Chapter 63
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Barging In and Messing Everything Up (1)
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Sunday evening, after wrapping up my routine. I finished showering and flopped onto the bed.
The tablet by my pillow had a paused video on it, and I checked the calendar on my phone.
"Next week..."
No matter how I looked at it, my schedule was packed without a moment to breathe.
With this weekend over, the mid-check for the recital was coming up this Friday.
The Friday after that was the third evaluation, and the weekend following was the recital submission deadline.
As a performer, it made sense to stick around until I submitted my piece, so until the weekend after next, my body wouldn't really be my own.
I jotted down some notes on my phone calendar and set it aside.
Leaning back against the bed, I resumed the video when the dorm door creaked open with a rattle.
"What're you up to?"
I glanced at Lee Seong-hyuk, who was coming in with his modest luggage, then turned wordlessly back to my tablet.
"I'm back, you know."
"Yeah, good job."
"Can't you at least welcome me...?"
"What, you on leave from the army?"
Lee Seong-hyuk let out a dissatisfied sigh as he unpacked, then suddenly chucked something at me.
The item flying toward my chest was a pack of jelly candies. I'd sent him on this errand—they weren't sold inside the school.
"Nice."
"I saw what you sent earlier. What, you write a thesis or something?"
"Use it to ace your exams."
I tore open the jelly pack and chewed on one as I replied.
The 'thesis' he mentioned was the summary I'd made of the pieces for the third evaluation, as we'd talked about before.
Diving back into my pre-regression expertise for a proper document like that had been exhausting. Still, I was pretty satisfied with the result, and we'd all agreed to keep it strictly among ourselves.
"Whatcha watching?"
"What you mentioned."
Lee Seong-hyuk dragged over a chair and peered in.
What I'd been glued to since yesterday was a compilation of Ye-rim Arts High School's top practical performers' recitals from the last three years and their grade-level orchestra concerts.
One surprising thing: the orchestra concerts were always held at external venues. No idea why they skipped the school's great facilities.
"What do you think?"
"Lots of familiar faces—pretty fun."
"Familiar faces? Since when do you know anyone at Ye-rim?"
"...Saw some in student interviews and stuff."
It slipped out, but it wasn't a lie. Spotting future famous performers in last year's third-years was pretty entertaining.
'Anyway, they all look so cool.'
Dressed to the nines in suits and gowns, perfectly groomed, performing for thousands as school reps.
Most performances were shockingly good—even I was impressed—and the audience rewarded those stellar students with standing ovations up to ten minutes long.
The occasional "bravo!" shouts gripped my heart.
Standing ovations and cheers... Watching Ye-rim Arts High School's shining legacy made my chest pound.
All my performances so far had been half-empty halls. Even the second evaluation, which had a decent crowd, was the same.
'I want to stand up there too.'
That bubbling desire—wasn't it just natural for a pianist?
Thanks to Lee Seong-hyuk, I now knew about this goldmine, firing me up. But charging to the practice room at night would get me caught by the dorm supervisor, so I'd hold off.
"Ah, wiped out after slaving away all weekend."
Lee Seong-hyuk floated that like he wanted some recognition for his efforts, shattering my mood.
I didn't feel like responding much, but I knew from experience that nipping this early made the future less exhausting.
"Why."
"That class where two people go up front to play every Friday—I got recordings from the teacher and analyzed them all weekend."
"...?"
I turned my head with a hint of shock creaking in my expression.
"Why?"
"'Cause it's my job."
Even devout Christians have faith as a pillar for copying scripture by hand... Where did this guy's drive come from?
Watching my stunned face, Lee Seong-hyuk shook his head.
"Why so surprised? You'll need this someday too."
"I... I don't think I'll ever understand you."
"That's my line."
"They say you can't be friends if you know each other too deeply."
Lee Seong-hyuk shrugged and finished unpacking.
Monday morning.
I suddenly realized I was in the classroom thanks to Kim Ju-hee's voice.
"When did you even write all this? I was shocked...! Even my lesson teacher asked if the school handed it out. This is insane—it's so detailed!"
She was trying to keep her promise to stay quiet, her volume cranked way down, which was kinda funny.
Still wide-eyed, Kim Ju-hee scrolled through the summary on her phone and asked,
"But can I show this to Ye-ri too?"
I'd been planning to tell Seo Ye-ri anyway. With Friday's stuff, she was on my mind.
"Sure, but wouldn't it be better if Ha-yeon showed her? Same dorm, and she can explain."
Lee Ha-yeon, fiddling with her pen, looked up and blinked.
Gazing at her nodding head... my eyes naturally drifted lower.
"Hey, why'd you doodle on my desk?"
"...Bored."
"Ah, ballpoint—won't come off."
"Whoa, Ha-yeon, you draw well. Cute wolf?"
"No, husky."
I snatched the pen from Lee Ha-yeon's hand and slammed it down.
Husky or wolf, that wasn't the point—this was my desk!
No one cared about something so trivial in this reality, and that stung.
"Everyone, take your seats! How was your weekend?"
Right on cue, the homeroom teacher entered, and I couldn't voice any more complaints.
Just think of it as Lee Ha-yeon's autograph and deal.
"Wanna guess what I brought? It's exactly what you've all been waiting for!"
"School trip?"
"Nope!"
"Field trip already?"
"Midterm score reports!"
"Ah."
"Haa..."
Her beaming smile that Monday morning had seemed suspicious.
The teacher called names one by one, handing out reports.
Back at my seat, I slowly scanned my raw scores, rankings, and grades.
Everything was nearly perfect except that 54 in music theory... But one number stood out.
[Rank ─ 1(2)]
Tied for first in three subjects total.
Art high exams were competitive too. As I thought that, Lee Seong-hyuk peeked from behind.
"Score reports can be this beautiful."
"You do well?"
Lee Seong-hyuk's report surprisingly showed his hard work's fruits. Averaging high 80s—not bad at all.
"Since I actually studied, we gotta go out for food. Mom needs a cooking break too."
"You saying that doesn't make you sound filial at all."
"Then come to my place sometime. Eat together."
Lee Seong-hyuk gazed into space with pale eyes, murmuring. But he kept scaring me, sparking weird imaginations.
"...I'll take the thought."
"I envy people who say they love home cooking."
"Anyone overhears, they'll call it a full belly whining."
"Bring that person too. We'll eat together."
"..."
Someday, to verify, I should try his mom's cooking.
After a brief announcement for non-piano majors, morning homeroom ended.
The bell rang, and Kim Ju-hee came charging from afar, clutching her report like treasure, straight at Lee Seong-hyuk.
"You're dead, Lee Seong-hyuk."
"...Ju-hee, you got anything over 90?"
"Wouldn't I? Of course."
Kim Ju-hee radiated smug triumph. Looked like she'd exceeded expectations.
"What bet did you two make?"
"Explored averages including electives—loser gets knuckle-bombed."
"You guys do fun stuff."
I turned, ignoring their frantic math, and Lee Ha-yeon was already there, proudly flashing her report.
"Jeez, you scared me. Yours good?"
"Better than I thought."
"Ooh... Studied hard between lessons, huh?"
"Yeah, just studied after."
Glancing over, hers matched Lee Seong-hyuk's. Beaming with pride on her refined face, she started shoving the report closer to my eyes.
I didn't react much, so she kept pushing. Soon, it covered my face like a mask.
I inhaled the odd A4 scent, exhaling stuffy breath and words at once.
"Looks plenty good..."
"You taught me, so you can look more."
I swatted the obstructing paper away, and a dull thud echoed behind.
"Ow...! What if you hit that hard!"
"Defense for survival. One more wrong, and I'd be dead."
"Spare the rest..."
"Nope."
Kim Ju-hee rubbed her forehead, looking peeved. Kids clustered by lockers snickered at her.
All that about 90s...
"Ju-hee lost, huh."
"Does it hurt bad?"
Lee Ha-yeon seemed more into the knuckle-bombs than the bet. Her eyes fixed on Lee Seong-hyuk's fingers tallying remaining penalties.
"Hits hard, hurts like hell."
"I wanna try."
She brushed back her bangs, thrusting her forehead forward. Pale skin and expectant eyes gleamed.
"...For real?"
"Yeah, it's fine. Never played like that, so just once."
...Was it okay to scar this untouchable being called Lee Ha-yeon?
I pulled my middle finger back like a slingshot, cautiously raising my right hand.
Staring silently at my trembling fingers before her forehead, I sighed deeply. My limp hand dropped slowly.
"No reason to hit, no strength."
"Scaredy-cat."
As I awkwardly eyed her pout, Kim Ju-hee suddenly snatched the report from my desk.
"Unbelievable! What is this."
She rubbed her sore forehead, face twisted in annoyance.
"Unbelievable's your swelling forehead."
"Ah... Lee Seong-hyuk, seriously. Her hand's brutal."
"Gotta keep bangs down."
"Didn't bring arnica..."
Glancing at grumbling Kim Ju-hee and the report in hand, curiosity struck.
"Hey, Ju-hee. Know any study whiz from Ye-won?"
"Study? Why?"
"Someone else got 100s like me."
Hard workers grind anywhere, but I wondered who nearby.
"Hmm... Not in piano. Maybe dance or art."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, art probably cares more about grades?"
"Piano too, though."
"Shut it."
I deliberately skipped Lee Ha-yeon with eyes or questions. No point asking her.
In the lively chatter, Lee Seong-hyuk stretched and said,
"Ah... Gotta prep hard for evals starting today. Got your stuff too."
"Do it. I'm focusing on recital this week."
"Friday, right? Mid-check."
"I mentioned?"
"Nah, just knew."
"...Figured."
I tapped my desk, reviewing my schedule again.
"For third eval, technique's priority for me, so lessons to fill gaps."
"Busy with one eval—how with third next week?"
"Prep both at once next week. This week's technique and recital."
Gyu-ri sunbae played piano well too—could learn from her in between.
Scanning the classroom, I mentally assembled priorities.
Kim Ju-hee and Lee Ha-yeon had vanished somewhere, and oddly, a crowd gathered at the back door.
Loud commotion—something up.
"What's all the noise?"
"Fight?"
Haven't gawked at a fight in ages.
"Let's check—could be fun."
I'd just stood when Park Gyu-ri sunbae emerged through the crowd. Even in May, rocking casual clothes as senior privilege, outer layer on.
"...Why'd you come here? No Kakao?"
"Hey, don't your class kids have reins?"
And some random gripe first.
"Not class rep."
"Saying crap like looking for unnie from Ye-won."
"...Pfft."
"Laughing? Nuts?"
"'Cause sunbae's cute."
"Mocking?"
"No."
With name tag covered, she looked middle-schooler. Better flashing vest.
"Sunbae."
"What."
"How 'bout sticking name tag on forehead?"
"Shut up."
"Yes."
Neighboring Lee Seong-hyuk watched us fascinated. Sunbae eyed him, squinting at his tag.
"Hey, you... Seong-hyuk."
"Yes."
"Think I look middle-school too?"
"Not at all? Honored to meet you, Park Gyu-ri sunbae-nim."
He turned polite instantly, grinning.
"What, you know me?"
"Who doesn't? Top score, chief admission to Ye-won Arts Middle composition."
...Gyu-ri sunbae was that good? I gaped up at her blankly.
"Know that much, huh? What about after?"
"Yes."
"Then stop there."
Chief admit to Ye-won Arts Middle composition, now second-year holding fifth in high school composition: Park Gyu-ri.
By my experience, the in-between was obvious.
No one'd guessed such an elitist talent. But ditching popularity for fifth place? Impressive.
"Anyway... Piece is done. But... not sure. Anxious."
It took a while to process "Park Gyu-ri" and "anxious" together.
"Why, not happy with it?"
"As if. It's Jeong Da-eun."
Sunbae scratched her head, sighing uncomfortably.
"Ugh, whatever. Suddenly tells me to pretty up today."
"...Pretty up? You?"
"Yeah."
"..."
"Why quiet?"
"Hold on, stifling laugh... Don't make me talk."
Park Gyu-ri fretting over "pretty up"? Her usual vibe clashed so hard, it tickled my funny bone.
"Just stay as is... pretty... heh heh..."
"Hey! Dead meat?"
"No, seriously—don't touch, gonna burst."
"Don't? Now backtalk?"
I shut my eyes, thought seriously, and exhaled long.
Park Gyu-ri, hands in pockets, glared murderously.
"All split?"
"...Yeah. That's why you came?"
"Yeah. You too—whatever, stay alert today."
"Got it."
"Going."
Sunbae turned and left. The back-door crowd, frozen watching us, parted like the Red Sea.
"Heard Park Gyu-ri sunbae wasn't like that."
"We're close-ish; you'd have gotten smacked."
Recalling just now, Lee Seong-hyuk rolled his eyes briefly and said,
"But that sunbae... she's short."
"Hm."