IRLPLBIO Chapter 18 Part 2

Jae-gu didn’t care what kind of nonsense Han Seong-cheol was up to beside him. He neatly wrote his name and class number on the OMR card, and even blew on it to make sure it was dry. As it was his first test he was taking seriously, his demeanor was solemn.

The teacher had already distributed the test papers according to the number of students seated in each row, and immediately handed them out as soon as the bell rang. It was his way of ensuring students didn’t lose even a minute. Even the kids who usually ran around like colts behaved themselves during exam periods, so there were no complaints about missing break time.

Jae-gu, receiving his share of the test paper, quickly started reading from question number one. By this point, the chilling aura Han Seong-cheol was emitting right next to him no longer bothered him. Though his stomach felt a bit uneasy, the test was more important.

‘Hyung, I know you’ve studied hard. Solve it calmly and come back.’

Park Kwang-cheol’s words from that morning echoed clearly in his ears. It was just one of many school tests, yet he had been as serious as if cheering someone on for the most important exam of their life. Perhaps to show off that he had grown taller than Jae-gu, he even lightly stroked Jae-gu’s head.

“He thinks he’s all grown up now,” Jae-gu pouted, but somehow his chest felt warm. The nausea caused by Han Seong-cheol gradually subsided.

For the first time in his life, Jae-gu truly looked at a test paper. There were a few questions he knew, perhaps a reward for the few days he had diligently studied. He could almost hear the teacher’s voice enthusiastically exclaiming, ‘This one will definitely appear! Three stars!’

Of course, there were more questions he didn’t know, but he could at least mark an X on two or three of the five options. It was a remarkable improvement.

The teacher, who was slowly walking among the individually seated students, supervising, stopped beside Jae-gu. Although Jae-gu was still on question number 5 when others had reached 10, and despite him struggling with easy problems, it was important that he was actually trying to solve them himself.

“Hey, Yang Jae-gu. Aren’t you just going to guess and sleep today?”

“Teacher, I decided to study.”

“Do you know anything? Are you actually solving it?”

“Can’t you see me marking things?”

Jae-gu’s gruff reply clearly showed his irritation at being disturbed.

“Wow, you’re finally becoming a proper person, aren’t you? You’ve grown up, completely.”

“…Ah, Teacher. Please stop talking to me. Time is running out.”

“Alright, you rascal.”

The teacher took a step back. He found Jae-gu, who was diligently scrutinizing his test paper, both amusing and admirable.

The teacher, who had seen hundreds, even thousands, of students pass through middle and high school, had held a certain prejudice against Jae-gu until now. It could be considered a kind of big data accumulated from his experiences with countless children.

Guys who were good at fighting in high school would typically fool around throughout their school years, acting like thugs, and then, after graduation, end up as gangsters. Most of them did, except for those from good families who were sent abroad to study or had shops set up for them.

Those who believed in the ‘romance of the fist world’ and joined as young gangsters rarely became big shots. In a world rampant with people dying or becoming disabled in power struggles, it was fortunate if one could even manage a single bar and make a living. While other kids were enjoying normal college life and finding jobs, they were already on a downward slope.

Some did regret it around that time. However, because they didn’t study, fearing it would make them lose face, it was difficult for them to find other professions. They would drift through the lowest rungs, unnoticed by others, ending before they even had a chance to bloom.

Even when he explained until his mouth was sore, using these examples of people who had utterly ruined their lives from the start, there were always some who chose the ‘worst of the worst’ every year.

In fact, the teacher had thought Jae-gu might become one of ‘those guys.’ There was no one who could beat Jae-gu, not just in this school, but even if you scoured all the neighboring schools.

Guys who became so puffed up would often drop out of school without even waiting for graduation. Still, since he was considered a “boss,” he wouldn’t be a mere young gangster; he might end up gathering some thugs who could fight.

Jae-gu’s future was thus half-determined through the mouths of others. It was as good as a prophecy, unless an event occurred that could overturn the teacher’s data.

But then, Jae-gu was the first one to change.