Chapter 84
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Counseling Room
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Time passed, and the mandatory holiday arrived.
Ha Yoon, who had been tormented the previous day after being called on duty by Teacher Park, didn't open her eyes until lunchtime.
It would have been absolutely impossible if Hong Ryeon were still handling roll call, but since Yoon Se-rin had taken over the role after her departure, this was possible.
"Hey! Ha Yoon, aren't you coming out for roll call?!"
Of course, Yoon Se-rin flew into a rage at the sight of her skipping roll call, but Ha Yoon dismissed it by flipping her off.
If Kim Seon-ah hadn't stepped in to calm Yoon Se-rin down, they definitely would have gotten into a huge fight from the morning, but catching up on sleep took priority for Ha Yoon.
"You awake?"
Ha Yoon sat up with a tousled face at the clattering sounds, and Kim Seon-ah, who was eating with Jin Si-won, spoke up. Ha Yoon let out a big yawn, scratched her head vigorously, and asked,
"Where's mine?"
"That's the first thing you say when you wake up?"
Jin Si-won muttered in disbelief, but Ha Yoon lightly ignored her and looked at Kim Seon-ah.
"I put it aside on your tray. Just grab it and eat."
"Thanks."
At Kim Seon-ah's words, Ha Yoon yawned again and fetched her tray. Her stomach was rumbling like thunder, probably because she'd skipped breakfast. As she shoveled down the oatmeal voraciously, Jin Si-won let out a deep sigh and said,
"You really have all the luck. You made such a fuss at first, but now you're basically fully adjusted."
"Why are you picking a fight while I'm eating?"
"No, I mean, compare you now to when you first got here—you're like a completely different person."
At Jin Si-won's words, Ha Yoon swallowed the huge mouthful she'd stuffed in, pointed her spoon at her, and said,
"Well, I have to adjust, don't I? Otherwise, they just kick you out of training and send you somewhere even worse. How could I not?"
It wasn't that she'd adjusted; she had no choice but to. She didn't want to go somewhere even more hellish than the academy.
"Send you somewhere even worse than here?"
"Yeah, like the military or prison, like I mentioned before. Of course, it's not as bad as for those who get punished."
If you got punished, you'd be assigned to a frontline unit right on the border or a prison full of death row inmates, but for simple maladjustment and expulsion, it was a somewhat milder place.
'Milder or not, it's still harder than staying at the academy.'
Ha Yoon kept moving her spoon and continued,
"I might act recklessly, but I do think things through to some extent."
"...And that's what you call thinking?"
Doesn't seem like it. Jin Si-won trailed off doubtfully, but Ha Yoon neatly ignored her and said,
"Plus, it's been a whole month since I got here. Anyone with a brain knows that by now, throwing a tantrum because you don't like it or trying to escape is pointless—better to just behave and wait for time to pass."
"...You're saying that about So-hyeon, aren't you."
"Is that how it sounded to you? Well, it's true, though."
Jin Si-won clenched her fist at the sight of Ha Yoon grinning as she spoke.
"Don't mock me. I'm about to get pissed."
"Why would you get pissed? If you were that worried, you should've just gone with her. You ran off because you were scared—Gah?!"
Her barrage of words toward Jin Si-won stopped abruptly as a fist came down on her head. It packed quite a punch, so Ha Yoon teared up and glared at the culprit.
"Urgh...! Hey, Kim Seon-ah! Why'd you hit me?!"
"You were in the wrong, Ha Yoon. Si-won is already upset about Shin So-hyeon, and you go saying stuff like that."
"Who started picking the fight? Ugh."
"Tsk."
As Kim Seon-ah raised her fist again, Ha Yoon flinched and shot Jin Si-won a wronged look.
"Hey! I got hit because of you!"
"So?"
"What? 'So'? Wait, where are you going?!"
Jin Si-won didn't even glance back despite Ha Yoon grabbing at her; she tidied her tray and slipped out of the barracks. Ha Yoon stared in disbelief before turning to Kim Seon-ah.
"See that? That little bitch. She screws up first and doesn't even apologize—Ow!"
She hit me again! Ha Yoon looked at Kim Seon-ah with teary eyes.
"Please. Can't you get along with Si-won?"
"Why should I get along with her— Ah, fine, put the fist down."
Kim Seon-ah wasn't the type to resort to fists like this before. Ha Yoon eyed her sweating and sighing.
"I told you before. Si-won helped you out at my request. You should get along with someone who helped you, right?"
"I already paid her back for that last time. That's it—no need to be friends..."
"So once you pay me back for all the help, we're done too?"
"No, why does it have to be like that?"
Ha Yoon retorted incredulously, but Kim Seon-ah said firmly,
"That's what you're saying. Once the debt is paid, no more ties."
"It's different with you and Jin Si-won!"
"How so?"
"She helped me because you asked her to, and you helped me just because!"
How could helping out of the goodness of your heart be the same as doing it for a favor? But Kim Seon-ah shook her head.
"The result is the same: she moved to help you. Whether for a price or not. You know better than anyone that helping someone here isn't just about the reward."
"That's..."
Ha Yoon was at a loss for words, as if her mouth were blocked. Maybe because they'd grown close and she'd often talked about the academy's harsh realities as she saw them, she couldn't refute it.
As Ha Yoon fell silent, Kim Seon-ah sighed.
"I won't tell you to be friends. But please don't deliberately make enemies like just now. It's troublesome for me if you clash with others."
"What? So if I fight with the others, you'll side against me too?"
"That's not what I mean. I just—"
"Ha Yoon."
The voice interrupting their argument made both heads turn. Ha Yoon unwittingly opened her mouth at the sight of Teacher Park leaning against the barracks entrance.
"Teacher Park?"
"It's Teacher Park."
"Ah, uh. Teacher Park. What brings you here?"
Ha Yoon hurriedly corrected her address and asked. Teacher Park nodded curtly.
"It's community service time. Come with me."
"Why me alone for community service...?"
"Don't argue—just come out."
His unusually high-handed tone made Ha Yoon blink.
"Suddenly singling me out for community service—what's that about?"
"I don't know either. Never happened when I was a trainee..."
Kim Seon-ah asked seriously, as if their spat never happened, and Ha Yoon shook her head in response.
"Then what..."
"Talk later. We don't know what punishment he'll give if we keep him waiting."
At that, Kim Seon-ah reluctantly nodded. Ha Yoon glanced at her once, then turned and approached Teacher Park, whispering,
"What's going on? Community service, and just me?"
"That VIP you made a bet with. He wants to see you."
"...Isn't that just a visit?"
It might sound absurd, but outsiders could request visits during academy life.
However, they needed the trainee's name, which automatically changed upon entry, making visits practically impossible.
Unless they knew the new name, like now. At Ha Yoon's words, Teacher Park shook his head.
"No, it's community service. The VIP rented you out until tomorrow morning."
"...Is that allowed?"
"It is. If you slip some money to the director."
Damn money-grubbing director. As Ha Yoon scowled, Teacher Park continued,
"Come on. I'll take you to the VIP."
Ha Yoon watched Teacher Park turn and walk away, then glanced back at Kim Seon-ah. Her worried eyes from earlier spat forgotten, Ha Yoon nodded reassuringly and followed.
The destination was a small room across from the infirmary. Probably used as a counseling office back when this was a school. In front of the door, Teacher Park rummaged in his pocket, pulled out cigarettes, and handed them to Ha Yoon.
"Here. You'll need these."
Ha Yoon nodded, opened the pack, and counted the cigarettes.
Fortunately, all three were intact.
"Three sticks, all there."
"Checked? Light up."
Without waiting for a reply, Teacher Park opened the door. Inside the counseling room sat a woman fidgeting in a chair and a man propping his chin on his arm at the desk in front.
No need to wonder who—Han Seol-ah and Woo Shin-hyung.
"Ah, it's Ha Yoon!"
"Yo. Long time no see."
"...Hello."
Ha Yoon politely bowed, holding the cigarette pack with both hands, as Han Seol-ah jumped up shouting and Woo Shin-hyung gave a casual wave.
Teacher Park looked slightly surprised at her demeanor, then addressed the two.
"Please return the rented trainee to the academy by 9 a.m. tomorrow. Then I'll be off..."
"Thanks for your hard work, Teacher."
At Woo Shin-hyung's words, Teacher Park nodded and left.
Dr-r-rk—click.
At the sound of the door closing behind her, Ha Yoon swallowed hard and met the two pairs of eyes staring at her.