Chapter 4. Soonjung’s Record
“Taegun!”
While sitting in the classroom after lunch, Soonjung saw a girl enter through the back door.
It was the same girl who had confessed that morning.
And the person she called out to—
was the boy sitting by the window in the very back row, reading a book.
The boy’s name was Koo Taegun.
He was in the same class as Soonjung.
She had memorized his name in less than four hours after transferring.
It couldn’t be helped.
The teacher, the students—everyone kept calling their names.
And that wasn’t all.
She had also learned that he transferred last semester and that he was extremely smart.
And on top of that—
“…He’s handsome.”
Soonjung muttered without realizing, then quickly covered her mouth.
Her eyes darted around nervously.
But in the noisy classroom during lunch break, no one seemed to have heard her.
“…That’s a relief.”
For her inner thoughts to slip out like that—
Koo Taegun really was handsome.
A person who looked handsome in the morning would still look handsome at lunchtime.
And it was only natural for someone like that to leave a strong impression.
But even “handsome” didn’t fully capture the feeling he gave off.
There was something strange about him.
He seemed arrogant, yet lazy. Slightly smiling, yet somehow cold and uninterested.
She had never seen him smile brightly.
The most he ever did was lift one corner of his lips slightly.
Right now, even that was gone—only a sharp, irritated aura remained.
He looked like someone annoyed that his girlfriend had come all the way to another classroom to see him.
“Taegun, why didn’t you come to the cafeteria? I was looking for you so we could eat together.”
But the girl, smiling sweetly, didn’t seem to mind his attitude.
If anything, it felt like she wanted to show off their relationship.
She slowly scanned the classroom, checking the attention she was getting, before sitting in the seat in front of him and turning toward him.
“They were serving something I don’t like today.”
“Oh… I see. I shouldn’t have waited… Then what did you eat? You didn’t skip lunch, right?”
“Yeah.”
His answer was so insincere it made Soonjung feel awkward just listening.
But the girl still smiled happily.
“Hey, do you want to go watch a movie after school?”
“Why would I watch a movie with you?”
“Well, because it’s our first—”
“Oh.”
Cutting her off, Taegun closed his book as if he had just remembered something.
Leaning back in his chair, he placed the book on the desk.
“What was your name again?”
“…What?”
“I’m asking your name.”
“Me…? It’s Yeji. Song Yeji.”
“Ah. Right. Song Yeji.”
“Hey… what kind of person doesn’t even know his girlfriend’s name…”
She laughed awkwardly, glancing around.
Taegun’s gaze on her remained completely indifferent.
“Song Yeji.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s break up.”
“…What?”
In an instant, the classroom fell silent.
It felt like even the sound of a mechanical pencil dropping would echo.
In that silence, the ticking of the wall clock sounded unusually loud.
Each second felt slow.
<Wow, Song Yeji confessed to Koo Taegun!>
<Really? What happened?>
<They’re dating now. All the girls are going crazy. >
<They’re really dating? >
<That’s what I heard. >
Just a few hours earlier, the news of their relationship had spread and caused a stir.
Even Soonjung, who had just transferred and had no friends yet, had heard about it.
Koo Taegun was clearly a big deal among the students.
He was so perfect that no one dared to approach him—but Song Yeji had finally succeeded after months of trying.
“Fortune favors the bold,” they said.
And yet—
They broke up in less than half a day.
Soonjung had personally witnessed the confession that morning, so it was undeniable.
And judging by the situation, this seemed to be their first time seeing each other since then.
“You heard me. I don’t like repeating myself.”
“…”
“So there’s no reason for me to watch a movie with you anymore, right?”
As if he had nothing more to say, Taegun lowered his gaze and picked up his book again.
He calmly turned the pages, leaving behind Song Yeji, who stood frozen in shock.
After opening and closing her mouth a few times, her face flushed bright red, she ran out of the classroom.
Soon, an irritated voice echoed from the hallway—
“What are you looking at?!”
Even without checking, it was obvious that it was her.
Startled by the outburst, Soonjung turned her head without thinking—
And unexpectedly, her eyes met Taegun’s.
This time, she was sure.
Even with her bangs covering her eyes, she could clearly feel his gaze following her.
“…”
If reading was the most important thing in the world, then he should’ve just kept reading.
Why did he have to look this way at a moment like this?
Taegun’s expression seemed to ask—
Do you have something to say? Is there a problem?
Watching him tilt his head slightly, Soonjung slowly shook hers.
Nothing to say. No problem. That eye contact was just a coincidence. I’m not worth your attention.
She tried her best to appear harmless, hoping he would just go back to reading—
But instead, he rested his elbow on the desk and propped his chin on his hand.
“…”
And then he just… stared at her.
For some reason, that gaze felt like it was tightening around her.
Why does he look at people like that …?
Was he annoyed that she had watched the confession earlier?
If that was the case, why not say something then?
Or… was he bothered that she looked at him just now?
But she wasn’t the only one watching. Everyone in the classroom—and even people in the hallway—had been watching.
Or maybe…
He just didn’t like her for no reason.
She had experienced that before.
…No. That can’t happen here too.
Soonjung squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again.
But his gaze was still fixed on her.
Was it just her imagination, or did his lazy gaze feel strangely persistent?
Trying to escape it, she slowly turned her head little by little.
Her neck felt stiff, as if it were creaking.
Finally, when he was no longer in her line of sight, the tension in her shoulders began to ease.
It still felt like he was watching her—
But she pretended not to notice and refused to even glance in his direction.
What are you looking at? Why are you looking at me?
She didn’t have the courage to ask.
A wise person avoids danger.
It was a truth Soonjung had learned from moving schools multiple times abroad.
There is no such thing as eternal friendship.
So there’s no need to cling to it.
There’s no need to stand out among others.
Being average is best.
It’s more important not to make an enemy than to gain a friend.
Repeating these principles to herself, Soonjung lowered her head onto her desk.
Then she remembered Song Yeji, who had just run out of the classroom with her face burning red.
If her own face felt this hot just watching—
How much worse must it be for the girl herself?
Koo Taegun, who had turned her into a laughingstock in an instant, was…
handsome.
But also scary.
And strange.
That was the conclusion Soonjung came to.
And she decided—
She should never get involved with him.
Because the moment she did, she would become the center of attention—
and gain countless enemies at once.
Please, let things stay peaceful.
Let me just pass through quietly, like I’m not even there.
Reaffirming her goal of making it through high school unnoticed,
Soonjung nodded to herself.
