IRLPLBIO Chapter 20 Part 2

“Don’t you think it’s about time grades are released? I’ve been calculating my scores. I must have gone up at least 100 places.”

Joo Hae-jun’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Planning what to make Jae-gu do once the grades came out was Joo Hae-jun’s hobby these days. He didn’t even consider the possibility that Jae-gu wouldn’t oblige.

Jae-gu was having similar absurd fantasies. He worried that his grades would improve so much that the teachers would badger him, accusing him of cheating. To prepare for such a situation, he even carried a study notebook with him every day to present as evidence.

“You don’t have to worry about that. In my opinion, if you go up about 50 places, you’ve done well.”

Joo Hae-jun, who was babbling insolently again, shielded his head from Jae-gu’s fist. Then, he suddenly tilted his head.

“Huh?”

“What now?”

“There’s a bald person over there.”

“Tsk.”

Jae-gu instinctively scolded Joo Hae-jun. It wasn’t because he had the virtuous thought that one shouldn’t make fun of others’ weaknesses. It was simply that the stress of wondering if his hair was thinning every time he looked in the mirror since entering his late 30s – ‘Is this hair loss? My crown is still thick’ – came to mind. It was something he couldn’t have imagined when he was a teenager with a full head of hair without any special care.

“No, look over there! There’s a bald person, I tell you!”

Joo Hae-jun, with an aggrieved expression, gestured for him to look. Beyond the corridor window, a head with thinning hair was visible. It was the math teacher, who was also the teacher in charge of student affairs.

Unlike his usual unreserved demeanor, the teacher briefly observing the classroom situation through the window seemed odd. When his eyes met Jae-gu’s, he subtly motioned for him.

“What is it? Why is the math teacher calling you?”

“I don’t know.”

Jae-gu vaguely replied to Joo Hae-jun’s words and got up from his seat.

Refusing to go when a teacher called was something only delinquents did. Jae-gu, who had decided to live a proper life, intended to at least appear as a diligent student, even if he couldn’t be an honor student.

Ah, but I still need to take my study notebook.

Jae-gu rummaged through his bag.

“Jae-gu, I told you to come for a moment, what are you doing not coming?”

The teacher, who had slightly poked his head through the classroom’s front door, overtly urged him. Other students who had briefly looked at him quickly lost interest once they realized it wasn’t their business.

The teacher cleared his throat repeatedly, “Ahem, ahem.” It seemed he was about to say something difficult.

Joo Hae-jun immediately looked at Jae-gu with suspicious eyes.

“What is it? No way…?”

Is it really, as Jae-gu said, because his grades improved too much? Did he perhaps surpass my scores, meaning I’ll have to grovel before Jae-gu? Should I suggest canceling the bet right now?

As various thoughts flashed through Joo Hae-jun’s mind, leaving him speechless, Jae-gu flashed an evil grin.

“Just you wait and see. You thought of things to make me do? I thought of things for you too, you bastard.”

Jae-gu, with his study notebook tucked under his arm, followed the teacher with a confident stride. Seeing Joo Hae-jun’s crestfallen face made him feel a bit triumphant.

Upon arriving at the teacher’s office, Jae-gu received better treatment than he expected.

“Sit here. Make yourself comfortable.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Have some of this too.”

Green tea in a paper cup and a few snacks prepared for the teachers were offered to Jae-gu.

Jae-gu, who had unwrapped a monaka filled with red bean paste and put it in his mouth, belatedly blinked his eyes, wide with surprise. This was different from what he expected.

Wasn’t he supposed to be interrogated like a rat, accused of cheating? That’s why he deliberately brought his notebook to present it confidently…

However, far from asking Jae-gu for proof of his studies, the teacher looked at him with a somewhat pitiful expression. The teacher patted Jae-gu’s shoulder.

“Have more. Shall I bring you some rice cake too?”

“Yes, sir.”

There was a box of steamed rice cake in the center of the teacher’s office, as if someone had good news to share.

While the teacher went to get the rice cake, Jae-gu popped another snack into his mouth. He also chugged the green tea. When he was sticking his tongue out, saying “Ah, hot!”, the teacher returned with a plate of rice cake.

“Hey, eat slowly. No one’s chasing you.”

The teacher’s tone, as he said that, was meaningful.