1st in Class Hides Regression - Chapter 29

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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 29
White Day, age eighteen.
What kind of day had I spent on this date before the regression?
The past version of me was pathetic.
Even after being rejected with such humiliating words, I couldn’t let go—I chased after Seo Jae-gyeom so transparently, pretending it was nothing, until I lucked into an opportunity to help him with his academy homework.
‘You don’t have to do it.’
‘How could you not do your homework? Just let me do it for you.’
A doormat volunteering to do someone else’s homework for them…….
That was me.
Whether or not I did his homework made no difference to him, and he’d never needed my help in the first place—so of course Seo Jae-gyeom wasn’t particularly grateful.
You’ll do it? Sure, whatever. Do what you want. That was all.
I’d played it cool, acted like I was serious about the homework, then practically snatched it from his hands as if I were so exasperated I had to step in myself.
It would’ve been better if I’d just openly said I still liked him—I didn’t realize how pathetic this looked…….
But that dark history didn’t end there.
‘Thanks.’
At those half-hearted words carelessly tossed my way, the old me tilted my chin up, playing aloof and disinterested…….
‘If you’re thankful, buy me candy on White Day.’
That’s what I’d said.
Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh!
I’m so embarrassed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God, I’m really glad that after regressing, no one remembers this dark history.
If anyone tried to spread it around, I’d chase them to the ends of the earth and shut them up.
Anyway.
So it came to pass—March 14th, White Day itself.
I came to school full of anticipation.
I’d learned through Seo Jae-gyeom’s attendance record that he was finally coming back today after missing school these past few days.
Of all days, he was coming to school on White Day, the very day he was supposed to give me candy?
I even fell into the delusion that Seo Jae-gyeom was pushing himself to come to school today to keep his promise to me.
As it turned out, running that kind of happiness circuit all alone was apparently a hallmark of unrequited love. The past me really was something else.
Like the doormat I was, I’d prepared a return gift for Seo Jae-gyeom.
Unlike now, I didn’t have a part-time job and was short on pocket money—I still don’t know where that money came from.
Like the fox from The Little Prince waiting for her prince to appear, I couldn’t focus on morning study hall—I went to my locker, then to the hallway to peer down at the school gate, then to the restroom to check the mirror…….
And then, just two minutes before the school gate closed, Seo Jae-gyeom finally arrived, and the first thing he said to me was.
‘Da-hye, have you seen Ji-su anywhere?’
In that tone he’d taken to using with me after rejecting me—dropping my family name, using just my given name, forcing an awkward kindness.
That was it.
Seo Jae-gyeom had completely forgotten that charity of a candy promise he’d made to me.
To make matters worse, the Key Summary of English Grammar for College Entrance Exam that I’d lent to Seo Jae-gyeom turned up in Ji-su’s bag.
I’d never been asked—I’d just excitedly pushed it into his hands, suggesting he reference it, worried he wouldn’t be able to read my handwriting since he scribbled so carelessly, so I’d typed it all out on a computer, gone to the library to print it, and even had it bound myself.
‘That…….’
‘Oh.’
When Seo Jae-gyeom saw Han Ji-su diligently copying from it without even realizing it was mine, he spoke as if it were no big deal.
‘Ji-su needed it too.’
God, how humiliating.
Only then did Han Ji-su realize the printout was mine—and she was flustered.
Since I’d made something like that, it was only right that I show it to a friend too, but I’d prioritized Seo Jae-gyeom first, so I felt embarrassed.
Ji-su and I apologized to each other.
And Seo Jae-gyeom never did remember his candy promise to me, while the return gift I’d prepared remained mine alone.
I went home that day and cried my eyes out.
Because I was so pathetic.
And then came White Day after the regression.
This time too, Seo Jae-gyeom had come back on March 14th.
But there was one difference.
“…….”
“What?”
“…….”
“Don’t you like it?”
I stared down at the chocolate box that had fallen into my hands.
Before the regression, Seo Jae-gyeom had only ever wounded my heart—but this time, he’d given me chocolate.
Why?
Since the regression, I hadn’t really crossed paths with Seo Jae-gyeom. If anything, we’d interacted less than before.
‘He did say it himself that he’d give me something…… but actually following through?’
I’d figured it was just words, like always.
The rectangular chocolate box, shaped like a drawer, was surprisingly heavy. You could’ve convinced me it held jewels instead of chocolate.
“Kang Da-hye?”
“…Thank you. This looks delicious. I love it.”
Only then did I snap to attention and offer my thanks.
Seo Jae-gyeom, who’d been watching my reaction with an unusually tense expression, finally let out a quiet laugh.
He must have been genuinely grateful that I’d sent him away first that day.
Grateful enough to do something he normally wouldn’t.
If I respond well to this, couldn’t it give me false hope and send me chasing after him again? Doesn’t that worry him?
Seo Jae-gyeom let out a loud cough at me, staring down at the chocolate.
“I thought you’d like it.”
“You did?”
“Yeah. You like these, right? Truffle Pavé Chocolate and Crunchy Salted Caramel.”
“I do?”
“Yeah. You said they were delicious last time.”
Ah. So it’s not that he wasn’t worried.
He just doesn’t care. No matter how I react to this.
‘Like I’m being self-conscious again.’
I smiled as I spoke.
“That was Han Ji-su’s favorite, not mine.”
“…What?”
“The Truffle Pavé and Crunchy Caramel? Those are what Han Ji-su liked.”
All I did was get a bite from her back then. At my casual addition, Seo Jae-gyeom’s expression faltered.
“Oh….”
“Hmm?”
“Yeah. Oh.”
Even I was startled by how badly flustered Seo Jae-gyeom seemed to be.
“Sorry. Oh. Um….”
“No, it’s fine. Really. Why can’t you give me something Han Ji-su likes?”
If Han Ji-su liked it, it must be delicious. I added this as I hugged the chocolate box to my chest.
“Really, thank you. I’ll eat one whenever my sugar levels dip.”
“…I thought those were your favorites.”
“It’s possible.”
Of course you could mix it up. I nodded in agreement.
You barely pay attention to me anyway.
What I like and what I hate, what movie genres I prefer, which authors’ new releases I always grab when I see them at the library. What music I usually listen to. You know nothing about any of it.
There’s no reason you would.
You don’t like me.
Why bring it up now.
“The fact that you remembered and bought it is enough. For all I know, I might start liking it after tasting this today. I’m really grateful.”
Even though I meant it sincerely, Seo Jae-gyeom’s expression didn’t clear.
Students passing through the hallway glanced over at the unusually flustered Seo Jae-gyeom.
He dragged a hand through his hair, which he’d groomed with extra care today, and spoke.
“I’ll buy you something else. Something you actually like.”
“You really don’t have to—”
“I’m not comfortable with this. What do you like?”
……
In that moment, an idea suddenly flashed into my mind.
“Seo Jae-gyeom. Could you actually help me with something?”
* * *
Seo Jae-gyeom readily agreed to my request, and we set up plans on the spot.
“See you then.”
“Yeah.”
Seo Jae-gyeom headed back to the classroom, and I turned around to swing by the Faculty Office. After a few steps, I gasped.
Jung Eun-seong was leaning against the hallway wall, glaring at me.
“You happy now?”
Jung Eun-seong approached me briskly and read the label on the chocolate box in my hand.
“Crunchy Salted Caramel? The kind that crumbles everywhere the moment you bite into it? You gave me this garbage?”
“It’s my favorite.”
“Since when?”
“Since the moment you called it garbage.”
“Ha!”
Jung Eun-seong let out a hollow laugh and spoke to me.
“Kang Da-hye. You’re the second person I dislike most in our class.”
“For crying out loud.”
He keeps saying this, but do I really have to ask who’s first?
But before I could ask, Jung Eun-seong brushed past me. I snorted at his retreating back.
“Ha!”
Why did he just show up out of nowhere to pick a fight?
“Unbelievable.”
It’s ridiculous and infuriating.
I huffed my way to the Faculty Office, huffed my way through the teachers’ jokes (Oh! Da-hye? Got some chocolate? Who gave it to you?), and huffed my way back to the classroom.
When I returned, someone had placed chocolate on my desk.
A mint-colored box the size of a cake container.
“What is this!”
Mint Chocolate?! I hate Mint Chocolate!
I scanned the classroom but couldn’t find whoever left it. When I asked Do-yeon, she pressed her lips together and said she didn’t know.
Whatever, someone just gave it to me! I don’t care!
I’m not curious about some coward who can’t even hand it over face-to-face!
I’m too annoyed right now!
“Jung Eun-seo!”
That guy is seriously weird!

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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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