Win No Matter What

CHAPTER 12 - "ETERNALLY TOGETHER"

It's Saturday today, so no lessons today or tomorrow. Most of the fourth and fifth years spend their weekend in the nearby town, shopping, eating and whatever else teenagers do, you imagine. You're glad for the break; the last few days have been crazy and you only just started!

You decide to put the next two days to good use and find out more about the mystery scripture. Teachers can perform non-work related sorcery in school during the weekends, though the exception is using it to move around the Academy (Principal Bang must have thought people needed the exercise). You want to fully focus on the task at hand and not be distracted by all things Bangtan and Park Ji Min, so as well the resources books you need, you decide to conjure up some snacks too.

Sitting at your desk, armed with books and consumables, you start deciphering the text. Within five minutes, someone knocks on your door and Tae Hyung comes in. He saunters in dreamily and sits on your bed. "What you doing?" he asks, peering over you to see.

"Oh just preparing some tests for my classes," you say quickly, hastily covering the paper.

"Boring!" he says, looking around your room for anything interesting to grab his attention.

"I didn't see you or the rest of the gang yesterday," you state.

He thinks for a few seconds and says, "I was with Seok Jin hyung, testing out his new face creams. We were in his classroom all day since we both didn't have lessons."

Plausible lie, you think, but continue, "I thought I might have seen Ho Seok or Jung Kook but there were nowhere to be seen either."

Not making eye contact with you, he replies, "I think Ho Seok hyung and Jung Kook were preparing students for a taekwanjudo competition coming up."

"What about Nam Joon, Yoongi or Ji Min?" you persist.

"I have no idea where they were. Anyway, I'd better go and practice my moon salutations," he suddenly says and practically vanishes through your door. It was only mildly odd that you hadn't seen any of them yesterday, but Tae Hyung's behaviour, coupled with what Min Ho had said during detention, you are now convinced something is amiss. Without wanting to waste time, you get back to the task at hand.

After almost half a day of sitting in one place, your whole body is stiff. A good stretch is needed, so you walk out into the courtyard with the jigsaw lawns. You decide to take the piece of paper with you; you never know, you may get sudden inspiration. It's almost October and the weather is quite pleasant. The autumn leaves are vibrant orange, yellow, red and they flutter down to the ground where they lay undisturbed. From the places you've explored so far, this courtyard is fast becoming your favourite one to be in. You sit down on a bench and admire the flowering plants. You don't realise it, but someone is walking quietly towards you and soon your line of sight is shaded by his shadow.

"Uncle Hak-Kun!" you stand up and bow to him, "how are you?"

"It's been a while Madam Min, how have your first few days been?" he enquires.

"Well, they haven't been boring that's for sure. Everyone has been very welcoming and I'm glad I'm a teacher here." You're not sure why you're so open with Uncle Hak-Kun, but something about his manner makes you want to open up to him. After weighing your options, you decide to take the risk and ask, "Actually, I wonder if you could help. I found this piece of paper in one of my textbooks (he didn't need to know how it came to you) and I wonder if you can help. It looks like it's really old and I'm intrigued to know what it says."

Uncle Hak-Kun looks at it and for a split second you could swear you see him grimace, but it was so slight and so swift that you think it's just your paranoia. It's obvious from his expression that he has seen it before. At first, he looks like he's going to plead ignorance, but then after some consideration, he sighs and translates it for you. It's not what you expect. You thank him for his help and hurry back to your room, hoping that your memory won't fail you and you remember what he said. Once there, you shake your head in disbelief as you write it all down.

Nae maeumeun ajik neo wie buseojyeo; Beolbanneun nareul guhaejwo; Simjangeun memareun sorireul; Gyeote meomulleojullae; Urin jeonsaengedo ama daeum saengedo; Yeongwonhi hamkkenikka.

Don't go to those woods over there; Save the me who's being punished; The small pieces guttered down darkly; Will you stay by my side; In the previous life and maybe the next too; We're eternally together.