My Bra-less (6)
“Seongcheon Science High waiting list number two? Damn, Ha-minie. Looks like he was way better at studying than we thought.”
“What's that supposed to mean, you otaku?”
“Knew you'd say that. Of course you wouldn't know, Ban Do-young.”
“If you're gonna scold me, explain first.”
“Do-youngie, you never heard of Seongcheon Science High? It's the high school where the nation's top model students go—the best of the best in academics.”
“Like, some super-elite academy for science nerds or whatever?”
“If that makes it easier for you, sure. It's not wrong.”
“So it's crawling with Do Ha-min lookalikes. Ugh, total nightmare. Ha-min's on clearance sale.”
“It won't be that bad.”
Seongcheon Science High School. That was the top-choice high school Do Ha-min had applied to and gotten rejected from.
From what I'd heard, it was the most prestigious science-track high school in the entire Half Half Island world. Where all the elite of the elite gathered.
So what? The world's most beautiful girl, Ban Do-young, wasn't there.
“Waiting list number two is basically guaranteed admission. But this year, they stopped right at number one for some weird reason, so he got bumped. And that kid ends up in our school. How could I not be on edge?”
“Hmm... yeah, I guess.”
“Do-youngie's in a league of her own anyway—no need to worry there.”
“Yeah, she just heard the name Seongcheon Science High for the first time. Zero interest in that stuff.”
“And you dragged a girl like that up to 72 points. Could you pull that off? I'd kill myself first. I'd probably snap and smack her upside the head with a triangle ruler before I got there.”
“Not a mop?”
“That's why I'd smack you, you fucking bitch.”
Sure enough, during exam period, no one helped me more than Do Ha-min. After nearly a decade trapped in rote corporate brainwashing, he'd rewired my head back to high school study mode. His teaching skills were better than any teacher on the podium.
But that didn't make him some super-elite genius like An Seong-gyeong was hyping. Not even close.
“Hey, class prez.”
“...Yeah?”
“Don't overhype Do Ha-min. He's not that good.”
“S-Suddenly what?”
“Do-youngie, who got the most help from Ha-minie, is saying that?”
What I'd realized most during this time was that no matter how much of a protagonist he was in this world, Do Ha-min was just an ordinary student—a normal kid his age. Talented, sure. Hardworking, absolutely. But with clear limits.
He wasn't some all-powerful superhuman or genius who could do everything.
“That guy's clueless on problems if he doesn't study them. Misses sleep the night before? He's nodding off the next day. Throw in one bad habit? He trips on the street because his body's not listening.”
“Do-youngie...?”
“Ban Do-young...”
“And that's not all. He can't even lie right, so he's trash at Zero Lime even.”
“What's a Zero Lime game?”
“That last one's got nothing to do with the rest, right?”
Whenever I saw him struggling to surpass his limits despite pushing harder than anyone to become a superhuman, pity welled up in me unbidden.
Yeah, in summary... a pity-inducing virgin.
“Anyway! Don't go calling him a genius or whatever and inflating his rep. Do Ha-min's weak as hell!”
Superhuman. Genius. Top student. Those words didn't fit him.
It felt wrong—too cheap—to sum up his efforts with convenient labels like that.
No, I hated it. Hated how those words erased the value of the time he'd poured into helping Ban Do-young.
“I wasn't trying to hype him up weirdly... If it came off that way, sorry. I'll apologize to him later.”
“Fine, as long as you get it. That idiot busts his ass when you're not looking.”
An Seong-gyeong hesitated, then bowed her head apologetically.
Just a bit ago, she'd have doubled down, yelling instead of backing off.
Maybe the misunderstandings with original Ban Do-young were clearing up.
Her attitude toward me had definitely softened.
“...Class prez folding that easy.”
“Something did go down in the gym storage last time.”
Sa-hyung and Hye-rang watched with surprised looks.
After so long without interaction, they couldn't help seeing her through colored glasses.
“I was pissed too. I studied hard for these exams... and Ha-min skipped self-study to tutor you. I figured our midterms were a breeze for him—no sweat.”
“Your worldview's so negative. Why see it that way? Does that red glasses curse you to only see the critical side?”
Pretty convincing theory. Otherwise, why would all the critics, auditors, and dorm supervisors on TV wear them?
“Why...? Who the hell ignores their own studies two weeks before exams to help someone else? What's the reason?”
“Isn't it obvious?”
I raised my thumb and pointed right at Ban Do-young's face.
“That punk likes m— ”
“Likes...?”
“Fuc—?”
“L-Likes...”
What the hell. Why couldn't I spit it out?
It wasn't even me confessing. Just saying Do Ha-min liked Ban Do-young.
Why did even that feel so humiliating in front of everyone?
My face burned. Breath caught. My heart, quietly ticking away, suddenly clenched my veins, announcing itself.
“Likes...”
“What? Why stop mid-sentence?”
“Likes... seeing me as a dumbass! That's why! How much of a dumbass did he think I was to ditch his own studies to teach me!”
“No, common sense says that's not—”
“Argh, pisses me off thinking about it! Where's that Do Ha-min! I'm gonna beat his ass! Seventy-two spanks incoming!”
I bolted from the group with Sa-hyung and the others.
“Yo, where's that Do Ha-min punk? Wasn't at his desk.”
“Huh? Uh... not sure? Think he grabbed his report card and left the classroom earlier.”
“Thanks!”
“N-No problem! Call me anytime if you need something, Do-young!”
Hearing he'd left the room, I stormed out after him to find the missing Do Ha-min.
⋯
“...What's her deal now.”
“Ha-minie wants to grope his butt.”
“Cough! Nah... no way.”
The kids left behind after Do-young left—
“Hey, An Seong-gyeong!”
Then, a girl from another class pushed open the door to Class 1-1.
“Who's that?”
“Girl from Class 3 in our study club.”
The girl from the same study club as Seong-gyeong smiled gently and said,
“Congrats, An Seong-gyeong!”
“Congrats on what? I'm already pissed from bombing the exams.”
“Overheard in the office—you're top of Class 1-1!”
“...What?”
⋯
Real schools rarely have them, but in webtoons or novels, every school has one: a secret spot where only protagonists know the solitude they can chew on.
A personal hideout on school grounds.
If the protagonist's outgoing and carefree—an extrovert—the spot's usually the rooftop, abandoned clubroom, or the nurse's office with the hot teacher.
But for introverted, self-conscious loners? Places too desolate to even want to visit.
Cobwebby corner stairs. Toilet next to the cleaning closet. Library seat in the far back no one sits near.
Spots you end up in not because you want to, but because nowhere else lets you be quietly alone.
Of course Do Ha-min was the latter type. Knowing that, I quickly found him hunkered alone under the corner stairs.
“Whatcha doing here.”
“H-Huh? How'd you know I was here?”
“You think I haven't binged a few delinquent-nerd stories?”
Do Ha-min panicked when our eyes met, hiding his report card.
“...”
I hadn't meant to peek. It just caught my eye.
The overall average on the card he'd shoved behind him.
Starting with an '8'.
Great score, no doubt.
But not what he was aiming for.
“S-Sorry. Should've said sooner... Congrats on hitting your target. At least you made it, Do-young...”
He faked wiping his glasses, forcing a smile and congratulations.
“At least you...”
“Heh heh... Guess I didn't have enough solo study time... Lost points on memorization subjects.”
“...”
“Pretty dumb, right? Telling you to work hard, and I drop from the mock exam...”
I didn't care much about a dip in scores. Original Ban Do-young probably wouldn't either.
But a model student like Do Ha-min? Different story.
I'd seen it already through An Seong-gyeong.
“Deep down, I got cocky. Thought helping you meant midterms were no issue. Haven't wised up yet. After getting wrecked on entrance exams. I'm such an idiot, huh? Heh heh.”
Laughing it off to regain composure, but
“Swore I'd never slack again... Told Mom not to worry so confidently...”
His eyes, brimming with self-loathing and frustration, stayed red no matter what.
“Sniff... S-Sorry. Even I think I'm pathetic...”
“...”
“Oh, right. The wish... We said I'd grant it. That's why you're here, yeah?”
“...Yeah.”
“Okay, tell me. I'll do anything I can.”
Tears still streaking his cheeks, but he insisted on our deal—putting me first.
“...Y'know, studying with you was brutal. Dad, Teacher Mi-so—they just nagged me to study. No one had my back. You taught me how, but never got how hard it was for me.”
“D-Did I? Sorry, I was swamped.”
“Man, if I'd had a boyfriend who'd side with me unconditionally and comfort me back then... That hellish exam period would've been bearable. Kept wishing some guy would step up for Ban Do-young.”
“N-No way your wish is... right?”
Do Ha-min looked up cautiously.
“Of course not, you nerd. Who'd date a crybaby whining to his mom over bad grades?”
“Eek... I-I know. I get it.”
I raised my right hand threateningly at him.
“Argh, I wanted comfort and to act spoiled after that hell! But no boyfriend, damn it!”
“W-With that face, just ask anyone...”
“How do I just ask anyone with this face! What a waste! You nuts?”
“Hiiik...! B-But...!”
“Sigh...”
⋯
“So, no boyfriend means I'm spoiling myself with the one guy who gets how tough it was.”
“...Huh?”
I spread my arms toward the cringing Do Ha-min.
“...Hug me.”
“F-For real...? Here...?”
“Just do it already. This is my wish.”
“O-Okay...”
After hesitating, Do Ha-min stood from the stairs and pulled Ban Do-young into a hug.
His tear-streaked face pressed into her chest, soaking the sweater and shirt.
Yeah, this works.
No regrets? Hell yeah there were.
But staring into those pity-inducing virgin eyes... whatever.
Right now, I wanted to use my wish for the guy who'd run to me.
Dick pics could wait.
“...Hey, Do-young.”
“What. Too squishy, sleepy?”
“...You wearing a love fruit badge or something inside your sweater?”
“What're you on about.”
“F-Feels like something hard and small poking near your ear.”
“...Oh. Sorry. Forgot my bra today. That's not a badge—it's my nipple.”
“Uh...?”
-Plop
Then, something rose between Ban Do-young and Do Ha-min's stomachs...
Wha—why's it getting bigger?