I Became an Artist in a Romantic Comedy

Chapter 24

In the end, something did happen.

Just by looking at the class president’s face when he came back, I could tell.

"Jin-Hyuk, so what happened?"

At my friend’s question, Kim Jin-Hyuk awkwardly smiled.

"Well... there was some conflict, but it’s fine. It’s all resolved."

It seemed like he smoothly brushed it off, but the others were still curious.

"Was it about Kim Byung-Jun?"

I asked casually, and Kim Jin-Hyuk’s face showed clear discomfort.

"How did you know?"

"I heard the noise earlier, so I went out into the hallway and saw Kim Byung-Jun there."

I had seen him with a frustrated look on his face, sweating as he entered his dorm.

It was obvious something had happened.

By the way, Kim Byung-Jun had grown unrecognizably large.

In the past, he had just been a chubby guy, but now... I didn’t want to get close to him.

It felt like heat was radiating off his body.

"Something must’ve happened during the march."

I said, and Kim Jin-Hyuk nodded heavily.

But we both shook our heads, as if to say we shouldn’t get involved.

"This has nothing to do with us."

I had felt a bit sorry for him when I saw him eating alone yesterday, but now I wondered what had really happened.

There was a slight trace of disdain on my face as I drew the line.

Kim Byung-Jun... was he the villain in this place?

Kim Jin-Hyuk relaxed his expression and awkwardly smiled again.

"It’s time to head out. Keep your belongings safe."

The soldier entered without warning, delivered the same announcement, and left.

His face showed visible annoyance.@@@@

If I were in his shoes, I’d be pretty annoyed taking care of a bunch of kids.

‘I totally get you, man.’

...I only understand, though.

After yesterday, I had become a bit closer with some of the others, so when I went outside, Ha Soo-Yul and Choi Ye-Seo waved at me.

"Hey! Why didn’t you show up this morning?"

"That's pretty rude, telling me to die."

"Just kidding, hehe."

"Good morning, Eun-A."

"Good morning."

Choi Ye-Seo teased me from the start, and Ha Soo-Yul greeted me with a smile.

"But you two."

"? What?"

"Why? What happened this morning?"

I had to ask since I was curious.

When I asked, the mood between the two of them shifted.

"Well... haha."

Choi Ye-Seo hesitated to answer.

"Hmm."

Ha Soo-Yul seemed to be thinking about it.

"I guess there’s no need to hide it."

Ha Soo-Yul looked up at me as if she had made up her mind.

"Do you remember what happened at the cafeteria yesterday?"

She suddenly asked about yesterday, and I recalled the events.

"Ah, the fight between that girl and Kim Byung-Jun?"

"Yeah... how did you know it was about him?"

"I heard the hallway was noisy, so I went out and saw him, all angry and sweating, heading back to his dorm."

"...Really?"

Ha Soo-Yul’s eyes darkened, and her lips curled into a subtle smirk.

...Whenever she looks like that, I feel like someone’s about to get involved.

"Did you not sleep because of him?"

"No. I was already up by then."

She went back to her usual expression. What was that about?

"So? What happened?"

"Well, that Kim Byung-Jun decided to get revenge and joined the march this morning."

Choi Ye-Seo laughed cynically.

Once Ha Soo-Yul started speaking, she didn’t feel the need to hide it anymore.

"But something funny happened. During the march, he got so tired that he collapsed first."

Choi Ye-Seo laughed, no longer trying to hide her amusement.

"He couldn’t take it, so he went over to that girl and hit her."

I’ve barely interacted with them, so maybe it’s just a hasty judgment.

"But still, I hope they have a little bit of conscience."

The principal and vice-principal will probably apologize, but will it be sincere?

To me, it seems like they’ll just lecture the teachers who stayed silent until something happened.

...Not my problem, though.

"Are we not going?"

The teacher turned their head and asked.

"Yeah, we’re going."

"Such an old soul."

The teacher chuckled, walking casually.

I followed them, thinking to myself.

If any parents come at the teacher, I’ll step in too.

What right do I have?

I’ll make up a reason, that’s easy.

My dad’s someone important, and power is there for moments like this.

At least innocent people shouldn’t be the ones taking the blame. Right?

"...What the hell."

"Eun-A, that’s a bad word."

"What is this?!"

Lunch was, well... not bad... just kidding. Instead of rice, we got military-style hamburgers.

Basically, we got military rations for lunch.

There was milk and some other side dishes, but I would have preferred rice, not this military burger.

"...It’s better than I expected."

Choi Ye-Seo was initially shocked, but after one bite, she started to like it.

"It does taste okay. But the place is the problem."

I could eat the bread, but I can’t say I enjoyed it in this setting.

"Here."

I handed Ha Soo-Yul the burger kit.

"Huh? Are you giving it to me?"

"Eat it all, then talk."

Gulp.

"Are you giving it to me?"

"Yeah. I’m not that interested."

I had eaten this so much in my past life. Why eat it again? Absolutely not.

"What’s this?! Then give it to me!"

"You’re an idol, so why do you have such a big appetite?"

"It’s survival, okay?!"

...What?

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Survival compressed fat. Don’t you know?"

I turned my head at her dramatic words.

I saw sauce smeared on Ha Soo-Yul’s lips.

"Hey, you’ve got sauce on your mouth."

I wiped it off with my pinky finger and put it in my mouth.

"Mmm..."

"What?!"

It was ketchup. As I was tasting it, I noticed Choi Ye-Seo had an appalled look on her face.

Ha Soo-Yul, on the other hand, finished her bread as if nothing was wrong.

"What are you looking at?"

"No, no? Huh?"

Did something break? What’s going on?

"You guys... why is no one reacting?"

"What?"

At my question, Choi Ye-Seo’s eyes spun.

"No, why... why...?"

"Is this new to you?"

"Is it too late to react now? We’ve known each other for 12 years."

I even did this in front of her several times.

"Wait... yeah? Is it?"

She paused and thought for a moment, as if multiple memories passed through her mind.

Then she looked at the burger in her hand.

"Haum."

She made a mess with sauce around her mouth.

"...Why didn’t you do it for me?"

"Why should I?"

Tears rolled down Choi Ye-Seo’s eyes at that moment.