Yes, It’s Me. The Obsessive Side Top

#008

Lately, I’d been completely overwhelmed. Trying to study business administration—something I’d never dealt with before—felt daunting. Midterms were just two weeks away. I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d end up at the bottom of the class. It would be quite a sight to go from being at the top in freshman year to dead last now.

While lying on the department room sofa, mentally overloaded and spacing out, I heard the door creak open. Sun Woo’s handsome face appeared. 

He must have been coming here regularly. Well, it was his hideout. He hesitated briefly, surprised to see me, but then came in and sat down anyway.

“Sun Woo, how’s your exam studying going?” I asked.

He didn’t respond. That guy must be doing fine. He always came second to Ha Jin, but at least he was consistently the runner-up. 

Ha Jin, where did your brilliant mind go? If you were going to possess me, you should have at least left your smarts behind. 

I inwardly called out to Ha Jin’s intelligence, hoping for a miracle.

“Not studying today?” Sun Woo suddenly initiated the conversation. It was the first time he’d done that. I couldn’t stay lying down during such a monumental moment, so I sat up abruptly. 

Sensing my intense gaze, Sun Woo wrinkled his brow, as if regretting speaking to me, and pulled out his books and laptop onto the table. 

“My head feels like it’s going to explode. I just can’t look at books right now,” I admitted.

Sun Woo hesitated, as if wanting to say something, then finally spoke. “I thought people like you didn’t study.”

“I thought so too,” I replied. Only after I said it did I realize how odd it sounded, so I tried to cover it up with a laugh. Why am I talking about myself in the third person?

Sun Woo turned back to his books, seeming unwilling to continue the conversation. While I was feeling lost and disorganized, Sun Woo appeared to have everything under control. As I quietly watched him study, a brilliant idea suddenly struck me. I immediately pulled out my phone to call Kim Shin.

The phone barely rang before Kim Shin answered, his words pouring out in a rush: “Ha Jin? Why? What’s up? You’re actually calling me?”

I was momentarily surprised by his lightning-fast response time, though he probably hadn’t been waiting with his phone in hand. Still, I had to find him.

“Where are you?” I asked.

“Me? At the club room,” he replied.

“Stay there. I’m coming now.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll wait.”

As I got up to leave after hanging up, I made eye contact with Sun Woo, who was still deep into his studies. “I’m going, Sun Woo,” I said warmly, but, as expected, he ignored me. I was used to it by now.

The club room had a completely different atmosphere from the department room. Sunlight streamed in through windows that looked like they had been remodeled with the latest fixtures. The air conditioner ran smoothly, emitting a pleasant, fresh breeze. The sofa was soft and spacious, and the gleaming table didn’t have a single scratch. It was clear that this place was well-funded. 

Kim Shin greeted me with a bright smile. “What’s this? You’re actually reaching out to me first? Did our Ha Jin even know how to make phone calls?”

Ignoring his teasing, I glanced around the club room. With not a single book in sight, I couldn’t help but wonder if these people ever really studied. I turned to Kim Shin, who seemed completely carefree, as if exam stress was a foreign concept to him.

“Can you get the previous exam papers for our department?” I asked quietly.

“Previous exam papers? Why?” he responded.

“Midterms are coming up,” I explained.

“So?” he replied, as if the connection wasn’t obvious.

What does he mean, ‘so’? It was a bit embarrassing to admit, but those exam papers were my only chance at survival.

“To study for the exam,” I said.

Kim Shin’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What? Ha Jin, did you just say you’re going to study?”

“Yeah.”

He kept asking incredulously, “You? Study?” Why keep questioning it? Just get me the exam papers already. In the webtoon, he always managed to get anything Ha Jin needed. Kim Shin asked again, as if to make absolutely sure.

“You really want me to get them?”

“Yeah. Get them for me.”

“But you’re always first without studying,” he insisted.

“…”

Damn it. Give me back Ha Jin’s brain!

—

Kim Shin managed to get the previous exam papers within a few hours. As expected, his resourcefulness as a helper was top-notch. Of course, he couldn’t resist asking again, “Are you really going to study?” 

I just thanked him and made my way to my car. Right, I’ll just memorize these. If nothing else, I could avoid the disaster of handing in a blank answer sheet.

But when I sat down to look at the papers at home, I hit another wall.

I couldn’t figure out how to solve many of the problems. Honestly, I still didn’t really understand what business administration even was.

“I’m doomed,” I muttered.

The next day, I sat in the department room with the exam papers, waiting for Sun Woo. He was my only hope now. As always, he showed up precisely at meal time. When he saw me holding the papers, he quickly looked away and sat down, taking out his triangle kimbap.

“Sun Woo, going to eat?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he replied.

Even Sun Woo’s one-word answers made me happy. At least he wasn’t completely ignoring me. I was grateful for even this tiny bit of generosity, considering he usually acted like I didn’t exist. Watching him eat his triangle kimbap filled me with regret. I could buy him delicious lunches every day… Why didn’t Sun Woo keep an easy mark like me close? Maybe he had also read The Lives of the Gold Spoons webtoon?

I must have lost my mind from exam stress, judging by these ridiculous thoughts.

I waited until he finished eating. Sun Woo must have noticed my gaze, but he continued eating quietly, paying me no attention. If I were in his place, and someone stared at me like that, I probably would have wanted to gouge their eyes out. Our protagonist really is kind, isn’t he?

“Do you have something to say?” Sun Woo finally asked after he finished cleaning up his meal. 

I handed him all the papers I was holding. Taking them reflexively, he looked them over and asked, “What’s this?”

“Previous exam papers for our department,” I said.

“Really?” He scanned them briefly and then tried to hand them back. Smiling, I gently pushed them back toward him. I had already made copies for myself.

“They’re for you. Keep them,” I insisted.

Sun Woo gave me a suspicious look but then slipped the exam papers into his bag. This guy, he refused everything else but accepted exam papers because of his scholarship? He once threw away car keys when Ha Jin tried to win him over with a new car. Ha Jin, you were hopeless from the start—never understanding what the other person truly wanted.

“Why are you giving these to me?” he asked. The way he tucked the papers away was kind of cute, but I knew if I smiled, he’d turn cold again. So I held back and got to the main point.

“Would you study with me using these exam papers?” I asked.

“Why? You got top scores at admission and you’re first in the department,” he replied.

“That was just luck. Now that I’m a sophomore, I’m really struggling to keep up with the classes,” I confessed.

Sun Woo thought about it for a moment. A very good sign. The fact that he didn’t immediately refuse meant there was at least a possibility.

“It’s okay if you refuse. I’m just asking. I won’t ask for the papers back, even if you say no.”

Hmm, what a pure-hearted friend I am, right? Sun Woo paused and then explained his situation.

“I don’t have much time to study separately. I finish work past midnight. And I also work convenience store shifts at dawn every other day.”

“Really? What about weekends?” I asked.

“I work weekends too. Finish in the evening.”

Sun Woo, how are you managing to attend school normally? If it were me, I’d probably collapse from exhaustion with a massive nosebleed. 

Being a protagonist isn’t something just anyone can handle, I guess.

I felt guilty for taking up Sun Woo’s precious time, so I just nodded.

“It’s okay, Sun Woo. Thanks for considering it anyway.”

I’d have to try studying on my own somehow. Even if I couldn’t understand everything, maybe the professor would give me effort points if I included key words in my answers.

As I got up to leave the department room, Sun Woo called out to me.

“Ha Jin.”

Wait, did he just call my name? The great Ha Jin-phobic Sun Woo?

Everyone! Neighbors! Sun Woo called my name! That Sun Woo, who kept his mouth shut tight and wouldn’t call my name even when Ha Jin begged him to say it just once—he called my name!

I hid my inner celebration, but Sun Woo continued, his expression like he’d just bitten into a bitter persimmon.

“If you’re okay with it, we can study here during free periods.”

“Of course I’m okay with it. More than okay. Thanks, Sun Woo. You’re saving my life!” I said, feeling a huge sense of relief.

“Don’t expect too much,” he added. “I might not be as good as you.”

What are you talking about? Ha Jin’s brain has flown away and I can’t find it. You’ll be top of the class now, Sun Woo.

I smiled genuinely, feeling the pressure of midterms start to ease.

I’m saved.

Since most of our classes overlapped, we could use our free periods efficiently to go over the exam papers. Sun Woo would explain various aspects of the problems and ask, “How about this kind of answer?” I would respond like an idiot, “Oh, yeah. I see,” like a broken robot.

It was literally a one-on-one tutoring session from Sun Woo, with zero input from me.

Damn, the protagonist really is smart.

Not only was he intelligent, but he was also so good at organizing and extracting key points that my empty head was gradually starting to fill up.

I wasn’t that dumb. Wasn’t I talented enough to enter the prestigious A University’s demanding engineering department? Somehow, I managed to cram Sun Woo’s explanations into my head.

Sun Woo would occasionally give me strange looks, as the only one talking while I remained completely clueless about even the basics of business administration despite our study sessions together. 

His look of ‘How did this person get top grades?’ stung like a childhood vaccination.

Since it wasn’t a mutual exchange of ideas but just Sun Woo organizing everything alone, we weren’t progressing very quickly. So out of guilt, I bought him drinks and snacks. That’s how I learned something new: Sun Woo likes sweet things? How cute.

Friday. When he mentioned he didn’t have an evening shift today, I tried persuading Sun Woo again.

“Want to study at my place? It’ll be comfortable since I live alone. If it gets late, you can stay over.”

Sun Woo sighed, glancing at the exam papers that were still half-finished.

I felt sorry. I’d try harder for the next exam.

“Isn’t it kind of dark here? They say reading in dark places is bad for your eyes…” I let the sentence trail off, making excuses. Either way, I was the one who had to yield. If I was going to inherit the Eunha Group, I needed to maintain decent grades. Even if I couldn’t stay at the top of the class after entering with the highest score, I should at least stay in the upper ranks…

Wow, I’m even thinking about inheriting the Eunha Group? I guess I’m more ambitious than I thought.

“Okay,” Sun Woo said finally.

I immediately called the housekeeper to request dinner for two, telling him I’d wait in the car.

Sun Woo sighed once more before getting in. We didn’t exchange many words on the way to my place. It was strange. Seeing Sun Woo quietly riding in Ha Jin’s car was unusual. The Sun Woo I knew only ever rode in Ha Jin’s car when he was either completely drunk or kidnapped.

The thought made me laugh involuntarily.

“What?” Sun Woo looked at me strangely.

Oh, now you’re interested in my laughter? I’m touched. Ha Jin, if you want to feel this emotion, give me back your brain right now.

I couldn’t tell him the truth—that I was amazed he was calmly riding in my car—so I made something up.

“Just surprised to be talking with you and riding in a car together like this.”

“Must be fascinating for rich people? Doing this with ordinary people,” he remarked.

Why does he keep bringing up wealth every chance he gets?

While it’s not wrong that I’m wealthy, it’s actually fascinating because you’re a webtoon protagonist, not because you’re ordinary.

“It’s not that. It’s just my first time bringing a friend home. That’s what’s fascinating,” I explained.

I made my excuse. Honestly, Ha Jin never brought anyone home except Sun Woo. Even Kim Shin probably never set foot in Ha Jin’s house.

When we arrived home and went inside, we ran into the housekeeper, who was about to leave.

“Ha Jin, you’re home? But who’s this?” she asked, clearly surprised that I’d brought someone with me. Normally, when she runs into me while leaving, she just breezes past, always saying punctual departure is her life’s principle.

I introduced Sun Woo to the housekeeper, feeling a bit hurt.

“He’s my friend.”

“Oh my, Ha Jin finally made a friend? Congratulations!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands in genuine joy.

“Ah. Haha…” I chuckled awkwardly.

The housekeeper continued her celebration while Sun Woo’s gaze seemed to show a bit of pity. Perhaps because of that, Sun Woo didn’t contradict the housekeeper’s words about us being friends.

I was tearfully grateful to Sun Woo for that.