Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Vacation Begins
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"Vacation isn't just about lounging around at home. It's about shifting the place of learning from school to your own house......... We wish you all a safe and enjoyable break."
"This concludes the end-of-term ceremony. All students in the classroom, attention! Salute to the principal!"
The unbearably dull—and twice-yearly—principal's speech finally wrapped up, marking the end of our high school's first semester.
"Haneul, good work!"
"Yeah, you too."
Seol-i and I exchanged our mutual "good job"s as we headed home together.
First, we stopped by her house to drop off her bag and all her stuff, then made our way to mine.
As Seol-i walked toward her place, she started peppering me with questions.
"Haneul, I've got something I'm dying to know!"
"What?"
"How do you snag so many subject excellence awards?"
Subject excellence awards—the prizes given to top-grade students in each class.
I'd racked up a whopping seven this semester.
Korean, math, English, integrated social studies, integrated science, Korean history, and PE.
An insane haul. Pretty much every subject under the sun.
"You got a bunch too, Seol-i."
"Yeah, but only Korean and English."
"And art?"
"Art doesn't count."
Seol-i pouted up at me, clearly full of gripes.
It was understandable. She'd missed first place in integrated social studies by just one spot.
Of course, math and science... well, it wasn't pretty, to put it mildly.
Her grades there were noticeably lower than in other subjects. Anyone could see Seol-i was a perfect liberal arts type.
"Guess I'm just destined for liberal arts."
"Yeah, looks like it."
Honestly, it did. She had way too many lit-loving vibes to go science track.
Not that she was bad at math and picking arts because she sucked—it was more like she crushed the humanities so hard compared to sciences that arts made sense.
Even at her "worst," she still pulled a 3 in math. Same for science.
That's closer to "good job!" than "failure." Solid work.
That's when a question popped into my head.
Seol-i aced her midterms and finals. So how the hell did she end up with 3s in math and science? At least a 2, right?
As that doubt bubbled up, I remembered a shocking truth.
...Right, she bombed her performance assessments.
I mentally patted myself on the back for not voicing that math/science mystery.
If I'd asked, "You did so well on the exams—how'd you get 3s?" she'd have been legally entitled to slap me twice. Might've even burst into tears.
Probably the tears, honestly. Seol-i's just too sweet for anything less.
I gave the bummed-out Seol-i some heartfelt praise.
"Seol-ah, you'll crush it next time for real."
"Next time?"
"Yeah, second semester."
"Of course I will...!"
She nodded firmly, clenching her little fist tight.
My friend—so cute, so cool.
*
We dropped her stuff at her house and headed to mine.
But when we got there...
"Huh?"
"No one's home."
The place was empty.
A bit surprising, but glancing at the time made sense.
It was 11:30 a.m.—Dasom's kindergarten pickup wasn't for another half hour.
"...Seol-ah, wanna just go grab Dasom today?"
"Sure?"
Her bright smile and nod melted me with gratitude.
I called Mom right away.
"Mom, Seol-i and I are home. We'll go pick up Dasom."
"Oh, would you? Then I'll grab some snacks on my way back~"
"Okay~"
I hung up and turned to Seol-i.
"She said thanks."
"Let's go!"
Seol-i bolted for the door. I chased after her.
As I finished slipping on my shoes...
-Whoosh!
Seol-i hugged me out of nowhere again.
So routine now that I just gently stroked her head.
"What, wanna hug again?"
"...Can't I?"
"Nah, you can. But..."
"I know, it's hot."
She pulled away from my arms.
A hint of regret flickered across her face... but honestly, I felt it too.
Hugging Seol-i is dangerous for my self-control.
Too addictive. Too soft. Too warm. Too plush.
Makes me feel like I'll lose it any second.
Warily reminding myself of that, I stepped out with her.
To fetch Dasom.
*
"Oppa! Unnie!!"
Dasom came sprinting toward me and Seol-i.
-Whoosh!
She crashed into my arms first, then flung herself at Seol-i.
-Rub rub
Even nuzzled cheeks with her.
Jealous. Jealous of Seol-i... and Dasom.
Envy that Seol-i gets to savor Dasom's squishy cheeks. Envy that Dasom can glomp Seol-i without a care.
...Wait, hold up. Shouldn't I not be jealous of Dasom? Even so, me hugging Seol-i freely feels off, right?
I shook my head wildly, banishing the lewd imp inside, and said to them:
"Let's head home quick."
"Okay~ Dasom, wanna go home with Oppa?"
"Yeah! Let's go!!"
We had no choice but to jog after Dasom's pattering sprint.
Our three-year-old short-legged Kang Dasom wasn't that fast, so it was more like a light jog...
"Dasom-ah... Unnie's tired..."
...but Seol-i's weak stamina wouldn't even allow that.
Nothing to be done. She's always been frail.
For her sake, I scooped up Dasom.
"Dasom-ah, Unnie's beat, so let's slow down a bit?"
"Yeah!!"
Giggling wildly, she beamed happily from my arms.
Yeah, fun times. Can't blame her—who wouldn't love a free lift from big bro?
But poor Seol-i over there must be dying. Forced jog in this heat.
...We barely did 100 meters and she's huffing? What kinda trash stamina is that?
Guess I'll force some exercise on her later. Studying's a stamina game too, surprisingly.
Lost in such idle thoughts, we got home to...
"Kids~ You back~?"
Mom waiting for us.
With tteokbokki ordered—Seol-i and Dasom's fave.
Sometimes I crave my own picks, but whatever.
Watching Dasom sparkle-eyed at the tteokbokki from my arms, and Seol-i beam through her exhaustion... my selfishness vanishes.
Plus...
"Your fave's for dinner, okay, son?"
Mom's got me covered too.
I'm truly blessed.
Living surrounded by love-filled family and friends.
*
Over tteokbokki, Seol-i, Dasom, and I heard about the trip plans.
"We'll head out next Wednesday, unpack right away, then free time after. But if you're going to the beach, tell us first. Got it?"
"Yes~"
"Yes...!"
"Yes~!"
We three answered in our own ways, listening intently...
...until Mom dropped a bombshell.
"But kids."
"Yes, Mom?"
"The place is short on rooms... Could one of you share with Dasom?"
"......Huh?"
Caught me off guard.
Turns out the private pension had only four bedrooms.
Two downstairs, two up.
Surprised, but I'd manage watching her.
"I'll bunk with Dasom."
"Thanks, Haneul. You're a lifesaver."
Mom nodded, and I nodded back.
"Haneul, I could watch her..."
"Nah, it's my job as bro. Dasom wants Oppa anyway, right?"
"Unnie...! Unnie...!"
"Hey now, Dasom."
"Ugh... Yeah..."
I steamrolled Dasom's protests and nodded lightly at Seol-i.
She loves Dasom tons, but bedtime duty's another story.
She got it, so no more protests.
Thought it'd end peacefully...
"Haneul... Haneul-ah..."
"...Seol-ah?"
Her sneaking in while I slept? That's a whole other thing.
Of course, that's future talk. I had no clue back then.