"I want to participate with teacher!"
"I'm on teacher's team!"
The screams of female students almost pulled the building down.
The P.R teacher looked like he was about to pass out stone. "You brats! Were you not interested in it before?" He spat wrinkling his nose.
"Don't be jealous….Mr. Yoon is just too handsome we can't help it!"
At this point, Sensei chuckled lightly. "It's a shame, I'm just going to be there as an assistant medic."
Eh?
M-medic?!
My heart sank in disappointment likewise the class.
"It's unfair!"
"Is it because teacher is just assisting?"
Mr. Weak legs finally had a satisfied look on his face. "You heard right. So, better switch to a better teacher team where wining is guaranteed." His chest puffed out with pride.
The class cooed.
"Don't forget to turn in your sheets within three days." He said finally and walked out.
Sensei began handing out the sheets a small smile hanging on his lips.
"Teacher, it's a shame you won't be taking part in the sports. I dont want to do anything if teacher's not going to be there to guide me." A female student said as she picked the sheet, the words rolling shyly from her lips.
"Teacher's not going to be everywhere with you, this sports day is for building teamwork and a friendly relationship between all of you." Sensei replied almost too perfunctorily.
"Sensei, can't I work as an assistant to the assistant medic?" She probbed further. Sensei gave her smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm afraid, it's not possible."
Watching the both of them banter back and forth made me feel somewhat….stuffy. Sensei was being extra chatty today which was so unlike him.
I shifted my focus outside the window an attempt to ease the tightness in my chest. The cherry blossoms trees stood in the distance without a single petal on it. I wondered why they let it remain even though it wasn't performing it's 'beautification' duty.
It was becoming an eyesore.
"Lee Sehyun student?"
My body tensed up in surprise once I heard my name. I turned to meet Sensei's gaze burning with curiosity. "Are you that worried about the harmony festival?" He queried softly.
"I—" my words faltered softly at the realization we were not alone.
Sensei noticed the reason for my hesitation as he continued naturally. "It's normal for you to be worried however, it's important for you to remain confident."
I gave a low hum in agreement too flustered to construct a proper sentence.
He placed the sheet on the table. "So, have you considered an activity you want to take part in?"
The teacher × Student race sounded nice but, Sensei is not going to be part….
"N-no."
"That's fine, Sehyun still has three more days to think about it."
Sensei turned to the rest of the class, "likewise you all. The class president will have the filled sheets collected by the due date." Having said that, he walked out of the class.
"Hey, did you notice how gentle teacher was when talking to Sehyun?"
"It must be nice to be really CLUELESS!" The female student talking to Sensei said and I could sense the dripping disain in her words.
I flinched involuntarily gripping the sheet tight as their harsh remarks continued.
Ignore, just ignore…..
*** At Home.
'His favour currying skills are truly remarkable…'
'Acting all innocent just to be favoured. I loathe people like that the most.'
"Lee Sehyun??"
"Mm?" My head shot up distractedly to meet Sensei's.
"What's bothering you? You've been distant since this morning." He questioned gently.
I shook my head. "It's nothing, Sensei doesn't need to worry."
After all, it has always been like this before Sensei arrived.
I'm used to it….
I should be used to it…
"You're clearly spacing out again…." He motioned towards my plate. "The dumpling is going to be crushed to paste if you keep poking at it."
I stiffened, hurriedly dropping the spoon in my hand. "It's about the sports day… I'm just scared I'd mess up." I said, steering the conversation away, then added a bit of truth.
"It's my first time after all….."
Sensei remained silent for a while before leaning back on the chair. "So, do you want to be the assistant of the assistant medic?" He asked.
I looked at him taken aback. He wasn't messing around— he meant every word.
"I-is that possible?" I asked before I knew it.
He gave me a smile, his eyes glinting with a spark of certainty. "If Sehyun wants it, I'll make it possible."
I smiled into a quiet laugh, my eyes creasing by the corners. "If Sensei doesn't want me to, then I don't want."
He leaned in on the table, voice low, "If I didn't want it, I wouldn't ask Sehyun."
I let out a half laugh. "Sensei keeps messing around, you clearly said it wasn't possible in class today."
He held his face in his palm observing me with a lingering grin. "It's possible for you. I'd make anything possible just to be with you."
My skin tingled at his words—not in a bad way.
"Sensei would easily pass as a playboy…" I mumbled quietly but he heard me.
"Sehyun doesn't like it?"
"I—" I paused, a shy smile tugging at my lips.
"So, do you want to be my assistant or not?" He probed.
"Of course I—"
'Did you notice how gentle teacher was when talking to Sehyun?'
'His favour currying skills are top-notch!'
My words ended mid sentence, my smile fading away at the speed of light my expression icing over like I was poured a bucket of cold water.
"Ne-never mind, I don't think I'm suitable for it." I said instead picking up my spoon.
Sensei's quirked a brow at me at the sudden shift in my demeanor but he didn't say a word.
Sensei didn't resume eating just silently observing me while I couldn't find it in me to enjoy the food. Every swallow felt like a stone was being pushed down my throat. It was hard and suffocating. Sensei's stare didn't make things any better. I couldn't tell if he was upset or not.
Just like that, dinner ended on a flat note.
I stood to pack the plates but Sensei gripped my hand. "Let's go." He stated.
"Huh?!"
He didn't spare me another moment to think, he just merely pulled me along with him wordlessly.
He half shoved and half carried me in the car and drove off as soon as he got in.
Where were we headed?
Should I be scared?
Should I say something to end this chilling silence?
I glanced Sensei's way. His gaze remained ahead not a trace of 'in the happy mood' on his face.
I swallowed. He was definitely upset.
I cowered in my seat fiddling silently with my fingers. It was my fault wasn't it?
I didn't know how long we drove for but at some point the car steered to an halt. Sensei got down and opened my side of the door. "Get down."
I remained seated suddenly forgetting how my limbs worked. Sensei leaned in stretching forth his hand, his voice slightly warm. "Come."
My hand held his like I was clinging to a life force. He helped me out steading my stance his hand wrapped around my waist. "S-Sensei…."he pressed index finger on my lips sending back every word I'd manage to construct.
"Don't say, look." As the words slipped, I felt a slight drop on my head. It was so light, I almost didn't notice. I reached up and pulled it.
A petal.
A mix of pink and white, so pure, so beautiful.
I heard Sensei's voice again. "Look ahead."
My eyes followed his words, my lips parting in sheer astonishment and fascination.
The path ahead narrowed between rows cherry blossoms trees. Petals swaying with the gentle wind like soft snow.
I took a step towards the otherworldly perfection before me. The air smelled faintly sweet — soft, clean and unreal—the world beyond the path blurred behind the curtain of pink.
"You like it?" Sensei's voice floated towards me like the falling petals—calm and gentle.
"Mn. It's my first time seeing them blossom."i said softly my hands reaching out to feel. I felt Sensei pull me back into his embrace. His head buried in rhe crook of my neck. I shuddered slightly.
"Is that so?" he asked softly.
"Mn."
I gazed down at the fallen flowers gathered at my feet.
This was incredibly so perfect. There was something so achingly fragile about this moment.
"Sehyun…." Sensei called tenderly.
"Mn?" I held his arm wrapped around me.
"Don't let it get to you…." His words were like a lightening bolt striking a certain part of me.
He'd realized it.
"Because, just like this beautiful scenery, Sehyun as always been untainted to me."
"So, don't compromise. They are free to think whatever. What really matters is how Sehyun sees himself…..How I see you….."
He added softly like a reminder, not just to me but himself. "Mine."
That was all it took to shatter the gates of overwhelming hurt I'd been holding back. Tears poured down my cheeks like a torrent. I turned into his embrace burying my face in his chest. "I didn't do anything wrong…. I never did so why?"
Sensei held me tighter. "Because they can't stand it."
"They can't stand the fact that you are easily loved without having to try."