Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Group Project
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"Senior, did you hear?"
As the lecture ended and I was stuffing my laptop into my bag, the girl sitting next to me spoke up. Looking at her face, she was that sophomore who'd called me her back-row buddy. Her name was... Han So-hye, right?
Did we have the kind of relationship where we'd chat naturally like this? The question popped into my head, but I couldn't exactly ignore her.
"Hear what?"
"Huh? You really didn't hear?"
"I said, what?"
"The group project announcement."
"Group project?"
I had no recollection of it. No need to listen, either. If anything important came up during lecture, it'd be posted on the course homepage anyway.
But So-hye wagged her index finger side to side, lecturing me like a teacher.
"Senior, that's no good. College students have to keep an ear out for the professor's words even when they're dozing off face-down."
"Well, for starters, you shouldn't be sleeping..."
What, and I'm any better, messing around on my laptop?
"But why's that?"
Why was this girl telling me about it?
We weren't exactly close. Hell, we weren't even acquaintances. We'd just talked once.
At my question, So-hye blinked and replied.
"The professor said to form groups of two to three people. And that we need to learn collaboration and code version control, so no solo projects allowed."
What a pain of a professor.
I'd had a similar experience in my second year. I'd ignored the warnings to form a group and handled the whole project alone.
Then the professor grilled me on why I hadn't joined one, and I had to pull off that humiliating act, head bowed low, mumbling, "I don't... have any... friends..." Ugh, my head hurts just thinking about it.
"So?"
I shook off the dizzying trauma and asked. So-hye rested her chin in her hand and tilted her head slightly.
"So?"
"Huh?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm saying we should do the project together."
So-hye covered her mouth and chuckled.
"You and me?"
"Yep."
"Why?"
I asked, baffled, and So-hye let out an awkward laugh, "Ahaha."
"I take other classes with my friends. But for this one, I don't have anyone taking it with me..."
I see. I've got one friend. But he's got plenty of people to team up with, so no room for me. We're in the same boat after all.
Or make that two now.
I glanced at the seat where Si-eun usually sat. She'd already left, probably for her next lecture.
"I was worried what I'd do when the group project got announced. Then I looked next to me and saw someone in the same situation."
"That'd be me?"
"Yes!"
She answered so straightforwardly. In other words, I looked like I had no friends. And since it was true, it stung even more.
"Hmm..."
I pondered for a moment.
I didn't want to repeat last year's trauma. So I'd have to join some group eventually.
Unlike middle or high school PE class, the professor wouldn't team up with me. I'd have to join my friend's group, but unfortunately, I had no friends.
Meaning I'd end up with strangers anyway.
If that's the case, teaming up with a fellow loner for a win-win sounded pretty good.
"Got it."
I nodded in agreement, and So-hye clapped her hands.
"Yay! Thank you!"
A bright smile bloomed on her face.
Was it really that exciting? Well, in a place full of upperclassmen, she might've been stressing over how to form a group.
"So, Senior."
"Yeah."
I replied briefly, and So-hye held her phone in one hand.
"Can I get your KakaoTalk ID?"
"Oh, uh, sure."
Right. Teammates need a way to contact each other. Some channel was necessary.
I recited my ID letter by letter, and So-hye tapped it into her phone diligently. She was small to begin with, and every little gesture made her seem like a kid.
After the last letter, she tilted her head quizzically for some reason.
"Senior, you don't have a profile picture."
"Never set one. No one messages me anyway. And I don't like taking photos."
"Aw, come on. That's no good."
"What's so bad about it?"
At my question, So-hye smirked, lifting one corner of her mouth.
"You've got a pretty handsome face. You should show it off."
"...I don't think so."
"Aw, Senior, you're flustered?"
Your fault.
Before I could retort, So-hye said, "Hehe, see you next time!" and scampered off.
This is why I hate talking to popular types...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Did you hear about that?"
That evening.
Si-eun had come to my room to drop off the folded laundry and asked quietly.
"Hear what?"
I stopped typing and glanced sideways.
Si-eun sat on the bed, looking at me. To her right, the neatly folded clothes were stacked perfectly. When I did it, I'd just crumpled them up and tossed them aside.
Our eyes met, and Si-eun shifted her gaze to the clothes beside her before speaking.
"What was said in lecture."
"In lecture?"
Si-eun and I only shared one class. Probably that one.
Come to think of it, I'd gotten a similar question after that lecture.
"Group project?"
I asked just in case, and Si-eun looked mildly surprised.
"You actually pay attention in class?"
"The way you say it makes me sound like total trash."
To be fair, I might not always listen. If So-hye hadn't told me, I might still be clueless. Hmm, yeah, I guess I am trash.
"What're you gonna do?"
Si-eun fidgeted with her hand on the bed as she asked.
"Don't you have anyone to do it with?"
"Well, no 'friends' to team up with."
Not a friend, but a certain underclassman. As I wondered how to explain, Si-eun tossed out a line.
"Wanna do it with me?"
"...?"
"You just had some weird thought, didn't you?"
"No."
As if. I just had a momentary question.
"Why suddenly with me?"
I asked casually, and Si-eun brushed her hair back with one hand.
"Just. You probably don't have anyone anyway. Plus, since we live together, no need to meet up separately. It's convenient."
"True."
She had a point.
The hardest part of group projects is when teammates won't get together. Often, the most diligent one ends up doing everything.
But Si-eun and I live together. Unless one of us flees the house for days, we'd run into each other anyway.
"What do you think?"
Si-eun asked softly.
"Thanks for the good offer, but..."
Si-eun's grades are great. Her coding might not be as good as mine, but she's meticulous about everything. No worries about deductions if we're together.
"But?"
"I've already agreed to do it with someone."
Hearing my answer, Si-eun turned to me with some surprise.
"If you're talking about your one friend, he's probably got a group already."
"I know. And it's not him."
"Then?"
"The girl who talked to me last time. We decided to team up."
For a split second, Si-eun's eyes changed. It was like a spark of electricity crackled through the air. Her face even scrunched up a bit.
"You're close with her?"
"No."
"Then why team up?"
"She asked. Said she has no friends in that class. Figured it wouldn't hurt."
I had no idea why I was explaining all this to Si-eun so straightforwardly.
But it wasn't a lie, nothing to hide. I didn't know what her look meant, but no reason to conceal it.
After my explanation, Si-eun crossed her arms. The thin fabric accentuated her... chest. I naturally averted my eyes.
She seemed to ponder for a bit in that pose.
"Could you ask if I can join too?"
She asked.
"You wanna team up?"
"Yeah."
"But if she's on the team, we can't work at home, right? Doesn't seem worth it."
"No."
I tossed out an obvious question, but Si-eun shot it down firmly.
"Remember what I told you last time? If you get a girlfriend, I'll have to move out."
"Yeah, I remember."
You can't live with another girl if you have a girlfriend. Plus, simple chores can be handled by the girlfriend, or whatever logic that was.
Why bring that up? I furrowed my brow, urging her to explain, and Si-eun touched her chin thoughtfully.
"What if something happens doing a group project just the two of you? You're both at that energetic age. If feelings develop and you get close, I might get kicked out."
"No need to worry about that..."
"Better to do the project with you than risk it. I can't find another live-in gig with room and board plus 500k a month."
Her tone was resolute, like no refusals or arguments allowed. No real reason to turn her down anyway. If she wanted in, who was I to say no?
I nodded.
"Got it."
Then I picked up my phone from the desk.
"I'll ask her now."
"Okay."
I opened KakaoTalk. At the top of my friends list was 'Han So-hye.' I opened our chat and typed out the message letter by letter.
[I have something to say.]
That should do it.
I hit send, and seconds later, my phone buzzed.
[What's wrong, Senior?!]
It came with a sparkling-eyes emoticon, noisy just looking at it.
I typed out my purpose.
[Do you know Yoo Si-eun? Third-year, Student Council President in our department.]
Quick reply again.
[Of course! Such a pretty senior! I'm jealous!]
With a crying emoticon. Didn't care if she was jealous, just glad she knew her. I continued typing.
[She wants to join our group project. Cool with that?]
I sent it.
Expecting an instant reply like before, but nothing came for a while. Maybe she didn't like it? As I started typing [No biggie if not.], a message arrived.
[Sure!]
A curt reply without an emoticon. Maybe she couldn't find a fitting one? Anyway, she said yes, so no problem.
As I thought that, my phone buzzed once more. Another message? I checked the screen right away.
And there it was.
[But Senior.
What's your relationship with Si-eun senior?
Are you, like, dating?]
With a big question mark next to a face emoticon.
...Huh?