34 – Waiting

Kim Seon-ah leaned against the hallway wall, gazing out the window. Being a mountain away from the city, the stars were clearly visible.

She thought she knew a few constellations thanks to an old girlfriend, but now, trying to recall them, they were hazy. Perhaps it was because of too many recent events.

Kim Seon-ah thought this as she stroked the rough bandage she felt through her clothes.

Ha-yoon, who had stabbed her and Teacher Choi, was eventually subdued by Teacher Choi and handed over to Teacher Gan. Kim Seon-ah sighed, recalling Ha-yoon’s unconscious figure, restrained on the bed.

‘Should I not have followed?’

Kim Seon-ah had been thinking about it constantly since returning.

If she hadn’t followed, would Ha-yoon not have stabbed Teacher Choi? Would she have endured and been faithful to her duty? Or would she have stabbed Teacher Choi even if she hadn’t followed?

Before stabbing Teacher Choi, Ha-yoon stabbed her, telling her not to interfere anymore. No, it wasn’t just not interfering, but not getting involved. Because being together meant a higher chance of suffering at the hands of the teachers.

‘I knew it, and still…’

She knew from the first day that being with her would lead to rough times. Other trainees even urged her not to be with Ha-yoon, and the teachers openly showed signs of targeting Ha-yoon. Not knowing that after seeing all that would be like being mentally deficient.

Kim Seon-ah volunteered to be with Ha-yoon, even knowing this. If it wasn’t her, she would surely be completely isolated.

She talked about camaraderie and helping out at first, but her true feelings were closer to simple pity. It was no different from the meddling Ha-yoon had mentioned.

But shouldn’t she? Shouldn’t you lend a hand to someone who is pitiful and in trouble?

Of course, the training center was a place where it was hard enough to take care of yourself. But even in such a place, it was more comforting to be two than alone.

Besides, finding a new group after abandoning Ha-yoon was difficult because they already had close relationships among themselves.

The veterans, Hong-ryun, Ryu Jin-ah, and Baek So-ra.

The delinquent duo, Yoon Se-rin and Han Su-ah.

The couple, Jin Si-won and Shin So-hyun.

Moreover, they were all leaving the training center sooner than her, so in the end, all that would be left was Ha-yoon. Of course, she could build new relationships with the newcomers who would arrive later, but who knew when they would come?

It was better to be with Ha-yoon. She told her not to meddle, but in fact, she had approached her after considering a fairly thorough cost-benefit analysis.

“Sigh…”

Kim Seon-ah sighed again and looked at the rising moon. She was worried that Ha-yoon wouldn’t suffer too much at the hands of Teacher Gan.

It was certain she would be punished for stabbing a teacher, but she just hoped it wouldn’t be too severe.

“Kim Seon-ah?”

She was thinking this when someone called out to her. Turning her head, Jin Si-won waved, hobbling over.

“What’s up? Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“Jin Si-won… Ah, no, Si-won.”

Kim Seon-ah stammered, remembering Jin Si-won’s words to speak informally from tomorrow, and she laughed heartily.

“Take it slow if it feels awkward. I won’t say anything.”

“No. I’ll get used to it quickly if I use it… you know.”

“So why are you out here? You’re not waiting for me, are you… It’s Ha-yoon, isn’t it?”

At Jin Si-won’s words, Kim Seon-ah nodded, then remembered that she was on duty for Teacher Gan and said,

“Come to think of it, Si-won, you were on duty for Teacher Gan, right? I didn’t see you when I went to get treatment earlier…”

“Yeah. I saw her, though.”

She was being tormented by Teacher Gan, so she hid for a while when she came to get treatment. Whether it was instinct or something embarrassing to say, Jin Si-won laughed awkwardly and scratched her head, glossing over it.

Of course, Kim Seon-ah wasn’t very interested in what she had gone through.

“How was Ha-yoon?”

“Ha-yoon, huh…”

Should she tell her everything or not? Jin Si-won hesitated for a moment, then decided to fudge it appropriately. After all, she couldn’t make the already worried girl even more worried by telling her the truth.

“Well, she was harassed a bit. Even though it’s Teacher Gan, it wasn’t that hard, I guess.”

“Is that so…”

“Yeah, well… it’s probably not something to worry about. Teacher Gan seemed to be in a good mood when she came out last.”

At least the last part was sincere. In contrast to Ha-yoon’s anxious eyes as she looked at her, Teacher Gan’s face was full of pleasure.

“So you should go to sleep instead of waiting for Ha-yoon. She won’t be back for at least two more hours.”

Duty ended around 6 a.m. It wasn’t even 4 a.m. when she came out, so she would have to wait a long time for her to return.

Even though she said that, Kim Seon-ah shook her head and said,

“Still. It would be even sadder if she came back hurt and no one was waiting for her.”

“Okay, okay, your devotion is so sickening that I’m going to go crawl into So-hyun’s blanket.”

“…It’s not like that.”

“Sure, sure~”

Jin Si-won waved and headed to the dorm with a hobbling gait.

Kim Seon-ah, with a slightly flushed face, looked at her back, then turned her gaze back to the end of the hallway. It was the direction where Jin Si-won had come from, and where the infirmary was located.

The distance from here to the infirmary wasn’t that far. Maybe only about 200 meters. But she didn’t dare to go.

There was nothing she could do even if she went, and unlike Teacher Choi, given Teacher Gan’s tendencies, neither of them would be in good shape.

In the end, waiting like this was the only thing Kim Seon-ah could do.

The waiting time was very long and tedious, but time moved at its own pace. The dark sky gradually began to brighten.

She was now looking at a landscape with twilight settling in, instead of a black sky, when she heard footsteps from somewhere.

The footsteps, thud, thud, were coming from the end of the hallway. Was it Ha-yoon? But the footsteps were too loud.

The shoes given to the trainees were soft slippers with cushioning, so they didn’t make such a sound.

Then it was likely sneakers or dress shoes worn by the teachers, but those were definitely the sound of dress shoes.

Should she avoid the teacher if it was one? But there was no rule against being outside at night without sleeping.

Of course, whether there was such a rule or not, the teacher would surely punish the trainee. Because they could.

Should she avoid them for a moment? Logically, that was the right thing to do.

No matter how much she wanted to wait for Ha-yoon, there was no reason to stay and be punished. She could just hide until the teacher passed by.

But, but still. Kim Seon-ah, for some unknown reason, focused on the approaching footsteps. She could faintly hear breathing mixed in.

Breathing that seemed suppressed, or even painful.

“Could it be…”

As Kim Seon-ah was muttering, someone’s figure was revealed in the light coming from the window in the distance. It was Teacher Gan, with his unkempt, shaggy hair.

Unlike Kim Seon-ah, who had discovered him, Teacher Gan, with his gaze fixed on the floor, walked leisurely down the hallway, seemingly unaware of her.

As he moved away from the window, Teacher Gan disappeared back into the darkness, and reappeared where the light was again.

Little by little, he got closer, and Teacher Gan also seemed to recognize Kim Seon-ah and stopped walking. Coincidentally, it was a section without light, so she couldn’t see what kind of expression he was making.

“Kim Seon-ah? Why are you here instead of sleeping?”

“Ah, well, I couldn’t fall asleep…”

She was incredibly sleepy. She was more of a sleepyhead than anyone else. Even now, her eyes were drooping.

Even with such an obvious lie, Teacher Gan said in a serious tone,

“You couldn’t fall asleep… Insomnia? I could prescribe you a sleeping pill.”

“It’s not that… Um, Teacher Gan?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Where is Ha-yoon…?”

“Ha-yoon… Are you talking about Ha-yoon?”

The silhouette in the darkness could be seen stroking his chin. What kind of expression was he making as he spoke in the shadows?

Kim Seon-ah was very curious, but she didn’t dare to step into the shadows herself.

“Rather, I’m walking my pet. Unfortunately, I can’t answer you right now.”

“Pet…”

Only then could Kim Seon-ah see something like a long line connected to the silhouette. And that there was a small, crouching object at the end of it.

The moment she discovered it, she instinctively gasped.

“Yes, it’s a very cute one. Would you like to pet it? It’s very docile, but it sometimes gets violent, so I’ve put a muzzle on it so it won’t bite.”

She could hear panting. In some ways, it sounded like a dog’s bark expressing discomfort, and in other ways, it sounded like a human voice.

But Kim Seon-ah knew instantly what was making that sound.

No, she couldn’t help but know. As she was thinking this, Teacher Gan moved. He took a step forward, coming out of the shadows and standing in front of the window.

At the end of his hand was a leash, like the ones used to walk pets. And the end connected to that leash was not yet thinking of coming out of the shadows.

Teacher Gan chuckled as he looked at it and said,

“Haha, it’s very shy. Come on…”

As if soothing a beast, the object that had been wriggling began to move slowly.

Along with the gasping and groaning, she could hear the sound of weight being put on the ground, thud, thud.

And when it fully revealed itself in the light, Kim Seon-ah let out a sigh like a moan.

“Ha-yoon…”

“Haa, haa…”

It was a truly miserable sight. Her arms and legs were tightly bound, and she was walking on all fours with her elbows and knees. A gag made of wood was in her mouth, so she couldn’t make any sound other than breathing.

There was no need to mention the part where she was wearing animal ears on her head and a tail.

The previous things were shocking enough. As Kim Seon-ah froze, Teacher Gan said again,

“Would you like to pet her? She’ll like it too. She likes being petted.”

“…Yes.”

She answered in a suppressed voice. Because if she didn’t answer, she would surely be scolded by Teacher Gan.

Kim Seon-ah made an indescribable expression and knelt in front of Ha-yoon, who looked like a beast.

Ha-yoon, ashamed to show this appearance, squeezed her eyes shut and trembled.

Poor thing, Kim Seon-ah thought, and carefully stroked her head. Soft pink hair flowed through her fingers.

“I’m sorry.”

“Ugh, ugh…”

“Like Si-won said, I should have just waited.”

At least she wouldn’t have been humiliated like this.

Kim Seon-ah muttered this and hugged Ha-yoon’s head. Hoping this would be a comfort.

“Okay, that’s enough petting.”

Teacher Gan, who grabbed Kim Seon-ah by the neck and pulled her away, said with a smile.

“I have something to explain to everyone tomorrow, so you should go to sleep now.”

“…What about you, Teacher?”

“I haven’t finished my walk yet. Then.”

Teacher Gan dragged the leash and passed by Kim Seon-ah.

Ha-yoon looked at her, then lowered her head and followed the leash that was leading her.

Kim Seon-ah stood there until the two disappeared down the hallway.

Until morning dawned.

Author’s Note

I tried walking on all fours with my elbows and knees, but it hurt too much, so I couldn’t do it.

So I put it in.