Since there are so many kids, I'll have to tell them to play rock-paper-scissors to decide among themselves.
But there was one kid who really stood out... I feel like if I don't say anything, he'll keep doing that.
"Okay... Seokmin, when I tell you to raise your hand, just raise one hand. You don't have to open your eyes wide. Since you're in the center seat, I can see you the best."
The kids started to laugh a little at my words. Lee Seok-min looked around a bit embarrassed and scratched his head. If you just shrug your shoulders at me...what would I do?
"Ahem, stop laughing. Pick three people and come on Saturday. I'll give you the address."
'yes--'
"There's plenty of time, guys. It's still Wednesday."
'iced coffee-'
'Teacher, you have to go to work tomorrow too!'
'Are we the only ones going to and from school?'
'Why are you like that, teacher, when you're in the same situation?'
"Ha... Okay, anyway, class is over. Get ready for first period."
***
Saturday, 1:06 PM
"Ah...are you alone?"
"Yes, why?"
At school, the kids were clearly yelling and screaming that they would do it themselves, but why is it only Seokmin Lee who is told to come at 1 o'clock?
"Oh... no, there were a lot of kids..."
"Well, I kicked them all out."
"what?"
I was speechless. No, you're cleaning your house? It's my house? I have to transfer to a different school, and Sebong High School is a private school... Ah, anyway. If Lee Seok-min does something weird, you're a student, so your future and everything will be exposed in the student affairs department. What else can you do besides cleaning up at home with students and teachers? No, at least this is too weird.
"Why are you kicking me out, my disciples? And if you're the only one, when will you finally get rid of them all?"
"Hey... Are you exaggerating?"
"what..."
"Oh, actually. The kids said okay because I said I'd buy pizza too."
"Hah... these guys. I guess I'll have to kill them tomorrow morning?"
"Why are you doing this to my friends?"
"Then bring two of your friends."
"Ah... I can't help it. If this keeps up, my organs might get emptied at night. Can I call you now?"
"Yeah. Hurry up. Time is passing."
***
Tirik-,
Oh...are these kids from another school? I've never seen these faces before. But, how come they're all so handsome? They're all...eighteen, right? It's a shame. Ah, what am I thinking right now?
"hello,"
"Hello, I am a student at Sanhwa High School."
"Yeah, okay. Thanks for coming."
"Teacher, you never said that to me."
"If it's Oxygen, it's quite far from my house, right?"
"It's okay, but is there anything you need to clean up at home?"
"It looks so clean."
Yeah, I guess so. I should tell them not to believe everything they see. They really think I'm super clean. At least for now. Why, the saying "a bright apricot" seems like it was made just for me.
"Okay, can you tell me your names?"
"I'm Seo Myeong-ho, 18 years old."
"Hmm...your pronunciation is kind of cute."
"Teacher, this kid is Chinese."
"Huh? Really? Somehow- you're cute."
"I'm Jeon Won-woo, 21 years old.."
"Huh? Are you an adult?"
"yes..."
"But how do you know so well... I've been close with Myeongho since I was little, and I lent Wonwoo 500 won at a convenience store when I was in the third year of middle school."
"Wow... what a good relationship. Just don't fight."
***
Squeak-,
"Oh, it's getting dark-"
"? There are blackout curtains here."
"Oh, yes. I used to sleep here, but the sunlight was uncomfortable, so I installed blackout curtains."
Jeon Won-woo asked me. "It's so... dark, isn't it? If I turn on the lights, everyone will run away... Actually, Jeon Won-woo is an adult, so... I can't speak informally to him. I have to respect his thoughts too. Do you think it's okay for me to act like that?"
"But why are you speaking formally to me?"
"Ah...they're students, but Jeon Won-woo...is an adult at 21. Since it's our first time meeting, I feel more uncomfortable saying no."
"Then please use polite language too."
"uh?"
Seo Myeong-ho said. Oh... that's right, this is your first time seeing it too.
"Why are you so surprised?"
"Yeah, no... well... if it's uncomfortable, I'll do that, Mongho."
"Pfft- Just kidding. But, what do you call me?"
"Ah... school was different, really. Then!"
"Can I call you teacher?"
"No! Call me sister!"
"You spoke so confidently," Lee Seok-min's playful expression hardened. "Why are you saying that? You're my older sister, right? Then you want me to call her 'aunt'? Is it a crime to call someone older or younger when we're eight years apart?"
"Uh...then I will do that, sis."
"Um...then I'm your older sister too!"
"You should call me teacher. How dare you."
"If you dare call me sister..."
"Okay, let's start cleaning. What are you doing in front of the door? I'll turn on the light. Just a moment... The switch..."
widely,
"Okay! Come on in, I'll get some rubber gloves."
"Ah... crazy..."
"Oh... it's dirtier than I thought..."
"That's right, Seo Myung-ho, you like things especially neat. You like marble more than wood."
"Ah... I think I need to use some strength."
"Okay! I brought gloves... What are you two doing?"
Seo Myeong-ho and Lee Seok-min were carrying a worn-out desk, while Jeon Won-woo was crouched in the corner, picking up a comic book from the shelf and reading it. All three of their eyes were focused on me. It was burdensome, that kind of concentration... But, don't your hands hurt if you keep doing that?
"Hey... don't your hands hurt when you do that?"
"...Of course...it hurts..."
bang,!!
"Wow, that's surprising!"
"Hot...my finger..."
"Let go, you almost got kicked in the foot. And this is a villa. If the downstairs neighbors complain about the noise..."
"Hey, why do you care about that?"
"You have to be careful, then! Isn't this your house?"
Lee Seok-min said with a slightly crooked tone.
"Tsk... I'm trying to help, but you always nag me..."
"You weren't going to go?!"
"Ah...can you be a little quieter? I brought rubber gloves, so everyone take them. Aren't you going to clean?"
Perhaps it was the noise, but Jeon Won-woo snatched the rubber gloves from my hand and handed them out to Seo Myeong-ho and Lee Seok-min. "Why should I, the landlord, get scolded by a stranger?"
"Haha, ahem.. Okay! Let's clean up now."
"Lee Seok-min, get back in there. We need to move outside."
"Uh, two... three!"
"What? Why move it?"
"It's really dirty, and since I even put up blackout curtains, it's obvious that mold would have grown... Since I'm cleaning it anyway, I might as well paint it."
"What-?"