1st in Class Hides Regression - Chapter 46

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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 of the Entire School Hides Her Regression
Episode 46
Once the elevator began to move, it whisked us down to the 4th Floor where the classroom was in what felt like an instant.
I stared blankly at the doors while Seo Jae-gyeom said nothing.
Was he flustered because I’d struck a nerve? Or had I just pointed out something about his own psychology that he hadn’t even realized himself?
I stepped out, leaving him standing there dazed.
I almost just walked away.
‘This is irritating.’
Didn’t you say the same thing to me?
That after seeing all the girls you’d dated, how could I possibly confess to you?
That was you telling me to read the room, wasn’t it?
So I read the room, and now what—are you upset? Or do you miss having a shuttle who’d do your homework without being asked?
I turned back and pressed the open button.
At my reappearance, Seo Jae-gyeom’s eyes widened from inside the elevator. I held back the urge to stamp on his foot and spoke instead.
“The reason I liked you, Seo Jae-gyeom, wasn’t just because you’re handsome—it was because you were cool. I admired the way you didn’t care what others thought, the way nothing seemed to weigh on you.”
“…….”
“But right now, you’re not cool at all.”
“…….”
“Don’t make me embarrassed for having liked you.”
Thirty, thirty-one, thirty-two….
When I reach ages I’ve never lived before.
When I remember your face, let me feel grateful—grateful that I regressed, that I got to try being class representative with you, my old crush…. Let me smile at those memories.
Don’t destroy what I cherish.
“And Seo Jae-gyeom. You’re close with Baek Eun-ju, Yang Da-jeong, and Kim Hae-in, aren’t you?”
At the string of ex-girlfriends’ names pouring from my mouth, even Seo Jae-gyeom’s jaw went slack.
“No, we’re not that close—”
He even stammered over his words, uncharacteristically.
Not close? You answer every call from girls you dated before. You’ve fought with girlfriends multiple times because of it.
I’ve had a history of liking you for years now—how can you pretend not to know?
“Seriously. We’re not close.”
The confident smirk and composure he’d shown moments earlier had vanished completely. He could say what he wanted. I spoke in the coldest voice I could muster.
“Ask them what happened to me this weekend. They’ll tell you everything they did with their friend.”
“What?”
“If you’re not getting out, I’m closing the doors.”
I took my hand off the open button and turned away.
As I headed toward the classroom, I heard him scrambling to follow behind me.
He didn’t stand beside me, didn’t try to talk to me—just trudged along a half-step behind, dragging his feet.
It looked pathetic.
‘What an eighteen-year-old boy is.’
Seo Jae-gyeom, you. You’re really nothing special after all.
* * *
‘If you don’t like me, then let me stop liking you too. I don’t owe you anything.’
But then.
What if I do have feelings for you?
What if I end up liking you?
“…This is maddening.”
Am I losing my mind?
* * *
“So you really don’t like Seo Jae-gyeom anymore?”
“That’s right.”
“For real?”
“Ji-su. Want me to make a Two-Line Poem with ‘Ji-su’?”
“…? Ji.”
“Just like you keep asking me the same thing.”
“Su.”
“Dozens of times, you’re pestering me.”
“Hehe. I’m just fascinated. You used to like Seo Jae-gyeom so much.”
“You’re one to talk….”
“Huh?”
“Did you maybe have hopes things would work out with Seo Jae-gyeom, and I thoughtlessly beat you to the punch?”
I brought up the villain theory about Kang Da-hye that I’d been harboring for a while.
With Han Ji-su! And Seo Jae-gyeom! They had feelings for each other, and didn’t I just barge in out of nowhere?
Because I was being pushy, Ji-su couldn’t even say ‘Actually, I like Seo Jae-gyeom too.’ Wasn’t that what happened?
“If that were the case….”
“No, absolutely not! I don’t like Seo Jae-gyeom. And he doesn’t—”
“Hm?”
“He’s been ignoring me lately. No messages, doesn’t come find me during breaks at the hagwon. Even when we run into each other, he just says hi and walks past.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s strange….”
I wondered if he’d neglected his own feelings while dragging the fish (me) back into the tank. Ji-su asked me, blinking at my blank stare.
“Does Seo Jae-gyeom message you, Da-hye?”
“Um… no.”
No point saying ‘Yeah, he messages me though?’ just to make things awkward. Besides, he doesn’t anymore anyway.
Not since what I said in the elevator.
Whatever. There’s no point thinking about it.
I should be memorizing vocabulary instead of thinking about Seo Jae-gyeom.
“We’re heading to the 6th Floor, right?”
“Yeah. We said we’d meet in the lobby in front of the concession stand.”
Today was the day the Theater Club’s second-year members were doing a group screening of a newly re-released film.
There’s a stage adaptation based on the same source material. We’d watch the movie first, then watch the play during club time. The plan was to compare the two.
Ji-su and I had come early to grab food and get to the theater. We could’ve eaten afterward, but I had something scheduled in the afternoon.
“What time is the showing?”
“Twenty minutes left. We’ll just meet up with everyone, grab some popcorn, and head in.”
“I’m getting onion popcorn.”
And churros, butter grilled squid, and a pretzel.
In the future, theater concession stands barely sell churros anymore…. I need to eat as many as I can while they’re still available.
I stepped out of the elevator, drooling a little. The theater had its signature orange lighting and black glass, and right away I spotted a familiar face leaning against a pillar.
“Jung Eun-sung?”
Ji-su called out his name before I did.
Jung Eun-sung looked up from his mobile phone.
He was wearing an oversized hoodie and well-fitted pants. The black hat made his already small face look even smaller.
‘God, he’s ridiculously handsome.’
Is it just me who gets startled when I run into a good-looking person while I’m not paying attention?
I took a deep breath and centered myself.
Unlike me, Ji-su seemed completely unaffected by male appearances, and she asked Jung Eun-sung the question.
“What are you doing here?”
“Standing.”
She asked the question, but he answered while looking at me.
I tilted my head to get a better view of the lobby. The Theater Club kids were already crowded around the concession stand.
Ji-su, seeing the same thing, tilted her head in confusion.
“The group’s over there. Why are you standing here alone?”
“It’s awkward.”
“You’re shy around people you don’t know well?”
“Yeah.”
“Come on, were you planning to stand here by yourself until when, exactly?”
“Until she showed up.”
Jung Eun-sung pocketed his mobile phone and jerked his chin toward me.
Unbelievable.
“I’m not your emotional support animal.”
I nudged him anyway—since he was here now, we might as well join the group.
“Oh, Da-hye’s here!”
“Ji-su’s here!”
“Eun-sung’s here!”
“Is everyone accounted for?”
“Nope. Do Ha-jun still hasn’t shown.”
“…He’s not running late, is he?”
“No way. I saw his story earlier—he was just waking up.”
“If he hasn’t woken up by now, he’s barely human.”
With twenty minutes left before the movie started, some of the kids had already bought large popcorn and cola and were halfway through, so they stuffed a handful of popcorn into my mouth.
Wow.
“Let’s take a picture of us.”
“Ji-su, can I hold the tickets while we take it?”
“Sure, wait a sec. Let me grab them.”
Kids are kids. They’re thrilled just being at the movie theater.
Though to be honest, this is my first time at a movie theater since my Regression.
It’s interesting seeing films on the big screen that, at my point of regression, you could only watch on holiday reruns or through Over-The-Top platforms. The theater’s interior design has that peculiar dated quality to it too.
‘So this was the number one box office film back then.’
And why are ticket prices so cheap?
While I was experiencing that sense of generational change, one of the club members pointed at the poster I’d been staring at.
“This looks like it’d be fun.”
I answered without thinking.
“Right. This is fun. I’ve seen it twice.”
“…How did you see it? This is rated Not For Minors…”
“Oh.”
“Kang Da-hye, how exactly did you manage to watch a 19+ movie?”
“Ohhh~”
The kids didn’t miss the chance to tease me. They swarmed in, pouncing on the opening.
“I heard since there’s only one entrance to this theater, you can book tickets for screen 1 and slip into screen 2 instead. That’s what you did, right?”
“Kang Da-hye, you’re wild.”
“I thought you just studied, but you’re out here secretly watching 19+ movies.”
“That’s not it…!”
I saw it when I was older, during a re-release…!
Unable to reveal the truth, I just swayed back and forth as they shook me around.
“You should’ve studied ethics while you had the chance. Kang Da-hye.”
Jung Eun-sung, who hadn’t said a word until now, suddenly jumped in.
“Study ethics?”
“Spirit of Law Compliance.”
“What.”
I glared at him in exasperation, but he didn’t care. He even folded his arms and looked down at me arrogantly.
“I think the most important thing for a leader is ethical consciousness. If an unconscious leader takes the helm, society’s order collapses.”
“Am I a leader?”
“You’re the class president.”
“I have tons of ethical consciousness.”
“Then explain where you watched that movie.”
“That’s…”
I can’t explain that.
That’s when Ji-su laughed.
“Looks like you two are pretty close.”
As she spoke, she linked her arm through mine and smoothly wedged herself between me and Jung Eun-sung.
“I’ve never seen Eun-sung talk this much. He doesn’t even reply to my texts, but here he is.”
Jung Eun-sung answered lightly to Ji-su, who was smiling up at him.
“You’re close with those people in the cafeteria too.”
“Huh?”
“The ones you eat bread with in the mornings.”
What’s he talking about?

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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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