Upon hearing Seunghun’s response, Choi Woojin, with a sneer, turned his gaze toward Jin Yeseo.
“It’s 3:1.”
“Sigh…”
Despite letting out a sigh, Jin Yeseo eventually nodded. It seemed as if her pride would be hurt if she backed out alone.
“Men, I swear…”
“Come to think of it, aren’t these the same members who got scolded by the professor at the Sky Canyon?”
Seunghun scratched his cheek as he spoke. Come to think of it, there was such a situation at the beginning of our enrollment.
In the end, we decided to look for Professor Shin Jae-yu, and soon we began to discuss our next course of action.
“It would be best if we go in pairs. It should be fine, but just in case.”
For some reason, the gazes of the three naturally turned toward me.
“We can split into two groups and search half of the Academy Grounds each. If we find the professor, we’ll contact each other with a Crow, and if nothing happens, we’ll return here and regroup.”
“That’s a great idea. Let’s do that.”
“No objections.”
“Me neither.”
As Choi Woojin nodded, the other two also expressed their agreement.
“So, how should we divide the groups?”
“Do we need to make a big deal out of it? Just pair up with the person next to you…”
Choi Woojin, who had been answering Seunghun’s suggestion nonchalantly, suddenly remembered something and hastily added.
“Oh, right, I absolutely refuse to be with Jin Yeseo. Please keep that in mind.”
“Huh?”
Jin Yeseo scoffed as if it was ridiculous upon hearing his words.
“Talk about the pot calling the kettle black… I refuse to be with you too. I’d rather go alone…”
“Got it. You two can go separately. Right?”
As it seemed like a tiresome argument was about to start, I quickly interjected.
“Then I’ll go with Choi Woojin…”
Just as I was about to casually mention anyone’s name.
Jin Yeseo, who was standing behind, was desperately trying to signal something to me with her eyes. Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?
“…”
In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through my mind. Eventually, I quickly changed what I was saying.
“…No, I’ll go with Jin Yeseo. Is that okay?”
“Oh… this is interesting…”
Jin Yeseo, upon hearing my response, let out a sigh of relief that was barely noticeable.
Choi Woojin looked back and forth between us with a surprised expression.
“Is there a reason for this decision?”
From the perspective of someone unaware of the situation, it was a natural question.
“…What reason? I just thought it would balance things out.”
As I made up an excuse, Jin Yeseo, who had been sending me pleading looks, let out another sigh.
“I guess so.”
Choi Woojin nodded as if he understood, though his face was still filled with mocking laughter.
“It’s only right for the top student to cover for the last place. Don’t you agree, Seunghun?”
“Ha ha…”
“This bastard…”
While Seunghun let out an awkward laugh, Jin Yeseo intruded with a fierce glare.
“Hey, can’t you speak properly? Who’s the last place?”
“Did I say anything wrong? You are the last place among us.”
Choi Woojin responded calmly, shrugging his shoulders.
“He’s first, I’m second, Seunghun is fourth. You… were you ninth?”
Then he pointed at me with his finger, continuing to provoke.
“And you even dropped out of the top ten before barely climbing back up. If it were me, I’d be so embarrassed I’d drop out… huh?”
Choi Woojin, who had been talking excitedly, suddenly furrowed his brows as if he remembered something.
“But you… why are you so quiet around him today?”
“What, what? What nonsense are you talking about…”
“No, it’s true.”
Jin Yeseo, flustered, even bit her tongue as she spoke. Choi Woojin was absorbed in his detective-like deductions.
“Before, you used to growl as if you’d kill him at the mere sight of his shadow.”
“Who, who growled…”
“Hmm… did you finally realize your place after getting beaten up so much…”
“Who, who got beaten up…”
And then, a sneer spread across his lips.
“Or could it be that you actually like…”
“Are you crazy?! Who likes who?!”
Her voice echoed loudly down the hallway. Jin Yeseo’s face was now bright red, steam practically coming out of her ears.
“Why would I like such an ugly, unhealthy, womanizing jerk?!”
“Uh…”
At that moment, silence fell all around. Even Jin Yeseo, who had been passionately speaking, sensed the atmosphere and stopped talking, but the damage was already done.
“Pfft…”
And then, the silence was broken by Choi Woojin’s burst of joyful laughter.
“Puh… puhahaha…”
He was laughing so hard he was clutching his stomach.
“I was just kidding. You must really hate him, huh? To say such things with him standing right next to you… puhuhuh…”
“Yeseo…”
Beside Choi Woojin, who was snickering, Seunghun touched his forehead in confusion. I was equally confused.
The sudden, specific criticism was quite something. Could it be that she’s been thinking this all along…?
“Puh… sorry about that. I’ll admit that was a slip of the tongue this time.”
Choi Woojin offered an apology that didn’t sound the least bit sorry. Then he gestured to Seunghun and turned away.
“Well… let them sort out their own issues. Shall we go look for the professor now?”
“Is it really okay… for me to go with Yeseo…”
“If Moon Yeowool catches you, you’re done for. Don’t you know the situation between her and Jin Yeseo? Just drop it and…”
Despite Seunghun’s concerns, Choi Woojin waved his hand dismissively. The main culprit who stirred up the trouble disappeared from sight without even trying to fix it.
From Choi Woojin’s attitude, it seemed like even the person who started the conversation wasn’t taking this situation seriously. Not to mention the others…
-Come to think of it, aren’t these the same members who got scolded by the professor at the Sky Canyon?
K2hjWHNPUHQ0V094TWhGSVh6QmUydE5oQUtjVnJuM2FjRG8yWVQyeUxleEI1dDZKVmFoa2szOVVobHFua3hNKw
Seunghun’s earlier comment came to mind again. I hoped this worry was just an unfounded one.
After all, it would be much better if this ended with just a scolding or a punishment, like last time.
That’s that…
“…”
I turned toward someone who had become quiet.
There, I saw a blonde female student with her head down, still blushing and unable to look at me.
“…Shall we go?”
***
Jin Yeseo walked silently, her steps heavy. Thanks to Choi Woojin’s unnecessary comments, an awkward atmosphere lingered.
“…Hey.”
It was only after a while that she spoke again.
“What?”
“I… I’m sorry. That monkey bastard Choi Woojin said something stupid… and I…”
Jin Yeseo hesitated as she offered a belated apology.
“You’re not hurt, are you…?”
“It’s fine. It’s nothing.”
I shrugged lightly. It wasn’t enough to hurt me. Compared to the words I heard while lying in a sickbed, this was nothing.
“Actually, it’s not entirely wrong. I do lack consideration sometimes…”
“Pfft…”
Jin Yeseo smiled bashfully. I thought she had no talent for joking, but it seems she does have some.
“Well, that’s why you shouldn’t hit a girl’s stomach so carelessly, right?”
With the awkwardness completely melted away, Jin Yeseo threw a playful jab, her eyes narrowing mischievously.
“…That’s because you did something to deserve it.”
“Even so, leaving a bruise like this?”
Jin Yeseo pointed to the area below her navel.
“This won’t go away. Now I can’t get married. You’re going to take responsibility for this, right?”
“Uh…”
“Hey? No answer?”
Jin Yeseo, who had been focused on teasing me, waved her hand in satisfaction.
“Well, your face and body are not bad, so don’t worry. You know how high my standards are, right? I don’t say this to just anyone.”
“Sister, what are you talking about… And how do you know that?”
“I touch your body all the time during combat practice.”
Jin Yeseo answered calmly.
“Probably no one has touched your body more than I have.”
“That… doesn’t seem wrong.”
We chatted about trivial things for a while before changing the subject.
“But it seems like it would take too long to search everywhere.”
“We should ask around. Have you seen Professor Shin Jae-yu? That would be the fastest way, wouldn’t it?”
Jin Yeseo replied as if it was no big deal.
“Good grief, what a pointless hassle. What are we going to say if we run into the professor?”
“…Just in case, let’s do it your way.”
We turned towards the west of the main building.
“But what if someone thinks we’re acting strangely? Like Choi Woojin did earlier.”
“Is there a need to overthink it? Just say it was the professor’s order and we had no choice.”
Jin Yeseo looked indifferent, as if it was nothing.
“Or should we make a bomb declaration? Say we were secretly dating.”
“That would cause a real problem…”
“It’s not entirely wrong. Did you forget? My secret fiance is actually you.”
Jin Yeseo wiggled her fingers playfully. On her left ring finger, an engagement ring with a sparkling gem shone brightly.
“Isn’t wearing accessories forbidden inside the cradle?”
“It’s fine as long as we don’t run into the professors or the disciplinary department students. And we need to show it off whenever we can. That way, annoying people won’t bother us.”
Jin Yeseo hummed lightly, looking relieved.
“You have no idea how much easier things have become thanks to this.”
Then, she glanced at me and muttered in a subtle tone.
“Just in case, I prepared one for you too…”
“You know I…”
“Oh, I know. If Yeon Minha catches us, we’re in big trouble.”
Unlike me, who looked troubled, Jin Yeseo had no reservations. Was she always the type to make such bold, boundary-crossing jokes…?
Well, she was always quite bold.
Come to think of it, it seems that the clash between Jin Yeseo and that girl that day wasn’t widely known.
There’s been no news from Jin Yeseo’s social circle since then.
It’s a bit surprising. The atmosphere that day felt more like executing a traitor or a collaborator.
Maybe there’s still some old affection left.
Old affection…
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
At Jin Yeseo’s sudden question, I snapped back to reality and shook my head.
“…It’s nothing.”