Chapter 70: Exam Period (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 70: Exam Period (1)
I stood there, blinking in the silence, stealing a quick glance at her.
“...”
Meanwhile, the uncomfortable silence stretched on.
The encounter was so sudden that I was at a loss for words. I couldn't find anything to say.
— “Ah, seriously...”
Ha Seo-rim’s Mini-Me scratched its head while looking at me, its platinum-blonde hair becoming a disheveled mess.
— “...Why is this guy here? Is he actually in the Counseling Club?”
She watched me with an uneasy look in her eyes.
She recognized me.
Quite a bit of time had passed, so I thought she might not, but she knew who I was instantly.
— “Tsk... Ah, what do I do? I think he recognized me, too...”
She had also realized that I recognized her.
At this point, pretending we didn't know each other seemed impossible. I had no choice but to offer a natural greeting.
Ha Seo-rim absentmindedly rubbed the back of her neck, looking like she was debating how to react.
“...Hello.”
She was the first to speak. Ha Seo-rim gave a stiff, awkward nod.
“...Oh. Hey.”
I accepted the greeting just as awkwardly. I tried my best not to let it show, but it didn't work out very well.
“Wait, what? You two know each other?” Ji Nuri asked, looking between us. Her eyes were suddenly brimming with curiosity.
“...Just a junior from middle school.”
It wasn't like we were particularly close. We were just the type of acquaintances who stopped keeping in touch after graduation.
“Oh, really?”
“...Yeah, but I didn't know she went to our school.”
I truly hadn't expected to run into her here.
“...”
As if the feeling was mutual, Ha Seo-rim narrowed her eyes slightly. As expected, I could feel a sense of distance radiating from her.
“...?”
Just then, the friend standing next to her momentarily looked puzzled.
— “...She said she didn't know him the other day... Did she just mean they weren't close?”
It seemed Ha Seo-rim already knew I attended this school.
In the midst of this, Ji Nuri stepped forward.
“...Anyway, what’s up? You said you had something to tell me?” She leaned back casually on the sofa.
“...Ah, about that.”
Ha Seo-rim began to explain their situation.
“We’re thinking of starting a Band Club. If you’re okay with it, would you like to join our club?”
“Huh?”
Ji Nuri’s expression twisted into a strange look. Her face was full of questions.
“...Huh? Starting a club? But you guys are freshmen.”
She was essentially saying that freshmen weren't allowed to start clubs.
“...Freshmen can start them from the second semester,” I whispered the explanation to Ji Nuri.
“Oh, really?”
Ji Nuri nodded, hearing this for the first time. Then, deciding it wasn't an issue, she thought about it for a moment.
“But I’m already in the Counseling Club...”
“That’s fine. You’re allowed to be in up to two clubs at once.”
“Oh, really?”
At Ha Seo-rim’s explanation, she nodded again, once more learning something new.
“...”
Ha Seo-rim’s expression turned peculiar.
— “...Her vibe is a bit different from what I expected.”
She looked at Ji Nuri with a subtle gaze. I nodded inwardly; I could relate to that sentiment.
“Mmm...”
Ji Nuri let out a low hum. She seemed to be weighing her options. Sensing the silence, Ha Seo-rim quickly added more.
“Of course, I’m not asking for an answer right this second. We’re planning to start the club in the second semester, so there’s still plenty of time.”
Ha Seo-rim continued, flipping through her phone.
“You’ll probably be curious about our performance skills, so I’ll send some recordings to your Instagram later.”
“Mhm.”
“Please take your time and let me know.”
“Sure, I got it.”
That was enough for now. Ji Nuri nodded, crossing her arms.
“...”
Since that seemed to be all she had to say, Ha Seo-rim gave off the vibe that she was ready to leave the club room. It was likely an uncomfortable place for her to be—mostly because of me.
“We’ll be going now.”
Ha Seo-rim started to walk away.
“Oh, and feel free to stop by if you ever need counseling. I’ll give you something tasty if you do. Here, take these too.”
Ji Nuri laughed heartily and held out some Alphabet Chocolates to the three of them. Seeing this, Ha Seo-rim waved her hands in refusal.
“No, no, it’s okay. You really don't have to worry about us.”
“It’s fine~ You’re Seung-ho’s junior, right?”
“...Ah, yes.”
Ha Seo-rim accepted them awkwardly.
“Excuse us.”
The three of them finished their goodbyes and left the club room.
Slide— The door closed.
Once again, it was just us in the room.
— “...Did something happen between those two?”
— “...I thought I was going to suffocate.”
The Mini-Mes of Shin A-young and Lee Sol each let out a comment. The two of them watched me with subtle, cautious movements.
“Wow, the world really is small. To think you’d run into a middle school junior here,” Ji Nuri muttered, seemingly fascinated by the coincidence. “Are you close with her?” she asked casually.
— “?”
— “?!”
The two Mini-Mes jumped. If anything, they were more flustered than I was.
“I wonder.”
Her bluntness actually made a dry chuckle escape my lips.
— “Whew...”
Watching the two of them sigh in relief, I looked back at myself. I slowly rubbed my mouth.
...Was my expression really that bad?
It certainly felt like it wasn't great. I was flustered, and old memories had bubbled up to the surface. It was all in the past. Even if I told myself not to care about it now... it wasn't something I could control. I suppose it couldn't be helped.
“...”
Ha Seo-rim walked out of the counseling office with a grumpy expression. She shoved her hands deep into the pockets of her oversized coat and buried the lower half of her face into her collar. Only her half-moon eyes peeked out.
On the other hand—
“Wow, that went really well...!”
Ha Seo-rim’s friend, Ahn Bo-ram, was wearing a broad smile. Her steps were light and bouncy.
“That senior and Nuri-sunbae... they seemed really close. If you just ask him nicely, Seo-rim, don't you think things will work out?”
“...Work out, my foot.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because we’re not on good terms.”
Ha Seo-rim shot her a grumpy side-eye. She continued grumbling.
“You should try to stay away from that senior, too. Nothing good comes from getting involved with him.”
“...Really? Is it that bad? In what way?”
“...”
Ha Seo-rim fell into a momentary silence. She debated how much she should explain, or if she should even explain at all. Still, since they were friends, she decided to tell her.
“...Didn't you see just now?”
“See what?”
“That senior was surrounded by nothing but girls.”
And every single one of them was famous for being beautiful.
“Huh?” Ahn Bo-ram tilted her head.
“...Ah, you’re right.” Their guy friend, Jin Hyun-woo, who had been listening quietly, nodded as if he had just realized it.
“But they’re in the same club, so isn't that normal? Our school has a higher ratio of girls anyway.”
At Bo-ram’s words, Ha Seo-rim let out a scoffing laugh and shook her head.
“No, he’s been like that for a long time.”
To be precise, he wasn't always like that, but he changed at some point. He cut ties with his original friends and only formed close relationships with a select few. Most of them were girls, and it was bizarre. It almost felt like he was screening people before befriending them.
“Besides, that senior... he made a girl I know cry.”
“In middle school?”
“Yeah.”
Ha Seo-rim had been close to her in many ways. She had heard all sorts of stories from her—so many that she was sick of it.
...But the ending wasn't a happy one. She had been dumped by Lee Seung-ho. He had cut her off quite coldly. It was something Ha Seo-rim had witnessed personally. The expression the girl wore the next day was still vivid in her mind.
And after all that...
Lee Seung-ho was living his life without a care in the world. He even looked close with the other girls in his club. He was a total philanderer.
“...”
That guy. He looked like the type who would live his life with women on both arms later on. Like a typical playboy. She didn't want to be involved with him in any way.
The only thing that bothered her slightly was...
...I wonder if those seniors will be okay.
The fact that Ji Nuri and the other female seniors were involved with Lee Seung-ho worried her a little. Should she give them a warning?
“Hmm...”
Ha Seo-rim shook her head internally. Forget it. She shouldn't care. Even if she told them, nothing would change. She’d just end up looking like she was badmouthing him for no reason.
It’s not like I’m in a position to worry about others.
Ha Seo-rim laughed to herself self-deprecatingly. She was busy enough as it was. She had to prepare for final exams, get ready for performances, and she had several part-time jobs. Oh, and she was thinking of trying TaekTok. She heard it pays really well, and things were a bit tight lately.
...Anyway, she had more than a few things to worry about.
“Sigh...”
Just thinking about it made a sigh escape her. One body wasn't enough for everything she had to do. They could take care of themselves. She didn't have the luxury to worry about those people.
At the bus stop after school.
Lee Sol was waiting for the bus with Lee Seung-ho. Ji Nuri and Shin A-young had already left on an earlier bus.
Screech— Hiss—
Lee Seung-ho waved his hand lightly as he boarded the stopping bus.
“I’m off. Make sure you solve those problems I mentioned by tomorrow.”
“Okay, see you tomorrow.”
Lee Sol raised her hand slightly in response. They exchanged goodbyes.
“...”
Now that Lee Seung-ho had left, she was alone. While waiting for her bus home, the events of earlier flashed through her mind.
The three juniors who had visited the Counseling Club. Among them—
The middle school junior...
She remembered her. The girl with the striking platinum-blonde hair who was quite cute. She looked like the type who would be adored by everyone around her. The only unusual thing was how she seemed strangely repulsed by Lee Seung-ho.
“Hmm...”
While Lee Sol felt a sense of relief at that fact... on the other hand, a sense of dissatisfaction bubbled up—what’s wrong with Lee Seung-ho? Her lips pouted.
Maybe...
A suspicion arose that the girl might know about what happened in middle school, something she had heard from Lee Seung-ah.
...What was her name again?
Lee Sol thought hard. She had definitely heard it, but she was confused. She couldn't remember it clearly.
Lee Sol reached into her pocket. She pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and unfolded it.
...Right. Ha Seo-rim.
The name was written there in squiggly handwriting. She had written it down beforehand in case she forgot.
Hehe.
She did a good job. Lee Sol praised herself.
Should I ask Seung-ah about her?
Since they might know each other.