Chapter 67
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Past Exam Papers
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The library on a golden Friday.
The library was known among work-study students as a pretty sweet gig.
There weren't any real complaints or tasks to handle—just sorting returned books whenever you had time.
But the librarian sitting in that prime spot didn't look as thrilled as you'd expect.
"Haa..."
'I went out of my way to make Friday my free day...'
He'd ditched a super popular elective just to snag that Friday gap in his schedule.
But he'd overlooked one key thing: work-study jobs didn't care about your class schedule.
As a first-timer, it had completely slipped his mind.
He'd just gotten excited because everyone else envied the library shift.
And now, here he was.
While other students squeezed in hours here and there, he was stuck covering the entire Friday.
"At least I get most other days off..."
Still, it was hard not to feel a bit bummed.
"Haa..."
Nothing for it.
Might as well study for exams.
It was the library, after all—no way he felt like scrolling NewTube and cracking up from morning till night.
He was rummaging through his bag for his textbook when—
Knock knock knock.
"Hm?"
He looked up at the tapping on the desk, but no one was there.
"Did I imagine it?"
Knock knock knock!
Louder this time, just as he was about to check his bag again.
'What the...'
Was someone pranking him?
But it was early morning, before first period even started.
No one else should be in the library.
A chill ran down his spine. He froze, holding his breath.
Knock! Knock!
'!'
The tapping came again.
Clear as day—even though no one was standing right in front of him!
And it sounded angry, like they were putting some real force into it.
Followed by a tiny, pleading voice.
"Um, excuse meee...!"
"Huh."
Only then did he glance under the desk and spot a pair of fresh green leaves.
'Oh, it's that kid.'
Unless you were a total hermit, everyone had heard of the little one.
The kid who dethroned the infamous gaggle of geese to become the official mascot: the one and only "Su-hyeon."
She was so popular that rumors swirled about more girls hanging around the engineering building just to catch a glimpse.
Getting too close or sneaking photos was strictly taboo, though.
(Though word was, if you fed her, she'd let you snap a pic.)
Anyway, what was Su-hyeon doing in the library this early?
"Could you open the reading room door for me? I can't reach the card reader..."
"Ah, sure."
Why, obviously—to study.
With the librarian's help, I swiped my student ID and made it inside.
Why couldn't he just hand me the card to swipe? Why lift me up under the armpits like that?
Everyone who saw me just had to pick me up—it was infuriating.
"Ow, my arms hurt..."
I rubbed my reddened fists and glared at the closing door.
This was all that guy's fault for having bad ears.
"...Ahh."
For the record, my old student ID was kaput, so I'd gotten a new one.
Applied at the student services center last week or so, and it showed up in the mail yesterday when I got back from the sauna.
Anyway, the real reason I came to the school library?
Not to study for exams... please.
Why drag myself all the way here when I could do it at home?
No, we'd all agreed to study together today.
Ga-eun, Min-ji, and Ji-eun.
"Hee..."
And I was pretty excited about it.
Back in my freshman year, I was so jealous of friends studying together.
Cramming late into the night, sneaking out for smokes now and then, hitting up PC bangs to slack off, wrapping up in blankets on hallway chairs for an all-nighter "nap" before exams...
Messy as hell, sure, but it screamed youth. Blindingly bright.
They were making memories.
Whether they actually learned anything was debatable.
But now it was my turn. Time to claim my page in that memory book.
So I'd headed to the library bright and early.
To organize past problems and solutions for Engineering Fundamentals Math—the standard eng major class—before the others arrived.
I could finish it up and hand it over all proud by then.
"...Alright."
Memories and establishing my senior cred? Perfect opportunity.
Su-hyeon's tiny hands started working furiously.
I was deep into sorting predicted problems when 11 a.m. rolled around.
Moments later, Min-ji came yawning through the reading room door.
'Min-ji!'
Flutter flutter—
No guts to wave wildly. Instead, I felt my leaf hair rustling like crazy overhead.
I beamed telepathic "come here" vibes, hoping she'd pick up on it, but after glancing around, she plopped down in the wrong spot.
Guess I was too short to spot.
My perky leaves drooped a bit.
'I can study solo till lunch, then join up.'
Even if the room was mostly empty, I couldn't cause a scene.
Not everyone was here yet anyway.
An hour later, Ga-eun and Ji-eun arrived almost at the same time.
They didn't grab seats—just whipped out their phones.
Bzzz—
Ji-eun: We're here
Ji-eun: You both here?
I checked KakaoTalk, and there was a group message asking where we were.
Ga-eun: Both in the reading room?
(1)
That unread count wasn't budging, huh?
Min-ji must've gone full study mode without even checking her phone.
Unexpected.
Then Ji-eun poked Ga-eun's side, and they headed my way.
Ga-eun: Found Min-ji.
Ga-eun: Where's Su-hyeon?
Ga-eun: Home?
Me: Nah
Me: Been here since like 7.
Ji-eun: (Cat freaking out grabbing its head sticker)
Ga-eun: For real?
Ga-eun: Where you sitting
Me: Typing...
Me: I'll come to you
I started to type my seat number, then just packed up and headed their way instead.
"Oh, there she is."
Ga-eun whispered when she spotted the creature shuffling over, arms loaded with bags.
A4 sheets balanced precariously on top— one wrong move and it'd all spill.
"Su-hyeon must've been studying hard. Look at all that stuff."
Ji-eun noticed me too, a beat later.
"Hey Ga-eun. Hey Ji-eun."
"Hey. Drop your stuff here and let's head out? Time for food."
"Yeah. Where you guys sitting?"
"Around here?"
Ga-eun took my bags and set them on the seat next to hers.
I carefully pulled out a few precious sheets from the pile and glanced around.
"Huh, where's Min-ji?"
Ji-eun heard that and poked inside the chair behind her.
"Hey."
"Ughhh... Huh?"
Min-ji stretched and sat up.
It was a tiny noise, but in the dead quiet room, it felt deafening.
"Shh, quiet."
"Ugh, everyone's here?"
'Not that she missed KakaoTalk cause she was studying... she was napping.'
I felt stupid for even hoping otherwise. Sigh.
"Graaah!"
The second we stepped out, Min-ji stretched again.
"Tired?"
"Urgh... Yeah. I switched my shifts to weekday afternoons to skip work during exams."
"Ah."
No wonder she was wiped—night shift then first period.
Feeling a tad guilty for judging her earlier, I gave her a little energy boost.
"Whoa, what's this? Moral support?"
Min-ji startled at whatever grabbed her hand but quickly lit up when she realized.
"Just a quick hand massage to wake you up."
"Ooh, yes please~."
I kneaded her palm, and she squeezed back greedily.
"You guys not starving? Wanna grab bread at the cafe next door?"
"Sure. Light lunch, early dinner later. No classes this afternoon?"
"Sigh, I've got major at two..."
Ga-eun had class at two, but plenty of time till then.
Perfect—eat, come back, hand out my notes.
Couldn't wait for their reactions. My steps felt lighter.
"What's got you so hyped?"
"Huh? Just... studying together's got me all excited."
"Heh, what is this, an amusement park? You're hilarious."
We filled up on bagels and sandwiches, grabbed coffees, and headed back to the library.
"Study out in the hall for a bit?"
She meant the discussion tables in the corridor.
You need space to chat while studying, after all.
"Yeah, good for digestion too. Everyone grab your stuff?"
'Now's the time.'
Su-hyeon's eyes sparkled.
Finally, time to unveil my prep work.
Rustle rustle—
I went back to my seat, gathered the lovingly organized problems, and headed out.
Handling them oh-so-carefully to avoid creases.
Ga-eun and Ji-eun, with just notebooks or tablets, tilted their heads at my massive stack of papers.
"What's all that?"
"Uh... well..."
I'd worked so hard, but handing it over felt kinda embarrassing now.
Still, I'd made it to give, so...
"What's this?"
"Engineering Fundamentals Math? Isn't that freshman stuff?"
Ji-eun flipped through the pages.
"Did you... make this?"
I nodded sheepishly.
"Yeah... past problems, predictions, solutions... all sorted."
"Whoa..."
They were speechless.
"When did you do this? This morning?"
"This is seriously touching."
Nearly five hours on a subject that had nothing to do with her.
The smudges of black ink on those pudgy little fingers just tugged at the heart.
That's when Min-ji finally came out.
"Hehe, check this out, guys. Ta-da~!"
"Huh?"
My eyes went wide.
What Min-ji held were past exam compilations. Thick stacks built up over years.
"Dropped 'em off for binding this morning, picked up after class~. We can use 'em later at dinner or... Huh? Why the weird reactions...?"
Super grateful, but talk about the worst timing.
Ga-eun and Ji-eun's pupils shook.
"Uh... Min-ji? Thanks, but, um..."
"......"
Right. Those things existed.
Akashic Records you scored by sucking up to seniors.
Hadn't even crossed my mind—totally unrelated to me.
I stared down at the papers on the table.
They looked so shabby now: sloppily organized, just clipped together.
Next to those slickly bound tomes? Night and day.
And yep, Engineering Fundamentals Math was in there too.
Min-ji clocked it at the same time.
Flip—
"Su-hyeon, wait, hold on."
Ga-eun panicked as I silently gathered the papers and hid them behind me.
But my big eyes were already welling up...
"Waaah!"
Thud!
Min-ji, sharp as ever, immediately chucked the compilations into the trash can nearby.
The loud noise made me flinch.
"Y'know, just problems and answers? Useless—I get nothing from it!"
Min-ji declared loudly.
"Way better with explanations and lectures, right?"
Her soulmate Ji-eun jumped in quick.
"T-Totally! Memorizing past problems isn't studying! You don't even get the formulas..."
"Exactly! Haha, what a waste! Hey, what's that Su-hyeon's holding? A workbook for me, maybe...?"
Pfft—
I rubbed my eyes with my sleeve at their obvious cheering-up attempt.
"Don't rub with your sleeve. It'll get puffy."
Ga-eun held my arms and gently wiped my tears.
"...Yeah. Thanks."
This time, it felt like happy tears.