Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Who Confessed First?
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Who confessed first?
I'd thought it was just a variety show up until now, but to think it was actually a full-on documentary.
We stepped into the classroom next door where the filming was taking place, and the production crew explained how the day would unfold...
"...What the hell is this?"
I stared at the given timetable, blinking nonstop.
1st period: Math
2nd period: English
3rd period: Physical Education
Lunchtime
4th period: Music
5th & 6th periods: Self-study
Why does this feel so damn serious?
At this rate, are they gonna recreate the college entrance exam when we do high school days?
"...This is some next-level humanism I didn't see coming."
Chaewon muttered in a daze, clearly not expecting them to reflect those days this faithfully.
Then, out of nowhere, she looked at me and said...
"I haven't had coffee yet."
Meaning she'd probably doze off starting from first period.
While Chaewon and I exchanged blank looks, the PD clapped to kick things off properly.
"Today, we'll recreate your middle school days, so you'll follow the class schedule and breaks exactly like real school life."
"Are we joining the middle schoolers for classes?"
"Yes. And as announced beforehand, you'll lead the subjects you said you're confident in: math and music."
The PD nodded at Chaewon's question.
A week before filming, they'd asked what subjects we were good at, and I'd said math was the one I could kinda handle.
That's when they handed me the textbook, saying there might be math in the schedule so brush up. I should've realized then.
"Hey, Mr. Math Genius. You really that good at math?"
Chaewon shot me a resentful glare. I knew full well she hated math to the point of nausea, so I did feel a twinge of guilt.
But putting that aside...
"I didn't expect this either."
"You better take responsibility."
"I'll handle the math class, so of course I'll take responsibility..."
"Still, we have to set a good example for these growing sprouts. What if you doze off even a little during math class? What will the kids think...!!"
Ah, so that's what she meant?
But I couldn't exactly say it was just weak willpower, so I swallowed my words and flashed a smile instead.
"Don't worry. Middle school math is a breeze."
"...I dropped math right at the end of second year, second semester."
"Hey, even if you were bombing it, I got you to half-passing at least———."
"...You idiot! Don't blab about that...!!"
"Oh."
So that's why you'd whispered it in my ear...?
"Kang Yumin..."
Her eyes burned—not quite kill-you dead, but smash-you-half-to-death levels.
Faced with Chaewon's gritted-teeth glare, I desperately sought an out by flashing an awkward grin at the camera.
"Everyone, studies aren't everything in life. It's an era where you bloom your talents by focusing on what you're good at."
"...Sigh, cut the camera for a sec."
Hmm. Guess that didn't soothe her.
"...And that's how we ended up talking math with you all today."
First period: Math.
I stood alone at the teacher's desk, giving the middle schoolers an awkward smile.
True to its rep as the toughest school around for math, the kids' eyes were fiercely competitive.
Think you can teach us?
That exact vibe crushed my spirit.
What kind of battles are you teachers fighting out there?
"Quick question: Anyone here know high school math?"
Hands shot up en masse. Easily over half the class.
"How far have you gone? Math I? Math II?"
Most of the hand-raisers chattered that those were standard these days...
"I've finished calculus!!"
"I did geometry."
"Just in case, I did everything."
About ten kids claimed they'd cleared not just the CSAT basics, but electives like calculus, probability & stats, and geometry too.
"...I was gonna teach systems of equations today."
What kind of battles are you teachers fighting?
I shot a respectful glance at the homeroom teacher nodding sympathetically from the back, then pondered what to do.
Sticking to the textbook would drag 45 minutes into eternity of boredom, and we'd have zilch for broadcast-worthy footage.
So...
"Form groups of four—ten teams total. Each team makes one problem for me together, and I'll solve it on the board while we discuss. Sound good?"
The best option I could muster.
The kids' eyes spun at the un-middle-school-like setup as they glanced at the crew. The PD and writer conferred, then gave the OK.
"Ten minutes enough?"
"Give us fifteen!! Geometry's hard to make...!!"
So why make a geometry one, kid?
"Sorry, but I'm shaky on geometry myself. If you're handing it off, make it prob/stats or calculus instead. I forgot geo..."
"But you went to Seohyeon High (science-focused high school)!!"
"...Yeah, but it's been three years since I dropped geometry."
"Then why'd you major in economics after Seohyeon? Shouldn't it be engineering or med school?"
Are these kids really middle schoolers?
Never thought I'd do a college admissions Q&A with second-years.
Not that I wanted to, so I hurried to divide them into groups and gave problem-making time.
Of course, I spread out those ten CSAT whizzes.
...What? Only ten minutes passed?
Should've given twenty for problems.
"...Talking math's making my head spin. Feels like I'm feverish?"
"I didn't hate math before, but now I think I will."
While Chaewon and I huddled at the desk muttering that something was off, fifteen minutes flew by.
"Alright, let's tackle the first problem."
I grabbed the ten sheets of paper with problems, picked up the chalk, and started solving one by one.
Luckily, some respect for seniors and basic human decency remained—most stuck to middle school level.
"Haha. Don't know which team, but this is prob/stats? Not academy homework, right?"
Meaning the rest were high school or CSAT level.
"Busted."
"Was too lazy to solve it—how'd you know?"
Never seen such cheeky second-years.
Middle school ones took two minutes to solve and explain, but prob/stats and calculus—with calcs and full walkthroughs—took at least five each, no matter how fast. We blew right past 45 minutes.
The break bell rang, and kids swarmed Chaewon. I caught my reflection holding the chalk: middle school uniform, passionately solving academy high school math in front of kids.
...Is this what they call the loner life?
"This time, we'll do a Q&A with our two seniors—in English."
Breaks flew by then as now.
The homeroom teacher rang the bell, and I jumped right into English from the desk. The kids all responded in English—a sight to behold.
...When did classes like this start?
"As discussed, we'll go from number 40 onward."
One minute per kid was 40 minutes.
And these were hardcore Ever fans who knew me as Chaewon's childhood friend inside out.
Just reactions would fill the time.
Perfect.
Grinning at the payback for math hell, I eyed number 40.
"Tell us what you think is Chaewon unnie's prettiest feature."
Number 40 stared straight into my eyes. I blanked for three seconds before a hollow laugh escaped.
"...This is for me, right?"
"Yes!"
"Great question from our friend Joohee—Joohee."
Chaewon winked, and the middle schoolers cheered wildly.
While I sulked through break, the other side got rowdy.
These kids plotted this.
I slowly turned to Chaewon in the outrageously cheeky setup.
"You rigged it?"
"Rigged what?"
"No way these Ever superfans ask that with Han Chaewon right there."
"Yumin oppa, no time! Answer quick!!"
"Don't eat into break!!"
You kids should be civil servants.
Your ruthless pro-idol stance is what the nation needs.
Haa.
I squeezed my eyes shut, swallowing a smile.
Glanced at the camera, then met the questioner's eyes and answered.
"I think her eyes are her most charming point."
"Kyaa~!"
"Pretty eyes, so romantic!"
For some reason, the girls cheered enthusiastically.
"Agh, should've just said everything's pretty, bro!"
"How's a guy who says crap like that dating Chaewon noona? Pisses me off?"
For some reason, the boys cheered enthusiastically too.
...Don't stare like that. I'm human, I get hurt.
"Ah, so cute."
I ignored Chaewon poking my elbow, clearly loving this, and called the next kid.
Her eyes looked kind—seemed like she'd say something nice.
I stepped back from the desk, waiting...
"Who confessed first?"
Her eyes flipped cold, interrogating like a criminal suspect, hands on hips—number 39.
You be a detective.
Major crimes division wants you.
"...Our friend Seyoung seems to have a big misunderstanding."
I checked the roster quick and spoke first.
With SNS so rampant, gotta clarify these things properly.
Couldn't have Chaewon explain it weirdly, so I stepped up, but...
"Who did it first is obvious, right?"
Chaewon cut me off, answering fluently in English.
Like chopping your foot with a trusted axe—I turned in shock at this unexpected foe...
"No need to look like that since it's true, dummy."
She shrugged and winked.
"Woooaaahhh!!!"
"You two are really dating?!!"
"...That guy's the worst senior ever."
"They say enemies meet on a log bridge..."
The classroom heated up instantly.
"Where do you usually date?"
"Handwritten letters?"
"When did you start seeing each other that way?"
"Favorite moment?"
"Where do I find a childhood friend like that?"
...And a barrage of love questions followed. The rest of the time turned from Q&A to straight-up explanations.
Wow, second period's already over.