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Chapter: 12
After a morning that had been chaotic in more ways than one, Hadam arrived at morning homeroom with her thoughts more unsettled than usual.
Standing on the podium wasn’t their homeroom teacher, but Yoonseong, holding a single sheet of paper.
“Pick a club by lunchtime and write your name here. Anyone who doesn’t sign up is getting sent to the environmental cleanup club.”
“Where’s our homeroom teacher?”
“No morning assembly?”
“If there’s nothing special going on, he said we won’t be doing homeroom separately anymore and told us to self-study. I’ll check attendance.”
“Is he really allowed to do that?”
Someone asked incredulously. Yoonseong just shrugged.
“Your homeroom teacher’s got it made.”
“And he teaches P.E., right?”
“He’s totally coasting.”
Sarcastic remarks came from all directions.
In the middle of it all, Lee-gyeol muttered in satisfaction,
“Nice not seeing him first thing in the morning.”
“You don’t like him?”
“It’s not that. He’s just kind of strict.”
“Doesn’t seem that strict if he’s skipping homeroom.”
“Just wait till you have P.E. You’ll change your mind.”
“I’m exempt anyway.”
“Why?”
“I’m not allowed to run.”
Hadam casually took out her book and got ready for self-study.
But feeling the sharp gaze from beside her, she had no choice but to explain.
“My heart’s weak.”
That was the official reason.
Only a few teachers, Yuna, and Yoonseong knew the truth behind the watch Hadam wore.
“So that’s why you use the elevator too?”
“Yeah.”
“Then what do you do during P.E.?”
“Just watch.”
That was why it was the class she hated most.
More than any other time, P.E. forced her to confront how different she was.
Still, she didn’t want to shrink into herself, so she always sat where she could see the class best.
Whenever there was a class-versus-class match, she’d cheer for Yuna at the top of her lungs. It was something she could do only because they’d always been in the same class.
Whether it was the school’s consideration or coercion.
Though the fact that Yoonseong had always been in their class too was an unfortunate twist.
“By the way, are clubs first-come, first-served?”
Lee-gyeol asked suddenly.
Hadam glanced toward the teacher’s desk.
Several students were already surrounding Yoonseong, pens in hand.
“No. They’re just doing that because they like the class president. Clubs usually stay the same from first year. Hardly anyone switches.”
Watching Hak Seolhwa standing among them, Hadam clicked her tongue internally.
What on earth did they see in Byul Yoonseong, anyway?
Lee-gyeol spoke again.
“What club are you in?”
“Astronomy Club.”
“Astronomy? Star-gazing?”
“Yeah.”
Strictly speaking, it was more moon-watching than star-gazing.
Having grown up hearing stories about the moon rabbit, Hadam had always loved looking at the moon.
Even after joining the Astronomy Club, she spent so much time staring at the moon that she sometimes got basic constellations mixed up.
“And you? You did club activities at Taebaek Hall too, right?”
“Track and field.”
“Oh. Figures.”
“Figures how?”
“You look like an athlete.”
“Oh. I mean, sports were just… a habit. I mean, a hobby.”
Sounds like a pretty intense hobby.
Hadam nodded absentmindedly.
Lee-gyeol suddenly stood up.
“I should go write my name too. I’ll write yours while I’m at it.”
Before she could say it was fine, Lee-gyeol had already strode toward the front.
The crowd around the desk had thinned out.
Yuna stepped up behind Lee-gyeol.
She watched him write for a moment, then raised her eyebrow slightly.
Not quite understanding what that expression meant, Hadam kept her eyes on Yuna.
As soon as Yuna finished writing her name, she came straight back to Hadam’s desk.
“What?”
But instead of answering, Yuna asked Lee-gyeol, who had already sat down.
“Why did you write your name under Astronomy Club? Were you in that club before?”
“No.”
Lee-gyeol answered curtly.
What kind of conversation was this?
Hadam looked back and forth between the two, completely confused.
Yuna didn’t give up.
“Then you shouldn’t be signing up for Astronomy Club. What club were you in before?”
“Who knows.”
A brief silence fell.
Lee-gyeol clearly had no intention of continuing the conversation.
Unable to stand it, Hadam spoke up.
“He was in track and field. But what do you mean he signed up for Astronomy Club? He said he’d write my name.”
“He wrote yours—and then wrote his next to it.”
“Huh? Why? You said you were in track and field.”
Only then did Lee-gyeol shrug.
“This isn’t Taebaek Hall. Our homeroom teacher said to join whatever club we want.”
“Then why Astronomy Club?”
“Because I like it.”
It was a completely half-hearted answer.
If she had to guess, it was probably because she was his current desk mate—and the person he felt least distant from psychologically.
Still, Hadam looked at him with a firm expression.
She didn’t want her favorite time of the week to become uncomfortable.
“That can’t be right. Astronomy Club can’t do anything during the day, so we have to meet at night—once on a weekday and once on Saturday. During the day, we just study theory. It takes twice as much time as other clubs.”
“Really? I like it even more.”
Hadam tried to persuade him again.
“And star-gazing is actually kind of boring.”
“I see.”
“Were you interested in it before?”
“Not really.”
“Then wouldn’t another club be better?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you won’t be there.”
Hadam stared at Lee-gyeol in disbelief.
He wore a neat smile, but anyone could tell it was fake.
Beside them, Yuna, who had been listening silently, let out an incredulous scoff and blew air through her nose. Then she leaned close to Hadam’s ear and whispered,
“He’s insane.”
Exactly what Hadam had been thinking.
* * *
The moment first period ended, the front and back classroom doors flew open at the same time.
“Can anyone lend me a P.E. uniform?”
“Can I borrow your Korean textbook?”
“Tell me the English homework!”
The students who came to Class 3 under all kinds of pretexts had only one real goal.
To see Do Lee-gyeol.
And it wasn’t just those who barged in.
The hallway-side windows were crowded with lingering silhouettes.
At this point, the cafeteria wouldn’t have been any different from the classroom.
Hadam frowned.
She could understand it yesterday, since it was his first day—but this was too much.
Should she try talking to him, at least?
If they were chatting, maybe he could ignore the blatant stares a little better.
As she was seriously mulling it over, Lee-gyeol rummaged through his bag.
He pulled out something rarely used these days—white wired earphones.
Unhurriedly, he untangled the mess of wires.
Then, almost ostentatiously, he put one in each ear.
His gaze stayed firmly fixed on his phone screen.
She could feel the attention gradually drifting away from him.
Looks like he brought wired earphones on purpose.
Hadam felt relieved.
From then on, Lee-gyeol put his earphones in every break. Unlike yesterday, he also paid close attention in class and didn’t tease her.
Thanks to that, Hadam was able to get through the morning classes peacefully.
Right up until ten minutes before the fourth period ended.
“Alright, who wants to solve this problem using what we learned today? Anyone who volunteers gets bonus performance points.”
With ten minutes left, math teacher Sa Jinhee smiled brightly as she scanned the classroom.
Even Yuna, who usually jumped at the chance to earn points, didn’t raise her hand—it wasn’t an easy problem.
“No one? Then I’ll have to pick someone.”
Her cheerful voice sounded more sinister than ever.
Most of the students, including Hadam, slowly lowered their heads.
“Picking by date is too obvious… This is problem number fourteen. Who’s number 14 in Class 3?”
Her watch vibrated immediately.
Ah, I should’ve previewed the lesson.
She pressed her left wrist tightly, hesitating—
“Teacher.”
A low voice broke the silence.
It was Do Lee-gyeol.
“May I solve it?”
“Oh my! Our new face from Taebaek Hall! I’d love that. Come on up.”
Sa Jinhee’s eyes sparkled as she beckoned him forward.
Lee-gyeol stood up calmly.
“Let’s see what our new friend can do.”
Standing at the board, Lee-gyeol showed no sign of nervousness.
Taking the marker from Sa Jinhee, he filled the board without hesitation.
White numbers and symbols flowed smoothly.
“Therefore, the answer is two.”
Sa Jinhee let out a small gasp.
“Correct. Your solution is very clean. Do Lee-gyeol gets five bonus points.”
“Thank you.”
“Alright, take your seat. Everyone, be thankful to Lee-gyeol. Class dismissed.”
The classroom erupted into chatter.
Since Sa Jinhee was famous for filling every minute of class, everyone seemed especially excited.
Hadam was no exception.
After all, he’d gone up in her place.
Even if he didn’t know she was number fourteen.
“You’re really good at math—”
“Hey, Do Lee-gyeol, why are you so good at math? What rank do you get on mock exams? How far ahead have you studied?”
Startled, Hadam looked up.
The sudden voice belonged to Yuna.
