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Chapter: 7
“Ugh, ngh.”
The moment he stepped out of Frederick Bastia’s line of sight and descended to the first floor, tears burst uncontrollably from Lee Soo’s eyes.
It was like a dam collapsing from a single bomb—everything he had been holding down all day finally broke him. Just what did it matter, the words of one arrogant white guy?
Frederick Bastia, of all people.
‘I hate it.’
Lee Soo pressed the corner of his eyes with his palm, wiping them roughly.
‘I really hate it, Frederick Bastia.’
As he left the building and headed toward the dorms, his steps turned unsteady. Tears kept flowing down his cheeks, tracing all the way to his chin.
“Hngh… ngh.”
If I could choose, I’d have been born into a rich family like yours. I’d just skip over a quiz question like it’s nothing, and if things got too hard, I’d even skip class.
Was it because he felt so wronged? Or because he was simply too exhausted? Lee Soo couldn’t stop crying.
Even as the presence of people approached from afar, he didn’t move aside—he just stood there.
Holding his glasses in one hand and pressing his eyes with the other, he lowered his head and sobbed.
‘Why couldn’t you hold it in, Ryu Lee Soo. Why.’
How am I supposed to ask you for help with your little brother’s situation like this?
“Sniff… ngh, sob—”
His crying suddenly swelled again, and he covered his face with both hands. But it only lasted a moment—feeling someone’s gaze, he lowered his hands and looked up.
“…Ugh, ngh…”
“……”
“……”
The people standing across from him were the same male students who had been bothering him all day.
They stopped a few steps away, silently watching him.
Joshua, Cove, Matteo.
And this time, even Chris was with them.
Without his glasses, he could barely make out their faces, let alone their expressions. His feet instinctively stepped back.
“Uh, so, Trial—what’s wrong?”
Joshua, who had an arm slung over Chris’s shoulder, broke the silence. His tone carried a hint of friendliness, but it didn’t reach Lee Soo at all.
Instead of answering, Lee Soo quickly wiped his tears with the back of his hand and put on his glasses. Then he slipped past them before they could stop him.
While the others only exchanged glances, unsure whether to stop him or follow, Chris removed Joshua’s arm from his shoulder.
“Daniel.”
Chris, the tallest of the group, caught up to him in just a few steps. His voice made Lee Soo stop and turn back.
“Take this. Here.”
He pulled a sports towel from his bag and held it out.
“……”
“If you keep rubbing your eyes like that, they’ll get all raw.”
After a brief hesitation, Lee Soo finally accepted it. That was the end of their conversation.
Chris turned away without saying anything further, and Lee Soo continued on his way as well.
It was an uneventful, quiet ending—but not for those watching.
“……”
“……”
The league was over. Now this was the finale Joshua had been waiting for.
“Ah, our Trial looks even prettier when he cries. Haha.”
What everyone else was only thinking, Joshua said aloud as a joke.
The strange tension eased slightly, and conversation resumed. Naturally, the topic was Lee Soo.
Cove spoke, genuinely confused.
“Just take his glasses away.”
“Come to think of it, I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen Trial cry.”
“It’s probably because of the scholarship. I heard he might get cut soon?”
All eyes turned to Cove.
“What? His grades are fine.”
Chris, who had been silent the entire time, asked in a low voice.
“Budget issues. More precisely, it’s because of Jeremy Marquez. The school’s looking at at least a million dollars in settlements.”
Elmir Westlake Academy could not avoid responsibility in the violent incident involving football linebacker Jeremy Marquez.
Although initial investigations found no evidence, later discoveries led to the case being treated as a cover-up attempt, resulting in legal liability for failure of student protection duty.
“Jeremy’s causing problems everywhere. Why hasn’t the team kicked him out yet? Captain, what are you doing?”
At Joshua’s words, Matteo replied irritably.
“Emily Holt got her mother’s law firm to represent him.”
Emily Holt’s mother was a named partner at one of the top three law firms in California.
“The school can’t avoid responsibility for missing evidence, but Jeremy Marquez is still insisting he’s innocent.”
“So what happens if Trial loses his scholarship?”
At Cove’s question, Joshua answered.
“He’ll have to transfer to a public school.”
Unless someone helps him.
At Joshua’s added remark, a strange silence fell again. Joshua bit the inside of his cheek to hold back a smile.
‘Ah, this is fun. So fun.’
How can I make this even more interesting? That was the only thought in his mind.
“…Excuse me?”
The next morning, Lee Soo experienced a déjà vu of a nightmare. The only difference from yesterday was that today’s news was far more devastating.
“Daniel… I’m truly sorry to have to say this. I know better than anyone how hard you work…”
“Yesterday you said my scholarship wouldn’t be cut. Wasn’t the essay supposed to be for other students?”
“Well… it’s not your fault, but the school situation has become a bit complicated…”
“So are all scholarship students getting cut? All of them?”
Completely abolishing scholarships would damage Elmir Westlake’s prestige as a top-ranked private academy. Emma’s expression grew even more troubled at the accurate question.
“No… not all of them.”
“Then why am I being cut?”
Even if selection wasn’t based solely on grades, academics were still the biggest factor—and Lee Soo had ranked first in his grade for five consecutive years.
“The decision was based less on grades or background and more on how well the student integrates with the school. Daniel, your academic performance is outstanding, but participation in extracurriculars like sports, orchestra, or leadership programs was seen as lacking.”
Track team wouldn’t accept him. He had no instrument for orchestra. And leadership programs at Elmir Westlake weren’t something students could simply choose to join.
“But I worked hard in clubs! In Math Club, I participated with the members in the AMC—American Mathematics Competitions!”
“Even in those activities, we didn’t see much real social interaction between you and your teammates.”
Because everyone except me was male!
Instead of protesting, Lee Soo tried to understand how this even happened. Cut in a single day? No, that wasn’t it…
“Teacher… that essay you mentioned yesterday… was it actually meant to protect my scholarship, not help other students?”
The moment he realized Emma had been trying to help him, something inside Lee Soo felt like it was being cut open.
“Yes. I just wanted you to write it in a way that felt easier for you, but the situation worsened… I felt I needed to clarify the school’s position. I’m truly sorry, Daniel.”
“…It’s okay. Thank you for helping me.”
Lee Soo forced the corners of his mouth upward. Even though his heart had already burned black.
At lunchtime, Lee Soo headed to the student union building where the club rooms were located.
Separate from submitting an emotional essay meant to gain sympathy, he needed proof that he had sufficient teamwork and interaction in Math Club.
Of course, it was doubtful that submitting a group photo from after the AMC would reverse his near-lost scholarship.
As he climbed toward the 4th floor where the Math Club was, the building grew quieter and emptier. His steps had no strength.
‘I’m… exhausted.’
That word kept repeating in his mind since morning.
Exhausted. Tired. Completely drained.
This is really my limit.
But reality shook him again far too easily.
The moment he turned into the corridor on the 4th floor, voices drifting from the swimming club room stopped him in place.
“Whoever gets a love confession from Trial first? That’s the bet? That’s so stupid.”
“Got a problem? It’s the most fair and equal bet there is. I heard he might transfer anyway. If we wait too long, Trial’s gone~”
It was Frederick’s group from yesterday.
Lee Soo didn’t even have time to think—he pressed himself against the wall, killing his footsteps and presence.
Then Frederick’s voice came again.
“Getting a love confession from Daniel Ryu… huh. That’s interesting.”
“Right?”
Lee Soo bit down hard on his lower lip, fists clenched tight.
“The idea that you guys think you could actually get Daniel to like you is…”
