3rd Period: Aqua Man

One month since the regression. Mid-term check-up:

• Became Class President. +1

• Prevented Do Ha-jun from putting on a weird play in the theater club. +1

• Undid the things I regretted most. +1

• Can’t remember a single thing I learned in high school. -100

Conclusion: What is the next step?
Study!

Let’s study.
There’s too much forgotten material to make up for.
From now on, my days will be of the study, by the study, and for the study.

“A girl who is wa~rm and humanly during the day!”

“Guys, let’s keep it down.”

“Beautiful! Loveableeeeeeee!!!”

“Guys, lower your voices. The teacher said they’d be here soon.”

“Hey, you! Yes, you! Hey!”

“Let’s be quiet… some people are trying to study.”

“Huh? Who’s studying?”

“That would be me.”

I pointed at myself with the pen I was holding.

“Ah, right. If it’s Kang Da-hye, I’ll allow it.”

“Gee, thanks?”

I gave Male Student 1 a half-hearted ‘horse dance’ hand gesture and buried my nose back in my workbook. Satisfied, Male Student 1 returned to his seat.

“That would be you! ♬”

“Hey….”

It hasn’t even been a week since I became class president, and I’m already drained. Teacher, when are you coming…?

As I sat there, vowing to buy earplugs on my way home, my ‘partner’ spoke up.

“Do you really have to study in this tiny gap of time?”

“Actually, this is when focus is at its peak.”

“What, are you trying to go to Hankuk University or something?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

I’m the top student in the school; if I don’t go to Hankuk University, who will?

“True. It suits you, Hankuk University. I bet it’s full of kids who solve the quadratic formula while at a club.”

“Yeah. Sure.”

It’s much better to keep your senses and solve the quadratic formula than to pass out at a club. Besides, the quadratic formula has already been solved.

“Then what university suits me?”

“You?”

I lifted my head from my workbook and scanned my partner. Bathed in the morning sunlight, he flashed his teeth in a grin.

“The National Tiger University?” (Note: Refers to Korea University)

“No. The Military.” (Note: A pun in Korean between ‘Dae-hak’ (University) and ‘Ip-dae’ (Enlistment)).

Or maybe the Gallows. Or the Cold Treatment. Or just ‘Shut your mouth.’

And you’re a traitor anyway—how are you going to get into National Tiger University? Are you going to write ‘traitor’ on your self-introduction letter?

Just go join the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.

“Hey, is that any way for a class president to talk? Are you really the president?”

“Yup~ You’re going to the military, and I’m ‘Um Seok-dae’.” (Note: A reference to the tyrant character in Our Twisted Hero).

It might look like we’re having a conversation, but I’ve actually been solving a math mock exam this whole time.

Since my regression, I’ve made it a rule to solve one a day, but since there’s so much I don’t know, it takes a long time to grade and review.

Everyone knows, right? You have to solve mock exams against the clock.
If it’s a 100-minute test, the golden rule is to finish in 95 minutes, excluding marking time.

In other words, I wasn’t even glancing at my partner.

So why does he keep talking? Is he that oblivious? I’m already anxious because there’s so much I don’t know.

By now, you’ve probably guessed who it is.

My partner is…

“Kang Da-hye, aren’t you curious about anything regarding me?”

Do Ha-jun.

The popularity-vote guy. Park Su-hwan’s lackey. He has a thin, eunuch-like voice and hands and feet that seem smaller than mine.

After joining the theater club to hit on Ji-su (despite knowing his place), Do Ha-jun was now targeting me since we became partners, wearing what he thought was a ‘cool’ smile while constantly pestering me.

“Hmm? Go ahead and ask. I’ll answer anything.”

“I’m not curious.”

Ah.

“Wait, there is one thing.”

“What is it?”

“By any chance.”

“Yeah, yeah?”

“Could you just… not talk to me?”

“Ha.”

Do Ha-jun looked stunned for a moment, then let out a hollow laugh and pulled back.

“Fine, whatever. Forget it.”

“Let’s do that.”

Don’t think I’m going to get anxious or walk on eggshells just because you’re acting pouted. For the record, you were the rude one first.

“Did you get rejected?”

Park Su-hwan, sitting in front, turned around and sneered. As if wanting me to hear, Do Ha-jun complained.

“Yeah. Apparently, she won’t even mingle with you unless you’re on the level of Seo Jae-gyeom or Jung Eun-sung.”

“Ayy, no way. Kang Da-hye isn’t that high-tier. Tell her you’ll give her money if she talks to you.”

I ignored them; they weren’t worth a response.
Seriously, what is up with these seats? When can we change them again?

“I think I heard my name mentioned.”

Right on cue, Seo Jae-gyeom appeared and thudded a box onto the lectern. Behind him, a stone-faced Jung Eun-sung and a couple of physically fit boys entered carrying identical boxes.

Finally, the homeroom teacher entered and spoke.

“Everyone, pass these to the back.”

“Whoa!”

“Wow!”

“Shh, quiet! The class next door is studying.”

It was a set of handmade burgers and dak-gangjeong (sweet crispy chicken) for everyone.

“Teacher, who’s treating us?”

Seo Jae-gyeom’s mom.

“Ah, that’s a secret. An anonymous parent sent them.”

The person who asked for it to be a secret was probably Seo Jae-gyeom. He’s been avoiding class leadership roles since elementary school because he found this kind of thing embarrassing.

Back in elementary school, when Jae-gyeom became class president, his mom sent one pizza per person for the entire grade….

‘Should I treat the class too?’

Feeling a bit of pressure, I looked at Seo Jae-gyeom and our eyes met. He mouthed, “What?” and I shook my head no, causing him to chuckle.

He’s been acting like this lately.
Constantly striking up conversations, laughing.
Even sending me ‘Kotoks’ (texts) first.

[Seo Jae-gyeom]
What are you doing? 19:30

[Me]
Math.

[Seo Jae-gyeom]
And now? 22:01

[Me]
English.

For a second, I thought his account had been hacked.

Behind Seo Jae-gyeom, a sleepy-looking Jung Eun-sung was practically dumping burgers onto the desks of the kids in the front row.

For the record, I’m in Row 1, Seo Jae-gyeom is in Row 3, and Jung Eun-sung is in Row 4. Both are quite a distance from me.

One notable detail: Do-yeon and Seo Jae-gyeom are partners.

“Thanks for the food!”

“Anyone leaving their cheese fries? I’ll eat them!”

Amidst the noise, Seo Jae-gyeom walked over to my side.

“Were you guys talking about me?”

“Not me, them.”

I pointed at Do Ha-jun and Park Su-hwan.

Seo Jae-gyeom looked at the two losers, who had shut their mouths and were staring at the floor as soon as he approached.

“You didn’t say anything about me?”

“I was studying.”

“You’re working hard.”

“I always work hard.”

It’s the best way to solve the problems I have right now.

“You look like you’re in a good mood.”

“Because I feel good.”

Nothing is bothering me right now.
Even the problems I do have are the kind that can be solved with effort.
Even Song Yeo-reum hasn’t been seen at school since that day. Bang Eun-ji is busy being a hermit.
If every day could be like today, I’d have nothing left to wish for.

Seeing me grinning, Seo Jae-gyeom curled his lips into a smile too.

“Alright then. Study hard.”

Jae-gyeom picked up my pen, scribbled something in my workbook, and went back to his seat.

I looked down.

??

“……?”

Why is he like this?

“Guys… are you going to eat lunch?”

“No.”

“Nope.”

“I’m full.”

“What’s for lunch today anyway?”

“Braised pollack, braised lotus root, seasoned eggplant, and bean rice.”

“Ugh.”

“Gross.”

“Let’s skip.”

Ga-eun shook her head.

It was lunchtime. Having already filled our stomachs thanks to the grace of Seo Jae-gyeom’s mother, we were walking leisurely behind the crowd of kids running toward the cafeteria.

“Let’s just have dessert.”

“What should we get?”

“Fish-shaped ice cream?”

“Boring….”

“Want to get strawberry bingsu? A new place just opened up in front of the school.”

“Love it!”

“Me too!”

“But we can’t leave the school grounds.”

“Do they deliver?”

“Probably not.”

“Can we just shout the order from the fence?”

“…Can’t we just call and ask them to bring it across the street?”

“Oh. Genius.”

“But how do we pay?”

“I have cash.”

“Oh, it’s Da-hye’s friend.”

Se-in, who was walking ahead, spoke up.

From the opposite direction, Ji-su was walking toward us with her own classmates. Ji-su’s friends spotted me before she did and whispered to her.

Ji-su lifted her head. Her gaze scanned Ga-eun, Sua, and Se-in one by one, before finally landing on Do-yeon, who was standing next to me.

I raised my hand high.

“Ji-su!”

“…Kang-Da.”

“They say lunch today is pollack-lotus-eggplant.”

I made a joke, expecting Ji-su to react with disgust, but…

“Ah, yeah.”

Her reaction was completely lukewarm.

With an awkward smile, Ji-su brushed past me first. One of the friends walking beside her looked back at me and whispered something in Ji-su’s ear.

Ji-su didn’t look back until they disappeared down the stairs.

“Da-hye, your friend seems to be in a bad mood today.”

“…I guess so.”

What’s going on?