NOVEL NEXT Chapter 48
Crack!
The core, unsurprisingly, shattered.
At the same time as the core was destroyed, the ghost began to dissipate.
I couldn’t believe my eyes even after seeing it with my own eyes.
“So the ghost just committed suicide?”
The core is like the heart in human terms. Although it is different from the human heart in that it has a different location for each ghost.
A ghost that destroys its own heart.
A ghost that chooses to be destroyed.
But my wonder did not last long.
Its eyes fluttered shut automatically, and its consciousness flew away.
There was even a flash of red, just before the last shards of the core evaporated completely.
***
When I opened my eyes again, it was 20 minutes before my first period exam was scheduled to begin.
The front door swung open and the class president, Min Jiyoon, walked in. In her hand was a bundle of computerized signature pens.
“Hey, sit down so I can hand them out.”
After distributing the computer signing pens to each row according to the number of people, Min Jiyoon checked the number of people and wrote on the board.
Enrollment: 22
Finals: 8
Test Takers: 15 (1 additional candidate, 1 failed)
Min Jiyoon counted the numbers again to make sure they were correct, and this time, she started to write down the test timetable.
1st period (09:00~09:50) – (blank)
Second period (10:10-11:00) – English
She wrote down the second period subjects and paused the first period subjects.
She scratched her head and muttered to herself.
“What was my first period subject? Was it Korean or math, I can’t remember.”
After thinking for a while, she turned to Yang Ji-won, who was sitting in front of her.
“Ji-won, do you know what your first period subject is today?” “Test subject? I don’t know because I didn’t receive anything.”
Yang Ji-won shook her head and stammered.
“Oh yeah, what do I do? Do you know anyone?” “I think it’s okay to leave it blank, it’s going to be posted before the exam anyway.” “Yeah, sure, whatever.”
Jiwoon shrugged her shoulders and returned to her seat.
It was 15 minutes before the test was scheduled to start.
Everyone was talking in low voices in their seats.
“Will the test be hard?” “I heard there are no essays, though.” “Who said that?” “Hmm? Uh, yeah…? I think I heard that somewhere…” “Never mind, no essays are fine and dandy, I’m going to take it all anyway.” “Does this come out in grades or ABCD?” “I thought it was just an even number.” “That’s what I heard, too.” “So what’s the first period anyway?” “Isn’t it a language arts class?”
There was a lot of speculation and vague assurances.
The chatter was quieted by the preliminary announcement that the test was five minutes away.
“It’s five minutes to the start of the first period exam. Please put away all textbooks and question books, and distribute test papers and OMR cards.”Min Jiyoon and Yang Jiwon tore open the two envelopes on the table labeled
“1st period”
and took out the test papers and OMR cards.
“Turn them over. The test paper is face down.”
For a while, the sound of flipping papers filled the classroom.
Hanbyul, who was sitting in front of me, handed me the test and shouted a cheer with her mouth.
I mouthed good luck on the test.
Soon, an announcement came over the loudspeaker.
─We will start the first period Korean language test now. The test time is 50 minutes in total. This is a reminder. The first period language test will now begin.
The students turned their test papers over in unison.
Please read the following passages and answer the questions. (Questions 1-4)
S#10
Inside the reading room.
(Ms. Kim kicks her chair nervously.)
Mr. Park: Oh, what a surprise.
(Ms. Kim runs out of the reading room in a huff.)
Ms. Choi: Why is she acting like that when her scores are so good?
Mr. Park: I mean, I don’t see what she has to be nervous about.
Ms. Choi: She’s a better student than us.
Mr. Park: Oh, do you think it’s because of her?
S#11
Convenience store on the first floor of the reading room building
I read the passage and questions carefully, not rushing through them as I usually do in exams.
I checked the correct answers, but I didn’t bother to check my OMR card.
The sound of the test paper being turned over was heard everywhere.
Read the following dialogues and answer the questions. (Questions 8-10)
Jia-young: As we talked about last time, let’s discuss how to choose the roles for the play today.
Na-young: I think a recommendation system would be good.
Da-young: What if more than one person is nominated for a role? I’m worried that it will become a popularity contest.
Ga-young: Let’s get more opinions.
Ra-young: Why don’t we hold auditions?
Da-young: That’s a good idea. If we hold auditions, we can evaluate not only acting skills but also understanding of the role.
➀ Ga-young is bringing up the topic of the conversation and asking for the opinions of the participants.
➁ Da-young is pointing out the problems that may arise if Nayoung’s opinion is adopted……
There were only 10 questions. And they were all multiple-choice questions.
The questions and examples were long, but 50 minutes was more than enough time.
But I didn’t mark my OMR card until the end.
Then, the announcement came.
“5 minutes before the end of 1st period. Please note that submitting a blank OMR answer sheet will be considered cheating and will not be graded. Reminder. It’s 5 minutes before the end of 1st period.”
I frowned, avoided my chosen answer, and marked random numbers.
I skipped marking some questions where the answer was ambiguous.
I thought to myself,
‘I’ll just chalk it up to a couple of marking mistakes.’
The first period exam is over. Please hand in your answer sheets.
The friends sitting in the back of the class stood up and took the OMR cards of their classmates in front of them and handed them over to the table.
Min Jiyoon took them and put them back in the envelope labeled
“1st period”
earlier.
Once the kids realized that the answer sheets were submitted, they started to chatter away.
Yuri and Hanbyul came over to my seat with the test papers.
“What do you think? Did you do well?”I asked out of politeness.
“Mmm, okay. Nothing too hard.” “I’m feeling pretty good about this test, I woke up and still had plenty of time to mark it!” “Hanbyul, you slept in.” “Oh, yeah, I nodded off for a bit, but I got it all done.” “Thank God, really.”
After sharing our brief impressions of the test, we went through the same routine of checking our answers at the end of every class period.
“You wrote four times on 2!” “But how many times did you get 3? I got 3.” “Three was hard. I got two of the sentences really confused.”
I listened to the general conversation, and then interjected at just the right time.
“I was up all-night last night, so I’m really sleepy.” “Oh, my God, did you do well?”
I assured her that I had no problem solving the problem, and then casually asked her a question to keep the conversation going.
“What did you guys do yesterday, go to bed early?” “Oh, I slept in yesterday.”
Yuri opened her mouth first.
Then she paused.
As if she couldn’t think of what to say.
But then she smiled as usual and finished her answer.
“Yesterday, of course, I slept while studying for the exam. I went to bed around 12:30. What about you?” “I studied too!”
I nodded, and then asked again.
“Studying for the Korean language?” “Yes. Korean and English.” “I ditched English and went all in on Korean!”
After another word or two of conversation, I excused myself from the classroom to use the restroom.
***
I wandered the halls until the bell rang, signaling five minutes before the second period test.
“It’s five minutes to the start of the second period. Please put away your textbooks, problem books, etc., and distribute your test papers and OMR cards.”
“Good luck in the second period!” “Good luck with English.”
The students gathered in a circle, returned to their seats.
The students who were out in the hallway also entered the classroom one after another.
“We will start the second period English test now. The test time is 50 minutes in total. Let me remind you once again. We will begin the second period English subject test. There will be a listening assessment first.”
The second period English test consists of five listening assessment questions and five multiple-choice questions.
Mechanical sounds played slowly through the speakers.
Question 1. Listen to the following dialog and choose the most appropriate response to the woman’s last statement.
─Hey, Sarah. What’s wrong? You look very upset.
─Then Tom, promise me you won’t judge.
─I’m so sorry, Sarah.
─Thanks for the consolation. I’ll definitely get the ranking I want in the next competition. You’ve made me feel better.
─Hmm…Sarah, are you serious?
Heck, I don’t think any of this has an answer?
I rolled my eyes at the questions. I thought the last part of the conversation was shitty, but this was even worse.
I was dumbfounded, so I put off choosing an answer and turned to the other questions.
➀ To congratulate and praise her friend.
➁ to invite a friend to a party
➂ to ask for a book recommendation
➃ Offer to join a study group
➄ ask when the study hall is open
➀ the importance of suicide prevention education
➁ the schedule for installing CCTV cameras on campus
➂ the reason for closing the rooftop to students
➃ Information about the Lifeline
➄ Information about the suspension of self-study at night
Hmm, everything else seems to be in order, except for the announcement, which I thought was a bit subtle.
I answered question 1 with a blanket answer of 1,
“Yeah, to be honest, I’m really enjoying it.”
and listened to the next one.
Fortunately, after question 1, there were no more weird questions.
As I was checking off every question with two answers to create a perfect answer, an announcement was made that it was five minutes before the end of the exam.
“It’s 5 minutes before the end of the second period. Please note that submitting a blank OMR answer sheet is considered cheating and will not be graded. Reminder. It’s 5 minutes before the end of the second period.”
I double-checked that I had written my class number correctly and slumped down at my desk.
Soon, the second period test is over.
“The second period exam is over. Please turn in your answer sheet. All exams are over. Please place your first and second period answer sheets in separate envelopes and place them on the desk in the faculty office. All exams are over. Please place your first and second period answer sheets in separate envelopes and place them on your desk in the office.”
As soon as the friend at the back of the class turned in all the OMR cards, and Min Jiyoon put the answer sheets in the envelopes and left the classroom, there was a rush of happy voices.
“Ah, it’s finally over.” “I’m going home!” “Good job on the test, kids!” “Wow, I fell asleep while listening” “When are the answer sheets coming out?”
It was a typical post-exam bustle.
Just then, the speakers above the blackboard crackled to life and began broadcasting again.
“I will announce the grades for this exam immediately after grading. Please be quiet and wait in the room.”
I’ll be the last place.
I cheated in both Korean and English and got a zero.
As I look at my classmates, who have gone from expressing their displeasure at not being able to go home right away, to meekly accepting and waiting for the announcement, I am convinced again.
I’m the only one who’s sane.