episode_0014

14.

“Did everyone turn in their phones? Don’t get caught later for not turning it in and end up with a zero. If you’re not going to get caught, at least put it on silent.”

“Yes!”

“You all respond well. Uh, why is Changsun raising his hand over there?”

“Teacher, I don’t have my computer science book!”

“I don’t have mine either. You! Even though the teachers told you sternly yesterday to bring it… why didn’t you bring it?”

“Eeh~ We’re too poor to have a computer science book. Are you looking down on us because our house is poor? I’ll sue you.”

The Korean language teacher paused for a moment and then spoke.

“Changsun, stop making a fuss. Borrow a computer science book from the next class or a friend. If you still can’t find one, go to the office and ask Teacher Hanjong for help.”

“Teacher Hanjong?”

“Yeah, I saw him carrying a computer science book in his pocket today. If you can’t find one even after that, go find Teacher Song Mina.”

“Okay.”

In response, the Korean language teacher awkwardly scratched the back of his head while muttering something. It wasn’t clear as it was from the back row.

It roughly conveyed a sense of ‘I’m not even the homeroom teacher here… why am I dealing with this?’

Our homeroom teacher apologizes for playing hot and cold…

Ding! Ding! Ding ding ding!

Internally pleading for forgiveness, a piano melody signaled the end of the morning assembly.

Normally, it would signal the end of the assembly and preparation for classes, but during exam periods, it indicated a break.

– Psst! Computer science book! Computer science book!

– Hey! Don’t go to Yangseok! I said I would borrow it first! Damn it! Is that punk really crazy?

– You two! Who’s swearing in the hallway!

The corridor became noisy.

The atmosphere shifted from the morning assembly. The Korean language teacher chuckled and neatly concluded.

“Do well on your exams. I won’t nag, but make sure to enter the classroom and sit down five minutes before the exam starts. If it gets noisy, let the class leader handle it.”

“Yes!”

“Especially you, Changsun, don’t complain during the exam or after it ends. Huh?! When the invigilators speak, know your way to the truth room.”

“Yes, sir! We’ll supervise!”

“Sigh, you kids worry me.”

With a nod, the Korean language teacher left, leaving behind a chaotic atmosphere in the classroom as lively as the corridor.

As the inhibitions faded, the classroom buzzed with an unsettled vibe as students poured in from the corridor.

I caught a whiff of youth in that scene after a long time. However, I didn’t get carried away by the atmosphere.

I smirked slightly and opened my world history textbook.

It was the last study session.

‘If I review before the exam, I remember better…’

There was no scientific proof, just a feeling.

I quickly skimmed through page 48, the beginning of the exam scope. It started with “civilization” and covered various topics.

The dates and content matched what was in my head. I possessed someone and studied diligently for the first time. With a proud feeling, I tapped my fingers.

Around halfway through the scope, a faint breath touched my forearm. It was warm and playful.

Curiously, I turned my eyes forward.

Park Ayoung was leaning on her desk, looking up at me from below with a mischievous smile, breathing lightly through her lips filled with mischief.

“What are you doing?”

I asked hesitantly.

“Just relaxing to ease the tension.”

She giggled softly.

“It might actually work…”

“Yeah! They say if you’re relaxed, you can fit into a glass bottle smoothly now.”

“It’s not about relaxation, my muscles feel loose now! I think I could slip into a glass bottle gently right now.”

“To be honest, it was a lie. I made it up just before coming here. But I’m glad Jinwoo relaxed.”

I see.

Without responding, I turned my eyes back to the textbook.

In my ear, I could hear Park Ayoung rambling.

“I told you the other day. Studying for a bit doesn’t improve grades. Maybe you’ll find solace or stability in your mind.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

“If you know it, would you put away the textbook and chat with me? My friends are bored to death in the faculty room.”

“Was that your intention?”

“You’re a cold city girl. If there’s no purpose, you never approach first.”

Cold city girl, my foot.

‘Maybe if I were a country puppy.’

Her playful demeanor was exactly like that.

If you attach ears and a tail here, it’s just…

Continuing the impolite imagination, she closed the textbook. Baek A-yeong’s face brightened even more.

“Play with me?”

“You should play. Since we’ve memorized world history with this anyway.”

She took out a blue diary from the drawer. It was the class summary book Baek A-yeong lent her on Saturday.

The concise summaries were excellent, allowing her to memorize them during work.

“Oh, good deeds are coming back!”

Nodding at her as she handed it back.

“That’s the idea.”

“Yeah, praise the past me a lot. And give a little praise to Jin-woo who studied hard~ Well done.”

Scratching her forehead at the impact on her forehead.

“Oh, relax your expression.”

“It’ll relax on its own once I move my hand.”

“Do you want to give up this sensation? How do you do that?”

“Shall I kindly explain it all? Like how helpful Baek A-yeong was last Saturday with fern hands?”

“I’ll clean it up…. Will you keep my dark history safe for me?”

“Do well.”

Swallowing the secret, she took out chocolates and sour candies from her bag.

She brought them to ease her mind. She also intended to awaken the somewhat drowsy Baek A-yeong.

She offered chocolates with alphabet letters on them.

“Here.”

“Open it.”

“Are you a baby?”

While grumbling, she opened the wrapper. Enthralled by the tempting brown color, Baek A-yeong accepted the chocolate not with her hand but with her lips.

“It’s sweet….”

“It’s nice even when your chin gets messy with drool.”

“Yeah…. It’s sweet, I’m so happy.”

“Sigh….”

Ignoring her laughter, she wiped her sticky fingers on her uniform.

Then, I also put a sour candy (lemon) in my mouth. The tingling and sour feeling on my palate felt good.

Did her face relax a bit? Baek A-yeong naturally swallowed the chocolate and reached for the sour candy.

When I stared at her intently, she imitated Han Hyo-jin’s voice and brazenly came out.

“I took it because I wanted to eat it. Any complaints? Hmm…? Your eyes are full of dissatisfaction. I’ll listen if you have something to say.”

“It meant ‘eat a lot.’ Lady A-yeong.”

“Yes! Yum yum. Oh, but do you always carry sour candies and chocolates in your bag? You gave them to me in the student council room too.”

“Not always, just sometimes.”

As mentioned earlier, I deliberately brought them today, but usually, I had to find time to go to the discounted store to replenish them.

So, I didn’t always come out with them whenever I rummaged through my bag.

“I see…. But Jin-woo, I prefer peach flavor over lemon in sour candies….”

“Are you challenging me?”

“No…. Just….”

“It’s a joke. We’ll buy some together when we go later.”

“Yeah.”

We chatted casually and forgot about the snacks. When about half of them disappeared, the bell rang.

This time, it signaled the start of the real exam.

“Don’t waste time wandering around trying to guess answers during break after world history ends!? I’ll come back to eat snacks and check!”

“I can’t waste time guessing answers since I don’t have friends.”

“It’s actually a good thing! I’ll go now! Good luck on the test! World history is tough if you get the years wrong, so think carefully and ponder!”

“That stung my ears quite sharply….”

“It’s survival of the fittest! Anyway, fighting!”

Baek A-yeong clenched her fist and shook it. Surprisingly, it was an encouraging gesture that gave strength because it was cute.

After responding with a smile, the supervising teacher came up to the podium.

“Put away the books you were reading, and we will begin the world history exam. The world history number is 34. Make sure to write your name correctly on the OMR card provided.”

“Yes!”

“I will distribute the test papers. Do not check them now. Turn them over after 5 minutes and then start solving.”

Ding! Ding! Ding!

“Turn over your test papers. Begin the exam.”

The noisy classroom suddenly fell silent.

The concentration rising ominously. To avoid being overwhelmed, I too began to work hard, rolling my hands and head.

[1. The Egyptian civilization……]

[14. Expansion of the Asian world……]

[22. Within the feudal society of Europe….]

Ding! Ding! Ding!

“It’s over. Stop writing and have the person at the back collect them.”

“Yes!”

In an instant, the history exam was finished.

I blinked blankly. It felt like something had passed by and disappeared.

Before I could gather my thoughts, as if saying ‘that’s enough fooling around,’ the next exam stormed in.

[1. Provide the name of the scientist who proposed the next scientific theory……]

[5. Cheolsoo and Yeonghee each have five apples. When one is eaten! Calculate the area of the sun.]

[25. Translate the following sentence into English. Points will be deducted for unnatural spelling and connections……]

“Good job.”

Taking my OMR card, the classroom transformed into a bustling place.

“How was the exam?”

“Yeah, going to the PC room?”

“Room. What a damn study session.”

School must be ending early for everyone….

I couldn’t express it, but I felt good too.

My whole body felt drained.

I lowered my head stupidly and looked at the result of my concentration on the desk.

In the last English question, although my focus had oxidized, the remnants remained dominant, but the fact that I had tried my best did not change.

‘I don’t even think I did well….’

It seems I didn’t fail miserably.

Exhaling a sigh of relief, I crumpled the test paper and stuffed it into my bag.

Park Ayoung approached me without warning.

“Let’s grade them… later.”

“That’s right…”

“Your voice sounds weak. How hard did you really try?”

“As much as possible….”

“We have another exam tomorrow, I wonder if we’ll do well.”

“Oh….”

Normally, the exam period lasted three days….

“Ugh, life….”

It was a lament for the remaining two days.

***

“Korean is the last subject, and the midterms are over. You all worked hard. Even if I tell you to go home safely and not get into any accidents, you won’t listen, right?”

“Yes!”

“What’s with the ‘yes’…. I hope you had fun and don’t stay out too late. Tomorrow is Thursday, after all.”

“Yes!”

“Song Mina…. Ah. Since the teacher isn’t here, there won’t be any closing remarks. It always feels like only Class 1 ends early…. Please leave quietly so as not to disturb students from other classes.”

The supervisor’s instructions seemed lackluster.

“Yay! It’s over! Let’s go to the PC room!”

“The guys going to eat pork soup, hurry up!”

“Hey, kids! Mom gave me pocket money! Let’s eat and take three shots of life!”

The students cheered.

Except for the annoyed expression on the supervisor’s face, there were no specific reprimands.

When the tide comes in, it tends to flow out again. Exhausted bodies, depleted of concentration, are swept along without resistance.

That’s how I was about to head home wearily.

But then, someone grabbed me.

Chin—someone was holding me.

To find the owner of the touch, I raised my gaze from my shoulder. Past the white skin of the forearm, a blue jewel was visible.

“Oh…. It’s Ayoung.”

“‘Oh!’ is not the right response. Where are you going now?”

“Home?”

“Why are you going home?”

“Huh?”

If I don’t go home, where else would I go?

As I tilted my head, Park Ayoung’s face turned puzzled.

“Did you not check the student council group chat?”

“Chat…?”

“Yeah, Subin suggested having an after-party last night.”

“I was working until dawn, came home exhausted, and crashed. I didn’t have time to check my phone. Sorry.”

“No, no. There’s no need for Jinwoo to apologize! How about we go inside and check the chat?”

“Sure.”

With a positive gesture, I entered the group chat.

The most recent message was from Lee Subin.

♥Lee Subin♥-When are you all coming? I’m putting off hanging out with my friends and waiting. How long are you going to keep me waiting like this? ಠ ɞ ಠ

♥Lee Subin♥-Ah, Doji senior read it. Senior, come down quickly. You’re not planning to leave a cute girl like me alone at this hour, right?! ヽ(ﾟДﾟ)ﾉ

I ignored it for now and posted above. The atmosphere of the group chat was mostly led by Lee Subin.

The afterparty was the same.

♥Lee Subin♥-Anyone up for an afterparty? ʕ •̀ o •́ ʔ

Han Hyojin-Do it on your own.

Ahyoung-Sounds good! Let’s grab a meal with the student council members too!

“Hmm.”

I roughly understood the situation.

“Afterparty… let’s go.”

“Huh? Aren’t you tired? Are you sure you’re okay?”

“If you’re 18, you don’t know tiredness. I’m fine.”

“Um… if Jinwoo is okay. Still, if you get tired or find it tough while having fun, tell us right away.”

“Okay, got it.”

The finale of the exams.

As always, the conclusion was an afterparty.