Do-young's Favorite Random Game (4)
They say the thirsty one digs the well, and the desperate one makes the first move. That's Ban Do-young and Do Ha-min's relationship in a nutshell. So, who should be desperately digging that well here? Obviously, it's the scrub Do Ha-min. With this face of mine, am I supposed to confess first?
Unfortunately, our people encourage the thirsty to dig their own wells while also preaching not to even glance at fruit too high to reach. To Do Ha-min, who'd been dropped into this unfamiliar school with no connections, Ban Do-young—the eternal top beauty and most popular girl around since childhood—was that unreachable tree. So naturally, he'd tell himself the grapes on that tree were sour and give up without even trying.
In the end, the one who had to step up and move things along was me. I was always the one reserving the seat next to him, creating chances to meet up. Introducing myself, asking questions, setting up weekend plans when schedules were free, even offering to teach him kendo after school—it was all me. Ultimately, I threw out the bait, and Do Ha-min got dragged along half against his will.
Am I sorry? Hell no. If I left the momentum to that kid—who stammers and fumbles every time he tries to say something, then turns beet red and yells if I tease him to get him to raise his voice—when would we ever get to dating? We'd probably graduate without even properly introducing ourselves. High school would've dragged on for three whole years like that.
Ah, but this Ban Do-young bitch... she does graduate high school in the end, right? Her reputation with grades is so bad, it's got me a little worried.
Anyway. That's how I got used to being the one digging the well first.
“What’s up, straight-A? No night study? Why’re you grabbing your bag?”
“I’m taking a break. Until midterms.”
“You’re skipping night study? No way... why?”
“To study with you.”
“...”
This was the first time since becoming Ban Do-young. Do Ha-min was the one suggesting we hang out first.
“...”
“W-Why... why’re you just standing there without saying anything?”
After hearing his offer, I undid the top button of my dress shirt and let my gaze drop into the gap.
“W-What’re you doing?!”
“Dunno what bra I threw on today. If it’s that granny beige one, you’d be disappointed, right?”
“W-Who’d—!”
A beige lace peeked out from under my skin. Damn, it was the granny bra today.
“Pick a color you want. I’ll change after kendo class.”
“Y-You said we’re studying for exams!”
Oh, right. Health and PE aren’t on midterms. Guess I’ll look forward to finals.
. . .
“Do-youngie, not heading home?”
“You two go on ahead. Our night-study skipper straight-A has something to say to me.”
“‘Night-study skipper’ and ‘straight-A’ in the same sentence, huh.”
“Hmm... okay, then me and Hye-rangie’ll head out first?”
“Get home safe—watch for cars, roads, people, even those kickboard idiots on the sidewalk!”
I sent Sa-hyung and Hye-rang off first, staying behind in the classroom with Do Ha-min. After closing ceremony, kids trickled out one by one. Even those signed up for night study had to move to another room, so soon enough, it was just me and him.
Having the classroom to ourselves like this for a chat—unless it was early morning commute—was pretty rare.
“Yesterday was Teacher Mi-so’s turn for night study duty. After it ended, I talked to her. Said I wanted to help with your studying during exams. Luckily, she said okay.”
This straight-A kid, who’d stonewall even the world’s top beauty Ban Do-young’s date invites because night study came first, was now turning down staying late at school himself to help me.
“...So where we studying? Got a spot?”
“Oh, uh, on my way home yesterday, I texted Master at the dojo. Asked if I could borrow the office or some small space for studying. He said just do it in your room so you can focus...”
“First I’m hearing of it. That jerk dad Ban Do-che... why didn’t he tell me...”
“You were late today, though... said you just scarfed breakfast and bolted.”
“Oh.”
Dad and I had argued about night study last night and spent the day in cold war mode. I’d planned to wake up early, play good daughter, and smooth things over. But this lazy-ass body of original Ban Do-young slept in, ruining it.
No wonder Dad didn’t nag despite my late wake-up—he’d already heard from Do Ha-min about studying together for exams. How could he complain when his daughter was showing study motivation for the first time ever? A bad sleep gacha roll that day was nothing.
“Didn’t expect that. Not a mock exam—your own midterm grades on the line. And you’re stepping up to help. Isn’t your own studying tight enough?”
“...Yeah. It is.”
“So what made our straight-A think of helping?”
“...You asked first. Seemed serious—not joking—about not wanting night study.”
“...”
“So... I wanted to help.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah... that’s it.”
“What if your semester grades tank?”
“I-I’d feel bad... but if your scores go up and teachers and Master acknowledge it... I’d be happy with that.”
“...”
Listen up—I hate night study. Hated it back in my guy school days, and now possessed as Ban Do-young, still do.
Was the biggest reason those forced high school experiences? Yeah, probably.
But I think the current Ban Do-young reacts so extremely to “night study” because of timing, or maybe jealousy.
It was the moment I realized the scale weighing Do Ha-min’s values—which I’d assumed always tipped toward Ban Do-young—could tip heavier toward something else: studying.
I hated night study from the start. But even more, I hated learning that to Do Ha-min, Ban Do-young’s worth was lighter than “studying.”
It naturally hit me that the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. And the night study that taught me that? I loathed it even more.
“Anyway, I’m skipping night study too till exams. If you hate home... café or library’s fine.”
“Nah, my room’s good.”
“R-Really...? You’re okay with me in your room?”
“You okay with café or library? Around here, someone’ll recognize me for sure and bug us. You confident fending them off?”
“Eep...”
Do Ha-min clammed up and looked down. He’d try his best, but he’d rather avoid awkward spots like that. Same for me.
Places like cafés, with all kinds of visitors, meant running into people who knew old Ban Do-young. I could brush ’em off easy, but no need to invite trouble.
“Library then...”
“Nope. One loud yell and we’re outta there.”
“J-Just don’t tease loud.”
“Hmm, can I hold back...? If I had that kinda patience, I’d have studied hard without your help.”
“...Fine. Fine, just no weird teasing during study. Kills my motivation to help.”
“Got it, straight-A sir.”
“That too... cut it out.”
“Huh...?”
I tapped the backpack straps on his shoulders to signal okay. But even after I agreed, Do Ha-min still looked dissatisfied, head down.
“Cut what out? The silent poking like just now?”
“...Calling me straight-A.”
“...”
He’d been holding that nickname close, and now he was nitpicking the unexpected part.
“When teacher asked if my parents okayed skipping night study till exams, I lied and said yes. Mom doesn’t even know I quit...”
“...”
“So... I’m not a straight-A. Don’t deserve it. Don’t call me that. Makes me feel guilty about Mom every time...”
“Ooh, ‘guilty about Mom.’”
“Uh...? ‘Guilty about Mom’?”
“Means feeling sorry to your mom.”
“...”
Do Ha-min’s brow furrowed. His face screamed he thought I abbreviated everything.
“Anyway... please stop calling me straight-A.”
“Gotcha. Name it is from now on.”
“Yeah... huh?”
“Looking forward to it till exams, Ha-min-ah?”
“...”
“How’s it feel getting the name you wanted back?”
“U-Uh...”
Do Ha-min’s face flushed to match the red sunset streaming through the window.
“What, weird calling you by name? Haaa~ Min~ Ah~?”
“Y-Yeah... g-gimme a sec. Still adjusting...”
He backed away, hiding his red face.
“Kekeke, where you running, Ha-min-ah? Gotta hit my room for study time!”
“O-Okay, just don’t come closer! Straight-A’s fine!”
“Night-study skipper tryna be straight-A? You’re Do Ha-min till you die!”
Do Ha-min quit being a straight-A. Or rather, the straight-A kid finally became Do Ha-min, protagonist of Half Half Island.