Seventeen, and the Event (4)
The classroom was in absolute chaos, buzzing with activity. Just before I stepped out, there had been plenty of empty seats, but in the short time I was gone, the vibe had totally shifted. Every table was crammed with customers, and the servers were darting around like mad. The entrance was no better—even from inside, I could see a ton of people crowding the hallway outside. The kids handling that area kept bowing nonstop, telling customers all seats were taken and to hang on just a little longer. The line of people in the corridor kept peeking inside whenever they got a chance.
The others shot me these subtle resentful looks, like the promo had been too effective. 'You guys are the ones who told me to do it—what'd I do wrong...'
I snuck a glance around, then hung my head low. Cautiously, I looked straight ahead. There, plopped at a corner table like he owned the place, was the vice principal sipping his coffee. He set down his paper cup and slowly scanned the room. His expression had definitely softened a bit from earlier. But he was naturally so stern-looking that just being near him made my nerves jangle.
Honestly, it had been a total disaster. I'd dragged him all the way to our classroom to clear up the misunderstanding, but there was a mob at the door, no seats inside even after squeezing through, and even after flashing my student ID in a panic, he kept doubting me... If our homeroom teacher hadn't shown up to explain, he might not have believed me to the end.
...But the guy who apologized for the mix-up was now hogging a whole table, which felt awkward in a whole new way. He said to treat him like a customer, so what could I even say?
"Ahem..."
My eyes met the vice principal's as he surveyed the class. He stared at me in silence for a long moment. Then his gaze traveled from my face down past the bunny paws to my toes, then slowly back up to the top of my head. It felt like he was inspecting every inch, and I could barely breathe.
Suddenly, the corner of his mouth twitched up ever so slightly. His rigid face relaxed, his features softening. He'd been scary just seconds ago, and the sudden shift had me tilting my head in confusion. Why?
His expression eased even more, and then he cleared his throat. "Ahem."
Just like that, his face snapped back to its usual stern mask. "Could I trouble you for one more cup of coffee?"
His voice was dead serious, so I instinctively straightened up even more. He'd said the cafe coffee wasn't to his taste, so I'd been making him instant mix coffee nonstop. No mugs or plastic cups for him either—just paper ones. It looked kinda shabby, but what could I do?
"Yes, sir... I'll bring it right away..."
I answered as politely as possible and spun around quick. I felt his gaze boring into the back of my head. My shoulders hunched up again. Plus, every time I moved, the customers nearby all stared, which was insanely stressful.
"Bunny's on the move!"
"Look at that tail—too cute~"
As I hurried to the counter, Hyeji's eyes went wide when she saw me. "One mix coffee for the vice principal..." I whispered as quietly as I could, and she swiftly grabbed a packet, passing it to the kitchen while looking super tense.
"He's still here...?"
"How long is he gonna stay...?"
Even the kids making drinks in the back muttered nervously.
"Yeah..." I couldn't help but agree. A sigh slipped out.
Once the steaming mix coffee was poured into a paper cup, I carefully set it on a tray. Gripping it steady with both hands so it wouldn't spill, I headed back to his table. I set the tray down gently and slid the cup toward him.
"Vice principal, your mix coffee."
"Mm, thanks."
Watching him pick it up, I let out a relieved sigh without thinking. Maybe now he'll head to another table? I started edging away stealthily.
But just as I turned, he reached out with a regretful look. What does he want from me now?
Getting antsy, I froze—then he glanced at his watch. His eyes widened a bit, and a subtly troubled expression crossed his face.
"I didn't mean to stay this long... I've taken up space too much. Sorry, kids."
Everyone nearby lit up at the thought he was finally leaving. Me too.
"N-no, not at all... Have a good one."
I bowed on reflex. I caught his mouth twitching up again.
"I'll finish this on my way out."
He stood with the paper cup in hand and took a few steps toward the hallway. Relief washed over me—it's finally over—but then he stopped dead and turned back to me.
"Um..."
Inside the bunny head, my eyes went wide. "Y-yes...?"
He fiddled with his glasses a bit sheepishly, then asked cautiously, "Mind if I... touch the bunny ears? Just once?"
My mind went blank. ...What's with this guy?
I was genuinely flustered and dumbfounded, but his eyes were weirdly earnest—no hint of joking. That made it even more absurd.
"Uh... sure. Go ahead."
His face lit up instantly. He stepped closer, raising both hands super carefully. The moment his fingers brushed the bunny ears, I tensed up without meaning to.
He pinched them lightly, then stroked them oh-so-gently—up once, side to side once, a soft squeeze and release. The motions were slow and deliberate. Blissful satisfaction spread across his face, like he was in heaven. Who knew that stern mug could melt like that?
After a good long while, he pulled back reluctantly. "Thanks. See you next time."
Only after his back vanished through the classroom door did my tension finally ebb. Now it's really over. My face relaxed in pure relief.
But then—'See you next time?'
A chill ran down my spine. Some ominous foreboding prickled my skin.
"Bunny! Order here~!"
"Can we get a pic?"
Suddenly, voices calling me erupted from tables all over. Some even stood up and approached, so half the class jumped in to block them.
"Whoa whoa, folks, can't do that."
Thanks to their cover, I made it safely to the counter. Then I started scurrying around taking orders.
But as I bounced from table to table, I noticed something off. There were supposed to be other kids handling orders, but everyone was calling me. And it wasn't just orders—people shoved phones in my face for photos too. It left me feeling kinda deflated, and I just sighed blankly—
Whack!
Something zapped my head like lightning. "Kyaaack!"
A scream burst out, and I clapped both hands to my scalp on instinct. It hurt so bad tears pricked my eyes.
"Don't just stand there zoning out—get back to work."
Looking up at the voice, Kim Yuha grinned down at me with mischief all over his face. Fury boiled up, and I stomped my bunny foot down on his as hard as I could.
"...Ow, hey!"
He glared for a second, but I shot him an even fiercer one and marched back to the tables.
After that, it was nonstop frenzy. Taking orders, serving drinks, clearing tables, posing for pics... I barely had a second to breathe.
Then, while snapping a photo with the math teacher who'd come as a customer, a familiar voice cut through from somewhere.
"Yuha."
I couldn't turn since we were posing, but I knew it was Kang Mincheol instantly.
"Act serious around the girl you like. You'll regret it later if you don't."
His words hit me as the shutter clicked.
"Great, one more?"
The math teacher said cheerfully, so I forced a V-sign and smile. Mincheol's words echoed in my head, but I couldn't let my face slip—I shoved it aside.
After the pics, I glanced toward the hallway where the voice came from. There was Kang Mincheol talking at Kim Yuha, who had his head down. Looked like a scolding. Whatever, Yuha must've messed up somehow. No need to butt in—that'd just tire me out.
"Seojin, take a juice break and rest."
Hearing that, I finally exhaled in relief. I plopped into a corner seat and yanked off the bunny head first.
"Hiyaa..."
Just freeing my hair felt amazing—cool air hit my face directly. My sweat-matted strands felt gross, but even that was bearable right now.
I gulped down some orange juice from a paper cup, and Eunju brought over a little fan and turned it on. My sticky hair started fluttering in the breeze, strand by strand.
Heaven...
It was exhausting, but I could probably tough it out to the end.