Delinquent Girls Are Too Fond of Me

Another day begins, just like any other.

No, not quite the same.

For some reason, something feels… different.

“Alright, let’s summarize.

To calculate the force of tension, you simply need to consider all the positive and negative forces acting on it.

For forces directed straight up or down, you can derive the result using the formula.

But what about diagonal tension forces? How do you calculate those?

You break them down into their X and Y components and calculate from there. Does that make sense?”

…It makes sense.

Just last week, none of the material in this introductory college physics course made any sense to me. But now, somehow, it clicks.

For some reason, today, everything seems to make sense as I hear it.

Of course, I’ve missed a lot up to this point and barely grasp the basics, not even knowing high school-level physics properly… But somehow, I feel like I’m piecing things together, connecting fragments as I go.

Have I finally lost it?

“Let’s try solving an example problem. Take a look at question 5.2. You have five minutes to solve it.”

“Okay,” came the scattered responses from the students as everyone got to work on the problem.

Normally, college classes are held in large lecture halls with 40–50 students per session.

But there are also quite a few classes held in smaller rooms, broken down into groups of about eight students. This was one of those.

I was told that this system was introduced because the academic level of new students had recently been seriously lacking. The university decided to introduce this intensive, teacher-centred system as a way of dealing with this.

I’m not sure if it’s the best approach, but… it helps because it forces me to concentrate and keep my eyes open.

‘Can I calculate this?’

My heart raced.

The total sum of forces is calculated based on equilibrium, where ΣF=0Sigma F = 0.

There are diagonal forces A1A_1 and A2A_2, along with a vertical supporting force A3A_3.

The weight of the object is denoted as BB, and its downward force is expressed as BgB g, factoring in gravity.

All forces can be broken down into their X and Y components to create equations.

The equation for xix_i is derived by isolating the X components of the diagonal forces A1A_1 and A2A_2.

The equation for yiy_i is similarly derived by isolating the Y components of A1A_1 and A2A_2.

For the direction of force, upward Y forces are considered positive, and rightward X forces are also considered positive.

And by doing this?

You can use trigonometric equations to calculate the total sum of forces.

For XiX_i:

A2cos⁡θ2−A1cos⁡θ1=0A_2 cos theta_2 – A_1 cos theta_1 = 0

For YiY_i:

A1sin⁡θ1−A2sin⁡θ2−Bg=0A_1 sin theta_1 – A_2 sin theta_2 – B g = 0

By substituting the given numbers from the example into these equations, you can calculate the sum of forces in all directions.

‘What the hell is this?’

I have no idea what’s happening.

Just a few days ago, I was like everyone else, clutching my head in frustration and burying my nose in the textbook.

“Uh… hmm…”

Sniff…

Even at a university known for its fair share of slackers and delinquents, everyone struggles.

A few days ago I was like that.

But now, suddenly, it feels like something has changed in my brain. Everything flows smoothly and I understand everything with ease.

‘What is going on?’

Is it because I lost my virginity with Lee Ju-ha?

Did breaking free from my virgin state unblock some sort of mental barrier?

…No way. It’s been over a week since I lost it, and there was no change until now.

Then is it because of my first kiss with Lee Ju-ha?

Does kissing somehow speed up brain function or make you smarter? That’s ridiculous.

Was I doomed to die a clueless virgin, but a successful kiss would shock my brain into opening up?

…Ugh, such a loser thought. Damn, now that I’m thinking about the kiss, I’m getting excited again.

Anyway, no matter how much I think about it, I can’t figure it out.

What could have wiped my brain clean like that?

There’s no denying that something feels drastically different since yesterday. But what is it?

‘Poker?’

The thought crossed my mind.

Poker, Hold’em—games I hadn’t even glanced at before.

For months I have been wandering aimlessly, my mind blank, just walking, eating and existing. But yesterday, for the first time in ages, I actually focused on something.

Could this make any sense?

Had a few hands of poker really sharpened my thinking?

And yet there’s nothing else to explain this sudden change.

When I think about it, when was the last time I focused on something so intensely?

Even with online games, I’d just play them mindlessly to pass the time – I’d never really concentrate on them.

“Lee Jun-hyung? Have you solved it yet?”

“Huh? Oh, not yet.”

“Hmm.”

Without realizing it, I lied.

If I had said, “Yeah, I solved it. It was easy,” while everyone else was still struggling, I’d attract way too much attention.

The professor leaned against the podium with a serious expression, as if thinking, How am I supposed to drag these idiots forward…

After a moment’s thought, the professor stepped away from the podium and began to walk towards our side of the room.

“Hmm…”

It looks like the professor wants to see how the students solve the problem.

I quickly pretended to scribble with my pen.

Even though I’d already solved it!

“What exactly are you having trouble understanding, student?”

” Um… the trigonometric equations don’t make sense to me.”

“Is that so? Do you at least understand the concept of the X and Y force coordinate systems?”

“Honestly, not really…”

The professor immediately zeroed in on one student and marked him for intensive attention.

I bought myself some time.

Looks like today’s lesson is going to end on a high note.

Not that I’m complaining – I had already planned to go shopping with Yoo In-ha after class anyway.

Scribble, scribble.

My thoughts drifted back to poker.

Poker… Could playing it really have somehow opened up my mind?

Or maybe if I had focused on something similar, it would have had the same effect?

If not, could it have been the underlying sense of urgency – the fear of screwing up Lee Ju-ha’s money – that made me focus?

I can’t say for sure.

Maybe I’m just overthinking it, getting excited for nothing.

“You get it now, right?”

The professor’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Ah… yes, professor…”

The student’s hesitant, unclear answer drifted out.

The professor clicked his tongue slightly and started walking again.

I kept scribbling nonsense with my pen, pretending I was still working on the problem I’d already solved.

“Hmm…”

The professor stopped beside me.

He bent down slightly, as if to examine my work.

Suddenly, I felt a wave of unnecessary tension.

What if I’d actually gotten it all completely wrong without realizing it?

“Oh, Jun-hyung Lee?”

“Yes?”

The professor spoke in an animated tone.

“You solved it perfectly! How did you do it?”

…Uh… I just used my brain to solve it, I guess?

It felt like he was silently saying, ‘How did someone who was struggling like crazy just a few days ago manage to solve this? This is surprising.’

“I think… I just understood today’s lesson really well.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Not surprisingly, the eyes of the other students turned to me.

It was probably inevitable, as this was the first time I’d ever received praise from the professor.

I instinctively shrank into myself at the sudden attention.

Attention like that always makes me anxious for no reason…

“Very good.”

He wandered around as if looking for another ‘success story’. But judging by his expression, he didn’t find much.

The chuckling professor quickly returned to a serious demeanour.

“Jun-hyung Lee?”

“Y-yes?”

Damn, what now? A wave of unease washed over me.

“Would you mind coming up and showing us your solution? From a student’s perspective.

Can you explain it in detail?”

“What?”

The attention shifted back to me.

***

“Uh… okay, let’s start with the basic premise. We begin with ΣF=0Sigma F = 0, assuming the total sum of forces is zero. Then, as the professor explained, we calculate the sum of forces in the X-direction and the Y-direction…”

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

How long had it been since I was last called to the front of the class like this?

The weight of eight pairs of eyes on my back made it feel like sweat was pouring out in streams.

“First, we calculate the force of A1A_1…”

“Since A1A_1 is directed to the left, its X-component is negative, and its Y-component is positive.”

“Good, good. Keep going.”

“For A2A_2, which is directed to the right, the X-component is calculated using cosine, and the Y-component using sine, as derived from the trigonometric equations.”

I explained my solution step by step, writing it down on the whiteboard as I went.

‘Oh god… my inner nerd is about to faint…’

“By splitting the forces into X and Y components, we add up each direction’s forces.

Finally, we calculate the downward force of BgB g, where gg, the gravitational acceleration, is 9.8 m/s29.8 , mathrm{m/s^2}.”

And that’s it.

I put down the pen, feeling a strange warmth rising in my chest, like I’d just run a marathon.

The professor beamed with a broad smile and clapped enthusiastically.

“Perfect, Jun-hyung Lee. Did everyone else understand? That was a really clear explanation.”

The other students nodded vaguely.

Of course, they weren’t nodding because they actually understood. It was just the usual polite gesture of agreement.

I felt my face turn bright red. Being praised for something that didn’t feel like a big deal just made the situation feel weirder.

“Jun-hyung, you’re doing really well. I noticed in your notes earlier that you also solved some of the other sample problems perfectly. I thought you weren’t paying attention, but I was clearly wrong.”

“Ah… yes… haha…”

I felt exposed, like I was standing completely naked in front of the whole class.

Sometimes in high school, when I was asked to solve a problem and get it right, the girl bullies would grin and tease me.

“Hey, Jun-hyung. You’re smart, huh?”

“Hey, Jun-hyung. It must feel good to be praised, huh?”

“This guy is grinning from ear to ear, isn’t he?”

“You like it? Huh? Do you like it? Do you?”

They’d nudge me with the tips of their shoes, giggling, and my face would turn bright red every time.

For some reason, those memories came flooding back now.

“Let Jun-hyung help his classmates. It’s often easier to understand if a classmate explains something instead of the professor. Don’t you think so? And it’s also easier to ask questions, isn’t it?”

“Ah… yes… okay…”

D-damn it. Not only have I attracted attention, but now I’ve been given a mission.

Please, Professor, don’t do this! You went through a nerdy phase too, didn’t you? Stop the friendly fire on your own kind!

“Everyone, don’t hesitate to ask Jun-hyung for help.

“If you study together, you will understand things much faster. You shouldn’t study alone. And you’ll get to know each other better. Isn’t that great? This is what college life is all about.”

‘Just kill me…’

I clenched my hands in silent agony, practically crying blood.

After almost 10 agonising minutes of standing at the front, I finally managed to get back to my seat.

“Alright. Let’s take a 10 minute break.”

“Use the time to get some water or stretch.”

“Okay,” the class replied in unison.

As soon as the professor stepped out, most of the students shuffled out with him, leaving only three or four of us behind.

I fanned myself lightly with my shirt, trying to cool myself down.

I almost died… choking with embarrassment.