Chapter 34: Career Experience Learning

The real heat had begun.
Now, the counseling room would turn into a sauna (unbearably hot and stuffy) if the air conditioner wasn’t running.

“Hoo….”

Kim Noeul slumped in her chair, fanning her collared shirt.
Each time she flapped it, her faint abs were revealed.

“Ugh….”

Na Yuna was in a similar state.
As if the area below her chest itched, she dripped sweat and wiped around her chest with a handkerchief.

“Kids, I’m sorry…. The air conditioner is centrally controlled, so it won’t turn on….”

Teacher Chae Yubin muttered, pressing the air conditioner power button meaninglessly several times.
She had shed her suit jacket long ago.

I too was losing my mind from the heat, gulping down cold water.
Normally, I would have been studying or reading, but it was too hot, so I gave up.

While all of us struggled, there was one female student who sat straight-backed, pen moving steadily.

Han Doa wiped away the sweat trickling down her cheek with a finger and focused on her studies.
Her mental fortitude was truly superhuman.

“Doa…. Aren’t you hot…?”

Na Yuna, now accustomed to speaking informally with Han Doa, asked.
Han Doa shook her head with a nonchalant expression.

“It is hot. Can’t you see I’m sweating right now.”

“But you don’t really show it.”

“I’m enduring it because I have to study.”

Na Yuna stared at Han Doa, who answered so calmly, as if looking at a monster.
Then she crossed her arms again, lifting her chest to prevent sweat from pooling.

“But why are you studying here?”

This time, Kim Noeul asked the question.

From her perspective, it was a reasonable question.
Today wasn’t a day I had scheduled to help Han Doa study.

“The Disciplinary Department isn’t conducive to studying. There’s no place as quiet as the Counseling Club room. And if I’m going to do it anyway, I should do it near Maru-hubae so I can ask immediately if there’s something I don’t know.”

“…There are online lectures too.”

“Maru-hubae agreed to help.”

Kim Noeul gave up the interrogation and went back to fanning her shirt.
Her sweat-soaked shirt clung to her back, clearly revealing her bra strap.

Having become accustomed to the reversed world, I didn’t bother pointing it out.
In this world, the man who points out such things is branded a pervert.

“By the way, have you guys decided where to go for your career experience field trip?”

“Huh? Do 3rd years do that too?”

Na Yuna expressed doubt at Teacher Chae Yubin’s words.
Han Doa answered in her stead.

“This year, the field trip schedule is set for the 1st semester instead of the 2nd, so the 3rd years are participating too.”

“Ah…. Then the options for where to go will be announced soon.”

“Maru and Noeul, have you thought about any place?”

When the teacher asked, Kim Noeul wore a thoughtful expression.

Unlike the 3rd years, the application period for the 2nd-year field trip had already begun.
There were several places, but if I remember the original work, they went to SC.

-School Celebrity, CEO Lim Juhee

‘CEO Lim Juhee gave me her business card, should I try using this?’

Coincidentally, I had the SC business card Lim Juhee gave me.
This might be a good opportunity to go there and let Na Yuna and Lim Juhee get acquainted.

In the webtoon too, Lim Juhee continuously showed interest in Na Yuna during the SC field trip.

“I’m thinking of checking out SC.”

When I spoke, Kim Noeul’s eyes widened.

“Isn’t that a modeling agency? You’re interested in that?”

“Actually, I received a business card before.”

I placed the SC business card on the table.
The girls’ gazes fixed on it.

“Wow…. This place is really famous in Hakdo.”

Na Yuna’s eyes sparkled with interest.
She probably had no idea that she would catch CEO Lim Juhee’s eye.

“Then does that mean Maru will become a model?”

At Teacher Chae Yubin’s words, Na Yuna clapped her hands.

“I think it would suit you really well. It’s strange you haven’t been street-casted!”

“…It seems everyone has forgotten.”

Just as the mood was becoming harmonious, Kim Noeul muttered in a dry voice.

“That’s where Je Galyeonhwa belongs. We can’t just go there thoughtlessly to play around.”

“I agree. If we’re going, we should go with the intention of thoroughly digging up information on her.”

Han Doa also put down her pen and agreed with Kim Noeul.
As the two women presented the sound argument, Na Yuna and Chae Yubin fell silent.

“And personally, I don’t recommend Maru becoming a model.”

Kim Noeul glanced at me and continued.

“It draws too much attention.”

“I had no intention of doing it in the first place?”

“What? Then why go there.”

“Still, since I received the business card, I wanted to visit at least once. I’m just going out of curiosity.”

“A-Aren’t there many other places? Look, there’s a botanical garden, a museum….”

“Then you go there.”

When I retorted bluntly, Kim Noeul bit her lip.
Then, with a somewhat resentful expression, she nodded.

“Then I guess I have to go to SC too. Since you and I are one body.”

“One body!? Wh-What does that mean…?”

Na Yuna stammered at Kim Noeul’s bombshell statement.
It was news to me too, so I asked her.

“One body? What does that mean.”

“You said it back then. That you chose me. That we have to trust each other. That we have a special relationship.”

“No….”

Partners are one body.

Metaphorically, it wasn’t wrong.
It wasn’t wrong, but the nuance felt strange.
Kim Noeul skillfully distorted the memory.

“Y-You two are really close! Even though you’re still students, a pink aura already surrounds you!”

Teacher Chae Yubin, like the inexperienced maiden (means a young, inexperienced woman, often implying innocence or lack of experience in romantic matters.)  she was, blushed and made a fuss.
She was excited as if watching a friend’s love life unfold with great interest.

“Maru…? When did you do such a thing…?”

Na Yuna stared blankly at me with unfocused eyes.
Feeling somewhat ominous from those eyes, I averted my gaze.

“It just meant let’s work hard together as fellow counseling club members.”

“…Right? That’s what it meant, right?”

Life started returning to Na Yuna’s eyes.
However, Kim Noeul hammered in the final nail.

“After that, we even held hands and walked home together.”

Unlike the usual Kim Noeul, she spoke shyly, blushing.
Normally, she had the confident demeanor of an alpha girl, but right now, she was a girl straight out of a pure romance manga.

Seeing Kim Noeul’s reaction, Teacher Chae Yubin started making an even bigger fuss.
“Gasp! Well, you’ve been through thick and thin together, it’s impossible not to develop feelings! Of course, this is the natural progression!”

Contrary to Chae Yubin, whose tension was rising, a cold aura began to swirl around Na Yuna.

The light that had barely returned to her eyes died out again.
Like a broken machine, she turned her head creakily and looked at me.

Kim Noeul, despite her face still being flushed like a beet, had a sly grin creeping up the corners of her mouth.

An eerie voice flowed from Na Yuna’s lips.

“M-Maru. I heard you had no intention of dating….”

“……”

Where did she hear that?

“I held back because you were a flower on a cliff…. But if that flower has already been picked by someone….”

“……”

While Na Yuna muttered in a toneless voice, someone’s sigh was heard.

“I can’t concentrate.”

It was Han Doa, who had been studying even in this situation, complaining.

“Then shall we step outside the club room?”

Kim Noeul snapped, but I was genuinely moved by Han Doa’s rescue play and defended her.

“One can study a bit in the club room, why are you being like that? Everyone, please be quiet so Doa-sunbae can concentrate. Sunbae, ask me anything you’re curious about.”

“Thanks. Then, about this part here….”

As Han Doa and I tried to have our own study time, Na Yuna also hastily took out a book from her bag.

“I have something I don’t know too!”

“……”

Kim Noeul sighed watching our little farce.

Focusing on studying like that, dismissal time arrived before we knew it.
Kim Noeul and I locked the counseling club door and came outside.

Na Yuna, Han Doa, and Teacher Chae Yubin had already left due to their own circumstances.

Perhaps because it was now fully summer, the sky was still bright even though it was nearing dinner time.

“Yuna-sunbae seemed interested in SC.”

“That’s true. When it’s just the two of us, she often talks about it.”

Kim Noeul chimed (to join a conversation or discussion, usually by adding a comment or opinion) in as I initiated the topic.
It seemed Kim Noeul was already well aware of Na Yuna’s interests.

In reality, she was introverted and timid, but as evidenced by her streaming at home, she possessed a certain entertainer quality.

It’s just that this quality was hidden due to bullying.

“The field trip destinations for 3rd years overlap a lot with 2nd years. I’m thinking of going to SC with Yuna-sunbae.”

“That sounds better. We can observe Je Galyeonhwa while we’re at it.”

Kim Noeul agreed with my suggestion.
After the ‘walk home together event,’ Kim Noeul’s enthusiasm had increased.

Since it was a positive change, I didn’t interfere.
I just hope that enthusiasm lasts throughout the year.

Time passed, and the day of the field trip arrived.
The final exams were also just around the corner.

I got lost in thought while rummaging through casual clothes at home.

‘The school schedule seems tight. Doing a field trip right before exams.’

It seemed unavoidable to conduct the field trip now because the 2nd semester had many events like the Haneul Festival, sports day, and school trips.

While changing clothes, my phone vibrated.

[Kim Noeul: What should I wear]

[Kim Noeul: (Photo)]

[Kim Noeul: (Photo)]

Kim Noeul was asking me about her outfit for the day.
I don’t know why she’s asking me this.
Na Yuna or her other female friends would know better about women’s clothes.

[Me: Both look fine]

[Kim Noeul: If you had to choose?]

Considering this as part of Kim Noeul’s mental support, I decided to answer sincerely.

The first was a tweed jacket and denim pants.
The jacket wasn’t too long, nicely highlighting Kim Noeul’s healthy body line.

The second was an A-line collared mini dress, giving off a neat and elegant image.
However, it felt disconnected from the image I had of Kim Noeul.

‘Clothes that allow active movement suit her better. Pants are better than skirts.’

So she can fight well.

The conclusion leaned towards the former.

[Me: The first one looks good]

[Kim Noeul: Really? I was planning on wearing this one too]

After finishing the conversation, I finished changing.
And stepped outside the dormitory.
Taking the subway once and walking a bit would get me to the SC building.

After getting off the subway, I headed towards the station exit.
As I came out of the exit, I saw a woman with a familiar face.
It was the woman who gave me her business card.

‘CEO Lim Juhee?’

She was hovering around a woman whose face was mostly covered by her bangs.

“I saw potential in you. You have more than enough makings of a star. How about it? With me….”

It was Im Juhee attempting street casting.
Since this area was near SC, it was her activity zone.

“Uh…. Th-This is burdensome….”

The voice of the woman being casted was also familiar.
Looking closely, it was Na Yuna-sunbae.

‘So this is how they meet.’

Marveling at how the main storyline continued, I approached them.
Noticing my presence, the two women turned their heads.

“Hm? You are….”

“Maru…? You’re early.”

CEO Lim Juhee’s mouth fell open, recognizing my face.

“Ah, the student I met at the restaurant back then? Meeting here like this is quite a coincidence. Are you keeping the business card well?”

“I chose this place for the field trip because of that business card.”

“Right, today is the field trip day. I was informed too.”

Lim Juhee nodded at my words, seemingly unimpressed as it was an annual event.

“Anyway, to think you two knew each other. The two people who caught my eye are acquaintances…. This kind of situation is rare.”

Na Yuna fidgeted with her fingers hesitantly.
She was wearing a simple dress.

“Are you planning to scout Yuna-sunbae as a model too?”

“Yes. Something just clicked.”

“I’m just ordinary….”

“Nonsense. Don’t think you can fool my eyes. You’re merely suppressing your star quality.”

I inhaled sharply at Im Juhee’s accurate assessment.
Na Yuna must have been inwardly surprised as well.

In the original work, Na Yuna began to change following her encounter with these two women.
I intend to support that route as well.

“Think positively about it. She says you have potential, sunbae.”

“Um…. I’m just an outcast….”

The moment Na Yuna uttered those self-deprecating words, Lim Juhee’s eyebrows twitched.
As if she didn’t like it.

“I thought she was a raw gem, but perhaps an unprepared one…. That won’t do….”

Muttering seriously, Lim Juhee walked away from us.
Na Yuna blinked, perplexed by Lim Juhee’s sudden change in attitude.

I sighed softly so she wouldn’t hear.

‘Looks like I’ll have to actively push her.’

“What are you two doing here?”

Kim Noeul’s voice came from behind.
She was wearing the outfit I had picked for her.

“Just talking with someone. We were about to head to SC.”

“Really? There’s not much time left, shall we go quickly?”

I followed behind Kim Noeul.

Na Yuna watched the two figures, male and female, walking away.
Passersby around them stared and admired the pair.

Watching that scene, Na Yuna’s expression darkened further.