Chapter 20: Study Group (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 20: Study Group (4)
How could she even describe this feeling?
Late at night, as the darkness deepened, Lee Sol lay in bed, lost in thought.
She tossed and turned, rolling across the mattress for no particular reason. Her mind was racing, strangely sharp and alert. It was all because of his voice—the words she had overheard by chance earlier that day.
“I think Sol is better than most of the others.”
As she recalled those words, she couldn't stop a grin from tugging at the corners of her mouth. Her shoulders gave a little involuntary shrug of pure delight.
Ah, no.
She was definitely making a weird face right now.
Sol pulled the duvet up to her nose, trying to hide her expression. She needed to calm down.
“…”
When she really thought about it… it had been a long time since she’d felt recognized like that. It wasn't praise for a finished result, but recognition for her genuine effort.
In truth, it had always been this way. People showered her with praise for her modeling work even when she didn't try that hard, but in everything else, no one seemed to notice no matter how much work she put in.
As a model, she was a lazy genius.
As a student, she was a clumsy dunce.
That was the identity she had eventually accepted for herself.
And yet.
“If you just wait a bit… I think she’ll figure it out on her own.”
That casual display of trust was something she just couldn't get used to.
“…”
It felt… a little embarrassing. These were certainly not sensations Lee Sol was accustomed to. As she dwelled on it, a small, awkward cough escaped her—ahem—and a ticklish, fluttering sensation crawled up the back of her neck.
It was strange. He had only given her a tiny bit of praise, yet she felt like she was overthinking it to death.
“…”
Sol tightened her grip on the blanket. Regardless of how she felt, she didn't want to make his words a lie.
“…I’m really going to do well.”
She absolutely did not want to mess up this exam.
*
Time flew by, and soon it was the beginning of May.
Exactly two months had passed since the first day of the new semester. Today was the day of the first-semester midterms for the second-year high schoolers.
Anyone else would have been buried in their books since dawn, but my attention was focused elsewhere.
“Hmm.”
I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
I looked myself up and down, taking my time. I stepped back to see the full view, then leaned in close. As I thought… there was a slight sense of cognitive dissonance while wearing my school uniform.
This… no matter how I looked at it, it had to be true.
“Yawn… What are you doing so early in the morning?”
My younger sister, Lee Seung-ah, appeared with messy hair and a bored expression. I welcomed her arrival. Perfect timing—I needed a second opinion.
No matter how many times I looked…
“Don’t you think I’ve grown taller?”
“…”
Seung-ah flopped onto the sofa without a word and scanned me from head to toe. She let out a short, mocking laugh.
“…Whatever. You look exactly the same.”
“No, I’m serious. I think I grew. Measure me.”
“…”
Seung-ah’s face crumpled. I didn't even need to hear her thoughts to know what she was thinking. That was the face of someone who found this incredibly bothersome.
“Just once. Please?”
It’s hard to get an accurate measurement by yourself.
“…Ugh, fine.”
She sighed deeply and stood up. Oh, she’s actually doing it.
“Hold this end.”
Seung-ah handed me the end of the measuring tape and pulled the rest down to the floor. She quickly checked the markings.
“…How tall were you before?”
“168.”
“…Oh, you really did grow. You’re at 170… 171? Right around there.”
“Whoa.”
My jaw dropped at her words. The corners of my mouth twitched.
It’s not over yet.
This was the proof. My growth spurt was just beginning.
*
“Ahem.”
The air sure is fresh today.
I felt satisfied. So this was what oxygen felt like from the 170s.
As I walked through the school gates with a light step, I spotted someone.
“Did you study hard for the exam?”
“Yes, well…”
Right by the shoe lockers, I saw Shin A-young caught by a senior from her club. She was having a rough morning. Our eyes met for a split second.
“…”
I decided to play it cool. It’s not like the senior had interrupted a conversation I was having, and it would be awkward for me to just jump in and bail her out. I’ll just head to class and review one last time.
Tap, tap, tap—!
I heard light footsteps hurrying up behind me.
“Morning, Seung-ho!”
Shin A-young ran up to my side and slowed her pace to match mine.
— Whew…! I barely escaped.
…Wasn’t she just with that club senior? It felt like she was getting better and better at making her escapes lately.
— I’ve used the bathroom excuse too much recently, so I can’t use that for a while…
Well, I can guess how she did it. But man, she’s actually keeping track of her excuses. A-young is impressive in her own way.
“…”
A-young suddenly paused and stared intently at my face.
“…What?”
I covered my mouth with my hand. What was it? Did I have something on my face?
“No… did something happen? You look like you’re in a great mood this morning.”
“…? I do?”
I mean, something good did happen. I checked my reflection in the hallway window. My expression was as stoic as ever.
“…”
What was different? I couldn't tell.
Since we were already walking together, I headed toward the classroom with A-young. She swung her backpack around to the front and asked, “Did you study yesterday?”
“Just a bit of review. I went to bed early after that. You?”
“Just some light review for me, too.”
A-young pulled a few chocolates out of her front pocket. They were mini chocolates wrapped in plastic.
“Want some?”
She popped a few into her mouth and held some out to me. I held out my palm and took them immediately. I never turn down free food.
“Mmm.”
The sweet flavor spread through my mouth. These looked like the expensive kind. I should save a few for later.
*
— “————”
— “————”
The moment I opened the back door of the classroom, I began to hear the crackling of various inner thoughts.
It was exam day. This was the "noise" that leaked out from people who were nervous. It was a sound I had heard many times before, so I was used to it by now.
However…
— “————”
…Wait, why was I hearing it from Lee Sol, too?
“…”
Sol was slumped over her desk with her eyes closed. She looked so drained that I wondered if she was sick.
“…What’s up with her all of a sudden?”
At my question, Ji Nuri, who was already there, gave a bitter smile and answered for her.
“I think she’s getting nervous now that the exam is actually here.”
“…Nervous?”
That’s unexpected. I didn't think Lee Sol was the type to get nervous. I was seeing a new side of her.
“Hey, you okay?” I asked her softly.
“…”
Sol slowly lifted her head.
“…No.”
After that single word, she buried her face back in her arms. For some reason, her expression seemed to darken even more after seeing me. It looked like her anxiety had spiked.
“…”
…She’s in worse shape than I thought. I wondered if she’d even be able to take the test like this.
“You’re not sick, are you?”
“…My heart is just racing like crazy.”
Well, at least it was definitely just nerves.
Unable to watch any longer, Shin A-young knelt in front of Sol’s desk to meet her eyes.
“I’ll teach you how to relax. Here, follow me.”
“…”
“Inhale… slowly let it out. Whew… now breathe out again…”
“Inhale… whew…”
Sol followed her and took a slow, deep breath.
“Yeah, keep doing that.”
After repeating the process several times…
“How do you feel?”
“Oh…!”
Sol let out a short exclamation as her nerves began to settle.
“…Wait.”
Then she felt something strange.
“Ah.”
She let out a groan.
“…The effect disappears as soon as I stop.”
As her anxiety began to flare up again, Sol’s face turned pale once more. It’s not like she could do breathing exercises through the entire exam.
“Is there any other way?”
“I don’t know…”
A-young didn't seem to know any other methods besides deep breathing. As for Ji Nuri…
“I don’t really get nervous, usually.”
Must be nice. Ji Nuri was just built different.
…Is there anything else? It would be a shame if her grades suffered just because of nerves. Isn't there some other way?
As I pondered this, I reached into my inner pocket.
“Ah.”
Crinkle.
My fingertips brushed against the plastic wrapper in my pocket. Right, I had this. I pulled out the chocolate and held it out to Sol.
“Want to try eating this?”
— Oh.
A-young let out a short mental note when she saw that. Right, I got this from you.
But there’s nothing better than sugar when you’re nervous. I was going to eat it myself, but it’s better to give it to someone who needs it more.
“…Mmm.”
Sol chewed the chocolate slowly.
— …I think— I’m feeling— a bit better—.
The noise around her was fading, and her inner thoughts were becoming clearer. It meant her tension was gradually easing. There was still some static mixed in, but it felt like she’d be back to normal soon.
Now that the problem was solved, the fact that Lee Sol had been nervous at all felt a bit funny to me. I let out a small chuckle.
“You must have worked really hard. I can’t believe you of all people got nervous.”
Because that’s what it meant. People don't get nervous about things they haven't put effort into.
As I laughed it off…
“…”
Sol’s eyes trembled slightly.
— “————”
Static suddenly flared up in her mini-me’s speech before gradually subsiding.
— “…I told you not to say things like that.”
She muttered under her breath.
…Why? What did I do?