#23 - She's Watching Over My Studies
I'd brushed off Im Lua's words about making sure I studied during exam season, but unfortunately, it seemed she was dead serious.
"Where'd you study today?"
Her question hit me right after she'd scolded me for slacking off yesterday, when I'd crashed hard since there was no Lulu stream.
"……Didn't study."
"You said you'd give it a try."
"I did try."
"Did you even open a book?"
"……."
With nothing to say, Im Lua let out a light sigh.
"You gonna actually try this time?"
"Yeah… I'll try."
"For real?"
"For real."
Part of me was grateful she cared that much, but that intense look in her eyes bruised my pride a bit.
Before, I probably wouldn't have felt my pride stung, or even noticed her concern.
But after those recent events, I'd gotten way closer to Im Lua than in the past.
Close enough that we could actually call ourselves friends now.
How could I not care about her?
"…I'll really study, so don't look at me like that."
I protested against her piercing gaze, and only then did she giggle and nod.
"Okay, I'll believe you."
"Thanks."
"You should be grateful. Put in more effort."
"Yep."
Im Lua flashed a small smile before turning back to her book and diving into her studies.
Watching her, I naturally took in her posture too.
It screamed "this is what a model student looks like."
No hunching like so many modern folks get, just a slight tilt of the head, and every now and then she'd roll her neck to loosen up.
It was the picture of perfect discipline—made me think, this is living right.
Im Lua, you're seriously impressive.
Maybe it was natural for that to sting my pride?
……No dice. I tried hypnotizing myself into thinking that way, but it didn't stick.
Im Lua wasn't some distant "impressive model student" anymore—she was my model student friend.
You don't let your pride get hurt by a friend.
So today, for the first time in forever, I planned to actually focus in class.
I'll show her concentration that'll blow her away.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
…That was ten minutes ago.
Class started, and like always, I tried to zone out on reflex.
Seeing Im Lua studying snapped me back, and I tried switching to study mode, but damn, it's not easy.
Really not easy.
*
By the next break, I caved a little to Im Lua.
"…Help me out."
"With what?"
"I can't focus in class at all."
"Ah…."
She nodded, getting it right away.
"Focusing in class is a habit too, so your old habit of tuning out is getting in the way."
"Feels like it…."
"Hmmmmm…."
Im Lua rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought.
Maybe it's weird to say, but that pose suited her cool, intellectual vibe perfectly—I nearly clapped without thinking.
Nice restraint on my part? Good job, me.
While I was patting myself on the back, she shared her idea.
"Try this: just focus on listening to the teacher for now."
"Just the teacher?"
"Yeah, make an effort to hear what they're saying. That's step one."
She made it sound simple, but honestly, even that felt tough.
Could I really do it? Just catching everything the teacher says didn't seem easy.
But it was her considered advice, so I'd give it a shot.
"Got it, I'll try."
"Yeah, you got this. Fighting!"
Her bright smile and tiny clenched fist even stirred up some guilt in me.
"…Yeah, thanks."
I thanked her from the heart.
To her, I was a friend first, but probably a delinquent too—a total slacker with zero interest in class.
Nagging one to study or actually helping when asked isn't easy.
Expressing gratitude for her doing it sincerely? That's just basic human decency.
Alright, let's do this. What's the worst that could happen?
*
After school, Im Lua sidled up and asked,
"How was class today?"
"……My head hurts."
"Head hurts?"
"Yeah, first time listening that hard."
"You got it all?"
"Probably… felt like I actually studied, anyway."
She beamed and reached up to pat my head.
"Good boy~"
Her small hand ruffling my hair made my chest tickle in a weird way.
Before, I'd have swatted it away with a "what the hell," but now I was too flustered to react.
"You probably didn't get everything yet, right?"
"…Yeah, just kinda took it in."
"Can't be helped—you've got no foundation."
She tapped her phone and said,
"I sent you something. Read it over since you listened today."
"Huh? What's that?"
"Pics of my summary notes. All the basics from today's lessons are there—should help it click. Math… we'll need to do problems separately."
"You can just send that?"
To anyone at school trying to boost their grades, Im Lua's notes were like a legendary masterpiece.
She's top of the class, top of our humanities track—probably top of the whole first-year too.
Those notes were gold.
But she just shook her head like it was nothing.
"No big deal?"
"Nope, not at all. It's my notes—my call how I use 'em."
It was so matter-of-fact, I was thrown.
"…Yeah, fair enough."
I nodded, and she giggled.
"Jinwoo, you're such a dummy."
"Dummy, huh."
"…Not a dummy."
"You just said dummy."
"Dummy-like, not dummy."
We devolved into childish bickering, poking and prodding at each other.
One thing it made clear: Im Lua had zero prejudices about me.
I was the only one with them.
Meaning the biggest reason we'd grown apart? That was on me.
Me, thinking she was some changed person, from a whole other world.
Funny thing—even now that I realized it, I still saw her that way.
She's way better than someone like me. No one could argue that.
*
I checked out the summary note pics she'd sent—perfectly focused shots with everything from today's classes.
"…Why'd I even bother listening today?"
Just memorizing these would've made class pointless.
And her handwriting? Super round, pretty, neat—easy to read too.
The more I looked, the more perfect she seemed.
"Two hours till Lulu's stream…."
Lulu went live at 8, it was 6 now.
Two hours left.
Normally, I'd never— I'd be on Newtube managing comments, hearting stuff, playing games.
But after this? Couldn't just blow off studying.
"…Seo Jinwoo, you're turning into a real person."
Muttering to myself, I grabbed a pen.
-Click click
Pressed it, but the ink was dried up—too long since I last wrote.
I got up and headed to my brother's room next door.
-Knock knock
"Yeah~?"
I opened the door right after his reply.
As a college kid in exam season, he was hunched over his desk, studying hard.
"Jinwoo, what's up?"
"Bro, got any spare pens?"
"Pens? Why?"
"Wanna study, but mine's dead."
His face twisted in shock—like, you? Studying?
"……Studying?"
"…That a problem?"
"Nah, no problem. Here."
He handed me a black pen, a red one, and a blue one.
"Good luck."
He didn't pry, just encouraged me.
Times like this, not teasing meant my studying was that shocking.
…Yeah, it is.
With that resolve, I headed back, pen in hand.
Since I'm studying, might as well do it right.