Chapter 36
Chapter 36
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: The Outsider Signs the Contract
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Late June. Finals were now just a week away, creeping up faster than expected.
And one week before exams is typically when students aiming for college buckle down on rote memorization subjects—not the core ones like Korean, English, and math.
But in high school classrooms at this time, you'll inevitably spot kids clutching major subject textbooks, cramming like it's going to help.
Come on, kids, give it up already. That only works through middle school.
The reason middle school tests feel like "anyone who studies a bit can score decently" boils down to their multiple-choice format.
To tackle middle school problems, you need some fragmented knowledge of the material, sure—but flip that around, and it means the questions are designed so "even a little knowledge lets you pick the right answer from the options."
For example, they might fill the wrong choices with utterly ridiculous nonsense, nothing like the correct one.
Like in a "choose the appropriate response" dialogue problem, one option veers completely off-topic.
With tricks like that, even if you don't know the material cold, a vague sense of "that sounds good" or "that sounds off" lets you guess right.
Sometimes, you don't even need to study—just catch the nuance wafting off the question to nail it.
That's why, unless you're blindly guessing every question in middle school, scores below 50 are rare.
But once you hit high school, teachers start crafting questions specifically to slash your scores.
It's necessary to separate the kids who can get into good colleges from those who can't.
The trick? Design the choices so "vague familiarity" won't cut it for the right answer.
For tough concepts, they pack similar-sounding sentences into every option, splitting right from wrong by a single word.
For easy ones, they twist the wording into knots so hard to parse that you trip up anyway.
That's why high school tests demand not just studying the curriculum but grinding problem books to get a feel for the patterns—otherwise, high scores are a pipe dream.
Of course, this hits the major subjects hardest, so kids reading core textbooks a week out...
Well, they'll probably think, "I study hard but scores don't budge. Guess I'm no good at this," and lose all interest.
Some kids already gave up on schoolwork after midterms. Mostly the delinquents.
But after finals, even non-delinquents will bail en masse, shocked by their scores.
First come the "math dropouts," ditching the stress-fest subject.
Then, facing the reality that skipping math tanks other subjects too, they quit studying altogether.
Next semester, expect sleepy heads slumped over desks in class, even from straight kids.
They'll act nonchalant, but deep down? Total anxiety and fear.
Korean high schools are way too grim for any talk of youth or dreams.
Last midterms, to beat Han Si-a's score bet, I'd crammed like mad for three weeks straight, sacrificing sleep.
And even after all that...
I lost—not to any skill gap, but to the school's screw-up in question-setting and some unavoidable regression glitch. A regrettable fluke.
Was being her Bread Shuttle (Errand Runner) as punishment that bad?
Honestly? Not really.
Sure, it stung that a former middle-schooler like me scored lower than her, even if it was school errors and fateful twists—not real skill.
Buying bread from the canteen or convenience store? She paid exact change every time.
The typical "Bread Shuttle" is basically a slave you boss around. Mine felt more like "bread fetch duty."
But...
Now, a week before finals, with her handing me a sheet of paper and smiling...
This time felt different.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ *** - Han Si-a's Perspective
I don't like dreaming while I sleep.
First reason: Waking from a dream leaves you more exhausted than usual.
Second: Dreams that stick in your memory are usually weird or shocking.
Right. The ones I remember upon waking are mostly about "that day."
The human brain can't be controlled, so the details warp a bit each night, but the core is always the same.
I'm lying on the floor, pinned under blood-soaked corpses.
It's been over ten years of this nightmare—should be routine by now—but waking from it still guts me emotionally.
Lately, though, different dreams are cropping up more often.
They start as the usual "that day" horror, but then some guy appears in the dream, twisting it into something almost funny.
And at the end, I chase him down as he flees, tie him up so he can't escape, torment him a bit... then wake up.
Of course, I think these beat the gore-filled ones...
But tying up a classmate boy in my bedroom and messing with him? Makes me feel a tad off.
Plus, days after these dreams, I feel extra lethargic and unmotivated. So, yeah, I'd rather not dream at all.
.
.
.
Finals are a week away now.
I'm always diligent about exam prep.
But this time, with stronger motivation than usual, it's been smoother sailing.
No matter that the Bread Shuttle term ended—even when I invited him to a movie, he turned me down.
Dares Jeong Yi-an think that's impudent?
It was my first time asking a guy out like that. Took guts on my part!!
So, I'll beat him again this time and drill in who's on top.
And for the penalty... make it more binding...
...Haven't decided exactly what yet. The point is having total say over him.
But this looks like sour grapes from a rejected confession—makes me the nagging girl. Kinda messy.
Still, Jeong Yi-an's talent I need under me long-term.
If keeping him tied close means eating some "annoying girl" flak, so be it.
And... isn't a superior-subordinate or contract dynamic pretty great?
Compared to the vague ring of "love" or "friendship," given how fickle human hearts are.
These days, I keep thinking it's weirder to rely on abstract, shaky stuff like that for relationships.
Truly vital bonds all rest on contracts at their base.
Employer-employee, prime contractor-sub, boss-subordinate, master-disciple—even marriage vows.
So, I figure: Friends or lovers leaning solely on love or friendship, with no duties, penalties, or promises?
Just lies to use and discard each other at will.
Like me fake-laughing with the class vermin, playing friends.
That's why I like contract relationships: promises on needs, penalties for breaches.
And one-sided penalties in a hierarchy? Even better.
So, hurry up and end these finals already.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After school, me, Han Si-a, and Yoo So-mi gathered in an empty classroom as usual.
I could tell it was about time for her to bring up the score bet.
Since I rejected her movie invite last time, she'd been openly sulky.
Glare in the halls, snippy after school...
Grinding her teeth to crush me in finals— no way she'd skip the bet talk now.
But when she did bring it up, she slid a sheet of paper over.
"I've documented the rules and penalties for this score bet. Check it out, and speak up if you want additions."
"Whoa... getting serious. But is all this necessary?"
A full contract for a school score bet between friends? Caught me off-guard.
She smiled. "I've got big expectations this time. Can't have you 'forgetting' or backpedaling, Jeong Yi-an."
I peered at the paper to see what horrors awaited.
➤ Baekseung High School 1st Year 1st Semester Final Exam Score Betting Contract - This contract is mutually agreed upon to resolve uncertainties in the friendship triggered by Jeong Yi-an's unjust refusal of Han Si-a's movie invitation, and stipulates as follows. "This makes me sound like the bad guy. Am I imagining it?"
"Yep. Imagination. Keep reading."
"..."
➤ Article 1 (Purpose) - This contract aims to clearly define the conditions and obligations of the bet between the parties based on the 2011 1st semester final exam results. ➤ Article 2 (Parties) 1. Party A - Name: Han Si-a - Affiliation: Baekseung High School 1st Year Class 1 - Address: ●● Province ●● City ●● District ●● Neighborhood ●●●●● 2. Party B - Name: Jeong Yi-an - Affiliation: Baekseung High School 1st Year Class 2 - Address: ●● Province ●● City ●● District ●● Neighborhood ●●●●● (Hereinafter "Parties") "Why am I Party B?"
"I'll win anyway. If you somehow do, I'll swap you to A."
"How'd you get my address? Never told you."
"Curious?"
"...Nah. Let's keep reading."
➤ Article 3 (Bet Conditions) 1. The bet is limited to final exam scores. 2. Winner determined as follows: - Highest total score across all subjects wins. - Tie: Compare sum of Korean, English, Math, Social Studies, Science. - Still tied: Parties agree on rules for rematch; result finalized by score release day. "No canceling on ties, huh..."
"Obviously. My goal's slapping you with a penalty."
Reading this was getting scary.
So detailed it'd hold up in court if broken.
➤ Article 4 (Performance and Compensation) 1. Loser performs pre-agreed compensation from below: - Jeong Yi-an obeys Han Si-a's commands, provided no detriment to academics, finances, or health. -(To be filled) 2. No legitimate excuse for non-performance: Winner cannot demand more under this contract. However, based on mutual respect, unilateral breach voids said respect. "...Why not just say 'sue you'? This reads like private sanctions."
"Oh? But that's exactly it?"
"..."
➤ Article 5 (Effect and Duration) 1. Effective upon all parties' signatures. 2. Valid from 2011 1st semester finals release to 2nd semester midterms release. "Runs through next exam? You planned for ongoing bets from the start?"
"Yep. Unless you admit defeat next semester and bail—no more contracts then."
"Ha! I'll win this one, so pointless worry."
Timing the term to the next test... She was seriously butthurt about the movie skip.
➤ Article 6 (Dispute Resolution) - Disputes: Defer to Yoo So-mi, present at contract. - If a party delays win determination: Non-cooperator loses; authority to Yoo So-mi. ➤ Article 7 (Signatures) Parties fully understand and agree, thus sign. I stared at the contract, lost in thought.
Never dreamed a school bet would come with legit paperwork.
No loopholes to exploit on a reread.
And honestly? Kinda scary.
"Obey commands sans academic/financial/health harm"... Way broader than last bet's "Bread Shuttle."
As I hemmed and hawed, Han Si-a smirked.
"Yi-an's finger frozen? Scared? You sounded so cocky earlier— all bluff~♪"
Pfft. Not falling for obvious taunts. I'd tweak her penalty, dial back mine...
"If you think you'll lose, we can call it off? Demanding fair play from a proven 'loser' feels unfair~ Tormenting the weak ain't right."
I whipped out a pen and scrawled into Article 4:
- Han Si-a obeys Jeong Yi-an's commands, provided no detriment to academics, finances, or health.
Eye for an eye. Slave contract for slave contract. Tit for tat.