I Became an Artist in a Romantic Comedy

Chapter 26

Criminal.

Once a person passes a certain age, the word potential tends to precede it.

Or maybe that label has been there since birth.

Humans are unpredictable beings. A single moment of whim can lead to a lifelong red mark.

A split-second lapse in judgment can dictate the course of an entire life.

We humans must always be cautious, lest a reckless decision turns us into criminals.

Why am I saying this?

Because even our school has produced a criminal.

And everyone knows who it is—Kim Byung-Jun.

***

Two weeks have passed since the retreat.

In that time, our school has become a potential delinquent school.

Notice the emphasis on potential. We’re not completely tarnished yet.

Thanks to one student, the school's reputation has hit rock bottom, and its public image has plummeted.

Kim Byung-Jun’s grand performance has thrown the entire school into a state of emergency.

Naturally, the victims came to the school demanding answers.

And, as expected, I got a fresh perspective on Kim Byung-Jun’s parents.

Of course, I didn’t interact with them. He wasn’t even in our class.

This was a problem for Class 1 to resolve.

Still, through the grapevine, I caught wind of how the situation unfolded, and it was... entertaining.

Under the Juvenile Act, anyone aged 10 to 19 is subject to its provisions.

Those aged 14 to 19 can face criminal punishment, though protective measures are far more likely.

For minors, the harshest sentence is a long-term juvenile detention.

But what made this situation intriguing was that, despite the severity of the charges, the verdict leaned toward protective measures.

The result? Two years in juvenile detention—the maximum under protective measures.

I don’t know what kind of external influence played a role, but here’s my guess:

Even though it was a charge of grievous bodily harm, factors such as his minor status, being a first offender, the extent of the victim’s injuries, the circumstances of the incident, and even his supposed remorse likely played a part.

Not that I believe Kim Byung-Jun actually felt remorse, but hey, the verdict is final.

The school also announced his transfer, which was inevitable.

The only disappointing part was that he didn’t face full criminal punishment.

Not that I had a soft spot for him.

So, he’ll spend two years in juvenile detention and then return to middle school?

I’m not entirely sure how that works. Legalities aren’t my forte.

Anyway, the aftermath was predictable: teachers faced a barrage of complaints from parents and a thorough scolding from the principal and vice principal.

“Teacher, did you not sleep well?”

“Three days.”

“Excuse me?”

“The time I haven’t slept. Three days.”

“Uh...”

With dark circles practically touching his jawline, the teacher stared blankly at his computer.

I felt a pang of sympathy and considered making him some coffee, but where would I find a coffee pot in the classroom?

Better to back off and stop being a distraction.

Kim Byung-Jun didn’t show up at school after the retreat.

He went straight from probation to juvenile detention, leaving no chance of running into him.

The victim, meanwhile, kept pressuring the school with the four-week prognosis for their injury.

It was unfortunate, but there wasn’t much the teachers could do.

...Probably.

Well, I’m sure they resolved it somehow. The school’s reputation can always be rebuilt.

The incident had significant repercussions, though. For us students, it meant stricter rules.

The entire school would be quieter for a while.

People are inherently potential criminals. That’s a fact.

Punishments, however, come with age.

Whether as a child or an adult, there are consequences for one's actions.

As a child, parents take responsibility; as an adult, you bear it yourself.

“Ye-Seo, pig.”

“...Soo-Yul?”

Despite her betrayed expression, Ha Soo-Yul’s eyes stayed fixed on my notebook.

“No colors, though. I don’t have colored pencils.”

I tore the paper silently and handed it to her.

Judging by her bright smile, she really liked her portrait.

“Hey, me next!”

“Alright, golden child.”

“You wanna die?!”

How does she manage that accent?

Encountering new quirks every day has become a daily source of entertainment.

‘Worrying about it is just a waste of my energy.’

“Look at this, Ha-Eun!”

Just as I was about to start Choi Ye-Seo’s portrait, Ha Soo-Yul extended her fist toward me.

“Ta-da.”

“What is it?”

In her hand was a shark-shaped phone charm.

Where had I seen this design before?

“Custom-made.”

“Wait, is this from my drawing?”

“Yup.”

No wonder it looked familiar. It resembled a cherry blossom shark I had drawn near the school store.

She must’ve used that as a reference.

“And Ye-Seo...”

Ha Soo-Yul called Choi Ye-Seo, who immediately turned her head.

“Here.”

“Wow! Is this for me?!”

From her other hand, Ha Soo-Yul handed over a pink orca phone charm.

Choi Ye-Seo’s delighted grin stretched wide, showing her gums.

...Is it strange?

Well, it would feel trashy to call such a happy sight unpleasant.

“Here, Ye-Seo.”

I finished her portrait and handed it over.

Normally, I’d add a little mischief to her drawings, but I decided to do it properly this time.

“...Thanks. Both of you.”

Her voice trembled, and her eyes welled up.

Still, she seemed happy, which oddly made me feel a bit proud.

“This will go straight into a frame in my room!”

She cheerfully swayed her shoulders.

“Before you frame that, solve this problem first.”

“Eek! Teacher! Were you watching?!”

“You’ve been muttering nonstop. How could I not notice?”

“Ugh, but I was whispering...”

Her mood plummeted instantly.

At this point, she should get checked for bipolar disorder.

As Choi Ye-Seo nervously approached the board, I glanced outside at the clear, blue sky.

My thoughts?

‘It’s gonna be scorching hot when I walk home.’

What a trivial worry.

Good weather means nothing if I’m gonna pass out from heat exhaustion.

***

“Oh, I almost forgot. Teacher, when’s our reward coming?”

“Ah, right. I forgot too.”

A duo destined for chaos.