Unrequited Love Thresher-Chapter 47: Why Are You Here

“100 points?!”

Someone’s shout made everyone simultaneously turn to look at Ha Giyeon.

Even Ha Giyeon himself was more surprised than the others. He pushed his way through the crowd to check the grade sheet. Just like they said, the score sheet showed only one three-digit number.

It read: 100.

When he’d checked his written answers, the teacher had hesitated a bit because of how he # Nоvеlight # solved the problems. He didn’t think they’d actually acknowledge it as correct. He had other subjects where he’d gotten perfect scores, but getting a 100 in a subject he never even dreamed of—it was no wonder he was shocked.

“Wow, Giyeon’s good at studying too?”

“Come on, how could he not be? He’s always solving workbooks during break time.”

“Just look at him. Of course he’s good. He’s got everything, seriously.”

The kids in the class made a fuss over Ha Giyeon. Sure, it might seem like an overreaction, but he was the only one who got a perfect score. Even beating out Nam Taekyung, who consistently held the number one spot in the whole grade.

Nam Taekyung had gotten 99.

Staring at his own score in disbelief, Nam Taekyung gritted his teeth. Just a one-point difference. He thought the teacher would accept his solution as correct like always, but that assumption had been his mistake.

Nam Taekyung went straight to the math teacher and argued about his score. But the teacher explained that there was a mistake in the solution process and gave him a consoling pat on the shoulder.

“Don’t be too disappointed. People make mistakes when they’re nervous.”

A mistake? I made a mistake?

As the teacher looked at him with a pitying gaze, Nam Taekyung walked out of the teacher’s office with flushed eyes. He couldn’t accept it. How could someone like him, who always topped every subject, lose? And not even to the usual runner-up, but to Ha Giyeon of all people...

And in math—his strongest subject.

Nam Taekyung clenched his fists so tightly they seemed like they might burst and bit his lip as he stormed back to the classroom. Inside, Ha Giyeon was surrounded by classmates.

Seeing that made Nam Taekyung feel like all the blood in his body was rushing to his head. That spot should have been his. The attention, the praise, the admiration—all of it.

But Ha Giyeon had taken it.

“Giyeon, what hagwon do you go to?”

“What workbook do you use?”

“Do you take private tutoring?”

Everyone scrambled to throw questions at him, and Giyeon turned his head back and forth, flustered.

The kids who were usually top scorers swarmed him, trying to find out how he studied. Just up until the entrance ceremony, they’d been doing the exact same thing to Nam Taekyung.

Even though Nam Taekyung still had higher scores in other subjects, just one perfect score in math was enough to bring even the uninterested ones crowding around Giyeon.

“I don’t go to hagwon or get tutored. I just watch lectures and solve workbooks.”

“No way, really?”

“How could you get that score just doing that...”

The top students stared at Giyeon in disbelief. All of them went to multiple hagwons and had at least one tutor. Since Giyeon came from a rich family, they naturally assumed he was doing both. But just lectures? Workbooks?

What was this—some textbook-based miracle method?

“Aww, Giyeon! You should’ve told us. That’s not fair,”

Just then, Nam Taekyung suddenly hugged him from behind and whined with a pout.

Nam Taekyung didn’t actually care whether Giyeon had tutors or not. He was already convinced Giyeon must be pouring money into studying. Otherwise, how could he, without any outside help, beat someone like Nam Taekyung who was juggling both hagwon and private tutoring?

Giyeon’s family had money, so they probably had several elite tutors. Of course he’d score higher. Besides, Taekyung still had the upper hand in the other subjects.

He consoled himself that way.

“Wait... so that’s all it was?”

“Geez, starting to act all competitive already...”

The mood in the room began to shift. It was just too unbelievable that a rich kid like Giyeon wasn’t using any tutors.

In the blink of an eye, Giyeon became the petty type who lied about his study method to keep his edge. But Giyeon gave up on trying to explain. Even if he said something, they wouldn’t believe him. What was the point?

He was still happy about his score. That was all that mattered. Ignoring the others, he packed his bag.

The period had ended, and now there was only club time left.

Nam Taekyung stuck to him like glue even then, chattering about private tutors.

“If we have the same tutor, we could take lessons together and help each other out.”

“...”

“You’re seriously not going to tell me? That hurts, Giyeon.”

“C’mon, just give it a rest. He doesn’t want to tell a rival.”

“What’s the big deal? It’s not like it costs anything to say. Why be such a stingy jerk...”

Giyeon finally stood up with his bag, turning to face them. When his emotionless gaze locked onto them, Taekyung and his friends averted their eyes like they’d been caught.

They always mumbled crap behind his back, but the moment he faced them, they cowered. Because of his family. Because of his brothers.

“Giyeon, you’re not mad, right? They were just kidding.”

“Yeah. No need to glare like that. It makes you look petty.”

But Giyeon wasn’t even glaring. He was just thinking.

How could he shut Taekyung up about the tutor thing?

“Then ask Dohoon-hyung.”

“Huh...?”

Taekyung would eventually get close to his brothers through the club just like in the past. If he was going to cling anyway, better to redirect him.

“You’ll meet in the same club, right? Jongseok-hyung will be there too.”

Giyeon waved a hand dismissively and walked out of the classroom.

Left alone, Nam Taekyung repeated his words and slowly curled his lips into a satisfied smile.

So he’s finally handing me the opportunity.

Guess dragging along all these loser classmates worked out. They wore him down. He finally gave in.

“Tch, what was the point of being all secretive just to drop it like that?”

“Seriously. Who even talks to those upperclassmen?”

“Feels more like he’s telling you not to ask.”

“It’s fine. I’ll ask Jongseok-sunbae.”

Since Jongseok was the one who invited him to the club in the first place, he wouldn’t ignore him like Dohoon did. Smiling brighter than ever, Nam Taekyung confidently made his way to the club room.

***

The debate club met in a classroom styled like a college lecture hall. Since the club advisor—who was also the head of the academic affairs department—was always busy, most of the time was left to the students, and actual debate sessions were rare.

At first, the laid-back atmosphere attracted a lot of people who wanted to join. But once Ha Dohoon and his friends entered, the vibe changed. The so-called "iljin" types started joining just to cozy up to Dohoon and show off.

Nam Taekyung was one of them, of course—but his intentions were a little different. It wasn’t just about becoming friends or getting close. He wanted to stand at Dohoon’s side. He wanted to be someone Dohoon would notice.

“Oh? Taekyung! You came too?”

“Yeah, hey.”

As soon as he entered the clubroom, some guy from another class greeted him familiarly. Taekyung gave a small wave, then started scanning the room for Ha Dohoon.

‘The third-years aren’t here yet?’

The seats in the back—the ones clearly set aside for third-years—were all still empty. Taekyung sat in the closest spot to those seats he could find. Naturally, other first-years who knew him started gathering around.

It was annoying how everyone wanted to talk now when they used to just ignore him—but Nam Taekyung smiled politely and greeted them anyway.

“Hey, hey, move.”

That’s when a group of second-years approached and shoved the first-years aside to get to Taekyung.

“What the hell? You some kind of celebrity or something? Everyone knows who you are.”

“Hello, sunbae.”

“Oh, right! You’re the kid who did the entrance ceremony speech.”

Taekyung gave them a deep bow with a polite smile. The second-years seemed to like that, and they started paying attention to him. Their tone was a little condescending, but he didn’t care. In fact, it kind of made him feel good—like he was someone who couldn’t help standing out.

“Hey, do you guys know which class Ha Dohoon’s brother is in?”

“Oh, that kid’s in our class.”

“Which class are you in?”

The attention was nice while it lasted, but once someone brought up Ha Giyeon, irritation bubbled up in Nam Taekyung’s chest.

Before he could respond, Kim Joonseung—standing beside him—opened his mouth to speak.

That’s when it happened.

Creeeak—the front door opened and in walked Ha Dohoon, Kwon Jongseok, and Choi Mujin. A wave of third-years followed right behind.

With their hands shoved in their pockets and eyes full of attitude, they slowly scanned the room.

The air grew heavy with intimidation. Most students averted their eyes.

Only Nam Taekyung kept looking straight ahead. To him, only Ha Dohoon’s glow was visible. His presence was overwhelming.

Ha Dohoon walked to the back and sat down. The guys who came in with him filled the surrounding seats and turned their eyes to the crowd near Taekyung.

“First-years are here?”

“Hey, Dohoon, which club is your little brother in?”

“He was in this one during middle school too, wasn’t he?”

“Where’s your brother?”

All of the third-years were looking for Ha Giyeon first thing. That made the corners of Nam Taekyung’s smile twitch.

No matter where you go—it’s always Giyeon, Giyeon.

Aside from being Dohoon’s brother, what was so great about him?

While he turned his head in annoyance, his eyes met Kwon Jongseok’s.

Jongseok gave him a little smile, and Nam Taekyung jumped at the chance. He greeted him in a loud, cheerful voice.

“Jongseok-sunbae! Hello!”

“Ah, hey. You joined our club, huh.”

“Hey, Jongseok—do you know this kid?”

“Yeah. He’s Giyeon’s friend.”

Ha Dohoon and Choi Mujin both snapped their heads toward him at those words. They’d been half-heartedly looking at their phones, but now they were staring straight at Nam Taekyung.

All the attention made him freeze for a second—but then a warm thrill rose in his chest. Taekyung smiled sweetly toward Dohoon.

Choi Mujin glanced around and asked,

“Where’s Giyeon?”

Even if it annoyed him that the first thing they asked was about Giyeon, Nam Taekyung figured this was his chance to redirect things. That loser had probably run off to some boring literature club. It was time for them to forget about Giyeon and look at him.

“Oh, Giyeon went to—”

Creeeak—

Just then, the front door opened and the teacher walked in.

They’d probably just take attendance and leave, so the second- and third-years didn’t even look up.

If only the one who walked in behind the teacher hadn’t been there.

Nam Taekyung blinked like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“...Ha Giyeon?”