The reason I couldn’t easily agree with Go Yohan’s words was because of that unfamiliar number—86—that had been squeezing my brain dry since the finals.

After grading my answers, I usually wrote down my predicted score proudly at the top of the paper. But this time, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. My face burned hot, and I quickly flipped the test paper over, crumpled it up, and shoved it into my bag. I didn’t grade any of the other tests after that.

The days I had been desperately avoiding finally passed, and today arrived.

Our homeroom teacher entered, holding a thick stack of papers in one hand. We already had a good guess about what they were since the teacher had announced a few days ago that the report cards were coming. The classroom quickly settled down, and the teacher called out the first name on the sheet.

“Kang Jun.”

Of course, they called me first. Out of all people.

Eyes filled with a messy mix of anticipation and anxiety landed on me. The order was supposed to be random—so why the hell was I first? My legs felt like they were weighed down with sandbags, each step heavy and dragging.

“……”

“……Here’s your report card, Jun-ah.”

The teacher’s face, twisted up and crumpled like a piece of discarded paper, gave me a pretty clear idea of what disaster was waiting for me inside that report card. My vision flashed bright yellow for a split second.

No way. No, no, no. Seriously—no.@@novelbin@@

There was no time for hesitation. I didn’t even open it right away. Just like the last time, I folded the paper in half the second it touched my hand and returned to my seat. My pathetic pride wouldn’t let me check it on the spot. Once I sat down, I unfolded the report card as casually as I could, forcing a neutral expression onto my face.

But I’ve always been overly aware of my surroundings, so before I dared to look, I glanced up.

Lim Yungi and Park Haon, sitting in front of me, had already turned their bodies halfway around, blatantly peeking at my report card’s cover.

My face burned with heat.

The hell are these assholes looking at?

The fact that I was even thinking like this meant I was already doomed. But still—better this than letting them see me crumble.

“Hey, what rank are you?”

“First place again, right?”

“Who knows…”

I laughed awkwardly and covered the paper with my hand. Park Haon immediately chimed in.

“What? You didn’t check yet?”

“Well… I’m kinda nervous.”

“Want me to check for you?”

“No!”

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