episode_0003

3.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

“Today’s class ends here. Since the homeroom teacher for Class 1 has something to attend to, you can all just leave without a closing ceremony.”

“Yes! Thank you for your hard work!”

“Listen to that grumbling… They didn’t say a word during class…”

Although the science teacher complained, the students’ minds were already dominated by thoughts of Tanghulu and PC rooms.

The complaints couldn’t pierce their ears, and the discontentment could only dissipate into emptiness.

Now, the science teacher would leave desolately, probably grabbing the disciplinary teacher and exclaiming, “I am sad today.”

“Truly unfortunate.”

I expressed a sympathetic nod to the detained teacher and approached Park Ayeong.

“Do you want to go to the karaoke today? Jiyoung is coming too.”

“Sorry, I have plans for today…”

She was rejecting her friend’s offer.

Her soft-spoken refusal somehow sparked unnecessary resentment. Her friend, sensing this, pressed even more fervently.

“Let’s go together~ Come on, let’s go~”

“Well, umm…”

Park Ayeong seemed to struggle with outright rejection.

Being excessively kind can be a burden.

I decided to intervene in the conversation instead of just watching.

“Ayeong.”

Though it was impolite, Park Ayeong responded with a bright smile.

Her friend, on the other hand, made a face like ‘Ugh… smells like a loner,’ but they both agreed to pretend not to notice.

“We should go to the student council.”

“Yes! Sorry, Haryeonga! I promised to go to the student council with Jinwoo today, so going to the karaoke might be a bit difficult. Let’s go together next time.”

“Okay… Got it.”

Her friend looked disappointed, but their sharp gaze fixed directly on me. It was a firm gaze filled with boiling self-assertion.

I shrugged it off.

Perhaps it’s the fate of those who rely on popularity…

“Jinwoo, let’s go.”

Responding to Park Ayeong’s call, I left my reverie.

“Sure.”

I followed Park Ayeong out of the classroom.

Behind us, the noise level increased significantly as we moved forward. It was because some unresolved issues were rolling around.

I wasn’t sure what tomorrow would bring when we returned to school, but I was certain that Park Ayeong would face several questions.

Indeed, whether in society or at school, being popular and capable can be exhausting.

As we distanced ourselves from the classroom, the corridor regained its original tranquility during dismissal.

The quiet atmosphere was punctuated by the sound of breathing. Just when it was about to become awkward, Park Ayeong came up beside me.

“Thanks for helping earlier.”

“Did you want to go to the student council?”

“You don’t need to worry… And I’ll apologize in advance… I might be a bit tired when we return to school tomorrow.”

“It’s okay. You won’t get as tired as Ayeong.”

“Hehe.”

Park Ayeong chuckled lightly. From the subtle movement of her lips, it seemed like she was envisioning the forthcoming barrage of questions.

Feeling a strange sense of guilt, I changed the subject.

“Did you get home safely last night?”

“Yeah, my house is close, so I arrived safely.”

“That’s good. Even though times have improved, young girls shouldn’t wander around alone late at night.”

“Jinwoo, are you acting like a thirty-something man? You’re starting to sound like our dad….”

I felt a moment of embarrassment.

Well, I wasn’t quite thirty, but getting close to it.

“No, wait, including Dojinwoo’s age… he might easily surpass thirty….”

As my lips sealed shut, Park Ayeong, misinterpreting, quickly added:

“Jinwoo! I was joking. Thank you for caring… Did you get home safely too? I should’ve stayed until the end to help you…”

“I’m talking to you now because I got home safely. And why did you help me close the shop? You weren’t even getting paid.”

“True, but… I got some side dishes, and I kept you there late… I felt bad and wanted to help…”

“If you didn’t force me to leave, you would have actually helped… willingly.”

“Of course!”

People are too kind sometimes….

I shook my head apologetically.

“Sure, even if you say you don’t like it next time, I’ll let you work. I will.”

“Yeah, I’ll be waiting. Or should I come help today?”

“Today’s part-time job is at a family restaurant, not a side dish store. Don’t bother coming to help for nothing, but if you do come, go buy some side dishes.”

“That’s too bad… I wanted to help.”

“Sigh. I understand your intentions well enough. From now on, no mention of helping.”

Reluctantly agreeing, Park A-yeong finally nodded.

“Mm… Okay, oh! By the way, the potato stew was really delicious yesterday. My siblings loved it and my mom was surprised by how good it was.”

“Satisfying both convenience store and restaurant standards for your refined taste… That’s fortunate.”

“It wasn’t exactly satisfying, just so-so.”

She said soberly, then smiled subtly.

“But sometimes there’s just food that suits your taste perfectly, right? Are most of the restaurant side dishes this good? It makes you want to become a regular customer…”

“Because my cooking mentor is the owner. It’s a similar taste… Probably even more delicious or appealing to the general public.”

“Different in taste?”

Park A-yeong tilted her head in confusion.

“I mentioned it yesterday too, but large portions and single servings have different cooking methods. Considering the emotions poured into it, yesterday’s potato stew would probably taste better.”

“What emotions?”

“Well, things like that.”

The pain of working late, the agony of increased tasks due to dishwashing, and even the tension of cooking for a peer for the first time.

Various complex and profound emotions were involved. If the taste wasn’t there, oh! It would be a crime and evidence that the world had gone wrong.

Thinking this, she looked around. We had somehow reached the fourth-floor corridor.

“It’s surprising that the student council is on the top floor. I thought it would be on the first or lower floors for better accessibility, like the principal’s office.”

Park A-yeong said, catching her breath.

“Sigh… The president loves exercise so much. He moved the student council room from the first floor to the fourth floor.”

“The president made a good choice. Making you exercise like this for the vice-president with poor stamina.”

“I don’t have poor stamina.”

“We came up from the second floor?”

She couldn’t argue back and pouted her lower lip.

“I didn’t have time to exercise….”

“All people with poor stamina say that. You’re not much different from those people… I’m quite disappointed.”

“What are you saying? I really didn’t have time. I had to study…. take care of my younger sibling…. go to the side dish store to get food….”

“Okay, okay. I’ve heard your excuses well.”

As they chatted, they stopped in the middle of the corridor.

It was the only place on the long fourth-floor corridor with a single door.

I rolled my eyes and read the sign above the door.

“Student Council Room.”

I didn’t come here for a scolding, but for another purpose….

Even if you think you know everything about the world, there are still things you don’t understand.

“Let’s go in now.”

“Just take a deep breath.”

“It’s not like we’re being dragged to the slaughterhouse…. Why are you so nervous? Just greet them….”

“Weren’t you here for an interview?”

“I already got approval in the group chat.”

Huh?

“Am I already in the student council?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

The prestigious high school student council, picking people without knowing where they come from?

“It wasn’t for an important role. We were short on people. The president immediately approved my recommendation.”

“…God isn’t far away, huh?”

“Hehe, as the vice-president, I said nothing is impossible. So, don’t be too nervous.”

“Yeah. As expected, Park A-yeong, who even writes her name on watermelons, is different.”

Park A-yeong lightly hit my shoulder.

“That’s too much.”

“Sorry.”

“As the broad-minded vice-president, I’ll let it slide this time. Now, let’s go in.”

Park A-yeong knocked briefly and opened the door to the student council room.

A warm spring breeze brushed our cheeks.

The scent of cherry blossoms tickling my nose whispers to me of another beginning.

As I slowly raised my head, the interior of the student council room came into view.

The spacious room with its large windows wide open. Chairs were neatly arranged on either side of the desk in the center.

Various furniture such as a blackboard, laptops, and bookshelves adorned the room. However, there was a presence that stood out more than anything else.

A female student sitting at the top seat.

Her intense golden hair fluttered in the wind. Her skin bore a sun-kissed brown hue, not cheap-looking but rather healthy and elegant, reminiscent of rich chocolate.

With provocative lips and a body that emphasized both entrance and exit, she immediately captured attention. The moment our eyes met was fleeting.

“…”

“…”

There was dignity in her red eyes.

It was an atmosphere that made it difficult to approach or speak casually.

Swallowing dryly, she slowly parted her lips.

“Ah, it seems Park Ayeong, our vice president, is here today.”

Pardon?

“I heard she’s a friend who will fill the hole left by our vice president for the past 18 years. Judging by her height, one might think she’s big in other areas too.”

Excuse me?

I can’t keep up with this situation.

Is this low-quality joke and innuendo really coming from her mouth?

Shake off your stupor. Inexperienced Park Ayeong has stepped forward.

Her face was quite flushed. Whether she was embarrassed to be in the presence of her superiors or because she had become the subject of sexual jokes, I couldn’t tell.

“President!”

“Why are you calling out so loudly?”

“I-I! I told you to refrain from using vulgar language in front of people you meet for the first time! W-What does ‘hole’ even mean…?”

“If it’s a hole, it’s obviously a ‘hole,’ isn’t it?”

“Eeek! Stop it! Please stop!”

The female student addressed as the president confidently shrugged her shoulders.

“I just explained when asked. Why are you screaming about something so trivial? You’re a grown woman.”

“…”

“By the way, that grown woman isn’t exactly what she seems.”

Is this person insane…?

“Hmm… You look much better in person than in photos.”

“T-Thank you.”

“Thanks should be given to your parents for giving birth to you and to yourself for taking care of yourself.”

“I will always do my best…”

It felt like a mix of a middle-aged man and a teenage boy.

“For now, take a seat. Ayeong, the blushing Ayeong, our vice president, should sit down quickly too. How long do you plan to stand there like a fool?”

“Yes… Thank you…”

“That was my intention…”

As I cautiously sat down, the still shocked Ayeong also took a seat beside me.

The wind entered through the window, ruffling our short hair.

Observing this, the student council president remarked, “The weather is nice today, so I left the window open. If it’s uncomfortable, I can close it.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s refreshing.”

“Right. Today is perfect for outdoor activities. Seems like you share similar thoughts, having opened the window.”

Student council president…

Is this correct?