Exploitation
"Alright then, shall we entrust the first task to the class president and vice president?"
After the class president election wrapped up, the homeroom teacher—who'd clearly been waiting for us—handed a stack of prepared documents to me and Baek Hara in the staff room, along with his instructions.
"Organize all this material and bring it back here by the end of the day."
"That's quite a pile."
"It's the start of the semester, so there's a lot to handle. You've got sorting learning materials and conducting a student survey. It'd be more efficient if you two split the roles."
In other words, Baek Hara and I just needed to coordinate and get it done today. As I nodded in agreement, she casually snatched part of the stack and spoke in a nonchalant tone.
"Then I'll handle the material sorting, and you take the student survey."
"Me, the survey?"
"Why? Don't wanna do the survey?"
"No, I just figured you'd prefer the survey."
She was the ultimate insider's insider at school, after all. With her active social circle, it seemed perfect for her—but Baek Hara scowled at my words, glaring at me like I'd offended her.
"Ugh, seriously? The vice president questioning the class president's call?"
"......Is 'vice president' such a lowly title that you have to rub it in like that?"
"Class president is higher than vice, right? And since you nominated me, you gotta own it and follow my lead. Am I wrong?"
Here she goes again, pinning it on me. Fine, whoever handled what didn't matter as long as it got done. Brushing it off, I took my share and headed back to class with her. I immediately set to work on the student survey.
The task was straightforward: approach each student, ask the questions on the form, and fill in their answers.
"Mind helping out for a sec?"
"Ah, do we have to do that?"
"Just a minute."
"Tch, fine."
Using break times, I methodically worked through the class, getting a direct look at their cliques and interactions. Most stuck to their groups, orbiting the popular ones. Baek Hara's crew was no exception—but when I approached them for surveys, she wasn't doing any work.
"So anyway~ what happened next~?"
"Class president. What are you doing?"
I interrupted her mid-gossip. She paused, shooting me an irritated glance.
"What~? You're killing the vibe. Wanna join us or something?"
"No...... Have you finished the teacher's assignment?"
It was a hefty load—enough to spill into after school. But she was ignoring it completely, so as vice president, I couldn't help worrying.
"Oh, that? I'll handle it, so butt out~"
"You sure you can wrap it by after school?"
"What, think I'm dumping it all on you?"
"......Hope not."
She wasn't the most reliable, but if she said so, it probably wouldn't blow back on me. Hoping for the best, I continued surveys with her group—and that's when I noticed someone missing who should have been there.
Yoo Soeun. The girl always hovering near Baek Hara's crew during breaks.
"Where's Soeun? You know?"
Baek Hara smirked mockingly.
"Beats me~ No idea~"
"You really don't know?"
"Sigh. Look at you fussing over her again. Always sneaking peeks...... Got a crush or something~?"
"......I have to survey everyone, including her."
"Sure, sure, if you say so~ Sadly, I'm not her babysitter, so no clue where she is~"
She sneered and dove back into chit-chat. No point pushing—she was drawing a hard line. Assuming Soeun would return for class since she was part of the group, I turned to leave.
"That Kim Cheolsu guy's hilarious, right?"
As I walked away, her group started mocking me openly enough to hear. I tuned in.
"Thinks he's hot stuff aiming for president, ends up vice by a landslide~ And get this—he nominated Hara himself!"
"Probably 'cause of Soeun. Hara picked her thinking she'd fit, but he stuck his nose in and made Hara president instead."
"Now Hara's stuck with the job she never wanted. Ugh, what if she's too busy for us?"
Too busy for hangouts 'cause of work? From what I'd seen, she didn't care about work at all.
"Nah~ Don't be so negative~ Work's work—there's ways around it~"
Did she have some ace up her sleeve? She chatted confidently, no worries in sight. Unconvincing from where I stood. But after school, there she was, handing the homeroom teacher a neatly finished stack.
"Nice and tidy. Good job, both of you."
The teacher even praised it—no signs of a last-minute rush. Unable to shake my doubts, I confronted her sharply.
"I didn't see you working. When'd you finish all that?"
"Jeez, nosy vice president~"
She brushed past me with a grin.
"Real leadership makes this a breeze~"
......Leadership. Sounded like she'd delegated it all.
*****
Yeah, Baek Hara definitely dumped her work on someone else. I'd watched her the whole time—nothing but gossiping. No window for that massive task. And the next day, I learned who the victim was.
"Lunch on the rooftop again today?"
"Sorry...... I don't think I can today......"
At lunch, Soeun—who usually joined me—declined, pulling out a stack of documents instead of her lunchbox.
"I, have work......"
I recognized it instantly: the stuff the teacher gave us that morning, split between me and Baek Hara.
"The class president gave you this?"
"......"
She nodded silently. Irritation boiled up. I snatched the papers from her hands and stood.
"I'll handle this. You go eat with Mary on the rooftop."
"Ah, wait......"
"Sorry, can't do lunch today."
No time for eating. Not when the slacker class president was shirking her duties. Storming to the cafeteria, I loomed over Baek Hara mid-meal with her friends.
"Need to talk. Step out?"
"Ugh, why so uptight? Even the most diligent person wouldn't barge in on someone eating and—"
BAM!
The stack slammed down, echoing through the cafeteria. As the mood soured, I fixed her with a steely glare.
"Out. Now. I need to know what you were thinking."
"......Heh."
She smirked like it was amusing. Outside amid the murmurs, I shoved the papers at her.
"You dumped your class president duties on another student."
"So?"
"So? That's—"
"I just asked friends for help 'cause it's a lot. No rule says the president has to do everything solo. Right?"
Ridiculous. She'd offloaded her responsibility onto someone else—how could that fly?
"Asking for help is fine in moderation. But you gave away everything you were assigned."
"All or some—what's the diff? I gave it to someone more suited. You know, put the right people in the right spots for efficiency?"
She flipped my scolding back on me, voice dripping with annoyance like she was the victim.
"I'm no good at paperwork anyway. I wanted someone better suited, but thanks to you, I'm stuck as president. Know how annoying that is?"
True, I'd put her there—thinking she had ulterior motives to block Soeun. And hearing this, my hunch wasn't far off.
"You made her president to exploit her."
She didn't flinch, laughing openly.
"Exploit? Too negative~ Helping struggling students as president is my job. Asking for a little aid—why grill me over it?"
Semantic games. The president leads the class and assists the teacher—not slaves to whims. But Soeun in that spot? She'd have been a doormat. She couldn't say no.
"Even if it's me instead, no complaints there. Presidents handle things their way."
"......And your way is dumping it all on her?"
"Sounds like I'm bullying her. I didn't force it~ If she'd said no, I'd have asked someone else. But she says yes every time—why not?"
"That doesn't make offloading everything okay......"
"Don't wanna hear it~ From someone lower-tier now~"
Her classist jab shut me up momentarily. She chuckled mockingly.
"You've got beef with me, but I've got some too. Crushing on her doesn't mean baby her—looks bad."
"What're you—"
"You nominated me to block her, and now you're hounding me 'cause you care. If I'm exploiting her, you're playing favorites."
"A leader should treat everyone equal, not coddle one...... Pfft, lovesick high school boys are such a pain~"
Her brazen taunt had no brakes. I wanted to deny the romance angle—my history kept me far from it—but explaining to someone twisting facts for ego? Pointless.
The issue: this arrogant girl felt no remorse, spouting nonsense to defend her position and convenience.
"Anyway, I see no problem with what I'm doing. If she complains, fine. Otherwise, friends help friends, right?"
"......One-sided demands aren't friendship."
"Your opinion, busybody king. She hasn't complained, so your white-knight routine looks desperate. Don't pull this again."
She turned to leave, then paused with a sly grin.
"Oh, and don't think of convincing her to say no to me."
"Hope not. Messing with others' bonds 'cause they bug you? Pathetic~ Kyahaha~"
She sauntered back inside, leaving me alone.
Yeah, the shameless girl's words left me speechless—no real comeback.
"Hah."
But no defeat. Reasoning with a puffed-up teen mistaking ego for greatness? Futile.
"Interesting."
Alright, time to think. How to knock that smug brat down a peg.