Chapter 24
There was no prejudice. She had even thought about cheering on Seo Do-gyeom’s pure love. It was just that the idea of having to connect that love herself gave her a headache.
She felt confused. Still, when her eyes met Ye Eun-seol’s, she smiled back out of politeness, only for her body to suddenly drop downward.
It wasn’t voluntary. She had simply been forced into the chair by the pull from Seo Do-gyeom.
“That hurts.”
“Because the teacher was looking.”
Seo Do-gyeom gave a plausible reason, but his voice carried a strange hint of dissatisfaction.
It seemed he thought her standing there in a daze looked too foolish. Baek I-hae just nodded, thinking, whatever.
The sound of Ye Eun-seol sitting in the empty seat at the back reached her ears. Then came the soft exchange of greetings and laughter with the seatmate right next to her.
‘Still, her personality seems as kind as the original female lead. Has she really become a guy? Then what am I supposed to do now?’
Making Seo Do-gyeom gay, of all things. No, actually, that wasn’t the important part.
Baek I-hae whipped her head around to look at Seo Do-gyeom’s face. His eyes were hidden by his bangs, but his handsome features were still visible.
“What?”
She then recalled Ye Eun-seol’s appearance from moments ago, when she had smiled at her.
Soon after, as Baek I-hae made a sulky face, Seo Do-gyeom slowly blinked his eyes.
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom is flustered by Baek I-hae’s ugly pout.]
‘Yeah, unlike ugly me, you pretty ones should pair up together—otherwise, it’s a national waste!’
Not just one, but two sets of genes to give up on!
Baek I-hae slumped weakly onto the desk. Seo Do-gyeom and Ye Eun-seol’s gazes naturally fell on her, but she herself was oblivious, only letting out groans of distress.
***
Even amid the confusion, time marched on steadily. Early on, she had described Seo Do-gyeom as indifferent to the transfer student, and indeed, he showed no interest in Ye Eun-seol at all.
On top of that, he had no friends, so he always hung around with Baek I-hae. They ate lunch together and moved to classes together too.
“Hey, I-hae. Are you dating that guy, by any chance?”
“Huh?”
Maybe that’s why.
Returning from the bathroom, she could only blink stupidly at her classmate’s cautious question.
She could guess who it was aimed at without asking, but out of courtesy, she smiled awkwardly and inquired.
“Who do you mean by ‘that guy’?”
“Seo Do-gyeom! The gloomy one with bangs so long they cover his eyes!”
“Hey, but he’s close with I-hae—how can you say that?”
At her friend’s words from the side, the kid who realized her mistake quickly shut her mouth.
Well, with bangs grown out so long that his face was barely visible, it made sense he’d get called gloomy.
Baek I-hae couldn’t understand why he went around like that either.
“We did become friends after being paired up in first year, but we’re not dating.”
“But you two came to school holding hands last time!”
Ah, so that’s what prompted the question.
She recalled the fresh past when, stressed out by Chai Ryeong, she had leaned on Seo Do-gyeom for a while.
The two involved had no particular thoughts about it, but to their pubescent teenage peers, it was the kind of scene that would inevitably be interpreted as romance.
“We’re close, but he treats me like a little sister, and I rely on him like a big brother. There’s no romantic feeling at all.”
“What is that… Even real siblings don’t act like that.”
Looking at her with disbelief, but seeing Baek I-hae speak so plainly without any sign of embarrassment, the girl wore a dubious expression.
If she says they’re not, just accept it—why interrogate like this?
A slight annoyance crept in, but she made sure not to show it. If she let her dislike slip and got labeled as unpleasant, it would be a headache.
Like Seo Do-gyeom, Baek I-hae had no friends either.
‘The general vibe around me doesn’t seem bad, but I’ve been so focused on Seo Do-gyeom that I missed chances to get close to others. Plus, thinking of this as a game world, I didn’t even try to make friends.’
But to see a happy ending, it seemed she’d have to spend her school days here. Managing her image starting now wouldn’t hurt, she thought, forcing a smile as best she could.
Hoping it didn’t look too strained.
“But we’re really not dating.”
“Well, that’s a relief then… But he seems a bit weird. He ignores you if you talk to him and doesn’t even look at you. Kind of creepy, you know? Anyway, doesn’t seem like someone worth hanging out with.”
Oh, this kid has a good eye for people.
Baek I-hae nodded inwardly in agreement. It was basically like hearing gossip about Seo Do-gyeom, but since he wasn’t normal, she couldn’t deny it.
Still, since they’re not dating, it’s a relief, and the advice continued: don’t get too close. She nodded appropriately as if agreeing and left the bathroom.
Even if Seo Do-gyeom had overheard this conversation right now, he was the type who wouldn’t care, so she felt no guilt.
Heading back to the classroom, she ran right into someone coming out the back door. It was Ye Eun-seol.
“Ah, it’s I-hae.”
“……?”
She was about to just pass by, but at the sudden call of her name, Baek I-hae blinked.
Then Ye Eun-seol smiled prettily and said,
“I remembered because your name is pretty.”
Somehow, this guy reminded her oddly of Baek Yeong…
Having had such a bad experience with that one, instead of feeling flattered, she eyed him suspiciously. Though it was true her name was pretty.
She nodded vaguely and tried to enter the classroom again, but Ye Eun-seol didn’t move aside.
With his large build blocking the back door solidly, it was hard to get in, so Baek I-hae frowned and looked up at him. Their eyes met directly as he smiled.
“Can you move a bit?”
“The teacher said to come to the staff room after class, but I don’t know the way. If it’s okay, could you show me?”
“It’s on the first floor.”
“I’m bad with directions.”
She was dumbfounded. Do directionally challenged people lose their sense of up and down these days too?
It was obviously a ploy, but since he was a transfer student, Baek I-hae sighed inwardly and nodded.
“Fine, I’ll take you.”
There was still some break time left anyway. She could drop him off and get back to class quickly.
As she started walking ahead, Ye Eun-seol followed. With his long legs, he strode up beside her and kept staring at Baek I-hae’s face in a burdensome way.
Trying to ignore the blatant gaze, she eventually couldn’t hold back, frowning as she asked,
“Why do you keep staring?”
“Because you’re cute.”
Definitely a ploy, and at such a young age.
“I know. Looking at your own face in the mirror would be more fun, so watch where you’re going.”
“Does that mean my face is handsome?”
He knows his face is good-looking—why seek confirmation?
Guys like this might enjoy reactions of embarrassment or shyness. Baek I-hae nodded nonchalantly.
‘The female lead in the game was more pure and kind-hearted. Like a saint in a fantasy game. But why does this one seem like such a flirt?’
Only the name and hair color were the same; there were many differences.
She thought she’d ask the status window when she got home, continuing to walk. Fortunately, Ye Eun-seol didn’t say anything more after that.
Arriving at the staff room, they ran into the teacher just coming out.
“Ah, Eun-seol, you’re here. I called you for the textbooks—good thing you came with a friend. While you’re here, take them together with I-hae.”
Ah, unpaid labor like this is a pass.
Baek I-hae pouted her lips when the teacher wasn’t looking, and noticing, Ye Eun-seol let out a quiet laugh.
‘That jerk? Instead of thanking the person helping carry his stuff.’
There wasn’t a single likable thing about him. As she split the textbooks the teacher handed over, the weight was no joke.
Ye Eun-seol, carrying more than her, looked fine—how?
“Oh right, I-hae. I saw Do-gyeom’s quiz score went up—did you help him study?”
“Huh? Ah, yes.”
Startled by the sudden question, Baek I-hae nodded after a brief pause.
Even if dissatisfied, Seo Do-gyeom had been diligently doing the homework she assigned lately and was picking up study tricks. So naturally, his score on a simple memorization quiz would rise.
At her answer, the teacher’s face brightened, but why did it feel so ominous?
“Perfect! I was worried because he seemed uninterested in studying, but could you help him with midterm prep too?”
“Huh?”
“You’re good at your grades, so it’d be great if you studied together! Teaching will help your own studies too!”
Why are you deciding that?
Baek I-hae opened and closed her mouth. She couldn’t say that role was for the future partner of Seo Do-gyeom standing right there.
Thus, having unwittingly stolen the episode where the two leads get close, Baek I-hae could only feel deflated.
