Behind the Mask

Unnie?

"Ok class before I leave let me remind you of the activity I gave you, you will present it next week. Be sure you're prepared. I don't like mediocrity. Any question" Professor Myoui looked around to see if someone is raising her hands. "None? Ok, so class dismissed." Professor Myoui picked her bag up and left the room.

Chaeyoung stood up and walked to leave but Momo approached her.

"Chaeyoung-ah, are you free tonight?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Can we talk about the activity?" Chaeyoung nodded at her. "Can we do it in your house?" Chaeyoung looked at her.

"In my house?"

"Y-yes, my dad went home now and I'm not comfortable having a guess when he's around."

"Oh uhm ok." Momo smiled at her. A blonde curly hair then approached her.

"Chaeyoung- ahh" Sana put her arms around Chaeyoung's right arm. "Do you want to join us for lunch?" She blinked thrice and smiled at her.

"Oh uhm, I have my class after this one."

Sana looked at the centre aisle where a tall girl is sitting and glaring at her. The girl muttered to Sana "Stop flirting or else..." Sana suddenly dropped her arms that were intertwined with Chaeyoung's arm.

" How about this weekend?" asked Nayeon but a pixie-haired girl whispered to her.

"How about our date, babe?"

"Can you all guys leave Chaeyoung alone? She said she has a class that she needs to attend." said the girl with round brown eyes and braided hair.

On her way to her next class, Chaeyoung decided to text Professor Myoui to inform her that Momo will go to her house for the activity.

"Professor Myoui." After typing those words she deleted them.

"Too formal. Wait. What should I call her?"

"Hey, Momo will come with " she again deleted the words she typed.

"Too informal, it might sound rude."

She then accidentally touched the call button.

"What do you want?" She was shocked when she heard professor Myoui's voice.

"Oh fuck." Chaeyoung whispered.

"What?"

"Oh, I accidentally touched the call button while typing a text message."

"Ok. So what do you want?"

"Momo will come with m---."

"Ok. I'll be late for home today." Professor Myoui then hanged up the call.

• • • •

"What about Hamlet?" Momo suggested.

"That's too common. I'm sure the others would choose that."

"You're right. Let's search some more."

Chaeyoung and Momo were in the living room busy discussing their activity when Professor Myoui arrived home. She passed by them without looking at them.

"U-unnie?" Chaeyoung looked at Momo who was looking at professor Myoui. "I- I mean Professor Myoui?"

"Unnie?" Chaeyoung asked in the back of her mind.

"I'm Chaeyoung's guardian." Professor Myoui said without looking and she went upstairs.

Chaeyoung knocked at professor Myoui's room but she was not there. She went to the professor's study table and she saw her there. Her eyes were fixated on the laptop's screen. Chaeyoung knocked.

"Busy?" Chaeyoung asked as she entered but the professor nodded but her eyes are still on her laptop.

"Did you eat?" Mina stopped typing and looked at Chaeyoung.

"Not yet."

"I prepared some foods, want to join me?"

"Hirai Momo is my sister. Is that what you want to know?" Professor Myoui said while putting some rice on her plate.

"No. That's not what... What?!" Chaeyoung raised her voice in shock.

"She is my half-sister."

"Different father?"

"The opposite." Chaeyoung just nodded. professor Myoui looked at Chaeyoung. "What is it?"

"Hm?"

"The one you want to ask."

"Oh uhm, yeah. I just thought that since we're living in the same house would it be possible if, I mean you know." Professor Myoui raised her eyebrows waiting for Chaeyoung's question. "I mean if you like to be less formal, maybe?"

Professor Myoui looked at Chaeyoung.

"You mean not to call you Son Chaeyoung?"

"Y-yes! Don't you think that's too formal?"

"I'm your professor."

"Yeah...but...we're living in the same house."

"I'm your tutor."

"Can't we just be less formal?"

"No."

"It's awkward don't you think?"

"No."

"We could be friends at home, right?"

"No."

"Or... More than friends." Chaeyoung smirked while looking at professor Myoui but the professor just glared at her.

"Ok ok. Fine. If you don't want to be less formal with then don't." Chaeyoung giggled. "I'll just be less formal with you then." Professor Myoui gave her a sharp look so Chaeyoung stood up and pretended to clean up her plate.

"What should I call you Professor Myoui?" Chaeyoung said teasing the professor.

"Mina? Ahh, that's so ordinary. How about unnie? What do you think?" Chaeyoung asked looking in professor Myoui's direction.

"Unnie? Huh, I'm not that old." Professor Myoui said in the back of her mind. The professor gave her a "don't you dare call me that way" look.

"Mina...ri? Minari? Oh, cute. Minariiiiiii." Chaeyoung again looked at the professor with a wild smile. "Hello Minariiiiiiii, I'm Chaeyoung."

Chaeyoung continued washing the plates she used. Suddenly, two arms wrapped around her waist. Her heart began to beat faster. Professor Myoui was hugging her from the back. The professor put her head on Chaeyoung's right shoulder and whispered in a soft voice to her right ear.

"Chaeyoungiiii" Chaeyoung's ear tickled but it sounded good.

"How much are you gonna pay me for that?" Professor Myoui asked which made Chaeyoung get back to reality.