Ch.103Step Aside, I Have Something for You to Do (5)

“Ah, so the class president was here after all. Hi.”

Sahyang and Hyerang left Doyoung behind and sought out class president Ahn Seonggyeong by themselves.

They had just heard that she had been in a meeting with teachers and other class presidents regarding the school trip schedule.

As someone who didn’t particularly care for physical education,

Seonggyeong had opened the storage room door inside the gym and was studying alone, memorizing an English vocabulary collection.

Getting the key was one of the small privileges that a class president could enjoy.

Of course, since the storage room wasn’t locked, anyone could freely enter and use it.

“Wow, you’re studying even during PE?”

“The top student really does have a different approach.”

“I got a lower score on the last English test than I was aiming for. Since I won’t have time to study separately during the school trip, I need to do it now. But what brings you here?”

“Ah… sorry. Looks like we’re disturbing you. We’ll just ask you during break time later.”

“No, it’s fine, go ahead. It’s not like studying during PE is something to be proud of anyway. You came all the way here because you had something to ask, right?”

“Oh, really…? Thank you.”

“…That was much gentler than I expected, so I’m a bit surprised.”

Despite interrupting what was, albeit unofficial, still a precious study session,

contrary to their expectation that she would be furious about having her time stolen, Seonggyeong responded to their conversation with quite a docile attitude.

It seemed she didn’t use such rough language unless she was dealing with Doyoung.

“So what did you want to talk about? And where’s that Ban Doyoung bitch who’s always with you?”

“She was talking crazy so we left her behind.”

“That’s nothing new.”

“True enough.”

While casually trashing Doyoung who wasn’t present,

Sahyang and Hyerang explained why they had sought out the class president.

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“Miss Bulsa High Contest…?”

As could be guessed from the antiquated combination of words,

it was literally a pageant to select the most beautiful girl at Bulsa High.

“That bitch Ban Doyoung has been called the Goddess of Bulsa Middle since middle school. That nickname came from this. If you win the Miss Bulsa High Contest, you’re essentially revered as the official goddess recognized by both the school and students.”

“Ah, so that’s why.”

For the first time, Sahyang and Hyerang learned the origin of Doyoung’s nickname and nodded, solving a mystery they had long wondered about.

Why was she called a goddess of all things?

If it was a nickname given to a student with outstanding beauty, they had often thought that “Bulsa Middle Karina” or “Bulsa Middle Jang Wonyoung” would have made more sense.

The nickname that praised Doyoung’s beauty wasn’t actually unique to her,

but derived from an official title awarded at a traditional school trip event held at Bulsa High.

“Wow, so if Doyoung wins this contest, she’ll be openly calling herself ‘Goddess’ from now on.”

“That’s pretty annoying to think about.”

The image was already clear in both their minds.

Doyoung with her shoulders squared after officially receiving the title of ‘Goddess’ from the school.

The posture of that crazy girl, head held high, looking down at everyone.

However, no one could deny

that Doyoung would win the Miss Bulsa High Contest.

“Must be tough for you, Class President. Since you were in the meeting with the other class presidents, you must have seen that future before anyone else. It must have been hard to bear for someone who finds Doyoung as annoying as you do.”

“Yeah, it was super irritating. So I changed it.”

“I see, you changed it… Wait, what?”

Sahyang, who had been gently approaching Seonggyeong’s side to pat her shoulder, suddenly stopped before placing her hand.

“What do you mean you changed it?”

“What’s the point in watching a contest where it’s obvious Ban Doyoung will win? Everyone else would just be her backdrop.”

“But I heard the contest is on the evening of the first day. So it’s still going ahead as planned?”

“I did change it. The rules of the contest.”

“Did you make a condition that Ban Doyoung can’t participate? Or make her a judge or something?”

“No, if we just exclude Ban Doyoung, the boys would make a fuss. And the enthusiasm would drop too.”

“So what did you change?”

“…Want to know?”

“Of course.”

“Then come closer and lend me your ear.”

Seonggyeong gestured subtly toward Sahyang and Hyerang, beckoning their ears to come closer.

Although there was no one else around to hear them, Seonggyeong still whispered in a small voice that only Sahyang and Hyerang could hear.

“…”

“…Ohhh.”

“That’s gonna be fucking fun.”

“Right? Even if it’s not Ban Doyoung, our class has a suitable candidate for those conditions.”

“Hehehe…”

“Hehehehe…”

“Huhuhuhuh…”

The three began to laugh in the same way, forming a strange sense of camaraderie without any further conversation.

“Hey, Do Hajin! You’re better at basketball than I thought? I expected a handicap match, but man. You’re pretty good at physical play? Your hands are surprisingly big too, so you handle the ball well.”

“Th-thanks. But my name is…”

“But you need to practice your shooting. Kekeke. What kind of aim is that! Let’s try passing first, throw it this way, Do Hajin!”

“Hey, it’s not Do Hajin, it’s Do Hamin.”

“Eh? Since when was it Hamin? I thought it was Hajin all along.”

“Ahaha… people often make that mistake.”

“You know, if you keep getting his name wrong like that, Ban Doyoung will beat the crap out of you.”

“Really? Then I’ll just keep calling him Hajin. If she won’t hug me, I’d at least like her to hit me.”

Without any agreement or signal between them, the gazes of Sahyang, Hyerang, and Seonggyeong

turned toward Hamin, who was playing basketball with a group of boys for the first time, visible through the storage room.

“The target is conveniently separated from Ban Doyoung, playing basketball.”

“Perfect timing to persuade him. We need to do it quickly, before his growth plates close.”

“Right, like Doyoung said, we’ve found something for him to do before he grows any taller.”

**

By the time I realized that Sahyang and Hyerang had left my side without me noticing,

I still didn’t think it was that serious.

Well, to those two who don’t know the truth of this world,

my words probably sounded like nothing more than meaningless complaints.

I could generously understand them running away and ignoring me when I fell down the gym stairs doing somersaults while clutching my stomach at the thought of Hamin confessing.

“Hey, Hamin…! Why aren’t you coming to the gym stairs like I asked? PE class is almost over…”

“Hamin, pass it here!”

“H-here!”

“Hamin playing basketball…?”

However, I was a bit shocked when that guy Hamin ultimately ignored his promise to come to the gym stairs where I was waiting,

and instead played basketball with a group of other boys.

“…He promised to let me use his lap as a pillow. How dare he use those knees for layup shots instead.”

Even a bad law is still a law.

Then isn’t a one-sided promise still a promise?

Where’s my lap pillow?

But even then, I held back.

It was a meaningful scene of Hamin mixing with a group of boys from the same class through physical activity for the first time.

Getting angry about him not keeping his promise to me in that scene

would only make me look like a narrow-minded, bad-tempered, annoying heroine in Hamin’s eyes.

So I could respect his choice to opt for basketball with friends rather than with Ban Doyoung.

Yes, I tried to understand that much somehow.

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“Attention, bow to the teacher.”

“Thank you!”

“Hey, Hamin!”

After all classes had ended, during the closing homeroom,

I called out to Hamin who was packing his bag.

“Oh, Do-Doyoung.”

I deliberately waited until after all classes had ended,

around the time when other students were leaving the classroom, to mention what had happened during PE.

If I had called him out right after PE ended,

anyone would have thought I was angry about that incident.

“You didn’t keep your promise to meet me at the gym storage room earlier, did you?”

“S-sorry… They said they were one person short and asked if I wanted to play… I thought since it was PE class, doing physical activity was the right thing.”

“Tch, unnecessarily diligent…”

Hamin apologized and admitted what he had done wrong without hesitation.

Excessive questioning after someone has already surrendered tends to lower mutual likability.

“Alright, but as punishment for making me wait alone in the gym, buy me a Zero Lime from the convenience store-“

“Hamin! Come here for a sec!”

Just as I was about to back off after receiving Hamin’s apology,

Sahyang and Hyerang surrounded him.

“Hey, what are you doing? I was talking to Hamin.”

“You weren’t having a conversation, you were just making him your Zero Lime errand boy. Besides, we already made plans to go somewhere together after school during lunch break.”

“What…? Is that true, Hamin?”

“Ah… y-yeah. I actually have something to ask these two…”

“Why not ask me? I can help you.”

“Th-that won’t work.”

“Huh?”

“Sorry, Doyoung! I don’t think I can make it to kendo practice today because of another appointment!”

Hamin hurriedly picked up his bag,

and stood up with Sahyang and Hyerang.

As if trying to get away from Ban Doyoung as quickly as possible.

“Hey, at least tell me where you’re going!”

“Don’t worry, we’ll use him well and return him nicely packaged.”

“Hey, what do you mean ‘use’! And what’s with the packaging! I haven’t even used him yet!”

“Come on, Hamin, we need to make sure our deal is clear. Shall we go?”

“S-sorry… Doyoung. I’ll buy you the Zero Lime for the lesson fee tomorrow… S-see you tomorrow!”

And so Hamin left the classroom with chicken coops #1 and #2 on either shoulder.

“…Why do they keep making me the third wheel.”

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If I were to quietly go home after being told “see you tomorrow,” I wouldn’t be the great Ban Doyoung.

Following the suspicious duo who were clearly planning something strange with Hamin,

I headed toward the shopping mall street near the station.

“I definitely saw them enter this clothing store…”

“Excuse me… student? You’ve been staring at our store from outside for a while now. Is something wrong…?”

“Have you seen the bitches who took my boyfriend in here?”