Chapter 124: 2nd Semester Midterms (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 124: 2nd Semester Midterms (1)
Inside the bustling school snack shop, students were frantically grabbing items and rushing to the registers.
“Phew… there are so many people…”
I let out a sigh as I squeezed my way out of the crowd.
Maybe it’s because it’s exam day, but it feels even more packed than usual.
There were easily twice as many people as there normally were. It was a good thing I’d come early; if I hadn't, everything probably would have been sold out by now.
— “Hehe~ Exams start today!”
Shin A-young’s mini-me hummed a cheerful tune. She looked like she was in a fantastic mood.
— “What should we do to celebrate on the last day?”
The mini-me beamed, already lost in happy thoughts about the future.
“…….”
I let out a dry chuckle as I watched her. She was already planning for the end of the week. To her, exam days were basically just days when school ended early.
I turned to Lee Sol, feeling a bit puzzled.
“You’re not nervous today?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, you’re usually a total wreck on exam days.”
Lee Sol tended to get incredibly anxious. Even without looking at her mini-me, she usually broadcasted her nerves with her entire body. Seeing her this composed was a rare sight.
“…….”
Lee Sol blinked slowly.
“…Now that you mention it, you’re right.”
She sounded like she hadn't even realized it herself until I pointed it out.
— “How strange. I’m not nervous at all, even though I worked just as hard as always…”
Her mini-me opened and closed its pebble-like hands, looking puzzled.
That meant the reason was simple.
“You must be confident.”
“…….”
At those words, Lee Sol gave a slow nod.
“I guess so. I feel like I’ll do well this time, too.”
Her confidence surged, and she gave a little shrug.
Is all that hard work finally paying off?
In that case, she probably didn't need the chocolate. I started to put the bar I had picked up back into the bag.
“…Why are you putting that back?”
“Huh?”
“Weren't you taking that out to give to me?”
Lee Sol’s eyes turned pouty. She licked her lips, clearly wanting it.
“…You want one?”
At my question, Lee Sol gave a tiny nod, a faint blush creeping onto her face.
“…Yeah. On second thought, I think it’s better if I eat it. I might get nervous later.”
I pulled a single wrapped alphabet chocolate out of the bag and handed it over.
— “Mmm….”
The expression on her mini-me’s face softened blissfully, its cheeks bulging as it chewed.
— “…As I thought, chocolate on exam days just hits different.”
Was it like eating rice cake soup on New Year’s or seaweed soup on a birthday? When did exam-day chocolate become such a sacred tradition?
“Ah, give me one too! I’ll give you a jelly in exchange.”
Shin A-young leaned in and held out her hand, offering a gummy jelly. Seeing that, Lee Sol glared at her.
“…A-young, you don’t even get nervous.”
“You never know. I’m just eating it in advance as a precaution.”
“…….”
Lee Sol fell silent, unable to argue. What Shin A-young said was exactly what she had just used as an excuse.
“Mm. That’s true.”
Ji Nuri, who had approached at some point, nodded in agreement. He was already munching on a chocolate. Looking at the bag in his hand, I realized it was my chocolate.
When the hell did he swipe that?
I let out a hollow laugh at the sight.
“What, are you nervous too?”
“? No, it just tastes good.”
— “Nom nom.”
His mini-me chewed with hamster-like cheeks, chocolate smudged around its mouth.
Ah, so he’s just eating it because he’s hungry.
“…Oh.”
I raised my voice as I saw someone entering the shop. It was none other than Senior Min-ji.
“Senior, it’s been a while.”
“Hey, guys….”
She gave us a weak, weary smile. Since it was a stressful time for everyone, she looked even more drained than usual.
“Did you guys come to buy snacks too…? Should I buy them for you…?”
“It’s okay. We just bought some.”
“No, no. If there’s anything else you want, just get it. My treat.”
Park Min-ji’s eyes widened as she practically dragged us back into the snack shop. Her insistence was almost desperate. It felt like she wouldn't let us leave unless we picked something out.
“Then, just this one…”
I carefully picked a single item.
“Okay. And? What else?”
“…No, this is plenty.”
Even so, taking anything more felt like a burden.
*
“…….”
“…….”
When we finally managed to leave the shop, I was holding another bag filled to the brim with snacks for everyone. Drinks, chips, jellies—she had bought a mountain of food for the four of us to share. We wouldn't even be able to finish it all since first period was starting soon anyway.
“…What’s up with her?” I asked the others, looking back at her through the shop window.
“Who knows….”
“Maybe she’s just stressed because of exams?”
Lee Sol and Ji Nuri tilted their heads, unsure. It was Shin A-young who provided the answer.
“Min-ji unnie just finished her early admissions practical exams for art school a few days ago.”
“Ah… and it’ll be a while before the results come out, right?”
“Yeah. She’ll probably be like that until the announcement.”
I understood what she meant. She was essentially "stacking up good karma." Since the results were now in the hands of fate, she was trying to do as many good deeds as possible while she prayed for a passing grade.
“Hmm….”
For some reason, I couldn't bring myself to laugh. I just let out a heavy breath. After all, in a year’s time, we would be in that exact same position. It wasn't a very distant future.
I turned toward the classroom, carrying the heavy bag.
“Ah, you guys go on ahead.”
“Okay.”
The three of them headed up the stairs, and I ducked into the bathroom. I planned to stop by before the first bell rang.
“Phew….”
I felt a bit lighter. I washed my hands and stepped out. Just as I was about to head back to class—
“Haaah…….”
I heard someone sighing heavily near the stairwell. A faint sound of static-like noise was mixed in with it.
“…….”
Since noise was common on exam days, I was going to just pass by, but I stopped because the voice sounded familiar. It wasn't someone I knew intimately, but it wasn't a voice I was hearing for the first time either.
I peeked around the corner.
“Phew…….”
— “Ah… I’m so nervous I feel like I’m going crazy. Why am I like this…?”
Ah, it’s her.
I thought I recognized the voice, and it turned out we had met before. She was the keyboardist in the same band club as Ji Nuri and Ha Seo-rim. Her name was… Ahn Bo-ram, right.
“Huuuu….”
Ahn Bo-ram leaned her hand against the wall, staring out the window and letting out a deep, shaky breath.
“Inhale…… hold…… exhale…….”
She breathed in, held it, and breathed out. She repeated the process rhythmically. It was one of those classic methods used to calm nerves—inhaling, holding for four seconds, and then exhaling.
— “…It only feels okay for a second when I do it, then the panic comes right back….”
Seeing that her mini-me’s expression wouldn't brighten, the breathing exercises didn't seem to be very effective. Given how much she was shaking, she seemed to be the same high-anxiety type as Lee Sol.
“…Ah.”
That was when she spotted me and let out a small gasp.
“…A-Ah, hello.”
She bowed awkwardly. Since she had greeted me first, it would be rude to pretend I hadn't seen her.
“What are you doing here?”
“…I just wanted to get some fresh air… What about you, Senior?”
“Just coming back from the snack shop.”
I rummaged through the bag and asked, “Did you study much?”
“I did, but I’m not really sure about anything….”
“How was your last exam?”
“…It was okay.”
“I see.”
Ah, here it is.
“Do you drink coffee?”
“No, not really….”
“How about chocolate?”
I pulled a warm can of hot chocolate from the bag.
“Want one?”
“Oh, no, it’s okay!”
Ahn Bo-ram waved her hands dismissively.
“It’s fine. I got it for free from someone I know anyway. They say drinking something warm and sweet before an exam calms your nerves and helps you focus.”
— “Oh….”
Her mini-me looked intrigued.
“Thank you….”
She accepted the can with a shy gesture. I checked my wristwatch. It was almost time for first period to start.
…Did she calm down a bit?
As we talked, Ahn Bo-ram’s mini-me became noticeably calmer than before. As expected, nothing beats a distraction for calming nerves. Engaging in light conversation helps pull the mind out of a spiral. It was a tip I’d learned from the Club President once.
Just as I was about to say goodbye and head back—
“…What are you doing here?”
A sharp voice called out.
“…….”
I turned around. Ha Seo-rim was standing there. I must have been too focused on the conversation because I hadn't noticed her approaching.
— “…I came to check because Bo-ram wasn't coming back, and she’s here alone with this senior.”
Her mini-me’s eyes narrowed into her characteristic suspicious half-moons.
I replied casually.
“I ran into her on my way past, so we were just talking for a bit.”
“Yeah, Senior gave me this to help with my nerves.”
Ahn Bo-ram chimed in, holding up the can.
“……Is that so?”
The expression on Ha Seo-rim’s mini-me soured even further.
— “Sigh…… This senior is always flirting with everyone he meets.”
It’s not flirting.
“…….”
Besides, wouldn't it weigh on my conscience to just ignore her and walk past when she looked that stressed? It was a simple gesture to ease someone's nerves, and she was an acquaintance of Ji Nuri’s. It’s better to be kind than not. That’s all there was to it.
“…First period is starting soon. Aren't you going?” Ha Seo-rim asked, glancing down at her own watch.
“I should.”
I was planning to anyway. I pulled one more can of hot chocolate out of the bag.
“Here’s one for you, too.”
“I’m fine.”
“I got it for free. They say something warm is good for calming the heart.”
“…I’m not nervous, though?”
Sure you aren't.
She might look composed on the outside, but her mini-me was brutally honest. It had been fidgeting and twisting its fingers for a while now. For Ha Seo-rim, this was an exam where her scholarship was on the line. No matter how much she pretended otherwise, she was likely more nervous than anyone else.
“Here.”
I pressed the can into Ha Seo-rim’s hand and started walking away. Looking at the time, I really had to move.
“Good luck on the exam.”
“…….”
Ha Seo-rim tucked the can into her hoodie pocket and replied as if it were an afterthought.
“…You too, Senior.”
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