Chapter 15 – Having Too Much of a Good Thing #2
Park Sung-kwang's power was considerable since he was the son of a politician.
It was the day after he declared war.
Tae-hyuk felt it the moment he went to school.
The mood of the students had changed.
"…Seo Tae-hyuk. Is he late again?"
"Shh. Talk quietly. He's going to hear."
"What does it matter if he hears? Will he bite my head off? Or beat me?"
"…T-that. Last night…"
"V-violent incident? Hiik!”
This was just at first glance.
Buzz buzz!
Many students on the road were talking about Seo Tae-hyuk. It was like he was a celebrity!
'… That isn't it. Also, aren't the rumors about me spreading quicker than I initially thought?'
He had thought that at the least, it would take one more day for them to spread.
Tae-hyuk had become the worst gangster of the school overnight.
'Conquering all the bad groups in the area. Bullying money from students in other schools. Using violence. Playing naughty pranks on girls passing by. … I'm not some hero of a manhwa!'
All of this occurred in around half a day. It was ridiculous, but the students believed the rumors either way.
Tae-hyuk could guess why it spread so quickly.
Park Sung-kwang had probably used SNS (Korean social media) as a means to spread these rumors. He probably opened around half a dozen chat rooms, in which he freely slandered Seo Tae-hyuk. The rumors would then blow up by themselves as they were reinterpreted and spread to more people. It was repeated so many times that most of the students now knew of Seo Tae-hyuk's bad deeds.
Tae-hyuk laughed bitterly.
'He really is the same as his father.'
Manipulating public opinion using the media. Although there was no proof behind that claim, it was still a clever use of both technology and psychology.
Tae-hyuk was doing bad things. Even if someone didn't believe that claim at first, their doubts would soon turn to conviction after hearing several people repeating it.
Park Sung-kwang had many friends, and put the money that came from being the son of a politician to good use. There were at least 10 people involved in this matter. That number was enough to incite most of the students in school.
Now no one would believe him if Tae-hyuk accused Park Sung-kwang of cheating.
'I just wanted to be a model student. Isn't this the opposite from what I wanted?'
Tae-hyuk licked his lips.
Furthermore, it was obvious that it wouldn't end with just this.
'Oh my god…'
A miracle was occurring as Tae-hyuk walked. Students parted in front of him like he was the plague. The situation was more serious than he thought.
Once he opened the door and walked in, the loud classroom suddenly became quiet. People started whispering in small voices; and although he didn't hear them, he knew what they were talking about.
Tae-hyuk walked to his seat and sat down, prompting the person next to him to increase the distance between their seats.
"……"
He couldn't say anything.
"Tae-hyuk…"
An Eun-young, sitting in the seat in front of him, spoke in a small voice.
"… Is this Park Sung-kwang's doing?"
Tae-hyuk wiped at his eyes like he was moved.
"Do you believe in my innocence?"
“O-Of course! S-sorry. Because of me… Do you regret it now?"
‘I'm kidding… Why are you so serious?'
That was just in Tae-hyuk's head.
Tae-hyuk didn't hesitate as he replied to An Eun-young.
“What are you talking about? If I could travel back in time, then I would still save Class President."
It was natural. It wasn't uncommon to form connections with intelligent people.
"Huh…? Eu? Yes? Yes… I-I see."
An Eun-young's face instantly turned red.
She tried to answer but couldn't speak. Then An Eun-young raised her finger like she suddenly remembered something.
“Ah, right. The student adviser said for you to go see him straight away…'
“Well. Maybe this incident has even entered the ears of the teachers. Either that, or Park Sung-kwang is planning to beat me."
"L-Let's go together…! I will tell Teacher-nim that Tae-hyuk did nothing wrong!"
Tae-hyuk shook his head.
"No. Recently I have become friendly with Class President."
"Uh, yes. Friendly."
"Then would they believe Class President's claim of my innocence?"
An Eun-young was dumbfounded at Tae-hyuk's words.
"S-Still!"
“I will go to the office now."
“Then I’ll be waiting at the door!”
Despite his words, An Eun-young still wanted to come along.
Tae-hyuk chose not to refuse anymore.
* * *
Once he went to the office, the student adviser greeted him more angrily than usual.
“Tae-hyuk! Tae-hyuk! Tae-hyuk! Hey, you son of a bitch. Why did you do it? It has only been a few days since you promised to be reborn. Yes?"
"I'm not sure what you're talking about."
"You bastard! I know. I know it all! Don't try to lie and deceive me. Tell the truth, and I will consider extenuating your circumstances.
"I really don't know what you’re talking about."
"This bastard… Denying it until the end! There was a witness, a witness! Did you think no one saw you when you hit a student last night? His leg was broken so badly that he has at least 12 weeks of recovery! I thought you were a good person who got into small trouble. Have I been deceived? Say something, you son of a bitch."
Tae-hyuk couldn't even laugh due to the sheer absurdity of the situation.
“I harmed a student?"
"Hah! It seems I was mistaken about you. Showing no signs of remorse and reflection after brazenly hurting someone. Who? Kim Jin-soo! I went to the hospital last night and saw him. He was beaten half to death."
"……"
Tae-hyuk clenched his hands into tight fists.
He had thought that it was just a bunch of rumors. But someone was really hurt?
Kim Jin-soo, who had been fine just yesterday, was now in the hospital. What really happened?
'Park Sung-kwang. You really went this far.'
He had broken the leg of his follower just to frame Tae-hyuk.
Tae-hyuk felt anger boiling inside of him.
"Ahyu. This shameless guy. In my heart, I want to make you exactly like Jin-soo. Yet, I'm very sad because I can't. At any rate, a disciplinary committee will be held after the test tomorrow. This will probably result in a suspension or worse. By the way, I will be strongly arguing that you be expelled."
"Is that so?"
The smile disappeared from Tae-hyuk's face.
Expulsion. If An Eun-young wouldn't separate herself from him, then would they be kicked out of school together?
Tae-hyuk felt a fierce anger towards the man called Park Sung-kwang.
“You are still denying it like this until the end! Very well, you can go now.”
“Oh, by the way, Teacher-nim. Have you ever received a bribe from Park Sung-kwang?"
"Huh? What did you say?"
"Nothing. Keep up the good work."
Tae-hyuk left the office without looking back.
* * *
An Eun-young, who had been listening to the conversation outside, looked like she was about to cry.
"T-Tae-hyuk… R-really. I'm s-sorry…"
Tae-hyuk smiled and stroked her head.
“No, I should be the one to say sorry. In fact, I even wanted to play this little game at first."
“P-play?"
“But now, I think that I should go to war."
He had planned to steal the test paper submitted by Park Sung-kwang and make him sit in the re-test alone.
But that wasn't enough anymore.
This was a dirty fight where one of the two people had to be finished.
Either Seo Tae-hyuk would be expelled, or Park Sung-kwang would be ruined.
"Hrmm. I thought something like this would happen after I threw the bait."
Shortly after Park Sung-kwang had declared war, Tae-hyuk had called his father's secretary and laid a trap. If it worked properly, then it would be very fatal for Park Sung-kwang.
And…
Tae-hyuk explained his plan to An Eun-young.
Her cooperation was necessary in order for it to be successful.
"… I'll give it a try. But will it really succeed? It seems to heavily rely on luck…"
Tae-hyuk replied in a confident voice.
“I will do it somehow. Believe in me."
"Uh, yes. I trust you."
'Phew. I sound so irresponsible since she doesn't know about the Demon Revealing Mirror. It is good that she still believes in me.'
Tae-hyuk inwardly sighed with relief. An Eun-young trusted him to such a strange degree.
Of course, he had no intention of betraying her.
“Then, shall I start the cheating?"