Everyday life, just like always.
In the seemingly unchanging day-to-day, surprisingly, there was something that had changed.
At first glance, the life didn’t seem much different from first grade, but entering second grade, the atmosphere in the school had quite transformed.
Up to elementary and first year middle school, there was a hopeful vibe like “Find your dreams!” but once we hit second grade, it was back to the dull, repetitive rote learning I remembered from before.
“Underline this because it’s important, remember it because it’ll be on the test.”
For kids who never had much interest in studying, this was the start of quietly slipping away from studying.
…Of course, I was included in the group of “kids who weren’t interested in studying.”
In first grade, I would readily answer whatever was asked of me.
But now, in second grade, I consistently respond with “I don’t know.”
Seo Hyun, who remembered my first-grade self, would point this out during breaks.
“Mari, you were definitely good at studying, right?”
“The me from first grade is dead.”
When someone suddenly pointed out my plummeting study abilities, that was all I could say in response.
As soon as I finished first-year studies, which made some sense, I was practically free from the chains of studying.
Free, shall we say? More like I had swallowed it down and spat it out.
When I displayed a casual disinterest in studying, Seo Hyun and tilted her head, looking puzzled.
“Don’t your mom or dad say anything?”
“Hmm.”
I lightly affirmed that my parents didn’t say anything in response to that question.
Parents, who meddle the most in students’ study habits after teachers.
Those students sitting diligently solving worksheets right now were undoubtedly influenced by their parents’ commands or their expectations.
I didn’t need to tell Seo Hyun that I had no parents.
Tae Hyun, well, he used to come over often, so I figured it was fine to inform him.
Hearing my nonchalant answer, Seo Hyun released a long sigh and continued her complaints about studying.
“Ah… I’m so envious. If I bomb this exam, my mom won’t get me a new phone.”
“Isn’t there no need to change it unless it’s broken?”
“Wow, did you just sound like my dad?”
When I asked if there was really any need to change her phone other than that it wasn’t broken, Seo Hyun looked shocked, thinking I sounded just like her dad.
Then she started explaining the reasons and necessities for wanting to change her phone…
“All my friends are switching to the latest phone that just came out, so I asked my mom for a new one…”
Just laying out the facts—she wanted to change because everyone else was changing.
Comparing herself to her friends, I was the only one with an old model.
In other words, she didn’t want to fall behind in trends and wanted a new phone.
Such is the logic of middle schoolers.
They say, “Follow the crowd,” but she seemed intent on milking her parents dry while following her friends.
I wondered what the connection was between trends and the newest smartphone, but apparently, such psychology exists in the world.
…Is it similar to how a few years back, friends wore that Maker padding together?
Trying to shove my own logic into the mix would only lead to conflict.
I lightly empathized with the issue while slyly asking about the necessary items for her goal of a new phone.
“How many points do you need to pass?”
“They say you need more than 70 in each subject… Ugh, I really hate this.”
The requirements were a 70 in all subjects, while Seo Hyun dropped her head and slapped it against someone else’s desk.
Seventy points isn’t really that high of a target, considering it might be the first test.
Given that it’s the first test, her parents probably didn’t set the hurdle too high.
What’s this? Turns out she has reasonably rational parents.
I thought they might demand perfect scores of 95 or that she be first in her class.
“What are you talking about?”
“About changing phones. Seo Hyun is getting a new phone.”
Just then, Siyeon returned from the restroom.
She wandered in, opening the back door, standing behind a chair, and placing her hands on both shoulders.
Did she wash her hands well? I could feel a slight dampness seeping from her shoulders.
In second grade, our little group was three.
The topic about smartphones was relatable enough for Siyeon as she showed interest in Seo Hyun’s plan.
“Phone? What are you changing it to?”
“I’m not there yet, I have to get through midterms first…”
“Pass?”
Seo Hyun couldn’t hide her disappointment, while Siyeon, who hadn’t heard the previous conversation, asked curiously.
To help Siyeon understand the situation, I briefly summarized the details regarding Seo Hyun’s predicament.
“They said you have to score over 70 in all subjects to get a new phone.”
“Ah~”
“You guys are lucky, your parents don’t make you study.”
Beyond Siyeon’s sigh of understanding, the mention of parents hit like a bolt.
She seemed momentarily stunned but quickly straightened her back, recalling our previous agreement.
“Not jealous-!”
Except for friends who can come to my house, acting like you have parents at all.
There’s no need to brag about it, and in student status, the element of being ‘different from others’ can be a point of attack.
In exchange, I won’t receive any special treatment, but that part actually gives me peace of mind.
Siyeon isn’t some poor, pitiful kid who needs special consideration.
She’s just an ordinary second-year middle school girl.
That’s all there is to it.
“I wonder when the weather will warm up….”
As I walked home after school, I mused aloud.
Despite the bright sunlight, the high temperature was only 10 degrees.
The lows at night or early morning were 2 degrees.
Mart stores and convenience stores are slowly marketing cherry blossoms, yet it feels like everything is still frozen solid.
Isn’t this winter weather in the spring dates and summer weather in autumn?
Faced with the time lag between the dates and weather, I buried my face in the collar of my coat.
I wonder when I can hang the laundry out on the balcony.
“Tomorrow’s high will be 3 degrees too.”
“Really, I hate this so much.”
Siyeon fiddled with her smartphone, searching for tomorrow’s weather.
She grimaced at the one-sided notification that it would be similar weather again, stuffing her complaints into a few short sentences.
With my hands tucked tightly in my pockets, I hunched my shoulders and turned to head home.
Maybe I should just go back, burrow into bed, and play games.
That was how another ordinary day was going to unfold.
“Going home?”
“Hmm? Tae Ha.”
Tae Hyun’s voice rang out, surprising me. He just popped up behind me, chatting casually like he was blending back into the cycle of my everyday life.
He didn’t seem to have anyone else with him today, walking in a way reminiscent of a first grader’s after-school routine.
Seeing a familiar face was refreshing, even if we were in the same apartment.
Then it was my turn, and Siyeon greeted him.
“Tae Hyun, it’s been a while!”
“Yeah, it has. What class are you two in again?”
“Did you forget again? Class 8. What about the others?”
Responding to Tae Hyun’s question about which class we were in, I teased him about forgetting while telling him the answer but then glanced around for the other guys we used to hang out with after school.
Our groups were completely separated into girls and boys now that we’ve entered second grade.
Tae Hyun seemed to catch on to who I was referring to when I said “the others,” keeping his gaze straightforward as he answered.
“Probably either at home or the PC bang; I have to go to the academy…”
As he spoke, he subtly increased the distance between us.
For some reason, he felt a bit more physically distant than in first grade.
Just as I stealthily stepped a little closer, he took a step back as well.
That subtle distance left me puzzled, and our distance was maintained even in the elevator.
After we got home, Siyeon began preparing to head out to her academy.
With the academy times adjusted to fit middle school, she had a little time to hang around the house.
“Be back soon.”
“Yeah~”
With a click, the front door closed, leaving silence in the house.
In a mood where there weren’t many household chores left to do, I fiddled with my smartphone.
Before starting a game app, I instinctively opened the messenger app to check the chats.
Game updates and buzz about the director’s parents or gossip about someone getting blocked for posting naughty photos.
After checking the messages, I glanced at the long-unused one-on-one chat that had been sitting at the bottom.
There was Tae Hyun’s name along with a slightly different profile picture.
I questioned why he seemed to be avoiding me and sent a message to the months-old chat.
[Why are you avoiding me?]
After sending that short message, I closed the chat and opened the game app.
Since it had been a while since this chat was used, maybe that’s why I didn’t get a response while playing three rounds of my roguelike game.
Just as I was about to start my fourth game, a series of round messages popped up on the screen.
[Classmates]
[With the kids]
[If they see you]
[Hanging out with a girl]
[It’s a hassle to explain…]
Hitting the home button and returning to the messenger app, I found an understandable reason for why he was avoiding me.
A girl I had been close with in first grade but was now in another class, and a group of boys who always hung out during breaks.
If I had to pick the important side of current school life excluding gender, it would certainly be the latter.
If I were in that situation, I might have made a similar choice.
[LOL]
[OK, OK]
[I get what you mean]
Messages filled with small acknowledgments that seemed considerate enough to not offend me.
After casually replying to Tae Hyun’s messages, I began the fourth round of the game that had just been interrupted.
And that evening, with just a few words from Siyeon at the dinner table, a slight change appeared in our daily life.
“I think I’m done with art academy.”
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