"Aren't you the one from last night?" Taekwang asked, a hint of recognition in his voice.
"Ah... Hi. Nice to see you again." I said, forcing an awkward smile that slowly spread across my face.
He gave a small nod, without words, before confirming that he really remembered me. "Right...you were the one with hyung last night." his tone was casual, so casual, unlike last night.
Who can blame him when your friend or your brother tries to take his life?
I swallowed, nodding quickly. "Yeah...that's me. I'm glad to...uh." I trailed off, not knowing what to say; my voice sounded too loud in my own head, too eager, and I could feel my cheeks heat up. Of course, meeting someone new you only met once could make you shy anyway.
The girls murmured something to each other and smiled to themselves. Taekwang cleared his throat and ordered the girls, "Go to your classrooms."
"Yes, sir." They bowed and walked out thowing a soft and shy giggle.
I hesitated, fumbling with the words. "So...you are..."
"I am the Homeroom Teacher of Han Rooyeol," Taekwang said, with a bright grin, proudly, like it's a reward. Of course, being the Homeroom teacher of a top-ranked student is kind of rewarding and a proud thing to be.
"Oh... That makes sense..." I muttered, nodding quickly. "I mean, I just...haven't met you properly yet, and we are meeting here in school like this, so it's quite surprising..." I trailed off with a not-so-nervous laugh, running a hand through my hair, awkwardness bubbling up.
Taekwaung laughed softly, covering his one hand over his mouth. "Guess the world's smaller than it looks. Anyway, the parent-teacher meeting isn't in the classroom... It's being held in the staff room. Let's go."
I guess so, I thought while giving him a nod with a smile and following him. The itch of asking about how Joohawn is is just killing me. I could have at least taken their number on that night, but I waited quietly.
As we got into the staff room, there were already a few parents and guardians like me talking with other homeroom teachers, and some may even be asking the other teachers about their kids' studies, I guess.
"Here, please take your seat." The teacher's deep yet polite voice caught my attention again; I blinked and looked at the desk with a nod. I sat on the chair. I looked around the staff room and then back at Taekwang, who now sat on the other side of the desk, pulling out the file or maybe a record that must be related to Rooyeol.
His desk wasn't messy, unlike the stacked files and records on the other teachers' desks—not all, but mostly. Neatly arranged files in vertical rows, a pen case, the name tag "Kwon Taekwang," and some flower bouquets—they looked fresh, maybe from the parents, but one looked different: a card, of course, clearly written in cursive, "To my love, Taekwang." I bit my inner cheek, stopping myself from smiling. I quickly looked away, and then my eyes fell on a visiting card, "Kwon Bibim Bop restaurants," with a cute smile at the end. I puffed out a breath through my nose, shaking my head slightly.
"Is something funny?" The teacher asked, bringing me back to the present.
"What? Oh, no, nothing. Just remembering something from work."
His lips rounded in an 'Oh' and then a smile, and he looked back through the file. "Seonsang-nim," A very familiar voice, too calm, that was quite opposite to mine. I turned to see Rooyeol at the doorway.
"Come, come, Rooyeol, you have a guest," Taekwang said warmly, gesturing him closer.
My little brother stepped inside; his uniform was, as always, neat, and his hair was neatly parted like he was born to be the model student. Maybe I could make him if he were interested. That thought made me smile to myself.
"You're late, hyung," he said softly, like it was a matter of fact.
I winced. "Ah, well...work, you know. Anyway, hyung is here," I said, giving him a warm smile. Rooyeol blinked at me, his cheeks slightly turning pink. I notice everything about my brother carefully because he never says it off easily, so I have to.
His teacher's laugh made both of us look at him, his eyes moving between us. "It's nice that you could still make it, Mr. Han. Most guardians don't take time off work for these meetings. Rooyeol is lucky."
I scratched my cheek awkwardly. "Ah...well, I promised my mom, and also I can't let this kid down, right?"
Rooyeol's gaze flicked down at the floor for a second, but I caught it, the tiniest upward curve tugging at his lips before he masked it again. Did he... Did he smile? My little one... Aw, my heart hurts... Thank goodness, if I didn't know him like the back of my hand, I might've missed my little brother's most precious smile.
I had to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from grinning like an idiot. That smile is so tiny and sweet; even for a short moment, it's worth every ounce of sweat on my back, every death glare from Junwoo I'd face later.
Taekwang leaned back slightly in his chair, watching the exchange that was mixed with amusement and admiration, if I placed it correctly. "It's rare to see siblings this close in high school years. Most students push their families away."
I shrugged, brushing it off with a laugh that came out rougher than I intended. "Well, someone has to nag him into eating and sleeping. Even in speaking... Might as well be me, right?" I said, mumbling, even speaking part of it.
Rooyeol shot me a look that screamed "don't say embarrassing things in front of my teacher," but the tips of his ears betrayed him, glowing red. He might not say everything out loud, but not all the time; sometimes he kind of shows it, or it naturally gets out of him, just like his ears.
His teacher chuckled, sliding a fresh sheet from the file. "Well, Mr. Han, whatever you're doing, keep it up. He's thriving. Academically and personally."
My chest puffed up, filled with pride. The meeting ended so pleasantly without any awkwardness. Taekwang is really a nice and polite teacher, there is no doubt he is one of the teachers that every student admires, and of course girl to have a crush on. And Thanks to Rooyeol, he is such a good student without having made any trouble. If he continues studying this hard, he will definitely get into the best national college.
Aw, my brother is growing.
I looked at Rooeyol, who was staring down while walking. I wanted to pat his head and say he did his best, but how will he react? It's not like I never did; yeah, I did that when he was small, maybe in his childhood, but when I got a job and got busy with office work, I didn't get too much time to spend with him, and maybe that's what brought the distance between us.
"Look up while walking. Yeol-ah, you might run into someone or something by lowering your head," I said, forcing myself to push the words out lightly, like it was nothing.
I thought he would sigh or roll his eyes, but no, he wouldn't do all that because Rooyeol wasn't like those younger brothers who are always loud and dramatic. But what he said just made me wonder if it's really my brother.
"It's okay; my brother...is next to me, so I don't need to worry about that."
I stared at him for a moment, trying to process. This might be nothing to people who are used to their loud, clingy siblings saying it, but from this one? From my Rooyeol? It's something huge, like a confession he didn't even realize slipped out.
A soft chuckle left my throat with a smile on my lips. This kid. My little brother. He really is growing in his own quiet way. And maybe, just maybe, he didn't hate having me around as much as I sometimes feared.
"Alright! So, want to eat something out?" I asked with a joyful grin.
"But what about your work?"
I rolled my eyes at the mention of work; it was like an alarm that woke me up from a beautiful dream and just threw me back into the nightmare of reality. But this time, I am a little giddy about spending all my time with my little brother.
Because honestly, who knew when I'd get another chance like this? When I was on vacation, he'd be in school. Sundays were supposed to be for us, but even then Eomma pushed him toward cram school, and our "Time Together" ended up being a few short exchanges:
Me: Have you eaten?
Yeol: Yes.
Me: How's studying going?
Yeol: Fine.
Me: Want to go out?
Yeol: Okay.
And when we did go out, it was mostly dragging him to the park while he quietly trailed after me like a lost puppy, responding with one-word answers while I tried and failed to break his shell. But today felt different. First, he smiled, maybe a very small one. He'd said that he didn't need to worry because I was next to him. So, this time I wanted to stretch it out. Keep him with me a little longer, even if it meant the universe or Junwoo would strangle me later.
"Work can wait; Don't worry about it, Yeol-ah, let's go eat something good," I said, nudging his shoulder gently. "My treat. And no tuna. I'm so sick of it, I even dream of it chasing me with a knife."
Rooyeol's mouth twitched, maybe the closest thing he had to laugh, and that was enough for me. We walked out of the gate together, the afternoon folding around us like a soft, forgiving blanket.
As we got in the car, I turned on the engine, but wait, I hadn't decided where we would eat. I inhaled and exhaled, closing my eyes, like a magic flash. I remembered the visiting card on Rooyeol's teacher's desk. "Kwon Bibimbop bop restaurant"
It's quite new to hear or see, so why not try it?
I shifted the gear with a smirk and turned the wheel. Following the navigation, and as expected, the car ride felt quite too quiet, like I was the only one in the car. And when I glanced at Rooyeol to speak, I swallowed my words, noticing that he was asleep. His lower lip had that little pout he always got when he dozed off, his head tilted against the window.
A slow smile eased across my lips. My chest felt warm and fuzzy, like a soft scarf wrapped around me. I quietly reached over without waking him, steadying his head and nudging the seat so his neck wouldn't snap when the car hit a bump.
When we pulled up outside the restaurant, Rooyeol was still in his slumber. I wonder how many nights this little one worked, staying up all night just to ace the exams. I turned my gaze and shifted out the window to the restaurant. The wooden doorway sat beneath a dark tiled roof; the string of lights that was off now was around the signboard. A couple of handwritten menus stood propped outside, swaying slightly with the wind. Potted plants clustered near steps, giving it a homely, lived-in feel. It wasn't flashy like the restaurants that I visit with the team meetings, but simple and more like a hidden hangout for high school students and a place only locals knew.
I gently tapped Rooyeol's shoulder until he blinked awake, rubbing his eyes groggily. "We're here," I said with a smile.
He stared at me for a moment, then glanced around outside and nodded quietly, still half dreaming.
As soon as we stepped into the restaurant, pushing the glass door, the scent of grilled meat and sesame oil hung in the air, mingling with the wooden warmth of the room. Low tables lined the space, neatly arranged with side dishes and utensils, sunlight from thin windows spilling across them. On the wall, menus written in black hangul letters were pinned up, and a few framed photos of pots and flowers, and small old paintings that are hung crookedly nearby. It was quiet and peaceful, as if time slowed a little once you stepped in.
Rooyeol blinked around, his face softening. "Feels like grandma's house," he murmured.
I chuckled, patting his back lightly. "Exactly. Now let's fill that stomach of yours before you start dozing off again."
He glanced at me, and I could practically hear the embarrassed whine sitting in his eyes. I laughed under my breath and guided him toward one of the tables tucked near the window.
As we sat down, Rooyeol started looking around as if noting everything around him. Then a female voice came. "Oh, we have customers," she said with amusement and walked to us. She looked like she must be in her late 40s. Yet somehow she looked beautiful with a friendly smile.
Her features felt quite familiar, but I couldn't tell where from. "Welcome Welcome," she said cheerfully, placing two menus down. "You two look like brothers. Students?" Her eyes crinkled as they flicked between us.
I let out a quick laugh, rubbing the back of my neck. "Ah, yes, we are brothers. But he's a student," I said, pointing at Rooyeol. "He is a high schooler, not me."
Rooyeol ducked his head low at that while the ajumma gasped, "Oh my, you look so young, how old are you?"
I stroked my temple with a nervous smile. "Me? Twenty-nine."
"Twenty-nine?" She repeated, her brows shooting up in disbelief before softening again. "Aigoo, no way. You don't look a day over twenty-two."
I let out a half-laugh, half-sigh, waving my head as if to brush it off. "If only my manager thought the same, ajumma."
That earned me a warm chuckle from her, the kind that made the room feel homier. "Well, I suppose good genes run in the family. Your brother here is very handsome too."
My eyes fell on Rooyeol; his ear went red immediately, and his head sank further. If this ajumma gave another compliment, he would just hide under the table.
"Aigo, he's so shy." She said with a motherly laugh, her eyes twinkling as if she found it endearing rather than odd. "Anyway, what do these two handsome brothers want to order?" he asked.
I turned to my brother, tilting my head. "What do you want, yeol-ah?"
He mumbled something into his hands before finally lifting his head just enough to speak. "Tongyeong bibimbap," he said eventually, softly but clearly.
I wonder how this boy is even studying and getting topped with that shy attitude.
A smile tugged at my lips. "Good choice," I said, before turning back to ajumma. "One bowl of Tongyeong bibimbap and one bowl of Jinju Bibimbap please."
"Ah, Tongyeong and Jinju!" She clapped her hands with delight. "Two specialties, perfect for two brothers. I'll bring them out soon with extra side dishes," she winked before bustling away.
I leaned back against the wooden bench, letting out a sigh. The place wasn't too packed; I had to mention there were only a few, and some might be college, and some might be high school, as they were in uniforms. My nose caught that mouthwatering aroma from the kitchen already, making me hungry. And for the first time today, I felt like I could actually breathe.
"Joohwan-ah, there are customers at table five; I have taken the order, ask if they need any drinks!" The ajumma called toward the kitchen, her voice carrying over the murmur of the dining room.
Joohwan???