My Art Teacher | Johnyong

Chapter 5: The Collage

<Johnny's POV>

The next day before class, I sat in anticipation at my desk, fiddling my fingers while I played a random computer game. It had been almost a full 24 hours since Taeyong stormed out of the classroom after refusing to join the art club, and in that 24-hour period I had been anxiously recruiting several more students. Fortunately, a majority of them had agreed and would be arriving at the meeting after school today. I couldn't tell if my heart was racing from the anxiety of wishing this club to be successful or from the countless cups of coffee I had in my system, but either way I was prepared for what was to come.

One thing I can't prepare for, however, is that student Lee Taeyong. His erratic behavior that switched constantly from sweet to sarcastic, abrasive to angelic, made it unbearable. To ease the tension, I tried calling the phone number in his file for his guardian, Mrs. Lee, but to no avail. Of course, I was left on voicemail, but I suppose it was better to have my message recorded in full rather than if Taeyong answered the phone and immediately hung up. Now, all I could do was wait, but waiting has never been something I had been good at. I knew all too well that my impatience has lead me down several interesting paths, my position at NCT included.

The bell rang, and I sat up straighter, preparing to greet students as they walked in the door. I watched everyone file in within the next couple minutes, scanning the group for one student in particular who seemed to be missing. You can probably guess who at this point.

I sighed, beginning my mini lecture reluctantly. "Today, you should all be nearly finished with your first projects of the year. As always, I will be here for support" I reassured the students before continuing, "For those of you who are already finished, there will be time set aside at the end of the class period today to begin presentations. Nothing formal, just a little summary of why you chose those items in your collage and if it carries any significance. There is a sign-up sheet for presentations posted at the board" I gestured behind me.

"Now go forth and conquer!" I shouted enthusiastically, leaving a few students chuckling.

Immediately after wrapping up my instructions, I felt an unexpected breeze of a student whizzing by me. In surprise, I whip my head around to be met with the messy blue strands of the student slightly out of breath before me.

"...Taeyong?" I ask, unsure if I am imagining things. He looks up at me with a giddy smile, much different than any expression I had seen on him thus far, with crinkled eyes and his nose scrunched up. Without replying to me, he simply wrote his name in the first slot on the sign-up sheet.

Before he ran off to work on his project, I grabbed his shoulder gently, waiting for him to disappear in front of my eyes as quickly as he arrived. I cleared my throat, "Ahm. You're late, Taeyong" I said, attempting to adopt a stern tone.

He laughed right in my face, "Sorryy, it won't happen again" he stated while crossing his heart.

-

With 20 minutes left before students were dismissed, I announced to the class that we would begin presentations. My students sat in the bean bag area right in front of the board that I specifically created to make them look forward to class periods like this. I pulled the list off of the hanging clip board and read the names aloud.

"Looks like we have time for most of you who signed up today! Don't worry if you aren't done yet – we will continue most of the presentations tomorrow. First up is Lee Taeyong"

The room was completely silent while Taeyong approached the board and stood before his peers. Softly, I heard Jungwoo cheering for his new friend, giving him a boost of energy.

Taeyong's hands shook while he took off the lid, revealing his first project. On the table sat a cylindrical lantern. He stood behind the table with his arms behind his back before reaching over to press a button inside, causing the lantern to light within, revealing the collage that contrasted with the faux red flame that seemed to give the entire project life. The class 'oooh'd and 'ahhh'd at his handiwork. Taeyong gently rotated the lantern, providing everyone a 360 view. The collage consisted of multiple phrases from magazine articles, vague consumerist clippings put together to create a face that seemed to be melting off of the side of the lantern with its mouth agape, almost looking surprised. From the side angles of the face, it looked like the eyes were hollow, but from the front view, both eyes held large spiders. Without a second thought, I wrote 100/100 on his grading sheet. It was brilliant without a doubt, and the rest of the class seemed to express a similar sentiment, or so I thought.