Thus, the cruel and ruthless notification reached Gomtaengi.
According to that sea serpent, mascots can’t fly around so quickly unless they are near us.
A magnet, like in a racing game? Or something like that.
In the end, Gomtaengi did not return until that night passed.
Anyway, due to the impact of Children’s Day, which floated between weekdays, I too sluggishly got out of bed to the sound of the alarm.
A day heading to school with my empty pockets after a while.
Thanks to that secret agreement, there was no worry of a monster appearing in broad daylight…
But there was that weird crocodile thing, just in case I was carrying it around.
Since we don’t have a single mascot on our side… even if a monster appears in broad daylight, we can just leave it to Shiyeon.
Right after the ceremony ended, a conversation began among the students who returned their smartphones.
“What did you do yesterday?”
“What do you mean, I just played.”
In response to my buddy’s question, I answered flatly as if asking why such a thing matters.
Since yesterday was Children’s Day, the conversation’s topic was what we did on the holiday.
I was forcibly pulled into the girls’ conversation without any chance to escape.
“Oh, oh! Did you know?”
“What is it?”
“They say Heejun from class 5 and Eunbi from class 7 are dating.”
The conversation that started arbitrarily had moved beyond what we did on the holiday, reaching the love life of students from other classes.
For reference, I don’t know either of those names.
Whether it matters to me or not, the female students gathered around the desk, huddled together as if having a secret conversation, bent over while discussing.
“Really? Who said that?”
“A friend from the side class told me they saw the two holding hands going home.”
Even sitting quietly, I could hear everything. I wondered if they intended to hide the conversation.
More importantly, hand-holding between a boy and a girl going home?
Unless they are siblings, that’s definitely suspicious.
Or is it suspicious even if they are siblings?
“Does Mary date Taehyun?”
The conversation continued seamlessly between a girl in the back seat and my desk buddy, but for some reason, the discussion turned toward me, who had no interest in others’ love lives.
What’s with this sudden talk while they were having a good conversation?
I couldn’t ignore this conversation and turned halfway around, resting my arms on the back of the desk and chair, squinting my eyes and said.
“…What nonsense is that?”
“They always go back with those boys.”
“They live on different floors in the same apartment.”
“Ahh—”
The girls seemed to care about such things, and when a reasonable explanation was provided, they sighed in disappointment and returned to their chatter.
Then, as if they remembered something late, my desk buddy suddenly turned her head to look at me and opened her mouth again.
“What about Shiyeon? Doesn’t she have a boyfriend?”
“Go ask her directly; the answer is obvious, though.”
“Got it, Shiyeon!”
Hearing my words, my desk buddy Seohyun quickly got up and headed toward Shiyeon’s seat.
Once Seohyun left, a girl named Hayoon who was chatting with us in the back asked.
“Does Mary have any plans to get a boyfriend?”
“Why bother?”
Rather than a definitive rejection, I subtly answered the question.
A boyfriend? I firmly reject that notion.
In fact, the concept of gender has long since faded.
Even when I see young idols dressed up dancing, I think, ‘Oh, he’s handsome’ in a masculine way.
Even when I see female celebrities dancing on stage with full makeup, I think, ‘Oh, she’s pretty’ in a feminine way.
Perhaps because I feel a distance from reality, I end up looking at both genders through a same-sex perspective.
Neither side feels like the opposite gender.
I wonder how many people can understand this indescribable feeling?
I feel like it might be someone who has a rare condition related to hormones.
After hearing my response, the girl in the back, Hayoon, continued as if a bit disappointed.
“Mary would be super pretty if she put on some makeup, it’s just that her face is nice.”
“Forget it, makeup or whatever…”
Even amidst the compliments that the original looks are good, I waved my hand and propped my elbow against Jiho’s desk, which smelled faintly of cigarettes.
It goes beyond gender issues; I just find it bothersome and don’t do it.
Since there’s no boy I particularly want to impress, it’s natural that I would neglect my appearance.
As I talked with Hayoon, Seohyun bounced back to sit next to me.
“Shiyeon said she doesn’t have a boyfriend.”
Seohyun straightforwardly went and asked, then came back with the report.
Hayoon looked incredulous, sighing with a cold expression at Seohyun.
“Come on, asking that isn’t going to get a good answer.”
“These days, she’s busy with studies and won’t have time for that.”
“She could meet a boyfriend at the academy, right?”
When I, as the older sister, mentioned that there would be no time for study at the art academy, Seohyun countered, saying that she might meet someone there.
Not a completely incorrect counter argument, I toyed with my jawline thinking.
Shiyeon having a boyfriend… I can’t even imagine that.
If she did have one, I hope he doesn’t have tattoos and doesn’t smoke or drink.
With that little wish lingering for a few days.
May has many events in various ways.
Just a few days after Children’s Day comes Parent’s Day.
After that, it’s Teacher’s Day.
It’s a day that, in many ways including family, even elementary students must put effort into their relationships.
Thus came May 8th, Parent’s Day.
“Does everyone know what day it is today?”
That day, smartphones were handed to students a little later, and during the ceremony, the teacher gathered the students’ attention for a light event.
A question about what day it is today.
Given that three days ago was May 5th, Children’s Day, today would be the day when one would be in big trouble if they didn’t know.
“Parent’s Day!”
“Oh right, everyone send a text to your parents saying you love them, okay? The first three to get a reply will each get 5,000 won.”
For students who are at the peak of adolescence and lack motivation, the teacher decided to give cash prizes of 5,000 won to the first three students to respond.
Even the kids in the back who were ignoring the teacher and playing games on their smartphones sent messages to their parents just in case.
In contrast to the other students with clear recipients of their messages, both Shiyeon and I found our fingers frozen.
Should I send a message to Senior Jiun or just exchange messages with Shiyeon?
“Hands up if you got a reply.”
“I got it! Meee!”
Surprisingly, the fastest reply came from one of the smokers sitting in the very back row.
“Mom, I love you—!”
That kid jumped up to the front, exaggeratedly acting out loud.
The laughter of other students filled the classroom from the comical act.
With that money, he could buy a pack of cigarettes.
Just when I couldn’t hit the send button on the message intended for Senior Jiun, a message notification subtly descended from the top of my phone.
[To whom]
[Did you send a message?]
[(You have sent an emoticon.)]
Before the first message disappeared, the second and third messages followed quickly.
The only person whose alarm was ringing in this way was Shiyeon.
I pressed back to open the chat window with Shiyeon and saw what seemed to be the last message—a carnation emoticon.
An emoticon with a character peeking out from a carnation, showcasing a bear face emoticon.
I wondered why I chose a bear among the many carnation emoticons, but not attributing any special meaning to it, I quickly purchased the same emoticon and sent it.
[Why]
[Why not send it to your older sister?]
Sending the message in two short parts.
With each hit, one point indicator disappeared, and a reply message soon flew back.
[I will]
[I’m sending it to my sister too!]
[My first is to Mary!]
“Me, teacher!”
While I was chatting with Shiyeon on the messenger app, the third 5,000 won went to Seonhyuk.
As soon as the three prize winners were settled, those looking to have fun started to whine playfully, making sure the teacher could hear them.
“Oh, I hate mom! My cigarettes!”
“Ha ha ha.”
As if all the students and the teacher knew he was talking about his smoking habits, he filled the classroom with laughter.
I sent a message to Senior Jiun, including a cake gifticon and coffee gifticon suitable for Parent’s Day, along with the mention of the amusement park on Children’s Day.
At the end, I didn’t forget to add a carnation emoticon.
After sending the message, I returned to my normal routine and submitted my smartphone.
The first class period passed with the teacher reminding us to treat our parents well. During break time, I clung to Shiyeon’s backrest and started pinching her cheek from the back.
“Why, why?”
“Just because I feel proud.”
“Ughhhh….”
Even while making sounds somewhat complaining in response to my fingers spinning her cheek, Shiyeon didn’t think of pulling my arm away.
Although it seemed like she was saying no, she was pleading with her whole body that it was embarrassing in front of friends.
Having received enough satisfaction from Shiyeon, it was time to share some other pride.
I placed my shoes on the chair legs, raised myself a little to lean over Shiyeon’s head and said.
“Should I buy a carnation on the way home?”
“For my sister?”
“Correct.”
Tilting her head up, Shiyeon gave the right answer.
A paper carnation is something typically given only in elementary school, and since it’s Parent’s Day, there are many flower sellers targeting the allowances of students in the streets near school.
Whether it’s expensive, wilted, or thrown away, what does it matter? It’s the thought that counts.
Every year on May 8th.
It became a day for just the two of us, turning from a two-person family into a five-person family.
