Chapter: 07
“Ugh… ngh.”
The moment Lee Soo stepped out of Frederick Bastia’s line of sight and went down to the first floor, tears burst from his eyes uncontrollably.
Like a dam collapsing from a single explosion, everything he had suppressed all day finally broke him down.
What were those careless words from just one arrogant white guy, anyway?
Who did Frederick Bastia think he was?
‘I really hate him.’
Lee Soo pressed his palm against his eyes, as if wiping them.
‘I really hate you, Frederick Bastia.’
Leaving the building and heading toward the dorm, his steps drifted toward the quad. Tears streamed endlessly down his cheeks, running all the way to his chin.
“Hng… ugh…”
If I could choose too, I would’ve been born into a rich family like you. I’d skip over quiz questions like they were nothing, and skip classes whenever things got too hard.
Was it because he felt wronged? Or because he was simply too exhausted?
Lee Soo couldn’t stop crying.
Even as he sensed people approaching from afar, getting closer and closer, he didn’t move away. Instead, he stopped where he stood.
With one hand holding his glasses and the other pressing against his eyes, he sniffled with his head lowered.
‘Why couldn’t you hold it in, Ryu Lee Soo… why?’
And now, how am I supposed to ask for help about my younger sibling?
“Hng… ugh… waaah—”
The sobs burst out uncontrollably, and he covered his face with both hands as he cried. But only for a moment.
The instant he felt someone’s gaze, he lowered his hands and lifted his head.
“Ugh… ngh…”
“……”
“……”
The ones walking toward him were the same male students who had been bothering him one after another all day.
The four of them stopped at a distance, silently staring at him.
Joshua, Cove, Mateo.
And this time, Chris was with them too.
Without his glasses, Lee Soo could barely make out their faces, let alone their expressions. His feet instinctively stepped back.
“Uh… so, Trial— is something wrong?”
Joshua, who had his arm slung over Chris’s shoulder, broke the silence. His voice carried a hint of friendliness—but it didn’t reach Lee Soo.
Instead of answering, Lee Soo hurriedly wiped his tears with the back of his hand and put on his glasses. Then, before they could stop him, he rushed past them.
While the others merely exchanged glances, unable to stop or follow him, Chris removed Joshua’s arm from his shoulder.
“Daniel.”
Chris, the tallest among them, caught up to Lee Soo in just a few steps. Lee Soo turned around at the sound of his voice.
“You didn’t use it—take this.”
He pulled out a sports towel from his bag and held it out.
“……”
“If you keep rubbing like that with your hands, your skin will get irritated.”
After a brief hesitation, Lee Soo accepted the towel.
That was the end of their conversation.
Instead of saying anything more, Chris turned around. Likewise, Lee Soo resumed walking.
It was a quiet, uneventful ending—
But not for those watching.
“……”
“……”
The league was over. Now came the finale Joshua had been waiting for.
“Ah, our Trial looks prettier when he cries. Haha.”
What everyone else only thought to themselves, Joshua said out loud as if it were a harmless joke.
The subtle tension eased slightly, and conversation resumed.
Naturally, the topic was Lee Soo.
Cove spoke as if he genuinely didn’t understand.
“Just take those glasses from him.”
“Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve actually seen Trial cry.”
“Must be because of the scholarship. I heard it’s getting cut soon?”
Everyone’s gaze turned to Cove at once.
“What? His grades are more than good enough.”
Chris, who had remained silent the whole time, spoke in a low voice.
“Budget issues. More specifically, because of Jeremy Marquez. The school has to pay at least a million dollars in settlement.”
In the assault case involving Jeremy Marquez, a linebacker on the football team, Elmir Westlake could not avoid responsibility.
Initially, the investigation claimed there was no evidence, but when evidence was later discovered, it was treated as a cover-up attempt. The school was now being held legally accountable for failing its duty to protect students.
“Jeremy’s causing trouble everywhere. Why hasn’t he been kicked off the team yet, captain?”
At Joshua’s remark, Mateo replied irritably.
“Emily Holt got her mother’s law firm involved.”
Emily Holt’s mother was a name partner at one of the top three law firms in California.
“The school can’t avoid responsibility for missing evidence, but Jeremy Marquez is still throwing a fit, saying he’s been wronged.”
“So what happens if Trial loses his scholarship?”
Cove asked.
Joshua answered.
“He’ll probably have to transfer to a public school.”
Unless someone helps him.
After Joshua added that, an odd silence fell again.
Joshua had to bite down on the inside of his mouth to keep from laughing.
‘Ah… this is fun. Really fun.’
How could he make it even more entertaining?
That was the only thought on Joshua’s mind.
“…Excuse me?”
The next morning.
Lee Soo experienced a déjà vu of a nightmare.
The difference was that today’s news was far worse than yesterday’s.
“Daniel… I’m very sorry to have to tell you this. I know better than anyone how hard you work…”
“Yesterday, you said my scholarship wouldn’t be cut. And the essay—wasn’t that supposed to be for other students?”
“It’s not your fault. The school is in a difficult situation right now…”
“Then are all scholarship students being cut? All of them?”
Abolishing the scholarship system entirely would damage Elmir Westlake’s reputation as a top-tier private school.
At his precise question, Teacher Emma looked even more troubled.
“No… not all of them.”
“Then why am I being cut?”
Even if grades weren’t the only factor, they were clearly the most important—and Lee Soo had ranked first in his grade for five consecutive years.
“We evaluated based on how well each student integrated into the school, rather than just grades or financial background. Daniel, although your academic performance is outstanding, it seems unfavorable that you haven’t participated in group activities like sports teams, orchestra, or leadership programs.”
For sports, the track coach hadn’t accepted him.
For orchestra, he didn’t know how to play any instruments.
And leadership programs at Elmir Westlake weren’t something you could just join by choice.
“But I worked harder than anyone in club activities! In Math Club, I participated in AMC (American Mathematics Competitions) with the members!”
“We determined that even in those activities, there wasn’t sufficient social interaction between you and your teammates.”
Because everyone except me was male!
Instead of arguing, Lee Soo tried to piece together how this situation had suddenly happened.
His scholarship being cut in just one day?
No… that wasn’t it.
“Teacher… that essay you mentioned yesterday… wasn’t it for other students? Was I supposed to write it for my own scholarship?”
The moment he realized it had all been Teacher Emma’s consideration, his heart felt deeply cut.
“I wanted you to write it with a more relaxed mind… but the situation worsened, and I thought you should know the school’s official stance. I’m truly sorry, Daniel.”
“…No. Thank you for your help.”
Lee Soo forced a smile.
Even though his heart already felt completely burned black.
At lunchtime, Lee Soo headed to the student center where the club rooms were located.
Aside from submitting a heartfelt essay to gain sympathy, he needed proof that he had teamwork and active interaction in the Math Club.
Of course, even if he submitted the group photo they took after AMC, it was doubtful that his nearly-lost scholarship would be restored.
As he climbed the stairs to the fourth floor where the Math Club was, the place grew quieter and emptier.
His steps were completely devoid of energy.
‘…I’m tired.’
Since morning, the same word kept repeating in his mind.
Exhausted.
I’m tired. I’m exhausted.
I’ve really reached my limit.
But reality shook him once again with ease.
The moment he reached the fourth floor and turned into the hallway—
Voices coming from the swimming club room stopped him in his tracks.
“Who can get a love confession from Trial first? What kind of stupid bet is that?”
“Got a problem with it? It’s the fairest bet there is. I heard he might transfer. If you hesitate, Trial will disappear~”
They were Frederick’s group from yesterday.
Before he could even process the situation, Lee Soo instinctively held his breath and pressed himself against the wall beside the door.
Then Frederick’s voice followed.
“Getting a love confession from Daniel Ryu… huh. Sounds fun.”
“Right?”
Lee Soo clenched his fists tightly and bit down hard on his lower lip.
“The funny part is… that you all think you can make Daniel like you.”
