The Abandoned School
"Wow, there are so many amazing rooms here. I wonder what kind of building this was?"
Hope's eyes sparkled as she looked around the new building, peering into every corner. It was packed with all sorts of facilities in a single structure. A room scattered with old art supplies, another with empty reagent bottles rolling around, one left with broken instruments, and even a room crammed full of busted computers.
"There are tons of desks and chairs here too. And that room way over there had a bunch as well."
Just as Hope said. Unlike other areas, the rooms in this section were piled high with chairs and desks like mountains. And on one dusty wall hung something that looked just like a blackboard.
Different rooms for different purposes, an excessive number of desks and chairs, a blackboard... It all evoked memories of some past facility. Looking around again, a familiar feeling washed over me. It reminded me of a certain building I knew.
Could this be a school?
And I wasn't the only one who sensed that déjà vu.
Even the chat was saying it, so yeah—this had to be a school. The building was crumbling, but the interior still held its shape pretty well. It had no connection to my current life, yet a faint nostalgia tickled the corner of my heart.
"What kind of building is this place?"
Unlike the chat or me, Hope—who had no ties to the past—remained lost in thought, like a little detective deep in concentration. It was pretty adorable. I let her figure it out herself; it was impressive watching her try.
A moment later, a lightbulb must've gone off over her head, because her eyes lit up.
"I got it!"
Hope spun toward me, puffing out her chest proudly with a triumphant grin, fully convinced she'd nailed it. I was curious what she'd say.
"This is a secret adult facility. They must've made tons of yummy food and fun games here. Right, unnie?"
She even planted her hands on her hips, brimming with confidence. I clapped for her, and she tilted her chin up, strutting even more. I chuckled softly and tapped her helmet.
"Nope~ Wrong."
"Ehhh?! It's wrong?"
"Yup. This isn't a secret adult facility. It's called a school."
"A school?"
She tilted her head at the unfamiliar word.
The chat exploded with trauma-fueled screams. Haha, not wrong though. Elementary might be okay, but middle school drags till afternoon. High school has self-study. College is homework hell. But explaining it straight would just cement the bad rep. How do I tell her the truth with those expectant eyes?
"Unnie, what's a school for?"
"A school is... well..."
A fun idea flashed through my mind, and my lips curved up.
"Hope. Let's go into that classroom for a sec. I'll explain there."
"Classroom?"
I set aside the explanation and stepped into the dusty classroom. I shoved the debris to the back and set up a decent desk and chair in front of the teacher's podium. Brushed off the dust and sat her down.
"Stay right there."
I climbed onto the podium, cleared my throat. Hope watched with wide, eager eyes. This was routine—I taught her stuff she didn't know all the time. But today, my shoulders felt heavy with tension. Was it the place? Or standing here making me feel like a teacher? Just one student, and I'm nervous? When did my heart get so small?
Ah, scratch that—not just one student. I wished everyone would shut up for once. Drone's always on at times like this. What's the rule? Anyway, focus on Hope. I cleared my throat again and spoke.
"A school is where kids like you gather to study together."
"Study what?"
"All sorts of things. Reading, math, art like drawing and music, plus other skills and knowledge. You sit at that desk and learn it all."
"Ugh... Sounds boring."
She scrunched her face.
Study talk and the chat freaks out. Few people genuinely love it.
"After studying, they take tests to check if you're keeping up and to review what you learned."
"Tests... Sounds as gross as rotten canned food."
She recoiled instinctively, looking displeased. A quick test explanation made her face scrunch even more. As soon as I finished, she flopped onto the desk with a long sigh.
"School and I wouldn't mix."
"Why's that?"
"All that studying. And tests on top? Ugh, how did people back then survive that boredom?"
She shuddered in disgust, her eyes flickering with pity for those long-gone folks.
The chat grew gloomy, unusually quiet today. Scattered education critiques popped up, but other viewers buried them if they weren't the point.
"I like wandering with unnie way better than school."
I get why she's like that. In an era where studying's extinct, forcing a kid to sit at a desk daily is torture. But.
"School isn't just studying."
"It's not?"
"You hang out with friends, eat together, fight sometimes but make up... Plus fun stuff like sports days, festivals, field trips—things only students get. It's where memories pile up from all that happens."
Hope stared blankly, still unsure. But tales of youthful perks cleared the boredom from her eyes, making them sparkle again. I held out my hand.
"Student Hope, ready for a proper school tour?"
We explored the school anew. Not just scavenging—we explained each room to her.
"This is the cafeteria. They cooked with fresh ingredients here and served food to students."
"So they ate all the canned stuff and hardtack they wanted?"
"Nah, tastier things... Like pollack stir-fry, mackerel curry grill, mushroom sweet-and-sour... That kinda stuff."
"Whoa, all new names. Sounds super yummy."
Naming divisive school food set the chat ablaze. I smirked at the backlash. No edible finds in the kitchen—once full of ingredients, now barren. Onward.
"This is the library."
"Library... Where you read books freely? But no books."
"Old place, can't be helped. The few left are torn up."
"Tch, would've been nice with pretty picture books."
No luck there either. Next: plaza, gym, principal's office... Everywhere worth checking. Nothing left.
"Unnie, look! Found weird clothes."
"That's a uniform. What students wore."
"Everyone wore these?"
"Not always. Sometimes other clothes, but usually these."
"Wanna try one on."
"It's ripped. We'll find a good one later."
If we find one, I won't wear it on stream. Finally, the rooftop. Cool wind and wide-open freedom hit us.
"So, how was today? Wanna go to school now?"
"I get it a bit. But still can't picture myself there."
"...Yeah. But you'd have fun, Hope."
I imagined her at school. Not drab winter gear, but cute uniform. Playing with friends, occasional fights but quick makeups. Picnic days sharing lunches, oohing at sights. Tons of photos, memories galore. Sports day or festival? Beaming with joy. Tough test or homework? Whining to me for help. Made me chuckle. And so cute—she'd get confessions from boys. That soured my mood. If born earlier, she'd have all that normally.
"If I went to school, you'd come too, unnie?"
"With me? Hmm, tough. Different ages mean different classes."
"Then nah."
Her blue hair fluttered in the wind. She raised her arms high.
"School might have fun stuff like you said."
She lowered them slowly, turned with hands behind back, looking up at me.
"But being with unnie is the most fun in the world. Playing, learning, eating... We do it all together without school. So isn't this time with you like my school?"
She beamed. Sunlight made her smile glow brighter.
Why'd I forget that?
That dream hooked me on an unattainable past. Stop dwelling—look forward. I forgot what's important.
"You're right."
Enjoy the now. No normal youth here, but we'll fill our album with our own joys.
"Still wanna try a uniform sometime."
"We'll do it if we find one."
"Yeah."
* The two explored the abandoned school. Talk of uniforms sparked pointless community debates post-broadcast on what suits them best.
They bickered fiercely, but no guarantee they'd even wear what they wanted.