NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1.1
I, Jung Ji-hoo, am the first ranked in the entire school.
Starting from all the way back as a student in elementary school until my third year in high school, I have never missed the top spot in my entire school- both in my school records and mock exams.
And it’s not like I’m a genius.
I was able to get good grades each and every time because I studied for longer than others with a mind that just worked better than others.
However, my study method is not particularly groundbreaking.
I also solve questions from problem books that everyone else answers, and I go to a cram school near my house where most students attend.
So what makes me different from others?
I’m not sure either.
To be honest, I don’t understand how one can get a score below 80 on a test.
Unless the teacher made the test maliciously difficult, shouldn’t you pass with at least 90 points if you understood the test contents?
Well, since I’m a human, I could very well make a mistake and get a score in the 80’s.
These thoughts may seem preposterous to others.
But what if this is just my heart?
There is only one kid in my class who knows and understands my thoughts on these matters.
She’s sitting in front of me now, and with all her might—
“Jihoo, can’t you pull out just one strand?”
She was aiming for my hair.
“Isn’t it going to all fall off? Study during this free time.”
“Aaaaah. But I’m going to put it in my pencil case as a talisman.”
“No, you’re too good at studying to be doing this as the 4th ranked in the whole school...”
Her name is Jeon Ji-hye.
She is the 4th ranked in my school and my childhood friend who went to elementary, middle and high school with me.
“I’m going to go to medical school at Korea University too!”
“What does that have to do with my hair? And where did the last pluck go?”
“The effect has run out...”
I am aspiring to get into medical school at Korea University- the best university in Korea.
Rather than wishing to be a doctor, I guess I just feel like applying because it’s the best department that is recognised by everyone?
In fact, getting a perfect score on the CSAT [T/N: KR Entrance Exam] is honestly more interesting than that.
In my blind spot, her hand creeps over my head.
I confirmed it with her shadow, and quickly protected the top of my head with my left hand instead of my right hand which was holding a notebook.
“Plucking it hurts so much. If I lose my hair after this, are you going to take responsibility?”
“Yeah, I’ll take responsibility! So?!”
“Ehh...”
Let’s not talk about this right now.
Pushing her face away with the notepad, I looked around to see if our conversation had been a nuisance to our surroundings.
Fortunately, there wasn’t the atmosphere of studying around us, perhaps because of the effect of rearranging the desks a little earlier.
Now we are sitting in the order of attendance number.
This is why Jihye, the name right before mine, is sitting front of me.
Aww, my scalp is itchy.
“He-He.”
“No, why is it two strands?”
Maybe that reaction made her happy, since she smiled as she put them into her pencil case.
Her black ponytail fluttered here and there.
Yes, I wish I could go to the same department with that ponytail.
Unfortunately, her mock test scores could not guarantee her admission to medical school at Korea University.
It was more a case of instability rather than impossibility.
I hope she stays in better condition than usual in her CSAT sitting.
For reference, I have already passed the 1st round of admissions testing.
In fact, there is one kid in my class who I think I will meet in the same department.
It is Min Hye-rin, the second-ranked student in the entire school.
Our class is the only ‘STEM-focused class’ in the year, so all the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th ranked students in the school are gathered here.
It is no exaggeration to say that this class’s ranking is the school’s overall academic ranking too.
Min Hye-rin was staring at her mock exam paper in the front seat on the second row from my left.
Her neat straight hair hung past her shoulders and to her waist.
That long hair always surprises me.
Every time I wash my hair every day, I find that I have a lot of trouble.
I remember someone said, ‘The first time I saw her, I inadvertently bruised myself from tripping over.’
Not because of her hair, but because of her looks.
She was one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen in my life.
She is a literal goddess.
Her expressionless face and flowing black hair evoked admiration from people of all ages.
Her curvaceous body stimulates the lust of every man who lays their eyes upon her.
My first meeting with her was the moment my ideal type changed to her.
No one; no female celebrity could match her.
Thanks to her, I look forward to my college life.
We were busy competing in studies against each other this year, but we will definitely become close at university...!
At that moment, a pure white light enveloped the classroom.
“What is this...!”
The light suddenly disappeared after a while, and we were transported as a group to an unknown world...
Of course, this didn’t actually happen.
This isn’t a .
Jihye and I turned our heads to what was supposed to be the source of the light.
“What, what was that? How did you do it?”
“No... I was just touching my phone. What is going on?”
“I thought your phone exploded, haha.”
“I thought I went blind.”
Apparently, one of our classmates did something with his cell phone.
No, is that output even possible with a cell phone?
It makes no sense.
Well, it’s none of my business.
Jihoon Choi: a guy I don’t like.
He was frivolous and noisy.
If someone was yelling during the break time, there was a 90% chance it was that guy.
When I graduate, I won’t have to see him anymore.
It was then that I felt a gaze.
Looking in the direction I felt the gaze, Min hye-rin had already turned her head and resumed her snowball fight with the test papers in front of her.
‘What was that...?’
“Hey, Jihoo.”
I turned my head to the presence of someone behind me.
A couple was looking at me with smiles on their faces.
Park Min-ho and Seong Ah-young.
They are our class ‘representative’ couple.
“It’s the day before the exam, how are you feeling?”
“It’s just like normal. Somehow, it doesn’t feel real.”
“Haha, for me too.”
Park Min-ho smiles cheerfully despite the lacklustre answer.
Seong Ah-yeong started a conversation with Ji-hye.
Minho is the 3rd ranked in the class and also the class president of our class.
He is sincere and has a good personality.
Unlike me, he has many friends.
It’s proven that he’s a good-looking bastard when he has such a girlfriend.
Anyway, I have a good relationship with him.
While the four of us were hanging out like that, the homeroom teacher eventually came in and guided us to the CSAT test site.
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