-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: As Long as It's Not You
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Cho-hee, did you take my charger yesterday? I could’ve just picked it up at school today—no need to go out of your way.”
The moment break time hit, A-jin went looking for Cho-hee.
Cho-hee flinched at A-jin’s question.
“Charger? Oh… that?”
‘Yeah, I took it… but right now, it’s…’
Irritation boiling over, she’d chucked the charger and gym clothes into the trash.
She hadn’t given a thought to what might come after.
Startled by A-jin’s question for a split second, she put on a perfectly innocent face and spoke up.
“Oh, that thing’s super precious to you, right? It was a gift from your first love. I wanted to get it back to you ASAP. But get this? Ugh… I can’t even.”
“Why?”
“He threw it away.”
A-jin couldn’t believe it at first and figured he was just messing around again.
“Come on, he’s probably joking. He told me the same thing, but I said no way. He’s full of crap, that guy.”
“It’s true. He said it’s gone. Thinks he tossed it while cleaning. Isn’t that ridiculous? Messing with someone else’s stuff like that. You’re right—his personality is seriously weird.”
She hadn’t meant to pin it on Jun-woo, but Cho-hee figured it worked out even better.
She’d been quietly worried they might get close.
Even A-jin, who’d always chalked it up to his pranks, seemed totally fooled by her act—her face flushing more by the second.
Facing A-jin’s bright red cheeks, Cho-hee smirked to herself.
* * *
“Oppa, try this. I made it thinking of you.”
“Oh!”
A first-year underclass girl handed Jun-woo a cookie right there in the classroom, in front of everyone.
The guys around hooted with a mix of envy and teasing, while the girls shot jealous glares.
‘Why on earth does she like a guy like that?’
A-jin shot Jun-woo a dirty look and huffed.
How could anyone just toss someone else’s stuff like that?
She couldn’t understand it, and she didn’t want to.
Then their eyes met.
A-jin whipped her head away, avoiding his gaze.
Feeling the edge in her look, Jun-woo tilted his head with a puzzled frown.
* * *
A few days passed.
During English class, homeroom teacher Kyung-hee decided to form study groups.
She gave the kids free rein to pick their own groups first. They teamed up with close friends or top students and submitted the lists to Kyung-hee.
“You guys got them right, yeah? Let’s see… one, two, three… We’re short one. Who’s missing?”
At Kyung-hee’s question, a student in the back corner raised a tentative hand. It was Ho-jin.
With his greasy hair and a body so huge it went beyond chubby, sweat always pooled under his arms, turning his white uniform yellowish. The body odor was intense.
Because of the stench, the kids didn’t like hanging around Ho-jin. They didn’t bully him, but no one got close either—and Ho-jin never approached his classmates, so he’d naturally become an outcast.
“Disappointing. I thought you’d handle it yourselves.”
After a moment’s thought, Kyung-hee spoke up.
“Okay. It’s early in the semester, so you don’t know each other well yet. I’ll assign the study groups this time.”
“Ugh.”
The second she finished, groans filled the room. Everyone was bummed about not teaming up with their friends.
“I’ll pass it along through the class rep.”
Once the teacher left, the classroom erupted in chaos.
“What the hell? Then just assign them from the start.”
“Yeah. How were we supposed to know he’d end up alone?”
“I hope I get Jun-woo since we’re redoing it.”
“Oh, right. Could happen.”
The girls buzzed with hopes of grouping with Jun-woo.
But A-jin prayed desperately not to end up with him.
‘Please. Please don’t put me with that guy.’
* * *
One wall had an art display with a silent movie projected on it via beam projector, while a Bluetooth speaker blasted club-like music.
A few guys and girls lounged on the sofa playing board games. Jong-min, just off a call, opened his bedroom door.
Jun-woo lay on his bed, scrolling his phone.
“Hey, you gonna stay holed up in here?”
“…”
“Not coming out? The girls came to see you.”
“That’s why I’m not going.”
Jun-woo snapped, annoyed at the nagging.
With his parents away on an overseas trip, Jong-min had thrown a party. Truth be told, he’d planned it hoping to invite Cho-hee.
“You can’t just hide in here! They all came for you.”
*Ding-dong.*
As he prodded Jun-woo to come out, the doorbell rang.
“Oh! Cho-hee must be here!”
Jong-min bolted barefoot to the front door and flung it open.
“Hey.”
“Oh, hey.”
Cho-hee stood there, sparkling from head to toe. Her black dress hugged her figure just right, shimmering with subtle pearlescent sheen, and gold tassel earrings added flair to her juicy makeup.
Jong-min couldn’t close his mouth at how extra pretty she looked today.
“Can I come in?”
He just gawked like an idiot, so she asked curtly first.
“Y-yeah. Of course. Come on in.”
Grinning like a fool, Jong-min led her inside.
Even someone clueless about the world would know—this was a big luxury apartment in a prime spot. Cho-hee followed him down the long hallway.
“Your place is loaded, huh.”
“Loaded? Nah, just average. This way.”
‘Average my ass.’
Her expression soured a bit.
“Whoa? Han Cho-hee?”
When she appeared at the end of the hall, the guys reacted just like Jong-min.
But the girls weren’t thrilled to see her.
People’s stares didn’t matter.
Cho-hee scanned around for Jun-woo, but the living room only had his friends chilling in comfy clothes.
“This everyone? I thought it was a party. Dress code homewear today?”
“I dressed up and all… Oh! Park Jun-woo’s here too. Sit here?”
“Yeah.”
As Cho-hee sat, the guys edged closer slyly.
They peppered her with questions, but she gave half-hearted replies by mouth while her eyes kept hunting for Jun-woo.
*Click.*
Then the bedroom door opened, and Jun-woo stepped out.
Thrilled, Cho-hee jumped up to greet him.
“Hey.”
“Yeah.”
But he just gave a curt nod and headed straight to the kitchen.
“Cho-hee, try this. My dad brought it back from England…”
“Yeah, later.”
She brushed off the cookie Jong-min offered and followed Jun-woo to the kitchen.
*Pop.*
Jun-woo opened the fridge and pulled out a canned drink.
“Grab that cup up there for me?”
By then, Cho-hee had joined him, leaning on the island counter and pointing at the top cabinet with her index finger.
She even tossed her hair prettily for good measure.
But Jun-woo’s eyes stayed on the drink, ignoring her calculated moves.
He just grabbed a cup indifferently, set it on the counter, and turned to head back to the room.
‘At least look at me.’
Tougher opponent than expected.
Pouting, Cho-hee “slipped” and let the cup fall from her hand.
*Crash!*
The shattering glass echoed loudly through the kitchen, drawing everyone’s eyes to her.
Even Jun-woo stopped in his tracks.
“S-sorry… my hand slipped. What do I do?”
“You okay? Not hurt?”
Jong-min rushed over, worried.
“I-I’m fine. Sorry. I’ll clean it up quick.”
“Don’t touch it.”
Cho-hee crouched toward the shards, but Jun-woo grabbed her wrist to stop her.
Her heart plummeted in that instant.
“But I broke it…”
“You’ll just get in the way. Go sit.”
“Yeah, Cho-hee. We got this. Don’t cut yourself. I’ll grab the vacuum.”
Jun-woo and Jong-min swiftly cleaned up the mess.
Cho-hee stood frozen, staring at her wrist.
Even though his hand had only lingered briefly, a faint red mark remained.
A subtle flush touched her cheeks too.
* * *
“Study group assignments are out. I’ll post them here.”
The class rep wove through the noisy crowd, A3 paper in hand, and stuck it to the bulletin board.
Everyone swarmed to check.
“No way. I’m with that stinky Ho-jin. Hate that smell.”
“Shh. He’ll hear.”
“Why doesn’t that guy ever wash? Too lazy? Ugh, gross.”
“Yes! I’m with Jun-woo. Awesome.”
“Lucky bitch.”
The mixed groups left kids happy or bummed.
A-jin squeezed through the throng, anxiety gnawing at her as she scanned for her name.
She couldn’t hide the sinking disappointment.
Her bad feeling was never wrong.
She’d ended up grouped with Jun-woo, just like she’d dreaded.
A-jin sat as far from Jun-woo as possible.
Her group had six: Jun-woo, plus Jung-hwa, Yoo-jin, Ji-hoon, and Do-hyun.
She was still mad at Jun-woo for tossing her charger.
She wanted to call him out right then, but it’d just sour the mood, and what was the point with it already gone? She held back, hoping to avoid him as much as possible.
* * *
“Same group! Fate’s got a twisted sense of humor.”
A-jin made a miserable face and dropped her spoon limply.
Her eyes drooped completely.
“Same group?”
Cho-hee asked back.
“Yeah.”
‘Same group, whatever.’
It bugged her that A-jin obsessed over Jun-woo more than necessary.
“Just ignore him. It’s not like he’s gonna do anything with you.”
“Yeah, but…”
“As long as you don’t talk to him, he won’t bother with you, right? Why would a guy like that care?”
“Huh?”
The tone felt off, so A-jin stared at Cho-hee.
Realizing her slip, Cho-hee backpedaled fast.
“I mean, he’s rude and selfish—why would he give a damn about anyone else? You’re not dating him or anything.”
“Dating? No way. You keep weirdly discouraging me from even talking to him. It’s annoying.”
“That’s why! Why waste time on someone who pisses you off?”
“Right!”
“Steer clear ’cause shit stinks! Not ’cause you’re scared—just ignore him.”
“Yeah! I’ll tune him out. But how low does he think I am, tossing it like trash? I don’t get it. My charger… the uncle got it for me. I’m so down, Cho-hee.”
A-jin propped her elbows on the table, chin in hands, stretching her face comically.
Sneering inwardly at A-jin, Cho-hee muttered under her breath.
“A charger? Get over it, cheapskate.”
“What?”
A-jin asked what she said, but Cho-hee smiled with her eyes and shook her head.
“Nothing. You feeling blue, A-jin? Wanna grab cake after school?”
