Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Something's Different Today
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Another day begins just like always.
No, it's not quite the same.
For some reason, something has changed.
"Alright, so let's summarize.
To calculate the tension force, you just need to account for both the upward and downward forces.
For forces pointing straight up or down, you can derive them using the formulas.
But how do you calculate tension at an angle?
You break it down into X and Y components. Got it?"
...I get it.
Just last week, none of this college general physics made any sense to me.
For some reason, today everything clicks the moment I hear it.
Of course, I've missed a ton so far, and my basics are so shaky I don't know higher physics either...
But it's starting to come together, bit by bit.
Have I finally lost my mind?
"Shall we try an example problem?
Try 5.2. You've got five minutes."
"Yes, sir."
The students murmured their responses and dove into the problem.
College classes are usually held in big lecture halls with 40 or 50 people.
But there are plenty of smaller rooms like this with just eight students, broken down for more focus.
Especially since the recent freshmen have such low academic levels, they run it with full professor oversight like this.
I don't know if it's the best method... but it does force you to keep your eyes wide open, so it helps.
'Will I get it right?'
My heart pounded.
The sum of all forces equals zero. Sigma F = 0.
Left diagonal A1, right diagonal A2, and A3 supporting the object.
The weight is B, and downward is Bg, multiplied by gravity.
Every force can be broken into simple X and Y equations.
For Xi, just take the X parts from the diagonals of A1 and A2.
For Yi, the Y parts from A1 and A2.
Positive Y upward, positive X to the right.
Then?
Add the trig formulas to sum the forces.
Xi => A2 cos θ2 - A1 cos θ1 = 0
Yi => A1 sin θ1 - A2 sin θ2 - Bg = 0
Plug in the example numbers, and you can solve for the total force.
'What the hell.'
I have no idea what's happening.
Just a few days ago, I was slamming my head against the book like everyone else.
"Ugh..."
"Tch..."
True to its reputation as a college full of delinquents, everyone was struggling.
I was definitely doing the same until a few days ago.
But suddenly, my brain's flowing like water. Everything just makes sense.
'What is this, really.'
Did peeling off the ada with Yi Ju-ha do it?
Did escaping the ada unclog some blocked meridian or something?
...No way. It's been over a week since I peeled it off. Nothing changed until a few days ago.
Then, thanks to Yi Ju-ha, I got my first kiss and peeled off the ada too?
Does kissing make your brain spin faster or suddenly smarter? No fucking way.
I was destined to die a virgin ada loser, but I succeeded at kissing and my mind cleared up?
...Loser thoughts incoming. Fuck, but thinking about the kiss is making me hard all of a sudden.
Anyway, no matter how I think about it, I can't figure it out.
What the hell unlocked my brain?
It's clear something flipped after yesterday. What could it be?
'Poker?'
The thought flashed by.
Poker. Texas Hold'em. Something I'd ignored completely.
For months, I'd wandered around blankly, eating, walking, shitting—nothing but autopilot.
Yesterday was the first time in ages I'd focused on something.
...Does that make sense?
Just a few hands of poker sped up my brain?
But nothing else explains it.
Come to think of it, have I ever concentrated that hard recently?
I even played online games just to kill time, never really focusing.
"Yi Jun-hyeong? Done already?"
"Huh? Oh, not yet."
"Hmm."
I lied without thinking.
Everyone else was still working, so saying 'Yeah, it's done. Piece of cake' would pull way too much aggro.
The professor leaned against the podium with a serious look.
Like, How do I drag these idiots along...
He pondered for a moment, then stepped out and walked toward us.
"Hmm..."
He wanted to check our work personally.
I hurriedly scribbled with my pen like I was working.
I'd already solved it!
"What part don't you understand?"
"The... trig equations."
"Really? But you get the X and Y force coordinate system, right?"
"Honestly, not really..."
The professor zeroed in on one student for intense tutoring.
I'd bought some time.
This class might drag on till the end.
Anyway, after class, I'm supposed to go shopping for clothes with Yu In-ha...
'Scribble scribble.'
My thoughts drifted back to poker.
Poker... Did playing poker suddenly sharpen my mind?
Or would any intense focus like poker have done it?
Or was it the baseline panic of 'if I lose Yi Ju-ha's money, I'm fucked'?
...Can't say for sure.
Might just be me getting ahead of myself.
"Got it now?"
"Uh... yeah... Professor..."
A mumbled response came from the student.
The professor smacked his lips and resumed pacing.
I doodled meaningless lines, pretending I'd just finished.
"Hmm..."
He stopped right next to me.
Bent down to look at my work.
Sudden tension hit me.
What if it's all wrong?
"Oh, Yi Jun-hyeong?"
"Yes?"
The professor's voice lit up.
"You solved it perfectly. How'd you do it?"
...Uh... just with my brain.
It felt like, 'How'd this thick-headed kid from a few days ago solve it? Impressive.'
"Just... today's lecture clicked for me."
"Oh, really?"
Suddenly, eyes from other students turned my way.
First praise from the prof—bound to draw attention.
I shrank in my seat.
Pulling aggro makes me nervous...
"Excellent."
The professor chuckled heartily and moved on to another student.
Searching for his next prey.
No big finds, though.
His jolly laugh turned grave again.
"Yi Jun-hyeong?"
"Y-yes."
Fuck, what's this? Anxiety spiked.
"Want to come up and explain from a student's perspective?
Can you break it down in detail?"
"Huh?"
Aggro pulled again.
"Okay... first, the premise...
Sigma F = 0. The sum of forces is zero.
Then, as you said, calculate the total X and Y forces..."
Sweat dripped down my back.
How long had it been since I was called to the front?
The stares from eight pairs of eyes behind me made sweat pour.
"Starting with A1...
A1 points left, so X is negative, Y positive."
"Good, good. Keep going."
"A2 points right, so trig: X cosine, Y sine."
I recited my solution aloud, scribbling on the whiteboard.
Ughhh... loser about to faint...
"Sum the X and Y forces from left and right.
Finally, add downward Bg. g is 9.8 m/s²."
Done.
I set the pen down, chest burning.
The professor beamed and clapped.
"Perfect, Yi Jun-hyeong.
Did everyone else get it? Clean solution."
They nodded vaguely.
Not from understanding—just polite nods.
My face burned red. Felt weird getting praise for something trivial.
"You're good at this, Yi Jun-hyeong.
Checked your book—other examples are spot on too.
Thought you weren't paying attention."
"Ah... haha... yeah..."
Felt stripped bare.
Back in high school, when I'd get called up and nail a problem, the girl delinquents would smirk.
'Hey, Yi Jun-hyeong. Smart guy?'
'Hey, Yi Jun-hyeong. Feels good getting praised?'
'Look at this smug fuck.'
'Feels good? Good? Huh? You like it?'
Poking my feet, giggling—my face would flush beet red.
That memory hit me.
"Yi Jun-hyeong here can teach your friends too.
Peers explain better than professors sometimes.
Easier to ask them, right?"
"Uh... y-yeah..."
Fuck. Aggro wasn't enough—now I'm assigned a role.
Please no, Professor!!! You must've been a loser too back in the day!!! Stop the friendly fire!!!
"Ask Yi Jun-hyeong lots of questions, everyone.
Study together to understand faster. Studying isn't solo.
Get close too. Isn't college life beautiful?"
Just kill me...
I clasped my hands, shedding bloody tears.
After nearly ten minutes up front, I finally returned to my seat.
"Alright, ten-minute break.
Grab some water."
"Yes, sir."
The professor left, and the others rushed out.
Three or four stayed.
I fanned my shirt lightly.
Almost suffocated.