Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The Mature Child
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After three years on the job, I finally got my first class of third graders as homeroom teacher.
Having handled fifth graders twice before, these lower-grade kids felt incredibly cute and lovable for the first time.
I could hardly believe how endearing they were, even though it was just two grades down.
It had to be because they were still pre-teen, with that unmistakable elementary school vibe clinging to them.
Among those kids, one in particular stood out.
"Haneulll...! Look at this! Look!"
"Wow, you drew that so well. Seol-i must be good at drawing too."
"Really? Hehe."
During break time, a girl at a desk in the middle of the room was showing off her drawing to a boy, who was praising her artistic skills.
And the one who caught my eye was none other than that boy.
Kang Haneul, class president in second grade and now, in third, elected again with overwhelming support from the kids.
Even at just ten years old, he was so mature that he sometimes surprised even me.
But something... something felt off.
How should I put it? Simply speaking...
He was a kid who didn't act like one at all—mature to the point where he seemed like a college student, if I exaggerated a bit.
The way he treated his friends was like a big brother looking after his little siblings.
Kids like that usually fell into one of two categories.
Either they had an inherently adult-like personality, or their home environment was a bit unusual.
Then, I witnessed something unbelievable.
There were two bandages plastered around Haneul's eyes.
Thinking back, he'd had a bruise not long ago too.
It felt ominous. Suspicious, even.
It was scary and unsettling to even voice it, but... I started wondering if he was suffering from domestic violence.
It all fit too perfectly, so I decided to meet his parents.
These days, getting too close to kids or worrying excessively could be risky, but I was a teacher. It was my duty to protect them.
So, I arranged a "consultation" to meet Haneul's parents.
It was about time for parent-teacher conferences anyway.
Thanks to his last name being Kang, which put him first alphabetically, I could schedule it right away.
A few days later, after school, I had the meeting with Haneul's mother at the school.
"Hello, ma'am."
"Hello, teacher."
The first thing that struck me was her age.
Way too young to be the parent of a ten-year-old.
She looked about my age, maybe.
"I hope our Haneul hasn't been causing you any trouble?"
"Not at all~ He's so mature, he actually helps me out."
"That's a relief."
Her gentle smile as she laughed softly almost put my mind at ease, but I caught myself.
Nothing was confirmed yet. I had to suspect everything.
"Ma'am, what does Haneul usually do in his free time?"
In homes where domestic violence happens, the typical answers are vague: "He stays quiet" or "He's always out and about, so I don't know."
To avoid getting caught abusing the child, to cover it up.
Thankfully—or maybe fortunately—Haneul's mom gave a very detailed response.
"Haneul mostly plays with Seol-i at our house. He helps her with her workbooks sometimes, and they go out to play now and then."
"With Seol-i?"
"Yes, isn't Seol-i in the same class?"
"Right, she is. They're always together."
"Haneul's cute, and Seol-i's cute too, right? Hehe."
I could feel the sincerity from Haneul's mom as she covered her mouth laughing.
At that moment, I decided to reflect on and scold my past self.
For suspecting someone who smiled so genuinely thinking of her child.
"By the way, do you know how Haneul got those scratches on his face?"
"Oh, that... Well..."
Haneul's mom glanced at me hesitantly before sharing a story that naturally drew my sympathy.
"He went to a cat café with Seol-i, and a cat scratched his face..."
"Ahhh...."
"He got so startled he tripped and bruised himself too."
...I was a terrible teacher.
How could I have suspected such a loving family?
It was a day of self-reproach, fueled by misplaced righteousness.
"How does Haneul act at school? His first- and second-grade teachers only said he was incredibly mature, so we don't know much."
"Haneul is..."
After that, by way of apology, I told her in as much detail as possible how he behaved at school.
How he acted as class president, how he was as a friend.
Her expression hardened at descriptions that no ten-year-old should exhibit—so profoundly mature.
"...Teacher."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Did I fail to raise him right...? Or was there something I lacked?"
"Ma'am, what are you talking about?"
Her face darkened as she voiced thoughts eerily similar to mine, yet carrying the complete opposite meaning.
"Haneul's been more mature than other kids since he was little. But I heard somewhere that if a child acts too grown-up and not like a kid, it means the parents are irresponsible or raised them wrong..."
No. That could be true sometimes, but Haneul wasn't like that.
If anything, he was a kid who matured incredibly fast, with an innately adult-like temperament.
"No, ma'am. Haneul just matured a bit faster than other kids."
"Still, it makes me sad. Kids should have the privileges only kids can enjoy."
She was right. There were things allowed because you're a child, joys only kids can have.
Childishness was one of them, and Haneul had none of it.
A sensible, mature ten-year-old—a truly heartbreaking combination of words.
And from this talk, one thing was clear: Haneul's mom truly loved him.
I'd seen parents pleased when their kid acted mature, but never one feeling sorry that their child had to grow up too soon because of them, missing out on being a kid.
I wondered what Haneul was doing right now, receiving such love and concern.
I hoped he appreciated his parents' feelings.
"I don't wanna study..."
"Don't wanna?"
"Yeah..."
Seol-i had come over to my house and started whining to me.
The complaint? She didn't want to study.
I got it—even at that age, I hated studying. Probably still do more than I like it.
"You still have to study, though."
"Nooo."
She glared at me while whining, but it didn't work on me.
"If you don't finish, I won't play with you."
"That's mean..."
Her lips pouted out, but when I said I wouldn't play, Seol-i picked up her pencil and started studying.
"Just do three sheets each."
"Three subjects—that's nine sheets."
Couldn't argue with that.
Seol-i was doing workbooks for Korean, math, and English.
Each sheet took five to ten minutes, so finishing meant a solid hour and a half.
This was seriously workbook-level intensity; might as well go to cram school.
No choice—I resorted to bribing her with food.
Now that I was ten, I got allowance from my parents, so I could treat Seol-i to something tasty.
"Finish the problems, and I'll buy you tteokbokki at Seung-ah's snack shop."
"Really?"
"Really. So let's work hard. Got it?"
"Yeah!"
Her eyes sparkled as she nodded, diving into her studies with gusto.
Seung-ah's snack shop really did make the best stuff.
It had Seol-i reacting this positively and studying hard, after all.
Once Seol-i finished, we headed to the snack shop together.
I even treated Seung-ah, who was inside.
"Aw~ The uncle could've covered it."
"It's fine. Gotta pay what I owe."
"Haneul, aren't you a bit too mature for your own good?"
The uncle seemed a little flustered at first but soon burst out laughing and handed over the tteokbokki.
But the portion was way more than the single serving I'd ordered.
"You eat some too, Haneul."
"I'm good..."
"Come on, eat~"
"...Thank you."
Watching Seol-i and Seung-ah chow down heartily, I couldn't help but ponder.
Was I really that mature?
Honestly, a kid being too grown-up could be unsettling in its own way.
I'd wrestled with this for years, but the conclusion was always the same.
Just live as the mature kid I was.
My image was set in stone now—if I suddenly acted childish, it'd be even weirder.