Lee Seok-min smiled and took the lead. Is that really that good? I'm having a mental breakdown right now, completely? We're not even dating, and you're kissing a student from school? Isn't that like a novel? And she's eight years younger than you. How could you possibly fall for someone eight years older than you? Someone would probably ask, "What did you do to a child?" Oh my... Where is my sanity, I keep coming here.
"Hey, hey!"
"yes?"
"You...is this easy?"
"Um... well?"
"What, don't answer with a question. It makes me feel like you've met a lot of people."
"So, are you jealous?"
"...Don't do that, I said. You're a student. You're in the prime of your relationship, but it's time for me to meet the one I'm destined for, the man I won't regret marrying."
"I'm not getting married? I'm going to get married too."
"No, but I mean - out of all the women, why me?"
"Because it's good. It's good, but if you ask me why, there's no particular reason. It's just that."
"If it's just that, how would you know.."
"You know there's a lot to the word 'just', teacher? When there's too much to talk about and I feel like I could go on and on all night, I just say 'just' to save time. It's not that I really don't know."
"oh..."
No, why am I admiring it? That's not the problem.
Bang, bang, bang, bang!
Someone's running from behind. It's scary because it feels like they're chasing me. A movie I saw a while ago was so scary... It was a movie that warned people to be careful when walking home late at night. Ugh... I got goosebumps after watching it because I never thought my friend was a stalker. It's even scarier when I think about it. Well, it's okay because Lee Seok-min is right next to me.
widely,
"Eww!!"
"ah!"
"What the heck!"
"..."
When I saw the face of the person who'd placed a hand on my shoulder, I was speechless. I stared at him with strange eyes, and Lee Seok-min, whose face I couldn't see because of the darkness and his hat pulled down low, was swearing under his breath. I guess he was quite startled by my yelling. Of course, so was the person in front of me.
Didn't you know I was yelling? He's just a guy who's just standing there blankly, not saying anything.
"...Who are you to surprise the teacher...Teacher?"
"...Oh, yeah, Seokmin..."
"Why are you here, teacher?"
"Well...on the way home from work..."
"ah..."
Yes, that short, cute, and stubborn guy who often wore a hat was Ji-Hoon, the music teacher. He made noises, but he should have just called me by my name! Why was he grabbing my shoulder? He'd startle people.
"But...the two of them are together?"
"Huh? Uh... yeah"
"why?"
"to?"
"No, just."
Even the word "just" that Teacher Ji-hoon uses, does it have much meaning? It's so full of emotions, so is it right to shorten it? Or is it simply because there's no real reason for it?
"No... if you ask me like that... what should I say..."
"Hmm."
"Don't hit me, I thought you couldn't breathe."
"I'm sorry for startling you, but if you're a student, it's already time to go home. Or to school."
"Ah... oh, really?"
"I told you I would bring you to Mr. Kook."
"...Ah, Seokminin... Do you go to school?"
"Yes? Yes. Because I'm good at studying."
"okay,"
***
Ugh... it's awkward. The three of us rode the bus together. Seokmin Lee told us many interesting or funny stories about his daily life, so we weren't bored. However, Seokmin Lee, who was just around the corner from home, got off near my house after only a few stops. I thought Teacher Jihoon got off at the same stop as me... how could I break this silence? Should I just move? Ugh, no. Would that be a bit rude? And would he get all irritated if I spoke to him...?
"Uh, ah..."
"..why?"
"Oh, no... no, I'm sleepy... haha..."
"..."
"...Just don't talk to me.."
width-,
"...uh...uh?"
"why?"
"No...I was just wondering if this is the right position..."
"I'll wake you up. You said you were sleepy."
"Uh... no..."
Teacher Ji-hoon made me rest my head on his shoulder. "Teacher Lee, don't you care about my waist? You're 164cm and I'm 167cm... It's not that different, but my waist really hurts a little. I'm also a little worried about Teacher Lee's shoulder."
"...Lee Seok-min is a grown man, I'm an adult. Even though I'm short...I can lean on him...It's a little sad."
***
Tuktuk,
"oh!"
I felt like I missed my stop, so I hurried out. Just the trunk, of course. Everyone else looked to the back of the car after hearing me. Ugh... I'm so pissed... Teacher Ji-hoon spoke to me as if nothing had happened.
"...I have to get off soon."
"...ah..."
Ugh... This is so annoying, why did I have to run into this teacher? If it was Seungkwan, he would have accepted even my boring jokes and gone along... I slept earlier so it wasn't that... awkward. What's the point! I can't sleep on the street right now... What should I say? No, I wish Jihoon would just open his mouth. It'd be better that way, I don't want to get all worked up either.
"...Teacher Haeryeong."
"Uh...uh...uh? Right now..."
"why?"
Did I find it too strange? But I still find strange things strange... Wow, it's so strange. This is why I don't know anything about music class. Isn't that why kids can't even ask questions?
"No...you just talked to me?"
"why?"
"Just... because it's interesting."
"Phew-, are you surprised that I called your name? Why?"
"Uh..oh..wow.."
"What else is so amazing?"
"Laughing..."
“Isn’t it natural for people to laugh, cry, and get angry?”
"That's true, but... Teacher Ji-Hoon always has a poker face no matter what happens... so I thought he only had one facial expression."
"Ah... but I still laugh once a day..."
"Hmm... Now I understand why girls go crazy whenever they see Teacher Ji-Hoon."
"yes?"
"The kids are really into it. Teacher."
"why?"
"Teacher, when you laugh, it's just like the 'Baby Sun' from Teletubbies. You know that saying is the same as saying that it's really cute, right?"
"Uh... well, I don't really know..."
"No! Teacher, you're so pretty! Even your cheeks...!"
I grabbed Lee Ji-hoon's cheeks with both hands and released them. Oh...what, really? They're so soft. I want to own them.
"Uh, ah..."
"Are you in pain? Is your skin weakened too? Ha... I'm jealous."
"Yeah, rather than talking about myself..."
"to?"
"I want to hear what Teacher Haeryeong has to say..."
"to?"
"...I'm just asking, so don't misunderstand. At twenty-six, I have every right to do that..."
"Hmm? What's the main point?"
"Uh...Teacher Hae-ryeong."
"Yes, yes, I'll answer everything. Opportunities like this don't come often."
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
"Of course!...Yes?"
"boy friend."