Chapter 201

<Part 5>

When I attended a private high school, I had no friends.

The school culture was fiercely competitive for college entrance exams, so maybe it was natural. Teachers who were solely focused on exam results, with no interest in students’ personal lives, probably contributed to that atmosphere.

Given the atmosphere, teachers didn’t pay much attention to individual students or show favoritism. Though some teachers did label certain students as troublemakers and disciplined them harshly.

“That’s a good idea. You’re definitely leadership material.”

The homeroom teacher I met this time was different.

Despite the students’ silent resistance, Jin-hyeok’s scheme passed smoothly with the teacher’s favoritism backing him.

‘Yes! Nice.’

Jin-hyeok sensed that an ordinary high school life had begun.

Even in the past, high school days flew by like a flash, barely leaving a memory.

Maybe it was because I spent weekdays and weekends holed up in the dormitory studying, but it truly passed in the blink of an eye.

Perhaps back then, I had nowhere else to go.

I glanced at Seung-hoon sitting next to me.

‘This guy-.’

This big wrestler and model student kept muttering while flipping through his math textbook. Though studying suited him, Seung-hoon had the tenacity of an athlete—once he sat down, he’d dig into his books until his brain fried.

I knew he was smart in the past, but not to the point of being called a top student. Meeting Jin-hyeok helped him discover another talent, and he changed.

If Jin-hyeok’s past and present lives were to be visualized, they might resemble the number ‘8’ or the letter ‘X.’ Though the two shapes seem entirely different, they share one common point: a connection.

That connection is Seung-hoon.

A friend who was connected to me from middle school until the end in my past life. Even though our circumstances have changed, this time we’re starting from the same point again.

Meeting Seung-hoon in middle school caused our two lives to intersect briefly, and attending high school together made them start flowing differently. In entirely different ways.

Well, it’s just my own sentiment, so it doesn’t really matter.

‘Back then, and now, he’s still by my side.’

Though Mi-kyung has taken the position of my best friend now, Seung-hoon was the only friend I had across two lifetimes.

Thud-.

In a lighthearted mood, I lightly punched Seung-hoon’s shoulder with my fist.

Startled, my friend looked at me with kind, spirited eyes.

“Huh? What’s up, President?”

“Work hard. If you don’t understand something, ask.”

“Ah-, perfect timing. Look here, this system of quadratic equations is a bit-.”

Have I ever seen such a cheeky freshman?

“Stay within the curriculum.”

It means don’t ask about chapters we haven’t covered yet.

Only Jin-hyeok can stay ahead of the curriculum.

Can’t lose first place.

***

Rustle-.

“Sorry for the break time.”

Even though it was break time, the first-years couldn’t leave their seats.

The classroom was packed with second and third-year seniors, front and back.

Among them were many female students.

A third-year female student stepped onto the podium.

“First-year juniors, can I have your attention?”

Both the first-time high schoolers and Jin-hyeok, who was experiencing it for the second time, rolled their eyes in confusion.

Is this like the Seven Princesses?

Surely they’re not here to extort money, right?

“Since you’ve entered high school, it’s good to know what student organizations and clubs our school has, right? So we’re here to introduce and promote them. Relax and listen comfortably-. Should we start with the Discipline Committee?”

A male student introduced by the female student stepped onto the podium.

His neatly pressed, faded navy uniform seemed to boast, “I’m a third-year.”

“I’m Go Eul, last year’s Discipline Committee president. We’re recruiting members. The Discipline Committee guides students to maintain dignity and live righteously-.”

That’s when it happened.

Snicker-. Hehehe-.

The gentle Seung-hoon started banging his desk and laughing.

The friends thought he was laughing because the name was unusual.

The Discipline Committee members glared, but for some reason, Seung-hoon didn’t seem like he was going to stop.

“Hey, hey. What’s wrong with you?”

“The senior’s talking, but his lungs need some air control.”

The classmates worriedly tried to stop Seung-hoon, but Jin-hyeok, who knew why his friend was laughing, just crossed his arms and stared out the window. He sighed in unbearable pity.

‘Talking about righteous living when he used to smoke in the middle school bathroom.’

That’s right.

The high schooler who had clashed with Jin-hyeok had become a third-year and was now retiring, coming to scout first-years.

Hehehe-.

“Jin-hyeok, this is why the world is fun-.”

Seung-hoon could laugh so freely because he trusted Jin-hyeok beside him. Though his laughter was cheerful, a sneer of pity lingered on his lips. Even the good-natured Seung-hoon couldn’t stand the hypocrisy.

As if they couldn’t take it anymore, the Discipline Committee members approached Seung-hoon.

They seemed to hold back bad words, perhaps concerned about Seung-hoon’s affiliation. Even without the wrestling club, his physique alone made him someone you couldn’t mess with.

“Hey, you. Even if you’re in the wrestling club, as a first-year, you can’t just-.”

Rustle-.

Jin-hyeok, who had been quietly listening, stood up.

All eyes in the classroom turned to Jin-hyeok.

The guy who was about to scold Seung-hoon recognized Jin-hyeok and hesitated.

They knew who Jin-hyeok was, but seeing him in person was truly intimidating.

Go Eul on the podium also finally recognized Jin-hyeok and looked flustered, but the generous Jin-hyeok understood. He had grown taller and changed his attire······ but still, how could they not recognize him? With that kind of observation skill, they’re in the Discipline Committee?

‘I’d love to tear them apart, but I’ll hold back.’

Wearing the uniform made him feel more upright than in middle school.

He politely asked the second-year student in front of him.

“I have a question. What does the Discipline Committee do?”

“Maintain dignity, guide proper school life-.”

Whoosh-.

He had no intention of arguing.

They were just doing what they’ve always done out of habit.

“I have another question. Who created the Discipline Committee?”

“Uh······, probably former student council seniors? Interested?”

The second-year student spoke kindly, perhaps reassured by Jin-hyeok’s gentle tone.

But Jin-hyeok’s interest was elsewhere.

“Then it’s possible for the student council to abolish it, right?”

“Yes. If it goes through the student council executive meeting, student organizations can be created or abolished. It’s democratic.”

Democracy is good.

Acting like campus police, they’d inspect students’ hair and uniforms from the morning, locking the gates if anyone was even slightly late. They’d make both boys and girls do push-ups.

Jin-hyeok, who arrived at school the earliest, had been biding his time since middle school.

Next year, I’ll abolish the Discipline Committee first. Muttering so no one could hear, he patted Seung-hoon’s back.

“Stop laughing.”

“Hehe-, okay. I guess puberty hit me, and once it bursts, I can’t stop like peeing. Oh-, sorry seniors-.”

Damn it, Jo Seol-chan-like guy.

Jin-hyeok chuckled and raised his voice toward Go Eul on the podium.

“Sorry for interrupting. Please continue.”

After all, we had to listen to other club introductions, and with club promotions, break time would be short. Delaying would only harm the innocent classmates.

Cutting off a conversation is better than cutting off smoking, right? Jin-hyeok elbowed Seung-hoon, who was giggling. Even Jin-hyeok was laughing.

Though it wasn’t particularly funny, seeing his friend laugh made him feel strangely good.

*

Art club, choir club, cross-stitch circle, poetry and painting club, guitar club, and more.

By high school, hobby clubs were diverse. The school’s co-ed nature probably contributed to that diversity.

There was also the reason female seniors came to promote to attract male students.

“We’ll hold a poetry and painting exhibition later. Drawing and writing poetry-.”

Even to Jin-hyeok, clubs were新奇 and unfamiliar, so how much more so for his friends?

“Noona, you’re pretty-!”

“Noona, what grade and class are you in?”

“Noona-, do you have a boyfriend?”

Well, they seemed more interested in lunch.

Noona, noona noona noona-.

Damn it, Yeom Byeong-taek-like guys.

But the atmosphere was definitely softer than middle school, which was all boys.

In middle school, was it Oh Jong-dae? There were no guys barging in to pick fights.

Rumble- Bang-!

When lunchtime came, another guy barged in.

“Where’s Son Jin-hyeok!”

What the hell is this guy······.

“Let’s go eat with noona!”

It was Mi-kyung, the high school girl.

***

It was the most shocking day of Seung-hoon’s life.

Because of Mi-kyung, the high school girl.

When all the students’ attention turned to Mi-kyung, who was blocking the back door and shouting for Son Jin-hyeok, Shin Woo-sung appeared behind her.

But this tiny girl fearlessly started grappling with Woo-sung.

“Hey! I got here first! Did you rent the place? Just because you’re big?”

“No, that’s not what I meant. Just move aside······.”

It was less of a grapple and more of Mi-kyung’s one-sided tantrum toward the innocent Woo-sung.

Curiosity sparkled in Seung-hoon’s eyes.

Does this girl, who fearlessly barged into the boys’ class and raised her voice, have guts? Or no guts? Was her body too small to fit any guts?

“Just say it, why are you pushing! Do you know who my friend is? Do you know Son Jin-hyeok? I’m the one who saved him when he got his zipper stuck on his dick as a kid!”

What the hell, this crazy girl?

Triggered by Mi-kyung’s outburst, a long-forgotten dark chapter of Jin-hyeok’s life automatically resurfaced.

‘Damn it. Maybe I should’ve just gone to a science high school······.’

Kikikikikik-.

The classmates all turned to Jin-hyeok with wide eyes.

‘Where’s a mouse hole? Damn it, this concrete building. No holes.’

Peace like a river.

Jin-hyeok closed his eyes tightly and pressed his temples.

His furrowed brows spoke volumes about his inner turmoil.

Woo-sung scratched the back of his head without raising his voice.

“I’m sorry about that. I didn’t mean to push, but my stomach just······.”

It seemed Woo-sung’s stomach had touched Mi-kyung’s back.

It’s hard not to have the belly of a heavyweight wrestler and a butcher’s son.

Only Jin-hyeok could calm the situation. He had to soothe the sulking Woo-sung while stopping the combative Mi-kyung.

“Stop it. We can all go together.”

It wasn’t hard to reconcile.

Mi-kyung reluctantly forgave him at the mention of the wrestling club.

“Say hello. She’s Tae-yang’s younger sister.”

“Wow-.”

“Really?”

Woo-sung’s eyes sparkled with admiration, while Seung-hoon looked skeptical.

Jin-hyeok’s lips curled up as he watched Seung-hoon’s expression.

Well, who would believe it?

‘I don’t believe it either.’

Tae-yang and Mi-kyung are too different in size.

Like Jin-hyeok and Yoo-jin in their childhood.

“Hey-. If it’s true, would it be fake-?”

Mi-kyung’s tone suddenly softened.

Jin-hyeok seemed to understand why Mi-kyung suddenly became gentle.

‘Seung-hoon has a similar vibe to Tae-yang.’

The clean-shaven face, the build.

Mi-kyung must be reminded of her brother while looking at Seung-hoon.

Thinking such thoughts made Jin-hyeok feel like he’d become more human.

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Shin Woo-.”

Jin-hyeok quickly grabbed Woo-sung’s arm to cut him off.

That way, Woo-sung would be less embarrassed.

Mi-kyung only had eyes for Seung-hoon anyway.

“It’s Seung-hoon, right?”

“Where do you live?”

Mi-kyung started interrogating Seung-hoon openly as they headed to the cafeteria, ignoring the other friends.

“Do you live alone?”

“Yeah? Can you cook ramen well?”

“What’s so hard about that? Boil water, add noodles and soup······.”

Add abalone, scallops, mussels, a crab, and if you have flounder, add flounder liver······. Seung-hoon’s voice trailed off as he recited his fisherman-style ramen recipe.

His face was beet red, unable to look directly at Mi-kyung.

Hmm-.

Jin-hyeok, following with arms crossed, narrowed his eyes.

‘Seung-hoon, that guy······.’