Ch.50Tutoring a Peer (7)

When I returned to the classroom carrying milk boxes with that Hamin kid,

Teacher Miso had already finished her inspection at the school gate and was back in the classroom.

“Ah, Hamin, thank you for your hard work… Oh? Doyoung? Why are you carrying milk with Hamin? This week’s class duties should be assigned to Do Hamin and Kim Haeju.”

Teacher Miso addressed me as I came in with Hamin carrying milk. It must have seemed strange to her that someone who wasn’t on duty was doing duty work.

“I’m sorry, teacher. I accidentally knocked over Kim Haeju’s desk earlier while moving mine, so as an apology, I offered to take over her duties just for today.”

“Oh my, is that true, Haeju?”

“Y-yes… Doyoung is telling the truth.”

Kim Haeju just nodded with her eyes downcast. Of course she couldn’t say anything—she had been slacking off and dumping all the work on poor Hamin.

“Whoa, so today’s milk was transported by Ban Doyoung? Nice!”

“I usually don’t drink it, but I think I will today.”

“Half of it was brought by Hamin though.”

“Is that really important right now?”

The milk, which usually remained untouched until dismissal time, suddenly became wildly popular among the boys that morning.

It wasn’t because the weather was getting warmer and they were thirsty… that’s just an excuse. The milk’s marketability had skyrocketed simply because Ban Doyoung had carried it in while sweating.

It’s amazing how the same product gets different responses depending on who’s selling it. No wonder companies and local governments appoint celebrities as ambassadors.

“I’m sorry, Teacher Miso. And sorry to you too, Hamin.”

“Ah… yeah. It’s okay.”

“Since this was resolved amicably between you all, I won’t scold anyone. But class duties are meant to be shared equally among all students. While I commend Doyoung for taking responsibility, Haeju should resume her duties from now on.”

“…Yes, teacher.”

With Teacher Miso’s correction, it was decided that Kim Haeju would take back her duties. The remaining tasks weren’t much anyway—just erasing the blackboard, organizing cleaning supplies, and running small errands for teachers. Those jobs might be annoying, but they weren’t difficult enough to warrant my intervention.

“I’m sorry, Kim Haeju. I wanted to help more, but it seems this is as far as I can go.”

After putting away the milk, I approached Kim Haeju’s desk, lowered myself to her eye level, and apologized. Regardless of the reason, I had taken out my anger on her desk, so I needed to apologize for that.

“I’m also sorry for knocking over your desk. I’ll be careful not to do anything I’d need to apologize for again.”

“N-no, it’s fine. I was partly at fault too…”

“I really will be careful not to let this happen again…”

“O-okay…”

*THUMP*

“Eek!”

Very slightly.

Yes, very slightly.

I hit Kim Haeju’s desk very slightly with my right hand.

The desk leg wobbled with a creaking sound,

and startled by the vibration, Kim Haeju flinched backward,

but I definitely hit it very slightly.

Compared to how I was feeling inside.

“Don’t create situations where you need to apologize to me either.”

“Y-yes, yes.”

“Good, that’s all.”

After gently patting the desk I had just taken my anger out on again,

I returned to my seat.

“Well then, teacher, let’s start the lesson.”

“It’s not a lesson, it’s an exam.”

“Oh, right. Shit.”

“Doyoung? W-where are you going?”

I wasn’t ready to take the exam yet.

I was still missing the most important thing.

“Hey, model student.”

“Uh, um… what is it?”

To get that most important thing,

I headed toward Hamin’s desk, which was two columns away from mine.

“Got a spare marking pen?”

“Ah, I do have one extra that I carry for emergencies.”

“Perfect, lend it to me.”

As if it were already mine,

I confidently extended my right hand toward Hamin.

“Oh, Doyoung? If you need a computer marking pen, I just bought some new ones today.”

Just as Hamin was about to place the pen from his pencil case into my hand,

Teacher Miso pulled out a box of computer marking pens, tore off the tape, opened it, and announced to the students.

“Ah, perfect timing. Mine dried out earlier and wouldn’t write. I should get a new one.”

“Teacher Miso, can I have one too?”

“It wouldn’t hurt to have a backup just in case.”

Other students got up from their desks and headed to the teacher’s desk,

either because their pens were defective or they wanted extras as insurance.

“…What do you want to do? Wouldn’t it be better to go get a new one?”

“No, just give me yours.”

“Why, why…?”

“It’s better for you.”

While countless virgin marking pens were finding new owners in the 1st year Class 1 free agent market,

I remained at Hamin’s desk, still demanding his used marking pen.

“Are you sure? It’s pretty old and has my hand stains on it.”

“Even better. Give me that one.”

“Huh…?”

“Hurry up. Everyone else is already getting theirs and going back.”

Hamin looked puzzled, not understanding my reasoning,

but reluctantly placed the white-capped computer marking pen in my outstretched right hand.

“…Don’t mess around with it later. It’s kind of important to me.”

“Come on, you make it sound like teasing you is my life’s purpose.”

“I hope that’s not the case…”

The marking pen I received from Hamin was, as he said, clearly well-used.

The brand name and barcode printed on the pen’s surface were so worn off they were illegible.

“Oh… is this the model student’s secret weapon pen or something?”

“Not exactly… but I always hit my target scores when using it for exams.”

“Ohhh, so it’s a real lucky charm! And you’re lending it to me?”

“…I’m trying not to rely on such luck these days.”

*Pop*

*Scribble, swish, scratch*

“Hamin is stupid”

“Hmm. It definitely writes well.”

“…”

I opened the cap and wrote whatever came to mind on a memo pad.

The black ink came out quite clearly—despite its age, it still had plenty of ink left.

“How long have you been using it?”

“…Since 8th grade.”

“Wow, that’s three years already. Not just glasses but even pens for years… you’re quite the penny-pincher, model student.”

“It’s wasteful not to. It still works perfectly fine.”

These exam marking pens aren’t expensive writing instruments like brand-name mechanical pencils or ballpoint pens.

It’s more about personal attachment than objective criteria like price or quality.

That’s probably why he kept using this pen worth less than 50 cents until the print wore off.

“Heh, that’s all fine, but don’t be like this when your future wife asks you to buy her something.”

“St-stop talking nonsense and give it back.”

Hamin reached out for the pen in my hand,

but when I stood on my tiptoes and raised my arm,

the pen escaped far beyond his reach.

Once it was in my possession,

there was no normal way for it to return to Hamin.

“No way. I need to write my name on the exam paper.”

“Ugh… why do you have to be so tall and lanky…”

After jumping a few times, Hamin finally gave up and sat back down.

“Hahaha, this is the height difference between you and me.”

“Tsk… I shouldn’t have given it to you.”

“Hehe, thanks. I’ll take good care of it, okay?”

“…Sure.”

Though he looked somewhat doubtful,

Hamin ultimately lent me his cherished marking pen.

He made the excuse that he wasn’t relying on luck or superstition anymore, but

in other words, it meant he had developed enough trust in me to lend me something he was attached to.

If that’s the case, I should probably live up to that trust to some extent.

“Hey, model student. Look here.”

With that thought, before returning to my desk,

I called out to Hamin once more, drawing his attention toward me.

“What is it…?”

I brought the pen I borrowed from him up to my mouth.

“Pen-is.”

“Damn it, I knew you’d do something like that! Give it back!”

“No way! Why should I? How much will you pay?”

“Doyoung, please return to your seat now!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Some things never change, no matter where you sit.

I successfully completed my morning mission of teasing Hamin.

‘Now, let’s get serious. Shall we ravage the Korean exam with our model student’s lucky pen…?’

Having fulfilled my morning quota,

I opened the first-period Korean exam paper with a light heart.

‘Let’s see what the questions are…’

[Question]

The following is a conversation between students discussing their recent physical examination results.

Student N) [According to the recent physical exam chart, Y has the heaviest mass among us.]

Student Y) [No, that data was compromised by external hacking, so it can’t be considered accurate. We need a re-examination.]

Student K) [Y’s mass is the only one exceeding three digits, and it’s more than N and K combined!]

13. Choose all students whose statements are correct.

1) N

2) Y

3) K

4) N,K

5) N,Y,K

“What the hell is this supposed to mean?”

Having graduated high school a good eight years ago,

this reunion with a mock exam was turning out to be the worst.