READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 227
That night, the sound of Siyeon’s blanket being violently shaken echoed from her room.
Inside the blanket, I thought, “I knew this would happen,” shaking my head and letting the day slip by awkwardly.
Right after the mock exams ended, the era of the great Cold War known as the exam period arrived.
“You have to do really well on your first high school exam, you know? The first button is the most important,” said every teacher for each subject.
“High school grades stay with you for life, manage your school records properly,” they added.
And don’t forget, “You need to start managing your self-introduction essays well from now on,” and so on.
Once you start listening, these words stick better than the English vocabulary you just saw five seconds ago.
After hearing each piece of advice enough to make your ears callous, a sweet break finally arrives.
While others study, I lie down and sleep, lazily enjoying my break time.
“Doesn’t Mari study?”
Worried about my school life, my seatmate and nearby friends throw in a few concerned words.
Every time, I press my cheek against the desk, close my eyes comfortably, and mutter the same irresponsible words.
“Just guess everything and it’ll be over~”
As I get a bit closer to my friends, they joke, “You act like you have a store to inherit,” or “You act like the daughter of a building owner.”
On the outside, I might look like the most hopeless person, but in reality, I’ve been on a fiery path to success since kindergarten.
…I can’t just call it a flowery path.
“True~”
Of course, I’m not the only one playing around like my future is secured.
Somin, who also agrees with my “just guess everything” philosophy, is another student who’s just as irresponsible.
One day, out of pure curiosity, I asked her what she plans to do after graduating from school…
“Me? A YouTuber!”
Her pure answer, without a hint of hesitation, left me speechless.
The White House chef cooking instant noodles, a four-star general being sent to the brig.
Making a current doctor retake the college entrance exam, having a Harvard professor solve the English section.
In this insane lineup, she wants to be a YouTuber.
Can someone be this clueless?
‘She’s really screwed…’
“Hey, do you think anyone can succeed at that?”
“Yeah, yeah, exactly.”
Similarly, Somin’s optimistic career aspirations worry me, and I can’t help but nod in silent agreement.
If they had even a little understanding of the market since middle school, they’d know.
Only a tiny fraction of YouTubers succeed, while 99% struggle to get even 100 views on a video uploaded a month ago.
They’re stuck in the deep sea, producing pitiful results that are embarrassing to even call income.
Then, Somin comes up with an even more ridiculous response.
“If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just be a virtual YouTuber.”
She says it confidently, as if it’s a solid backup plan, but it’s not much different.
So, she has no intention of leaving the creator path?
‘Well, life is about experience.’
I sigh deeply and decide to stop worrying about my friend’s thorny future.
After consuming a few minutes of videos like eating rice, I realize the hours of broadcasting and grueling editing process might change her mind.
At least my life seems less messed up than hers, I comfort myself, ending today’s school life.
“Even if it’s Friday, don’t play too much. The exams are coming up, so study well. Got it?”
“Yes~”
Every Friday during exam season, whether in middle or high school, this is the tired advice we hear.
Yes, today is Friday.
When we get home, the free time of Saturday and Sunday awaits us.
Back in the day, we even had to go to school on Saturdays…
We called it “play Saturday” because we could play every other week.
On the way home, the magnolias that bloomed beautifully in early April catch my eye.
The petals, once pure white on the branches, have now fallen and turned black, like banana peels left on the ground.
Spring, the season of flowers.
Maybe it’s the hormones, but seeing the blooming flowers and trees makes me want to take a photo with my smartphone.
But the thought remains just a thought, and I fiddle with my phone all the way home.
While browsing YouTube, a video catches my eye.
[Late-blooming cherry blossoms due to the cold snap, expected to bloom this weekend]
[Returning cherry blossom festival opens, crowds bustling]
At this point, the media, usually busy tearing into celebrities, is churning out festival articles, intoxicated by the spring atmosphere.
Though I usually have no interest in festivals, the exam period makes everything else seem more appealing.
Everything except studying becomes fun during exam season.
There will be so many people, it’ll be tiring, and prices will be outrageous.
But even as I think that, my heart has already arrived at the Grand Park.
“Siyeon, do you want to go to the Grand Park?”
Tap tap, I ask Siyeon’s opinion while pressing the back button repeatedly.
Thinking it might be a bit lonely to go alone, I subtly try to include her in my plans.
Siyeon tilts her head at the sudden mention of a park.
“Huh? What park?”
“They say the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. If you don’t want to go, I’ll go alone.”
Thinking I might get rejected, I throw in a line I don’t really mean.
I just want someone to eat with and chat with.
Siyeon hesitates, making a thoughtful sound, then finally agrees.
“Sure!”
She readily accepts, going along with my pushiness.
We’ll stop by home first, grab some snacks, and then head out.
“When are we going?”
As I’m mentally organizing the schedule, Siyeon suddenly asks.
I swallow my breath and answer immediately.
“Right after we get home.”
“Huh?!”
Siyeon, not expecting such quick action, lets out a surprised exclamation.
A small bag with a rolled-up mat, a pack of wet wipes, and a random drink from the fridge.
The only other thing to prepare is food for the park.
Instead of bothering to make something, we pack a bunch of kimbap and inari sushi from a kimbap shop before it closes and head straight for a taxi.
The roads start to clog as we near the Grand Park.
From Friday afternoon, the cherry blossom viewing crowd is already thick, with some people getting out and walking midway.
If it’s like this from Friday afternoon, what will Saturday and Sunday be like…
After five minutes, we’ve only moved three steps, and the meter keeps ticking.
“Let’s get out here.”
Finally, we can’t take it anymore and get out in the middle of the road.
Squeezing through the cars, we step onto the sidewalk.
I don’t know where all these people came from, but the park is packed with both cars and people.
The population density around here, which I had underestimated, is now painfully clear.
The reality of living in the metropolitan area hits hard.
“Wow, look at all these people…”
Even Siyeon, rarely impressed, can’t help but marvel at the crowd at the park entrance.
We came to see the flowers, but there are more heads than cherry blossoms.
I suggested coming, but regret is already setting in before we even enter.
“Man, maybe we shouldn’t have come…”
I sigh along with Siyeon’s amazement, looking around.
People everywhere, even someone carrying a small dog.
The relaxed sightseeing vibe is completely gone.
But we’ve already packed kimbap and inari sushi, so we decide to make the best of it and step into the Grand Park without hesitation.
Inside, the park is surprisingly spacious and not as crowded as expected.
‘It’s not as packed inside as I thought.’
“Where should we go first?”
“Good question…”
At the question of where to go, we start walking aimlessly.
Cherry blossom viewing doesn’t require strict planning, so we decide to just go with the flow like dandelion seeds in the spring breeze.
Then, by chance, we stumble upon a spot packed with people.
“What’s going on here? Why are there so many people?”
Siyeon, surprised, stands on tiptoe to see over the crowd.
Is there a performance? Or a spot with an incredible number of cherry blossoms?
With a bit of curiosity, I analyze the familiar sign visible through the crowd.
“It’s a chicken house and a convenience store.”
“Ah.”
When I reveal the sign’s identity, Siyeon lets out a disappointed sigh.
Well, whether it’s this or that, the main attraction at festivals is the food.