Chapter 10
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Bet (2)
"A bet?"
I echoed his suggestion.
"Yeah. On whether you'll pass the finals or not."
As he spoke, he subtly tried to close the distance between us again.
I backed away just as much as he advanced.
"No thanks."
"Why not?"
"You'll just get in the way of my studying."
"I'm not that much of a jerk."
"You totally are. You jerk."
A brief silence followed.
Maybe I'd gone too far? I turned my head slightly to glance at him.
He was still looking at me with that sly grin.
"How about this? During class time, I won't bother you at all—no unnecessary jokes, no pointless approaches."
"..."
"Just studying during class. And I'll only answer what you ask."
He raised his palm as he added,
"If I break it, I lose. That shouldn't count as interfering, right?"
I stopped the pen on my paper.
With those terms, I could focus on studying without his distractions for the rest of the time.
The last fifteen minutes after forty-five of class had felt like him indulging his own interests anyway, which always soured my mood. Hearing him say he'd stop that made it a tempting offer.
But nothing in this world comes free.
"What do you want?"
I was dying to know what this guy was after with this proposal.
"Hmm... a wish coupon?"
"Get lost."
Of course. Typical from this sleazy bastard.
After hearing the stakes, I turned back to my problems.
"Aw, come on. You said you were confident."
"..."
"Not so confident after all? Getting cold feet?"
"That won't work. Give it up."
Cha Ji-hyuk tried his lame provocations, but I didn't bite.
It wasn't a lack of confidence. I just didn't know what he'd demand as his wish.
You can't let momentary emotions lead you to stakes you can't handle.
"Isn't that just admitting you're not confident?"
"Shut up, you perv."
But Cha Ji-hyuk was persistent.
"Fine, how about this? We keep doing these sessions during break too. And for midterms next semester, I'll make sure you pass."
When his first tactic flopped, he switched up the stakes.
"Just tell me to drop dead instead."
I rejected it flatly again.
Seeing his face during break too?
The mere thought was horrifying.
"Why? It's not bad for you either."
True, it sounded fine on paper.
He was offering to help me study even during break for my grades.
But.
"Just studying then too?"
"..."
"Sigh."
His silence said it all. I shook my head and put more distance between us.
"I won't deny I have feelings for you, but..."
Cha Ji-hyuk paused a beat before continuing.
"Just win the bet. You said you were confident, right?"
"..."
His words left me speechless.
Like he said, I just had to win.
And unlike before, I knew exactly what the price would be.
In the end.
"Fine, let's do it. But if I win..."
Decision made, I told him what I wanted.
"Don't act like you know me anymore. No talking to me, no approaching me. Treat me like I don't exist."
"Completely?"
"Completely."
A short silence.
Cha Ji-hyuk stared at me before curling his lips up.
"Harsh."
"Then forget it."
He thought for a moment, then straightened in his chair.
"Deal. If I win, we meet three times a week during break, two hours each time."
"What? That's too much. Make it two."
"Gotta balance the stakes. And I told you—just win."
More provocation.
I smirked.
"Okay. Don't whine when I win later."
"You neither."
"I keep my word."
"Lucky me."
Cha Ji-hyuk extended his hand casually.
"So, it's on?"
The hand in front of me. I shook it.
And so, the bet with Cha Ji-hyuk began.
.
.
.
"Good work."
A few days after accepting his bet.
I kept receiving his mentoring as before,
and true to his word, Cha Ji-hyuk stuck to the essentials in class, teaching me diligently.
Hand out problems, explain when stuck, answer questions, then let me solve alone. Repeat.
That was it.
I'd expected half-assed effort since the bet was on, but honestly, it surprised me.
Different from the original story—his seriousness stood out more now.
"Wanna grab dinner together? My treat."
Of course, once class ended, he reverted to the Cha Ji-hyuk I knew.
Should've made it no unnecessary approaches ever, not just in class...
"Eat alone. I need to go home and review."
I swallowed my regret and turned him down.
With the bet on the line, I had to focus—no wasting time like this.
"You study better on a full stomach."
"I'll eat plenty at home."
"Aw, man. I'm starving after teaching hard, and no one to eat with."
He clasped his hands behind his head.
"So lonely. Not asking for much..."
"..."
Normally, I'd snap, "Then why'd you offer to mentor?" But the words wouldn't come.
Maybe because I could feel his genuine effort in helping me grow, intentions aside?
"...Fine."
"Huh?"
"Let's go! You said you'd study better full, right? Just 30 minutes, got it."
"Roger. To the best spot quick, since milady's studying."
He grinned at my prickly response and led the way.
Was it really okay to treat him like this?
"What a weird guy..."
I muttered, following behind.
.
.
.
Cha Ji-hyuk took me to a street food joint.
It felt just like the old shop by my elementary school, scooping tteokbokki into cups.
Said we needed something hearty, but a snack bar?
The thought crossed my mind, but since it was free, I sat quietly.
Cha Ji-hyuk sat across from me. As we settled, a middle-aged woman approached.
"Ji-hyuk! You're here?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Oh dear, you look skinnier every time. You eating properly?"
"Starved just for your massive tteokbokki."
"Hoho, you rascal. Can't have that—eat hearty! Who's this with you?"
He chatted with the owner like old pals.
After greetings, she asked about me.
Most adults would've teased, "Girlfriend?" seeing a boy bring a girl. Not her.
Probably my current look.
Couldn't blame her—everyone here seemed to rate Cha Ji-hyuk's looks highly, figuring we didn't match.
I upgraded my disguise skills in my mind.
"Yeah, my closest friend. Ma'am, tteokbokki for two, one sundae, one mixed fritters, please."
He ordered with needless chit-chat.
The owner nodded and headed to the kitchen.
"Come here often?"
"Not long since I found it, but totally hooked. You'll be amazed too."
Doubt it...
I'd never been big on tteokbokki even in my past life.
I swallowed the thought and nodded silently.
"How's studying alone going?"
He shifted topics.
A study question.
"Eh... okay."
But my mind wandered to home time.
Staring at the same line over and over on "simple" problems.
Even peeking at answers, no clue where I went wrong—just rolling my pen.
I'd ask him next class and fix it,
but alone, that frustration lingered.
"Send pics anytime you're stuck, remember?"
My face gave it away again...
I covered my mouth, replying.
"Trying to solve solo as much as possible. Leaning on you every time defeats the purpose."
"Fair, but you're cramming concepts now. To avoid failing finals, no time for solo struggling."
"..."
Couldn't argue.
Progress was way behind; evenings stuck meant crawling pace.
He eyed my covered mouth, then handed me a Post-it.
010-XXXX-XXXX.
His number from before.
"Don't toss it this time."
Serious tone, no joking.
The mood loosened my lips.
"Don't you... want me to fail...?"
The doubt nagging since days ago.
Bet or not, why teach so earnestly?
Not interfering was the deal, but to win, he could slack.
He mulled my words, then spoke slowly.
"If you failed... yeah. But winning means I couldn't hang with you anymore."
"Then... why..."
"But... it'd be nice if you succeed too. Seeing you hit passing and smile. Pride in teaching you."
"..."
I couldn't speak.
A sour ache tugged my throat.
He saw my face, then dropped the seriousness with a smirk.
"Of course, I'll still win the bet. I don't lose on purpose. So no worries about not seeing me. Plenty during break."
Back to teasing.
Normally I'd snap, but oddly, no urge.
Just a small,
smile.
Soon after.
"Here you go. Tteokbokki for two, sundae one, fritters one—odeng on the house."
"As expected, ma'am. Beauty matches generosity."
Food arrived.
She laughed at his cheek and left; I echoed a quick thanks, grabbing tteokbokki.
...
Strangely,
it was so good I cleaned the bowl.
.
.
.
After dinner with Cha Ji-hyuk, I tackled the workbook he gave.
My skills had improved—more rights than wrongs now.
But tough ones remained.
Stumped even after answers, I pulled a Post-it from my pocket.
"Don't toss it this time."
His voice echoed in my head.
I hesitated, pen paused.
I'd ignored him on stuck problems, tossed his number every time.
Simple reason: Didn't want more entanglement.
Texting meant he'd save my number.
But now... did I need to guard so hard?
I still didn't want deeper ties.
But to avoid that, I needed to pass finals for the win.
Losing meant break hell.
Winning? Number didn't matter—he'd ignore me, or block as last resort.
"It's... all for the exam..."
I muttered, snapping a pic and sending it.