'……What? What Did You Say?'
"……What? What, what did you say?"
Seong Ha-yeon's face twisted in disbelief. There was a sharp snap in her head, like something breaking.
Do Seon-woo stared at her with cold, impassive eyes and continued. "You're worse at studying than me."
"That's ridiculous……! I don't know about anything else, but when it comes to studying, I'm way better than you. I have no idea what delusion you're under right now—"
"What was your rank on the diagnostic exam?"
"Second place…… So what? Why bring up ancient history?"
"I was first."
"Ha! Excuse me, I'm better at divine studies and material science. I'm worst at scriptural interpretation. The diagnostic exam only covers one subject anyway—it's totally unfair……."
"Excuses."
"It's not excuses!"
Seong Ha-yeon raised her voice and jerked her head toward Do Seon-woo. But when she turned, they were closer than she'd thought, so she quickly whipped her head the other way. She took a breath to calm her surging emotions.
She was fine with other topics, but anything about grades always got under her skin like this. After a few seconds of deep breathing, she scooted back a bit to put some distance between them and spoke up.
"……It's not excuses—it's the truth. The diagnostic exam favored people specialized in one subject too much. This written exam will be the real fair one."
"Talking like you'll win if it's evaluated fairly."
"Isn't that obvious? In a full-subject evaluation, you could never beat me. Absolutely. You must be getting delusions of grandeur from that first place, but there's a limit to arrogance."
Do Seon-woo's body twitched at the word 'arrogance'. His expression hardened even more menacingly as he opened his mouth.
"Oh yeah? Wanna bet on who wins, then? You little shit."
"Wh-what did you just call me?"
Profanity had suddenly flown from Do Seon-woo's mouth. She was flustered, but anger boiled up first. How dare he curse at her when he should be groveling? Unforgivable. Seong Ha-yeon's face flushed bright red as she pressed on.
"Fine. Let's bet. What's the stake?"
"Hmm? Winner slaps the loser once?"
"Once? I could slap your cheek ten times over."
"Yeah? Then I'd do a hundred."
"I could slap you all day."
In the midst of their pointless back-and-forth, Do Seon-woo let out a weary sigh.
"Enough. This is childish."
"Why? Scared?"
Seong Ha-yeon sneered, twisting her lips.
"……Fine, let's see who wins. I'm going in with the mindset that I won't lose anyway."
"Same here. Loser grants the winner one wish?"
"Don't regret it after you lose."
"You won't get any sympathy from me if you cry."
"Whatever."
Do Seon-woo shot back nonchalantly. Watching that relaxed expression made her feel like she'd been toyed with by his sharp tongue all along. It only pissed her off more.
"……Phone!"
Seong Ha-yeon, fuming, suddenly shouted as if it had just occurred to her.
"I told you to call, so why didn't you?"
"That was you? I thought it was a scam call."
"Scam……? You still haven't saved my number?"
"How would I know your number to save it?"
"They send everyone's contact info by text when you're re-elected to the executive board. What have you been doing without saving them?"
Seong Ha-yeon asked in genuine disbelief. Do Seon-woo furrowed his brows, as if rummaging through his memory.
"I don't remember getting a text like that."
"What? You must've missed it. Or ignored it."
"Why'd you tell me to call in the first place? What's there to talk about with me?"
At Do Seon-woo's question, Seong Ha-yeon shut her mouth and blinked. Come to think of it, what was she going to say on the phone? Probably something like asking if he was okay, thanking him for saving her, or apologizing for what happened. Reasons she didn't want to voice. No, she couldn't say them. Her pride wouldn't allow it.
It pricked her conscience a little, but she had no choice but to lie.
"I don't remember. It's been too long."
"It was just a few months ago, and you can't remember that?"
Do Seon-woo mocked her. Seong Ha-yeon let out a hollow laugh—a reflexive snort of absurdity, not amusement.
"My memory's better than yours."
"Yeah, sure."
Do Seon-woo nodded dismissively, brushing off her words. How did he always pick the most infuriating ways to act? A bit more petty sniping over the bet followed. Finally, Do Seon-woo stood from the bench, looking fed up, muttering about getting back to studying and leaving.
Seong Ha-yeon stayed on the bench. Heading back to the classroom now wouldn't let her focus anyway. She needed to sit here and calm her mind a little.
"Hoo."
After deep breaths to settle her agitation, she slowly replayed her conversation with Do Seon-woo. No matter how she thought about it, he definitely had feelings for her. Saving her back then, approaching her out of the blue today—it all fit if he liked her.
But one thing was odd. Most people, when they like someone, try to be nice in every way—gifts, sweet words to win them over. Yet Do Seon-woo did the opposite: cursing, provoking, earning dislike instead of affection.
Pondering the reason, Seong Ha-yeon finally reached a conclusion.
"……A smokescreen."
He was hiding his feelings with rough words and actions because he didn't want her to notice. Shy boys often did that. Thinking of it that way, he even seemed kinda cute.
*
The reason I'd approached Seong Ha-yeon so readily when we bumped into each other was simple. There was something I wanted to ask her—or rather, Seong Yu-da and Seong Ha-yeon.
Through events like the Charity Holy Mark re-election and various incidents, Seong Yu-da had helped me, subtly or not, under the guise of the International Theological Society. I was curious why.
It was too much just to recruit me into the society. There had to be another reason. Maybe Seong Yu-da knew—or suspected—I was the Voodoo Cult leader. That would make sense. He'd aid me through the society while gauging my reactions.
"Hoo……."
That's why I'd talked to Seong Ha-yeon. At first, the vibe was okay. But mid-conversation, this punk cut me off and crossed the line out of nowhere? I'd been nice to fish for info on Seong Yu-da, and she took it as me being a pushover.
In the end, I didn't get to ask what I wanted. We just bickered, and now we'd even bet on exam scores—a bet I wasn't even sure I'd win.
I vowed not to let emotions sway me next time, but it never worked around Seong Ha-yeon.
"……."
Thinking it over, the timing of her interruption was suspicious. The moment I was about to ask about Seong Yu-da, she cut me off and changed the subject. Too coincidental to dismiss. Seong Ha-yeon might know something too. Better keep an eye on her.
"You're quite angry, aren't you."
As I walked, lost in those thoughts, a voice spoke up. Before I knew it, Baron Samedi was strolling beside me. Did he know this was a school? He had a cigar clamped in his mouth.
I glanced around in surprise. Fortunately, no one was there.
"Fear not. Those not close to death cannot see me, nor hear my voice."
Baron Samedi spoke reassuringly, but I held back anyway. Even if no one could see him, if someone overheard, it could raise suspicions. Best case, I'd be seen as a muttering lunatic. Worst case, I'd be outed as the Voodoo leader or slapped with a Satanist label.
In these sensitive times, every word and action mattered.
Baron Samedi puffed out thick cigar smoke and continued casually.
"No listeners, no watchers. It'll stay that way for the next twelve minutes or so. Answer freely."
"……."
"Come on, no need to be that cautious…… Fine, answer when you're ready. I'll wait."
While Baron Samedi smoked in silence, I scanned the area. Aside from the occasional rustle of grass in the summer breeze, it was dead quiet. No one nearby, at least.
Still uneasy, I headed to a bench tucked in the corner of the path. It was covered in dust from disuse. I brushed it off and sat.
Only then did I respond to Baron Samedi.
"No smoking on campus."
The cigarette stench had been bothering me anyway. Baron Samedi ignored me, puffing away before speaking.
"Those not close to death can't smell my cigar—or see the smoke. Why bother extinguishing it?"
"So? It bothers me."
"Such a rude mouth…… Fine."
He ground the cigar into the bench, leaving a scorch mark that vanished instantly. The cigar in his hand disappeared too.
Baron Samedi sat beside me, crossing his legs.
"So, how's the exam prep going?"
"If it was going well, would I be out here?"
"I heard this exam's more important than the others. You sure you can slack off? Not my business, though."
"I shouldn't, but…… With all the merit I've built up, Bondye might just pick the answers for me."
"'Heaven helps those who help themselves.' If I were heaven, I wouldn't help you."
"Fair enough."
I'd been neglecting my studies lately, no denying it. I admitted it cleanly and went on.
"But honestly, I couldn't help it."
"Couldn't help it? How?"
"Not an excuse, but I've had too much on my plate…… And I didn't know the exam schedule changed."
"We call that an 'excuse.'"
"Hm. Yeah, you're right."
I'd had time to study despite everything. And if I'd paid even a little attention to the exam, I'd have known about the schedule change—checked the school site or asked at the office when applying for the dorm. It was all on me. No denying it.
But it pissed me off anyway.
"Why'd you come here all of a sudden? To ruin my mood more?"
"That too. But not just that."
Baron Samedi chuckled and continued.
"For my worried friend, I've prepared something helpful for the exam."
With that, Baron Samedi handed me a die.
(To be continued)