1st in Class Hides Regression - Chapter 89

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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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Ranked 1st in School Conceals Regression
Chapter 89
“You’re acting up over nothing.”
Bang Eun-ji brushed dust from her clothes with quick, sharp motions.
‘Right, so what’s it to you, Bang Eun-ji? Take the kind advice and get going.’
‘No way. Don’t bother being nice. I’m curious what happens.’
‘Ugh—can’t even hit you with your girlfriend watching.’
Park Su-hwan had raised his hand to look tough in front of his girlfriend, but the moment Bang Eun-ji thrust her face forward and said “Hit me!”, he just kept muttering “Ugh” and never landed the blow—evidently believing that even someone as far gone as Bang Eun-ji still had at least a few seniors who actually cared about her.

“You look pathetic, honestly.”
Bang Eun-ji, smirking, pressed herself against Park Su-hwan’s side and said this to Jang Ji-won, who was frantically trying to hold him back with “Su-hwan, just let it go, let it go.”
“Get your head straight. There’s limits to being boy-crazy. You really want to date someone like that?”
“What are you talking about? Su-hwan’s not a bad person. It was just unavoidable because of Do Ha-jun back then!”
“Are you stupid?”
Looking at Jang Ji-won with such pity in her eyes, she wondered if this was how Kang Da-hye had felt when watching her old self.
Bang Eun-ji almost spat on the floor out of habit before catching herself, and she issued a warning.
“Whether you two shoot a drama or rent a motel in this hallway, that’s none of my business. But if I catch you bad-mouthing my friend even one more time, you’re dead.”
She added the threat as if sharing exactly what she’d told Jung Eun-seong—that she was in the same Drama Club as him. Park Su-hwan flinched.
“What did I say? Your mom’s a piece of garbage? Before I turn your parents’ children into pieces of garbage, shut your mouth and count your blessings.”
Vintage delinquent profanity, unfiltered.
She seemed to be getting better at this verbal sparring lately. Probably from spending so much time around Kang Da-hye.
“Why’s it so loud out here?”
Right then, Kang Da-hye herself appeared—along with Jung Eun-seong and Seo Jae-gyeom.
The three had evidently been inside the classroom; Kang Da-hye stepped out through the door while Jung Eun-seong and Seo Jae-gyeom childishly battled over who would exit first, their shoulders getting stuck in the doorframe in the process.
Park Su-hwan and Jang Ji-won scattered the moment they saw the three of them.
“Oh, so they were here.”
Watching the couple disappear, Kang Da-hye let out a sigh.
“Sports Day isn’t even over and those two just vanished. I was wondering where they’d gone.”
“Are those two dating?”
“Yeah… I only found out today, but apparently.”
Kang Da-hye nodded at Friend 1’s question.
A subtle, knowing look passed silently among the four girls.
Bang Eun-ji, arms crossed, grumbled.
“That girl got beaten by other girls back then and still hasn’t come to her senses.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing serious.”
There was no point in relaying some nonsense rumor or exaggeration—it would only pollute their ears. She’d already given that girl sufficient payback on Kang Da-hye’s behalf, so that was enough. With that thought, Bang Eun-ji nodded to herself with satisfaction.
Patting herself on the back for a job well done.
Just then, Jung Eun-seong and Seo Jae-gyeom finally freed themselves from the classroom door and came to stand behind Kang Da-hye. Bang Eun-ji’s friends’ cheeks flushed the moment they spotted the two.
They chirped excitedly at the newcomers.
“Jung Eun-seong, that relay race earlier was amazing!”
“You were seriously cool.”
“Jae-gyeom, you were awesome too.”
“Do you train or something?”
“But what were you three doing in the classroom?”
“Oh.”
Kang Da-hye touched her arm awkwardly and explained.
“I fell earlier and they were helping me put on ointment.”
“Right, you did take a tumble.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Did any of you get hurt? There’s still plenty of ointment left.”
Saying this, Kang Da-hye pointed to the still-unopened ointment and band-aids that Seo Jae-gyeom was holding. Friend 3 tilted her head.
“That’s a new package, isn’t it?”
A soft huff.
It was Jung Eun-seong—who had been quietly still until now—who suddenly laughed.
The sound had an edge of mockery to it, and Bang Eun-ji and her friends’ attention snapped toward Jung Eun-seong.
Seo Jae-gyeom, looking like he’d just taken a metaphorical punch to the forehead, gritted his teeth and spoke.
“Yeah. Plenty of supplies left.”
……
“What… happened?”
Bang Eun-ji’s question prompted Kang Da-hye to heave a long sigh and shake her head.
“Nothing happened. Just the boys having a battle of wills. …Pathetic, really.”
I wanted to hear exactly how this pathetic battle of wills went down.
“Jung Eun-seong, Seo Jae-gyeom. If you’re going to fight again, do it after I leave.”
At Kang Da-hye’s sharp glare, both of them looked sheepish.
Bang Eun-ji and her friends exchanged meaningful glances.
Seo Jae-gyeom, who seemed to have the quickest tongue of the two, flashed a grin and turned on the charm.
“Fight? I wasn’t fighting. It just broke my heart to see you hurt, and I got a little loud for a moment.”
“Then don’t look. Close your eyes.”
“No way. I’m going to keep my eyes wide open and look.”
He widened his eyes and pushed his face close to hers. Unlike his usual sharp demeanor, he looked utterly shameless—and somehow, it suited him.
Jung Eun-seong, frowning deeply, shoved Seo Jae-gyeom in the stomach with his elbow.
“Ugh.”
Kang Da-hye shook her head slowly and spoke.
“Right. Get a good look now. You won’t see me once we graduate.”
“Why?”
Seo Jae-gyeom’s expression turned serious at Kang Da-hye’s casual remark.
Bang Eun-ji and her friends exchanged another knowing look.
“Kang Da-hye, we can’t see each other after we graduate?”
“Were you planning to?”
“Well, I could!”
“…You were going to come visit me at Korean University?”
“If I came, you wouldn’t see me?!”
“I guess we’ll see about that when the time comes… After all this time looping back, I need to actually enjoy my university years.”
“Then I want to go to Korean University too…!”
“You can’t get into Korean University. You failed music entirely.”
He’d squandered fifty points—how was he supposed to make it? Kang Da-hye spoke coldly.
“Huh…?”
“That’s right. You won’t make it. I told you there’d be a day when I shed tears of blood because of your fifty points.”
Listening to her firm words, Bang Eun-ji smiled inwardly.
‘So Kang Da-hye doesn’t talk like that just to me.’
I thought she always hit me with facts because she disliked me.
Seo Jae-gyeom clenched his teeth and spoke.
“No. I’m going to Korean University. I can make it. I’m going to start studying from today.”
Kang Da-hye’s response was:
“That’s a splendid idea.”
For Seo Jae-gyeom, who’d ranked 13th without even studying, to add actual effort meant one powerful rival more—yet she showed no displeasure.
Kang Da-hye clapped her hands and spoke.
“Let’s work hard together. If we both do our best, we’ll push each other and create real synergy.”
You’ll ace everything and I’ll ace everything.
“Let’s aim to send two perfect College Entrance Exam scorers from Gogo High School.”
Kang Da-hye, excited, patted Seo Jae-gyeom’s shoulder and disappeared, saying her friends were waiting.
Watching Kang Da-hye bound away on her injured leg, Bang Eun-ji had a thought.
‘The way Kang Da-hye nags me about studying…’
I thought she was being generous because I’d never be her academic rival no matter what I did.
But that wasn’t it.
She talks to Seo Jae-gyeom the exact same way.
Once Kang Da-hye vanished, Seo Jae-gyeom and Jung Eun-seong glared at each other before disappearing too. In the hallway, now occupied by only the four of them, Friend 1 spoke.
“…Didn’t Park Su-hwan say Kang Da-hye turned Seo Jae-gyeom down?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s going on?”
“No idea…”
“Park Su-hwan was totally making stuff up without even knowing.”
“Definitely.”
“I’m jealous of Kang Da-hye.”
“Right?”
“Both of them are ridiculously good-looking.”
“Seriously.”
“If they’d been in the same class, nobody could’ve studied.”
“Yeah……”
Kang Da-hye, how I envy her.
* * *
“Kang Da-hye!”
An irritating voice shattered the peace of my walk to school.
I pretended not to hear and quickened my pace.
Instead of heading through the Front Entrance, I cut down a side path to slip away—but someone behind me grabbed my wrist without warning and spun me around.
Long nails dug into my skin.
Ugh! I wanted to rip my arm free!
“Let go.”
“Wait a second!”
Do Ha-jun dragged me into a secluded corner and demanded immediately, “Why didn’t you reply to my KakaoTalk?”
“Why didn’t you reply to my KakaoTalk?”
Because I didn’t want to.
“Will you let me go?”
“Oh, are you the type who doesn’t check messages much because you’re always studying?”
“I ignored you on purpose.”
“Okay, okay. So would a phone call be easier for you?”
“No….”
If he’s going to ignore everything I say and just keep talking, what’s the point of having a conversation?

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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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