Chapter 10
Finally, class time ended and break arrived. Students rushed to get up and move around in preparation for after-school activities, making it noticeably more bustling than the previous breaks.
My phone vibrated, and when I checked it, I saw a notification from a group called “Food and Culinary Club.” Fortunately, the phone unlocked with a fingerprint, so I could check it quickly.
The notification contained information I already knew—a post saying the location had been changed to meet up with the Social Club.
“Taeho, let’s go.”
“Sure.”
I pocketed my phone and nodded at Moon Seoheon’s words, standing up with him. I wondered if I needed to bring anything, but seeing Moon Seoheon wasn’t carrying anything, I just got up empty-handed too.
After leaving the classroom and walking down the corridor for a bit, I immediately spotted red hair and yellow hair.
“Hey.”
Byeon Seungha called out to Moon Seoheon, raising his arm. His eyes soon turned toward me. Without saying a word, his gaze seemed to ask why I was next to Moon Seoheon. Unable to answer, I looked at Moon Seoheon instead.
“You probably haven’t heard. Today’s activities will be with the Food and Culinary Club.”
“Food and Culinary Club?”
Byeon Seungha raised one eyebrow slightly at Moon Seoheon’s words.
“Why? There was no mention of a party.”
“Senior Jinyoung said they got some good drinks and would share them with us. As thanks, we decided to do a collaboration. And this time, we’re treating them—not the Food and Culinary Club treating us.”
“What? I haven’t heard about this.”
Byeon Seungha frowned slightly. Jung Hyoin, standing beside him, remained expressionless the entire time.
This was the first time I’d seen them up close since lunch. I’d been too frantic then to really look, but now their faces came into clearer view.
Sharp eyes, thick eyebrows, thin lips, and a slender jawline. Generally, people with yellow hair often looked like delinquents, but this guy just exuded charisma. It suited him well, though it was hard to believe someone with such a flashy appearance could play piano so gently.
As I unconsciously stared, our eyes briefly met, making me look away first.
“That’s why I’m telling you now.”
“Ah, shit. Are you really okay with this?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
At Moon Seoheon’s words, Byeon Seungha grumbled “mmm” and muttered that he understood. He really can’t push back at all. As I mentally commented on their casual dynamic, Byeon Seungha turned his attention to me.
“So why is this guy tagging along?”
Byeon Seungha’s expression was hostile as he looked at me trailing behind the three of them. As I hesitated mid-step, Moon Seoheon reached out his hand toward me.
“He’s from the Food and Culinary Club. He’s coming with us.”
At Moon Seoheon’s words telling me to come closer, I moved nearer to him. When Moon Seoheon pulled me in further, placing me between himself and Byeon Seungha, the guy’s expression grew even more hostile. Swallowing a curse internally, I removed my arm from Moon Seoheon’s grasp and said, “Go ahead. I’ll follow behind.”
“…Alright.”
Fortunately, Moon Seoheon looked at me briefly but didn’t insist further and walked ahead. Byeon Seungha and Jung Hyoin’s eyes briefly scanned over me, but I sighed inwardly as they walked away with Moon Seoheon between them. I was already exhausted.
I followed them past the main building and across a grassy area. The white building we entered was pristinely white inside too—very clean but giving off a completely different impression from the school.
I thought we’d go up the spiral staircase visible right away, but they went past it toward a corner instead. I wondered where we were going until I realized there was an elevator there.
Trying not to gawk, I just stared blankly until Moon Seoheon pulled me in with them. Glancing at Byeon Seungha and Jung Hyoin, I saw they had no expression. Yet somehow, their blank faces radiated displeasure.
I wanted to avoid it, but I had no choice but to ride the elevator with them. When we reached the top floor, a spacious corridor appeared with a glass ceiling that let natural light pour in. In the center were two large doors on either side, wide open so the interior was visible. Some students had already arrived, and it was quite lively inside.
The interior had round tables placed at intervals, like a banquet hall. The ceiling here was also glass, making it bright even without lights. The clean, stylish space with white wallpaper created a very pretty yet comfortable atmosphere.
Despite it being called the Social Club or whatever, I realized I’d greatly underestimated what I’d assumed would just be a typical high school club meeting.
Of course, considering the glimpses of luxurious interiors and food shown in the anime, I knew it wouldn’t be ordinary. But this was like a miniature elite chaebol gathering. It didn’t look like a simple club meeting at all.
“Wow.”
Well, I hadn’t expected a normal classroom setup, but to think it would be to this extent. Unable to have imagined this, I involuntarily let out a breath as Byeon Seungha headed toward a particularly noticeable spot. It was in a corner but right at the front, and the various artworks on the wall made it impossible to miss.
Surely I won’t be sitting there too. Realizing that was obviously the main tops’ spot, I stood there in a daze when Moon Seoheon called my name.
“Yoon Taeho.”
“Yes?”
“I need to sit over there, so I can’t stay with you the whole time.”
His words calmed my racing heart. Honestly, I thought I might be overreacting, but I felt embarrassed for worrying I’d have to sit with them when it looked like I wouldn’t be going over there after all. I quickly nodded, feeling relieved. Then I waved at Moon Seoheon.
“Yeah. It’s fine. You must be busy—how could you babysit me?”
“…”
“I’ll just find a seat somewhere. Don’t worry about me.”
“Alright.”
Relieved once more, I walked toward an empty table. Moon Seoheon nodded at me and headed to the table where Byeon Seungha and Jung Hyoin were sitting.
I sat at a table two tables away from theirs. Originally, the best seats for facing each other are the front or diagonal ones rather than side seats. Perhaps that’s why those tables were already full.
Looking around, I felt a bit awkward since there was no one else sitting alone like me. I thought I could just enjoy some refreshments and leave, so I tried to sit casually on the outside, but I was in a very confused state.
I didn’t even know who the Food and Culinary Club members were, so I couldn’t pretend to recognize anyone. I just wished it would start already. I figured I could kill some time and then leave.
“Oh? Yoon Taeho, you got here early.”
A girl approached me and spoke. She had long straight hair and sharp features that gave her a haughty charm.
“You really did get here early. We came right after seeing the notification too.”
Next to her was a petite girl with a cute bob cut. Since they’d come after seeing the notification, were they from the Food and Culinary Club too? They naturally pulled out chairs at my table and sat down.
“I’m kind of nervous somehow. They’re all High Class, after all.”
“I know, right? Honestly, I was shocked when I saw the notification, and I still can’t believe it. I’ve been here to serve food before, but to actually sit as a guest…”
I rolled my eyes to check the names of the two who were looking around at the banquet-like interior. The haughty-looking one was Oh Seulbi, in the same year as me. The cute one was Kim Yuna, a first-year. Moreover, they were both Low Class like me. Naturally, it was my first time seeing them, but I spoke casually anyway.
“Do you know what we’re doing today?”
“Who knows? What else would we do but eat and drink? Honestly, we were just told to gather here. Is it even okay for us to be sitting like this in the first place?”
Oh Seulbi leaned her head toward me and spoke quietly while looking around at the groups standing or sitting in circles, mingling and chatting. Even with her question, I didn’t know either.
“Well, since there weren’t any instructions to sit elsewhere, it should be fine, right?”
“I guess? Oh, Senior Jinyoung is here.”
I didn’t know who Jinyoung was, but when I turned my head in the direction Oh Seulbi was looking, I recognized two familiar faces.
It was Kwak Junhee and Yoon Taean. As soon as they entered, they greeted someone—apparently the group where Moon Seoheon was sitting. Among them, a plain-looking girl waved in our direction. Seeing Oh Seulbi and Kim Yuna wave back, I realized she must be Jinyoung.
First, I wondered why Yoon Taean was here, then remembered he was part of student council. While the Social Club was indeed exclusively for High Class students, student council members could attend regardless of rank. Well, even so, everyone in student council was Middle Class or higher anyway.
In any case, unlike his brother, who was a high-ranking student council member, Yoon Taeho was really just a character who was nothing special.
While I was thinking that, when Jinyoung greeted us, Kwak Junhee and Yoon Taean also turned their heads in our direction. And to my horror, Kwak Junhee smiled and waved at me. Terrified he might be greeting me, I quickly lowered my head and pretended to have a headache by pressing my hand to my forehead.
Ah, did I overreact? Having instinctively avoided him, I felt awkward and slightly raised my head, only to find he’d already gone over to Moon Seoheon’s side and was talking. Seeing this, I secretly let out a breath and leaned back comfortably in my chair—then noticed the woman named Jinyoung coming toward us. Glancing at her nameplate, I saw “Lee Jinyoung.” And four stars. She was Middle Class, same as Moon Seoheon.
“Glad you made it. I was worried you might not come since the notification went out so late.”
“Honestly, I hesitated. But what’s really going on, senior?”
In response to Oh Seulbi’s question, Lee Jinyoung smiled gently.
“Junhee suggested it. He said they’ve received a lot from us and wanted to treat us back. He proposed doing this together if we weren’t busy.”
“Ooh, so our offerings finally paid off.”
Oh Seulbi joked, making Kim Yuna and Lee Jinyoung laugh softly.
“So just relax and enjoy yourselves. Today, let’s just eat, drink, and have fun. Ah, but you’ll need to submit an activity report later.”
“Okay.”
“Taeho, eat a lot too. Don’t just pick at your food like usual.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
“Oh? That’s unusual. You’re agreeing so readily to eat.”
At Oh Seulbi’s surprised question, eyes wide, I just shrugged without saying anything. Actually, I was the curious one. From what I was hearing, it seemed I wasn’t particularly interested in food, which made me wonder why I’d joined the Food and Culinary Club in the first place.
“Ah! Just one favor. Actually, we agreed to distribute the drinks that just arrived to the Social Club. I think it’d be too much for just the teacher and me to carry them all.”
“Ah, I see. Got it.”
“Thanks.”
After asking us to go to the club room and bring back the drinks, Lee Jinyoung returned to the student council group. Kim Yuna and Oh Seulbi stood up, so I followed suit.
So we just needed to bring drinks from the club room? I thought it was a good opportunity to find out where the club room actually was, rather than continuing to sit in that awkward spot. But Oh Seulbi muttered disapprovingly while looking somewhere, “Those bastards are the problem as always. I’m sure they refused to help even when Senior Jinyoung asked. All they know how to do is kiss up to the High Class.”
“Senior!”
Kim Yuna, shocked by Oh Seulbi’s words, shushed her with a finger to her lips.
“What’s the big deal? They can’t hear us. If I don’t curse like this once in a while, I’ll get stress ulcers.”
I checked which group Oh Seulbi was looking at. Just below the main tops with hexagon star badges, there was another High Class rank with a crown star. Below that were the five-star Middle Class students.
Although they were together, the group was visibly split in two. Besides those with crown stars in High Class, there were occasionally those from the rank below—Middle Class. Mostly students with five stars.
The Social Club was exclusively for High Class. The only exceptions were student council members, but they were currently on the other side.
So those Middle Class students must be from our club? And it seemed Low Class students like me, Oh Seulbi, and Kim Yuna got lumped in with them. It was obvious without even guessing that they didn’t participate properly in activities, just going on about ranks.
