"Is she mute?" Ms. Ga-young questioned abruptly.
"L-Lee Soo-ji," Soo-ji managed to say.
"The three of you, come out and solve this equation." There was no room for argument in her tone.
At that moment, Soo-ji realized she should have taken mathematics seriously when she had the chance. She was finished. Completely finished. Her entire aura? Gone.
She stood up slowly.
Bo-ram gestured to her with a small smile. "Good luck."
At the front of the class, the three of them stood in a row. Ms. Ga-young smirked slightly as she wrote the equation on the board.
"One minute," she said, dividing the board into three sections. "Start."
What the hell is this? Is this even a real equation? How do I even begin? Oh my God, I'm so dead… Heavenly Father, I know I haven't been the best, but if you do this for me, I'll be the best daughter ever, I promise. I'll go to church every day. Please! just do something…
Soo-ji stood frozen, eyes shut, marker unmoving in her hand.
Ms. Ga-young raised a brow.
"Done!" Yoo-na announced confidently.
"Done!" Joon-seok followed right after.
Ms. Ga-young glanced at their solutions, then spoke. "You may all return to your seats. New girl, meet me immediately after class."
Soo-ji's gaze stayed glued to the floor as she walked back to her seat at the back of the middle row.
"It's fine, you did well," Bo-ram whispered, squeezing her hand.
"I'm doomed," Soo-ji muttered.
After what felt like seventy-two hours, the class finally ended. Ms. Ga-young packed her things, then turned before leaving.
"New girl, come with me."
Soo-ji dragged herself forward and followed her to the staff room.
Ms. Ga-young sat down and exhaled. "What did you get in math in your last mock test?"
"What?" Soo-ji blurted.
"I asked what you got in math in your last mock test."
"But… Ms. , I wasn't here then," Soo-ji said carefully.
"Are you implying I'm dumb?"
"No!"
"Did you transfer here from Mars or from another school?"
"It was… it was th-three points," Soo-ji admitted, eyes fixed on the ground.
"Three? Three? How did you even get to final year?"
"Sorry to interrupt, Ms. Ga-young, but can I see you briefly?" Mr. Moon cut in with a smile before things escalated further.
Ms. Ga-young shot Soo-ji a glare. "I will see you next class."
Soo-ji bowed respectfully and walked out.
"I'm doomed… I'm so doomed…" she kept repeating as she walked down the hallway, staring at the floor, shuffling her feet.
Then, like something straight out of a lousy drama, she tripped over absolutely nothing.
Her legs tangled, sending her forward, but before she could kiss the ground, she felt herself being pulled back.
Floating.
"Are you alright?" a deep, calm voice asked from behind her.
He gently set her back on her feet and moved to stand in front of her.
Soo-ji slowly lifted her gaze and froze.
He looked like art. Like someone sculpted him with care, sharp features, soft hair falling perfectly across his forehead, veins visible along his forearm from catching her.
Her heart pounded loudly in her chest.
She went mute. Completely mute.
It was like those drama scenes where flowers and soft light appear around the male lead.
"Good morning, Mr. Hae-in!" voices of passing students rang out behind her, snapping her back to reality.
He waved with a smile.
Another hit. Her heart could barely survive the first one, now this?
"Are you alright?" he asked again, leaning slightly closer to see her face.
Another blow. She had completely forgotten about her humiliation in class.
She nodded slowly.
"Be careful next time so you don't get hurt, okay?" His voice washed over her like a wave of emotions.
She nodded again.
He smiled and walked away.
Soo-ji placed a hand over her chest.
"Maybe this wasn't a bad idea after all…" she whispered, smiling to herself while internally screaming.