A Marriage with A Reason - Chapter 50

“Today is the last day of exams, right? Everyone, do your best until the end, okay?”

Some students responded with small nods or murmured replies, but no one reacted strongly to the teacher’s words. It was understandable—after all, today was the last day of exams. In their first and second years, the class would usually loosen up even before the final exam. But now, as third-year students, the atmosphere felt as tense as if they were preparing for the national college entrance exam.

Sojin, along with Dayun, Suji, and Hyunsoo, was no exception. They were busy studying, asking each other questions, and explaining difficult concepts to one another, completely focused on their final subjects.

“Oh, and today, there will be no formal closing session. Just clean up the trash around you and head home on your own.”

As soon as the teacher spoke these welcome words, the entire class erupted in cheers, as if they had never been concentrating at all. It had been a while since they heard such a relieving announcement.

“But starting tomorrow, you know you have to study hard again, right? Today is the only day you can relax and sleep in.”

“Yes!”

With the weekend ahead, no one knew if they would actually keep that promise, but for now, everyone was smiling. Excitement was slowly settling in as the realization of the end of exams sank in.

“Five minutes until the bell. Let’s start wrapping up.”

As soon as the teacher announced that there was only one minute left, a silent but urgent flurry of movements filled the room. Sojin was no exception. Realizing she had only five minutes left, she hurriedly filled in her answer sheet, making sure to double-check her markings. She even whispered a small prayer.

“Please, let me do well. Please help me get a good score.”

Sojin was desperate. She wanted to go on a date with Daon. She wanted to get closer to him. Even though she was still young, he was the first person to make her heart race this way.

When the supervising teacher finally collected all the answer sheets and left the room, the students immediately started talking, as if they had been holding their breath.

“Wait, wasn’t the answer for that question number one?”

“What are you talking about? It was number five. Didn’t you know?”

Everyone was discussing which answers were right and wrong. Normally, Sojin would have checked her answers too, but she didn’t feel like comparing her test with the textbook this time. This exam was just too important for her.

“Hey, Jung Sojin, how did your test go?”

Hyunsoo, Dayun, and Suji walked up to Sojin, flipping through their textbooks to check answers. Seeing their bright faces, Sojin wondered if she was the only one who found the test difficult.

“What’s with you guys? You look so happy. Did you do well?”

“It was okay. Suji and Dayun said they did pretty well.”

“Wow, I’m jealous.”

Sojin looked at Suji and Dayun with envy. Suji was a top student, and although Dayun and Hyunsoo weren’t at Suji’s level, they still maintained decent grades. She couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. Of course, they worked hard, so it made sense that they performed well, but still, she wished she could be like them.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I think it was really hard.”

Seeing Sojin look a little discouraged, Dayun and Suji patted her shoulder reassuringly.

“No way, you definitely did well. You studied really hard for this.”

“Yeah, like Dayun said, you’ll be fine. Besides, everyone said this test was tough.”

Sojin looked at them, feeling a little more hopeful.

“Really? You think so?”

“Yeah.”

They weren’t just saying it to be nice. Even their teacher and classmates had noticed how hard Sojin had worked.

At that moment, Hyunsoo smirked and teased her.

“Well, at least your grades will improve. I mean, they can’t get any worse, right?”

Although he was joking, Sojin could tell he meant that she had done well. She shot him a playful glare before breaking into a smile.

“That’s true.”

In reality, Hyunsoo was right. There was nowhere to go but up.

“I really hope my grades go up a lot. Then I can proudly show my report card to Daon oppa.”

Seeing Sojin’s face full of excitement and anticipation, Dayun felt a heavy weight settle in her chest. Before being Sojin’s friend, she was also Daon’s younger sister. And she knew something Sojin didn’t—Daon had already started seeing someone else.

She wanted to tell Sojin to stop hoping, but she also didn’t want to hurt her friend. More than anything, she wasn’t sure how to break the news.

Meanwhile, Daon was walking home, thinking about his friend’s words.

“So, what do you think?”

“Huh? About what?”

“About Min Dayoung.”

“Oh…”

Hearing the name of the girl from his blind date, Daon immediately understood what his friend meant.

“Isn’t she nice? She’s pretty, has a model-like figure…”

“Yeah… she’s nice. She’s kind and polite too.”

Daon nodded. Dayoung was beautiful, but more than that, she had a kind heart. Unlike most people their age, she was innocent, cheerful, and genuinely a good person.

“So, are you going to date her?”

“Are you crazy? We’ve only met a few times.”

Daon was taken aback. They had only known each other for about three weeks. Wasn’t it too soon to ask that?

“Come on, time doesn’t matter. If you feel something, you go for it. What, is she not your type? Do you feel nothing for her?”

“It’s not that… it’s just…”

His relationship with Dayoung was in a gray area. They weren’t dating, but they weren’t just friends either. She had already confessed that she liked him, and he was considering it. But something was holding him back.

“Oh, I get it. That high school girl is on your mind, isn’t she?”

It was true. Sojin was on his mind. He hadn’t realized it until now, but the thing that was bothering him—it was Sojin.

“Of course, I care about her. She likes me, and she’s my sister’s best friend…”

“That’s the problem.”

His friend’s words made him pause.

“Your indecisiveness is worse. If you like her, say so. If you don’t, make it clear. Dragging it out because you feel bad? That just hurts everyone more.”

Hearing those words, Daon let out a deep sigh. His sister had once said something similar.

“Guys like you are the worst. Giving false hope, being nice for no reason…”

She had looked at him with such disappointment back then. And now, he realized she might have been right.

“So… what should I do?”

“Figure out what you really feel. Think about where your heart is.”

At that moment, his phone vibrated.

[Daon, my class just ended. Can we meet? I want to hear your answer.]

It was Dayoung. She wanted his response.

Daon knew it wasn’t right, but at that moment, it felt like an escape.

[Okay. I’ll come to you.]

With that, he turned and walked in the opposite direction.

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