Min's mornings were typically riddled with anxiety, each step on campus accompanied by an avalanche of negative thoughts.
"Is Mr. Glenn staring at me? Did I fail the exam?"
"Do I look alright? Is my hair a mess?"
"Did I forget to do my homework? Is today also going to be a bust?"
However, on that particular Thursday morning, something had changed. While the transformation may have gone unnoticed by the casual observer, there was a subtle shift in Min's demeanor. His resting face, once a blend of gloom and worry, now exhibited a touch of solemnity and only a hint of worry. His gaze no longer held the same wide-eyed apprehension, and his eyebrows were less furrowed. To most people, the alteration would seem insignificant, perhaps even laughable, but for Min, it was progress. He felt a flicker of motivation, a spark he hadn't experienced before.
Min attributed this newfound drive to his encounter with Hyun the previous day. The mere thought of meeting his crush had prevented him from getting a good night's rest, as his heart overflowed with delight. Yet, there was another factor that pushed Min out of bed and into the day—a sense of satisfaction derived from helping someone in pain. The knowledge that he had provided comfort to Hyun, and the sight of a pure smile and heartfelt gratitude, uplifted Min's spirits. It shattered his belief that he was insignificant and showcased his capacity to make a positive impact on another person's life. It was an argument against his notion that he would be better off gone. With this newly discovered purpose, Min experienced a small wave of happiness—a slight genuine joy for life that he hadn't felt in the past two years.
As Min strolled down the school hallway, he embraced a more positive outlook. The once tedious journey to the classroom became pleasant, even enjoyable. Anxiety still lingered, but it no longer occupied the forefront of his mind.
That day, in anticipation of the upcoming music festival, most teachers had canceled their usual lessons. Students eagerly requested extra practice time, and luckily, most teachers were accommodating. However, one individual staunchly opposed the decision—the sadistic Mrs. Choi. Known aptly as "Mrs. Psycho" among the students, she was the type of teacher who would conduct classes even during an EF5 tornado. Despite being far ahead in the syllabus, she insisted on teaching irrelevant topics and burdened her students with endless projects. Rumor had it that she despised children, a peculiar disposition for someone in her profession, but not all that surprising considering her sadistic tendencies.
Mrs. Choi left an indelible mark wherever she went. Just a week prior, as she hurried across the basketball court, she slipped on a puddle and crashed to the concrete with a resounding thud. Some students rushed to her aid, while others struggled to suppress their laughter.
"Are you okay, Mrs. Choi? Let me take you to the nurse," Naeun offered, her voice laced with feigned concern, secretly hoping for a serious mishap that would leave the woman from the prehistoric era with a broken hip.
Mrs. Choi waved her hand dismissively, treating the students as if they were stray dogs she wanted to shoo away. "No, no!" she retorted sharply. "I'm fine! I know you guys poured water here to make me fall, but I'm strong, unlike you kids who cry over the silliest of matters." With an eye roll, she swiftly sprinted toward the classroom, displaying a speed that could rival even the most accomplished Olympian runners.
Unfortunately for Min, his first period that day was English, taught by none other than Mrs. Choi herself. However, he found some peace in the fact that English didn't require the same level of mental exertion as the sciences, so he was somewhat okay with it. As he approached the classroom door, a familiar voice called out from the distance.
"Min! There's no class today!" Akio's voice rang out, accompanied by his hurried footsteps.
"Really?!" Min's face lit up with surprise and relief.
Akio reached Min, his excitement evident. "Yeah, bro. It's a miracle! Someone must've spiked Mrs. Choi's tea. But hold on, we're not entirely off the hook."
"What do you mean?" Min inquired, curious about the catch.
"Class is canceled, but we have to endure the seventh graders' stage a stupid play," Akio explained with a sigh.
"Nooooo. I don't wanna watch it," Min groaned, expressing his disdain.
Akio nudged Min playfully. "Come on, it's still better than dissecting Shakespeare stories."
Min reluctantly nodded in agreement, realizing the play might indeed be a preferable alternative. Akio slung his arm around Min's shoulders, and together they set off to endure the upcoming spectacle.
While most of Min's classmates obediently followed the teacher's instructions and proceeded to their assigned destination, another part of the school bustled with the mischievous energy of Hyun's gang. The group comprised Ron, Kai, Denis, Hyungjun, Seungyun, and Hyun. The group's origins remained somewhat murky, but it was widely believed that Hyungjun and Seungyun held the mantle of the founding fathers. Ron, ever drawn to trouble, naturally gravitated towards the duo, while Hyun, Denis, and Kai were convinced to join their ranks as friends. Denis and Kai assimilated well within the group, forging stronger bonds, but Hyun, the face of the gang, felt a growing sense of detachment. Whenever possible, he distanced himself from their antics. It seemed that Hyun had become entangled in an interminable contract, bound by the gang's need for his popularity and ability to attract girls.
As the boys loitered around the corridor, Seungyun proposed a plan to vandalize their own classroom, aiming to secure a day or two of absolute freedom. The mere thought of a damaged classroom entailed canceled classes and an ensuing investigation to identify the culprits. Without a second thought, the others blindly followed their esteemed leader's suggestion.
Within moments, they barged into the room, resembling a horde of rabid monkeys unleashed upon their surroundings. Kai tore the wall clock from its position, launching it forcefully toward the ground, reducing it to a pile of dust. Seungyun, towering above the rest, climbed onto a table and extended his arm toward the ceiling fan. Gripping one of its blades with all his might, he exerted ample force to bend it downward.
Amidst Seungyun's endeavor, Hyungjun playfully chimed in, "Should I turn on the fan?"
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Across the room, Ron snatched several colored permanent markers and proceeded to inscribe an ocean of foul words on the board, targeting the teachers with snarky remarks and outright insults. He adorned his masterpiece with a suggestive drawing, adding to the audacity of his actions. Meanwhile, Hyungjun toppled a nearby dustbin, sending paper bits, pencil shavings, and remnants of leftover food scattering across the floor. Seizing the opportunity, he transformed the bin into an impromptu soccer ball, further littering the room with trash.
Denis, known for his princely demeanor, also joined in the chaos. First, he unzipped several students' bags, purposefully disarranging their belongings and pilfering their snacks. In the process, he tore a few textbooks as well. Next, he retrieved his bottle and strategically sprayed fruit juice on the wall, creating stains resembling the appearance of urine.
The gang reveled in the havoc they had unleashed, taking a moment to bask in the glory of their destruction. Then, with much insanity in their eyes, they madly dashed out of the classroom, arms raised triumphantly in the air.
About an hour later, the seventh graders' play came to an end, and Min and Akio made their way toward the badminton court, eager to engage in a quick game. However, their plans were abruptly interrupted by Ms. Emily, who was on the lookout for them.
"What are you both doing here? The principal wants to meet your class in her office right away," Ms. Emily informed them, her tone urgent.
With confusion displayed on their faces, Min and Akio exchanged puzzled glances. Akio questioned, "Why? What's going on?"
"Apparently, someone has vandalized your classroom. I don't have all the details, but you need to go to the principal's office immediately," Ms. Emily ordered, her expression tired at this point.
With a mix of trepidation and curiosity, Min and Akio hastened their steps toward the principal's office. Upon entering, they found their classmates assembled, a range of emotions displayed across their faces—some looked terrified, others appeared nonchalant, while most wore expressions of bewilderment, questioning why they had been summoned.
The principal, donning round, oversized spectacles, adorned with heavy gold jewelry, and emanating an air of stern authority, entered the room and took her seat. She scrutinized each student with an intense gaze, her eyes reflecting a blend of anger and disappointment. In a chesty, monotonous tone, she addressed the gathered students.
"One of the teachers informed me that your classroom has been left in an unusable state—dustbins on the ground, bags strewn about, shattered glass from the clock, damaged fan blades, and inappropriate drawings on the board. It seems your juniors show more maturity and responsibility than you," the principal declared, her voice heavy with harshness.
Akio whispered to Min with unadulterated disbelief, "What on earth has happened?"
"Instead of punishing the perpetrators right now, we want the guilty to come forward and admit their faults," the principal announced sternly, her eyes piercing through the room.
"Didn't they install CCTV cameras?" Min murmured under his breath, trying to make sense of the situation.
Akio, his frustration simmering, whispered aggressively to Min, "I mean, who else could've done it? It's obviously those idiots."
"Akio! Do you not see that someone's talking?!" the principal snapped, her voice filled with irritation.
Akio quickly apologized, his voice brimmed with remorse, "I'm sorry."
The principal continued, addressing the students with a sense of purpose, "Look, I'm sure no one will come forward, so here's what I'll do. I've decided that I won't solely take action against the vandals. Why? It's because I want to emphasize the importance of collective responsibility. You are a class, a family, a unit. If one of you is responsible, all of you are. It's that simple. That's how life is, students."
Min couldn't help but think, "Is she insane?" as he stared at the woman with a mix of hopelessness and disbelief.
"To make things easier, I'm going to assign responsibilities to each one of you," the principal continued, her tone assertive. "I need someone to collect money from everyone for a brand new clock, I need someone to unbend the fan blades, someone to erase the whiteboard, and so on. You get my point. I'll call you one by one, starting from Naeun. Each one of you should tell me what you're going to be responsible for. We need to do it quickly because I don't have much time," she ordered, displaying a wickedness that resembled a villain from a superhero movie.
"Naeun, what are you going to do?" the principal inquired.
"I'll erase the board," Naeun replied, her voice full of unconcern.
"Ron, how do you plan to help?" the principal continued.
"I'll help with the fan, I guess," Ron reluctantly responded.
The principal turned her attention to Anna, demanding, "Anna?"
Gritting her teeth, Anna answered, "I'll arrange the bags."
Anna was seething with anger. She resented cleaning up a mess she didn't create, but in front of the principal, she felt powerless and chose the least demanding task to avoid further confrontation.
Finally, the principal called upon Min, asking, "What about you?"
"I'll help arrange the bags too," Min responded.
"What? Anna can do that by herself. Can you not collect the money or something?" the principal retorted rudely, causing Min's heart to sink. Akio felt the urge to unleash a sucker punch on the woman.
After everyone was assigned their tasks, the group dispersed. Unsurprisingly, the innocent students focused on restoring the class, working tirelessly to undo the damage caused. Meanwhile, the culprits remained elusive, hidden away while everyone else labored. The teachers were aware of their guilt yet chose to turn a blind eye. They simply wanted the mess cleaned up without delay, possessing the power to punish the boys but opting not to do so.
Meanwhile, Min reverted to his former self, his demeanor colored with depression as he diligently wiped off the permanent ink from the board using rubbing alcohol. While a few dissatisfied voices lingered, Min was taken aback to witness that most students defended the gang and tried to justify their actions, even when there was no justification to be found. It became clear that many students desired to align themselves with the "cool kids." Adding to Min's misery, a legion of grey clouds enveloped the sky, releasing a substantial downpour. Seeing him immersed in the depressing atmosphere, Mr. Glenn suddenly appeared before Min.
Approaching Min with a soft tone, Mr. Glenn whispered, "Psst! I know you didn't do anything wrong. I managed to get permission from your class teacher for a one-on-one session, and she's okay with it. Come with me. Let's go to the next room."
While Min may not have held a particular fondness for math, he didn't despise it either. Though he often found himself disengaged in class, he would diligently work on various math problems at home or with Mr. Glenn whenever the opportunity arose. Though perhaps an unhealthy pursuit, Min yearned for good grades as it provided a semblance of self-worth that was otherwise rare. Furthermore, Mr. Glenn, a kind-hearted man, greatly admired Min's work ethic and understood the burdens he carried. Wanting to offer support and bolster Min's confidence, he extended a helping hand.
Mr. Glenn led Min to the adjoining room, instructing him to keep a low profile and rest while he attended to some test papers.
"Thank you so much," Min expressed, his voice a blend of despondency and gratitude.
"Anything for you, my man!" Mr. Glenn cheerfully replied.
Just as Min was about to close his eyes and succumb to drowsiness, he caught sight of a familiar figure entering the room.
"Hi, Mr. Glenn! Rad shirt you got there!" the visitor greeted with enthusiasm.
"Thanks, man!" the teacher responded, sporting an immense smile.
"Um, Hyun?! I thought you weren't coming today?" Min inquired, surprised by the unexpected presence.
"Yeah, but I decided to take just a half-day off 'cause I hate staying at home," Hyun explained, diverting his attention toward the teacher. "Mr. Glenn, may I steal Min for a while?"
"Sure! You can take him. Min, make sure you and Hyun go to a place like the terrace or library where there aren't many teachers around right now," Mr. Glenn granted permission.
"Thanks! We'll be careful," Min expressed his thanks as he stood up and followed Hyun, hopeful for a change of scenery and a momentary respite from the troubles that plagued his mind.