
"Y-yes... Do-young's right."
Kim Hae-ju just dropped her gaze and nodded in agreement. She'd dumped the duty on the easygoing Do Ha-min and slacked off, so she had no room to complain no matter what happened.
"Wait, so today's milk was carried by Ban Do-young? No way."
"I don't usually drink it, but I gotta have some today."
"Half of it was brought by Do Ha-min, though."
"Who cares right now?"
The milk that always had several crates left even until dismissal suddenly became a massive hit among the boys from the morning. Was it because the weather was warming up and throats were dry...? Nah, total bullshit. It was all because Ban Do-young had sweat it out carrying it. Same product, but who delivers it makes all the difference in hype. No wonder companies and local governments rope in celebrities as ambassadors.
"Sorry, Mi-so Teacher. Ha-min's sorry too."
"Ah... yeah. It's fine."
"It was a smooth agreement between them, so no scolding, but duty is a role everyone should share equally. Do-young taking responsibility is praiseworthy, but from now on, Kim Hae-ju should handle the remaining duties."
"...Got it, Teacher."
With Yeo Mi-so's correction, Kim Hae-ju took back the rest of the duties. Not that there was much left—just wiping the blackboard, organizing the cleaning bin, running errands for teachers. Annoying, sure, but not backbreaking. No need for me to step in.
"Sorry, Kim Hae-ju. I wanted to do more, but looks like this is as far as I go."
After setting down the milk, I went to Kim Hae-ju's desk, crouched low, and apologized. Regardless of the reason, I'd vented on her desk—that much was fact. Had to own up.
"Sorry for knocking it over too. I'll be careful so it never happens again."
"N-no, it's okay. I was in the wrong too..."
"I'll really make sure it never happens again..."
"Uh, y-yeah...."
Thud.
"Eek!"
Just a tiny bit. Yeah, just a tiny bit. I brought my right hand down on Kim Hae-ju's desk ever so lightly. With a sharp crack, the leg shook violently, and she flinched back in shock from the vibration—but it was definitely just a light tap.
Compared to my mood right now.
"Don't make me have to apologize to you again."
"...Y-yes."
"Good."
I patted the desk I'd just vented on again, then headed back to my seat.
"Alright, let's get to class, Teacher."
"It's not class—it's the exam."
"Oh right. Fuck."
"Do-young? Where are you going?"
I wasn't ready for the exam yet. Missing the most important thing.
"Hey, model student."
"Wh-what...?"
To get that crucial item, I headed from my desk to Do Ha-min's, two sections away.
"Got any spare comp-sci pens?"
"Uh, I carry a backup one."
"Perfect. Lend it here."
Like it was mine already, I boldly stuck out my right hand toward Do Ha-min.
"Uh, Do-young? If it's a computer sign pen you're missing, I bought new ones today."
Just as Do Ha-min was about to place the one from his pencil case on my hand, Yeo Mi-so pulled out a box of computer sign pens, ripped the tape, and opened it for the class.
"Ah, perfect timing. Mine was dried out when I checked earlier. Gotta get a new one."
"Mi-so Teacher, give me one too!"
"Better grab an extra just in case."
Kids got up from desks, swarming the podium—some with faulty pens, others grabbing spares for insurance.
"...What now? Better go get a new one?"
"Nah, just give me yours."
"Wh-why...?"
"'Cause it's yours."
As countless virgin sign pens in Class 1-1's FA market met new owners, I stayed put at Do Ha-min's desk, demanding his deflowered one.
"You sure? It's pretty old—handle's worn."
"Even better. Gimme that."
"Huh...?"
"Hurry up. Everyone else is grabbing theirs and heading back."
Do Ha-min looked puzzled, like he couldn't grasp it, but reluctantly placed the white-capped computer sign pen on my right hand.
"...Don't mess around with it later. It's kinda precious to me."
"Pfft, anyone'd think teasing you was my life's joy, like you were my boyfriend."
"If not, good..."
The sign pen from Do Ha-min looked well-used, just as he said. The label and barcode on the side were so peeled off, the text was illegible.
"Ooh... the model student's surefire comp-sci pen, huh."
"Not really... but whenever I use it for exams, I hit my target score."
"Ooh, legit lucky item then. And you're lending it to me?"
"...Trying not to rely on that luck anymore."
Pop.Squish.Whoosh.Scribble.
/Do Ha-min idiot/
"Hm. Writes real smooth."
"..."
I popped the cap and scribbled a random phrase on the memo pad I was holding. The black ink came out nice and vivid—old, but plenty left.
"How long you been using it?"
"...Since middle school second year."
"Whoa, three years? Glasses and sign pens for years... you're secretly a cheapskate, model student."
"It's a waste. Still works fine."
Exam sign pens aren't pricey like famous brand mechanical pencils or ballpoints. More about personal attachment than price or quality. So he'd use a 500-won pen till the label faded.
"Heh heh, all good, but don't pull that on your future wife when she wants stuff."
"D-don't say dumb shit—give it back if you're gonna."
Do Ha-min reached for the pen in my hand, but when I went on tiptoes and raised my arm, it flew way out of his reach. Once in my grasp, no way it'd go back normally.
"No way. Gotta write my name on the exam sheet first."
"Urk... why's everything so big and tall..."
After a few hops, Do Ha-min gave up and sat back down.
"Hahaha, that's the height difference between you and me."
"Ugh... should've never lent it."
"Hee hee, thanks. I'll treasure it."
"...Yeah."
He looked a bit dubious, but Do Ha-min ultimately lent me his cherished item. Sure, he excused it as ditching luck and superstition, but it also meant he'd built enough trust to loan his attachment.
Time to repay that a bit.
"Hey, model student. Look here."
Before heading back to my desk, I called Do Ha-min once more, drawing his eyes to me.
"What, what's up...?"
I brought the borrowed pen to my lips.
"Lip suck (sign pen)."
"You bastard, knew you'd do that—give it back!"
"Nope, why should I? What'll you pay?"
"Do-young, back to your seat!"
"Yes'm."
Duty changes don't stop the mission. Morning's Do Ha-min teasing: complete.
Alright, focus up. Time to rape Korean with our model student-kun's lucky bitch sign pen...?
With my quota done, I flipped open the first-period Korean exam paper, feeling light.
Where's the question...
The following is a conversation students had while looking at the chart from their recent physical exam.
Student N: [From the last physical exam chart, Y has the heaviest mass among us.]
Student Y: [No, that data had a hacking incident from outside, so it can't be trusted. We need a re-exam.]
Student K: [Y's mass is the only one over three digits, and more than N and K combined!]
13. Select all students whose statements are correct.
1) N 2) Y 3) K 4) N,K 5) N,Y,K
"Fuck, what the hell is this even saying."
Eight years since high school graduation, my reunion with mock exams was a total disaster.