Sudden Pop Quiz, But It's Okay (2)
After receiving a long kiss filled with Jihyeok's encouragement and praise, Yuna absorbed his teachings like a sponge. It was almost as if she had known the material all along but lied just to spend more time with him. One concept led to two, two led to three, and everything clicked into place with startling speed.
Seeing Yuna learn with such fierce focus, Jihyeok seemed secretly thrilled. He dove into more advanced material, explaining concepts that university students would tackle, and Yuna grasped them in an instant. The girl who had once struggled with this unit seemed to vanish entirely as the two began discussing the kinds of questions that might appear.
"Isn't this problem too messy?"
"If the goal is to test understanding, it's fair game. We've been in this unit for a while now, so a question probing how well we've grasped it could definitely show up."
"There'll be questions on distinguishing the introduction, development, twist, and conclusion, right?"
"If they hand out a test with both the original text and its translation, yes. Read it five times and you should catch that much."
"...Isn't that just because my honey is too smart?"
"You think? For me... I just understand it as I read, so I'm not sure."
"...That's exactly why I'm calling you smart."
"...Really?"
When he thought about it calmly, Jihyeok found it fascinating how Yuna's comprehension had skyrocketed the moment she received his kiss, compared to his initial explanation. If it had been like this from the start, they could have finished quickly and still had time for skinship. He didn't know why it hadn't worked that way, but since they'd achieved the original goal, he decided not to dwell on it.
Yuna's Korean skills had improved to the point where she wasn't just avoiding failure—she could realistically aim for a perfect score. She turned to Jihyeok with gratitude shining in her eyes.
"If it hadn't been for you today, honey, I really... would have been in trouble. Thank you again. Jihyeok!"
"When my girlfriend is struggling, of course I have to help. It wasn't too difficult, was it?"
"Suddenly speaking formally? Yes! It was incredibly fun, actually?"
"Then I'm glad."
As they chatted, the bell signaling five minutes until fifth period rang, so they quickly packed up and headed back to class.
The fact that Jihyeok and Yuna were dating was common knowledge among most students at the school. That Yoon Jihyeok—the king of memory and top academic performer—and Han Yuna—the girl known as the school's princess—had begun a relationship was information every faculty member and student knew, with only a few subject teachers as possible exceptions.
Maybe that was why the moment they appeared—
"Jihyeooook!!!!! Did you just get back from a date with your girlfriend?!!!!"
"Have mercy on us singles!"
"I'm finished... I'm totally finished...."
"...This is a dream. It has to be a dream... There's no way this is real...."
"You only taught your girlfriend! That's seriously unfair!"
A crowd of students swarmed Jihyeok, making it clear they had zero intention of studying and begging for his help instead.
Jihyeok thought Wouldn't it be better to use this time to actually study...? but his classmates showed no interest in that idea. Fifth period was about to begin, and their desks bore the evidence of rushed lunches followed by desperate cramming in Korean. They had clearly tried on their own, but it hadn't gone well.
Unable to ignore their situation, Jihyeok glanced at Yuna and asked, "Want to review together?"
"Yes! If it's something my honey's doing, I'm in for anything!"
The moment he offered to help, the entire class erupted in cheers.
Watching Jihyeok act so openly affectionate in front of so many people, Yuna noticed how different he was from the shy boy who used to freeze up at skinship. She felt a quiet surge of pride. I've changed him!
When the fifth-period bell rang, everyone returned to their seats. Soon the history teacher entered through the front door.
"Oh, is this the class taking that pop quiz in sixth period?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"The Korean teacher asked me to pass on the message. They made it the hardest one yet, so everyone study with full tension."
"I know we shouldn't say this in school, but if I weren't a student, I'd be rubbing salt in the wound."
"This kid looks so gentle, but he turns vicious when he's mad."
"...You guys are joking, right?"
When someone mentioned a prank that sounded mild but would cause the victim immense pain, a nearby student stared in disbelief.
"...It's so ridiculous it's actually making me laugh."
The students begged the history teacher for self-study time to prepare for the legendary difficulty of the upcoming quiz.
Yuna, who had enjoyed both skinship and one-on-one tutoring during lunch, felt confident she could answer anything thanks to Jihyeok's guidance.
After checking the class's progress, the history teacher nodded.
"Hmm... Today should be fine. All right. Self-study it is. You said you'd have to stay if you get failing grades, right? Good luck, everyone."
"Thank you, teacherrrrrr!"
"There, there. If anything urgent comes up, come find me right away."
"Yes!"
Once the history teacher left, Jihyeok naturally opened the Korean textbook and stood. He walked to the front of the teacher's desk, faced the blackboard, and began writing expected problems while speaking.
"I don't know exactly what they'll ask, but they said they'd make it as hard as possible. That means the questions will be ones you can't solve without solid understanding. Write your answers in your notebooks, then come to me to get checked. I'll grade them and point out your weak spots. Just focus on studying those parts."
"Ha. Without our Jihyeok, we'd all be doomed to extra study sessions."
"Let's just avoid failing grades. That's the goal."
"When did you even pick out these problems... Top students really are on another level."
Praise for her boyfriend rose from every corner of the room, bringing a natural smile to Yuna's lips. Of course she loved hearing compliments about the boy she adored, but the real reason was simpler: the sight of Jihyeok confidently writing problems on the board with the clear intention of teaching every single student was incredibly attractive.
There wasn't a girl alive who wouldn't fall for a boyfriend so focused on whatever he was doing.
Wanting to help him, Yuna rose from her seat and walked over.
"Hm?"
"I want to help. Is that okay?"
"If you do, I'd be grateful."
After Jihyeok wrote ten problems on the blackboard, he gave them forty-five minutes.
"I'll check in the order people finish. Take your time solving them."
The students skipped any reply and immediately dove into the problems. Deciding this was the perfect moment while everyone was focused, Yuna casually sat in the teacher's chair and wrapped her arms around Jihyeok's right arm.
"...?"
Her boyfriend's silent reaction—so as not to disturb the studying students—was unbearably cute. Yuna laced the fingers of her left hand with his right and began tightening her embrace, as if this were only the beginning.
Jihyeok leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Helping was a lie. You really just came over to do this, didn't you?"
"Nooo~? I really did come to help~?"
While teasing, Yuna deliberately pressed his arm against her chest.
"...Ugh?"
"Hehe... Soft, right?"
Simply feeling his elbow brush her chest was enough to satisfy her. After confirming the students' eyes were glued to their notebooks, Yuna brought her face close to Jihyeok's cheek.
"...Wait, there are too many people right now—"
"...Not a chance."
His right arm was trapped in her hug, and his seated position made it difficult to block her with his left hand. No sound escaped, but the sensation of her lips touching his cheek made her smile with deep satisfaction.
"...If our classmates weren't here, I would've done it properly... It's a little disappointing."
"...Weren't you satisfied with what we did at lunch?"
"No? I was completely satisfied?"
"Then why..."
Yuna rested her face on his shoulder.
"You just look especially cool today. You helped me, and now you're working so hard for our classmates too. You were already cool before, but right now you're even more amazing."
"Then just tell me with words... You don't have to go this far...."
"Because words alone aren't enough...."
"Sigh... You can do things like this after school, so please hold back for now."
"Hing...."
Yuna pouted at her boyfriend for rejecting her skinship. She knew acting lovey-dovey so openly in front of this many people might be a nuisance. Still, everyone at school already knew she and Jihyeok were dating. No one was even looking their way, so she had simply wanted to enjoy the moment a little more. Her boyfriend didn't seem to share that feeling.
He was the sincere type who fulfilled his duties as a student at school and took responsibility as her boyfriend outside it. She could understand that, but the thrill of skinship in a situation like this made his refusal slightly irritating.
But then—
Chu.
Jihyeok suddenly gave her a quick peck on the lips. Her face flushed as he spoke, cheeks red.
"...I've been doing it so much lately that I want to do it constantly too, but I'm holding back with everything I have. We can't let our reputation suffer because of me. I want us to be lovers who are acknowledged and blessed by everyone. That's why I'm barely keeping it under control. ...So just endure it until school ends. Once school's over... I'll do whatever you want."
When he put it like that, what girl could possibly dislike it? Yuna suddenly felt embarrassed for trying to force skinship just to satisfy herself.
Jihyeok was working so hard to make their relationship deeper and stronger. As his girlfriend, listening to her boyfriend's wishes felt only natural.
Yuna replaced her pout with a smile.
"...Okay. I feel a little bad now. It seems like I was only thinking about myself...."
"No. I should have satisfied my girlfriend too, but I didn't. Let's call it even."
"...Yeah. Thank you, honey. ...I love you."
"I love you too, honey."
They confirmed their feelings in voices quiet enough that the students wouldn't hear.
Afterward, Yuna looked at the blackboard, solved the problems Jihyeok had written, and had him check her work. The result was, of course, a perfect score.
"It really does make a difference when you get help...."
"It's because you have a good head on your shoulders, Yuna."
"Hehe. My head is pretty good, isn't it~"
"Yeah. To think such a smart girl is my girlfriend... I must have saved the Earth in my previous life."
"Hehe. Not just the country?"
"At your level, Yuna, protecting a country isn't enough. You'd have to save at least a planet."
"Pfft... That's a funny joke?"
"It may sound like a joke, but I'm completely serious."
With their preparation for the upcoming pop quiz now perfect, Yuna and Jihyeok began checking the notebooks of students who had finished and come over. They pointed out weak areas as they graded.
When break time arrived, the students collapsed onto their desks in exhaustion, but Jihyeok and Yuna returned to their seats with relaxed expressions.
Following Jihyeok's suggestion to review one last time just in case, Yuna went over the material again until she was certain she understood the entire unit perfectly.
And finally—
Ding.
Sixth period arrived, bringing with it the pop quiz.