Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Daily Life #1
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Students go to school.
Even if they played hard on Saturday
and slept in lazily on Sunday.
When Monday rolls around, it's back to school like nothing happened.
But for someone as lazy as me, surprisingly, I have no complaints about the daily grind of school life.
Compared to my high school days in my previous life, the workload here is ridiculously light, which helps a lot.
Plus, it's a hobby—and probably my future career—that lets me draw to my heart's content, which is a big positive.
There are other little perks, like good facilities or the school being close enough to walk.
But the biggest advantage by far? Eye candy.
I'm a guy, after all. Seeing beautiful girls naturally lifts my mood.
Standing behind Yoon Jiu means pretty girls are clustered around from morning till the end of the day, so I'm drawing more and more jealous glares as time goes on.
Thud.
"Seo Ijin! Zoning out again?"
Oh no.
I got caught daydreaming.
Lifting my head, I see it's the math teacher.
He's got a receding hairline, and for some reason, he pays extra attention to me.
"You punk. Even if you're aiming for arts or sports, you still need the basics. You think you can slack off in high school after studying a bit in middle school and still ace tests while goofing around?"
The math teacher went on a full tirade after that.
...Like this, he has an inexplicable interest in me, enough to unload massive lectures.
Especially on me, while letting other arts kids sleep without a word.
Maybe he's venting his balding stress on me.
"Sorry, sir."
"Go stand at the back and listen to the lesson."
"Yes, sir."
No point arguing; it'd just tire me out, so I comply meekly.
I stand quietly without creaking the chair, set my textbook on the cubby, and lean against it.
"No leaning! Stand straight!"
"......Yes, sir."
Man, he's strict.
No choice but to stand ramrod straight, pretending to scribble notes from the book.
In my peripheral vision over the textbook, I see the kids looking at me with worry.
Just like the heroines, they're all kind-hearted.
"Eyes front, not on the back. We're moving on."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A little later, Yoon Jiu—who'd been dozing—ended up standing next to me too.
"Ugh. I don't even need to study."
Yoon Jiu whispered from beside me.
"Still, basics are basics, like the teacher said. If you wanna go to college."
"Do I even need college? I hear the Entertainment Club connections at Dawn High can get you straight into showbiz."
I-is that so?
Well, yeah. A lot of famous celebs on TV are Dawn High alumni.
Not just idols—PDs at networks and tons of industry folks too.
No wonder it's the hub of education in this country. And a key stage for this rom-com world.
Anyway, looks like Yoon Jiu's set on that path.
With a face like his, just pointing a camera at him would spawn fans.
The math teacher caught Yoon Jiu grumbling and chewed him out again, and soon the bell rang.
"Finish the practice sheets I handed out today by next class. The midterms will pull heavily from these, so do them all. Dismissed."
The teacher finished erasing the board, gave instructions, grabbed his book, and left.
The second he was gone, I leaned against the cubby.
"Ow, my legs are killing me."
I could see Yoon Jiu rubbing his numb legs.
Standing for 30 minutes with nothing to lean on had my legs tingling too.
Wish this ridiculously high-spec body made stuff like this hurt less.
"Jina! Jiu! You okay?"
Lee Sea came over right after the teacher left, looking worried.
"Yeah. Didn't expect him not to let us sit at all."
"The math teacher really seems to have it out for you two."
Hong Yeonseo, who'd come with Lee Sea, leaned her chin on the cubby next to me and said so.
So it's not just me.
"You think so too?"
"It's obvious. Everyone in class knows."
Lee Soyun followed Hong Yeonseo, puffing her cheeks as she approached.
"For real. Why's he like that?"
"Hey, use polite language."
Hong Yeonseo teased back playfully, but her expression wasn't exactly friendly toward the math teacher either.
After chatting a bit and shaking out our numb legs, I returned to my seat.
"I wasn't paying attention, so fair enough. Can't argue."
No argument, but it still sours the mood a little.
Hope he loses another 50 hairs in the shower tonight.
......Too harsh?
Still, thanks to him, I guess...
My head's wide awake from standing in the back.
Classes resumed, and the noisy room quieted again.
This one's...
English, taught by our homeroom teacher.
I'd seen her this morning, but she still burst in energetically with a greeting.
Thanks to the math teacher, my freshly awakened mind let me focus on the lesson.
"Alright, let's read passage A-1. Hmm... Seong Yurin, you read it."
Scraaaape.
Seong Yurin stood, her gorgeous blonde hair cascading down her shoulders.
She picked up her textbook and read the passage fluently, showing native-level English skills.
After sitting amid envious stares from the class, the teacher praised her in awe.
"Yurin's pronunciation is excellent. You studied abroad as a kid, right?"
"Yes."
Seong Yurin nodded calmly, and the kids' eyes sparkled at the new info—ooh.
She usually kept a low profile, so even I hadn't known.
"Yurin's family is loaded, she's pretty... aces studies, sports, English... Ugh, she's too perfect."
Lee Soyun muttered enviously, staring at Seong Yurin.
Then she whipped her head toward me.
"What do you think, Jin?"
"Huh?"
"About Yurin."
"What about her... Just a friend?"
Nothing more, nothing less between us.
"Friend..."
Lee Soyun mulled over the word.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Haaah."
I stretched to loosen my stiff body from sitting too long.
"What're we having for lunch today?"
"Burgers?"
Lee Sea and Yoon Jiu had turned around, arms draped over mine and Lee Soyun's desks.
"I'm down for burgers."
Remembering it had been ages since my last burger, I sided with Yoon Jiu.
Convenient since there's a fast-food spot on campus.
"Hurry or we won't get seats."
Hong Yeonseo strolled over, hands in her jacket pockets, and pressed down on my shoulder with her arm.
"Then let's go. Why push?"
"Just 'cause. Hehe."
I stood with a light push, and she yielded softly, ending up beside me.
The moment I rose, the others swarmed to my sides and back like they'd been waiting.
I walked to Seong Yurin, still jotting notes, and tapped her shoulder.
"Seong Yurin, lunch? We're doing burgers."
"Oh, just a sec... Nah, I'm coming."
She glanced between her notebook and me, slotted a pen in it, closed it, and followed.
As we left the classroom, I asked casually.
"If you had more notes, we could've waited."
The others nodded.
"No need. I remember it all. I'll finish after lunch."
......She remembers everything. Impressive.
We nodded and headed to the campus fast-food joint.
Walking in a pack like this, we look like some delinquent crew.
......Even the first-years are stepping aside.
I nudged Yoon Jiu, trailing behind, to the front.
"You lead."
He tilted his head questioningly but took the lead obediently.
On the way to lunch, a sudden doubt hit me.
"......You've had burgers before, right?"
"O-of course."
Seong Yurin waved off the suspicious stares from everyone.
She added quickly.
"For the record, fast-food ones, not homemade!"
Her rare outburst showed she was really miffed.
"Pfft, kidding."
Lee Sea calmed her down.
The long-overdue burger was delicious.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Jina."
"Yeah."
On the way to club activities after school, Lee Sea caught up and stopped me.
"You free after club today?"
"Uh... yeah?"
Her face lit up with a beaming smile as she approached.
"Come to my place for dinner then?"
"Dinner? Sure, but why the sudden invite?"
"Yeah. I'm in the Cooking Club, right? Wanna test a recipe I learned. You always eat alone anyway."
Since my parents left for another province, like she said,
dinner was either quick bites or takeout, so home-cooked sounded great.
"Fair enough. Sure, after club at yours?"
Our parents—mine, Lee Sea's, and Yoon Jiu's—were practically family thanks to our trio's bond.
We used to pop in and out freely in elementary and middle school.
Now that we're teens, we don't barge in casually.
"Let's go together. I'll wait if I finish first."
"Got it. I'll text."
"Okay! Not just today—come often for dinner. You're home alone, right? Mom's been bummed you haven't visited."
"She has? Alright, I'll drop by when I feel like it. Too often would be a bother."
I had no idea why Lee Sea's mom would miss me.
But if Lee Sea says so...
"No! She'd love you every day. Me too."
Can't mooch daily. I've got pride...
A childhood friend heroine who drags her lonely friend home for dinner.
Where else would you find an angel like this?
Today, I'm glad I stay tight with Yoon Jiu.