Midterm exams began days later.
The halls of Hangyeom High became silent deviod of it's usual chaos and banter. It was not surprising how serious the students became whenever exams began. Well, the only way out of Gangwon for us was to do exceedingly well and score exceptional grades during the cSATs and covering such a milestone began from acing every exams.
We had no such luxury as students in Seoul and other redeveloped places, therefore we had to put in our best.
All of it.
Immediately the bell rang signifying the end of the exams, my class remained seated no one daring to move. We waited patiently for the class president to arrive with the answer sheet.
It was time for Self grading.
For other students, this was probably merely part of checking how well you performed, it never really mattered to them.
But….
For us, our lives were determined by this single sheet.
The class president's voice echoed through the classroom as he read out the answers.
"Number five, 3; Eight, 4….."
My lips slowly carved up as my sheet began filling with Os.
I was another step closer to escaping this hell.
Groans filled the room moments after the class president finished calling the answers.
"I'll never leave at this rate,"
"I should've trusted my guts on this one instead of my brain."
"Yeah, you should've dumbass."
"Lee Sehyun's quiet, did something go wrong?"
"Are you crazy? He's teacher's favorite, what could have possibly gone wrong."
"He always aces every tests, I'm jealous."
"It's expected, after all he's the golden egg of Hangyeom."
"First Mrs. Park, now Mr. Yoon. I mist say his favor currying skills are remarkable."
I stiffened. I could feel their stabbing eyes on me filled with hate.
How did this become my fault?
I studied hard just like they did, so why did I get such despiteful comments ever time?
The room began suffocating—too claustrophobic for me to breathe. I wanted to run far from their burning stares, far from every hate.
"Does it satisfy your ego to belittle someone's efforts like that?"
Sensei's voice stilled the silence sharp and cold.
Was he annoyed at them? Because of me?
My eyes shifted towards him. He was standing by the door tall and imposing. His eyes glaring at everyone in the classroom.
He glared so hard, he would've dug a hole in all of them.
The students cleared their throats their eyes avoiding his.
"Why isn't anyone saying anything?" He demanded almost yelling.
He closed his eyes as if suppressing his fury he reopened them and walked towards the center of the classroom.
"Instead of blaming your shortcomings on someone else, improve yourselves so hard that you become better than them. That's what i expect from all of you.
If you dislike the fact thst Lee Sehyun aces the test each time, study hard. Study so hard that you surpass him. Instead of being retarded haters, use your head to become something useful in the society."
The entire class gaped at Sensei stunned speechless. I was too—completely dumbfounded.
This version of him was completely unexpected.
"Lee Sehyun student," Sensei's voice turned softer as he walked towards me.
"Don't let what others say get to you, don't for anybody compromise your happiness. You have every right to feel proud because,
"You did well."
Every word semed to be directed at my heart. I felt so appreciated my eyes warmed with tears.
"Sensei, thank you."
****
"Sensei didn't have to yell infront of the entire class, what if a complaint is written?" I said as we arrived at home.
Sensei scoffed behind me as I opened the door. "Let them go ahead and write it, thousands of they must I don't care. However, if a bad word is spoken against you in my presence then…"
Sensei's voice trailed off.
I smiled. "I understand." I turned to him still smiling. "Sensei need not to say more."
I walked in Sensei trailing behind me walking towards the kitchen to drop the groceries he carried.
I dropped my bag and followed after him.
"Sehyun, you're the only person who understands me." Sensei said as I entered.
He dropped the bag on the counter and walked towards me slowly. He leaned in and dropped his chin on my shoulder muttering silently. "What should I do with you?"
My heart ba-thumped softly against my ribcage. Sensei had a way with words. It was almost as if he'd learnt how to speak so..
Affectionately.
We stayed unmoving for a while before Sensei moved back. "You should rest up, I'll make us lunch. Sehyun hasn't had rest for a while."
I shook my head. "I want to help out too."
I wasn't going to let Sensei continue doing all the work, I wanted to take care of him too.
Seeing how persistent I was, Sensei let me assist him—with cutting the vegetables.
"Sensei, how come you're so good at cooking?" I asked curiously. "Well, because it's fun." Sensei chuckled his eyes twinkling as if he was thinking about something.
I wanted to know, why Sensei who appeared so carefree happened to have a lot of things hidden behind his smile.
I was only aware of this because I could understand what people's eyes read and only after becoming close with Sensei.
I understood Sensei wasn't as easy as he appeared. He smiled alot when talking with others but he eyes meant something else.
Something utterly different.
The only exception was…
"Sehyun, help me cut these too." He looked at me warmth.
Now and whenever he looked at me. His eyes and words always meant the same.
"Alright," I shifted my attention on the washed cabbages trying to cut them with precision but maybe because I help my curiosity of wanting to know more about Sensei, the knife slid into my finger grazing the outer skin.
The cabbages I held turned warm shade of red. "It hurts." I dropped the knife hissing as a sharp pain hit me.
"Are you alright?!" Sensei abandoned what he was doing and rushed to my side lifting me off the ground and unto the counter. He grasped my bleeding hand his brows knitting with worry. "You're bleeding!"
"I'm sorry, the knife slipped fr—" my words were replaced with a gasp as Sensei placed my bleeding finger in his mouth lapping gently at the blood.
"Sensei! What are yo—" panic flooded me I tried to pull my hand but he held it tighter refusing to let go.
I swallowed. Sensei's lips were warm.
Despite knowing Sensei was currently just being concerned about my injury I couldn't help but feel hot watching as his sucked my finger.
"Sensei…enough," I said my voice catching in my throat. Sensei pulled back, his gaze remained on my now glistening finger. "Don't move, I'll be back."
I nodded sharply taking a deep breath.
Sensei hurried out and returned almost immediately a with a band-aid. He carefully wrapped it round my injury. It wasn't bleeding anymore thanks to Sensei.
He finally looked at me. "Does it hurt?" He asked softly. "It doesn't hurt anymore," I replied with a faint smile. Sensei cupped my face in his hands. "Sehyun, I hate it, seeing you get hurt. So, please be careful." Sensei said his eyes filled with so much concern.
"I'm sorry…" that was all I could say.
I had messed up again, made Sensei worry about me again.
He leaned in and pressed a kiss of my forehead then both my cheeks, finally on my lips. His touch soft and warm.
"I'll cook. Sehyun, rest up."He whispered against my lips. I couldn't find in me to refuse anymore so I nodded. "Mn."
Just as Sensei was about to resume cooking, we heard a knock on the door.
Sensei moved first. "I'll answer it." I got down from the counter and followed behind him with nimble steps. Curious to see who for the first time aside from Sensei knocked at my door.
Sensei opened the door not wide enough for me to see who it was but he turned towards me almost immediately. "They're here for you."
Me?? Who was it? I wondered as I walked over.
A woman in her mid thirties stood at the door, dressed in a fashionable attire I guess must've costed a lot. The only contrast to her elegance was the fact her eyes were red and swollen obviously from too much crying.
Upon seeing me, she took a frenzied step forward but Sensei blocked her path. She looked at me. "You must be Sehyun, right?" She asked her voice urgent.
I nodded. "How did you know my name or where I lived?" I asked back.
"I need your help Sehyun, it's really urgent." She completely ignored my sentence. "What is it?" I asked unable to ignore the nagging feeling of how familiar she looked.
"We've been unable to find her. My mother."
Huh?!
My ears seemed to have developed a sudden failure. "Mother? You don't mean Auntie right?"
She covered her face sobbing, "That's correct. She's gone missing."