Chapter 14
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Results (1)
The final exam, prepared for over two and a half months.
That day had dawned.
The moment I stepped into the classroom, I could feel the chilly yet strangely heavy atmosphere.
It was immediately clear how seriously everyone in the class took this exam.
When I first possessed this body, I never imagined I'd get swept up in this kind of vibe too...
I shook off the stray thoughts, sat down at my desk, and quietly took a deep breath.
The exam would span two days.
Math, where I'd scored a failing grade on the midterm, was today.
And today,
if I failed again in this subject, I'd lose that bet.
Which meant I'd have to stare at Cha Ji-hyuk's awful face all vacation long.
'No way in hell.'
I gritted my teeth and opened the textbook.
With Cha Ji-hyuk's help and my own efforts over time, I'd barely caught up on the material.
I quickly reviewed the problem types I often got wrong, solved a few easy ones to warm up my brain.
That's when it happened.
"Kang Seo-ah."
A voice calling my name, and Cha Ji-hyuk approached.
The face I'd seen to death over the past two months.
He still wore that leisurely smile unique to him.
"How's the prep going? Ready?"
He sat in the desk in front of mine and chatted so naturally.
...After today,
I wouldn't have to see sights like this anymore.
"Don't bother me. Scram."
I shot back half-heartedly and turned back to my workbook.
I had no bandwidth to deal with Cha Ji-hyuk right now.
Even though I'd always told him I was confident, the truth was I was anxious too.
"Bothering? What kind of disciple talks to their master like that?"
Master and disciple... I hated being tied to him like that, but I had no comeback.
"If that's not bothering, what is?"
"I'm just asking my disciple if there's any final wisdom I should impart before the exam."
"I don't need it. Get lost."
"Heh heh. Should've taught you manners before math. My mistake."
"Ugh, seriously...!!"
Having finally drawn the reaction he wanted from me, Cha Ji-hyuk chuckled and stood up.
"Do your best. Don't stress too much."
He wiped away the playful vibe from moments ago and offered calm encouragement.
Those words hit me, and after feeling his sincerity over the past two months, I muttered so softly he couldn't hear.
"...You too."
**
The bell for first period rang, and the proctor entered.
Time to distribute the exam papers and OMR sheets according to procedure.
With all preparations done, I waited for the start bell while reaffirming my goal one last time.
The test was out of 100 points: 50 problems, 100 minutes time limit.
15 one-pointers, 15 three-pointers, 20 two-pointers. My target wasn't a perfect score but just enough to pass—40 points.
So, I'd skip the three-pointers. They took too long, no guarantee I'd get them right.
Didn't I study hard?
This skill had been stuck at middle-school level. Raising it short-term was the best I could do.
No matter how hard I pushed, the road ahead was too long.
Gaps here and there were inevitable,
and with no time, I'd ignore the last unit I hadn't studied yet.
So my plan was:
Nail 12 one-pointers and 12 two-pointers on my own.
That secures 36 points. Bubble the rest in a pattern, and even with bad luck, I'd clear 40.
The bell rang as I finalized my thoughts.
Exam start.
I gripped my pen with grim resolve.
.
.
.
.
"Uwaaah..."
After the final bell and submitting my OMR sheet, I flopped onto my desk with a groan.
Math, which had tanked me into becoming Cha Ji-hyuk's mentee with a fail on the midterm, and two other subjects where I'd easily passed.
The first day of finals, three subjects total, was finally over.
Tense from morning, brain wrung dry—didn't even move much, but my body felt utterly drained.
"Home... gotta get home..."
Math bet was done. Now I'd indulge in all the cultural activities I'd skipped.
Two more subjects tomorrow, but I was confident I'd pass those comfortably, so no big worry.
Plan: race home, flop into my warm bed, roll around.
But first, one thing to check.
Namely:
"Come out and check your scores."
Confirming today's math score.
OMR sheets, first-period test—results were already out.
I stepped forward, grabbed the sheet with my name, and returned to my seat.
"Aargh!! Why's 19 the second answer?!"
"Told you, right?"
"Haa... screwed."
"Hahaha!! Nailed 27, sweet."
The classroom a madhouse of joy and despair over scores.
I tried to check mine quietly amid the chaos...
"Kang Seo-ah, what's your score?"
Then Cha Ji-hyuk called me.
Ghostly timing, really.
"About to check. What's yours?"
Some knee-jerk defiance kicked in—I asked him first before revealing mine.
"Messed up this time. Got two wrong."
And I regretted it instantly.
Damn jerk.
What? 'Two' wrong means you 'messed up'?
I glared daggers, and he shrugged before eyeing the paper in my hand and getting to the point.
"Let's see it."
Then he casually sidled up beside me, leaning in like he'd check together.
...My heart raced for no reason.
I gripped the paper with both hands and slowly unfolded it.
The answer sheet showed dots for correct, my bubbled numbers for wrong, and at the far right...
50.0
50 points. Well over the 40-point pass line.
"Kyaa!! You see that?!"
I couldn't hold back a shriek and looked at him.
Cha Ji-hyuk, staring at my score in surprise.
His reaction hyped me more—I bounced on my toes, shoving the score sheet in his face.
"50 points!! Fifty!!"
50 points.
Someone else might scoff, but not for me.
To the girl who couldn't even understand the first problem on midterms and just bubbled a line—50 was a massive leap.
Cha Ji-hyuk alternated between my score and my reaction, grinning, then held out his palm in congrats.
"Congrats. You really nailed it."
I slapped my hand into his without hesitation.
Clap.
"See? What'd I tell you? Said if I put my mind to it, I do it!!"
Joy at the score rise mixed with the thrill of shutting up the guy who'd doubted me.
Unable to contain the excitement, I yelled at him.
Happiness and fulfillment surging.
Cha Ji-hyuk watched me lose it and laughed like he couldn't stop me.
"Yeah... you really did it..."
But his smile soon turned wistful.
"Kinda bummed, but a bet's a bet..."
He averted his gaze briefly, then looked back at me.
"Sorry for being a pain all this time. Promise, no more from now on..."
"Huh...?"
"Don't get mad I lost the bet but still talk to you? Least I can do is say goodbye?"
He forced a grin.
But it wasn't the Cha Ji-hyuk smile I knew.
"Always liked watching you work hard. Kinda stings it was just to ditch me... but yeah, congrats again. For real."
And then.
"See ya. We'll probably keep seeing each other around, but if not now, I never will."
With that, he turned away.
"Ah..."
His retreating back—I reached out into empty air without thinking.
A hollow ache bloomed in my chest.
The joy from moments ago? Gone.
Why?
Wasn't this the moment I'd hoped for?
Him not approaching me at all.
I'd restarted math, given up free time, met him weekends—all to win that bet.
"But why..."
My heart wouldn't settle.
I was thrilled, for sure.
Passed with room to spare, thrilled to show him.
But now, with his farewell and him leaving...
"No..."
I shook my head hard.
Just tired.
Mistaking gratitude for something else.
Sleep it off at home, head'll clear.
Then back to my old routine.
"Everyone checked? Head out now. Exams aren't over—stay sharp."
Homeroom ended with dismissal.
Classmates streamed out en masse.
Familiar scene.
I'd watched it with Cha Ji-hyuk every day.
Once they left, we'd always start studying together.
But now he was one of 'them'.
And I was left alone in the classroom.
Crumple.
My grip tightened on the score sheet involuntarily.
I didn't get why I felt this way.
But one thing was crystal clear.
I hated this situation.
I bolted from my seat and ran.
Out the door, down the hall, stairs, out the building, through the gate—and spotted Cha Ji-hyuk's back.
I ran again, yelling to stop him.
"Hey! Cha Ji-hyuk!"
He heard, stopped, turned.
I caught up, panting hard.
"Huff... huff..."
"Kang Seo-ah?"
He called my name in confusion at my heaving breaths.
Yet he just said my name and clammed up—probably the promise. It irked me oddly.
"The bet..."
"Yeah?"
Breath too short for words.
I caught it, then spoke.
"The bet... I... huff... I'll take the loss."
"What?"
"11 one-pointers, 11 two-pointers. Ones I actually solved."
He questioned, but I pressed on.
"The other 17? Lucky guesses. So..."
Straightening up, I met his eyes dead-on to convey my intent.
"I lost the bet. My real score's 33."