[NOVEL] I'm (Not) Allow to Love You [One.2/2] (English ver.)

이게 마지막 내 자존심이라

This is the last bit of my pride

뻔하겠지만 내 얘길 들어줘

So it might sound typical but listen to my story

나는 변명 따윈 질색이지만

I hate giving excuses

널 놓치면 안 될 것 같아 난

But I don’t think I can lose you

어제 딴 여자와 밥을 먹었어

I ate dinner with another girl yesterday

니가 미워서 너무 미워서

Because I hated you, I hated you so much

니가 그 남자를 생각하는 게

Because I can see you

매일 난 눈에 보여서

Thinking of him everyday

삐뚤어지면 날 봐 줄까 봐

Maybe you’ll see me if I act badly

이렇게라도 니 관심을 돌려

I try to gain your attention like this

Dara dara dadada

I don't wanna let you go

어떡해야 널 가질 수 있니

What can I do to have you?

 

거짓말이라도 해봐 좀

At least lie to me

빈말이라도 잊겠다고

Even if you don’t mean it, tell me you’ll forget him

희망고문이라도 해봐

Even if it’s hope torture, do it

빈틈을 좀 보여줘

Show me some kind of flaw

내 자리는 어디도 없어

There is no spot for me

최소한의 숨이라도 쉬게 맘을 열어줘

Open your heart so at least I can breathe a little

(NU’EST – Love Without Love 사랑 없는 사랑)

It was almost eight o'clock at night when I arranged to meet Chungdae. Coincidentally, I was the on-duty teacher for tonight's independent study session, so it wasn't a problem for me to wait on Chungdae. He was so busy with club activities that I doubted he'd have time to study at home. The staff room was already empty by then, and Kim Sonsaengnim had left almost 40 minutes ago, so I would be the last teacher to leave today. There was a knock on the door, and a moment later, Chungdae walked in. I waved to him, motioning for him to come over.

"Hi, miss," he greeted cheerfully, standing in front of the door.

"Come sit in front of me," I said.

He was wearing a light purple t-shirt soaked in sweat, and his hair looked messy. In his hands, he held his folded uniform.

“You should change or take a shower before you go home. Did you bring another change of clothes?”

“Wow, Miss, you’re very considerate of me.”

“I care about all my students, so you don’t need to misunderstand. By the way, what’s this news I heard about you and Youngkyong dating?”

Chungdae smiled broadly, “The news has reached the teachers?”

“So the news is true?”

“For now, all I can say is, I think we love each other.”

I rolled my eyes, “Whatever it is, make sure you don’t date on school grounds. You know school rules don’t allow you to date.”

“Don’t worry, Miss. If we do, we’ll be extra careful.”

"Yes, for me, I really don't mind it," I said making Chungdae look surprised, "what I mean is, oh come on, you're on the age already. I think it's okay to date someone. But as you know you're gonna break the rules and we're gonna be in trouble, just be careful."

"That's it! That's why I really like you, miss!" Chungdae exclaimed happily.

"Now you need to go home, it's late."

Chungdae got up from his chair, "thank you miss. Please go home safely or I'll be sad."

"I'm not a kid so don't worry about me."

Chungdae ran towards the door.

“Change your clothes!”

"Alright, alright, miss! I'll change my clothes before I go home!"

“And good luck!”

I laughed as Chungdae gave me a two-fingered saranghae before he finally left. That kid, I’m not sure he’s mature enough to date.

***

“OH MY GOD!”

I had just passed the high school locker area when I heard that scream, followed by the thunderous sound of falling objects. Afraid something terrible had happened, I quickly walked toward the sound.

“As expected of Youngkyong,” Chinye said with a laugh, “it happens every year, right?”

It turned out the thunderous noise was caused by dozens of chocolate wrappers falling from Youngkyong’s locker when she opened it. Oh, there were several stems of flowers, a bouquet of flowers crammed into a pile, and even a few letters on the floor. Youngkyong could only let out a long sigh as she began to pick up the items.

“I’ll get diabetes if I eat all this chocolate. Take as much as you like, Chinye,” Youngkyong pleaded.

“Oh, no way. They gave it to you, how could I eat it?” Chinye said, helping Youngkyong pick up the fallen items. “I think to stop all this, you should start dating someone. Officially, I mean.”

“Are you guys okay? Or do you need help?” I asked, stepping closer.

“Ah, we’re fine, miss, don’t worry,” Chinye replied, standing for a moment.

“Wow! Chocolate! Can I have some?” Chungdae suddenly appeared behind me, creating a commotion.

“Just take it, but help us clean it up,” Youngkyong requested, shoving a bunch of chocolate bars into Chungdae’s arms.

I shook my head and turned to the middle and high school teacher locker aisle next to the student lockers. I just remembered today was Valentine’s Day, no wonder there were so many romantic knickknacks being sold everywhere lately. Valentine’s… chocolate. Ah, I’d forgotten the last time I’d celebrated Valentine’s Day with a boyfriend. I think this was my third year celebrating Valentine’s Day alone. Ah well, it didn’t matter. To my surprise, when I opened my locker, something furry brown fell out. I picked it up and it turned out to be a stuffed dog half the size of my locker. I was confused, who gave me a stuffed toy? Then I realized there was also a chocolate bar in my locker, a small card with the words “Happy Valentine’s Day, Miss Baek” neatly typed on it. There was no sender's name. Who gave me the gift? Surprised, I just left the two items in my locker again, until I retrieved them on my way home from work. Whoever gave them to me, thank you. The doll is cute, I wouldn't leave it there. And I like chocolate. So, I'll take it rather than let it go to waste.

***

"Ah, I'm tired..."

I trudged toward my apartment. Lately, the work of correcting assignments and tests had started piling up again. This is what happens when you teach 10 classes at once. I was hungry, but I felt too lazy to find dinner. I just wanted to sleep. Ah, the streetlight near my apartment was broken again. I didn't know who to report this to, or if anyone had reported this before. I'd look online. Wait, I suddenly had a bad feeling... I'd heard someone following me since I left the subway station... I turned around. No one was there. It was quiet and a bit dark. I wasn't afraid of the supernatural; I was afraid of humans, because human behavior can be crueler than demons. Maybe it was just me, because I was tired. I kept walking, but a little faster. And then I heard those footsteps again. I turned around again and there was no one there. This wasn't right. I decided to run, but the next second I bumped into something and fell.

"Miss Baek!"

I found myself sitting on the street, and the thing, I mean someone, I'd just bumped into was Donghyun.

"Min Donghyun?"

"Excuse me, miss. Are you okay?"

He reached out and helped me up. Damn, this was so embarrassing. I tried to pat down my pants and cleared my throat. Donghyun was still neatly dressed in his uniform and still carrying his large backpack.

“What are you doing here? It’s late…”

“Ah, I’ve just visited my uncle. His house is in the apartment complex over there,” Donghyun replied, pointing to the apartment next to mine, “and what about Miss? You kind of look scared.”

It would be embarrassing to tell him what I just experienced. I’m afraid I’m just being paranoid.

“I… this is my apartment building. Okay, I’m going home,” I laughed nervously, pointing to my apartment building.

“Come on, Miss, I’ll walk you to the front.”

“You don’t have to do that. It’s late, you should be going home. Besides, I’m only a few meters away.”

"It's precisely because it's late. My parents taught us to accompany women and escort them to their homes."

Before I could process his words, Donghyun slowly removed my backpack from my back and slung it over his free shoulder. The other shoulder was for him to carry his own backpack. He must have come straight here after school.

I smiled at him, "Okay. Thanks, Donghyun."

"Not a big problem, miss."

And I didn't hear any more footsteps until I was safely inside my apartment. Maybe it was all just my hallucination.

***

“Min Donghyun!”

Donghyun turned his head and paused from his busy conversation with Chinye.

“Yes, miss?”

“Look at your test results!”

I held up his test paper, on which I had just written a 97 in red pen in the top right corner.

“NO! I THOUGHT I GOT A 100, WHERE WAS THE MISTAKE?” Donghyun screamed and ran to grab the paper from my hand, then stared at it in disbelief.

“Wow, calm down, Donghyun!” Youngkyong exclaimed, laughing.

“But that grade is already excellent, Donghyun, you’ve made my day!”

Donghyun smiled broadly, his cheeks flushing as he sat back down, his eyes still glued to his paper.

“Okay, I’ll see you again next Tuesday. Please don’t forget to make progress on your project.”

“Thank you, miss!” the entire class of 2A replied as they stood up.

I walked out of 2A with a big smile. Indeed, Donghyun had just made me very happy. I had asked Mr. Go, who previously taught English in high school (and who was my mentor last semester), for tips and data about the high school students who would become my future students. I remembered Donghyun’s test scores rarely surpassed 80. Last year, he even had to retake the test because his score was below 60. But his first test score since he'd moved up to second grade was very satisfying. Maybe he'd studied hard, or maybe Dongsun had helped him study. But as far as I know, Dongsun rarely helped his younger brother study. Actually, I'd known them long before I started teaching at this school.

"Miss!"

I recognized Donghyun's voice, so I turned around, still smiling broadly. He'd followed me out of the classroom.

"Miss, I promise you that I'll get a 100 on the next test!"

I smiled even wider, "I'm already happy to see that you want to try harder, Donghyun."

"No, miss. I want to do more than that. I want to make you happy."

I gave him a thumbs-up in approval, which made him smile broadly too. Imagine if those words weren't spoken by a student to their teacher, let alone me. I'd be so happy I'd fly to the sky. No man would ever say that to me. Well, there have been, but those words feel cliché to me, like nonsense. But hearing them spoken by Min Donghyun felt different.

***

Unlike Donghyun, it was different with Chungdae. We were spending time together again in the teachers' lounge at 6 p.m. This was because he failed his English exam and had to retake it. I could only shake my head as I let him sit at the table next to me to take his retake.

"When will you get serious with your English score, Chungdae?" I asked, puzzled, because I was too embarrassed to mention his score.

"It's just because English is too hard for me, Miss. I really hope you can teach us Korean instead."

Too many excuses. I thought Chungdae's English was already very good for conversation, but he was really weak in anything theoretical.

"Miss, can I look at the dictionary?" he asked suddenly, just after we had stopped chatting for five minutes.

“No.”

“Pretty please.”

“I said no, Heo Chungdae.”

I turned to see him pouting, and it made him look incredibly cute. Oh no, was he trying to seduce me with aegyo? I rolled my eyes, though I was trying to hold back my laughter.

“Once I say no, you know it’ll always be a ‘no’ for me, right, Chungdae? You know me, right?”

“Okay, miss,” Chungdae complained.

The next five minutes were all that could be heard, just the scratching of a pen and Chungdae’s mumbling as he read his exam questions.

“Miss, do you want to know something?”

“Focus on the exam.”

“About why I didn’t pass the exam?” Chungdae teased.

I turned my head, okay, this is pretty important. Damn, I was hooked.

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to get a retake and be alone with Miss.”

As he said that, Chungdae grinned. If he weren’t my student, I would have smacked him upside the head. I resisted the urge to hit him over the head with my overflowing pencil case.

“Concentrate now, concentrate!”

"Okay, miss, don't be angry. You're not beautiful anymore when you're angry like that," Chungdae said, still smiling broadly.

I glared at him, but I couldn't seem to look stern because the corners of my lips were tugging upwards into a smile I was desperately trying to suppress.

"Heo Chungdae…"

"Okay, miss!"

Why does Class 3A have a class president like this?

***

HEO CHUNGDAE’S POV

Twenty-one… twenty-two… twenty-three… twenty-four. Is that all?

“Ya, Chungdae, how many did you get this year?” Joonki asked from the other end of the locker room.

“How many did you get?”

“21. Don’t tell me you got less than me. If you did, you have to treat me.”

“I got 24. I got two more than last year,” I said, slightly shouting because the locker room was a bit crowded.

“That’s still pathetic, I got five more.”

I slapped Joonki hard on the back. Damn, what’s keeping my popularity from increasing this year? Yes, today is White Day, when women usually give chocolates or gifts to the men they like, but sometimes this day is also interpreted as the day when men reciprocate the chocolates or gifts they received on Valentine’s Day last month. Well, compared to me, who only gave two chocolates on Valentine's Day, I didn't lose anything. Meanwhile, not far from my locker, Dongsun was stuffing all the chocolates into his bag, and next to him, Donghyun was doing the same.

"How many did you get?" I asked enviously.

"I didn't count. Do you want to count them for me?" Dongsun offered.

"I'll help you count," replied Joonki, always nosy about other people's business.

"I think I got 32," Donghyun said, "and there's one letter. I'm scared to read it."

"Here, let me read it," I offered, trying to snatch the letter from Donghyun.

"No, hyung will shout about it all over the school, right?"

I grinned broadly. I knew my popularity would always be below the Min brothers.

“I got 21, the same as Joonki,” Hyeil said from the bottom locker, finally standing up, holding up a bag full of gifts.

“Hyeil, I think you should get rid of being single before graduation,” I suggested.

“There’s no girl I like,” he replied casually, tidying up his appearance in front of the mirror, “I’ll give you the same advice, Chungdae.”

“Dongsun got 51!” Joonki shouted loudly, “if you add up the letters, flowers, and dolls, it’s 73. Congratulations on bringing them home, Dongsun.”

Donghyun, Joonki, and Hyeil were busy patting Dongsun on the back as if he’d just won a soccer championship. Maybe I’ll be popular when Dongsun graduates. Ah, but we’ll be graduating together, why am I so stupid? I checked my chocolate haul once more. What I was looking for wasn’t there.

"Don't be so sad, Chungdae. Do you want my chocolate? Here, I'll let you have one," Joonki said, patting my back.

"Shut up! That's not what I meant!" I said, patting him back, but with twice as much force.

"He's probably waiting for chocolate from Youngkyong," Dongsun guessed right on target, "isn't there any?"

Oh, damn. Dongsun always knows what I'm thinking.

"Definitely not," Joonki said with a wide, annoying smile.

"DO YOU WANT TO DIE?"

***

HEO CHUNGDAE’S POV

Actually, Joonki and Dongsun were right. I was thinking about why Youngkyong didn't give me chocolate. I was actually a bit worried. Was this just a one-sided crush? But she's been treating me so differently these past three months. It's actually my fault for not sincerely expressing my feelings and officially asking her to be my girlfriend. I didn't have the courage to do it. It must have felt funny, right? Heo Chungdae, who was never afraid of anything and was the main goalkeeper on the Hwachin School soccer team and we just won the inter-high school soccer tournament in Seoul last year, was actually afraid of girls. Suk Youngkyong is really beautiful. I've known her since 5 years ago since she moved to Seoul. Her apartment is only one subway station away from ours and because our parents (and the Min Brothers' parents) know each other, we often hang out together. I'll say it again: she's very beautiful, and she's already starting to become famous. She has quite a large Instagram followers, as she's been considering advertising some accessories for teenagers for the past four months. I'm a little unsure, but she's been spending a lot of time with me lately. We've also been out alone twice, perhaps even on dates.

"I'm tired, I'm going home," Hyeil said after I gave her a smack he couldn't return.

"Oh, I did that?"

"Just because I'm tired," Hyeil concluded. "Do you want to take care of this?"

"Yeah, that's fine, I'll take care of it," I decided, because I needed some time to think.

"See you tomorrow."

"Bye!"

I put the scattered shuttlecocks back in their place. I guess I've been thinking too much. Should I ask Joonki's opinion? I think he'll just laugh at me. What about Yeowoo? Ah, but she's too close to Youngkyong, she'll spill the beans. Maybe I can trust Hyeil? Even though he has no experience dating… What about Miss Baek? Ah right, she seems really easy to talk to, and I feel comfortable around her. But the question is, will she be willing to listen to something like this?

"Is this for me?"

Automatically, I hid behind a very large tree next to me. There was Youngkyong, in the middle of the school garden, holding a green bag tied with a pink ribbon, and she handed it to… Dongsun?

Youngkyong nodded, "Yes, for Oppa."

"Ah, but Youngkyong..."

"Please don't reject me."

I couldn't bear to watch this. Turning around, I walked away from the school garden, taking me even further away from home.

"Oppa! Oppa!"

I came to my senses when Youngkyong nudged my arm.

"Oh yeah, Youngkyong?"

"What are you doing here alone?"

I realized I was sitting on a bench near our indoor sports stadium, alone. I don't know how long I'd been sitting there, but dusk was already falling.

“Let’s go home together.”

“Oh yeah, come on. I’ll grab my bag and return my racket to my locker first.”

“Come on, let’s go there together.”

Was what I saw just a hallucination? I wanted to ask Youngkyong, but I didn’t have the courage. Youngkyong, do you have feelings for me, even just a little?

“For oppa.”

She pushed a small white bag against my chest.

“This…”

“These chocolates are for oppa. As a reward for the chocolates I got on Valentine’s Day.”

She smiled, beautifully. But I couldn’t think. My mind was so distracted right now.

[NOVEL] I'm (Not) Allow to Love You [One.2/2] (Bahasa Indonesia ver.)

이게 마지막 내 자존심이라

This is the last bit of my pride

뻔하겠지만 내 얘길 들어줘

So it might sound typical but listen to my story

나는 변명 따윈 질색이지만

I hate giving excuses

널 놓치면 안 될 것 같아 난

But I don’t think I can lose you

어제 딴 여자와 밥을 먹었어

I ate dinner with another girl yesterday

니가 미워서 너무 미워서

Because I hated you, I hated you so much

니가 그 남자를 생각하는 게

Because I can see you

매일 난 눈에 보여서

Thinking of him everyday

삐뚤어지면 날 봐 줄까 봐

Maybe you’ll see me if I act badly

이렇게라도 니 관심을 돌려

I try to gain your attention like this

Dara dara dadada

I don't wanna let you go

어떡해야 널 가질 수 있니

What can I do to have you?

 

거짓말이라도 해봐 좀

At least lie to me

빈말이라도 잊겠다고

Even if you don’t mean it, tell me you’ll forget him

희망고문이라도 해봐

Even if it’s hope torture, do it

빈틈을 좀 보여줘

Show me some kind of flaw

내 자리는 어디도 없어

There is no spot for me

최소한의 숨이라도 쉬게 맘을 열어줘

Open your heart so at least I can breathe a little

(NU’EST – Love Without Love 사랑 없는 사랑)

Sudah hampir jam delapan malam Ketika aku mengatur pertemuanku dengan Chungdae. Kebetulan juga, aku menjadi guru jaga di sesi belajar mandiri malam ini, jadi tidak masalah bagiku sekalian menunggui Chungdae. Anak itu terlalu aktif di kegiatan club sampai aku tak yakin dia ada waktu buat belajar di rumah. Ruang guru sudah sepi saat itu, Kim sonsaengnim pulang hampir 40 menit yang lalu, jadi aku akan menjadi guru terakhir yang pulang hari ini. Terdengar ketukan di pintu dan sejenak kemudian sosok Chungdae melangkah masuk. Aku melambai padanya, mengisyaratkannya untuk mendekat.

“Hi miss,” sapanya ceria sambil berdiri di depan pintu.

“Come sit in front of me,” ujarku.

Dia memakai kaos berwarna ungu muda yang bersimbah keringat dan rambutnya terlihat berantakan. Di tangannya dia memegang seragamnya yang dilipat asal saja.

“Kau harus segera ganti baju atau mandi sebelum pulang. Kau bawa baju ganti yang lain?”

“Wow miss sangat perhatian padaku.”

“Aku perhatian pada semua muridku, jadi kau tidak perlu salah paham. Ngomong-ngomong berita apa ini yang kudengar kalau kau dan Youngkyong berpacaran?”

Chungdae malahan tersenyum lebar, “berita itu sudah sampai ke telinga guru?”

“Jadi berita itu benar?”

“Untuk sementara yang bisa kukatakan adalah, kurasa kami saling mencintai.”

Aku memutar bola mataku, “apapun itu, pastikan kalian tidak berpacaran di lingkungan sekolah. Kalian tau peraturan sekolah tidak mengizinkan kalian berpacaran.”

“Don’t worry miss, if we do, we’ll be extra careful.”

“Yes, for me, I really don’t mind it,” ujarku membuat Chungdae terlihat kaget, “what I mean is, oh come on, you’re on the age already. I think it’s okay to date someone. But as you know you gonna break the rules and we gonna be in trouble, just be careful.”

“That’s it! That’s why I really like you, miss!” seru Chungdae girang.

“Now you need to go home, it’s late.”

Chungdae bangkit dari kursinya, “thank you miss. Please go home safely or I’ll be sad.”

“I’m not a kid so don’t worry about me.”

Chungdae berlarian menuju pintu.

“Change your clothes!”

“Alright, alright, miss! Aku akan mengganti bajuku sebelum pulang!”

“And good luck!”

Aku tertawa saat Chungdae memberikanku salam saranghae dengan kedua jarinya sebelum dia benar-benar pergi. Bocah itu, aku tak yakin dia sudah cukup dewasa untuk berpacaran.

***

“YA TUHAN!”

Aku baru melewati pelataran loker anak SMA ketika aku mendengar teriakan itu disertai suara gemuruh benda berjatuhan di menit berikutnya. Takut sesuatu yang buruk terjadi, aku berjalan cepat ke arah suara gemuruh tadi.

“Seperti yang diharapkan dari seorang Youngkyong,” ujar Chinye sambil tertawa, “selalu terjadi setiap tahun kan?”

Rupanya suara gemuruh tadi disebabkan oleh puluhan bungkus coklat yang berjatuhan dari loker Youngkyong saat dia membukanya. Oh, ada beberapa tangkai bunga, buket bunga yang dijejalkan sedemikian rupa dan bahkan beberapa helai surat di lantai. Youngkyong hanya bisa mendesahkan nafas panjang saat dia mulai memunguti barang-barang itu.

“Aku bisa sakit diabetes kalau aku makan semua coklat ini. Ambil sebanyak yang kau suka, Chinye,” pinta Youngkyong.

“Oh tidak bisa. Mereka memberikannya untukmu, bagaimana mungkin aku yang memakannya,” ujar Chinye sambil membantu Youngkyong membereskan barang-barang yang berjatuhan itu, “kurasa untuk menghentikan semua ini, kau harus mulai pacaran dengan seseorang. Dengan resmi, maksudku.”

“Apa kalian baik-baik saja? Atau butuh bantuan?” tanyaku sambil melangkah mendekat.

“Ah we’re fine miss, don’t worry,” jawab Chinye sambil berdiri sejenak.

“Wow! Coklat! Boleh untukku?” Chungdae mendadak muncul dari belakangku dan membuat suasana riuh.

“Ambil saja, tapi bantu kami bereskan,” pinta Youngkyong, menjejalkan banyak batang coklat ke pelukan Chungdae.

Aku menggelengkan kepala dan beralih ke lorong loker guru SMP & SMA di sebelah loker siswa. Aku baru ingat hari ini Valentine’s Day, pantas banyak pernak pernik romantic dijual di mana-mana akhir-akhir ini. Valentine… coklat. Ah aku sudah lupa kapan terakhir kali aku merayakan Valentine dengan seorang pacar. Kurasa ini tahun ketigaku merayakan Valentine’s Day sendirian. Ah sudahlah, itu tak penting. Betapa terkejutnya aku ketika aku membuka lokerku, ada sesuatu yang berbulu coklat jatuh keluar. Kuambil benda itu dan ternyata adalah sebuah boneka anjing yang berukuran setengah lokerku. Aku kebingungan, siapa yang memberiku boneka? Lalu kusadari ada sebatang coklat juga di dalam lokerku, ada kartu kecil dan di dalamnya ada tulisan “Happy Valentine’s Day, Miss Baek” terketik rapi di dalamnya. Tak ada nama pengirim. Siapa yang memberiku hadiah? Keheranan, aku hanya meninggalkan kedua benda itu di lokerku lagi, hingga aku mengambilnya kembali pada saat pulang kerja. Siapapun itu yang memberikannya kepadaku, terima kasih. Bonekanya lucu, tak akan kutinggalkan disitu. Dan aku suka coklat. Jadi, akan kuambil daripada mubazir.

***

“Ah, aku Lelah…”

Aku berjalan lunglai menuju apartemenku. Akhir-akhir ini kerjaan mengoreksi tugas dan test murid-murid mulai menumpuk lagi. Inilah yang terjadi jika kamu mengajar 10 kelas sekaligus. Aku lapar tapi malas sekali rasanya mencari makan malam. Aku hanya ingin tidur. Ah, lampu jalan dekat apartemen rusak lagi. Aku tidak tau harus melapor ke siapa atau adakah orang yang pernah melaporkan tentang ini. Aku akan cari tau di internet. Tunggu, mendadak perasaanku tidak enak… aku mendengar sejak aku keluar dari stasiun subway tadi ada yang mengikuti langkahku… aku menoleh. Tak ada siapapun. Suasana sepi dan agak gelap. Aku tidak takut pada hal mistis, yang kutakutkan justru manusia, karena kelakuan manusia bisa lebih kejam daripada setan. Mungkin hanya perasaanku saja karena aku lelah. Aku terus berjalan, tapi sedikit lebih cepat. Dan aku mendengar langkah-langkah itu lagi. Aku menoleh lagi dan tak ada siapapun lagi. Ini tidak beres. Aku memutuskan untuk berlari tapi detik berikutnya aku menabrak sesuatu dan terjatuh.

“Miss Baek!”

Aku menemukan diriku duduk di jalanan dan sesuatu, maksudku seseorang, yang baru saja kutabrak rupanya Donghyun.

“Min Donghyun?”

“Maafkan aku, miss, apa miss baik-baik saja?”

Dia mengulurkan kedua tangannya dan membantuku berdiri. Sial, ini memalukan sekali. Aku berusaha menepuk celanaku dan berdeham. Donghyun masih mengenakan seragamnya dengan rapi, dan masih membawa tas punggungnya yang besar.

“What are you doing here? It’s late…”

“Ah, I’ve just visited my uncle. His house is at the apartment complex over there,” jawab Donghyun sambil menunjuk ke apartemen di sebelah gedung apartemenku, “and what about miss? You kinda look scared.”

Akan memalukan kalau kuceritakan apa yang baru kualami. Aku takut aku hanya paranoid saja.

“Aku… ini gedung apartemenku. Ya, aku akan pulang,” aku tertawa gugup sambil menunjuk gedung apartemenku.

“Ayo miss, kutemani sampai ke depan.”

“Kau tidak perlu melakukan itu, ini sudah malam, kau harusnya pulang. Lagipula aku hanya tinggal jalan beberapa meter lagi.”

“Justru karena ini sudah malam. Orangtuaku mengajarkan kami untuk menemani perempuan dan mengantar mereka sampai ke depan tempat tinggal mereka.”

Belum selesai aku mencerna kata-katanya, Donghyun perlahan melepas tas punggungku dari punggungku dan menyampirkan di bahunya yang masih lowong. Bahu sebelahnya untuk dia membawa tas punggung dia sendiri. Pasti dia langsung kesini setelah pulang sekolah.

Aku tersenyum padanya, “baiklah. Thanks Donghyun.”

“Not a big problem, miss.”

Dan aku tidak mendengar langkah apapun lagi hingga aku masuk dengan selamat ke dalam apartemenku. Mungkin semua itu hanya halusinasiku.

***

“Min Donghyun!”

Donghyun menolehkan kepalanya dan berhenti sejenak dari kesibukannya mengobrol dengan Chinye.

“Ya, miss?”

“Lihat hasil test-mu!”

Aku mengangkat kertas tesnya yang baru saja kutulis angka 97 dengan pena merah di pojok kanan atasnya.

“TIDAK! KUKIRA AKU DAPAT 100, DIMANA KESALAHANNYA?” Donghyun berteriak dan berlarian untuk mengambil kertas dari tanganku, lalu memandanginya dengan tidak percaya.

“Wow, tenang, Donghyun!” seru Youngkyong sambil tertawa.

“Tapi nilai itu sudah sangat baik, Donghyun, you’ve made my day!”

Donghyun tersenyum lebar dan ada semburat kemerahan di pipinya saat dia duduk kembali, dengan mata masih memandangi kertasnya.

“Okay, I’ll see you again next Tuesday, please don’t forget to make progress on your project.”

“Thank you miss!” balas seluruh murid di kelas 2A setelah mereka berdiri.

Aku berjalan keluar dari kelas 2A dengan senyum lebar. Benar, Donghyun baru saja membuatku sangat senang. Aku memang meminta tips dan data dari Mr Go, yang sebelum ini mengajar Bahasa Inggris di SMA (yang di semester kemarin menjadi mentorku) tentang para murid SMA yang kelak akan menjadi muridku. Aku ingat tentang Donghyun yang nilai ujiannya sangat jarang yang bisa melampaui 80, bahkan tahun kemarin dia sempat mendapat satu kali retest karena nilai ujiannya di bawah 60. Tapi nilai ujiannya yang pertama sejak dia di naik kelas 2 ini sangat membuatku puas. Mungkin dia belajar dengan giat, atau Dongsun membantunya belajar. Tapi setauku Dongsun jarang membantu adiknya sendiri belajar. Ya, sebenarnya, aku mengenal mereka jauh sebelum aku mulai mengajar di sekolah ini.

“Miss!”

Aku mengenal itu suara Donghyun, jadi aku menoleh, masih tersenyum lebar. Rupanya dia mengikutiku keluar kelas.

“Miss, I promise you that I’ll get 100 in the next test!”

Aku tersenyum semakin lebar, “I already happy to see that you want to try harder, Donghyun.”

“No, miss. I want to do more than that. I wanna make you happy.”

Aku memberikannya jempolku sebagai persetujuan dan itu membuatnya juga tersenyum lebar. Bayangkan jika kalimat itu bukan diucapkan oleh seorang murid ke gurunya, apalagi ke aku, aku pasti akan bahagia dan terbang ke langit. Mana ada pria yang mengatakan hal itu kepadaku. Well, ada sih, tapi kalimat itu terasa klise untukku, sebuah omong kosong. Tapi rasanya berbeda mendengarnya diucapkan oleh seorang Min Donghyun.

***

Beda Donghyun, beda juga dengan Chungdae. Kami kembali menghabiskan waktu berdua di ruang guru pada jam 6 sore. Ini karena dia gagal dalam ujian Bahasa Inggris dan dia harus melakukan retest. Aku hanya bisa menggelengkan kepala saat aku membiarkannya duduk di meja di sampingku untuk mengerjakan retest-nya.

“When will you become serious with your English score, Chungdae ya?” tanyaku heran karena nilai ujiannya yang aku saja malu menyebutkan nilainya.

“It’s just because English is too hard for me, Miss. I really hope you can teach us Korean instead.”

Terlalu banyak alasan. Menurutku bahasa Inggris Chungdae sudah sangat baik untuk digunakan dalam conversation, tapi dia benar-benar lemah dalam segala hal teoritis.

“Miss, can I look at the dictionary?” tanyanya mendadak, baru saja kami berhenti ngobrol selama lima menit.

“No.”

“Pretty please.”

“I said no, Heo Chungdae.”

Aku menoleh dan melihatnya cemberut dan itu membuatnya terlihat sangat imut. Oh tidak, apa dia sedang berusaha membujukku dengan menggunakan aegyo? Aku memutar bola mataku, meskipun aku berusaha menahan tawaku.

“Sekali aku bilang tidak, kau tau itu akan selalu menjadi ‘tidak’ untukku kan, Chungdae? Kau tau aku, kan?”

“Baiklah, miss,” keluh Chungdae.

Lima menit berikutnya hanya terdengar goresan pena dan gumaman Chungdae saat dia membaca soal ujiannya.

“Miss, mau tau sesuatu?”

“Fokus ke kertas ujiannya.”

“Tentang kenapa nilai ujianku tidak lulus?” pancing Chungdae.

Aku menolehkan kepalaku, baiklah ini cukup penting. Sial, aku terpancing.

“Kenapa?”

“Karena aku ingin mendapat retest dan berduaan dengan miss.”

Sambil mengatakan itu, Chungdae tersenyum lebar. Jika dia bukan muridku, pasti sudah kupukul kepalanya. Aku menahan keinginanku untuk memukul kepalanya dengan kotak pensilku yang isinya penuh itu.

“Berkonsentrasilah sekarang, berkonsentrasi!”

“Baik miss, jangan marah. Miss tidak cantik lagi kalau marah begitu,” ujar Chungdae, masih tersenyum lebar.

Aku melotot padanya, tapi gagal terlihat tegas karena ujung bibirku tertarik ke atas membentuk senyum yang setengah mati kutahan.

“Heo Chungdae…”

“Baik, miss!”

Mengapa kelas 3A memiliki ketua kelas yang seperti ini?

***

HEO CHUNGDAE’S POV

Dua puluh satu… dua puluh dua… dua puluh tiga… dua puluh empat. Hanya segini?

“Ya, Chungdae, kau dapat berapa tahun ini?” tanya Joonki dari ujung lorong loker.

“Kau dapat berapa?”

“21. Jangan katakan kau dapat lebih sedikit dari aku. Kalau iya, kau harus traktir aku.”

“Aku dapat 24. Aku dapat lebih banyak 2 dari tahun kemarin,” kataku, agak berteriak karena Lorong loker agak ramai.

“Itu tetap menyedihkan, aku ketambahan 5 lho.”

Kupukul punggung Joonki keras. Sial, apa yang membuat popularitasku tidak meningkat tahun ini? Ya, hari ini adalah White Day dimana biasanya wanita memberikan coklat atau hadiah ke pria yang disukainya, tapi kadang hari ini diartikan juga sebagai hari dimana pria membalas coklat atau hadiah yang diterima mereka saat Valentine’s Day bulan kemarin. Well dibandingkan aku yang hanya memberikan 2 coklat pada Valentine’s Day kemarin, aku tidak rugi. Sementara tak jauh dari lokerku, Dongsun memasukkan semua coklat ke kantong yang dibawanya, dan di sebelahnya, Donghyun melakukan hal yang sama.

“Kalian dapat berapa?” tanyaku iri.

“Aku tak menghitung. Kalian mau menghitungnya untukku?” tawar Dongsun.

“Mau, aku bantu hitung,” jawab Joonki, yang selalu ingin tau dengan urusan orang lain.

“Kurasa aku dapat 32,” ujar Donghyun, “dan ada satu surat. Aku takut membaca isinya.”

“Sini kubacakan,” tawarku berusaha merebut surat itu dari tangan Donghyun.

“Tidak, nanti akan hyung teriakkan ke seluruh sekolah, kan?”

Aku nyengir lebar. Sudah kuduga popularitasku akan selalu di bawah Min brothers.

“Aku dapat 21, sama dengan Joonki,” ujar Hyeil dari loker yang paling bawah, yang akhirnya berdiri sambil mengangkat kantong penuh hadiah.

“Hyeil, kurasa kau harus segera melepas masa jomblo sebelum kelulusan sekolah,” saranku.

“Tidak ada perempuan yang kusukai,” jawabnya santai, merapikan penampilannya di depan cermin, “saran yang sama kukembalikan padamu, Chungdae.”

“Dongsun dapat 51!” teriak Joonki membahana, “kalau ditotal dengan surat dan bunga dan boneka semuanya ada 73. Selamat membawa pulang semuanya, Dongsun.”

Donghyun, Joonki dan Hyeil sibuk menepuk punggung Dongsun seolah dia baru saja memenangkan piala kejuaraan sepakbola. Mungkin aku akan populer kalau Dongsun sudah lulus nanti. Ah tapi kita akan lulus bersama, kenapa aku begitu bodoh? Aku mengecek perolehan coklatku sekali lagi. Yang kucari disitu tidak ada.

“Jangan sedih begitu Chungdae, kau mau coklatku? Nih, akan kurelakan satu,” ujar Joonki sambil menepuk punggungku.

“Diam kau! Bukan itu maksudku!” ujarku sambil menepuk punggungnya balik, tapi dengan kekuatan yang dua kali lipat lebih besar.

“Dia mungkin menunggu coklat dari Youngkyong,” tebak Dongsun tepat sasaran, “tidak ada?”

Ah, sial. Dongsun selalu bisa menebak jalan pikiranku.

“Pasti tidak ada,” ujar Joonki sambil tersenyum lebar, senyum yang menyebalkan.

“KAU MAU MATI YA!”

***

HEO CHUNGDAE’S POV

Sebenarnya Joonki dan Dongsun benar. Aku sedang memikirkan kenapa Youngkyong tidak memberiku coklat. Aku sebenarnya agak khawatir. Apakah ini hanya cinta yang bertepuk sebelah tangan? Tapi dia memperlakukanku dengan sangat berbeda tiga bulan terakhir ini. Sebenarnya ini salahku kenapa tidak mengungkapkan perasaanku dengan tulus dan memintanya secara resmi untuk menjadi pacarku. Aku tidak punya keberanian untuk itu. Pasti rasanya lucu kan? Heo Chungdae yang tidak pernah takut apapun dan merupakan goalkeeper utama di tim sepakbola Hwachin School dan kami baru saja memenangkan piala turnamen sepakbola antar SMA di Seoul tahun kemarin, ternyata takut dengan perempuan. Suk Youngkyong memang sangat cantik. Aku mengenalnya sejak 5 tahun yang lalu semenjak dia pindah ke Seoul. Apartemennya hanya berjarak satu stasiun subway dari apartemen kami dan karena orangtua kami (dan orangtua Min Brothers) saling mengenal, kami sering main bersama. Sekali lagi kukatakan, dia sangat cantik, dan dia sudah mulai terkenal. Followers Instagram dia cukup banyak karena sejak empat bulan yang lalu dia mempertimbangkan untuk mengiklankan beberapa aksesoris untuk anak remaja. Sebenarnya aku agak sedikit kurang percaya diri, tapi akhir-akhir ini dia sering menghabiskan waktu berdua denganku. Kami juga sudah dua kali keluar hanya berdua, mungkin bisa disebut kencan.

“Aku lelah, aku mau pulang,” ujar Hyeil setelah aku memberinya smash yang tidak bisa dibalasnya.

“Oh, aku melakukan itu?”

“Hanya karena aku sudah lelah,” pungkas Hyeil, “kau mau bereskan ini?”

“Ya, tak apa, biar aku bereskan saja,” putusku, karena aku juga butuh waktu untuk berpikir.

“Sampai ketemu besok.”

“Bye!”

Aku memasukkan kok yang berserakan ke tempatnya. Sepertinya aku terlalu banyak termenung. Apa aku harus tanya pendapat Joonki? Ah kurasa dia hanya akan menertawakanku. Bagaimana dengan Yeowoo? Ah tapi dia terlalu akrab dengan Youngkyong, nanti dia membocorkannya. Mungkin aku bisa percaya pada Hyeil? Meski dia tidak punya pengalaman apapun soal berpacaran… Bagaimana dengan Miss Baek? Ah benar, sepertinya dia sangat enak diajak bicara dan aku nyaman berada di dekatnya. Tapi masalahnya, apakah dia mau mendengarkan masalah seperti ini?

“Ini untukku?”

Secara otomatis aku menyembunyikan diriku di belakang pohon yang sangat besar di sebelahku. Ada Youngkyong disana, di Tengah taman sekolah, memegang kantong berwarna hijau yang dililit dengan pita berwarna pink, dan dia menyerahkan kantong itu ke hadapan… Dongsun?

Youngkyong menganggukkan kepalanya, “ya, untuk oppa.”

“Ah, tapi Youngkyong…”

“Tolong jangan menolakku.”

Aku tidak sanggup melihat ini. Berbalik dan memutar tubuhku, aku berjalan menjauh dari taman sekolah, membawaku melangkah lebih jauh dari arah pulang.

“Oppa! Oppa!”

Aku tersadar saat Youngkyong menyenggol lenganku.

“Oh ya, Youngkyong?”

“Apa yang oppa lakukan disini sendirian?”

Aku baru sadar bahwa aku duduk di bangku dekat stadion olahraga indoor kami sendirian. Entah sudah berapa lama aku duduk disini, senja sudah tiba.

“Ayo kita pulang Bersama.”

“Oh ya, ayo. Aku akan mengambil tasku dan mengembalikan raket ke loker dulu.”

“Ayo, sama-sama kesana.”

Apa yang kulihat tadi hanya halusinasi? Aku ingin bertanya pada Youngkyong, tapi aku tak punya cukup keberanian. Youngkyong, apakah kau memiliki perasaan untukku, meski itu hanya sedikit?

“Untuk oppa.”

Dia mendorong kantong kecil berwarna putih ke dadaku.

“Ini…”

“Coklat untuk oppa. Sebagai balasan coklat kemarin waktu Valentine.”

Dia tersenyum, cantik sekali. Tapi aku sedang tidak bisa berpikir. Pikiranku sangat terganggu saat ini.

[NOVEL] Kim Soyoon and The Legendary Wand [1.2/2] [English ver.]

Behind my happiness (and my family's because apart from me being accepted at Yoora, Daejung oppa also became Chaeksong Prefect - I'm happy that later I will be guided directly by my oppa, well, 90% of siblings will be selected in the same house, of course I won't be in the remaining 10%, right?) there is some hidden concern. The figure of Cha Youngmin kept appearing in my head ever since I was finally able to get some peace in my room. If I go to Yoora this year, that means I have to say goodbye to Youngmin. There is a sadness that I cannot explain in words. I'd better go straight to him.

"Appa, eomma, I'm going to Youngmin's place," I said goodbye to my parents before leaving the apartment.

I immediately went up the emergency stairs (no need to take the elevator because Youngmin's unit was exactly one floor above my apartment unit, suddenly I remembered last night's chaos which probably disturbed him too) to unit number 602. I pressed the doorbell and the one who opened the door was a figure of Mr Cha who looked a little confused when he saw me.

"Annyeonghaseyo, abonim," I said, smiling broadly.

"Oh annyeong, Soyoon, come in. By the way, is your appa at home?"

"Yes, Appa will be on duty at curfew today."

"Then abonim will meet him. Yeobo, I'm going to Soyoon's place for a moment."

"Yes, of course, yeobo," answered Mrs Cha, "come in, Soyoon dear."

Mr Cha still looked confused when he left his unit. Mrs Cha also looked a bit unfocused when she mumbled about making juice for me and Youngmin. Youngmin also doesn't look as cheerful as usual. Cha Youngmin has been my best friend since kindergarten. He and his family started living in this apartment a year before he started elementary school, so we became good friends. In elementary school, we finally became friends at school (we even became classmates in grade 2 and last year too). We often go to school and come home together. He is the reason I will miss my everyday life in the muggle world. Will he be okay if I say I'm going to Yoora this year?

"Youngmin, what's wrong? Is something bothering you?"

Youngmin smiled and shook his head, "what about you? You look gloomy."

"Ah right, actually... I have something to tell you."

"That's why you came, right? What's wrong?"

"Actually... umm... that... I..." I took a deep breath and said quickly, "I'm going to stop going to school because I'm going to Yoora this year."

I hoped that by saying it quickly it would be less painful for Youngmin.

But I heard Mrs Cha gasp from the kitchen, "really? Eomonim is so relieved to hear that. It means Youngmin won't be alone. Yes, actually he won't be alone anyway because Eomonim can entrust him to your brothers and sisters and your appa."

Mrs Cha's words entered my ears but it took time for my brain to process her meaning. Youngmin won't be alone? With trembling hands, Youngmin pulled out a pink envelope from behind his back. I could clearly see what was written on the front: Cha Youngmin, Chulki Apartment 602, Itaewon, Seoul. Letter from Yoora! I dropped the envelope and shook Youngmin's body.

"YOUNGMIN! I WILL NOT SEPARATE FROM YOU! WE WILL GO TO YOORA TOGETHER!" I shouted loudly, not caring if I would disturb the neighbors.

Finally I could see the happy twinkle in Youngmin's eyes when he smiled broadly.

"YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO YOORA? WE WON’T GET SEPARATED?"

"NO, WE WILL NOT SEPARATE!"

Mrs Cha placed two glasses of apple juice on the table in front of us.

"Thank God, we were very confused when this envelope arrived this morning. The owl was angry and knocked on our window until it cracked. We didn't know that ordinary humans could be witches too."

"They can, eomonim. The wizards call them muggle-born. They say, there could be wizard blood in their family tree, or, they are just talented. Has anything strange happened before, eomonim? Much... long before this?"

"Oh that one," said Mrs. Cha, whose beautiful eyes were round, "eomonim once saw Youngmin floating, about three years ago, but at that time eomonim was sleepy and Youngmin was actually floating in his sleep. When eomonim turned on the room light, Youngmin was in his bed. Maybe it was a hallucination so Eomonim didn't talk about it."

"Magician talent! Thank goodness! Eomonim will allow Youngmin to go to Yoora, right?"

"Of course! But eomonim and abonim don't really understand this magical world..."

"So that's why Abonim went to see Appa?" I asked excitedly.

"Yes. There is a lot of equipment and books that need to be purchased before March 1st and we don't know anything about this... we don't even have the money you used."

I smiled broadly, "Don't worry, eomonim. I'm sure Appa will explain everything to you. Regarding books and equipment, we will go to Jishik tomorrow, so Youngmin can come along. We will also of course go together to Yoora on March 1."

"Jishik? What and where is that?"

"The magic shop in Hongdae," I answered with a laugh.

"There's a witch's place there? But why did we never know?"

"Because the place is hidden from muggles, eomonim. Don't worry, Youngmin will be fine."

Youngmin was still smiling broadly while holding my hand. Thankfully, at least I won't be alone my first year. Ah, but it's true, it seems like I won't be alone. After this I will contact Jiwoo. She must be in Yoora too, right?

***

Youngmin's parents still looked worried when I picked Youngmin up the next morning. Appa only got home from work at five in the morning but he woke up again at half past eight to have breakfast with us. According to Appa's orders, we had to leave at nine in the morning if we wanted to finish shopping before dinner. I smiled and assured Youngmin's parents that he would be fine. At exactly nine o'clock, we were all sitting in our family's black SUV. Appa was behind the steering wheel, Daejung oppa beside him while me, Youngmin, Jungeun oppa and Jungsook eonni all fit in the middle seat even though it felt tight. Our car was moving slowly on slippery roads because it snowed quite heavily last night.

"I think if we do this next year, someone will have to sit in the back because your body will definitely get bigger," laughed Appa as he started driving.

"What is clear is that our legs will lengthen," said Jungeun oppa, "and Youngmin, welcome to the wizarding community. Don't worry, we will always help you."

"That's better, Jungeun. His parents are very worried about their only child. But I'm sure Youngmin will be fine."

"Thank you, abonim, I hope so too."

"We can actually go to Jishik with Floo powder or apparition, but since you can't do apparition before you pass the exam and are 17 years old," appa explained while smiling for a moment at Daejung oppa, "unfortunately the exam is in April so you will take the exam when 18. And Floo powder isn't safe for any of you except Daejung yet."

"Oh, I'm so jealous that Oppa has used Floo powder," complained Jungsook eonni.

"What is apparition? What is Floo powder?" Youngmin asked with a confused face.

Throughout the journey which took almost half an hour, Youngmin asked many questions which we answered in turn. I knew he was excited, and I was even more excited when our car finally parked in front of Myungkyong Café. This café itself is located between a clothes and cosmetics shop. The appearance is all white and the interior can be seen from the front of the Café which is glass along the walls.

"The wizard shop is this café?" Youngmin asked, confused.

"Of course not," I replied with a chuckle, "it's just the entrance."

Appa led us to walk into the café. The café was still quite quiet in the morning, there was only one young man busy with his laptop in the corner of the café, sitting on a long, soft white sofa. We continue to follow Appa's steps.

"Where are we going?"

"We're going to the back of the cafe," I answered.

After entering the back room, there were stairs to our left that led to the second floor. We walked halfway around the stairs. Under the stairs there is a fairly large shelf containing plates and other eating utensils. From under the shirt that Appa had left completely unbuttoned so that his bright yellow t-shirt was visible underneath, Appa pulled out his magic wand - it looked like an ordinary wooden twig, short with the part to be held slightly larger than the slightly tapered tip, Appa's wand had a slight bend in the bottom. Appa tapped a clear goblet made of glass, there was a melodious clink, and the shelf automatically shifted, revealing a long, dark hallway beyond. Youngmin gasped.

"It's okay, Youngmin. Just keep walking along this hallway. Daejung walks in front."

Daejung oppa entered with light steps followed by me, Youngmin, Jungeun oppa and Jungsook eonni while appa was last. The shelf returned to its position with quite a noise and echoed throughout the hallway. Having only walked for two minutes, light slowly began to fill the hallway as we arrived at the end. We seemed to enter another world. Even though the weather is quite cold, Jishik is always busy. There were so many people wearing robes in this area, muggles would probably think they were at a costume party, even though these people were wizards. The more we walked forward, the more crowded shops we saw: clothes shops, snack shops, restaurants, cafés... and these people were openly waving their magic wands. Youngmin looked shocked as he was too busy looking here and there.

"Jishik is actually not that big but there are lots of interesting places here," said Jungeun oppa, "basically the main street is just shaped like a 'cross' sign with the addition of two or three small alleys, one of which is the alley where we will buy magic wands. If we continue forward, we will pass the hospital where Appa works and at the end there is the port where we will leave for Yoora on the first of March."

"Can Appa hand over all these children to you, Daejung? You can buy books first and wait for Appa at one of the pet shops nearby? Appa needs to exchange the muggle money Youngmin's parents left for him."

"Sure, appa. Then we'll go to Hyunneul Bookstore first," Daejung oppa nodded at appa.

When we arrived at a crossroads, we turned left while Appa went right.

"Sometime we will take you to Deungjeong – Wizard Bank, Youngmin. Now we have to buy books first. We will exercise while carrying our many books and equipment."

There were several bookstores to our left and right, but Daejung oppa took us to the biggest bookstore with a big sign above the door, Hyunneul Bookstore. Every year we always come here to shop for books.

"Annyeonghaseyo," we said to the middle-aged woman behind the counter.

"Oh, the Kims!" said Mrs. Hyun with a friendly smile, "but I've never seen this handsome boy."

"Cha Youngmin, our neighbor, Mrs Hyun. He and my sister Soyoon will enter Yoora too this year," explained Jungeun oppa.

"Finally this little one joined in," said Mrs Hyun, still smiling, "give me the book list."

Daejung oppa took out a piece of paper containing a long list of books they needed.

"So many books! Oh Daejung, you're about to enter your OWL year? Looks like you're taking almost all the subjects!"

Youngmin and I walked inside the shop while looking at books.

"Don't hold it carelessly," I warned Youngmin, "some books can scream when they're not happy."

"Books in the magical world like humans?"

I laughed, "Not all of them. But quite a lot of books are mysterious. I have one story book that I can tell stories to myself at home. The book contains fairy tales. But if it's sulking, it won't make a sound for more than a week."

Youngmin laughed with me, "I want to look at that book later."

"Hopefully I can find it."

The bookstore door opened – there was the sound of a bell ringing, and a boy walked in with someone who looked like his appa. This boy wore very neat clothes and seemed to be in a different class to us. The appa headed to the counter where the middle-aged woman was calling for books to be neatly stacked on the counter which was still quite spacious.

"Yoora’s first grade, one set," said the Appa.

"Oh, he's our friend," Youngmin said quite loudly because he was too excited.

"Are you Yoora's students too?" asked the appa while looking at us one by one.

"Yes, that's right, abonim. My sister and our neighbor are also first grade," said Daejung oppa while pointing at me and Youngmin.

"Wow, I'm really happy to meet a friend here," said the boy, "I'm Lee Youngjae."

"I'm Kim Soyoon," I said while lowering my head slightly, "this is Cha Youngmin and they are all my siblings. Daejung oppa is in fifth grade, Jungeun oppa is in fourth grade and Jungsook eonni is in second grade."

"Hopefully we'll be in the same house."

"What house?" Youngmin asked, confused.

"Oh no, we forgot to explain about the house," ​​I said, slapping my forehead hard, "we'll explain later."

"You don't know anything?" asked Youngjae who looked confused too.

"He's of muggle descent. Speaking of house, I think I'll go to Chaeksong because all my siblings are there."

"I think you're really going to go to Chaeksong. My appa was at Chaeksong but my eomma was at Chingeng and I don't have any siblings. So I'm not sure which one I'm going to go to. Youngmin also definitely doesn't know which house he's going to go to."

"Hopefully we'll be in the same dorm. So Youngmin can have you as a friend, Youngjae."

"Hopefully so."

"Youngjae, do you want to hang out with your new friends? There are two hyungs and one noona you can rely on here too," explained Mr Lee with a smile, "appa will wait in Myungkyong after you finish shopping?"

"Yes appa, it will be fun chatting with new friends!" Youngjae agreed.

Mr Lee put the money bag into Youngjae's hands before leaving carrying Youngjae's stack of books.

"Come on, bring each of your books," asked Daejung oppa in front of the counter after he finished paying.

Jungsook eonni only bought three new books, Jungeun oppa five books, while we in first grade had seven books (and the book The Enchanted Scroll: Secrets of Ancient Sorcery by Bear Ridge for History of Magic class was very thick and heavy), but nothing else could beat the ten new books that Daejung oppa bought (there were even three that looked very thick, one of which was tied tightly with a string, for some reason).

"We will stay along this path. Soyoon, you are going to buy a pet, so you can walk ahead and enter a shop that is interesting to you," said Daejung oppa, "Youngmin and Youngjae will buy a pet too?"

"I have a pregnant Labrador Retriever dog at home, hyung," answered Youngjae, "maybe when the puppy is old enough, I will take it to Yoora. After all, the dog still has to be measured by Yoora officials."

"I'm not too sure I'm painstaking with pets," Youngmin said shyly, "I'll see how Soyoon takes care of her pets first."

"Okay then. Jungsook? Eomma said you can buy a pet too if you want."

"No, oppa. I just play with Hyun."

"Okay, then let's just accompany Soyoon, okay?"

I walked along the shops on the left. There are lots of pet shops that range from normal animals to magical ones: there are ordinary dogs, there are dogs with red eyes, there are turtles with burnt shells, and various owls of all colors and sizes. I finally entered one of the shops after being attracted by the brown owl inside the shop. The owl perched gracefully on a large log in its cage. Its eyes are brown and there are white feather accents around its eyes, chest and wings. There were small snow-like spots on the top of its furry head. He turned his head and exchanged glances with me. Its size was only around ten centimeters or so, it seemed like it could grow much bigger than that in the future. I like it.

"Do you like this one, Soyoon?"

I was surprised when suddenly Appa joined us. Youngjae greeted Appa and introduced himself in a friendly manner.

"A new friend apparently. Annyeong, Youngjae," said Appa, "so shall we take him home, Soyoon?"

"Yes, appa. Can I keep an owl?" I asked cheerfully.

"Sure. Appa will pay."

My hands are full now with a stack of books in my left hand and an owl cage in my right, but I'm very happy. I named my male owl Galmi. Snow has started to fall again and makes our steps even heavier.

"Galmi is very handsome," said Youngjae, "can I borrow him sometimes if I want to send a letter, Soyoon?"

"Of course!" I answered cheerfully, "but it’s said that Yoora also had lots of postal owls that we could borrow."

“I have a crisis of trust in them,” Youngjae complained, “the owl that brought my letter pooped on my head.”

Me, Youngmin and Youngjae laughed together. Youngjae turns out to be a fun kid too. Next we entered Yoon Insoo's robe shop. Before I could see anything else, my eyes immediately fell on a girl whose body was being measured by a self-measuring measuring device. The tailor and shop owner, Mr Yoon, was sitting behind the counter taking down the child's measurements.

"Park Jiwoo!" I shouted as I ran towards her.

"Kim Soyoon!"

Her long black hair fluttered as she ran to greet me and hugged me – her measuring device fell off after being hit – while my full arms couldn't be used to hug her back.

"Sorry I can't go to your place on holiday because our family is on vacation in China," complained Jiwoo after letting go of her hug, "they are..."

And around us, our brothers were already greeting each other. Yes, that's right, Jiwoo is the youngest child like me. Her eonni, Park Kyungok, as I recall is already in sixth grade this year. She is beautiful and looks charismatic. Park Ilsung oppa is already hi-fiving and chatting happily with Jungeun oppa. So I got to know Jiwoo because Ilsung oppa and Jungeun oppa were classmates and were in the same house at Chaeksong. Kyungok eonni was already patting Jungeun oppa's arm.

"So it looks like you maintain your fitness well during the holidays, beater," joked Kyungok eonni.

"You can always count on me, captain."

Yes, Kyungok eonni is the captain of the Chaeksong Quidditch team as a keeper and I heard that she is very skilled.

"Oh yes, Jiwoo. This is my neighbor, Cha Youngmin and this is our new friend Lee Youngjae. And this is Park Jiwoo. So we are all first graders."

I actually contacted Jiwoo three days ago and she was as happy as I was when she found out I would be joining Yoora.

"Hopefully you guys will also enter Chaeksong, then," said Jiwoo, "because it's almost certain that Soyoon and I will enter there."

I nodded while trying on my uniform. Beside me, Youngmin was also trying on his uniform. A set of Yoora uniforms for female students consists of five long-sleeved white shirts, three black vests, three red ties, three skirts that are slightly wider at the bottom and knee length, two pink robes and two black shoes.

"Wow, you're so beautiful in that uniform, Soyoon," praised Jungeun oppa loudly.

I smiled shyly when I saw my reflection in the mirror. But I can also see the reflection of Youngmin's shadow. The male students' uniform also consists of a white long-sleeved shirt, but their vest is pink, a long red tie, black trousers and the same robe as the female students, but if the female students' robes have gold button accessories, for male students, there is a golden brooch accessory on the chest of their vest and a black belt with a gold metal head. Besides Youngmin, Youngjae also tried on his uniform.

"You look handsome in that uniform too," Daejung oppa complimented Youngjae and Youngmin, "Mr Yoon, can I buy three new trousers? All my trousers are about five centimeters short."

I jumped up and down happily with Jiwoo when we both tried on our uniforms. After our fashion show was over, there were only two more shops we needed to visit, namely the equipment shop and finally, the magic wand shop. It was really fun shopping at the equipment store because now our hands are too full with cauldrons and other potion boiling equipment (we have to be careful so that the glass bottles in our shopping bags don't break); and of course don't forget the planting equipment (we need to be careful not to break the neatly arranged pots in the cramped, grass-smelling shop) and our extraordinary amount of writing equipment (I bought ink that can change color). Because we already had so much stuff, only Kyungok eonni accompanied us to the magic wand shop while the others started moving our stuff to Myungkyong. It was already three o'clock when we entered the Dang's Family Wand shop in a small alley. Even though the only magic wand shop in Jishik is located a little apart from the other shops, of course this shop is popular because it is visited by almost all of Yoora's first grade students. I've been here several times with my brothers and sister. I really like the shop which looks old and smells of wood, but not the dust.

"Good afternoon Halmeoni, we need four magic wands," said Kyungok Eonni kindly while pushing us forward a little.

Mrs Dang, a woman in her early 80s, seemed to peek at us from behind the newspaper she was reading. It feels a little stressful choosing a magic wand because it's not an easy thing. It is said that a magic wand chooses its owner, it is not the owner who chooses the magic wand. But to produce good and powerful magic, the wizard and the magic wand must work well together. However, it is said that every wizard is destined to have a soul mate with his magic wand. The problem is, so many magic wands are made and it takes time before a wizard can find his soul mate. It took Jungeun oppa two hours to find his soul mate. Mrs Dang, who was quiet and always looked mysterious, still kept looking at us while calling the wands one by one to the front of the counter.

"Line up neatly," she asked, "no, not like that. Facing the counter. So you can try out your pile of wands straight away."

We pushed each other so that no one got closest to Mrs Dang but in the end Jiwoo lost. We stared at the pile of wands in their dusty wooden cases before us. In front of me were five flat boxes.

"What are you waiting for? Try them one by one."

Staggering in surprise, we started to take one box each from the pile in front of us (Youngmin dropped the box and made Mrs Dang glare for a moment but luckily the box wasn't damaged and the wand was safe inside). Kyungok Eonni was already sitting on the dusty single sofa because she would definitely be waiting for us for a long time. Youngjae opened his wand box excitedly and took out his wand to swing. He swung it with a jolt and the pile of wooden boxes on the shelf right behind Mrs Dang fell down; but Mrs Dang swiftly swung her wand to prevent the boxes from touching the floor or her head.

"Just slow down! And try something else!"

I was so busy watching Youngjae that I forgot to try my wand. I opened the box and held the stick with an ornate twist in the middle. I swung it in circles, but nothing happened. OK, I guess not this one. I took the second wand which was a bit fat at the bottom because of the ornaments there and swung it again, but nothing happened.

"WOW!"

We all watched Jiwoo who had just shouted – her dark brown wand with intricate ornaments on the handle – emitting small sparks as she swung it.

For the first time Mrs Dang smiled, "10 geum. That's the only wand with a kelpie hair core we've ever made."

"I don't know if I should be happy or what but... thank you, halmeoni."

Jiwoo sat on the floor on the carpet while waiting for us. Kelpie itself is a water-dwelling spirit that usually inhabits Scotland. These spirits usually take the form of a horse or a human. Maybe that's why Jiwoo wasn't happy and was still looking at her wand like she was taking part in a staring contest. I picked up my third wand: this one was a bit unique because not only was it wooden but there was a line running down the middle of the wand that was made of silver metal. I swung again, but still nothing happened. Mrs. Dang just summoned several more boxes of magic wands for me and Youngmin. Youngjae swung his wand excitedly again and created a whirlwind in the middle of the shop that shocked us all.

"Just a minute kid, stop swinging it!"

Mrs. Dang quickly cast a spell to stop the small tornado created by Youngjae before it could move to destroy the shop.

"Malus domestica – applewood. Dittany stalk core – a plant that can heal, 14 inches. Your wand is very clever. It can lead you to a career related to medicine... but also... ah, be a good witch," Mrs Dang smiled, " descendant of the Lee family."

"How do you know about that? About me being from the Lee family you mentioned?" Youngjae asked excitedly.

While Youngjae was chatting with Mrs. Dang, I tried my fourth wand, which was pitch black with a twisted ornament sticking out in a semicircle at the bottom; then my fifth wand which looked very similar to a muggle pen but was made of wood and neither of them felt warm in my hand.

"Oh, sorry!" Youngmin screamed as his wand sprayed water at Youngjae.

Mrs. Dang casually swung her wand to dry Youngjae's clothes.

"That's your wand, kid. Come here, kid."

Youngmin blinked in confusion as he moved closer to Mrs Dang.

"Promise me that you will never do black magic. Even if. Your wand will tempt you in such a way that an ant can't resist sugar. Its power will be extraordinary, but you know... black magic will only make you slowly rot... from inside," said Mrs. Dang mysteriously, "it's made of Populus – aspen wood that's why it's white and looks very elegant, isn't it? The core is Rougarou fur, 10 inches."

Youngmin looked at his beautiful magic wand in horror and he looked pale as he sat next to Jiwoo. Rougarou... I don't know where I heard it. I picked up my sixth wand nonchalantly and felt despair at being the last to find my soul mate. Maybe we will spend the night here. I jerked my wand forward angrily, hoping this would make the wand match with me. But I never knew what I was doing was actually dangerous: the floor beneath us shook violently as if an earthquake on the high Richter scale had occurred.

"Argh! Take cover!" Kyungok eonni shouted while protecting Jiwoo's head.

Youngjae had run out of the shop in a panic. Mrs. Dang, who was usually calm, also looked panicked, but because she was still holding her magic wand, she cast an unfamiliar spell and the earthquake stopped instantly. What's that? Was what really happened an earthquake? Youngjae peeked through the front door, his face pale.

"The earthquake has stopped? But things are fine outside. Is this a local earthquake?"

"You've finally found your wand, kid. Cedrus - cedar wood that shows loyalty, with a core from the horn of a horned serpent. This wand is very unique. Apart from being loyal, your wand can also detect danger. It's 9 inches long."

I smiled looking at the simple black wand in my hand: in the middle of the stick was engraved with an aesthetic twisting ornament, and at the bottom close to the grip of my hand were engraved two small snakes coiled around the stick between them. My palm felt warm when I held it. It was already eight o'clock in the evening when Youngjae had taken our wands and put them on the table as we rested for a while before going home.

"Youngjae's wand is the longest," I said, pointing at his light brown wand, "my wand is so cute next to Youngjae's wand because mine is the shortest."

"Whose wand is this beautiful?" Jungeun oppa asked, pointing at the white wand.

"My wand, hyung," answered Youngmin, smiling proudly.

"But I like Soyoon's wand the most," said Jungsook eonni while nodding her head, "the carving looks very aesthetic. And there are little snakes."

"Everyone must be tired," said Appa who had just ordered drinks for all of us and Kyungok Eonni helped him bring them, "put your wands away before any muggles come up to the second floor."

We took our wands and felt through our clothes to find a suitable gap to stick the wands in. We took a break on the second floor of Myungkyong Café.

"So we had a nice trip today? Everything was purchased according to the list?"

"Yes, abonim," replied Jiwoo, "I can't wait for March 1. We have to sit down together then!"

We were still chatting happily when Jiwoo's eomma finally picked up the Parks and Youngjae's appa picked up Youngjae (who always dominates the conversation). I looked at Galmi's cage which looked calmly perched inside. I'm excitedly waiting for March 1st, but also keep thinking about Youngmin's wand. Rougarou... I'll ask Appa later. But when I had the chance to ask Appa, I forgot the point of the question.