The Method to Break the Perfect Girl
Shwaaa—
I hurriedly twisted the shower faucet shut.
Sweeping back my dripping bangs, I held my breath and strained to listen toward the front door.
"Uh… who is it… unnie?"
Suah's voice, opening the door, carried thick bewilderment at the end.
Well, yeah.
She couldn't have imagined her midnight visitor would be the childhood friend from next door—her oppa's.
"Yeah, Suah. Long time no see. Is oppa…?"
Unlike her usual prickly, confident tone, Haeun's voice came out strangely cautious.
"Oppa? He's in the shower right now. Why, wanna come in and see?"
"Wh-what?"
I nearly slipped, standing naked in the bathroom.
What the hell is that crazy bitch saying, messing with someone's privacy?
Just try coming out—I'd fold you in half.
As I silently shot killing intent at my sister, a fake cough came from beyond the door.
"Ahem. Oh, really?"
"Just kidding! Unnie, what's up this late?"
"Oh, nothing much. Mom made some new side dishes and told me to bring some over for you to try."
The faint clatter of dish containers carried even to the bathroom.
Suah's energy shot straight to the heavens.
"Whoa, for real? Thanks so much, unnie! Tell auntie I'll eat well!"
"Yeah… I'll head out. Bring the empty containers back later."
"Okay! Oh, right. Unnie, wanna come in for a quick drink before you go?"
"No. Next time."
Clunk, slam.
Only after the familiar iron door shut did I exhale the breath I'd been holding.
'…She really came just to drop off side dishes?'
That cold expression she'd worn at the school gate earlier resurfaced, making it hard to buy it outright—but that wasn't the point right now.
The important thing was the dangerously thrilling new goal that had just sparked inside me.
"Ahem… who was that just now?"
I wrapped a towel loosely around my waist, shook water from the one on my head, and stepped into the living room.
Suah was lining up three containers on the table, humming a tune.
"Oh, oppa! Haeun unnie brought side dishes from next door's auntie. Look—braised burdock and beef!"
"Yeah, perfect with rice."
I replied indifferently, shook out my wet hair, and headed to my room.
"Huh? Oppa, no dinner?"
"Nah. Tired. I'll eat after a rest."
I shut the door on Suah's question and flopped onto the bed.
Wet hair soaked the pillow, but I had no time to care.
My gaze fixed on empty air, but my mind raced full throttle on how to target Baek Haeun.
'Haa… How do you even approach someone who doesn't see you as a romantic prospect at all?'
Show up with roses and confess? Insane.
She'd pin me with a contemptuous stare—"Lee Woojin's finally lost it"—and I'd be socially buried on the spot.
What I wanted wasn't just a girlfriend who liked me.
I wanted a Baek Haeun so broken to the core she couldn't function without me—clinging desperately.
For that, I had to wrench her gaze fully toward me first.
'…Maybe scour some communities. Might spark a clever idea.'
I fired up my phone and scrolled my usual anonymous board.
"……."
I read the post, sighed deeply, and flung my phone onto the bed.
"Pathetic losers. A truckload of guys lost in the same delusions as me."
Of course. What real-world crime… no, dating skills could I learn from basement-dwelling keyboard warriors?
I clasped my hands behind my head and glared at the ceiling.
Yeah, charging in blind was too tough.
Baek Haeun was worlds apart from me.
Always swarmed by people dying to befriend her, backed by thick teacher trust.
How was I supposed to pierce that ironclad social fortress and isolate her?
'Tough. Haeun's network is too wide, her rep too flawless. Even snagged a student council spot…'
The thought looped, then a certain rumor flashed through my mind.
Oh yeah—our homeroom teacher mentioned during end-of-day announcements a few days back.
Our class had a strong candidate for the second-semester second-year student council president election.
'Right. Haeun's running for school-wide president this time.'
Student Council President.
The face of the school—its lifeblood was impeccable conduct and reputation.
A glass tower position, hyper-aware of every gaze, fatal to even the tiniest blemish.
"Heh…?"
A chuckle slipped unbidden from my lips.
If she had no weaknesses, turn her precious perfect image into one.
The pressure and stress of the election, the subtle anxiety blooming within.
'This… might get way more fun than I thought.'
The fog in my head cleared, outlining a vile, low scheme.
I bolted upright.
Good mood hit, and sudden hunger pangs attacked.
Creeeak—
Opening the door, Suah—about to dig into the braised beef at the table—widened her eyes.
I plopped naturally across from her and snatched her chopsticks.
"Huh? Oppa said no dinner. And that's the meat I reserved…!"
I popped a piece into my mouth with a smirk; Suah wailed in injustice.
"Yours, mine—who cares, you punk. If oppa eats it, it's mine."
Delicious, this braised beef.
And soon… the sweet, perfect prey dropping right into my mouth.
"Okay, quiet down. Everyone to your seats."
Morning homeroom.
Our homeroom teacher tapped the desk with the attendance book corner, cleared his throat, and spoke.
"As you all know, next week is the second-semester school-wide student council president election. And proudly, Haeun from our class is a top candidate."
The teacher's gaze swung to Baek Haeun in the class center.
Haeun gave a light nod with her signature wrinkle-free smile.
The class nodded back as if it were obvious, some clapping.
Top grades, pristine conduct, overwhelming popularity.
A scene that drilled home Baek Haeun's unchallenged spot in the school ecosystem.
"But per election rules, she needs one dedicated helper from our class for campaigning. Any volunteers?"
The warm vibe chilled subtly the instant he finished.
Student council helper.
Sounded fancy, but it was grueling labor—picket duty at the gate at dawn, plastering posters across campus.
Even Haeun fans hated hassle.
Kids exchanged glances, dodging eyes; the teacher scratched his head awkwardly.
"Hmm, if no one, I'll pad your service hours in your record. If not, I'll just draw numbers randomly…"
"Teacher. Me."
Before he finished, I straightened from my lazy lean and raised my hand calmly.
The rowdy class froze like ice water dumped in.
Dozens of eyes snapped to me.
"Huh…? Uh, Woojin?"
Even the teacher looked flustered, caught off-guard.
The background extra guy who'd never cared about class stuff, suddenly stepping up.
But the teacher brightened, problem solved, and clapped.
"Sure, why not… I think you and Haeun have known each other since kids…? Should sync well! Woojin's the helper, then. Alright, let's make today great!"
The teacher rushed out the front; pent-up murmurs burst like a dam break.
"What? Why'd Lee Woojin volunteer? Aren't they not that close?"
"Nah, they hang around sneaky-like. I saw them sharing an umbrella after school yesterday."
"No way? Huge."
Amid the buzz, Choi Jia—Haeun's desk mate and crew core—grabbed Haeun's arm with a mischievous grin.
"Haeun~ You and Lee Woojin… something going on? Shared an umbrella yesterday? First time seeing him so proactive."
"No? Haa… so annoying."
Haeun swept back her flicking hair irritably and glared daggers at me.
I met her icy, contemptuous stare leisurely, propping my chin and gazing out the window.
Ding-dong-dang—
Break bell after first period; a heavy shadow fell over my desk.
"Hey, Lee Woojin."
Looking up, Baek Haeun loomed, arms crossed, staring down coldly.
Kids nearby slinked away, watching.
"What were you thinking raising your hand this morning? Don't tell me you're delusional from me sharing an umbrella yesterday to keep you dry."
"……."
I offered only a faint smile instead of words.
The silence grated her more; her brows furrowed nicely.
"Straight up: I pitied you. Don't butt in. During the election, just play dead. That's helping me. Got it?"
She spat the warning to shut me up and spun back to her seat without a backward glance.
Ding-dong-dang.
Second period bell rang in my ears.
I licked my lips, staring at Haeun's retreating back.
'…Got it, Haeun.'
If you want me quiet, I'll stay quiet.
But soon, when you're begging for my help… can you keep that attitude then?'