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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Rankings Announced
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As soon as my name was called, Moon Woo-hyuk's sharp gaze snapped toward me, and cold sweat instantly beaded on my skin.
The guy was only seventeen, but he was already built like a mountain, so when he glared like that, his presence was no joke.
I met his eyes and awkwardly forced a grin, but...
Moon Woo-hyuk's glare showed no sign of softening.
Song Ha-na didn't even turn her head this way.
It had to be my imagination that her stiff back felt like the calm before the storm.
"Hyung-nim. I knew it."
"Don't."
Woo-sik, sitting next to me, flashed a huge grin and spouted some cringeworthy line.
He looked a bit sulky sitting there, but second place was right about what I'd expected.
Kim Sun-woo had dominated vocals, so I hadn't been greedy there, and with my acting and dance boosted by second-round experience, it was only natural I'd edge out kids who were brand-new high school freshmen.
I was a little dissatisfied that my body wasn't fully shaped up yet, but there was nothing to be done about that.
"Third place, Song Ha-na. Fourth, Moon Woo-hyuk, fifth..."
Song Ha-na was so submerged in shock that no more names registered.
After Kim Sun-woo, some no-name had climbed above her—it pissed her off.
She was pissed, but even in her anger, she couldn't protest that she deserved better. Why was that?
'No way I'm acknowledging that guy...'
Song Ha-na shook her head fiercely, refusing to even think it.
"Thirtieth place. Lee Cheong-ha."
It was the expected result.
Lee Cheong-ha hadn't done anything, so it was what everyone predicted.
"Alright. Rankings are done. You all worked hard this week. Check the notice and think about your mentoring teachers by Monday."
Before Huh Ji-woong even finished, the kids were fidgeting in their seats.
"Go on."
At his finally dropped permission, the kids shot up and bolted out of the classroom.
Kids would be kids.
It was the same spectacle every Friday at end-of-day homeroom.
Friday evenings were the one day they were allowed to go home instead of straight back to the dorms.
"See you next week!"
I waved back at Woo-sik, who managed a greeting even as he scrambled out.
The first week was finally over.
***
"I'm home."
As I stepped inside, a delicious aroma wafted through the air.
It'd only been a week, but it felt like forever.
Probably just because I wasn't used to this setup yet.
"You're home, son?"
"Back?"
Mom and Dad, standing side by side in the kitchen, both turned to greet me.
Seeing that nearly tugged at my heartstrings again, so I hurried to my room, changed out of my uniform, and came back to the kitchen.
"I'll help with something."
Mom freaked out when I rolled up my sleeves and tried to pitch in.
"Aigoo, no need. Go sit down."
"Why? We can do it together."
"Here, take this."
Mom twisted her waist, pointing at the table, as Dad tried handing me something and I reached out.
"Aigoo, I said no."
I finally grabbed something anyway, and Mom gave me a troubled look.
"Aw, why? We finish faster together."
Dad shot me a puzzled grin.
That's when—
"Enough! The kitchen's cramped enough without two guys crowding it!"
Mom's pent-up outburst exploded.
"Mom, you've got some lungs on you."
*I wish I'd inherited those pipes—I'd have made it big sooner,* I thought to myself.
In the end, Dad and I got booted from the kitchen and went back to the living room to fold laundry.
Then Dad suddenly coughed while folding.
I panicked, jumped up, and dropped the clothes.
"You okay!?"
Dad's cough stopped in surprise as I rushed over; he stared at me with wide eyes.
"You... what, acting? It was just a cough. Overreacting much."
Only then did I notice Mom peering from the kitchen with a weird look too.
*This is all because of who?* I grumbled to myself as I slunk back down.
"...Quit smoking already."
"Out with the nagging inside and out. I'll quit soon."
He brushed it off like always and kept folding; I silently watched him.
Including my past life, it'd been decades of the same line.
"I don't buy it."
"I'm always serious."
How could I get Dad to quit smoking?
Time might be running out.
I needed some drastic plan, fast.
"All done! Come eat—no more dishes."
Mom's home-cooked meal after so long was pure honey.
"How's school? Cafeteria food to your taste?"
"Mom's is way better."
Mom's cooking was top-tier.
No bias—she honestly outdid most restaurants.
No way cafeteria slop could compete, even if I was seventeen now.
"Such an obvious thing to say."
Dad jumped in, ranting about how much better this was than school food.
*Rice flying everywhere, Dad.*
"Hoho. School grub can't touch Mom's cooking."
Mom beamed at my words, pushing more meat my way with a nonstop smile.
"Any friends yet?"
"Yeah. Getting close with my roommate. Same musical theater major."
Even back in my past life before regression, my parents had occasionally asked about Woo-sik.
I'd brought him home once, so they always inquired how my friend Woo-sik was doing.
"Woo-sik. Good personality, cute kid."
I told them how much he clowned around in class, and sure enough, they laughed like kids themselves.
I nodded at their advice to stay tight with Woo-sik and finished eating.
"I'll do the dishes, Mom."
She'd gotten used to my attitude by now—no squinting suspicion, just handed over the gloves readily.
Her pleased smile as she headed to the living room probably meant her son was finally growing up.
I finished the dishes and was heading to my room when my parents, watching TV in the living room, asked.
"Weekend tomorrow—what's the plan?"
"Got plans."
"Oh? Already got friends to hang out with outside?"
"Takes after me—great people skills."
"As if. He's mine."
Everything good was "just like me"—parents unchanged.
Even their antics looked cute now. Guess I was getting older too.
***
I threw on the neat casual clothes Mom had prepped and stood blankly in front of the bustling subway station.
Still ten minutes till the meetup—plenty of time.
"Lee Do-hyun!"
Lee Cheong-ha was sprinting over from afar.
"No need to run."
"How could I not when I see you!"
Maybe because we'd clicked so well in the practice room last time, she was way more at ease with me now.
"Catch your breath."
She took a few short deep breaths and bounced back quick.
*Good lung capacity. Gotta jog more.*
"Shall we head in?"
We went into the restaurant right there together.
While waiting for our orders, I eyed her and asked.
"How's the cold?"
"Huh?"
"Feeling better?"
She rolled her eyes a bit, then nodded.
Yeah. After sprinting like that, she couldn't claim to be sick anymore.
"Yeah. All better."
"Good to hear."
She glanced at me cautiously, then spoke up hesitantly.
"Yesterday..."
"Yeah?"
"I really thought you'd take first. Second's still cool, though. Impressive."
Lee Cheong-ha beamed genuinely, like she meant it.
It made me feel kinda bashful for no reason.
"Nah."
*Once you beat your stage fright, you'd chew me up. Scary stuff.*
She didn't like my reaction and pointed at herself.
"Hey, I'm thirtieth. Thirtieth!"
"Well, you didn't do anything."
"True..."
She deflated at that.
"Don't rush it. That ranking isn't based on your skill."
"PE teacher says stamina counts as skill every day. I'm lacking all around."
She grinned awkwardly, dodging stage fright by blaming her "stamina" instead.
"Wow. That hit the spot."
"You ate enough to walk, right?"
Honestly shocking.
I'd worried we'd overordered for two, but most of it vanished into her stomach.
Seventeen-year-old girls' appetites defy imagination.
"Tch. Not that much."
Her eye-roll cracked me up big.
Watching her strut proudly afterward, the quiet classroom version seemed kinda pitiful.
"All done? Practice room next?"
"Ah, practice room..."
"Don't wanna?"
"N-no."
She hesitated but fell into step beside me.
***
We entered the private practice room I'd reserved ahead for the weekend.
"This place is seriously nice. Still blows my mind."
"Every time I see it, I'm amazed."
Fourth year in, and it still stuns me.
She looked surprised at my words and turned.
"Your family's gotta have spots like this. Right?"
"Our house? Not at all."
"I figured you for a rich kid like the others."
How'd that misunderstanding start...? Oh, maybe 'cause I'd stood out more this time.
"Ours is totally average."
"For real? You don't seem it. Total chaebol heir vibe."
"Haha. Sorry to disappoint."
"Eek, no no. Our house is super poor! Can't compare to the kids here..."
"They're the exceptional ones. Nothing wrong with you."
I quickly reassured her as she wilted.
Cheongyeom Arts High kids were just extra flashy—plenty of musical folks outside weren't loaded.
Couldn't say that outright, so I soothed her as best I could.
She finally relaxed, chattering away about this and that.
"Think you could sing for me today?"
"Huh? Sing...?"
I'd prepped the MR for the song we'd talked about last time, but she panicked at the mention.
She'd said her cold was gone at lunch—no more excuses.
Before she could squirm too much, I followed up.
"Not used to singing in front of others yet, right?"
She'd just transferred from a regular school, so I phrased it gently.
"Yeah. It shows, huh?"
"It's fine. Only I know."
Suddenly, Lee Cheong-ha plopped down on the practice room floor.
I was mildly shocked but played it cool.
Never knew from lack of closeness, but she had this side.
"Haa. Truth is..."
She grumbled on about getting bullied in middle school.
Family issues used as excuses—don't sing if you're poor, don't show off—petty crap like that.
She spilled it all pretty calmly.
She's tough. I recalled a pre-regression interview where her mental strength had carried her to Broadway.
"Got super lucky. Even catching the music teacher's eye."
Unlike moments ago, Lee Cheong-ha's eyes darkened deep.