Group Project (1)

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Today was just like any other day.

I woke up, had my usual morning bickering match with Kim Dahi, came to school to sit through classes, and played basketball during lunch.

Oh, by the way, we won the basketball game today because I carried the team. I think I'm actually pretty good at basketball.

Seriously, how did I pull off a double-clutch layup right there? Thinking back, I must have been possessed.

Everything was perfectly normal—right up until fifth period.

Fifth period today was Korean. That meant it was time for Hamtori Teacher's class. Personally, I like Korean.

In fact, it might be my favorite subject.

Maybe it's because I enjoy reading in general, but I've always looked forward to Korean class more than the others.

I find reading the literary passages and non-fiction texts in the textbook genuinely fun.

But even for someone like me, fifth period—right after stuffing myself with lunch and running around playing basketball—was impossible to survive.

Honestly, anyone who can stay awake through this is a freak of nature.

Maybe that was why almost the entire class was dead to the world.

From what I could see, only Pina and Sung were still awake.

How are those two even holding up?

Pina stayed in the classroom the whole time, so I get her, but Park Sung played basketball with me. How does he have the stamina for this?

His endurance is insane. If I remember correctly, he was practicing judo late into the night yesterday, too.

Well, with the classroom looking like a battlefield of sleeping bodies, even the usually gentle Hamtori Teacher must have found it a bit much.

"There sure are a lot of sleepyheads today."

"Is my class really that boring?"

"Your teacher might get a little sad at this rate."

"So, for your sake, I've decided to take extreme measures."

"Starting today, we will be doing a performance assessment for the next three weeks. Everyone, clap!"

"Whaaaat?!"

At the teacher's bombshell announcement of a performance assessment, groans of complaint and cries of panic erupted simultaneously.

I had no idea my classmates had such powerful lungs.

We've basically got the cheering award for Sports Day in the bag.

"So suddenly?"

"Of course! A performance assessment happens whenever the teacher feels like it."

"I mean, I get that, Teacher, but wouldn't letting us know in advance be the humane thing to do?"

"And is faceplanting on your desk and sleeping during my class the polite thing to do, Lee Hanbyul?"

"Um... I have no defense for that."

"My apologies! I shall return to faceplanting!"

"Pfft, hahaha!"

"Snicker..."

Snickers and giggles rippled through the classroom at my response.

"Now, to briefly explain the assessment..."

The project itself was actually quite simple.

We would form groups of four assigned by the teacher, choose a topic, and present it in four weeks—giving us three weeks to prepare.

Yes, it sounded incredibly simple. On paper, at least...

"I will assign the groups. No complaints allowed."

"Teacher~ What was the criteria for the groups?"

Our class president asked the teacher.

Ever since the elections, they had been doing a great job of stepping up when needed.

I think we chose our class president well.

"I based it on who seemed close to each other, as well as class participation."

"...And finally, Group 6 will consist of Kim Sohee, Do Seong-a, Lee Hanbyul, and Ha Pina."

I'm guessing we got grouped together because I'm basically the only one who talks to Pina.

And we're both class committee members.

But Teacher, if that was the case, you should have put Kim Dahi or Sung in our group too!

These other two are a disaster... By the way, Kim Dahi and Sung were placed in the same group.

I guess ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the "closeness" criteria was real after all.

"Ugh, seriously? It's going to be so exhausting working with the princess."

"Right? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I don't know if commoners like us are worthy of working with her high-and-mighty highness. Isn't that right, Princess?"

Look at this. They're already starting their bullshit. Why do they have to pick a fight right off the bat?

We have to be in the same group for three weeks, you idiots.

Do you seriously want to work in such a suffocating atmosphere?

And didn't you guys already get warned by me at the start of the semester not to spread weird rumors?

Do they not realize that performance assessments directly affect their grades?

Is that why they're picking fights? If so, they are hopelessly stupid.

"Let's cut the useless chatter and get to work on the project, unless you really want to prove how classless you are."

Pina, no... Why did you have to clap back like that...?

I'm actually going to cry. Crying is legally permitted in this situation, right?

"Why, you...!"

"Hey, guys, let's not fight and just decide on a topic first. It's still a school project, after all."

"I plan to do my part. I have no intention of letting my grades suffer because of certain people."

"Aren't you talking about yourself, Ha Pina?"

How do I resolve this? Neither side has any intention of backing down.

"Sigh... That was exhausting."

"Are you okay, Hanbyul?"

"You were hilarious. What's that saying again? A shrimp caught in a dolphin fight? That was totally you."

"Dahi, it's 'a shrimp's back breaks in a whale fight.' 'Dolphin' was close, though."

"Shut it, you uneducated Kim Dahi."

Seriously, what am I supposed to do?

Ugh, I really don't want to ask her...

"Hey, Kim Dahi. What would you do in my shoes?"

"About what?"

"Don't play dumb."

"For free?"

"I'll buy you coffee on the way home."

"Make it coffee and cake. And get some for my Sung, too."

"Dahi, you don't have to get me..."

"Fine, fine. Just help me out here."

The reason I was asking Kim Dahi for help was that despite her acting dumb, she was incredibly quick-witted.

Her ability to read people's emotions and thoughts was honestly impressive.

Without exaggeration, her ability to mediate relationships was probably several times better than mine.

Looking at that, she clearly isn't stupid. So why does she make life hard for herself by refusing to study?

I just tell myself that her brain operates on a toggle switch.

"Hmm... Honestly, even from my perspective, that situation looks like a total trainwreck."

"Hey."

"If I were to offer a solution: don't try to make them get along, and don't try to fix them."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"First of all, what's your goal?"

"Well... finishing the project."

"Right. You just need to get the project done."

"So, treat them strictly professionally. And make them treat each other strictly professionally, too."

"Then..."

"Yeah. It won't make them friends, and it won't magically fix Ha Pina's personality. But it will get the project done."

"The most important thing here is that you have to remain completely neutral. If you lean toward one side, it's game over. Got it?"

"Is there no other way?"

"There are other ways, but this is the best you can do. Mending relationships is a very delicate process. I don't think you have the tact for it."

"But still..."

Cutting off my protests, Kim Dahi looked me dead in the eye.

Her voice was firm, like a mother scolding a child throwing a tantrum, yet it carried a strange warmth.

"Besides, I don't see why you need to go out of your way to look after Ha Pina like that."

"Ha Pina isolated herself because she wanted to. It wasn't because of anyone else. It was her own choice."

"Who are you to try and change that? I know you're a busybody, but know your limits."

"You might end up getting seriously hurt."

"What's this? Are you actually worried about me?"

"Yeah."

"Why? Did you think I wouldn't be?"

"You..."

"If you get hurt, who's going to buy me food?"

"Hey... You... Fine, I get it. We'll go after the project is over."

"Yes! Sung, we can go to the gym a bit late that day, right?"

"That should be fine. Haha."

Thanks, Dahi. I know what you're worried about.

But Pina doesn't need to—no, I want to do this.

It's true that Pina isolated herself. People might call me selfish or arrogant for interfering.

But to me, Pina's expression never looks like someone who actually wants to be alone.

Instead, she looks like a lost child, just like that stray kid I saw back then.

That's why I want to help her. Just like how Pina helped me when we were kids.

The second day of the group project.

"Hey, guys. I'm sure it's the same for you, but my grades are really important to me."

"So let's cut the crap and actually talk."

"If only she would stop acting so high and mighty..."

"Cut it out. You guys were the ones who picked a fight first."

If all it takes is me lowering my voice to shut you up, then please, don't act up in the first place.

If you're just going to get scared and look away immediately...

If you don't even have the guts to follow through, you're just making things annoying for the rest of us.

"That's why I... from the beginning..."

"Pina, you stop too."

"Stop falling for such childish provocations."

"Ugh..."

Pina looks cool and collected, but she falls for every single bait thrown her way. She acts mature, but she's secretly pretty childish too.

"Alright, I'll lead the discussion."

"Our topic will be..."

By managing things this way, we made it to the end of the second week without any major ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠issues.

Kudos to me for dragging this group this far.

Today was the final day of our group meetings.

"Lastly, we need to choose our presenters. Anyone want to volunteer?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Why don't you do it, Hanbyul?"

"Yeah! You're the one who dragged us this far anyway."

"Let's say I'm one of them. Who's the other?"

"The teacher said we need two presenters."

"I'll be the other presenter."

Oh. What a surprise, considering Pina usually hates putting herself out there.

"It doesn't look like either of the other two want to do it anyway."

"And I don't really mind either way."

"Really? Then the presenters will be Pina and me. We'll go with that."

"You two are fine with that, right?"

"Yeah! Fine by me."

"Me too."

"Well, I'm glad we made it this far without any major disasters."

"Let's keep this up, ace the presentation, and get a good grade!"

Ever since the second day, all three of them had become noticeably cooperative.

'Great, let's make it to presentation day without any accidents~' ...Yes, there was a time when I actually thought like that.