My Bra (3)
-Bzzz -Bzzzzz
Study session end.
Do Ha-min's phone blared, signaling the end of our study time. He checked the time, then hurriedly packed his bag and threw on his uniform jacket.
"Eutcha, I'm heading out first."
"Ah, the subway's already coming? I was so into it, I didn't even notice how dark it got outside."
"Your focus in that final stretch surprised even me. Do-young... you really can nail it when you put your mind to it."
"Etchem. Feel the power difference yet?"
"I'll grade the problems you did today when I get home. From what I saw next to you, the solutions looked solid—probably all correct—but just to be safe."
"Yeah, thanks a ton."
Do Ha-min had timed our home study sessions to end right when school self-study wrapped up. For now, I was keeping the skipped self-study from Mom, so we had to match my usual after-school timing. This whole study group was built on a little white lie. To keep it going, Do Ha-min had to play the perfect student even more strictly than before—sticking to that schedule like glue.
It's kinda like me. Even knowing I'm a guy inside and this main heroine gig is fake, I have to act the part desperately if I want back to my old world. Guess you could say everyone at this table isn't studying—they're all actors putting on a show. Well, only I know that.
"Average of 69 points... I might need to tweak the difficulty on the problems I make at home. The ones so far were aimed at around 55."
"Nah, you don't need to make special ones just for me. Give me the same stuff you're solving."
"Huh...? You serious?"
"This isn't the time to obsess over my scores alone, Do Ha-min. You're not getting any study time yourself making problems for me, right?"
"Hic."
Do Ha-min flinched, chest and shoulders heaving like I'd hit the bullseye. Pretty much what I expected.
"H-how'd you know?"
"You said it yourself—answers pop out when you look at the problems. I just plugged in your daily schedule you told me about, and it added up."
"Applying math to real life like that... so why are your grades...?"
"Do Ha-min, what'd you just say?"
"Sorry."
Truth is, I spend the most time with Do Ha-min out of anyone in his day. So I'm the one who can estimate his schedule most accurately. And it was obvious: school, dojo, commute home—no matter how you slice it, there was zero personal study time left for him. Even squeezing in an hour meant sleeping just two at dawn before heading back out. That's not superhuman. That's killing yourself.
"From now on, no more forcing problems just for me. Give me what you're doing. We'll study together."
"Y-you sure? Advanced stuff might break your momentum again after building it up..."
"Current Ban Do-young is in peak motivation mode—nothing's breaking it. And when you teach me what I don't know, you'll learn too, right?"
I flashed a thumbs-up, eyes blazing with rock-solid confidence.
"Y-yeah... when there's a deal on the table, even your eyes change..."
"So, if I hit the target score, you grant one wish. You promised."
"Yeah... if it keeps you focused, I couldn't ask for more."
He looked a bit burdened but nodded with a secretly pleased smile. The deal: hit average 69 points, one wish granted. He'd jumped at it. If he'd stuck to his original 55-point goal for me, no way he'd agree. I had to suggest a target that seemed easy for me now but still a stretch—that made him bite.
"B-but remember, no weird wishes, or I won't do it! No whining later!"
"Nah, it's fine. That's enough for now."
For now, just getting you locked into this negotiation table is victory enough. This deal was pure self-interest from the start. A wish you'd never grant normally? I found a totally wholesome, student-y way to make it happen: studying. You can't slip away from the table now.
"Heh heh heh heh heh."
"Ugh... definitely gonna be something weird."
"Kuh ku ku ku..."
For the first time in my life, midterms felt exciting.
**
With his bag slung tight over his shoulder, Ha-min finished changing shoes at the second-floor entrance.
"Then I'll be off, Master."
"Oh, Ha-min. Heading out now?"
"Yeah, subway time's almost up. Thanks so much for the snacks and drinks."
Hearing Ha-min was leaving, Do-che dashed out from the living room in his socks—barefoot style—to see off his daughter's precious tutor.
"S-so... how'd it go today? Did Do-young stay focused? No slacking or zoning out?"
"Yes, her focus and scores are climbing steadily. And..."
"And...?"
"It's kinda childish, but... seems like Do-young found her own reason to study hard. She said she'd keep going alone after I leave."
"R-really?"
Do-che's eyes went wide—first time in 17 years hearing his daughter declare she'd study. Come to think of it, Do-young wasn't here to see him off like usual. Normally, she'd walk him to the station.
"Gotta go—got a bit lazy, subway's cutting it close. Gotta run. See you tomorrow, Master!"
"Ah, Ha-min! Hold up! Running at night's dangerous!"
-Grab!
Do-che snagged Ha-min's arm mid-thought of sprinting to the station. A certified 5th-dan kendo master's grip—no resistance possible.
"Perfect timing. If the subway's tight, I'll drive you. Car's way faster."
"R-really...?"
"Of course. After tutoring my daughter like that, it's the least I can do."
Do-che grabbed the car keys from the master bedroom to personally drive Do Ha-min. Good opportunity—he'd wanted to before, but Do-young always blocked it to hog alone time with Ha-min.
"Ban Do-young, I'm dropping Ha-min at the station. Coming?"
"Nah, not today! Gotta study!"
"My god... she's really doing it. Using studying as an excuse to skip something? Never even used it as a pretext before."
Do-che couldn't hide his shock at her flat refusal. Double surprise: Do-young prioritizing anything over Ha-min? And studying as the reason? Huge for him.
"Th-then just us?"
"Yeah, take good care of Do Ha-min, Dad! See ya tomorrow, Do Ha-min!"
"Y-yeah... see you."
"Ha-min, what magic did you use? Even homeroom teachers and cram school gave up..."
"Ahaha... D-Do-young found her own motivation to study hard on her own."
"Thanks... Ha-min. Truly, thank you!"
Do-che kept thanking him profusely, then drove the dojo car to drop Ha-min at the station. On the way back, his face beamed—daughter finally motivated to study. So thrilled, he dashed into a station shop before closing, grabbing armfuls of deli manju as late-night study fuel for her.
"Dad's back...?"
Even hearing him return, Do-young stayed quiet—no coming down or greeting. Maybe she dozed off mid-study? New to this, even with a taste for it, first times tire you out. If she's slumped on the desk, better tuck her in.
Do-che crept upstairs carefully—toe-heel to avoid creaks disturbing her.
"Door's... open a crack."
Through the gap, he saw Do-young at her desk, eyes fired up, grinding problems.
"Uwooo! Die, you problems Do Ha-min left!"
"Ooh... she's really grinding... Huh?"
Then, his eyes caught strange hanja-like writing on her desk.
Lower People High Aspire
Probably one of those motivational phrases exam kids stick on desks or drawers, like mental focus or enlightenment stuff. That's what Do-che thought seeing it on Do-young's desk.
'Lower ha... people min... high go... run chu...? Lowly wanderers aspiring high and charging ahead...?'
My god. Perfect match for Do-young right now.
'Do-young... sticking phrases like that on your desk and drawer, diving into study... This time you're for real! Dad's moved!'
Understanding the phrase, Do-che's chest swelled with emotion.