We trudged down the building stairs and soon arrived at the 4th floor, right below the boarding house. It was the study lounge.
A study lounge is a business that
rents out meeting spaces, typically
used by groups for studying or small
gatherings.
When we opened the door and
entered, we saw Gyeongwon already
talking rapidly to the part-time worker.
"There are six of us, and wel be
working on a PowerPoint presentation,
so we need a room with a projector.
A larger space would be better, and
if possible, one with a microphone as
well. We'll rent it for the whole day."
"just a moment..."
The part-time worker searched for a
room that fit our request.
We crowded behind Gyeongwon, but
he didn't even glance at us.
He seemed pretty upset about how
everyone was dragging their feet since the morning as it was the day before the competition.
"Did you get the room?"
"On it."
Gyeongwon replied curtly to Jinhee's
inquiry.
Jinhee's eyebrow twitched.
Uh, you can use the seminar room
over there. It's 3,000 won per person
per hour, and for drinks, just take a
cup and use the self-serve bar there.
As for the fee, since our business hours are open until 11 p.m. multiplying the Usage time by that rate..."
It was 3,000 won per person per hour,
so with 6 people, that would be 18,000
won per hour.
If we multiply that by the total 15 hours
from now, 8 a.m., until closing time at
11 p.m., what will the total cost be?
"...It ll be 270,000 won, l help you
process the payment."
"Here."
As I reached out from behind and
handed over the money, Gyeongwon
took a step to the side.
"Thank you. Please follow me this way."
We soon followed the part-time worker guiding us to the room.
Gyeongwon seemed to be acting
sensitive since mnorning, so everyone
was cautiously watching each other's
reactions.
In this uncomfortable atmosphere, we
entered the seminar room. The room
was quite spacious, and the part-time
worker who entered first turned on the
lights for us.
"This is the room. It's usually used
for seminars, but since there are no
reservations today and youll be using
it all day, it should be fine for you to use it for your purpose."
"..Wow."
"Such a big room...."
The club members looked around the
spacious seminar room in awe.
There was a podium at the front for
presentations, and 30 chairs were
arranged neatly, presumably for the
audience.
"This is about the same size as a music room where competitions can be held, isn't it?"
"Are you sure it's okay to give us such a big room....?"
When Sunah and I asked with hesitant
expressions, the part-time worker
smiled while untangling the coiled
cables at the front of the room.
"You've paid in advance for the whole
day, from our opening to closing, after
all. Could you pass me the laptop for
the PPT presentation? I'll connect it to
the projector for you."
"here."
Soon, Gyeongwon handed over his
laptop, and the part-time worker
connected the cables and confirmed
that the screen displayed the image.
After showing us how to use the air
conditioner and other things, the
part-time worker left, and we bowed in thanks as he walked away.
"Thank you."
"Thank you..."
Click-
This is amazing."
As soon as the part-time worker left,
the club members looked around the
spacious room again, exclaiming in
awe.
"Wow, I can see everything from up
here....
"How is this room so big? Doesn't it feel
kind of empty with just us in here?"
Sunah hopped over to the window and looked outside, while Jinhee started fiddling with things, grabbing the microphone and touching various
props.
Hayoon also walked to the center of the room, crossed her arms, and glanced around.
I, too, was wandering around, thinking
it really was big, when suddenly, I
heard a sigh.
"Is everyone here just to have fun or
what..."
At that moment, my gaze quickly
shifted over to Gyeongwon.
Gyeongwon was tapping on the
keyboard with a stern face, setting
something up.
'That guy's been so on edge since
morning.'
I wanted to refute but held back
for now, while the club members,
seemingly unaware of his muttering,
kept wandering around the room and
giggling to themselves.
"Joon, look at the view over here, the
view...."
"Hey, but it's kind of scary since it's so
big."
Hayoon also gently brushed the dust
off the chair with her palm.
Among them, I stood with my arms
crossed, humming thoughtfully while
keeping an eye on Gyeongwon, who
seemed on edge.
"Joon, the people down there look so
tiny... I feel like we could even sing in
here...."
"What are you doing? Do you want
some wet wipes? Want me to grab
Some for you?"
"No, it's okay. I'll get it myself."
"Joon, over there...."
"Wow~ there are two mics here. When
the otaku shows up late, let's make him sing a song as punishment."
"Joon, over here..."
Sunah called out to me while bouncing on her toes in front of the window.
Jinhee tested the mic, letting out an
"Ah-" sound.
Hayoon lightly tapped the dust off the
chair she planned to sit on.
"Can you guys cut it out already?"
At that moment, Gyeongwon's sharp
voice called out to us.
When we turned around, we saw
him typing quickly over the laptop
keyboard.
The club members looked at him with
puzzled expressions.
"Have you planned not to prepare for
the competition? Are you just going to
keep messing around?"
Gyeongwon, wearing a stern
expression, continued typing
impatiently.
He seemned to be trying to show that he was angry, but the club members just looked at him in puzzlement, as if not understanding what he was trying to say.
Jinhee narrowed her eyes in confusion.
"..Why have you been so pissed off
since earlier?"
"We have to prepare for the
competition. For the competition."
The guy said with a frown, his hands
still typing.
"Aren't you going to do it? Did you just
come here to mess around?"
"Is this how people who have a
competition tomorrow should be
acting? Seriously?"
His tone was authoritative and
scolding, but Jinhee just let out a scoff,
clearly unimpressed.
"What are you saying? Why are you
speaking that way?"
"So it's my way of speaking that
maters to you, my way of speaking."
Gyeongwon kept typing on his laptop,
eyes still fixed on the screen as he
spoke.
Seeing him, I couldn't help but wonder
why people who get angry for the
weirdest reason always avoid looking
others in the eye.
There Wwas just no respect for others.
A moment of silence .
At first, Jinhee thought he was just
joking around and waited fora
response. But when he said nothing
and just continued typing with a stern
expression, she gradually began to
grow serious too.
After the uncomfortable silence, Jinhee spoke again.
"..Uh, sorry. For messing around."
"But aren't we going to have breakfast?
Aren't we supposed to wait for the
otaku?"
"Can't we look around in the
meantime?"
Gyeongwon remnained focused on
his laptop, his fingers flying on the
keyboard.
"That's not it. That's not it."
Gyeongwon muttered and nodded to
his own question.
"Since we've already gathered, we
should quickly get something done.
That's how it should be, right?"
Without even looking at anyone, he
continued typing harder as if to show
his annoyance.
At his strangely accusing tone, the
club members showed expressions of
bewilderment.
"For real...."
Finally, Jinhee, now pissed off, dragged a chair over with a screech and plopped down with a strained laugh.
"Fine. Let's do it. Let's f**king get
started"
Her tone wasn't of someone genuinely
agreeing, more like she couldn't care
less whatever the hell anyone did.
Soon, Gyeongwon gestured with his
chin to Sunah by the window and
Hayoon in the middle.
"Yoon Sunah, sit down. In Hayoon, you
too."
Sunah stared blankly at me.
She pursed her lips, her face hesitant,
as if trying to say something.
['Im hungry, Joon...]
Hayoon stood quietly in the middle,
arms crossed.
Silence fell once again.
Gyeongwon was fiddling with his
laptop up front, Jinhee was sitting in
her chair in a crooked position.
Sunah was hesitantly looking at me,
and Hayoon just stood quietly in the
middle.
In such a stiff atmosnhere Gyeongwon
after fiddling with his laptop for a
while, spoke again while still keeping
his gaze fixed on the screen.
"Why isn't everyone sitting down?"
Then, as if she'd been waiting, Hayoon
lifted her chin and replied.
"When you say things like that, isn't
it polite to at least look people in the
eye?"
"Did you learn this from your parents?
Your way of getting angry?"
Gyeongwon continued to fiddle with
the laptop.
Now I understand, he was just
pretending to be busy on purpose.
Soon, his face began to grow
increasingly red.
A heavy silence settled between us
once again.
I was watching, unsure of how things
would unfold, when suddenly, the
seminar room door opened.
Click-
"OWO~ Sorry for being late~"
"...."
"..."
The atmosphere grew heavier.
Dukhun, who had just opened the door and walked in, flinched in surprise.
"...0i, what's with the atmosphere in
here?"
"..."
"...."
No one answered him.
....
After a moment standing in the tense
atmosphere, Dukhun quietly closed
the door behind him and scratched his head.
"What happened you guys-?"
"..."
"...."
When no one answered again, he just
stood by the door, awkwardly reading
the room.
Then he shuffled a bit and looked
around.
"..Has everyone had breakfast?"
"....."
"....."
"If you haven't, why don't we start
heading out soon..."
"Are you crazy?"
GveongWon's voice echoed quietly through the room.
"Is that something someone late says?
Suggesting we go eat now?"
At those words, Dukhun's expression
immediately darkened.
"...Hey. What's with that attitude?
You're the ones who didn't answer me."
"Apologize, Ahn Gyeongwon."
Bang!!
Gyeongwon suddenly slammed the
desk and stood up.
"Who the hell are you telling to
apologize right now!!! Are you out of
your mind!!?"
"...?"
Dukhun stared at Gyeongwon,
bewildered by the sudden outburst.
Gyeongwon's face flushed red as he let out another shrill yell.
"What are you, what are you really
doing, everyone! Seriously, not a
single person here who meets my
expectations!!! Am I the only one
struggling? Am I the only one actually
working here?"
"...No need to shout like that."
"Hey!!! Does it look like I have any
choice but to shout right now?!!"
Gyeongwon screamed, spitting out
saliva as if he couldn't stand it any
longer, even his glasses shook violently.
"We've been preparing for this
competition for days, and you still fell
asleep after waking up and showed
up late! Has your brain gotten fat with
your body!? Is your head too heavy
to think or what!? The competition is
tomorrow, TOMORROW!"
".oi. Don't make personal attacks."
T/N : Gyeongwon chill...
Dukhun glared back at Gyeongwon
with an equally stern expression.
"Especially about someone's weight."
"Shut up!! The problem is what you're
doing right now, that's the problem!"
"..Don't yell. And for your information,
I went back to sleep because I wasn't
feeling well today. Suggesting we go
have breakfast was just me trying
to lighten the mood since you guys
seemed in a bad mood."
YAAAAAAAH~!~ļ!!!! For the love
of god, just stop already! You went back to sleep because you weren't feeling well!? Because you weren't feeling well!?"
It seemed Gyeongwon had been
holding in a lot, as he let out a piercing
scream and even began trembling
uncontrollably.
"Yesterday, you were late because
you were babysitting your little sister.
The day before that, you accidentally
overslept. And the day before that,
your alarm didn't go off. Huh? Huh?
Huh???"
"...."
"But why are you never late for
school!! Why are you never late for
school!!! You overslept on purpose!!
You did it on purpose!!!"
Even as Gyeongwon screamed
hysterically, Dukhun just stood still and
watched him.
"..Sorry that it's hard for me to wake
up in the morning. I've gained quite
a bit of weight. But you should also
apologize for getting angry, yelling, and making personal attacks. Personally, I don't think I did anything wrong to deserve hearing that from you."
"AAAAHH! You're the one who should
apologize!!! You're the one who should
apologize!!!" Finally, Gyeongwon couldn't take it anymore and ran towards Dukhun.
"You're crazy!!! Crazy b*stard!!! You're
out of your mind!!! You crazy p*nk!!!"
He started pounding on Dukhun's
stomach who was still standing at the
entrance.
Dukhun just stared blankly at
Gyeongwon, not even flinching.
"..Are you serious, four-eyed? Seems
like you're looking down on me
because I'm fat. If it were Jinhee who
was late, you definitely wouldn't have
yelled like this."
"You crazy b*stard!!! You crazy
b*stard!!!' You crazy b*stard!!! You
crazy b*stard!!!"
Gyeongwon violently pounded on
Dukhun's chest, while Dukhun stood
his ground without wavering, his
expression gradually distorting.
I let out a sigh and walked over to the
two of them.
"That's enough. Stop it, Gyeongwon.
Come Over here."
"This son of a b*tch, this crazy b*stard,
what a joke, am I the joke...."
"Ahn Gyeongwon! I said stop!"
Now even Dukhun's face seemed
twisted in anger.
"Oi, take it easy. When I get angry,
I'm the type who has a hard time
controlling myself rationally, you
know? I'm asking you politely, so
apologize for cursing at me."
"You should be the one apologizing you should be the one apologizing, ahhh-!!!!! You son of a b*tch, you crazy b*stard, you pig b*stard.."
"Excuse me, 'pig b*stard?' I'm sorry, but
has this bespectacled anchovy b*stard lost his mind? Do I look like a pushover just because I'm staying quiet?"
It seemed Dukhun was genuinely
pissed off, as he expressed his anger in the otaku's characteristic polite speech.
" is your mouth garage can? Suddenly curse and scream? Are you lost your mind?, Can't you control your emotions?? Why are you being like this for no reason.
"damn it both of you stop,hey jinhee come and help me out!!"
Feeling like it was too much to
handle alone, I called Jinhee, but the
delinquent girl just rested her chin on
her hand and frowned.
"Why should I? It's a fact that the otaku
was late, isn't it?"
"But it's the day before the competition, you guys shouldn't be fighting. Hurry up!"
Only then did Jinhee finally pout and
slowly walked over, half-heartedly
trying to stop them.
"Hey~ Stop it~ Stop fighting~"
It seemed like Gyeongwon's snarky
attitude earlier still rubbed her the
wrong way, she clearly did not seem to have the intention of stopping the fight.
"Excuse me. Let me say this again, I'm
not an otaku, I'm a normal person just
like you guys. If you keep insulting
me like this, I can seriously consider
pressing charges for defamation, you
know?"
"Hey, you pig b*stard!! Why do you
always do that!!! Why won't you
cooperate, why do you only care for
your own comfort!!"
"Take it easy, you should know I have a
nasty tamper to0, So I'd appreciate it if
you wouldn't mess with me. Seriously,
I can't believe I'm having to deal with
this crap here..."
"Heeyyy~ Stop fighting- Don't fight-"
Gyeongwon was hysterically losing his
mind, while Dukhun, looking like he
was about to unleash a black dragon
flame or something, kept speaking in
polite honorifics.
And Jinhee was just lazily waving
her hand around standing between
the two. I walked up and grabbed
Gyeongwon by the shoulders and
shook him, then quickly turned my
head to call for Sunah and Hayoon.
Sunah had a terrified look on her
face...and Hayoon's expression
seemed to read 'I'm holding back my
laughter'
Laughing..?
As if she hadn't been the one suffering
from low blood pressure that morning,
she let out a small pfft and started
laughing.
What the hell.
At that moment, a surge of anger shot
through me.
I was the one struggling to hold
Gyeongwon back, trying to stop them
from fighting, and she was laughing
in this whole mess. Was I seriously the
only one worried the club might fall
apart?
"..F**k this, I seriously can't do this
club president sh*t anymore. Do
whatever you want, fight or don't
fight."
I backed off and left them to it. Just like Jinhee, Hayoon, and honestly, everyone else seemed to want.
The moment I released my grip on
Gyeongwon's shoulders, he lunged
straight at Dukhun.
He started throwing punches again,
huffing and puffing, but Dukhun didn't
even flinch or felt the pain because of
his fat body.
In the middle of their argument,
Dukhun got angry and shoved
Gyeongwon witha smack, who was
sent flying and sliding across the floor.
"Apologize."
"You apologize! You apologize! You
apologize! You apologize!"
"Apologize, now."
Gyeongwon continued to lunge at him, his face flushed red as he kept shouting over and over, while Dukhun stood his ground with a stern expression and demanded an apology, pushing him back every time he lunged at him without budging an inch.
" let go Sunah, let go to eat "
"um.. ok.."
Looking a bit afraid, Sunah flinched
but came over to me.
Soon, she came to my side and
whispered with a worried look on her
face.
"..A-Are you sure we shouldn't stop
them..?"
"I don't know. Doesn't seem like anyone wants to, anyway."
Sunah pressed her lips together and
looked away.
Jinhee was still standing next to
Dukhun, demonstrating how to punch
as she said "Hey, you should throw
your fists like this', while Hayoon was
staring at me with an expressionless
face.
Our eyes met, and for a moment, we
just stared at each other. I was the first
to speak.
"Hayoon. Why were you laughing
earlier?"
Hayoon looked at me for a moment,
then tilted her head slightly.
She opened her mouth, as if showing
off her beautiful jawline.
"Just. I found it funny."
"...You think it's funny when friends
fight?"
"Sorry, Joon. I apologize."
She smiled softly at my reaction,
brushing her hair back with a light,
breezy motion.
"But you have to admit it's always
funny. Nothing's more hilarious than
watching kids fight."
Next to her, the bespectacled twig and
the piggy otaku kept hurling insults at
each other, while the delinquent girl
instigated the fight.
Watching the two losers, faces flushed
and huffing with rage as they fought,
she actually thought it was funny and
laughed.
"..Ugh, fu*k, seriously? Why the hell do
I feel like laughing right now....."
Gyeongwon let out a shrill screech of
Kyaaaaah, his voice even cracked at
the end. For a moment, the corners of
my mouth twitched. But I barely held it
in, clinging to what little dignity I had
left as the club president, and also as a human being.
".. In this serious situation, it's wrong
to laugh just because it's funny.
In Hayoon, you should reflect on
yourself."
"Actually, you feel like laughing too,
Joon, don't you?"
Hayoon looked at me witha gentle
smile.
"If you don't laugh now, you'll regret
it later when youre home. You'll think
you should've just laughed back then,
even if you remember it later, it will
not be funny anymore."
"Crazy p*nk crazy p*nk crazy p*nk
crazy p*nk!!!!!!"
"I can't hear you Mr. f*cking b*stard a
twing a colon a garbage cana prostate breaker an anal disease—"
The funniest fight in the world is a fight
between two nerds.
I bit down on my lip, barely managing
to stop the corners of my mouth from
twitching upward again.
"...That's not true at all, Hayoon. It's not
funny even a little. You really need to
reflect on yourself."
"Oh my, Joon..."
At my words, Hayoon gave a soft smile, narrowing her eyes gently.
She lowered her pretty evelashes softly.
"Why are you like this? Just laugh a
little,"
"When you're really close, you laugh.
It's the ones who aren't close that try to stop the fight."
Her soft voice, that strange and
incomprehensible way of thinking, for
some reason, seemed to captivate me, and my heart skipped a beat.
I forced myself to ignore it, holding on
to my dignity as the club president, and nodded toward Sunah.
"Let's go, Sunah, Time to eat."
"Uh, huh..."
Leaving the chaotic room behind like
that, Sunah and I went out together to
have breakfast.
Hayoon's blank lingering gaze stayed
fixed on my back, until the moment I
stepped out of the room.