Chapter 9.3 - Act 9: Whimsically 3 (2/2)

I stared at his distancing back and only then did I realise an aspect that felt off about him. I remembered Jun Shihyuk’s energyless face – the bags under his eyes, slimmer cheeks and his disheveled hair.

…I thought Lee Suh-ah was the only one feeling down but he was the same huh. Were the preparations for the prac test that difficult?

Suddenly, I remembered Jun Shihyuk from my previous life. Back then, I’m sure he received A0 but now, he had reached A+ for some reason. The change that happened to Han Dasom was quite obvious but what happened with Jun Shihyuk?

Did the future change because I stimulated Jun Shihyuk in some way? I don’t remember having any major exchanges with him though…

‘Full marks, huh.’

After thinking for a while, an abrupt desire to listen to Jun Shihyuk’s full-mark song popped up inside my head. Listening to songs never heard before was always a happy occasion after all.

I’m looking forward to the day after the month.

Feeling the slight sense of expectation touching my heart, I smiled.

*

The Prac High-achievers Concert was something to consider in the future, and for me, there was still a large mountain called final exams that had to be overcome.

Scholarships.

As a son, I had to do everything in my capability to reduce the load on my parents right? Besides, it didn’t seem impossible now.

I got the same mark as Lee Suh-ah who I was worried about the most and the other prac-related results were quite decent as well. Since I also had similar marks with Lee Suh-ah during the mid-sems, it should be possible as long as I got good marks at the finals…

Glancing at Lee Suh-ah solving through the questions at a fast pace, I asked.

“Are your studies going well?”

“Can’t you tell?”

“…”

There was a change that happened after the prac tests were over – the temperamental Lee Suh-ah turned a level colder.

When I stared at her with a sullen gaze, she pressed on her temples before heaving out a sigh.

“Sorry. I can’t sleep well during the night these days because of others.”

“Ah, they are quite noisy these days.”

Nodding my head, I reflected on the recent happenings.

When the prac test that had been diligently being prepared for was over, the atmosphere within the school completely turned relaxed. Although there were still the final exams to go, the opera department as well as a few other departments did not care about their school marks.

Since the prac test which they solely cared for was over, they were wreaking havoc.

Some got busted while having a party at a practice room, some were chased out of the dorms for leaving the school premises without notice, and some were discovered during their jump over the fence to get food deliveries…

Of course, I also got some food delivered myself.

…In any case, there were kids playing around throughout the night in dorms so it probably wasn’t a great environment for studying.

Then, I opened my mouth because of an abrupt question that popped up.

“By the way, why do you study so hard?”

It was something I had been curious about for a long time.

I glanced at her while waiting for her reaction when a slightly darker light befell her face shortly before quickly changing back to the normal expression.

“Because I can. There’s no reason not to when I can right?”

“…Is that so?”

Carefully, I observed her expression before tilting my head.

Those words definitely did fit her but… it felt like she was hiding something different. Her expression wasn’t very good after the prac test either.

I stared at Lee Suh-ah with a frown before turning my head away with a sigh. Since she didn’t want to talk about it, it would be impossible for me to squeeze it out from her and it was better off to just study.

Even at the cost of cutting off my practice time, I prepared for the finals. I learned maths and science from Han Dasom who was the best at it and studied Korean with Chloe who was the worst at it. For the rest, I studied with Lee Suh-ah while giving each other quizzes.

Like that, I spent my days busily without even the time to rest and the finals were over in a flash.

And unlike the prac test, the results came out early.

*

“Everyone! Please take your finals marks back~”

“Ah…”

Teacher Kang Heewon who, like always, casually ignored the groans of the students started calling out names of the students. The kids started walking forward like they were entering a slaughterhouse.

In the midst of those guys, I received and checked my mark before closing it back up silently.

The marks were similar to the mid-sems results.

I got full marks for most of the humanities subjects and got a few wrong for maths and science. That damn maths. I can’t memorise all of it no matter how much I study. Regretfully I clicked my tongue when Teacher Kang Heewon raised her head up after distributing the marks.

“Ah! By the way, there’s a joyous occasion in our class!”

Joyous?

Confirming the questioning gazes of the students, teacher Kang Heewon clapped with a smile.

“Do you know that our school gives a certificate and scholarship to the highest achiever at the end of each semester~?”

“No.”

Hearing the apathetic replies of the students, her expression crumpled slightly before returning to the original smile.

“…In any case, the Music, Visual Arts and the Dancing Departments each give scholarship to the student with the highest overall marks and our class has that very student!”

Hearing that, Lee Suh-ah and I glanced at each other for a short instant.

Scholarships.

Since the results of the final exams were out, it was time for the owner of the scholarship to be announced. With a fast-beating heart, I stared at Teacher Kang Heewon who glanced and gave a small smile at me.