The intense early summer sunlight streamed in through the window.
The laughter and chatter of students already planning their vacation was filled with anticipation and excitement.
Of course, it wouldn’t last long.
“Alright, pay attention!”
The homeroom teacher burst into the classroom and slammed on the blackboard.
“Hey, Kim Young-chan~ Stop staring at Do-hee and pay attention to me. Your eyes are going to fall out!”
“Yeah, Young-chan. My face is going to wear out!”
“Ah, no way! What the heck, teacher!”
“Of course it’s true. You cheeky little brat, are you giving the teacher attitude right now?!”
“Ah, teacher!”
Laughter erupted all around.
“Just because it’s summer, you lot are falling into youthful nonsense. Do you even realize this isn’t the time for that? The final exam is coming up, you know that, right?”
“We knowww…”
Fatigued voices responded from various corners of the room.
“But look at you, slacking off just because the practical exam is done. Do you know the practical score isn’t everything? Answer me!”
“Uhh…”
“My goodness, look at this. If you guys miss out on your grades, it doesn’t matter how well you perform in practicals, do you understand? Come on, you big dummies. Even in college, they look at English scores a lot, you know? English is essential, essential!”
“Uhh…”
“Oh dear, such a refreshing response. First years have 20% of their grades reflecting their scores, you know? I was going to drop a hint about the questions too.”
“No wayyy!”
“Oh my, only loud at times like this. I’ll give you 5 questions. First, turn to page 85…”
After finishing the briefing, the homeroom teacher turned around.
And as she stepped out of the classroom, she casually pinned a sheet of paper to the bulletin board and shouted.
“Oh, this is your practical exam scores, so take a look and sign it~”
The kids rushed to the front of the classroom in a line.
Then, as they checked their scores, various exclamations erupted.
*
Woo-ah was slumped over my desk, grumbling.
“Do-hee…”
“Yeah…?”
She’s been like this ever since seeing her major practical exam scores.
It feels pointless to say anything; it would just seem like teasing.
“Why is Do-hee’s score perfect… even though you’re busier than us…?”
“Uh, I guess… I just worked hard when I was a kid…?”
“Ha… I hate Korea, this country of preemptive education…”
In frustration, Woo-ah slammed her hands on the desk.
“Yeah, I know too! Most geniuses have been playing the piano since they were 4 or 5! Preemptive education is the answer here!”
“No, Woo-ah… The list! The list says I started piano at 9. It’s not too late, right?”
“…Is that so? No, but Mozart composed a minuet at 5! This is a talent battle, ugh!”
This was the current atmosphere of our class.
Sobs echoed from different corners.
The mood oscillated between depression and mania over practical exam scores.
Going there.
“Ha… I should’ve laid the groundwork myself.”
Honestly, I was considering intentionally lowering my score.
I was worried I might be taking opportunities away from the others.
Since practical exams are ranked against each other like this.
But if I did that, it would feel deceptive or like some superiority complex.
What do I think I am?
So I really thought just doing my best was the right thing…
“Ugh, why is Do-hee even Do-hee?!”
Accepting this is a bit… overwhelming…
*
Seo-yoon slumped on the practice room sofa, slurping her iced Americano through a straw.
“Ah, nice.”
The debonaire title that she had recorded recently with the members was playing in her headphones.
“Music is good.”
Seo-yoon was enjoying the tranquility of this quiet moment.
Especially on a day with no schedule, she felt really relaxed.
Her set daytime routine consisted of English, Japanese lessons, and vocal training.
The rest was up to her discretion.
During such times, Seo-yoon would go to Pilates with Na-eun unni for flexibility or do some warm-up by trying out the latest trending choreography and sometimes went out just to hang around.
“And above all, the best part is…”
Her ears were so at ease.
Because they weren’t around.
Of course, that doesn’t include Woo-ah.
They can’t even be compared.
Chiyo and Do-hee, those annoying brats.
Just then, when she was savoring the good vibes…
The sound of footsteps, which wasn’t too pleasant, pierced her ears.
Seo-yoon looked up to check the time.
“Ha… It’s about time they’d arrive.”
The practice room door opened.
—Tap tap
Do-hee, who had become way more polished than six years ago when they first met, walked in doing their new choreography.
“Back then, she was just pretty and cute… Maybe because we got close… she’s kinda… Sigh.”
“Is it cool? Means it’s kinda cool.”
“Nope. Means it’s kinda ugly.”
“Hmph.”
Putting aside how happy she seemed.
Do-hee’s face was filled with traces of narcissism.
“Must’ve aced some test at school again… Sigh.”
Seo-yoon let out a deep sigh.
What does it matter if she has great skills?
Her behavior is just so foolish.
*
One week later.
Hyun-a was sprawled over my desk, muttering again.
“Ha, finals are the day after tomorrow…”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
I scanned through the exam topics with a calm mindset.
Just another day.
“Do-hee, teach me this.”
“Korean? Ah, yeah, this one is…”
While helping with other friends’ questions occasionally too.
“Hey, am I not catching someone else’s eye right now?”
“Am I dating you?”
“I don’t know, just empathize quickly.”
“Give it to me.”
“Right? Hyun-a must be having a tough time.”
“Wow, really no soul. It’s so. Hard. I can’t empathize at all…”
The sensitivity of a high school girl isn’t easy.
“Sigh… Well, Do-hee is busy with schedules, idol practice, and preparing for exams separately… I guess I chose the wrong person to complain to from the start…”
“No, I get it. I know it’s tough being a student at a performing arts school.”
“Oh, this time you actually sound a bit empathetic?”
“It’s just that I really can relate.”
I’m struggling too.
Honestly, just looking at the performing arts curriculum, it’s busy enough.
Class subjects are one thing.
On top of that, you have competitions, concert performances, and practical exams to handle.
“If I had gone to a practical music program, it would have been a bit more relaxed.”
After all, practical exams are the same as what you usually practice at the company.
Of course, general high school students are probably busy too.
In their free time, it’s all self-study and tutoring.
Wherever you go, high school students are destined to be busy.
“At least I’m not entering any competitions. That’s why I’m a bit more relaxed.”
At that, Hyun-a slammed her head onto the desk again.
“That’s because Do-hee won the grand prize, ugh.”
“How does that even happen…?”
“Sigh, Do-hee herself is a delicate wound to my heart. Such a cheat character…”
Talking with Hyun-a makes me really wonder if I lack empathy.
But then again, I haven’t really empathized with the Seven members or my unnis lately either.
Under the guise of being comfortable, I might have been too harsh on my unnis.
I feel a bit guilty suddenly.
From today onward, I should treat them well.
Really.
*
Do-hee feels strange.
“Ah, sorry. I just messed up the timing. Let’s try that one more time.”
“No, I was practicing alone yesterday and kept messing up that move.”
“Ah, um… okay.”
Na-eun Unni and Woo-ah are just going with it.
“Do-hee, you’re talking so beautifully today~”
“Really?”
“Yep? I’m originally pretty and sweet like my face, you know?”
“Right~ Isn’t that so?”
“Oh, is that so~?”
“…uh.”
Seo-yoon distanced herself from Do-hee during break time.
And in the corner of the practice room, she shoulder-hugged Chiyo while facing the wall.
“Hey, hey… why has she been like that for a while?”
“I don’t know… it’s scary… it’s an unknown existence…”
“Seriously, it’s nauseating. Just scratch her a little, you know. Like shoo-shoo-shoo.”
“I’ve already done that… but she didn’t get mad… something’s off…”
“Ugh, this is serious.”
*
After finishing practice and returning to the dorm, I quickly washed up and sat at my desk.
Then I opened my book.
And I opened the book.
I was busy preparing for the upcoming finals.
Actually, it’s a standard curriculum, so there’s no need for additional studying, but the problem is the second foreign language.
If you’re a Hanseong Arts High School student, you have to decide on your second foreign language class as soon as you enroll.
Typically, dance majors tend to choose French.
Music majors usually pick German.
Because they often study abroad in those fields later on.
Naturally, most students in our class chose German.
But I picked French.
-Qu’est-ce que tu amies?
-Moi, J’aime beaucoup le foot.
It sounds so cool.
After all, it’s not for nothing that French is the common language of the medieval European aristocracy, regardless of whether it’s England, Germany, or France.
Of course, I’m regretting that now.
‘Ugh… I was told German had simpler vocabulary.’
Trying to memorize new words when I’m already crunched for time makes my head feel like it’s going to split.
Despite the fact that I learned it in class.
Even though I took notes, there are still a lot of things I can’t remember.
‘I really haven’t paid attention lately because I’ve been too busy composing…’
Since Latin languages have many words similar to English, I thought it’d be easier to learn… but still, it’s not something you pick up quickly.
‘Ugh… am I really going to miss out on getting a 100 this time?’
—Knock knock
Amidst my rising frustration, a knocking sound broke through.
“Oh, come in.”
Seo-yoon unni entered the room, looking like she was holding in a bathroom emergency.
‘Ugh… what now.’
“Do-hee.”
“What?”
“Did you eat something weird?”
Kim Seo-yoon started the confrontation out of nowhere.
It seems she came to annoy me.
“No, it’s really not that weird.”
I’m already irritated…
But still, a promise to myself.
Empathy towards my unnis.
I decided to speak as kindly as possible.
“It’s not that I ate something wrong, but I guess someone who casually eats anything like you, Seo-yoon Unni, might think that way.”
*
Seo-yoon beamed a satisfactory smile and then left the room.
“Good job, our youngest! Study hard~”
Then she threw an arm around Chiyo again.
“Wow, your words are super annoying. That’s definitely Do-hee.”
“I told you, right? That kind of thing is all just a concept.”
“Definitely a concept.”
“It’s just that you see what you want to see… heh heh.”
Chiyo, laughing happily, is as foolish as Do-hee.
Seo-yoon smiled contentedly again.
*
“Hey, what are you all doing in front of Do-hee’s room?”
“Don’t you know? But it’s been like this for a day or two. If you stick with Chiyo all day, you’ll get used to it fast. You should try it too, Unni.”
“That’s not so easy…”
Na-eun finds it a struggle every day.
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