Chapter 8
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Mentor-Mentee (2)
"What did you say?"
In the academy's administrative office, I couldn't believe what I'd just heard. I asked the professor sitting in front of me again.
In response, the professor adjusted her glasses and calmly spoke up.
"Seo-ah, your math scores this time were too low, so you've been selected as a mentee in the mentor-mentee program."
She took a brief breath before sliding a sheet of paper toward me and adding,
"Usually, the problem is that no one wants to be a mentor, but you got lucky. A student who wanted to mentor you came forward first."
How the hell is this lucky?
I barely held back from shouting that out loud and took the paper the professor handed me instead.
Mentor-mentee program, blah blah blah.
It was clearly an official application form.
As I stared at it, a name I absolutely couldn't ignore slipped from the professor's lips.
"Ji-hyuk."
She gazed off into the distance for a moment before calling his name.
With a bad feeling, I turned around.
And there he was.
Cha Ji-hyuk approaching me with that infuriating smirk on his face.
"Hey."
"Hic...!"
As an indescribable sense of dread washed over me, the professor's voice reached my ears again.
"Ji-hyuk took first place on the midterms. Since a top student like him volunteered to tutor you personally, you should be grateful and study hard."
A reality I refused to accept.
Cha Ji-hyuk looked at me with an expression like he was dying of amusement and extended his right hand.
"Looking forward to working with you, Kang Seo-ah."
"Ah......"
...
After my vow on the sports field, I'd thought everything was going according to plan.
No matter how thick-skinned Cha Ji-hyuk was or how much he pushed, I could just ignore him.
What could he do? He had no way to force me.
Thanks to that, just as I'd predicted, the past two weeks had been easy to dodge him.
But now.
The situation had completely flipped.
"Kang Seo-ah."
Cha Ji-hyuk sat in front of me, calling my name.
For the record, this time I'd dragged a chair over and sat in front of his seat.
"You listening? If you keep spacing out, I won't write your confirmation form..."
"I'm listening."
Was it because I'd fled to the cozy embrace of the liberal arts in my previous life?
My abysmal math skills had tripped me up, turning me into a mentee.
In this system, mentees had no right to refuse.
You had to accept your mentor's tutoring until your grades improved.
And the mentor would write a confirmation stating you'd attended their session properly—something I had to submit to the professor every week.
What happens if you don't? You get warnings, and if they pile up, expulsion. This was an elite academy that wouldn't tolerate stragglers.
It was info I hadn't known because none of the erotic novel's characters were bad enough at studies to fail.
So now I was fully trapped, forced to watch Cha Ji-hyuk's moods.
"Look me in the eye when you talk, so I know."
He didn't hide his glee. It dripped from his voice, blatant and excited.
Through my thick lenses, I glared straight at him and crossed my arms.
"Happy now? Hurry up and start the lesson."
"Come sit next to me."
"You crazy? Just do it like this."
"How are you supposed to study with the book upside down? Drop the pointless stubbornness and come here."
Cha Ji-hyuk tapped the chair next to him twice.
He had a perfectly reasonable excuse.
To anyone watching, it wouldn't seem like a weird request at all.
"Hurry."
"Ugh, fine..."
At his low, insistent tone, I finally stood and sat in the chair beside him.
Keeping a little distance, of course.
"Closer."
"Why! I did what you said. It's fine from here—it's clear enough. Just start already."
This was one thing I wouldn't budge on.
Mentor-mentee sessions happened after regular classes, during after-school hours. And right now, the classroom was empty except for us two.
In a situation like this, having to sit next to that pervert... I needed this distance just to feel a bit less on edge.
Fortunately, Cha Ji-hyuk backed off this time.
"Sigh... Fine."
He handed me a few sheets of paper. Up close, I saw they were covered in math problems.
"First, I need to gauge your level. See what you can solve. I'll give you 30 minutes—do as many as you can."
His words about a level test made sense.
I nodded, convinced, and focused on the problems he'd given me.
Some were easy, others so baffling I had no clue even after reading them. Those I skipped or rushed through.
The ones that ate up time were the type I kinda knew but wasn't confident enough to say I fully understood.
As I wrestled with them, Cha Ji-hyuk's voice cut in.
"Stop."
Ah, 30 minutes already?
He took the papers from me and started grading.
Like falling rain, red marks poured down. A few right, but way more wrong.
"Good work. Let's call it for today."
He finished grading, straightened the papers with a tap, and tucked them into his bag.
I asked,
"Already?"
The professor had said sessions needed to be at least an hour.
It'd only been about 35 minutes...
"I need time to pick problems suited to your level and prepare the lesson."
His answer made sense, so I stood up, satisfied.
My schedule had suddenly gotten packed, delaying my way home. I wanted to get back even an hour earlier.
But.
"Where you going?"
Cha Ji-hyuk lightly tugged my wrist, stopping me.
"We're done, right?"
"We need a full hour."
He answered my question with a smile.
Realizing his intent, I scowled and shook off his hand.
Figures he'd been too quiet. No way this guy would let an opportunity like this slip.
"Then give me more problems."
"That was all of them."
"Then I'll just go home. Don't wake me."
"Class isn't over."
"You said we were done."
"That was just for solving problems."
"Hey!!"
I finally snapped at his wordplay and yelled.
How the hell did a guy like this score high enough to be a mentor? Was he cheating?
"Never done that."
"What?"
"'How does a jerk like this get top scores? Cheating?' That's what you were thinking, right?"
"...!!"
I flinched at how he'd read my mind.
"How'd you know? It's all over your face. How could I not notice?"
Once again, he answered my thoughts.
I covered my mouth with one hand.
"N-no, I never thought that, so don't assume."
"Got it. Now sit back down."
"No thanks? No problems left anyway, so why sit?"
"Kang Seo-ah."
I resisted his order, but he called my name with a firm gaze, making his intent clear.
In the end, I had no choice but to sit again.
"Trash bastard. Resorting to threats like this."
"Won't deny it. Honestly, I volunteered as your mentor aiming for this."
"Typical pervert move. Everyone should know about this."
Even as I cursed him, he kept smiling.
Then he asked me.
"Hey, why'd you avoid me?"
"W-what?"
"Don't play dumb. I thought we'd gotten closer, but two weeks ago, you suddenly put up a wall."
"When did I ever open up to you? That's your problem—assuming crap on your own."
"So why'd you avoid me?"
"Because I hate you."
I stepped back from him and shouted.
"I freaking hate you, but you keep clinging, so I dodged. Happy?"
But Cha Ji-hyuk just leaned in casually, closing the gap as I retreated.
"That's not it..."
"What?"
"If you really hated me, you'd just glare and ignore."
His face suddenly filled my vision.
"You wouldn't avoid me while being this aware of me."
"W-what nonsense! When did I ever—!"
I tried to sound nonchalant, but I couldn't hide my trembling voice.
And Cha Ji-hyuk didn't miss it.
He lifted the corner of his mouth ever so slightly, meaningfully, and asked lowly,
"Hey, you hiding something?"
My heart dropped.
Was I about to get found out? Or did he already know something?
Anxiety choked me. I hurriedly shoved his chest and backed away.
"N-no... I'm not!! What would I have to hide from you?"
"Who knows?"
And then Cha Ji-hyuk.
Shrugged at my words, stood up, and slowly approached me.
"D-don't come closer!"
I reflexively thrust out a hand and backed up.
I wanted to fling open the classroom door and bolt into the hall, but annoyingly, that way was blocked by him facing it.
He smirked like my resistance was laughable and ignored my plea to stop.
"You stop first, and I'll stop."
"N-no. You stop first!"
"Don't wanna."
The worst-case scenario flashed through my mind.
What if he came closer and ripped off my disguise?
Pinned me down and forced fluids from me?
That terror gripped my body. I couldn't stop backing away.
Soon enough.
-Thud.
"Ah...!"
My back hit a hard wall.
A quick glance back showed I'd plastered myself against the window.
Nowhere left to run.
With shaking eyes, I looked at Cha Ji-hyuk.
Fortunately, he'd stopped approaching too.
"Come here."
But before I could exhale in relief, he commanded lowly.
It was no different from telling me to walk into the tiger's den myself.
"No, you pervert bastard..."
I shook my head on reflex.
Cha Ji-hyuk tilted his head and said,
"Should I come to you? But if I do..."
He paused, then slowly curled up his lips.
"It won't end simply."
A threatening smile.
"Ugh..."
I had no choice.
I couldn't grasp exactly what "not simply" meant, but I knew if he came closer, the worst I imagined could happen.
All I could do was hope he'd keep his word and step toward him.
In the end, I took one step toward him.