Test Prep
Naturally, we secured first place in Class 1 of Gyeongju, making our Class 3 the overall champions.
So the last one standing, our class president, walked up to receive the first-place award plaque.
Of course, the real prize for our class wasn't the plaque itself.
"Hey, how much does first place actually pay?"
"Thirty, maybe? I'd still have money left even if I ate 10,000 won per person."
"Right? Then what do we do with it?"
"We'll settle the spending at the class meeting later. For now, let's all head home."
After the sports festival ended, Sia and I walked home side by side.
I had sent texts to the other two asking them to come along, but they turned us down.
"Seonghoon: Sorry, you two go have fun on your own."
"Donghyuk: ㅗㅗ"
Minseong was probably too busy to even reply.
So it was just the two of us riding the bus back.
We both had spare clothes in our bags, but Sia insisted on staying in her sports shirt.
I changed into the dress shirt I'd brought because I felt too embarrassed otherwise.
The bus was packed with first-years who'd just finished the sports festival and third-years who'd been cramming all day too.
We gazed at them with a bit of sympathy, wondering if we'd end up like that someday.
Yet Sia didn't get off even though we were already at her stop.
She'd usually get ready to get off one or two stops earlier. I asked curiously.
"Sia?"
"Huh?"
"We're almost at the stop. You aren't getting off?"
"Ah… Can we not go straight home? Want to walk around the city together today?"
"The city?"
Suddenly Sia wanted to go to the city.
"Yeah! Will it be okay?"
"Hmm…"
Well, it didn't really matter anyway…
"You aren't tired from the festival?"
She'd been super energetic all day, so I worried about her stamina.
"Of course not! My energy is endless!"
"Yeah… if you say so."
"Hehe!"
Well, since we'd decided to rest today anyway, hanging out with Sia sounded even better.
We passed her house and kept riding the bus. Finally we reached the city.
As we got off, the sky was still bright, but sunset would start in an hour or two.
"Where should we go?"
"Hehe, there's always one special place for days like this!"
"…Where?"
"It's a secret! Just follow me!"
Sia took my hand and led me straight to…
"…A photo booth?"
"Yep! It's tradition to come to a photo booth while wearing your sports shirt!"
"Aha…"
What Sia really wanted was to take photos at the booth.
We'd already done that at the festival, but of course I followed her without a word.
Inside the shop there were surprisingly few people.
Since we were in sports shirts, I pulled another one from my bag and changed in the nearby changing room.
I was still wondering if I should grab any props when…
"Siwoo! Wait a sec…!"
"Huh?"
She asked me to wait and then dashed off toward the changing room.
In no time she emerged.
"You…!"
"Hehe, how do I look?"
"You… when did you get a skirt…!"
Sia stepped out in a skirt.
"I'm wearing pants underneath, so don't worry. Let's go in!"
Sia grabbed my arm and pulled me into the photo booth.
"Hehe! Quick, strike a pose!"
I kept her company while she snapped plenty of photos.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
After the sports festival, what remained was the final exam.
"Uwaah~ finals are so annoying…"
The first-semester finals were still ahead.
Before the festival energy had even cooled, the dreaded exams hit and everyone was panicking.
During lunch, I hung out with Minseong, Seonghoon, and Donghyuk, drinking sodas.
Sia had stepped out for a quick errand.
"Seriously, why even take exams?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean, exams just check if you've been studying or not."
"Ri…ght?"
"So let's not. The Ministry of Education doesn't trust us, you know. I think that's wrong."
"During exam season?"
"Then students should study, right?"
"If you're a student, you should explore your career path for a bright future."
"What about studying?"
"Hey, I don't even know what I'll do yet! How can I focus on studying? In a meaningless void, I'd just wander aimlessly?"
"…Why do you sound so convincing?"
"Because it's true."
"See? Minseong, you think the same, don't you?"
"Yeah, totally."
"Hahaha! Ouch, my stomach hurts."
"……Crap… I almost puked on Seonghoon…"
Donghyuk got even more fired up.
"Hah! You're the one who says studying is great, you little nerd!"
But Minseong calmly fired back.
"No, that's not wrong. You just go home and play games instead of studying."
"That's just… stressing me out…"
"Who studies one hour and games three hours?"
Donghyuk stayed silent.
"Donghyuk, go play a game yourself."
"No matter how you look at it, you lost."
"……"
"Why the silence?"
"…I'm stunned speechless because it's true."
"Donghyuk's conscience is still intact!"
"What now?"
Seonghoon dodged Donghyuk like a pro.
This scene had been going on since middle school, and it felt precious to me.
As I watched Seonghoon being pinned in a headlock, I spotted Sia wandering far away.
I called her, but our eyes met instantly.
Sia bounded over at once.
"You finished early?"
"Yeah! What were you up to?"
"Watching the fight."
"Watching the fight? Ah…"
At those words Sia glanced at Donghyuk and Seonghoon, then nodded like she understood.
"What? Do I look like an idiot?"
"Because you're the idiot!"
"Wanna test that out?"
Sia laughed, clearly amused by the back-and-forth.
Meanwhile…
Minseong seemed a little uncomfortable.
He suddenly went quiet, and the mood turned awkward.
Sia probably sensed it too, but she didn't push.
I was starting to worry something was wrong between them, but there was nothing I could do.
Interfering might only make things worse.
"Sia, what do you want to eat?"
"…Hmm… yeah."
"I'll go first."
"Hey, buy me one too."
"I just got you a soda. I'm going."
"Okay, see you. Study hard and have fun on your date!"
"Until we match!"
"What about you, Jia?"
"Fufu… sounds good!"
I waved them off and we left together.
Walking down the hall toward the vending machine, I felt eyes on us.
Ever since the festival, everyone had known Sia and I were dating.
Before, when I posted a couple photo, people assumed I was wearing a fake boyfriend to hide our closeness.
But now, after the festival, with Sia cheering for me and everyone seeing her resting on my knee, the rumor spread.
The fake-boyfriend theory was completely debunked, and now everyone accepted we were really together.
Honestly, it felt strange.
As someone who hadn't even accepted her confession yet, I was happy there wouldn't be any more clingy guys around Sia, but it also made me wonder if we'd actually get married someday.
That casual joke earlier had hit close to home.
When I was little I'd thought inheriting my parents' company would be fine, but as I grew up and learned what my dad actually did, I started worrying if I'd even be capable.
So my heart was complicated…
"If Siwoo buys snacks, I'll buy drinks."
Looking at Sia beside me, the complicated feeling eased.
We bought snacks and drinks at the vending machine and headed back.
Suddenly Sia asked,
"Um… this weekend… are you free?"
"This weekend? Hmm… I don't have plans. Why?"
"I was thinking we could study together if you're free."
"Study together? We've always done that."
Now studying at her house had become routine, so I was confused.
"Not at home… I want to try a study café."
"A study café?"
Sia wanted to study at a study café.
I paused, thinking.
Honestly, studying at her house wasn't bad.
We'd done it for so long, and her mom never interrupted. Instead she brought fresh fruit or warm bread and cookies.
But suddenly wanting to try a study café… I wondered if there was a real reason.
"Well, it's fine, but why a study café?"
When I asked for the reason, Sia fidgeted.
"I always dreamed of going to a study café with you…"
My immediate answer was simple.
"Let's go right now."
Of course it was okay.
If Sia wanted to go, I would.