Before I knew it, I'd stepped foot into what I'd considered my home. For some reason, all the members were gathered in the living room. Ah, it felt like I was waiting for a student who'd just finished their CSAT. The real CSAT was about to begin.
“I’m sorry, lady…”
“Huh? Why are you like that again?”
Ji-hoon is embarrassed by his brother's untimely apology and asks back.
“I didn’t know you were thinking that. I just…”
Oh, you're being considerate because I'm feeling down.
“I know, I just want to do better.
I'm feeling fine now, so you don't have to worry about it.
“I am grateful”
“Is it true?”
It's been a really long time since I've heard Min-gyu's worried and affectionate voice.
"Yeah, totally. Thanks to Jeonghan, I feel better again."
“What did Jeonghan do for you?”
Whenever I see Shua oppa's smile, I feel happy. For some reason, it's a smile that makes me feel happy.
“I bought you something sweet and comforted you.”
He smiles brightly. He says he's really feeling better.
“Hey, then teach me number 17.”
But in the meantime, Chan-i, you're solving a math problem. It's good that you're working hard, but you don't have to go this far...
“What do you always ask me to teach you?”
“That’s right. That’s what I always say to the female lead.
“He asked me to teach him something, no matter what.”
Jun-Hwi oppa says.
“There isn’t a single problem that you can solve properly?”
“Hmph…”
Judging from the fact that she lives with the words “Please teach me” every day, it seems like what Sunyoung’s brother said is true.
“Ah, Hansol oppa…”
“I dropped out of middle school.”
His characteristically calm words lingered in my ears. "How did things turn out so well after dropping out of middle school?" I asked, grateful.
“Oh, uh. But Seungkwan, you can’t study either?”
"huh"
Jeonghan burst out laughing at his brother's firm tone.
“Look at that firmness…”
But in the midst of all this, Seung-kwan is the one who doesn't deny it.
“But isn’t Kim Min-gyu also taking the CSAT this time?”
“Oh, really? I didn’t know…”
You should have seen Min-gyu studying. All I saw was him sleeping, cleaning, and stuff. The latter is a bit more productive, but resting a bit is also a good idea. Anyway…
“There are five days left. Should I give you some tutoring?”
“Yeah yeah! Me!”
Chani answers instead of Min-gyu.
“Except you”
“Why… do it for me too…”
“Special offer for test takers only”
“Tch.”
Sunyoung's older brother speaks next to Chani's playful reaction.
“Then me too?”
"Huh? Oppa, weren't you born in '96? You're 21 this year."
“That’s right. But I’m taking the CSAT this year and going to college next year.
But… will I be able to go to college?”
He shook his head seriously. The members all chuckled.
“I’m really busy this time…
Of course, there were members who took the CSAT every year.
“I’m also working hard on preparing the album…”
Hansol strokes my head and gets down to my eye level.
“I think Chan-i could just do it too?
“He’s going to get hit soon anyway.”
“…I wonder?”
Hansol wasn't enamored with Oppa's gentle touch or handsome face. Absolutely not... He just wanted to do it for Chani.
“Ugh… I’ve built a wall between me and my studies…”
Sigh. I heard you were good at Korean (and English) when you were in LA. You know how when someone who's good at studying says something like that, it's the worst kind of luck?
“Kekekeke”
Meanwhile, my older brother Jeonghan, who is a science major, is smiling.
“The smiling Jeonghan is the winner…”
I'm not sure how well I studied, but science and I don't get along very well.
“Lee Chan, Boo Seung-kwan, Choi Han-sol, Kim Min-kyu, Boo Seung-kwan.
“Follow me into my room!”
At my words, Seungkwan lies down.
“I don’t care about studying at all…!!
I even thought about not taking the CSAT…
“The reason for taking the CSAT is to get a discount for test takers…”
“That’s a very vulgar reason.”
“Should I take you with me?”
Min-gyu asked me. If I just nodded, Seung-kwan would be dragged into my room by Min-gyu. Seung-kwan, who was under me, had eyes as clear as a cat in boots, but I nodded without mercy. Min-gyu then lifted Seung-kwan into my room.
“Wh, what is it, Lee Chan? Are you going to study?”
I'm not sure if it's because he's a student, but Chan was the most studious member of Seventeen. He'd often ask me questions. Of course, I'd give up after teaching him a few times. To put it nicely, he didn't learn, and to put it negatively, he was just stupid... Anyway, that's how it was.
“Yeah, I will. Especially if you’re the teacher.”
“No, I’ll just do it this time. From now on, you do it yourself.”
“I can’t do it alone. I can’t even support myself in studying.
And besides, you're not here.”
“…Okay. I’ll teach you and study too.”
Since you're not here, I try to ignore the crazy pounding in my heart during this part.
“Jang Yeo-ju~ I’m number 17.”
“Oh, you managed to solve problems 1-16?”
“I know how to untie it. If it gets even slightly deformed or twisted, it’ll be chaos.”
"...A typical student. Your brothers are following along well."
It feels like less than two hours have passed since I said those words, and they're already all gone. That means they're all asleep. Chani is the only one still alive.
“So, here, substituting Y for X…
“Aren’t you listening?”
“No, I’m listening~”
He was just staring at my face, so how could he possibly be listening?
“I don’t think so.”
At my words, he puts a flower stand on the table and says.
“Those guys aren’t listening. I’m listening intently.”
I naturally drifted away from him as we became closer than I thought.
“I think these guys can just give up.
I’m not a teacher at a private academy… There’s something I always say.”
“Because you debuted?”
“Yeah, if that’s the case, no matter how much I listen, it won’t work.
Still, I'm glad you asked."
“Because questions are the foundation of learning.”
I press Chan-i's forehead, who has come a little closer to me, and say.
“The problem is that you only ask questions.”
“You have to ask questions to study better.”
Why does the sight of him obediently pushing away and then grabbing my hand make my heart flutter?
“Please continue to take good care of me, Teacher Ma-eum.”
Seventeen really started calling my name.
