Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: No Such Thing as a Beastly Girl
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"Hey! You!"
"??"
This final exam was no different—I finished faster than anyone else and checked my answers. Every single one was a perfect score.
After language arts, math, and integrated subjects like Fun Life were done, fourth period was free time. I was planning to nap facedown, grab a hearty lunch, and head home.
That's when some big, tall guy stepped right in front of me. He wasn't just a flabby pig stuffed with fat—he had that same mix of bulk and muscle as our Tonggumi baby, Burari, a chubby frame packed with both. Bald head and all, blocking my path.
His face looked kinda familiar, though?
Like I'd seen him somewhere... Oh, right. Pizza-two-slice villain, the big bald brother from the taekwondo dojo.
I remembered this punk's head was as empty as his little brother's.
The little shit threw a tantrum at the dojo, whining he didn't know what a kick was and begging me to explain. Made me wanna show him his kill switch right then. Yeah.
They say brothers take after each other. I barely got through explaining it to him, but the big lug wouldn't grow up—whining about why I had to make something so simple so damn complicated...
Whew. My fist nearly flew, but Jeongu and Yuri threw their bodies in the way and dragged me outside. Lucky no blood was spilled.
'Or maybe not? After that moron act, the mini bald kid's brain seemed to reboot to normal human levels.'
I wondered if the brothers were a matched set, but this guy clung to me forever, whining for explanations... and the little one actually mellowed out...
Hmm. Yeah. Not the sharpest, but teach him one thing and he'd get it right away. Conversation worked, at least.
Anyway, during my month-long crash course, these brothers were the worst duo. And now the big one's suddenly blocking my way.
Part of me wanted to tell him to fuck off—I had to get home—but my image matters. So I flashed a bright smile, bowed a little, and greeted him politely.
"Hi. Uh... what’s up? I gotta head home."
He was in sixth grade, older than me, so maybe I should call him 'oppa'? Ugh, too awkward for me. Polite speech it is.
"What? Exams are over—why go home already? School ended early today! Hang out first!"
What bullshit. First graders only have four periods.
I knew sixth graders went to fifth or sixth, but first graders? Four periods every day except Tuesdays.
Midterms and finals were the same. Heading home right on schedule. What's "early" about it?
And I really need to get home.
Even though my stomach's still full, Dad—who's been secretly meeting me to shoot guns lately—told me a few days ago that Mom's pregnant.
Test stick showed two lines or whatever.
No signs yet, but leaving her alone at home with a baby on the way? How anxious and lonely must she feel?
Plus, even if I don't fully get it, Dad said he wanted to make lots of memories with me. That's why, on days like today, I was skipping playtime with Jeongu and Yuri to head straight home.
Should I tell this guy Mom needs looking after now that she's got a sibling on board?
Hmm. No. Why share family news with this random punk I'm not even close to?
I haven't even told Jeongu or Yuri about our family's good news yet. No way I'm spilling to him first.
...Tricky.
"Mom'll worry if I don't hurry back. Let's hang out next time."
I force the sweetest smile, put some pep in my voice.
Even with this kid body, sometimes dancing a tango between reason and instinct, tempting my fist out—my past life's lip service and face control are still on point.
I say that and try to slip past... but like he didn't see it coming, Big Bald stammers and grabs my hand.
"H-Hey!! Don't go!!"
"Ugh, you fuckin'—no. What? But I really gotta go."
Without asking, this sweaty, hulking dude touches me? Instinct nearly spits out a curse, but I swallow it.
Phew. Good thing my mutter was too quiet.
I plaster on a troubled look, roll my eyes, yank hard—but he's no match for Han Yuna's roe deer-level freak strength. Afraid he'll topple and get hurt, I can't pull free.
Come on. Just let me go.
We can play later if you want.
No, wait—this is weird too. Why's a sixth grader wanna hang with a first-grade kid like me?
"L-Let's at least grab some tteokbokki!!"
"But I already ate lunch..."
"I-I'll buy it!!"
"Hehe. Tteokbokki's yummy. Yeah, let's eat."
Ugh. Can't resist free tteokbokki.
Kid looks dumb and fight-happy... but maybe he's got some loyalty?
Grateful for all the hell I went through teaching him? Offering to buy grub.
Damn. Big one's better than the little one.
The small fry's been fidgety around me at school lately, just greeting and zipping past.
Fine. Tteokbokki won't delay me much.
Home cooking and cafeteria food are great, but sometimes you crave spicy, greasy street eats. Ugh, mouth's watering already.
How'd he know I love tteokbokki? Hehe.
He relaxes a bit at my words, face softening, and starts walking, saying let's go.
But uh... can you let go of my hand? I don't wanna hold hands with you.
Jeongu or Yuri? Fine. But a sweaty wild boar? No thanks.
......Gotta wipe my hand with a wet wipe or tissue first thing at the snack shop.
The snack shop by school was packed on exam day—not just kids grabbing food on the way home.
Groups of three or five snagged tables, ordering tteokbokki, fritters... or fish cakes and blood sausage, laughing and chowing down.
Should be heartwarming and noisy, but it was weirdly quiet.
Why? Did my strength show spread to other classes or grades? Nah.
Our class is all bark, no bite—scaredy cats who sneak peeks, not bold enough to gossip.
And, well.
Not me... they're eyeing Big Bald?
Whatever. I'm just shoving tteokbokki in my mouth, om nom nom.
Spicy-sweet gochujang sauce bubbling away, soft chewy rice cakes soaked through—pure bliss.
Hehe. So good.
Damn, kid's got guts.
Saved up allowance? Drops ten thousand won like it's nothing—three servings of thousand-won tteokbokki, two extra eggs, blood sausage, and mixed fritters. Elementary kid baller.
Thought he was a total dimwit when teaching, brain as empty as his shaved scalp. Now? Maybe bald's the style of a loyal bro.
Pfft. Ten thousand's pocket change to me, who's been hoarding since last year!
"Good?"
"Yep!"
See? See? Acting all manly, won't eat till I do—watching me stuff my face.
Crispy squid rings.
Dip in thick sauce... oh man. No wonder grown-ups hit snack shops sometimes.
"I-I'll... buy like this every day."
"Huh? For real?"
No way. You rich or what? Damn, why didn't you say so sooner!
A rich kid in this island village? Who knew.
Rule is: befriend the loaded ones—smarts optional—for an easy life later.
But this rich boy? Head shaved like boot camp, face all fierce.
Clothes, mug, build... looks like a brawling thug with swagger baked in.
Tsk. My bias? Yeah, hard to rock luxury on this remote rock. Fair.
......But why's a rich kid on Ulleungdo? Doesn't add up.
Whatever. I cover my mouth in mock surprise, and his shoulders shoot up to the sky, grin splitting wide.
"Yeah. I collect from my minions. So, you ate this—be my girl starting today?"
"??"
What the—
'Fuck.'
Grinning all dreamy like some drama lead, leaning in close—Big Bald.
No. Real thug after all. Motherfucker.
Made sense. They say face-reading's science, and he screams dumb muscle brute!!
But what? Did I hear wrong?
A 13-year-old boar saying that to an 8-year-old class-top cutie?
Why's he solo-filming a romance drama?
Without my say-so, declares us official... in a snack shop full of schoolkids? Head spun, dizzy.
Okay. Calm down. Stay cool.
"Hoo."
Breathe. Kid might've blurted in the heat.
13's still a child. Child... kid...
'Fuck. What 13-year-old asks out an 8-year-old?'
Suddenly, reason abandons my brain's control room, grabs napping instinct's hand, and whispers, 'Kill him, master?'
Instinct, bored from no action, perks up, hears the rundown, and tap-dances glee: 'It's finally here.'
"......I'll give you 10 seconds."
"Huh?"
Time for a genre shift.
From our romance to survival thriller?
Run if you wanna live, Baldy.