Chapter 27, Part 1: Racing Through Time (2)

"I recommend Eunbi as the class president!"

Jiwon raised her hand boldly and said. No matter how much I tried to dissuade her, it was no use.

On a warm April day, the class president election took place during the morning assembly.

When it came to the class president, I felt a sense of disgust.

Because from first grade to sixth grade, I had never missed being the class president.

I even served as the class president for both semesters due to the lack of outstanding candidates.

If I were a real elementary school student, I might have felt proud of being chosen as the class president.

But I was only a nominal elementary school student; my consciousness was already that of an adult.

The position of class president was merely a troublesome and meaningless title.

"I recommend Byungsoo."

After me, Byungsoo's name was called out.

Byungsoo, whose name was called, shot me a glance.

It was a provocative look that seemed to say, "Let's see how you handle this."

Byungsoo was a child who harbored a rival consciousness towards me.

Byungsoo liked Jiwon, but Jiwon liked me.

Byungsoo wanted to be the top student, but that position always belonged to me.

It was as if he wanted to like me but couldn't.

Compared to my past life, Byungsoo and I were in completely opposite positions.

'Indeed, reincarnation doesn't always lead to good outcomes.'

I couldn't hide my mixed feelings.

Even though I hadn't done anything wrong, I realized that just by living my life, I could make others resent me.

Byungsoo was a prime example.

Byungsoo had become the embodiment of jealousy because of me.

In my past life, he was a top student with nothing to envy.

"Eunbi, one vote. Eunbi, one vote. Byungsoo, one vote. Byungsoo, one vote."

The early vote count was as close as a presidential election.

Byungsoo and I were in a tight tug-of-war until two "正" characters were formed.

"That guy is really despicable, you know?"

Jiwon, sitting next to me, pouted and whispered to me.

"What do you mean?"

"He's been inviting friends to his house for the past few days, treating them to lots of good food. He must have really wanted to be the class president."

"..."

"If it weren't for that, Eunbi, you would have definitely been the class president."

Jiwon provided unexpected information.

Was that the reason for his confident look earlier?

However, the final vote count was 35 to 25, and I was ultimately chosen as the class president.

I briefly considered giving the meaningless title of class president to Byungsoo but decided against it.

If I did, Byungsoo's pride would be even more hurt.

"Then, Eunbi is the class president, and Byungsoo is the vice president. Both of you, come forward."

At the teacher's call, I stood in front of the desk.

"Thank you all for choosing me as the class president. If you have any inconvenience or difficulties, please let me know. I will do my best to help."

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Applause broke out.

Especially the noise from the troublemaker and Yo-han was loud.

After finishing my class president speech and stepping back, I met Byungsoo's eyes again.

Byungsoo's eyes, burning with inferiority and jealousy, were no longer those of an elementary school student.

Byungsoo regarded me as his mortal enemy.

Perhaps, even if I became a doctor, I would encounter countless people like Byungsoo.

If so, it might be good to prepare in advance.

The courage to be hated.

* * *

After the morning classes ended, lunchtime arrived.

I opened my lunch box and ate lunch with Jiwon, the troublemaker, and Yo-han.

The most elaborate lunch box, without a doubt, belonged to Jiwon. Her lunch box was insulated, and the side dish container had three tiers.

"Here, a fried egg."

Jiwon placed a fried egg on my lunch box.

Since I went to the hospital with her when Jiyong was injured and comforted her, Jiwon has been treating me more warmly.

Because of this, not only the students in our class but all the students in the school knew that Jiwon liked me.

We were almost a certified couple.

While Jiwon's affectionate advances were somewhat burdensome and annoying, I managed to handle them well.

I thought, how far can the innocent feelings of elementary school students go?

"Thanks, I'll eat well."

"Hey, Jiwon, are you discriminating against people? Pay attention to us too, not just Eunbi."

"Taking care of the family is for the inside, not the outside."

Jiwon lightly countered with a phrase she had picked up somewhere.

"Eunbi, congratulations on becoming the class president."

Yo-han, who had been silent, spoke to me.

I thanked him and changed the topic.

"Yo-han, how's your body?"

"It's fine. At first, it felt like there was something in my chest, but now I don't feel that way. As long as my heart rate isn't too fast, I can run without feeling suffocated."

"That's a relief."

Seeing Yo-han adapting to the pacemaker, I sighed with relief.

I was worried that he might lose confidence and become more passive due to the fact that he had a machine implanted in his body.

After lunch, we went on an expedition to the neighboring class to play the game of flipping caps.

We ambitiously tried to avenge the humiliation we suffered last time, but the result was another defeat.

When we left, our cap pouches, which were full, were now half empty.

"Hey, Eunbi. Are you, the class president, just playing cap games? You should set a good example for your friends."

Turning my head at the aggressive tone, I saw Byungsoo with a displeased expression.

His cheeks were puffed up with dissatisfaction at being the vice president.

'Is it really inevitable?'

No matter how much I soared and reincarnated, I couldn't be loved by everyone.

I knew this, but when it actually happened, it left a bitter aftertaste.

However, arguing with an elementary school student with an adult's consciousness seemed childish.

But I couldn't just sit there like a doormat.

Sixth-grade elementary school students are a cunning age.

If I just let them get away with it, I might suffer.

Although it might seem childish, I thought I should take this opportunity to teach them a lesson.

"Byungsoo, are you saying you can't play cap games? Can you beat me at cap games?"

My challenge to his pride made Byungsoo's face turn red.

"Do you think I'll lose to you?"

"Then, let's have a match."

"Fine. I'll show you what it's like to lose."

The intense cap game between the newly elected class president and vice president began.

To cut to the chase, the cap game ended with my overwhelming victory.

It's just that there was a kid in the neighboring class who was good at cap games.

My cap game skills weren't inferior to anyone.

"Ugh, I'm so annoyed!"

Bang!

Byungsoo, who lost his cap, hit the desk with his fist and left the classroom, fuming.

The children laughed at Byungsoo's behavior.

I finally decided on the algorithm for when I need to be hated.

Tit for tat.

The strategy that consistently ranked first in the prisoner's dilemma game simulated on a computer.

Tit for tat, in simple terms, means an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

It's a tactic of showing kindness to those who are kind to me and giving a stern punishment to those who betray or are hostile to me.

I will move according to tit for tat from now on.

* * *

On the weekend after the class president election, my mother, father, and I visited my grandparents' house again.

Since we had resolved the long-standing grievances, there was no reason not to visit often.

'Is it time to move on to the next plan?'

I looked out the car window, lost in thought.

The fact that my grandfather started managing his health after being diagnosed with bronchiectasis was certainly good news.

However, it couldn't be said that it had completely dispelled the dark clouds over my maternal family.

Soon, the IMF, or the foreign exchange crisis, would cause my grandfather's company to decline and eventually go bankrupt.

Protecting my grandfather's company could be seen as the final challenge I need to overcome.

Of course, I was a former doctor.

I knew nothing about economics.

However, I did know of a business idea that might interest my grandfather.

It was an idea that I could suggest to my grandfather because I was a reincarnated doctor.

My grandfather was running a company related to computers and servers.

Since he was a graduate of Shinwon University, it probably wasn't too late to start now.

'The problem is persuasion...'

Even if I knew a good business idea, it would be meaningless if I couldn't persuade my grandfather.

In a childlike and innocent manner.

And when heard, it should be captivating.

I pondered how to persuade my grandfather with these two points in mind.

"Eunbi, you said there's a sports day next week, right?"

My mother suddenly spoke to me.

"Yes."

"Then, I'll have to give out hamburgers to the class."

My mother smiled and patted my head. It was a cultural norm that the class president had to give food to the entire class.

"Being a class president is as common as eating, isn't it? I'm really tired of it. I wish I could stop being the class president."

In response to my father's question, I answered with a look of disgust.

My father and mother laughed.

"By the way, Mom and Dad have prepared a surprise gift for Eunbi."

"What kind of gift?"

It was odd to receive a gift when my birthday was far away. Looking at my mother, who was sitting next to me, she only smiled contentedly.

"Do you want to guess?"

"Um... a game console?"

"It's not a game console."

"Then, pocket money?"

"It's not pocket money either. It's a much more significant gift than a game console or pocket money. Can't you guess?"

"Yes."

"Eunbi, it seems you'll have a younger sibling soon."

At my father's bombshell announcement, I opened my mouth in shock. The phrase "beyond imagination" seemed to apply to such moments.

A younger sibling... in this world...

"Mom, really?"

"Of course, really. Eunbi's younger sibling is growing in Mom's belly. Do you want to feel it?"

My mother took my hand and placed it on her belly.

Of course, I couldn't feel anything yet.

'So, life changes again like this.'

I barely managed to calm my surprised heart.

Around this time in my past life, my parents went through a lot of hardships.

After guaranteeing the debt of the notorious fraudster, Go Mal-sook, our family completely fell apart.

My father quit writing and started doing odd jobs.

My mother began working at a restaurant, which didn't suit her, as she was advised to quit her job at the hospital due to her leg injury from a car accident.

The used bookstore, which was our family's home, was sold, and we moved from one small rented room to another.

But with my reincarnation, our family's situation changed 180 degrees.

There was no debt guarantee, and the small rented room turned into an apartment.

As a result, my parents' relationship was also excellent. In other words, with the improved family situation, my parents decided to have a second child.

I was slightly excited about having a younger sibling, whom I didn't have in my past life.

A younger brother?

A younger sister?

Who would they resemble more, my mother or my father?

Just imagining the future sibling gave me a strange feeling.

"Isn't it good to have a younger sibling?"

"Yes, I'll be really nice to my younger sibling."

"Of course. Eunbi, you're so mature and commendable. You've already thought of a name for the second child. What about 'Sarang'? Doesn't it sound loving just by the name?"

"I like it. It fits well with Eunbi."

My mother nodded vigorously in agreement with my father.

After that, I had a long conversation with my parents about the future sibling.

The birth of a sibling 12 years younger than me.

It was a shocking event in many ways after my reincarnation.