Do Seon-woo (200/200)
1st:Do Seon-woo (200/200)
2nd: Seong Ha-yeon
3rd: Bae Seong-hyeon
4th~7th: Six of the seven freshman representatives
"Didn't you say you didn't study? Weren't you just gonna bubble in 2 for everything?"
"I told you I was gonna do the whole thing. And honestly, I just got lucky."
"Whoa, come on. Even so. A perfect score? Damn."
Gu Jun-hyeok let out a disbelieving chuckle. Even he, who talked big about bubbling 2, had ended up 29th—solid top ranks. He'd clearly buckled down during the test.
If Legba hadn't helped me, my score would've been lower than his.
I felt ashamed of myself for claiming first place with Legba's help—what amounted to cheating. I wasn't qualified for it, didn't have the skill.
"Oh, there you are. Found ya."
As I wallowed in self-recrimination, Jeong In-ah approached, beaming ear to ear, clearly in a great mood.
Gu Jun-hyeok scowled at her. "Why do you look so happy? It's annoying."
"Shut it. How'd the test go?"
Jeong In-ah ignored him, grinning brightly. She seemed thrilled.
Gu Jun-hyeok, still grumpy, replied, "29th."
"Ooh, not bad at all!"
"And you?"
"12th! Pretty good compared to how much I studied. Got lucky too."
She practically sang it. 12th was definitely top-tier. No wonder she was so chipper.
"Do Seon-woo, you?"
"Eh, just okay."
"Ah, right. You didn't even know it was today till the last minute."
It was first place, but not one I could brag about proudly. I tried to brush it off, but Gu Jun-hyeok, who'd been listening, snorted in disbelief.
"Dude, he's first. Says he didn't study."
"Whoa, first~! ...First? For real?"
Jeong In-ah checked the bulletin board skeptically. At the very top: '1st: Do Seon-woo' in big letters.
I ducked my head, embarrassed. Jeong In-ah's jaw dropped.
"And get this—he says he got lucky."
"Lucky... to get first... Uh-huh..."
She stared at the board, stunned. It must've hit her hard.
"Traitor."
She turned to me with a wronged pout. "You said you didn't study! But first? Perfect score?"
"No, really, just luck this time."
"Luck my ass."
Jeong In-ah huffed playfully. Gu Jun-hyeok watched, amused.
Not just him—other students were staring too. Envy, admiration, jealousy in their eyes.
"Let's head to class for now."
Staying here chattering wouldn't end well. The stares burned.
*
"How'd the diagnostic go? Our class crushed it. 1st, 3rd, 12th—three in the top ranks. I'm proud."
Back in class, Ha Ye-jin started homeroom soon after. She touched on the test, gave a few announcements, then left quickly.
The room erupted once she was gone. Epicenter: Bae Seong-hyeon. His gang clustered around, yelling, laughing maniacally, ruining any study vibe.
Everyone was uncomfortable, but no one spoke up. Me included.
"Ugh, so loud."
Jeong In-ah, studying, glared. Finally, she shot up to yell—but I stopped her.
"Just ignore 'em."
Getting tangled with scum like that was a losing game. Better to tune them out and study.
"Fine. Sigh."
She deflated with a deep breath.
*
After school, a dim, creepy alley devoid of sunlight. Burly thugs slouched with hands in pockets, legs spread wide, puffing cigarettes.
At the center, Bae Seong-hyeon sat on a vent, exhaling smoke with a troubled frown.
"Ha."
He looked extra down today.
"What's up? Things go south with her?"
"South? Already hit it and quit it."
"Crazy. A week? Introduce her to me? Leftovers okay?"
"With your face?"
The gang eyed him carefully, trading crude jokes. Normally, Bae Seong-hyeon would've cackled along, but today he just smoked silently, face dark.
They thought: 'Don't poke the bear today...'
"Seong-hyeon, you like that, right? 'Punch machine.' Wanna?"
They schemed to cheer him up: fetch the punch machine.
One tested it with a gut punch.
Thud! A dull thump, then a groan from the machine. He clutched his solar plexus, sliding down.
"Yo, broken? No score?"
"Hic...! E-eighty-nine... points..."
"Ooh, 89's solid."
Hahaha! They roared, lightly kicking his belly. The poor guy curled fetal, trembling.
The alley echoed with laughter—except for him.
If it ends here, lucky.
The gang's punches weren't scary. Weak compared to Bae Seong-hyeon. His hurt for days—gut shots twisted your insides like they might burst.
The kid wished he'd just die. No more punches then.
He imagined puking from a Bae hit, then stood shakily.
"Move. Not today."
Relief flooded his face. Bae was too down to swing. Great news—no beating!
If only every day... But Bae leaped up.
"Ah, uh. S-sorry!"
The kid apologized on reflex, but Bae ignored him. His eyes fixed on three in Florence uniforms at the alley's end.
"Hey, you three. Come here."
Bae flashed a cold, chilling smile, beckoning them in.
Do Seon-woo, Jeong In-ah, and Gu Jun-hyeok shuffled into the smoky alley.
Jeong In-ah coughed. Bae grinned wider—nauseatingly fake.
"You guys our class, right?"
"Yeah. So?" Jeong In-ah pinched her nose, voice nasal.
Gu Jun-hyeok eyed him warily up and down. Do Seon-woo just gazed blankly at the alley.
Bae thrust out a hand—straight at Do Seon-woo.
"Do Seon-woo, right? Not picking a fight, don't worry. Just wanna get friendly."
Keep friends close, enemies closer. Bae's favorite saying, son of a tycoon.
Do Seon-woo could threaten his spot. That physical talent was genius-level—Bae's paled in comparison.
Checking him wouldn't work. Geniuses overcome trials to reach the top.
Bae wanted alliance first—subordinate him before talent bloomed fully.
"Oh, cool. Glad."
Do Seon-woo shook. Grip strength insane—even Bae's Mighty Strength Blessing strained.
"But why's that guy like that? Hurt?"
Do Seon-woo nodded at the curled, shaking kid on the ground post-handshake.
Bae kicked his head lightly. "Friend. Just playing. Wanna join? He's got killer tricks."
At Bae's glance, the kid dropped to all fours, barking like a dog—realistic as hell.
Jeong In-ah recoiled in shock. Gu Jun-hyeok scowled.
"Like a real pup, huh?"
"Yeah. But."
Do Seon-woo continued unfazed. "Still playing this kiddie crap? Kinda childish. Pathetic. Whatever."
He glanced at Bae with a serene smile.
Bae's face stiffened. Childish? Pathetic? Me?
He forced a smile—lips twitched madly, failing.
Gang tensed, shoulders squared, advancing on Do Seon-woo.
"Pathetic? You nuts?"
"Chicks make you cocky, dickhead."
Tension crackled—fight imminent.
Do Seon-woo just smiled calmly.
"Enough."
Bae stopped them. Gu Jun-hyeok I can handle, but not Do Seon-woo. That handshake...
His hand still throbbed. And Do laughed easy—confident he'd win relaxed.
"Sorry for holding you up. See ya at school."
"Yeah, got it. Oh, smokes are bad for you. Know that?"
"...Yeah. Gotta quit."
Do Seon-woo's innocent calm grated Bae raw. Unintentional, which pissed him off more—frustrating.
As the trio left, the gang swarmed Bae.
"What the fuck? Calling us pathetic? Assholes. Pissing me off."
"Skinny punks acting tough—what they got?"
Bae's forehead vein pulsed as he listened.
"Shut up."
They zipped it. He rubbed his face, sighing.
"Ha... Wanna kill 'em. Fuck."
Threat in PE, now test top—plus busybody justice. Bae's buried inferiority swelled.
The curled kid thought: Jealous.
Unflinching before Bae. Courage against power. Wished he had Do Seon-woo's guts someday.
(To be continued next time)