Chapter 32
“Wh-when did I ever avoid you?”
Even though she couldn’t hide her trembling voice, she answered shamelessly. Baek I-hae forced a smile as she tried to pry Seo Do-gyeom’s arm away.
But his hand wouldn’t budge. It didn’t seem like he was gripping hard enough to hurt her chin, so why wouldn’t it move at all?
“You did avoid me.”
“N-no, I didn’t?”
“……”
Even as she tried to deny it, Seo Do-gyeom showed no sign of letting her go easily. Baek I-hae anxiously rolled her eyes, glancing at the approaching female students.
Perhaps sensing the subtle atmosphere, the girls who had been coming closer stopped in their tracks.
A strange silence enveloped the hallway.
“I-hae’s neck must be hurting, Do-gyeom.”
The one who came to the rescue of the flustered Baek I-hae was none other than Ye Eun-seol. He smiled softly as he grabbed Seo Do-gyeom’s wrist.
It was the arm that hadn’t budged under Baek I-hae’s strength, but maybe because he was a man of similar build, the hand released quickly.
Or perhaps it let go willingly upon hearing that Baek I-hae might be uncomfortable.
“You guys need to bring your uniforms inside too, right? There are still kids in there who aren’t fully changed, so I’ll go tell them to hurry up and change.”
Ye Eun-seol said with a smile toward the female students. Then he lightly knocked on the back door of the classroom and explained the current situation.
At that moment, the female student who had spoken to Baek I-hae in the bathroom earlier approached. More precisely, she stepped between Baek I-hae and Seo Do-gyeom.
“I-hae, why did you leave first? You should’ve waited a bit and come to class with us.”
Since when were we that close?
But Baek I-hae just smiled awkwardly. It wasn’t like she was picking a fight, so there was no need to react sensitively.
After all, her goal wasn’t Baek I-hae, but getting closer to Seo Do-gyeom.
‘She’s talking to me, but her gaze keeps drifting to Seo Do-gyeom. He must notice it too, but he’s blatantly pretending not to.’
The clumsy way students at this age failed to hide their affection and curiosity could seem quite cute to the opposite sex.
Yet Seo Do-gyeom was ignoring it with ruthless indifference. He was just staring intently at Baek I-hae. And since Baek I-hae was pretending not to notice his gaze, she wasn’t in a position to say anything to him.
“The boys will be out soon. I’ll take Do-gyeom and go first, so take your time coming.”
Ye Eun-seol, who had broken the uncomfortable situation, didn’t stop there and dragged Seo Do-gyeom away. From the brief glance that passed, it seemed he had picked up on their odd vibe.
Men usually weren’t good at sensing these kinds of atmospheres, so maybe he was just naturally perceptive. In any case, thanks to Ye Eun-seol, Baek I-hae could let out a sigh of relief.
“I-hae.”
“Yeah?”
The female student who had called her earlier called out to Baek I-hae again. Baek I-hae looked at her.
It would be nice if this was just a passing encounter, but the girl didn’t seem to have that in mind.
“Do-gyeom seems to like you. Are you two dating by any chance?”
[Some female students are feeling jealous.]
[Jang Seul-gi is subtly testing Baek I-hae. The development will change based on the response.]
Baek I-hae’s gaze shifted to the uniform of the girl who asked the question. There was a name tag on her chest that read ‘Jang Seul-gi.’
“We’re not dating.”
It was a name she’d never heard before. But the fact that she could influence the plot to the point of changing developments made her uneasy.
Moreover, bringing up Seo Do-gyeom meant…
‘Wasn’t the bullying incident the original female lead went through something like this?’
Of course, back then it was before Seo Do-gyeom’s looks were revealed, and they harassed her out of jealousy over the female lead’s appearance.
[Jang Seul-gi does not believe Baek I-hae’s answer.]
[Supporting villain, Jang Seul-gi is feeling jealous.]
‘Jealousy, huh.’
To anyone looking, it seemed like she was jealous of the relationship between Baek I-hae and Seo Do-gyeom. Baek I-hae smiled faintly.
Now that she was outright labeled as a ‘supporting villain,’ she couldn’t help but laugh.
Jang Seul-gi furrowed her brow at that smile, but Baek I-hae couldn’t easily retract her amusement.
‘You don’t want to give up the female lead position, but you expect me to go through these hardships?’
She genuinely wondered what the player wanted. And how far she had to play along.
“Just like I said before, we’re just friends.”
Baek I-hae continued calmly. Jang Seul-gi’s expression started to relax, but she didn’t stop speaking.
“Though I’m not sure if Seo Do-gyeom thinks the same.”
Baek I-hae’s and Jang Seul-gi’s eyes met. The countless gazes from the female students behind Jang Seul-gi pierced her painfully.
“That sounds like Do-gyeom likes you.”
Jang Seul-gi smiled with her eyes, as if she’d never frowned.
“You two suit each other well. Then again, Do-gyeom might have developed feelings out of gratitude because you treated him without prejudice.”
Jang Seul-gi had short hair and a rather cute appearance. Moreover, if one were to describe her first impression, it leaned toward being kind-hearted.
“In reality, I-hae didn’t say much to us to dispel our prejudices toward Do-gyeom. Well, we were at fault too.”
Baek I-hae simply smiled without saying a word. She wasn’t unaware that the so-called prejudice referred to the advice to keep distance because Seo Do-gyeom seemed gloomy.
It just felt odd how she bundled her personal opinion as if it were a collective responsibility by saying “we.”
‘These types are the most headache-inducing when they start scheming behind your back.’
Baek I-hae lightly shrugged her shoulders. It was her way of saying she wasn’t going to bother with it.
‘I was being careful because I didn’t want to get tangled in unnecessary trouble.’
Soon, the back door opened, and the male students who had changed clothes in the classroom came out. Confirming that, Baek I-hae entered the classroom and placed her uniform on her desk.
Jang Seul-gi followed behind, but she didn’t strike up a conversation. So, Baek I-hae sat on the edge of her own desk, staring intently at Jang Seul-gi’s back.
“……Why are you staring at me like that, I-hae?”
Jang Seul-gi, who had been aware of Baek I-hae, turned her head and asked. She was smiling, but it felt like she was questioning what scheme she had up her sleeve, which almost made Baek I-hae burst into laughter.
“I’m waiting so we can go together.”
“Wait, with me?”
“Yeah. From what I saw earlier, it seemed like you wanted me to wait.”
“……”
Jang Seul-gi’s gaze landed on her. Her friends, who still hadn’t decided on their attitude, were quietly gauging the situation.
Baek I-hae turned her head back toward Jang Seul-gi. As expected, in that group, the leader seemed to be Jang Seul-gi, positioned as the supporting villain.
“Let’s go together, Seul-gi.”
Baek I-hae got down from the desk she had been perched on and lightly stepped forward. Her destination was right beside Jang Seul-gi.
Then, as if they had always been close friends, she linked arms with her. Jang Seul-gi was smiling, but the slight stiffness at the corners of her mouth was visible.
‘I’ve been burned before, so do you think I’d foolishly fall for this?’
As Baek I-hae urged her steps, Jang Seul-gi slowly began to move. The group of female students heading to the gym appeared perfectly ordinary and friendly.
Yes, that’s how it should be. That was what Baek I-hae was aiming for.
Someday, they might badmouth Baek I-hae behind her back and ostracize her, but she decided to think about that when it happened. For now, since they would likely try to probe her, she had bought herself some time.
She hadn’t expected it to go this smoothly in the first place.
‘Just as Jang Seul-gi gains time to probe me, I’ve gained time as well.’
You have to know your opponent to decide how to handle them. Besides, Baek I-hae had no intention of getting involved with Seo Do-gyeom romantically, so it would be best if Jang Seul-gi noticed that and changed her mind.
Of course, it didn’t seem like she would willingly revise her thoughts.
[Supporting villain, Jang Seul-gi has revised her evaluation of Baek I-hae.]
[Her first impression has evolved from ‘timid and pretty model student’ to ‘classmate who’s not ordinary.’]
[Baek I-hae’s reputation has increased by +5.]
‘Wait, just like with Baek Yeong last time, what on earth is the criterion for reputation increasing?’
The evaluation that her first impression had evolved was baffling too.
Baek I-hae found the status window’s content so absurd that she let out a scoff through her nose.
At that, Jang Seul-gi’s shoulder twitched ever so slightly.
[Supporting villain, Jang Seul-gi has revised her evaluation of Baek I-hae.]
[It has evolved from ‘classmate who’s not ordinary’ to ‘classmate who’s not ordinary and gives off a strong vibe.’]
[Baek I-hae’s reputation has increased by +2.]
They say you can’t even scoff in front of kids these days.
Baek I-hae felt a bit wronged for some reason.
