Chapter 7: It’s Okay. The Teacher Understands Everything

Thump thump thump thump.

Chaea’s heart was beating so loudly it felt like it might be heard outside her chest.

It could have been because she had just been in Hyunwoo’s embrace, but now, her heart wasn’t racing because of excitement.

What if they split us into different classes?

The school hadn’t informed them of the class assignments in advance.

They would have to check the class list posted at the central entrance, then move and wait for their homeroom teacher.

What if we’re in different classes?

The thought of an undesired future made her feel like her vision was closing in already.

I’ll make a scene and try to get it changed somehow.

Chaea laughed at the nonsense Hyunwoo said with such a serious face.

You’re the type who can’t do that kind of thing.

But at least it relaxed me.

…Did it show?

Hyunwoo quietly nodded in response.

It was amazing.

Even though they were childhood friends, it was remarkable how he could always see through her feelings.

“Hey! Stop causing trouble and follow me.”

From behind, they heard Enubi’s voice, sounding a bit annoyed.

Hyunwoo turned around and asked Enubi.

“What’s all that about?”

“We’re in the same class. 3rd grade, Class 6. I just checked.”

“Oh, really?”

“Phew…”

Hyunwoo smiled brightly, and Chaea let out a sigh of relief.

“Did you bribe someone or something? You were in the same class in elementary and middle school too. How is it that you’ve been in the same class for 12 years?”

Hyunwoo lightly ignored Eunbi’s conspiracy theory and spoke.

“Then you tell the teacher for me.”

“Are you leaving it to me?”

“You can just buy me something from the snack bar later.”

“…Fine. Hurry up and take me there.”

Enubi waved her hand dismissively.

Chaea tilted her head.

“Where are we going? Isn’t the classroom just ahead?”

“No. You need to go to the nurse’s office first.”

“Huh?”

As Chaea made a confused sound, Hyunwoo took her by the hand and led her.

“No, I’m fine.”

“I know. Just follow me quietly.”

“I’m fine, so why the nurse’s office…?”

“Heh.”

Without trying to reason with her, Hyunwoo simply dragged Chaea to the nurse’s office.

He keeps hugging me without a cooldown. I guess I don’t have a choice.

He hugged her over and over, without any break. Every time he did, it felt like her heart would explode.

So, Hyunwoo had decided not to try to solve things with words.

Successfully leading her to the nurse’s office, Hyunwoo knocked on the door.

Knock knock knock.

“Is anyone there?”

From inside, a slightly surprised voice came back.

It was understandable. It wasn’t common for a student to visit the nurse’s office first thing on the first day of school.

Creek.

“Hello, it’s 3rd grade, Class 6, Do Hyunwoo and Yoo Chaea.”

“Chaea and Hyunwoo? What’s going on?”

Although it wasn’t clear if it was in a good way, chaea and Hyunwoo were close with the nurse.

Whenever chaea got injured during gym class, Hyunwoo would immediately bring her to the nurse’s office.

“chaea had an accident recently and lost her memory…”

Hyunwoo briefly explained chaea’s situation.

At first, the nurse seemed skeptical, just like Enubi.

“Then chaea, do you not remember?”

“Yes.”

Huff…

Seeing chaea’s condition up close, there was no way not to believe it.

“Alright. You complained of a headache this morning, so you’re going to lie down for a bit before leaving?”

“Yes. Is that okay?”

“If I said no, would you just leave?”

…Couldn’t I do something to convince her?

“Pfft. What, are you trying to bribe me or something? Fine. Lie down for just an hour. I’m allowing this because it’s you, Hyunwoo.”

“Thank you.”

Hyunwoo bowed his head. At times like this, his image as a model student came in handy.

“You told the homeroom teacher, right?”

“A friend said they’d let them know.”

Huff. Didn’t expect you to make someone else do the work for you?

“She volunteered to do it.”

Of course, Hyunwoo had no idea what Eunbi really meant.

He just assumed it was something like that.

“Hmmm… Alright. I have to attend the opening ceremony, so rest for now. Don’t do anything weird while you’re alone.”

…What’s that supposed to mean?

“Oh? You’re blushing. I guess you know what I’m talking about? Anyway, don’t do anything weird.”

The nurse teased Hyunwoo with a laugh and then left the room.

Why does she act like an aunt even though she’s young? No wonder she doesn’t have a boyfriend.

Thinking about what the nurse might have said if she’d overheard, Hyunwoo turned back to chaea.

“Don’t just stand there. Lie down.”

…Is this really okay?

“You’ve been struggling since you came to school. You even said your head hurts. So, just lie down. You can’t do this tomorrow anyway.”

Hyunwoo wasn’t the type to enjoy breaking the rules like this. He was simply acting out of concern for chaea.

“…Got it.”

Chaea blushed slightly and lay down on the bed.

‘This is something that should be normal for childhood friends.’

Even if it were the other way around, I would have done this much.

Knowing that, Chaea still couldn’t control her fluttering heart.

“Are you not lying down?”

“I’d feel too guilty if I did.”

“It already seems like you don’t have much guilt…”

“Just sleep quietly at least.”

Hyunwoo covered his eyes with his palm to hide his reddening face. He didn’t want to show it.

‘Why did I say that just now?’

If it weren’t for the health teacher’s words, Hyunwoo would’ve taken a quick rest as well.

Once he became conscious of it, he couldn’t lie down next to Chaea.

Chaea took Hyunwoo’s hand, which was covering his eyes, and intertwined her fingers before placing them back on her stomach.

“Is it okay to hold hands like this?”

“…Yeah.”

“Then, I’ll just sleep a little.”

She pretended not to care, but it seemed like she had been stressed the whole morning.

Chaea quickly fell asleep.

Hyunwoo was relieved that Chaea’s hand didn’t move while she was asleep and that her eyes were closed.

‘Is there a way not to turn red?’

If their eyes had met, his face would have been burning with heat.

Ding dong—ding—dong—

The bell marking the end of the first period rang, followed by the sound of the door sliding open.

Not long after, the health teacher returned.

“Why do they always call me for something useless like this during the opening ceremony? It’s all just formality… Ah.”

She mumbled, and when her eyes met Hyunwoo’s, she paused.

“Aren’t you leaving yet?”

“We’re about to go now.”

“…Don’t tell the other teachers about what you just heard, okay?”

“About what?” Hyunwoo asked innocently.

He acted as if he didn’t hear anything at all.

“You’re quick to pick up on things.”

The health teacher gave a small laugh and waved her hand.

“Wake Chaea up and leave. If this rumor spreads and it gets out that you and Chaea were having an inappropriate relationship in the health office, I’ll make sure everyone knows.”

“Excuse me?”

Hyunwoo was shocked as he tried to wake Chaea up.

‘Is she really a teacher?’

Her words were so childish and cruel, they didn’t seem like something a health teacher would say.

“Well, if that’s the case, then it’s okay for you to just hold hands proudly in the health office, right?”

“Well, no, that’s not it…”

Hyunwoo was at a loss for words and shook Chaea to wake her up.

“Yoo chaea, wake up. I don’t think it’ll be good to stay here any longer.”

“Hm?”

“Heh.“

Seeing Hyunwoo’s serious face, the health teacher couldn’t hold back her laughter.

“Did you really think I’d say that? Of course, I was just joking. I told Miji teacher about you two, and she asked you to come to the teacher’s office.”

“Park Miji is our homeroom teacher?”

“Wow, do you really not know who your own homeroom teacher is, but you come to the health office first?”

Now that Hyunwoo thought about it, they probably should’ve gone to the teacher’s office first, instead of heading straight to the health office.
No matter how important Yuchaea was, that was probably a bit much.

“Hmm… Should we just go to the teacher’s office?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

Hyunwoo reached out his hand.

Chaea naturally grabbed it and stood up.

“How do you feel now?”

“Much better than before.”

“You look like it.”

Chaea’s ears, which had been slightly drooping, were now perked up with excitement.

“If you feel pain, don’t hold back and tell me right away. Otherwise, I’ll really get mad.”

“Okay.”

“Then, shall we go… Why are you looking at us like that?”

As they were about to leave after saying goodbye to the health teacher, Hyunwoo was startled by her gaze.

“Hehe… Hmm? It’s nothing. I’m just glad to see you two like this.”

Her smile looked far too lecherous for a young female teacher.

It was the kind of smile one would have when they didn’t even realize they were grinning while reading a romance webtoon.

“…Thanks for letting us rest.”

“Thanks.”

Without saying anything rude, Hyunwoo and Chaea bowed their heads and left the health office.

“Next time, don’t come unless you’re really hurt. I won’t help you again.”

They waved goodbye to the health teacher and headed to the teacher’s office.

“But are we going to get scolded?”

“Probably. We skipped the first period without permission.”

“I could’ve just gone straight there.”

“Rest well and stop complaining.”

Without either of them needing to say it, they held hands tightly while speaking.

Knock knock.

Hyunwoo knocked gently on the door and entered the teacher’s office.

“Oh, you’re here?”

“Yes. I heard you called for us.”

“Yeah. Want to sit down for a bit?”

When they entered the teacher’s office, they were greeted by their homeroom teacher, Park Mija, who had been their teacher last year as well.

She was now in charge of the third-year department.

Hyunwoo and Chaea expected to get scolded for skipping the first period without permission, but surprisingly, she didn’t reprimand them.

“Is Chaea feeling better?” she asked, her tone more concerned.

“I heard from your mother already. After the accident, you’ve been experiencing amnesia, right?”

She had already been informed of the situation Chaea was going through.

“I also heard from Eunbi that you were just at the health office.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Good job. Your health is more important than any opening ceremony.”

Her words weren’t sarcastic; they were genuinely caring.

Though it was a bit odd to hear coming from someone who had recently become the department head.

“Well, I’m sure you’re fine. I’ve already told the other kids, so they won’t bother you.”

After a pause, their homeroom teacher smiled gently and asked,

“Chaea, do you really not remember anything except for Hyunwoo?”

“…No.”

“…I see.”

Her smile turned bittersweet.

Chaea had been a top student, and it was inevitable that the teachers had paid special attention to her.

Hearing that she had forgotten even the fact that Park Mija had been her homeroom teacher last year made it hard not to feel sad.

“Please take good care of Chaea. The doctors also said so.” Hyunwoo nodded.

“Yeah. I’m already doing my best to take care of her.”

“Mm. I can see that.”

Their homeroom teacher stared down at the ground, but not at the floor—rather, at their intertwined hands under the desk.

“Well, this is…”

“Don’t worry, I understand. Our school doesn’t forbid relationships or anything.”

“It’s not like that…”

Hyunwoo tried to explain, but…

Ding- dong- ding- dong-

“The bell rang. Go on in.”

They were almost kicked out of the teacher’s office.

‘Does it feel like the misunderstandings are just piling up?’

Hyunwoo felt aggrieved, but…

“Hyunwoo, aren’t you going?”

“Yeah, I should.”

Yet, despite his words, he didn’t let go of her hand.