episode_0239

***

After lunch, I returned to class alone.

I sat down, rested my chin, and watched the children chattering aimlessly.

What’s so fun about it is that we start talking, giggling and tapping each other’s shoulders.

How was the game yesterday and how was the entertainment show? Each person forms a consensus on topics that are difficult to empathize with.

Perhaps because I was taking a nap while my stomach was full, I felt drowsy.

I yawned long.

I promised myself that I would lead a normal school life, but that did not mean that I would strengthen my friendships.

It is my soul in my thirties that is wearing this body in the first place. Not only do they have different sympathies from students, but there is also a big difference in mental age.

That’s why I feel at ease when talking to Yoon Sia.

Of course, there is no age gap with her, but it feels like the gap has narrowed.

Warm afternoon sunlight and a full stomach.

My eyelids slowly squeezed my eyes, and I closed them for a moment.

…….

…….

…….

Just like that, my son-in-law became quiet, and I felt the surrounding air calm down.

I slowly opened my eyes.

All the students who had been sitting at their desks chatting are now sitting in their seats.

And I feel eyes on me. Instead of just one or two eyes like in the morning, all the eyes of the students in the classroom are focused on me.

what?

I must have been holding my chin for a long time, so my neck hurts.

I leaned back on the chair and stretched.

“Wow, you’re sleeping so openly.”

I heard someone’s voice. It was a voice that was disgusting and outrageous.

Slowly, I come to my senses, and my surroundings come into view.

Everyone standing in front of the blackboard and the students in the classroom are looking at me.

I think I dozed off and stayed asleep until class time.

“…I’m sorry.”

The words that I made a mistake automatically came out of my mouth.

At my words, the teacher made a strange expression, as if he was looking at sweet and sour pork mixed with mint chocolate sauce.

The students around me also looked surprised. Well, if the problem child in the class shows an obedient behavior, everyone will definitely think it’s strange.

“…Wash your face and come.”

“Yes.”

The teacher tilted his head several times at his obedient attitude.

I got up from my seat and left the classroom.

As I walked through the cold hallway to the bathroom, I stretched my stiff muscles here and there.

Because I sit in an uncomfortable position, my body feels unbearably stiff.

“…….”

I did my best to ignore Shin Jeong-ah’s gaze resting on the side of my head through the classroom window in the hallway.

***

As the 5th, 6th, and 7th periods ended, it was past 4:30.

Eventually, the homeroom teacher I saw during the assembly came in and conducted the closing ceremony, and it was 5 o’clock when all school schedules were over.

When I returned home when the sun was up, something felt strange.

When I was in high school, I always left school looking at the moon.

I stood up, putting my bag over one shoulder.

Today is a day without extracurricular classes. I think it would be perfect to go home, eat ramen, do homework, play on the computer, and then sleep.

“Are you going home? Let’s go to karaoke to celebrate the end of school suspension.”

Sure enough, Shin Jeong-ah followed next to him.

“Neck hurts.”

“So, a comic book room?”

As I left the classroom and headed toward the stairs, Shin Jeong-ah continued to talk to me next to me.

“I have nothing to read.”

“What about multi-room?”

“MBTI is I, so I have to go home to recover my stamina.”

As I continued to refuse and left the school, Shin Jeong-ah stopped in her tracks.

“Hey.”

I tried to ignore it and continue on my way, but no matter who heard it, it was an angry voice, so I stopped countless times.

“Why.”

Shin Jeong-ah and I faced each other at an appropriate distance.

“…Is there something we didn’t do well for you?”

“No?”

“Then why!!”

Shin Jeong-ah raised her voice.

Her bright voice caught the attention of students leaving the school.

“Did you see it? Get out of here, you bastards.”

When my gaze returned to the students, Shin Jeong-ah took the lead and growled.

Some people were frightened by her threatening force, and some retreated when they saw my face next to them.

Shin Jeong-ah approached me at a fast pace.

She reached out and tried to grab my shoulder, but I avoided it by taking half a step back.

“…….”

Shin Jeong-ah bit her lower lip, probably because it hurt her to reject her touch.

“You said we would hang out together after the suspension was over… Why on earth would you do that…!”

Perhaps she naively believed what I said, but she looked at me as if pleading.

My heart was heavy when I saw that face that looked like it would cry if I touched it.

However, I already know that there is nothing worse than blindly comforting someone.

“You can’t keep living like this.”

“…What?”

Shin Jeong-ah whimpers and answers my words.

“Hitting kids, smoking and taking drugs… Do you think it’s right to live like this?”

“…What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“It must be fun now. Do whatever you want, and if there are people around you you don’t like, hit them, bully them…”

Turn around and walk again. I felt Shin Jeong-ah quickly come next to me.

“But what if you graduate from school? How long will life last now?”

I continue to speak as if I was admonishing her or persuading her.

“…….”

I walk back the way I walked in the morning.

I trudge along the well-paved asphalt road.

The school gate is getting closer.

“Come now?”

What I heard next to me was Shin Jeong-ah’s voice muttering as if it were absurd.

“Come now.”

I take her words and correct her.

“…Is that what you want to say? You did it the way you wanted… and now you’re going to shake it off by yourself?”

She must be so angry that I told her I would keep my distance, and her tone and actions are showing deep anger.

“Life is basically solo.”

I shrug my shoulders and accept her anger gracefully.

As I reached the school gate, I heard a familiar voice.

“Ah! Inho.”

Shin Jeong-ah and I’s eyes turned when we heard my name being called in a friendly manner in front of the school gate.

It’s Yun Shia.

She, wearing a thin beige coat, waves happily.

“Teacher? How are we here?”

My eyes suddenly open wide. Yoon Sia came to me with a grin.

“Oh, Jeong-ah was there too? Hello?”

She also greeted Jeong-ah brightly, but there was not even a 1% chance that Shin Jeong-ah, who was in a low-pressure state, would accept this kindly.

“There’s no tutoring today, right?”

“I know. Tutoring is tomorrow. Well, I was passing by nearby and was waiting for you as it was about time for you to get off from school.”

When I asked, Yoon Sia nodded.

“…But where are you going to play now?”

Yoon Si-ah’s eyes alternately looked at me and Shin Jeong-ah.

“No. I’m on my way home. Since I don’t have any tutoring today, I’m going to go home, do my homework, and rest.”

“It’s amazing.”

Yoon Sia raised her hand and patted my head a few times.

Shin Jeong-ah narrowed her eyes and looked at Yoon Sia’s hand.

“The direction is the same. Shall we go together? You didn’t disturb me when I was leaving school with Jeong-ah, right?”

Yoon Si-ah stood next to me, opposite Shin Jeong-ah.

“No, he is going out with his friends.”

“Ah… that’s a shame. It would have been great if we went together. Then, Jeong-ah has fun with ‘other’ friends. I’m going home with Inho.”

Yoon Sia raised the corner of her mouth and tapped my shoulder.

“Are you really going home?”

As I took a step forward, Shin Jeong-ah, who sank slightly back, asked as if confirming.

It’s hard to explain, but it feels somewhat different from the questions I’ve been asked so far.

“I have to go.”

I repeated what I said, and Shin Jeong-ah glanced at Yoon Si-ah and then turned around.

For a moment, I watched her walking away without even saying goodbye.

I’m sorry for being so harsh, but I can’t help it.

I would rather see Shin Jeong-ah go down the right path after seeing my changes.

***

Shin Jeong-ah, who left the place as if running away due to an incalculable sense of humiliation, sent a photo to Kim Jin-tae.

It was a photo of Yoon Sia that I took on a bus one day.

“Fuck you.”

Shin Jeong-ah cursed, recalling the face of Yoon Sia just moments ago, who was secretly laughing at her.

As the number next to the photo disappeared, Shin Jeong-ah moved her fingers.

[Tomorrow night. Is it possible right away?]