"Oppa! Oppa, wake up!" Jia screamed to wake her big brother up.
Jaeho felt something shaking him, and opened one eye to see Jia's face inches from his her smile was so wide that Jaeho instantly suspected she was up to no good.
"I'm up, I'm up," Jaeho mumbled as he sat up, clearly still sleep.
The alarm on his phone was going off for the past few minutes, but he underestimated how tired he was the day before.
"We're ready!" Serin announced from the door, spinning in a little circle to show off her outfit.
It was a light blue dress he bought her last week, it was secondhand, but clean and without any tears. Jia wore a matching yellow one, both of them looked good.
"You both look so beautiful," he said while standing and stretching but his back ached from the late shift at the convenience store, but he pushed the feeling down.
"Have you eaten breakfast?" Jaeho quickly asked.
"Yes! The rice balls you made yesterday!" Jia responded, bouncing on her toes.
"Can we go now? I want to show Teacher Kim my new dress!" Jia added.
"Give oppa a few minutes to get ready, okay?" Jaeho responded. He couldn't take them to school looking like this after all.
He poured cold water on his face, and put on his school uniform. It was a little rough but clean enough before grabbing their backpacks. Jia and Serin stood by the door, practically vibrating with excitement. They had no idea they came to losing this place last month, about the debt, or that their mother had abandoned them a year ago as Jaeho simply told them she was working overseas.
"Alright, let's go." Jaeho responded as he rushed to the door.
-
The walk to their kindergarten was fifteen minutes in the opposite direction of his school so he had to be fast. Jaeho held both their hands as they talked about gibberish, Jia asked a million questions about everything that caught her eyes and Serin occasionally tugged his sleeve to point out a bird or a flower she found pretty.
They were the opposite of one another despite looking the same being twins.
"Oppa, do you think that Teacher Kim would like my drawing?" Jia asked as she swung his arm.
"She is going to love it," Jaeho said.
"You are the best artist in your class." Jaeho added to make sure her confidence stayed high.
"Serin is better," Jia shot him down right away.
"But I'm louder!" Jia bragged. Jaeho had no idea what she meant by this but he had no plans of ruining her excitement.
Serin giggled, and Jaeho couldn't help but smile as well.
When they reached the kindergarten gates, both girls hugged him tight before kissing him on his cheek. Jia on the left, Serin on the right.
"Be good today, okay?" Jaeho crouched down to their level.
"Listen to your teacher. And if anyone's mean to you….?" Jaeho paused, waiting for them to finish his sentence.
"Tell Teacher Kim," they said simultanouesly, nodding with a serious look on their faces.
"That's right," Jaeho smiled while petting their head.
"Remember, oppa loves you both," Jaeho made sure to let them know every chance he got, maybe he could fill in for the love they wouldn't be able to receive from their parents.
"We love you too, oppa!" They both screamed at the top of their lungs simultaneously.
He watched them run inside the gate, making sure they got in safetlly before he checked his phone.
It was 7:54 AM and his classes started at 8:00 AM which meant he had only 6 minutes to get there.
"Shit!" Jaeho cussed before he took off running.
His breathing became labored the moment he reached the third block with sweat dripping down his face, soaking through his uniform. This was his cardio. This was how he stayed in shape without a gym membership he couldn't afford.
But also an excuse for the bus pass he couldn't afford as he allocated that money to make sure his sisters got home safely.
He got closer to the school and saw the school gates still open even though it was barely. A few students were rushing in ahead of him.
He made it through just as the bell rang. He was able to make it in time due to him running in a minute before the gates were closed.
Jaeho doubled over in the hallway, he was breathing hard at this point as his shirt stuck to his back, drenched in sweat.
Jaeho's hair was a mess and he quickly fixed it with his fingers before walking into class but Jaeho was most grateful for the air conditioner.
The refreshed air from the conditioners in the building was a lifesaver.
He straightened up and headed toward his classroom, getting in just as the teacher was a few seconds from entering the classroom.
He sat in his seat in the back of the class the one which was away from everyone else, and tried to catch his breath without drawing attention to himself but he felt uneasy right away.
Because he could sense it, the usual eyes on him, judging him.
Park Minho sat two rows ahead, half turned in his seat with that smug, lazy grin plastered across his face. He was the ringleader. Tall, good looking, and rich enough that his family donated to the school every year. His uniform was always clean, his hair swimming in expensive product. He had that aura that came from never having to worry about anything in his life.
"Yo, Han," Minho whispered but he was loud enough for the people around him to hear.
"Did you sprint here from the sewer? You smell like shit." He mocked him.
A few students chuckled, clearly enjoyig them messing with him.
Choi Jiwon sat directly in front of Jaeho, close enough that he could see the cheap brand name stitched into the back of his blazer. Jiwon was Minho's right hand but was shorter and stockier.
He turned around, covering his nose dramatically.
"Dude, seriously. Did you even shower this morning?" Jiwon mocked him before gesturing in front of his face.
"This is a health hazard. Can someone call the nurse?" He asked but he looked so proud of himself after saying this as the laughter from others validated him his cruelty.
The third one, Kwon Daeho, sat across the classroom. He was more reserved than the other two, but that made him worse because Daeho had this way of looking at people like they were below him.
He didn't say anything, he just stared at Jaeho with a disinterested look on his face.
Jaeho kept his head down, pulling out his notebook and pretending he didn't hear them.
"Hey, I'm talking to you," Minho called him out.
"You deaf or you just stupid?" He continued, he was clearly trying his best to trigger him.
Jaeho felt his fist tighten, but didn't respond. He knew they couldn't touch him in class especially with the teacher about to enter.
"Probably both," Jiwon muttered, turning back around.
"Charity case can't even afford deodorant," he added.
"You know, Han, if you need money that badly, I could always lend you some." Daeho offered.
"With interest, of course," Daeho added, his voice low and lifeless.
The three of them laughed quietly at his situation but why wouldn't they? They couldn't comprehend what it was like living such a life so they were allowed to be ignorant.
Jaeho grabbed his pen with rage but snapped out of it almost immediately.
The classroom door opened, and their homeroom teacher, Ms. Ahn, walked in, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. The room fell silent instantly.
She was in her early thirties, and easily the most attractive teacher at the school. Her black hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, complementing her sharp cheekbones and full lips that always seemed to rest in a natural pout.
She wore a fitted white blouse tucked into a black pencil skirt that brought out her shape, the top button of her shirt undone just enough to allow her large chest breathe. Her figure was the kind that made students, boys and girls alike, look twice, though she carried herself with such professional grace that no one dared say anything inappropriate to her face.
She put her leather bag down on the desk and looked around the classroom to make sure all her students were present.
"Good morning, everyone," Ms. Ahn greeted her students.
Minho turned back around, but not before shooting Jaeho one final look to tell him that this wasn't over. Jaeho let out a deep breath, forcing his heartbeat to steady.
"Just get through the day. Just get through the day," He muttered under his breath.