15ㅣPerception
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“…It’s already morning.”
“…”
“You’re cute, Park Jimin.”
“Hmm…”
“Are you awake?”
“…I can’t believe I got to see your pretty face so close up as soon as I woke up.”
“Get up and go to school quickly. Oh, by the way… Do you have a uniform?”
"no…?"
“It’s 7:50 now… Oh, you said your house was close to mine, right?”
“Huh? Oh… yeah, that’s right.”
“Then go home quickly, put on your uniform, and come to school. I’ll see you at school!”
"okay."
“Park Jimin, you idiot… why did you lie like that?”
Jimin's house was quite far from Ah-young's house, a 20-minute bus ride away, and the fact that he said it was close to Ah-young's house was a lie because he wanted to go to school with Ah-young every day.
“What should I do… The bus just left and I have to wait another 20 minutes, so it’s a 40-minute round trip…”
The school start time was 8:20 AM, which was a woefully inadequate time for Jimin, who had to wait for a missed bus, then stop by home and catch another. Worried about this, Jimin considered spending every penny he had on a taxi. However, having already spent everything in Seoul, he ended up with only 2,000 won left in his wallet.
“… I’m screwed.”
Meanwhile, at school, Ayoung was anxiously waiting for Jimin, who hadn't arrived. Since Jimin had said he was close, Ayoung assumed it wouldn't take long, so she waited. However, as the 20-minute mark approached and Jimin hadn't arrived, she grew increasingly anxious.
“Ayoung, what are you thinking about?”
“Oh, Yeonwoo… I think Park Jimin is a little late.”
“What, by the way, Park Jimin isn’t here?”
“Why aren’t you coming? The teacher will be here soon.”
Jimin didn't show up until class finally started, and about halfway through, he cautiously opened the back door and came in. The teacher looked at Jimin disapprovingly and said.
“Why are you coming now?”
"… sorry."
“Okay, get out. Those who are late are not eligible to attend class.”
“…”
Jimin went out into the hallway, stood there with his arms raised, and then the bell rang. The teacher opened the door and came out, telling Jimin to follow him. Jimin lowered his numb arm, patted it, and followed the teacher.
“Why are you late today? You’re usually the type who comes home early.”
“…”
“Aren’t you going to answer?”
"sorry."
“Sorry, don’t say sorry, answer me. Answer me.”
“…I slept over at my friend’s house, but I forgot to bring my school uniform, so I had to go home and come back late.”
“Whose house did you go to?”
"… that."
“Why don’t you speak quickly? Why do you keep taking the time to speak?”
“No way… You lied to the teacher? Is that why you can’t speak?”
“No, that’s not it. I actually went to my friend’s house and slept over…”
“That’s why I asked who that friend was.”
“…Ayoung.”
“What? Ayoung? Yoon Ayoung?”
"… yes."
“You… slept over at that girl’s house?”
"yes."
“A grown woman and a man slept together in the same house?”
“What… is there a problem?”
"Are you crazy? Why did you sleep at Ayoung's house? You didn't do anything to Ayoung, did you?"
“What are you talking about, what am I doing to Ayoung?”
“Well… you know, that thing you guys usually think about.”
“So why would I do something like that to Ayoung?”
“Yesterday, both Ayoung’s parents were there, and there was no physical contact.”
“I wonder if this is something a teacher should say to a student. I’ll be going now.”
“…Tsk, what a shameless person.”
“Where are you, Park Jimin…”
As Ah-young was wandering around the school looking for Jimin, Jimin emerged from the teachers' office with a stern expression, walking with his eyes fixed on the floor. Ah-young spotted him and called out to him, but Jimin continued walking, his eyes fixed on the floor.
"jimin park!!"
"uh?"
“What are you thinking that you don’t know when I call you?”
"sorry…"
“Why are you so late today?”
“I’m sorry, Ayoung…”
“What are you sorry about?”
“My house… It takes about 20 minutes by bus from your house.”
“I lied because I wanted to go to school with you, and that’s why I was late.”
“… What, what are you sorry about?”
"uh?"
“In the end, you did it because you liked me.”
“That’s true… but you still lied.”
“Am I rather moved?”
“Really… I said I don’t know even though I know.”
“Let’s go in. If we’re late again, we don’t know what punishment we’ll get.”
"okay."
After lunch, Ayoung and Jimin returned to the classroom and were chatting with Yeonwoo. Jimin said he needed to use the bathroom. After telling them to go, they continued talking until the classroom door opened loudly and someone came in.
Ah-young and Yeon-woo were talking, seemingly oblivious to the situation, when someone tapped Ah-young on the shoulder. Ah-young looked in the direction of the tap, and Ye-na was standing there, smiling faintly.
“Yoon Ah-young, can you come out for a moment?”