Same-Age Tutoring (5)
After Mom left the country, my daily life—which had spiked up a bit—settled back down little by little. Calling it "settled" isn't quite right, though. It's more accurate to say it returned to the familiar routine I'd grown used to. And this repeating everyday grind made the passage of time feel tediously monotonous while speeding it up in my body.
"Ah, Do-youngie. You're here. No tardiness today."
"Mom told me not to be late before she left, so I've gotta keep it up for at least three days."
"Ooh, Auntie's effect is solid. Thought it'd be a three-day thing and you'd quit, but stretching it to four? Impressive."
"Choi Sa-hyung, three days is three days."
"Eh? Really? News to me."
It wasn't exactly by choice, but since I was stuck in the role of a student for now, I diligently went back and forth between school and home, throwing myself into classes. It was Mom's request, after all—my top-priority teaching aid in this world. Yeah, if I stuck to it for three days straight, Dad probably wouldn't bother calling her about it.
"Come to think of it, yesterday was Auntie's send-off day. How was it, hanging out with Mom after so long?"
"Wasn't it awkward from old times? Like, couldn't even make eye contact."
"Totally. All I could see were noses."
"You bragging about your genes right now?"
"Hahaha lol."
Meeting Cheok Jun-sook—Ban Do-young's mom—had let me piece together bits of Ban Do-young's past, which meant fewer awkward mismatches in conversations with Sa-hyung and Hye-rang, my lifelong besties from childhood. The original Ban Do-young in the story was upbeat and didn't sweat the small stuff, and her friends got that about her, which was a relief. Still, there'd been these tiny gaps now and then from our differing memories. So while staying with Mom, I'd made a real effort to dig into Ban Do-young's past.
"Hey. Good morning, model student."
"Ah, hey. Good morning to you too."
"What's up? Your under-eyes look a bit dark. Didn't sleep well?"
"Ah, yeah, went to bed kinda late last night. But at least I wasn't late."
"Hehe, tossing and turning in bed? Guess you used it, huh."
"W-what...?"
"That fresh thing I gave you yesterday."
In my search for traces of the past, I'd found a treasure and sent a copy to Do Ha-min too. A photo from a time he didn't know about—perfect for boosting affinity. It's nice when you learn about each other's unknowns, right?
"...I didn't use it! No way!"
"What, wasn't it good?"
But apparently, only I thought of it as treasure.
"Sigh... no matter how much I dig, the swimsuit pics only go up to second year middle school... Want a photo of my mom instead?"
"Don't you dare!"
"Why are those two like that first thing in the morning?"
"Dunno."
There were exactly two times when time crawled by slowly. One was during morning greetings, when I'd tease Do Ha-min like it was my daily quest.
I should probably show him my real feelings properly at least once.
But when I was teasing him like this, Sergeant Cheok's advice would pop into my head. Sorry, Mom. But this guy's reactions are just too perfect. How can I resist when it's this fun?
Teasing him straight from the heart was too enjoyable to quit. If that's sincerity, then yeah, it counts.
"Attention! Salute."
"Thank you for your hard work!"
"Everyone did great in class today. Let's fight even harder tomorrow! Self-study folks, don't skip out!"
Once the classes barreled to an end like they were on rails, I'd head straight home—or if Sa-hyung and Hye-rang had no plans, we'd hit up the station area together. We'd sample new menu items at fresh cafes, browse nearby clothing stores, stuff like that—typical spots for girls our age. Today, Sa-hyung's favorite dessert cafe had dropped a new menu item, so Hye-rang and I didn't even drop our bags before following her straight into the city.
"This Night Tiramisu is delicious."
"Right? That's 'Cafe Ninja Kakashi' for ya. They jump on trends quick and turn 'em into new items, but weirdly, it's always tasty. Especially since Do-youngie's treating today—makes it even better."
"You're eating 'cause it's free, but didn't you say you were broke, Do-young? Allowance day isn't here yet."
"Heh heh heh... Behold! This gleaming golden beauty Mom swiped from Dad's wallet before leaving...!"
"Whoa, 50,000-won bills! Two of 'em!"
"Ahaha, you saw that? Mom hooked me up with two."
-Bzzz
-Bzzz
We were chattering away, losing track of time, when the alarm I'd set on my phone buzzed on the table like it knew the moment had come.
"Ah, time's up already. Gotta head out first."
"What? Already? Stay a bit longer."
"Made a promise with the model student. He's teaching me kendo in the evening. Can't bail on that."
"Oh yeah, you mentioned that. Guess Ha-min really grew on you. You're picking up kendo again, even after swearing you'd never touch it."
"It's fun. Model student's reactions are the best. Ah, but is this ignoring Hye-rang's advice about keeping distance?"
"Like you ever listen to me anyway. What's new?"
"Good thing I ignore you as usual, then."
Hye-rang no longer saw my closeness with Do Ha-min in a bad light. Probably since the An Seong-gyeong incident, it started looking to her like I was into him. Hearing Do Ha-min declare he'd take my side had definitely shifted Sa-hyung and Hye-rang's views of him positively too, playing a big role in their current attitudes.
"I'm only cool with it 'cause it's Do Ha-min. Hanging alone with some punk? I'd object."
"Fair. If it was a total delinquent, I'd worry too. But Ha-min learning kendo doesn't seem scary. He wouldn't misuse it recklessly."
"Then I'm off too. Boyfriend's study room is nearby—might as well pop in and see his face."
"Tch, everyone's ditching me for guys. Maybe I should get one quick."
"Hey, someone might think the model student is my boyfriend."
"Wouldn't that be nice."
"Tch... Ah, grab another Night Tiramisu to take to the model student. Sir, can you pack one more to go?"
They say a full pantry breeds loyalty, so I ordered an extra dessert from the cafe to go and headed back to the dojo. Sa-hyung and Hye-rang had given me these smirky looks when I said I'd gotten one for Do Ha-min, but I'd get revenge later when they flirted with their boyfriends in front of me. Plenty of time for that.
……
"That's it. Your stance is better now. Less wobbling in the arms too."
"Yeah. Starting to get the hang of it bit by bit."
The second moment when time dragged on was after classes, teaching kendo to Do Ha-min at the dojo. Today was continuing from last time: fixing stance and building core power. Instead of tuition, I gripped the Zero Lime can he'd brought in my right hand, sticking right by his side to correct his form.
-Slurp
"Keep the bamboo sword tip at eye level. Yeah. For a shorty model student like you, that's about right."
"I-it's not that low."
Of course, I couldn't rely solely on Ban Do-young's body memories for theory, so my left hand—sans Zero Lime—held the manual Dad had given me as I taught. Learning the kendo little Ban Do-young had poured her heart into was part of uncovering her past; I couldn't just wing it on fuzzy recollections.
"Try lifting the bottom a tad. The hilt's flush against your body right now."
"Oh, you're right. How much space?"
"Lemme see... Enough for a fist to slide in and out?"
I set the manual down for a sec, dropped to one knee, and slipped my left hand between Do Ha-min and the hilt.
-Thud
My hand bumped the hilt without passing through—the gap was so narrow even Ban Do-young's delicate fingers couldn't squeeze in.
"Oops, way too tight. How's my fist gonna go in and out like this? Straighten it up more."
"A-alright."
"Ah, but don't lift anything else? That makes the gap even tighter?"
"You little—'straighten it up' was on purpose!"
"Who, me? Kekeke. Let's wrap up quick today. Got tiramisu to share with you."
Even while acting the part of Ban Do-young, I couldn't resist teasing this guy with his instant reactions. It was solidifying into one of my daily patterns now.
"Ugh, seeing Dad's scrambled eggs this morning really hit home that Mom's gone. Eggs might be better if I just make 'em every morning."
"Can't help it when you're short on time."
"Dad's are artisanal—takes time."
After evening practice, Do Ha-min and I sat in the dojo eating the cafe tiramisu, chatting lightly.
"Hey, model student, eat more."
"Huh? Nah, I'm good."
"Take it when I offer. Makes us both accomplices. Mom says no food in the dojo, but Dad didn't get any, so couldn't eat in the office."
"Th-then just give it to Master Ban."
"His scrambled eggs tasted extra bad this morning—no thanks. Besides, Dad's all grown up, Mom's away—plenty of calories to burn. So eat up."
"Not like I need the calories either."
"Who knows."
I scooped half my tiramisu onto Do Ha-min's plate.
"Or like yesterday, wanna drool on it first? Ptoo."
"Cut it out. I hate yelling at you all the time too."
"Kekeke. Don't know where to put myself."
Do Ha-min didn't outright refuse the tiramisu I gave him. Since he'd cut it into neat bites with a fork, not much of "me" was left on it anyway.
"Ah, or should I teach Master Ban how to make egg rolls real quick? Then you wouldn't have to cook mornings and he'd still eat decent."
"No. Don't."
"W-why...?"
Do Ha-min tilted his head, staring at me like he genuinely had no clue.
This guy was really playing dumb.
"You said weekday mornings are Master's cooking. Wouldn't it be easier if he knew how?"
"You get what I mean, right?"
"N-no idea."
"...Don't teach that stuff to anyone but me."