Chapter 77: Exam Period (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 77: Exam Period (8)
Tap, tap.
I felt a light tapping on my shoulder. I didn't react.
The hand tapped me again, a bit more insistently this time.
"Seung-ho."
I flinched at the soft voice calling my name.
"...Ah."
My eyes snapped open.
I stared blankly at my surroundings. I wasn't in my room; I was in a cafe.
...Right, I fell asleep.
I couldn't even remember when I’d drifted off.
Perhaps because I’d been slumped in an awkward position, my neck felt incredibly stiff. I massaged the muscles and did some light stretching to work out the kinks.
"...What time is it...?"
My voice came out raspy—a dry, scratchy sound.
"They said it’s almost closing time. We should probably head out."
It was already that late. It felt like I’d been out for over an hour.
"Here."
Lee Sol handed me a cup of water.
"...Oh, thanks."
My throat was parched, so I gulped it down immediately. I was grateful for her thoughtfulness.
We packed our things and stepped out of the cafe.
— Whoosh.
The moment we stepped outside, the chilly night air nipped at my skin. Only then did my head finally start to clear.
I remembered the studying I hadn't finished. It weighed on my conscience; I felt like I hadn't been able to help her properly.
"Let's make up for the studying we missed today later," I suggested, hoping to at least offer that much.
Hearing this, Lee Sol gave a faint smile.
"We study together every day anyway. And finals are the week after next."
"...True."
I nodded, my expression stiffening. Now that I thought about it, she was right. There was no spare time left to "make up" for anything. We were already studying every day, and the exams were right around the corner.
When my face clouded with apology, Lee Sol let out a soft laugh.
— "...Should I try asking?"
Her Mini-Me fidgeted with its fingers, looking deep in thought. Then, after taking a deep breath, she continued.
"Instead... well, it's not exactly a replacement, but..."
"?"
I waited for her to finish.
"Summer vacation is coming up soon, right...?"
Lee Sol looked at me with nervous eyes—
*
Tick— Tock—
"..."
How much time had passed? I didn't know.
"..."
Ji Nuri lay sprawled on the club room sofa, simply blinking her eyes. Blink, blink.
Up, down, left, right. She moved her gaze slowly, tracing the patterns on the ceiling. After a long moment of silence...
"...Ah..."
A single word escaped softly from her lips.
I'm so bored!
She suddenly snapped out of her daze and screamed internally. She was incredibly, painfully bored.
I have absolutely nothing to do.
One might wonder why she wasn't studying for exams at a time like this, but she had finished all of that ages ago. Besides, Ji Nuri put more weight on her practical skills anyway. She had already finished everything she needed to do for the day, focusing on those areas.
And yet, there was still time left over.
...Lately, no one will play with me.
Ji Nuri was dissatisfied with that fact. Just look—there wasn't a single other second-year in the club room. Whether it was Shin A-young, Lee Sol, or Lee Seung-ho, they were all busy. They were in the middle of a hectic period.
It wasn't like she could go and pester the third-year seniors, either.
"Ugh... I got that one wrong too...?"
"The logic itself is correct, but it's a calculation error. Right here, this part."
Hearing the voices drifting from the inner part of the counseling office, Ji Nuri pursed her lips. The seniors were busy preparing for the CSAT. That was why she couldn't disturb them.
It was the same for the others. Final exams were looming.
Since everyone is working so hard...
Lee Sol, in particular, was visibly working herself to the bone, determined to see results this final. She was so diligent it made Nuri wonder if she'd ever seen her friend like that before. Lee Seung-ho was right there in the middle of it, helping her.
Shin A-young also seemed busy with filming.
"..."
As a result, Ji Nuri found herself alone after school more often lately.
Hmph.
Being alone was truly upsetting. She needed someone to talk to. With nothing to do, she ended up aimlessly scrolling through her phone.
As she was browsing Instagram...
"...Oh."
A certain photo caught Ji Nuri's eye.
[Fighting again today!]
It was a story posted by Shin A-young—a photo of a hand tightly gripping a dumbbell.
"This place..."
The gym visible in the background was a place she'd seen many times before. The location of the water dispenser, the air conditioner, and the placement of each piece of equipment... it was the gym she used to attend. She had quit after a short while, but she remembered it vividly because it was her first and last gym.
...Come to think of it, I received something last time...
Ah, there it is.
Searching through her phone's photo album, she found a picture of a one-day free pass she had taken a photo of before. The expiration date hadn't passed yet.
"Hmm..."
Ji Nuri's lips twitched as she looked at it. She didn't want to disturb anyone's studying, but this was the gym. It would probably be okay, right?
. . . . . .
"..."
Ji Nuri stopped in front of a commercial building. In the end, she had come to play. It might sound strange to say she was going to a gym to "play," but that was how bored Ji Nuri was. She needed a conversation partner.
...It's been a while since I've been here.
Since she rarely had a reason to come near here after quitting, the changed scenery felt fresh.
"Hmm-hmm."
Ji Nuri hummed to herself as she stepped into the elevator.
— Ding.
After a short wait, she stepped out on the floor where the gym was located. The view was the same as ever—a feast of equipment visible right from the entrance.
...But.
"?"
Ji Nuri spotted a girl hovering in front of her. She had short black hair and a face that looked familiar.
"...Seung-ah?!"
"Uh."
"It is you!"
Ji Nuri grabbed her hand, delighted to see her.
"Ah, wait, that's..."
The girl looked around restlessly, appearing flustered. Was something wrong? Lee Seung-ah seemed to be in a bit of a hurry.
Just as Ji Nuri began to wonder about it...
"Hey, Lee Seung-ah. What are you doing here?"
"Gah!"
Lee Seung-ho walked out from the entrance.
"You're not trying to run away again, are you?"
"No, it's not that..." Lee Seung-ah hurriedly pointed at Ji Nuri. "Look, I found Nuri-unni here...!"
"What?"
Lee Seung-ho's expression turned to one of pure absurdity.
"...Oh, what the."
Then his face shifted to surprise as he actually spotted Ji Nuri.
"Do you go here?"
Ji Nuri shook her head.
"...I thought A-young might be working out here. I just came to check it out because I was bored."
"...Hmm."
Lee Seung-ho nodded. His gaze said he had expected as much. At that "of course" reaction, Ji Nuri found herself getting annoyed in spite of herself.
"I do work out. I just don't go to a gym."
"Did I say anything?"
"..."
Ji Nuri shut her mouth. When he put it like that... he certainly hadn't said anything.
"If you're here to see Shin A-young, she's inside."
Lee Seung-ho pointed toward the back. Then he moved off, taking Lee Seung-ah with him. It looked like they were heading to another machine. Lee Seung-ah was dragged along as if she were being hauled away. For a split second, their eyes met, and Nuri could see the sheer sense of injustice in the girl's gaze.
"..."
Ji Nuri pointedly looked away. She walked inside with a light step, pretending she hadn't seen anything. Just as he had said, she found Shin A-young lifting dumbbells in the back.
"A-young, hi~"
Ji Nuri gave a light wave.
"Huh...?"
Shin A-young's eyes went wide mid-lift. For a moment, her eyelashes lowered slightly. Rather than joy or surprise, she looked almost flustered—and on guard.
Hmm?
Ji Nuri blinked. This wasn't the reaction she had expected.
"...Geez, you startled me."
Soon, Shin A-young greeted her with a bright smile. It must have been a simple misunderstanding.
Thud— Thud—
Shin A-young set the dumbbells on the floor and asked, "But how did you know I was here...?"
"I used to come here too. I recognized it immediately." Ji Nuri chattered away. "But are you two working out together?"
"It just kind of happened."
Ji Nuri nodded. Well, there weren't many gyms around here to begin with.
"But..." Ji Nuri's gaze swept over her from head to toe. "Your clothes... they're quite..."
They were a bit scandalous. To wear clothes that showed off her body so clearly... and to wear them so confidently in a place where a boy from her class was present. Was she not embarrassed at all?
"Th-this is what you're supposed to wear when you work out!" Shin A-young raised her voice, noticing Nuri's gaze. Even as she spoke, her face was strangely flushed.
"..."
Ji Nuri tilted her head. This was news to her.
"Look, everyone else is wearing stuff like this." Shin A-young gestured with her chin, telling her to look around the gym.
"...I guess you're right."
Most of the women in the gym were dressed similarly to Shin A-young. It seemed it wasn't that strange after all.
...Was I the only one wearing the rental clothes?
Since they offered to lend her clothes, she had naturally changed into them back then.
"Are you planning to start working out?" Shin A-young asked as she sipped a sports drink.
"I was thinking about it."
She felt like she'd gained some weight lately, and her shoulders were stiff. She had been debating whether she should start exercising.
...Though I've only been thinking about it.
She really should do it. Summer was coming soon, too. It was truly the time to start before it was too late.
"I'm planning to, if possible."
"I see...?"
Shin A-young nodded with a hum, her eyes quietly observing Ji Nuri.
"?"
Why was she looking at her like that? Ji Nuri awkwardly scratched her neck.
"...Then, since you're already here, should I teach you how to work out?"
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah."
"That would be great!"
Ji Nuri gave a bright smile. Wasn't this basically getting free personal training? This was why making friends was so important.
"Since it's your first day, I'll go easy on you."
Shin A-young smiled softly and sat her down at a machine. Ji Nuri warmed up with a confident face.
Let's work hard starting today...!
Burning with determination, she reached out her arms.
. . . . . .
The next day, Ji Nuri did not show up at the gym.
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(!Signpost!)
(Scroll down for AI illustrations!)
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(Ji Nuri in gym clothes)
(A better one)