Chapter 66

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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Blackmail Photos
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A round metal pole came hurtling toward A-jin's eyes.

She could have swatted it away or grabbed it, but her sluggish body wouldn't obey.

All she could manage was to stutter incoherently and squeeze her eyes shut.

Several seconds passed.

It was time to get hit, but she felt nothing around her eyes.

She cracked one eye open from the right, cautiously lifting her eyelid.

The pole was frozen midair.

What the heck? she thought, snapping both eyes wide open.

Jun-woo had grabbed the pole that had been aimed at her and was looking right at her.

His face mixed worry with a scolding expression.

"Hey! That was dangerous."

"Sorry, it was so sudden."

"Come on out."

He pulled her to her feet and moved her away from the tent.

He seemed to think she'd just get in the way if she stayed nearby—better off without her there.

He checked the position of the remaining poles and moved his hands a few times, and the tent was complete in no time.

A-jin and the rest of her group clapped, impressed.

Jun-woo finally hauled the heavy gear inside the tent.

Under his white sleeve, the tendons on his forearm stood out.

Even the flexible curves traced by the light sheen of sweat.

He was radiating sexiness without even trying.

"Totally sexy."

"Amazing. How's he look that cool just in a white tee?"

"I want to get crushed by those forearms for real."

The girls around them fixed their gazes on his captivating form.

A-jin scanned those looks.

He always drew attention, but today those stares felt different—intense.

She couldn't just stand there with other girls eyeing her boyfriend with sparkling eyes.

"That's enough. We'll handle it."

She snatched the item he was carrying and shoved him out of the tent.

"I'll just move stuff from outside."

"No need. Why are you helping other groups? Go to yours."

"You always say to be nice to friends."

If he weren't quite so handsome, she might have let it slide.

But her boyfriend was way too hot and sexy.

Charisma oozing out.

If he kept being nice here, she might not handle the popularity surge.

A-jin shooed him off to his own group, no more arguments.

* * *

Jong-min sighed at the dinner ingredients on the table.

"Sheesh, what are we supposed to make with this?"

They'd just done a scavenger hunt for dinner supplies.

Notes listing ingredients had been hidden around the auditorium.

Jun-woo's group—Jun-woo, Jong-min, and Sun-ho—had only found green onions, garlic, and eggs.

At least rice was provided.

"We can just do fried eggs."

Jun-woo had found the eggs.

Not ham or meat like other groups, but still better than just green onions and garlic—he puffed up a bit.

Then Jong-min said,

"Kim Sun-ho's allergic to eggs, though?"

Jun-woo shot Sun-ho a look like, what kind of allergy is that? Sun-ho looked hurt, like he couldn't believe Jun-woo didn't know.

The three sighed in unison.

"Um..."

That's when Jung-hwa approached them.

They all turned their heads at once.

"Our group has extra stuff. Want to eat together?"

A savior appeared.

Jong-min and Sun-ho grinned like fools.

The kids gathered around the table laden with food couldn't stop talking.

Pork neck kimchi stew, garlic flakes, green onion salad, omelets—even the presentation was perfect. This wasn't just food; it was cuisine.

But two people barely reacted: A-jin, who'd made it, and Jun-woo, who knew her skills.

"Kang A-jin, you're insane. You sure you're in high school?"

A-jin squirmed at Jong-min's praise, not knowing where to put herself.

Jun-woo found her adorable like that.

Her cheeks flushed red, overwhelmed by the sudden spotlight—she was lovable.

But he kept up a nonchalant front, eyes on the food.

"This tastes amazing too."

Sun-ho took a bite of the kimchi stew and gave a thumbs-up.

Jong-min chimed in that it was delicious.

"Right? Park Jun-woo, you're lucky. A-jin can cook."

Choi Jong-min. That mouth of his.

The mood chilled instantly.

The kids who didn't know about A-jin and Jun-woo—including Jung-hwa—all made faces demanding an explanation.

"A-jin cooks well, so why's Jun-woo the lucky one?"

Jung-hwa asked, and Jong-min scrambled for an excuse.

"Uh... well..."

No good excuse came to mind—sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Jun-woo doesn't eat much at home."

"So?"

"So he mooches meals off friends' houses all the time."

The excuse he scraped together only sparked bigger misunderstandings.

"Jun-woo, you ever been to A-jin's place?"

"For homework?"

Jun-woo forced an awkward smile.

He didn't forget to glare at Jong-min, who'd flapped his gums.

"I've been too. With Cho-hee, since we're close..."

Jong-min tried to back him up but slipped again.

He shoved a huge spoonful of rice into his mouth to shut himself up.

A-jin figured it was inevitable.

They'd have to keep lying at this rate.

She decided to come clean: Jun-woo was her boyfriend.

"Jung-hwa, actually, that's..."

"Hey, why haven't you invited us over?"

But Jung-hwa pouted about not getting invited.

A-jin hadn't expected anyone to buy Jong-min's nonsense.

Then again, who'd imagine a guy like Jun-woo dating her?

"Oh? I was going to, but I've been busy prepping for the contest."

"You've had them over multiple times but not us."

"You all seemed swamped with studying. Come this weekend. I'll make something tasty."

Was it really going over like this?

She was baffled that her lie, full of holes, slid by.

The decent dinner cleared the table—the food vanished, and the kids' bowls were spotless, no washing needed.

But A-jin's bowl was still mostly full of rice.

"Why'd you eat so little?"

Jun-woo sidled up while cleaning and asked.

"Honestly, my stomach's been off since breakfast."

"You sick?"

"Not sick, just kinda bloated. Ate breakfast late and ran right out."

"That's why you should've gotten up earlier. Why always cut it so close?"

He scolded her.

It was nagging, but laced with worry—it didn't grate.

"Got it. I'll wake up earlier."

A-jin promised cutely, eyes crinkling in a smile.

He grumbled like her smile fixed everything, then asked tenderly,

"You take medicine?"

"Yeah, popped a digestive aid earlier. It'll settle soon."

She patted her stomach, telling him not to worry.

He nodded, glanced around, and sneaked a hand to rub her back.

* * *

Her phone had buzzed nonstop since morning.

The seventh call came in, texts over fifty.

All from one person.

Cho-hee turned off her phone until dinner.

Figured he'd tire out and stop.

She turned it back on.

It buzzed wildly, dumping the backlog.

"Is he nuts?"

Cho-hee scowled in annoyance.

She considered reporting him as a stalker, gathering all the calls and texts.

The flood stopped, then a new message seconds later.

His persistence was almost impressive now.

"What a psycho."

Wondering what nonsense he'd sent, she opened it.

Her hands started shaking.

Photos inside.

The ones Min-hyuk had threatened her with.

Seemed harmless at first glance, but spread around school? Plenty of misunderstanding fuel.

Cho-hee dialed Min-hyuk with trembling fingers.

He picked up instantly, like he'd been waiting.

-Had to do this to get you to pick up.

His voice dripped sleaze and pettiness.

Her lips twisted in rage, drawing blood.

"What do you want?"

-Exactly what it looks like. I warned you, you ignored it.

"So you sent the photos. I'm reporting you right now."

-Go ahead. Think I sent them without preparing for that?

"Why are you doing this to me?"

She'd thought it mere bluster.

Regretted ignoring him, hated how he cornered her.

Cho-hee screamed.

-Thought you were smart. Turns out you're dumber than I figured. If you'd just done that one favor, it wouldn't have gone this far.

"You think one post from me fixes your school life?"

-Gotta try.

"Fine. I'll write it. Happy? Should I do it now?"

-Give you ten minutes.

She hung up and hammered out a clarification post on his school forum.

Keys clacked furiously, nearly breaking.

As words defending Min-hyuk filled the screen, her fury toward him etched deeper into her heart.

"You bastard. Pathetic creep."

She spat curses, finishing the post.

Ten minutes up, he called.

"Done?"

-Yeah.

"Delete all my photos. No—in front of me. Don't pull any tricks."

She needed to see the files vanish to relax.

A mocking snicker leaked through the receiver.

-Pulled my tricks already.

"What?"

Her eyebrows twisted unnaturally.

-No way I'm the only one suffering.

"What are you talking about?"

-Too bad to keep that pretty face to myself.

Had he dumped her photos on SNS already?

Her whole body shook.

"So what do you mean? You posted them?"

-Spared Insta out of old times' sake. But your friends should see, right? Like I did?

Friends.

School forum? She rushed to check the site.

No new posts.

Then... the school itself?

Her face drained pale, ashen.

"No way..."

-School starts at 8 these days? Or 7, with early birds?

"You son of a bitch!"

Cho-hee unleashed a torrent of curses.

Then bolted for school.