Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Unexpected Study Partner
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'Rustle rustle.'
...
Unexpected.
The reading room in the central library next to the nursing building...
It's been about two hours since I started studying with Park Ye-young.
We agreed to study separately at first because she had urgent assignments.
Aside from a quick smoking break, we've been fully focused for two straight hours.
Really unexpected.
I figured she'd be shaking her leg every ten minutes, unable to concentrate, and just scrolling on her phone...
Then again, I haven't properly seen her since she moved up to senior year.
No news about her either, so she must've quit the delinquent life and buckled down on studies.
That must've pissed off the girls even more.
Nothing more infuriating than a delinquent actually focusing on studies and acing exams.
They're already lording over everyone and bullying away, and now they're good at studying too...
Leaves the real losers with nothing but self-loathing.
That's life, though.
'Ahhh.'
I stretched for a bit.
Two hours in, but I made pretty good progress on physics.
The prof basically spoon-fed us since the kids don't study—it's like a cheat sheet.
And even from that, we skipped the unlikely parts, so the workload shrank a ton.
At this rate, I might finish with time to spare?
"Eugh."
Park Ye-young stretched too, looking tired as she smacked her lips.
Craving another smoke, probably.
Smokers are weird. Isn't chocolate what you're supposed to want at times like this?
"Smoke?"
"Yeah."
At first I was like, "No thanks," but she dragged me out anyway...
Now I just follow her every time to get some fresh air.
She shoved her hands in her pockets and headed out casually.
...Hard to imagine a girl like that becoming a nurse. Worried she'll chew out patients left and right...
'Click click.'
She lit up as soon as we stepped out and took a deep drag.
Exhale.
The smoke wafted right into my nose.
Damn it... I scooted my seat to the other side.
'Kekeke.'
Park Ye-young laughed at me dodging the smoke.
These damn smokers... You think that's funny?!
I turned away and looked down at the school grounds.
Campus view from up high... Students bustling to and fro.
I rested my chin and watched for a bit.
"Hey, hand over that physics sheet you brought."
"Oh, sure."
The exam cheat sheet she asked me to bring earlier to glance at.
Prof-picked, so 100% reliable.
Park Ye-young squinted at it closely. I probed casually.
"Did physics in high school?"
"Me? Physics and chem. Should've done bio, my ass."
Physics and chem... Picked the tough ones.
She chewed on the filter, staring hard.
"Kinda different from high school, but... doesn't seem unsolvable?"
"Not sure about the really hard ones, though."
"Lemme see your solved sheet."
"Here."
I'd already done over half.
Not sure if exact, but probably close.
Similar to textbook examples, so unless I messed up the process, the answer should be right...
"Hmm..."
She spat out the cig and focused again.
Checking my solutions, looks like.
After staring forever, she inhaled sharply...
"What the hell... It all seems right?"
Told you.
Kept saying no help needed.
She kept doubting her eyes, scanning the solutions repeatedly.
"Damn. They're all correct. You solved these?"
"Just did 'em in the last two hours."
"What the hell. Aren't you trash at studying?"
"...That was ages ago."
"No, your department's full of idiots, though."
Hey, that's too harsh!
I trembled and stuck out my hand. Gimme the paper back, damn it...
She tilted her head, handing it back.
"What, started studying in college?"
"Didn't in high school, now you do?"
"Yeah..."
Wish my brain had clicked sooner.
Regrettable, but what can you do? Better late than never. Some people never get it.
"Sigh... Nothing left for me to help with."
"Just check math a bit..."
"Math? Yeah, I can do that."
Math still has confusing parts... Integrals especially. Help there would be nice.
So much material—quick grasp and move on would be ideal.
"Haah— friggin' hell."
She leaned on the railing and lit another cig.
...What's with that curse I've never heard?
"Hate studying so much—."
No one likes it...
I looked away again.
Glad it's going well, though. Was worried she'd distract me...
New environment seems to help? Never bothered coming here before 'cause it's a hike.
"Let's head in..."
She tossed the half-smoked cig.
Damn... Gonna start a fire one day.
Hands in pockets, she trudged back.
"So what's the practice for?"
"Freshmen do labs from semester one?"
"Huh? No."
She glanced back, shaking her head.
Been bugging me to be her practice partner...
Better knock it out now.
Class later, hard to come back if called again.
"Earliest is second semester, freshman year. Usually starts junior year."
"But what kind...?"
She smirked faintly.
"Oh. After CSAT, I went for dental assistant cert."
"Nursing's four years—too long. Thought I'd do that instead."
"Tried it, seemed quick..."
...And?
"Got stuck in practice."
"Checking breaths, drawing blood..."
"Damn basics, couldn't get it."
Hmm... That happened.
Post-CSAT, straight to nursing academy?
Didn't peg her for diligent. Partied like crazy till sophomore year... What flipped the switch?
"Fumbled that, half-assed it."
"Then suddenly field placement. Went, fought a ton."
...
Knew it.
Her temper wouldn't stay quiet...
"What... fight over?"
"Old geezer groped my ass, the perv."
"Hey hey, stop that—shut up. Grabbed his collar, got kicked out."
...
That's grounds for dismissal?
No penalties or anything...?
I just gawked, speechless. Good she's hustling, but anger issues much...?
"And helping out, just grunt work nonstop."
"Fine, whatever."
"Then calls me in, shits on me hard."
"Punk who I'd destroy 1v1 outside."
"Almost said, 'Wanna settle it outside, bitch?' but held back. Damn."
She vented rapidly, fuming.
Voice dripping rage...
"You... held back well... yeah..."
"Did good."
"Last day, pulled the bitch aside, warned her we'd meet outside. She shook like a leaf, loser kekeke."
...You didn't hold back at all!
Beat up seniors, patients—everyone!
She cackled, hands in pockets.
"Anyway, tons of practice issues... Dropped it."
"Gotta keep up here for labs later."
"Redo what I learned."
"Uh-huh..."
Proactive in weird ways... Can't complain if she's diligent.
She sighed deeply.
"Oh, and seems like department seniors have it out for me."
"Dunno if I can last four years here."
"Damn."
Would be weirder if they didn't.
Nursing has subtle hierarchies even without old-school hazing.
Your personality? Surprised no explosions yet.
Might as well switch departments.
Or nah. Tough it out, good days ahead? Nice senior at hospital, maybe smooth sailing.
Derm or ENT—places like that sound chill.
"Anyway, since it came up, practice?"
"Need to check pulse anyway."
"Sure, why not."
Decent study progress. Time before class.
Pulse check—how long could it take?
I nodded.
She hummed ahead.
World's full of all kinds... High school, everyone seemed same.
*
Nursing annex lab building.
First time here... All girls everywhere.
Glances as we passed.
Why... staring? I ducked my head, trailing Park Ye-young.
"Oh, Park Ye-young."
"Hey, hi."
Ran into her classmates greeting—whole body cringed.
'Who's this punk?' stares with hellos...
She strode on regardless. Owns the place...
"Here."
Empty.
One vacant lab... She scanned around.
Small room inside.
Grabbed two tools, beckoned.
...Sure we can use just us?
"Finally doing this."
She grinned, flipping lights.
Disinfectant smell—rare in engineering.
"Sit here."
She patted a chair, smiling.
Feels like a nurse sis vibe for a sec...
I sat obediently.
She yanked my arm, pressed stethoscope on it pronto.
Not regular stethoscope...
Fancy one with attachments. Neat—looks pro.
"Hmm..."
Leaned in closer, concentrating.
My eyes involuntarily dropped to her deep cleavage.
No... nowhere safe to look...
I barely averted to the side. C'mon, cover up a bit...