Astronomy // Duty After School

Chapter Three.

"There's our star," Song-gi greeted, tossing an arm around (Y/n)'s shoulders. "Queen Titania." (Y/n) gave Song-gi a dirty look. As with every other performance (Y/n)'s been in, Song-gi had begun his tradition of calling (Y/n) anyone but her name. Sometimes, she wondered if Song-gi even remembered her name.  Ms. Park smiled proudly, side-hugging (Y/n) from the girl's other side.

"I get to take my costume home tomorrow," (Y/n) said. She had needed to come to the theater immediately after school.

"It was a nice one, too," Ms. Park said. "Your costumes these past two years have been on top of things. Kudos to the costume department."

"They better for the cost of it all..." (Y/n) said. While not technically the family's provider, she still had to make sure bills were paid as she was alone at the house more often than not. Song-gi opened his car door for Ms. Park, who pecked her fiance's lips as thanks. (Y/n) sighed heavily, getting into the back seat. The two adults chuckled over (Y/n)'s dramatics. (Y/n) herself felt she was falling behind. She, of course, had her entire life ahead of her but she had no relationship experience whatsoever. She had lots of types and therefore caught crushes quite easily but the idea that someone would return her feelings seemed almost impossible.

"So... Military training," Song-gi spoke up, spearing a very brief glance at his fiancee and then into his rearview mirror at (Y/n).

"Yes. Third-year teachers are required to stay and teach," Ms. Park informed.

"What? You can't be serious," Song-gi frowned.

"If it's safe for our kids, then it's safe for us teachers," Ms. Park insisted. "Besides, we aren't expected to stay on campus like the kids are."

"That's beside the point! They're making high schoolers become army reserves! Think about how desperate this situation is, Eun-yeong!"

"Those kids will need their homeroom teacher! Do you know how scary this situation is even without being separated from the trusted adults in your life for a month? And I'd rather (Y/n) also have someone around, too!"

"What? (Y/n), you can't be thinking about joining this training," Song-gi denied, casting another look into the rearview mirror.

"Mm... My classmates are," (Y/n) said, leaning her head against the window and watching the buildings pass.

"Your classmates are not you," Song-gi stated.

"My mom and dad will sign it," (Y/n) said. Ms. Park and Song-gi side-eyed one another.

"You know, my mom will gladly take you in if you don't want to do the training," Song-gi offered. (Y/n) shook her head.

"I don't want to fall behind," (Y/n) said. "Falling behind scares me more than potentially being enlisted into the army does." She, truthfully, had grown quite fond of her classmates and felt more inclined to help them from getting screwed over by the adults.

"Ridiculous! This is ridiculous! What kind of parent would agree to putting their kid in that situation?"

"They're saying it will be safer there than in the city," Ms. Park said. She knew better than to trust that statement.

"A-Anyways, here's my stop!" (Y/n) said hastily as Song-gi drew to a slow halt at the side of the road. She unbuckled her seatbelt and slipped on her backpack.

"Hey, (Y/n)," Song-gi called before (Y/n) could leave the car. "You don't have to if you don't want to. Genuinely." (Y/n) glanced toward her house and a distant look came to her eyes.

"I want to," (Y/n) said. Song-gi sighed in an almost defeated way. "Thanks for the ride and seeing my performance," (Y/n) said pleasantly.

"Oh! That's right," Ms. Park murmured, opening the glove box. She passed a gift card back to (Y/n). "Figured that would be better used than a bouquet would... ₩40,000."