1st in Class Hides Regression - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Top Student Hides Her Regression
Chapter 23
‘So this man sexually harassed a student?’
‘He tried to drag her away?’
‘Ah, well, there wasn’t really anything like that.’
‘No physical contact?’
‘Ah, it was at the Convenience Store…. So you two know each other, then?’
Just from hearing the dialogue, you can tell, right?
What happened to Kim Ga-eun and me when we kicked down the Police Station doors in the dead of night.
How the officers’ faces looked the moment they saw two girls in school uniforms walk in.
The tone of their responses made it clear from the start that they weren’t taking us seriously.
Kim Ga-eun was already intimidated the moment she stepped into the Police Station.
And honestly, I was too….
‘I should’ve actually visited a Police Station once in my life before this!’
I’ve lived a good life!
The officers, perceiving all too well that we were scared stiff, didn’t listen to our account so much as try to scare us into leaving quickly.
‘Why are you even reporting something like this?’
That’s what their expressions said.
When Song Yeoreun came to our shop and caused a scene, I’d thought the same thing.
That even if we reported it to the police, they wouldn’t take it seriously.
And it turned out to be true.
How dismissively they treated us just because we were students. Like this↓
‘Oh my, the student got quite a fright, didn’t she?’
‘It’s not that I’m frightened—I’m angry, okay? And it’s not like I’m just randomly upset about nothing. This man threatened my friend, which is why I’m upset! It’s not my problem—it’s his problem!’
‘It’s late. Did you call your parents? They’re not worried? Coming home at this hour?’
‘Go on home now. That’s why you run into men like that—going out at such a late hour.’
‘Well, the students aren’t entirely blameless here either. Why are you out wandering around at this time of night anyway?’
‘But…!’
Even if we were walking around at three or four in the morning instead of ten at night, isn’t it normal that nothing should happen?
To a police officer who wouldn’t even file a report, I could only say this:
‘Please keep a record of our complaint.’
‘Sure, sure.’
‘Our hagwon lets out at ten p.m., right? Please patrol around Ibaji Hagwon at that time.’
‘Okay, okay.’
‘Early seventies in height, mid-fifties in age, balding, with a split thumbnail on his right hand.’
‘Are these girls still not leaving?’
‘We’re heading out right now!’
‘Go on, hurry up. Your parents are worried.’
“I was absolutely furious.”
We only spoke to a student in passing—he didn’t lay a hand on her or attempt kidnapping—and yet it wasn’t a case they’d investigate.
So what, we’re supposed to report it only after something happens?
They keep telling us to go home because our parents are worried.
Well, of course our parents are worried!
They won’t stop worrying until every creep like that is arrested!
“Anyway, that’s how it went.”
“…….”
“…….”
“Ugh. I’m going to the Canteen.”
Sua, scratching her head vigorously, leapt to her feet.
“I need a drink right now.”
Without waiting for a reply, she stamped out of the Classroom, and the rest of us followed her to the Canteen as if drawn along.
Between sending Do-yeon a message asking what to buy her, the conversation shifted.
“Hey, you know what? Bang Eun-ji’s mom came to school that day and grabbed her by the hair.”
“Seriously? For real?”
“Yeah. In the Teachers’ Office.”
“When the homeroom teacher was saying how Bang Eun-ji bullied the other kids, she didn’t budge. But the moment they said compensation money had to be paid, she was on it right away.”
“Wow.”
“Bang Eun-ji got hit on the head by Song Yeoreun, and then her own mom grabbed her by the hair. Why does she even live like that?”
“Song Yeoreun hit Bang Eun-ji?”
“You didn’t know? She does it all the time. Whenever Song Yeoreun’s in a bad mood, friend or no friend—that’s how she is.”
“Wait, that’s… oh, it’s Jeong Eun-seong.”
“Jeong Eun-seong, hi!”
Se-in threw up her hand in greeting.
Jeong Eun-seong, who’d just bought a carton of milk at the canteen, turned around.
The moment I saw his face, it clicked.
He never answered the Drama Club group chat!
“Oh, I’ve got something to say to him.”
“To Jeong Eun-seong?”
“Yeah.”
“Go tell him now!”
“I should. Jeong Eun-seong!”
I called out his name as I walked toward him. He glanced at me for a second, then—
bolted straight out of the canteen.
?????
“Hey!”
Where are you going!
Without thinking, I took off after him.
Jeong Eun-seong slowed for a moment when he saw me chasing him, then ducked into the boys’ bathroom.
“Are you serious?”
Is he really doing this?!
Since I couldn’t bring myself to follow him inside, Jeong Eun-seong leaned casually against the open bathroom door.
“What are you doing?!”
“Keeping my distance from you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re the second person in our class I dislike most.”
……
“So why’d you chase me?”
“Because I have something to tell you!”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“Why again?”
“To get under your skin.”
……
It’s working. I’m genuinely annoyed.
Jeong Eun-seong tore open his milk carton while looking down at me, seething. He drank it steadily, his Adam’s apple bobbing with each gulp. I caught sight of his pretty mouth—that little curve at the corner—lifting into a smile behind the milk carton. He was loving this. Infuriating.
“You want to drink milk in a bathroom?”
“Yeah. It tastes good.”
“Come on, just get out. Come out and we’ll talk.”
“Don’t want to.”
Those eyes shaped like that smirk ^^ … I’m actually losing it…
I glared at the grinning Jeong Eun-seong and asked, “Did you see the file Ji-su sent?”
“(Shaking head)”
“Why haven’t you? She sent it to you in a private message too.”

“I don’t check messages from unknown numbers.”
He said that while wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Is he being a child? Just let the residue sit there and stick.
“You don’t have Ji-su’s number?”
“Nope.”
“Why not? Ji-su gave it to you last time.”
“If someone gives me a number, do I have to save it?”
“Of course you save it. Ji-su’s the club president. Do it now.”
“Fine.”
Despite his words, Jeong Eun-seong didn’t even pretend to pull out his phone.
He folded up the empty milk carton with infuriating precision and tossed it in the trash.
Just wait until he comes out of there.
I ground out through my teeth, “Ji-su already printed a copy and left it at the club room, so if your phone’s a hassle, use that. Look it over and make notes if you have thoughts. We’re doing a meeting during club time this week.”
“Got it.”
“Alright, then come on. Let’s get back to class.”
I grabbed his wrist, telling him to stop fooling around and get out.
But Jeong Eun-seong wouldn’t budge.

What am I doing? I lift my gaze and curl up my lips with a grin.
“Ugh, why won’t he come out….”
“Da-hye?”
My homeroom teacher, who had been humming her way down the Hallway, spotted me standing outside the Boys’ Bathroom and approached.
The teacher’s tilted head brought her gaze to my hand, then to Jeong Eun-seong’s wrist that I was gripping, and finally to Jeong Eun-seong himself, who was grinning despite the force I was applying.
Jeong Eun-seong spoke up quickly.
“Teacher, Kang Da-hye is bullying me.”
“You two again…!”
“Ugh….”
Jeong Eun-seong is the person I dislike most in our class…….
No wait, the person I dislike most is Do Ha-jun…….
Do Ha-jun and him tied for first place…….
* * *
So what do I do about Kim Ga-eun?
I can’t tell her parents, who are her guardians, and I can’t seek help from society, which has a duty to protect minors.
So what am I supposed to do?
“I mean, does this even make sense? An adult male is making a minor uncomfortable, and there’s no way to stop it?”
Until now, I’d thought that being 29 was plenty adult enough, but apparently that’s not the case. The fact that nothing clever comes to mind in this situation proves it.
29 years old?
That’s completely baby territory.
You’d need to hit 92 before you could really say you understand the world.
I flipped through the book in my hands absently, lost in thought.
After school, I was alone in the Drama Club Room.
Bang Eun-ji had poured Milk into my Locker, ruining my Book Report, so I was re-reading the book to rewrite it.
Fortunately, the literature teacher had given me an extension, but since I’d written that Book Report ten years ago, I still had to read the book again anyway.
“Well, it’s not so bad. I get to read the same book twice, and that’s totally lucky, Da-hye🍀”
The book was already checked out from both the School Library and our neighborhood library, but it turned out there was one copy in the Drama Club Room. My goal for today was to read it quickly and finish the Book Report here before heading home.
“And I don’t have work today, so it’s perfect.”
I tossed my bag onto a nearby chair and settled onto the Club Room sofa. I buried my nose in the book and read until I looked up to find that nearly an hour and a half had passed.
“Ugh, I’m starving.”
The School Canteen shouldn’t be closed yet, right? I should buy something. While I’m at it, I’ll stop by the Classroom and grab my Mobile Phone too.
I used to have my Mobile Phone in my hand 24/7, but when I suddenly decided to cut back on screen time to study, it didn’t work out the way I wanted, so these days I just leave my Mobile Phone in my Locker (with a brand new Padlock!) as soon as I get to School.
“I’ll go to the Classroom first to get my stuff, then to the School Canteen…….”
I muttered this to myself as I reached for the Club Room door handle.
Click.
“Huh?”
The door wouldn’t open.
Right below my shocked expression, Song Yeoreun suddenly popped up from the Corridor outside.
“Aah! You scared me!”
Like she was a ghost.
Song Yeoreun, seeing me blinking in surprise from inside, split her lips in a grin.
She made a show of waving the Padlock on the Club Room door and its matching Key before trotting off down the Corridor and disappearing.
Taking the Key with her.
“…huh?”
…Am I trapped in here?
Just like this?
This quickly?
Without my Mobile Phone?
The office staff member already came and went earlier, didn’t they? They told me to lock up on my own, didn’t they?
“…what is this?”
I muttered to myself in a daze.
Then something suddenly popped up from a pile of costumes in the corner of the Club Room.
“Ahhh!”
Was it a ghost?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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