The Entrance Ceremony (1)
"Hanbyul! Aren't you going to school? Today is your high school entrance ceremony."
I opened my eyes to my aunt's voice calling from outside my room.
How was it possible to feel this lazy about going to school on the very first day of high school?
"Yes! I'm getting up now!"
Scratching my head, I rolled out of bed and walked into the living room, where I saw my aunt getting ready for work as usual.
She was dressed in a full women's suit—a rare sight for office wear these days—with her long reddish-brown hair tied back in a neat ponytail. At first glance, she looked like a beautiful young woman fresh out of college, busily moving about the house.
Honestly, she might be my aunt, but I still couldn't believe she was forty-five. I really wondered if she and my uncle were even aging at all. It was downright fascinating.
"Honestly, Hanbyul, now that you're a high schooler, shouldn't you be waking up on your own? I can't keep waking you up forever."
"I did wake up. It's just that the bed wouldn't let me go."
"Hey! Do you think that makes any sense?!"
"Well, I spoke it, so it's talk."
Yeah, if I didn't start the morning with a little bickering with my aunt, the day just felt incomplete.
"Actually, if I don't bicker with you like this, it does feel a bit empty."
Huh? Did I just say that out loud?
"It didn't come out of your mouth, so don't worry."
"Wait, Auntie, why are you reading my mind?"
"Hanbyul, how many years have I lived with you now?"
"Hmm... about seven years now?"
"Exactly! After seven years, I can read the mind of a simple kid like you without you saying a word."
Well, she wasn't wrong. I was pretty simple.
"But Auntie, where is Kim Dahi?"
"Still sleeping. Sigh... She's my daughter, but she's really like a hibernating bear."
"*Yaaawn*... I'm so sleepy. Oh, it's Mom!"
"Kim Dahi! What time do you think it is?!"
"Oh, Mom, there's still plenty of time before we have to leave for school."
"And I woke up a while ago. But the bed..."
"The bed wouldn't let you go?"
"As expected of Lee Hanbyul! You get it! That's my little brother for you!"
"Why am I your little brother?"
"Well, honestly, I've taken care of you a lot."
"Hey, Kim Dahi, when is your birthday?"
"Are you really going to bring up birthdays?"
The squirt squawking next to me, shaking her reddish-brown hair that looked just like my aunt's, was my cousin Kim Dahi.
We were the same age, but my birthday was definitely earlier.
I was clearly the older one, but she still refused to acknowledge it.
On top of that, she always insisted she was the older sister. Well, actually, never mind. If I ever heard her call me "Oppa," I'd probably bite my tongue and die on the spot.
Her pride was ridiculously high, even though she was still the height of an elementary schooler.
As for her looks, other people said she was pretty or cute. And yeah, she was pretty-looking.
She had bright, clear eyes and a small face. Just looking at her, she had the kind of appearance that triggered a guy's protective instincts.
But her personality was a different story. She was a total mad dog.
I don't know if she thinks she's an actual dog, but if she doesn't like something, she bites. I'm not being metaphorical. And she never lets go.
Watching Dahi and me bicker since morning, my aunt looked at us like she was looking at something pathetic. Why was I getting lumped in with her?
"How did my daughter and nephew grow up to be so childish?"
"Auntie."
"Mom."
""You know we learned it from you, right?""
"These kids, seriously!"
"But Auntie, aren't you going to be late? It's past 7:30."
"Oh my! Look at the time!"
""Have a good day!""
"Hanbyul, Dahi, wait. Come here for a second."
""Yes?""
Saying that, my aunt gestured for Dahi and me to come closer.
As we stood side by side in front of her, she pulled us into a tight hug.
It felt a bit cringey, but warm.
"Oh, you've really grown so much. My babies, it feels like you were newborns just yesterday."
"Of course. I'm a high schooler now."
"Exactly, Mom! Your daughter is a high schooler now too."
"Right, you're high schoolers now. You've grown up so well. My babies are the absolute best!"
"It's all thanks to you, Auntie."
"Well, I am pretty cute."
"Hehe, I really have to go now. Hanbyul, Dahi, have a good first day of high school, and I'll see you tonight."
"Yes, Auntie, see you tonight. Have a good day."
"See you tonight, Mom!"
It had already been seven years since my parents passed away in that accident.
When I first came to live at my aunt's house, it was really uncomfortable, but now she felt like a real parent to me.
The squirt next to me had become pretty comfortable to be around, too.
"Hey, Kim Dahi, aren't you going to wash up?"
"I'm going to now. Why do you ask?"
"Well, Sung is coming soon."
"What? Why? Wait, why?"
"Are you stupid? We talked about it on chat yesterday. It's the first day of high school, so the three of us should go together."
"Oh right! I forgot. How much time is left until Sung gets here?"
"Probably about ten minutes?"
"Oh, crap!"
"Hurry up and wash."
She ran off as fast as her short legs could carry her.
I really wondered what went on in her head.
She definitely wasn't stupid, but sometimes she seemed dumber than a puppy.
Ah, was that an insult to puppies?
Well, putting aside whatever she was, I needed to get ready for school too.
Ugh, I really didn't want to go to school.
In the end, Dahi barely managed to wash up before Park Sung arrived, and the three of us were now walking to school side by side.
"So, was Dahi cutting it close today too?"
"Can't you tell just by looking?"
"Yeah."
"Why, Sung? Do I look weird today?"
"No, you look too pretty today too."
"Uh... seriously, Sung! You can't just drop that on me!"
"Huh?"
"Hey, cut it out if you don't want to get killed by a single guy."
"Can you even beat my Sung?"
"Ah, damn it."
The bald guy next to me who looked like a grizzly bear, currently acting all lovey-dovey with Kim Dahi, was Park Sung.
He was my childhood friend, someone I'd known since elementary school.
Since he hung out with me, he naturally got close to Kim Dahi too, and then in middle school, they suddenly told me they were dating.
When they told me they were dating, I seriously wanted to complain to God.
What sin did I commit in my past life to deserve this damn situation?
But these two had the nerve to act all lovey-dovey right in front of a single guy?
Damn it, but I couldn't beat Park Sung.
I'd been doing judo with him for five years now, but I couldn't even win a single sparring match against him.
That guy was definitely born for judo.
Otherwise, it was just too unfair. I had worked hard for five years too.
While we were talking, we arrived at the high school before I knew it.
Having the entrance ceremony in the auditorium was fine, but why! How! Why was the principal's speech so long?! No, wasn't this our entrance ceremony? Was the principal entering the school too? I really didn't get it.
As I was thinking that, a girl with long black hair caught my eye.
Her hair was really pretty. But why did she look so familiar? Where had I seen her? Ah, damn, it was on the tip of my tongue.
While I was lost in these thoughts, the entrance ceremony ended before I knew it.
"Hey, we're all in Class 3, right?"
"Yeah."
"Class 3."
The three of us headed to Class 1-3 while chatting about useless things.
When we entered the classroom, there was an atmosphere that was hard to describe.
I guess because it was the first day, there was a certain awkwardness in the air.
For now, until the teacher arrived, I decided to read the web novel I couldn't finish yesterday.
I don't know how long I was reading, but at the sound of the kids' chatter, I turned off my phone. A cute-looking woman in a black suit with short, bobbing brown hair opened the classroom door and walked in.
Was she our homeroom teacher?
"Hello, everyone! My name is Do Tori. I'll be in charge of Class 1-3 this year. My subject is Korean. Yes, it's the 'acorn' you're thinking of! My name is a bit unique, right? But if anyone makes fun of my name, you'll be having a personal counseling session with me without exception! Got it?"
"Why is that teacher so funny? Haha!"
"Teacher Do Tori, her name and her looks are both cute."
"Now then! It's the self-introduction time you've all been waiting for!"
""Aw, Teacher~""
"What, did you think you could just listen to me and be done? No way. It's actually pretty embarrassing for me to introduce myself too."
"So, going by attendance number is honestly too predictable, and I want to memorize your names and faces!"
"We'll go in order of where you're sitting, starting from my side. No objections! If you don't like it, become a teacher yourself~"
""Ah~~""
Hmm, it seemed our homeroom teacher this year was a very fun person.
School life was going to be interesting.
"Now, start!"
The kids in front finished their turns, and it was Kim Dahi's turn.
Was she going to cause trouble again?
"Hi! My name is Kim Dahi! I went to OO Middle School! My hobbies are collecting dolls and watching animal videos! What I like is cute things, and the male student who will introduce himself later, Park Sung! Well, nice to meet you all!"
"Uh... did you say your name was Dahi?"
"Yes, Teacher!"
"What is your relationship with that student named Park Sung?"
"He's my boyfriend!"
"Damn it, to think my student has a boyfriend when I don't even have one."
"It's okay, you're pretty, Teacher, so you'll get a boyfriend soon!"
"Right? I'll definitely get one, right?"
"Yes! Definitely!"
"Yes, yes, our Dahi speaks so prettily."
Hmm, Kim Dahi really had great social skills.
How could she get close to the teacher so quickly? Kim Dahi was truly a mysterious creature.
"My name is Park Sung. I graduated from OO Middle School. My hobbies are judo and listening to music, and my dream is to become a judo athlete. And what I like is Kim Dahi. I look forward to working with you all this year."
"Hmm, now it's just natural lovey-dovey stuff, I don't even know what to say..."
Teacher, don't give up! If you do, they'll run even wilder!
As I was thinking that, my turn approached before I knew it.
Already my turn? Weren't there quite a few kids in front of me?
"My name is Lee Hanbyul. I graduated from OO Middle School, and my hobbies are judo and reading. I do judo with Park Sung next to me. As for reading, I read pretty much anything without being picky. I look forward to this year."
"Hmm, Hanbyul, have Dahi and Sung always been that close?"
"Yes... it's been hard since middle school."
"I... I see. It must have been hard."
"Thank you for understanding. So, Teacher... this time..."
"Hang in there this time too!"
"Teacher?!"
"Now, next!"
Teacher, how can you do this to me? I know we just met today, but how can you place such a heavy burden on a student you just met!
I listened to the other kids' self-introductions while thinking of such useless things.
Just then, I heard your name. Yes, your name, which I could never forget.
You, who possessed a completely different atmosphere from when I first saw you.
"My name is Ha Pina."