Chapter 61

The school at sunset on a weekend. There were hardly any students or teachers around, and those few who remained had mostly left, leaving a lone woman surrounded by piles of documents in the otherwise empty school.

Even on weekends, instead of playing, she had to work.

As the Student Council President held significant authority, such as accessing student records, she also bore an equally heavy responsibility.

Her vice president watched with a mixture of pity and admiration as Lee Seo-ra diligently fulfilled the weight of her position as Student Council President.

“Working this late on a weekend… it really is behavior befitting the President, but doesn’t it concern you that your partner is currently on a date with another girl? She may not be as prominent as you, President, but she’s still a well-known student around here.”

The vice president knew something.

Who Kim Ha-neul was currently on a date with.

Seol Hee-na. Not just an ordinary student but already a renowned future Art Club President, she was actively working in the professional art world.

Her piece “The Tragedy Reflected in Dew” had sold for millions.

If one cared even slightly for their partner, the situation with Kim Ha-neul and Seol Hee-na would be daunting, as Seol Hee-na was undeniably attractive.

However, the Student Council President sat there, faintly smiling under the fading light of the sunset. The president wasn’t unaware of what the vice president knew about Seol Hee-na. She smiled for one reason only.

“It’s fine. Whoever he plays around with, it doesn’t matter.”

In fact, Kim Ha-neul dating someone else was somewhat advantageous for Lee Seo-ra.

She had no choice but to break up with her beloved ex-girlfriend and start dating Kim Ha-neul, but Lee Seo-ra’s heart had always longed to return to Erica.

For her, love was solely directed toward Erica.

However, even if Lee Seo-ra wished to return, should Erica decide to let go of their relationship first, once her contract with Kim Ha-neul ended, there might be nowhere for her to return to.

Erica’s patience could reach its limit before her contract with Kim Ha-neul ended, despite Lee Seo-ra repeatedly stating her intention to return once things were resolved.

If Erica hadn’t abandoned hope, then news of Kim Ha-neul’s infidelity could mean a chance for Lee Seo-ra to soon return to Erica.

—This was undoubtedly good news.

But while watching the president softly smile at the sunset, the vice president spoke with concern.

“This could tarnish your reputation, President. Many people already know about this date. The people who spread it clearly indicated that if you don’t stop it, they might escalate the rumors. You were aware of this, right?”

“Yes, I’ve known since it began on Wednesday. If I let it go, I’ll not only be seen as incapable of handling my boyfriend but might also face suspicion about my competence as Student Council President.”

People would question how she could manage the school if she couldn’t even handle her boyfriend’s infidelity, and there would be growing calls for her resignation.

Though many wouldn’t genuinely believe Lee Seo-ra was unfit for the position, this could be part of a strategy by those who either seek the power of the Student Council or those who want someone without ‘wisdom’ to lead it.

The problem was that such rumors could easily sway others’ opinions. Lee Seo-ra hadn’t yet demonstrated enough achievements as a Student Council President.

Certainly, a significant portion of her time was spent searching for the ‘role’ girl Kim Ha-neul had requested, but that was something the students were unaware of, and if they found out, they might deem her even less qualified.

Thus, it was clear it wouldn’t be wise for Lee Seo-ra to ignore Kim Ha-neul’s ‘date’ if she wanted to keep her position.

“However, if this gives her even a little comfort, it doesn’t matter. Ultimately, if the issue is about results, I can achieve them.”

“…Is that so? If you think so, that’s fine. But Erica seemed uninterested in the President even after I shared a lot about you. Although, you know her better than I do, I’m sure.”

The vice president’s enthusiastic remarks every time the president’s name came up in front of Erica were partly due to her fandom for President Lee Seo-ra but also to gauge Erica’s reaction.

If Erica was distressed hearing about her ex being with someone else, it would imply lingering feelings.

However, Erica didn’t seem particularly distressed or even particularly interested in Lee Seo-ra.

This led the vice president to her conclusion.

Erica was gradually forgetting about the president, though she still performed duties given by the Student Council to help her, perhaps out of a sense of responsibility.

Love, especially unreciprocated love, wasn’t eternal. Erica’s passion had been so strong that it drove her to attempt self-harm, but the same intensity likely caused her feelings to fade quickly.

“Besides, isn’t the President so passionate that she’s here on a weekend, planning the school trip despite not being able to handle much during weekdays?”

However, when the vice president heard that Erica showed no interest, the charismatic president’s demeanor seemed to deflate like a plant left for three weeks without water. Realizing this, the vice president quickly changed the subject.

Whether this change of subject had any effect was unclear, but the president’s face showed a different emotion.

It was a feeling directed toward the vice president.

—Regret.

“I feel sorry for you. Technically, I could have come alone, but the rules made it necessary to have a supervisor.”

The president didn’t mind working on weekends instead of weekdays. It was her karmic debt for failing to complete tasks earlier.

However, she did resent the rule that a student must accompany her to supervise, especially since she had access to confidential student information that couldn’t be taken anywhere else.

Naturally, this rule ensured a personal connection between the president and the accompanying student, a somewhat formal regulation. The rule arose partly to recognize the president’s leadership, as someone willing to sacrifice their weekend to stay with her was seen as endorsing her abilities.

But still, the guilt remained that the vice president was affected by Lee Seo-ra’s choice, causing the president to hesitate.

The vice president gently patted her back.

“It’s my role to assist the Student Council President. Even without payment, I’m genuinely happy just being able to see you.”

The vice president tried to divert attention by revealing her fan-like admiration, but the president, unaffected, returned to her documents.

Had the president’s ears turned red like her ex-lover when embarrassed, perhaps that’s how she truly felt.

‘People in love really do resemble each other; both are adorable.’

Leaving that impression as she prepared to admire the president’s focused document handling, the vice president’s phone buzzed in her pocket. After reading the chat message that caused the interruption, she voiced her doubt.

“Um…? Earlier, you said you didn’t care who Kim Ha-neul dated, right?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

Kim Ha-neul’s main objective was to find someone, prioritizing an individual above everything else. Watching his persistence, Lee Seo-ra suddenly thought:

‘Does he also use his power to regain the love he lost?’

‘Is the reason he respects our relationship so much because he’s searching for his own lost love?’

Considering this, it made sense why Kim Ha-neul, after each date, continued dating others—a commitment to finding his lost love.

—If they shared the same motivation, she could relate.

“Then, would it be okay if Kim Ha-neul dated Erica?”

“Huh…?”

At the vice president’s words, the president’s previous thoughts crumbled instantly. Kim Ha-neul and Erica? Absolutely incompatible.

There was no way they’d go on a date. This meant the vice president was lying, though it was highly unlikely she’d lie.

System failure.

Error detected.

Impossible premises clashed in the president’s mind. Her sharp gaze now spun wildly.

In this situation that made the usually functioning president seem like a broken robot, the vice president mentioned the coming school trip on Wednesday, which was another reason for staying busy this weekend. Then she added:

“Let’s call it a day here. I want to relax during the weekend, and coming tomorrow might be a bit challenging.”

What the president was doing now was only secondary checking. Given what had already been done, the school trip preparations were almost complete.

There was only one reason why the vice president, who had quietly observed the president working so far, now declared she wouldn’t come tomorrow.

“…Thank you.”

The president, typically a perfectionist, acknowledged her gratitude and stood up. She now had somewhere to go.

“Ah, and the place where those two met…”

The location revealed in the text message wasn’t where she needed to go. Using her own ability, a woman with the power to give advice revealed the actual place the Student Council President needed to go to—to protect the girl she used to love.