I am indifferent. I didn't even realize that what I was doing was arrogance.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.

The clock rings out noisily. The mechanical pencil in my hand has already stopped trembling, gliding across the exam paper without a single error. Finally, after dense lines are drawn across the page, I pick up the marker and begin marking the OMR card.

—10 minutes remaining.

There didn't seem to be much time for review. After finishing the short-answer section, I monitor the numerous dots on the OMR card. Checking if any of them have become a discordance.

—5 minutes remaining.

My heart gradually tightens. However, my monitoring eyes do not tremble at all. After pouring everything in until the very last second, the OMR cards are collected. I let out a sigh. I could see the other kids flocking toward me.

"Dohyun, what's the answer to number 1? What was the answer to number 3?" Depending on my answers, the classroom is filled with either desperate screams or perhaps cheers. Honestly, everyone studies so little. Of course, it's also true that I'm just good at it.

I saw the transfer student who arrived this year in the distance. They didn't move at all, simply checking their exam paper before walking to their bag and tucking it inside. "What, how annoying," I thought, but soon returned to my seat.

A few days later. The exam results came out. After confirming that everything was Grade 1, I looked at the school rankings. Soon, my face crumpled completely.

2/623

2nd place. There was no such thing as 2nd place in my dictionary. I had only ever watched 2nd place chasing after my heels. I was irritated. A deep sense of loathing rising from below began to consume my body.

The kids approached me and looked at my report card. I tried to hide it quickly, but it had already caught someone's eye.

The silence is stinging my ears. I am sensitive. To the point where it's difficult to live in this noisy world.