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Crunchy.
For a while, the only sound in Yu-ri Lee's room was the scribbling of pencils from me,
Yu-ri Lee, Su-yeon Choi, and Eun-ji Jeong.
"I can't solve this."
"Where?"
"Here, the exponential log."
"That's unit 1!"
Yu-ri Lee was taken aback when she saw the lack of progress I was making in my math
textbook. But what could I do? I was never good at math.
Yu-ri Lee let out a small sigh and came to sit next to me. But before she could, Soo-
yeon Choi hugged her and smiled.
"Exponential log? I can do that, too. Shall I teach you?"
"Wait a minute."
Choi Su-yeon took advantage of the opportunity as soon as she saw it, but this time,
Yu-ri Lee didn't just sit there. Choi Su-yeon looked at Yu-ri Lee, slightly narrowing her
eyes.
"Why?"
"Don't you have something else to study?"
"I was told to stay at home for the second year of the course. Surprisingly, I can
already score a decent amount of points."
"Really? Then take a look at Eun-ji."
"Aren't you closer to Eun-ji than I am? I think it would be better for us to look after
someone who is closer to us."
"Han Seong-jin has the worst grades here. So wouldn't it be more efficient for me, who
has the best grades here, to look after him? No matter how good you were at studying
in middle school, we don't know that. Especially in math, the difference between
second and third grade is probably so big. How can you teach it in an easy-to-
understand way since you've studied so much? You're definitely good at English. Why
don't you teach Eun-ji some English? Eun-ji, what was your English score last time?"
"Me? I failed..."
Jeong Eun-ji seemed very displeased with revealing her secrets in front of me, whom
she disliked so much.
Yu-ri Lee sat next to me with a more triumphant expression and kept Choi Su-yeon in
check.
"Did you hear? Then, I can teach Han Seong-jin, who is better at math, and you, who is
better at English, can teach Eun-ji. We didn't get together to have fun; we gathered to
'study for the test.' Right?"
Perhaps it was because the area had moved to her main field of study, or because it
was her own home, Yu-ri Lee, who had been swayed by Choi Su-yeon and Jeong Eun-ji
all week, was leading the game. Clearly, the reason we got together was not to have
fun, but to study for an exam that was due next week. It is natural to pursue efficiency
for a group 'study' rather than a group sector study.
Choi Su-yeon, unable to refute Yu-ri Lee's logic, gritted her teeth and sat down next to
Jeong Eun-ji.
'That's a boastful thing...! It's this year and that year, and I haven't liked anything about
it since long ago!'
The two have regarded each other as thorns in their eyes ever since they liked Gong
Young-bae. Now, the target was moved to Han Seong-jin, but as they ran into each
other there again and even lost control of today's game, Choi Su-yeon continued to
grow in hostility toward Yu-ri Lee.
Meanwhile, Jeong Eun-ji and Choi Su-yeon also dislike each other. As soon as Choi
Su-yeon arrived, Jeong Eun-ji tackled her.
"Hey, no matter what, I'm not at the level where I need help studying from a second-
year bully. I can do it on my own."
"Really? Go home, then. If you're going to study alone, why did you come to the study
group?"
"This has really been a cheesy conversation since last time..."
"What's different about seniors?"
"Won't you two stop it? And Eun-ji, I know it hurts your pride, but since I spoke to her
the other day, her English conversation is definitely better than mine. Even if it's just
about grammar, it would be a lot of help if we study vocabulary together. So for now,
let's just do it, okay?"
"Uh, yeah..."
Yu-ri Lee was warning with a smiling face, "I'm in a good mood right now, but don't
stand next to me," and Jeong Eun-ji, who was overwhelmed by the momentum,
flinched and died, unlike her usual talkative personality.
I decided to slightly dent Eun-ji Jeong's self-esteem and gave her a light provocation.
"No, it may be difficult to accept Jeong Eun-ji's personality. Or, in case she loses a bet,
she says, 'If Yu-ri had watched my studies instead of Choi Su-yeon, I would have won.
This is invalid!' Aren't you afraid that you'll lose in the same way?"
"Ha?"
Jeong Eun-ji, whose resistance to provocation was extremely low, was clearly caught
in that single word.
"Are you laying the groundwork? Are you afraid of losing? Me? You... You've crossed
the line! Hey, I was going to end it by gathering your gang together, stripping you naked,
and making you bow down, but I just can't take it. I'm putting one more condition. If
you win, I'll make you strip naked and lick your shoes on the playground during lunch
break instead of just being part of the gang!"
"You're so tough? How are you going to handle it if you lose?"
"No matter what, I won't lose to a guy like you! You can also put one more condition
on it, but it won't help."
I had to hold back the laughter that was creeping up inside. It's so easy to fall into a
trap like that.
"Well, it's so sudden that I can't think of what to do? Why not take my time and think
about it?"
"Ha. Okay, think as much as you want. There's no way you can win."
Eun-ji Jeong worked hard to build up her flag.
Most of us continued studying with the help of Yu-ri Lee and Choi Su-yeon for English.
Whenever we finished a subject, we opened the same workbook and took our own
exam together. For Yu-ri Lee and Choi Su-yeon, the score on the workbook test itself
wasn't important, but for me and Jeong Eun-ji...
"6, 65 points! Yu-ri, I got 65 points!"
After completing all Korean language studies, we took a test together using the same
workbook. As a result, Eun-ji Jeong's score was 65 points. It was a high score for Jeong
Eun-ji. Even though he works out, he doesn't spend much time studying, so his grades
are quite poor.
"Hey, what's your score?"
Eun-ji Jeong looked down at me with a wicked smile and asked. An attitude that
seems certain that there is absolutely no way I can score over 65.
And my score is...
"48 points."
"Fuha! 48 points? So what was the bet? There's no way you, who have never studied in
your life, will do it now. What should I do because you're scared of taking the test? Or
do you want to just ignore all the tests and bullshit like in middle school?"
"Hey, why are you so excited about winning just one mock exam? We've only mocked
one subject so far."
"Heng, do you think you'll win if you add more? So, where do you keep—"
Knock.
As the fight between Jeong Eun-ji and I intensified, there was a knock on Yu-ri Lee's
door, and the door opened immediately.
"Guys, are you studying yet? I washed the strawberries, so eat some."
Yu-ri Lee's mother brought in a plate full of strawberries. I got up and took the plate,
bowing my head and expressing my gratitude.
"Thank you, I will enjoy it."
"Oh my, our Yu-ri brought a very nice friend from somewhere. He's kind, friendly, and
polite. He's a big kid, so you'll have a lot of confidence, kid."
"Oh, Mom!"
"Then everyone, study hard. When you're done, I'll go get the plates, so call me."
"We can't tell you to come in. When we're done, I'll take the dishes and put them in
the sink. Thank you for your concern."
"Oh, you're so kind. Okay, then, can I ask you a favor? Enjoy your meal, and let me
know if you need anything else, okay?"
"Yes, thank you!"
Her aunt, who had teased her daughter a little, smiled and went out, closing her door
again. The fight, which had stopped for a moment due to the appearance of her aunt,
resumed again, although it had become a little more moderate.
"...What are you? Do you even know how to be polite to adults?"
"If anyone hears it, they will think that I am a complete idiot."
"Isn't that the case when you grab a teacher by the collar and curse at him for nagging
him, and beat up the seniors because he doesn't like them?"
Well, I remember that. Strangely enough, I remember this, but I don't remember
getting a girl pregnant and having an abortion when I was in middle school.
"That was back then. I don't live like that now. In fact, I haven't had any accidents, and
I've been living calmly, right?"
"Ha, really."
"Then why did you stay silent when the lady told me I was nice and polite? I thought
you would just whine about no."
"What?! What are you looking at people for? I have my share of cases too! Who do you
think I am, a person who runs away from home when it comes to basic manners?"
"Looking at what you're doing now, I think you're right."
"Hmph..."
While Jeong Eun-ji was angry and fighting, Choi Su-yeon pushed her and jumped out
in front of her.
"Senior, the lady gave you some strawberries, but aren't you eating them? I'll feed you
some. Come on, Aang~"
"I haven't even ate what my mom cooked for me yet, so why are you reaching for it
with your fork first?"
And as if it was natural, Yu-ri Lee started to keep her in check. Choi Su-yeon raised the
corner of her mouth when she saw her.
"Oh my? I, the owner of the house, didn't even eat it, so how dare you! It's like, Yu-ri,
you have an old-fashioned temperament. Then, eat first."
Immediately, Yu-ri picked up her strawberry with a fork and held it to my mouth.
"Now, Han Seong-jin, you eat too."
And the fork with the strawberry that Su-yeon Choi picked up was also shoved toward
my mouth at the same time.
"Senior picked one up, so now I can pick it up, too, right? Come on, Senior~"
A spark flew between the two women. Jeong Eun-ji, who didn't have this much of a
crush on me yet, looked away as if she wouldn't look at me.
I opened my mouth and took a bite of both strawberries at the same time, as there
was definitely going to be a fight over who ate first. As they puffed out their cheeks like
puffy squirrels and munched on strawberries, the two people who had sparks in their
eyes calmed down a little.
"Mumble... Hey, you guys eat quickly, too. This is so delicious."
"Okay."
"Hehe, that's right."
In the end, the two seemed to have come to a compromise, so they picked up their
own strawberries and started eating them, and we took a short break.
While eating strawberries, Yu-ri Lee and Choi Su-yeon glanced sideways at the
'enemy' without the other person knowing.
'Since it's your house, and you're here to study, you think it's your world, right? Hmph,
wait and see.'
'I don't think I'll be able to do anything, so I try to interfere whenever I get the chance.
Even so, I was the one who confessed that I liked Han Seong-jin.'
And at the same time, a fire was burning brightly inside.
'I will never lose to that bitch!!!'
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