# Chapter 105
“What is that.”
The words escaped my mouth before I knew it, causing Ko Kyungsu sitting next to me to look at me with a puzzled expression.
“What? Did something happen?”
Ko Kyungsu stretched his neck out in the direction I was looking and glanced around. I sat down, saying it was nothing.
However, I couldn’t focus on the game as the image of Lee Seongcheol’s face covered in band-aids kept coming to mind. I knew that Ye Abin was on friendly terms with Lee Seongcheol, so seeing them together wasn’t surprising.
If Son Gyucheon had also been acquainted with Ye Abin from the beginning, he might get along well with Lee Seongcheol too. Now, there wasn’t much I could do about whatever those guys were doing together. But it was still bothering me, so it was quite troubling.
My mind was already complicated with thoughts of Byeon Seungha, who had been asking me about Lee Seongcheol.
Someone kicked the ball hard, but it didn’t even graze the goal post and went outside instead. I alternated glances between Moon Seoheon and Byeon Seungha, who were still running with full momentum.
Remembering the scene where Byeon Seungha had barged into the classroom and demanded to know what Lee Seongcheol had done, my brow furrowed.
I also recalled how he had approached me at the swimming pool as if he had something to say, but ended up lingering without saying anything, and a low sigh escaped me.
“He wouldn’t have really done anything, right?”
“Huh? What?”
“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”
Ko Kyungsu looked at me with a strange gaze, but soon began to focus on the game again. I also shook off my thoughts and turned my attention to the match where no points had been scored yet.
There were only a few minutes left in the game. Moon Seoheon passed the ball to our class’s forward, and the path ahead was clear. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the forward pushed the ball in with a header, and it went in with a refreshing sound effect, grazing the goalkeeper’s hands.
Once again, loud cheers erupted, and several students jumped to their feet. I was puzzled that the atmosphere was so enthusiastic for a high school match that wasn’t even the finals, but realizing it was because of the players involved, I let it pass.
Although the game wasn’t over yet, honestly, the outcome had already been decided. Amidst the disappointed Class 4 students, Byeon Seungha wiped his sweat-soaked face.
Unlike the disappointed students, his eyes were still alive, showing that he hadn’t given up yet. Thinking that he showed many unexpected sides, I slowly rose from my seat.
As I had cheered as Moon Seoheon asked and watched until the end, I was now thinking of going back.
Soon after, a teacher entered the field and blew the whistle. The heated atmosphere gradually returned to what it was before the match, and the students who had been playing together exchanged greetings as the game ended.
* * *
“So your class won again.”
“Yeah.”
“With Moon Seoheon there… it feels kind of inevitable.”
Kim Junwoo, who had taken a tangerine, peeled it and put the whole thing in his mouth, mumbling as he chewed. Although the tangerine was small, it seemed difficult to chew it whole, but he swallowed it well without spilling any of it.
“It’s nice to benefit from having someone who’s good at sports. Our class is completely hopeless, so I’ve already given up on the prize.”
“Does the soccer championship team have a pizza party afterward? Is it the same for first-year students?”
“No. They said they’ll treat us to chicken. But our class lost on the first day, so it doesn’t apply to us…”
Kim Yuna clenched her fists with a very regretful expression. Oh Seulbi, who chuckled at that, comforted her saying she was in the same situation.
I was internally surprised as it was the first time I heard that the soccer championship team would treat the entire class to pizza, but I brushed it off casually.
Rather, I found myself sinking into needless worry, knowing that soccer was played before the relay, which was the final event. Moon Seoheon, that guy would have to run right after playing soccer.
Unlike me, who was going to spend a leisurely day only participating in group events, I paid my silent respects to the guy who was going to be busy.
I checked the sugar in the small dish in front of me, which was running low, and brought over a bag of sugar from the corner. After pouring it until the dish was about half full, I set the sugar bag upright so it wouldn’t fall over.
As I dipped a neatly peeled tangerine into the sugar and ate it, Kim Junwoo, who was watching, wrinkled his face intensely. Oh Seulbi and Kim Yuna, who had already tried to imitate what I had done and barely managed to swallow it, were just eating tangerines with no particular expression.
As Kim Junwoo, with a confused face, was standing up the fallen sugar bag again, Lee Jinyoung, who had been talking with Teacher Jaewon at the front, clapped her hands as if to get our attention.
“Everyone, we have an urgent mission.”
“What is it?”
Lee Jinyoung looked around at all the club members who had stopped what they were doing and were looking forward, and then smiled brightly.
“Creating penalty drinks for the sports festival!”
Lee Jinyoung clapped her hands once more with a somewhat excited expression. I wondered if I was the only one confused here, as the expressions of the club members varied, yet they all seemed to understand what she was talking about.
“Are we doing that again? They always make our club do it without giving us anything in return.”
Kim Junwoo spoke with a slightly annoyed face, then clicked his tongue. Having a vague idea of what this was about, I thought it might be fine since I had nothing else to do. Today, like last week, we were supposed to be creating unique foods for a competition.
However, today was more about discussing what to make rather than actually cooking. It was while listening to the various opinions of the students that casual conversations were exchanged, creating this free atmosphere where we could even eat snacks.
“Well, what’s wrong with that? It’s fun.”
“That’s why everyone tries not to come in last. Plus, if our creations get good reactions, they might be used in the school cafeteria, which is good. Though they’re mostly used to get exemption passes.”
I had thought the penalty drink was used for the events, but apparently not. It seems it’s for the class that comes in last. It felt a bit uncomfortable that they were actually imposing a penalty for what seemed to be fun entertainment.
Still, I was confident our class would avoid coming in last, so I wasn’t too concerned. I just wondered if that’s all they could come up with.
It was a bit amusing that even though the event was held at the school, Ace gave out exemption passes, and the reward for the winning team was just delicious, good service food.
Seeing that there were separate prizes for the relay and soccer championship teams, there must be prizes for other events too. No, since this is a wealthy school, even if it’s not special, wouldn’t they offer practical and desirable things like water bottles, bags, or, if we’re talking about better prizes, something like Bluetooth earphones?
I returned to my seat with the plastic cup that Lee Jinyoung had handed out, saying to take it, and tilted my head as I distributed cups to my team members, responding to Kim Yuna’s comment.
“The school seems to have quite a few food-related events. I understand the sports festival penalty, but even special meals.”
Oh Seulbi, who had been examining the plastic cup from various angles, blinked at my words, then placed it neatly on the table as if there was no problem.
“That makes sense. The chairman is the CEO of Deowon Food. Our cafeteria food is all provided by them, so it comes out good.”
“Ah, wasn’t Ace originally an elementary school that was turned into a cafe? That’s so romantic. I want to open my own cafe someday too.”
“That’s nice. But I heard that place was his alma mater.”
“No. He said it was where his father attended. The chairman is surprisingly young.”
As Kim Junwoo spoke casually while, like Oh Seulbi, checking if there was anything wrong with the cup, everyone’s eyes widened.
“The chairman is young? How do you know that? Have you seen him? He’s the biggest mystery in our school.”
Oh Seulbi, excited, leaned her upper body forward as she planted her hands on the table and pressed him. Kim Junwoo, with a sickened expression, took a step back and rolled his eyes sideways as if thinking about the chairman.
“I haven’t seen him, I heard it. I heard it from, you know… a High Class senior.”
“Ah…”
Oh Seulbi, Kim Yuna, and I, who knew who that High Class senior was, all kept our mouths shut. When a brief silence fell, Kim Junwoo waved his hand with an annoyed gesture.
“Whatever. Let’s just get ready. Can’t we just mix anything?”
“No, we can’t. Since we’re sending it out, we should make it good enough to be used properly. Are you really a member of the Food Cooking Club?”
When Oh Seulbi lightly scolded him, Kim Junwoo backed down as if he had nothing to say. Although his expression was sour, considering his previous behavior of speaking recklessly, this was a significant improvement.
“How about reflecting Senior Taeho’s opinion on this?”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yes. What’s your favorite drink? I think it would be perfect to base it on that.”
It seemed like she wasn’t trying to put me on the spot, as Kim Yuna’s tone was bright with sparkling eyes. When I couldn’t say anything, Oh Seulbi spoke up for me.
“That’s a good idea. What drink do you consume the most? As a member of the Food Cooking Club, say something plausible.”
Even with that prompt, I couldn’t think of anything. And being asked what my favorite drink was… What did that have to do with a penalty? The expectant expressions on their faces made it difficult to argue.
Swallowing a sigh that was about to escape, I looked around and saw the remaining tangerines. Tangerines only need to be juiced, so they would be easy to make into a drink, and they’re somewhat healthy too, which seemed perfect. After a moment’s consideration, I asked.
“If we’re making a drink that’s hard to consume, how about making one flavor particularly strong?”
To the kids who were looking at me as if to ask what I meant, I picked up a tangerine from the table and held it out.
“Instead of making juice from tangerines, how about adding a ton of vinegar to make it super sour?”
“Ooh. That’s not bad! It won’t look disgusting, so no one will throw it away either.”
“But isn’t that too weak for a penalty?”
As Oh Seulbi muttered quietly, seemingly unsatisfied, Kim Junwoo stepped forward and drove the point home.
“There’s no need to be so serious about a penalty event. Half the class will secretly throw it away anyway. If that’s the case, it’s better to make something more palatable.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
Oh Seulbi, who had been hesitant, soon nodded and agreed with my opinion. While I was relieved that the decision was made quickly, I also felt secretly happy.
It wasn’t so much that they reflected my opinion, but rather that sharing opinions and doing something like this together was quite enjoyable. Even the casual conversations we had earlier while eating snacks under the pretense of a discussion would become good memories. It seems I’ve gradually become accustomed to this place.
