While most of Min's classmates obediently followed the teacher's instructions and proceeded to their assigned destination, another part of the school bustled with the mischievous energy of Hyun's gang. The group comprised Ron, Kai, Denis, Hyungjun, Seungyun, and Hyun. The group's origins remained somewhat murky, but it was widely believed that Hyungjun and Seungyun held the mantle of the founding fathers. Ron, ever drawn to trouble, naturally gravitated towards the duo, while Hyun, Denis, and Kai were convinced to join their ranks as friends. Denis and Kai assimilated well within the group, forging stronger bonds, but Hyun, the face of the gang, felt a growing sense of detachment. Whenever possible, he distanced himself from their antics. It seemed that Hyun had become entangled in an interminable contract, bound by the gang's need for his popularity and ability to attract girls.
As the boys loitered around the corridor, Seungyun proposed a plan to vandalize their own classroom, aiming to secure a day or two of absolute freedom. The mere thought of a damaged classroom entailed canceled classes and an ensuing investigation to identify the culprits. Without a second thought, the others blindly followed their esteemed leader's suggestion.
Within moments, they barged into the room, resembling a horde of rabid monkeys unleashed upon their surroundings. Kai tore the wall clock from its position, launching it forcefully toward the ground, reducing it to a pile of dust. Seungyun, towering above the rest, climbed onto a table and extended his arm toward the ceiling fan. Gripping one of its blades with all his might, he exerted ample force to bend it downward.
Amidst Seungyun's endeavor, Hyungjun playfully chimed in, "Should I turn on the fan?"
Across the room, Ron snatched several colored permanent markers and proceeded to inscribe an ocean of foul words on the board, targeting the teachers with snarky remarks and outright insults. He adorned his masterpiece with a suggestive drawing, adding to the audacity of his actions. Meanwhile, Hyungjun toppled a nearby dustbin, sending paper bits, pencil shavings, and remnants of leftover food scattering across the floor. Seizing the opportunity, he transformed the bin into an impromptu soccer ball, further littering the room with trash.
Denis, known for his princely demeanor, also joined in the chaos. First, he unzipped several students' bags, purposefully disarranging their belongings and pilfering their snacks. In the process, he tore a few textbooks as well. Next, he retrieved his bottle and strategically sprayed fruit juice on the wall, creating stains resembling the appearance of urine.
The gang reveled in the havoc they had unleashed, taking a moment to bask in the glory of their destruction. Then, with much insanity in their eyes, they madly dashed out of the classroom, arms raised triumphantly in the air.
About an hour later, the seventh graders' play came to an end, and Min and Akio made their way toward the badminton court, eager to engage in a quick game. However, their plans were abruptly interrupted by Ms. Emily, who was on the lookout for them.
"What are you both doing here? The principal wants to meet your class in her office right away," Ms. Emily informed them, her tone urgent.
With confusion displayed on their faces, Min and Akio exchanged puzzled glances. Akio questioned, "Why? What's going on?"
"Apparently, someone has vandalized your classroom. I don't have all the details, but you need to go to the principal's office immediately," Ms. Emily ordered, her expression tired at this point.
With a mix of trepidation and curiosity, Min and Akio hastened their steps toward the principal's office. Upon entering, they found their classmates assembled, a range of emotions displayed across their faces—some looked terrified, others appeared nonchalant, while most wore expressions of bewilderment, questioning why they had been summoned.
The principal, donning round, oversized spectacles, adorned with heavy gold jewelry, and emanating an air of stern authority, entered the room and took her seat. She scrutinized each student with an intense gaze, her eyes reflecting a blend of anger and disappointment. In a chesty, monotonous tone, she addressed the gathered students.
"One of the teachers informed me that your classroom has been left in an unusable state—dustbins on the ground, bags strewn about, shattered glass from the clock, damaged fan blades, and inappropriate drawings on the board. It seems your juniors show more maturity and responsibility than you," the principal declared, her voice heavy with harshness.
Akio whispered to Min with unadulterated disbelief, "What on earth has happened?"
"Instead of punishing the perpetrators right now, we want the guilty to come forward and admit their faults," the principal announced sternly, her eyes piercing through the room.
"Didn't they install CCTV cameras?" Min murmured under his breath, trying to make sense of the situation.
Akio, his frustration simmering, whispered aggressively to Min, "I mean, who else could've done it? It's obviously those idiots."
"Akio! Do you not see that someone's talking?!" the principal snapped, her voice filled with irritation.
Akio quickly apologized, his voice brimmed with remorse, "I'm sorry."
The principal continued, addressing the students with a sense of purpose, "Look, I'm sure no one will come forward, so here's what I'll do. I've decided that I won't solely take action against the vandals. Why? It's because I want to emphasize the importance of collective responsibility. You are a class, a family, a unit. If one of you is responsible, all of you are. It's that simple. That's how life is, students."
Min couldn't help but think, "Is she insane?" as he stared at the woman with a mix of hopelessness and disbelief.
"To make things easier, I'm going to assign responsibilities to each one of you," the principal continued, her tone assertive. "I need someone to collect money from everyone for a brand new clock, I need someone to unbend the fan blades, someone to erase the whiteboard, and so on. You get my point. I'll call you one by one, starting from Naeun. Each one of you should tell me what you're going to be responsible for. We need to do it quickly because I don't have much time," she ordered, displaying a wickedness that resembled a villain from a superhero movie.
"Naeun, what are you going to do?" the principal inquired.
"I'll erase the board," Naeun replied, her voice full of unconcern.
"Ron, how do you plan to help?" the principal continued.
"I'll help with the fan, I guess," Ron reluctantly responded.
The principal turned her attention to Anna, demanding, "Anna?"
Gritting her teeth, Anna answered, "I'll arrange the bags."
Anna was seething with anger. She resented cleaning up a mess she didn't create, but in front of the principal, she felt powerless and chose the least demanding task to avoid further confrontation.
Finally, the principal called upon Min, asking, "What about you?"
"I'll help arrange the bags too," Min responded.
"What? Anna can do that by herself. Can you not collect the money or something?" the principal retorted rudely, causing Min's heart to sink. Akio felt the urge to unleash a sucker punch on the woman.
After everyone was assigned their tasks, the group dispersed. Unsurprisingly, the innocent students focused on restoring the class, working tirelessly to undo the damage caused. Meanwhile, the culprits remained elusive, hidden away while everyone else labored. The teachers were aware of their guilt yet chose to turn a blind eye. They simply wanted the mess cleaned up without delay, possessing the power to punish the boys but opting not to do so.
Meanwhile, Min reverted to his former self, his demeanor colored with depression as he diligently wiped off the permanent ink from the board using rubbing alcohol. While a few dissatisfied voices lingered, Min was taken aback to witness that most students defended the gang and tried to justify their actions, even when there was no justification to be found. It became clear that many students desired to align themselves with the "cool kids." Adding to Min's misery, a legion of grey clouds enveloped the sky, releasing a substantial downpour. Seeing him immersed in the depressing atmosphere, Mr. Glenn suddenly appeared before Min.
Approaching Min with a soft tone, Mr. Glenn whispered, "Psst! I know you didn't do anything wrong. I managed to get permission from your class teacher for a one-on-one session, and she's okay with it. Come with me. Let's go to the next room."
While Min may not have held a particular fondness for math, he didn't despise it either. Though he often found himself disengaged in class, he would diligently work on various math problems at home or with Mr. Glenn whenever the opportunity arose. Though perhaps an unhealthy pursuit, Min yearned for good grades as it provided a semblance of self-worth that was otherwise rare. Furthermore, Mr. Glenn, a kind-hearted man, greatly admired Min's work ethic and understood the burdens he carried. Wanting to offer support and bolster Min's confidence, he extended a helping hand.
Mr. Glenn led Min to the adjoining room, instructing him to keep a low profile and rest while he attended to some test papers.
"Thank you so much," Min expressed, his voice a blend of despondency and gratitude.
"Anything for you, my man!" Mr. Glenn cheerfully replied.
Just as Min was about to close his eyes and succumb to drowsiness, he caught sight of a familiar figure entering the room.
"Hi, Mr. Glenn! Rad shirt you got there!" the visitor greeted with enthusiasm.
"Thanks, man!" the teacher responded, sporting an immense smile.
"Um, Hyun?! I thought you weren't coming today?" Min inquired, surprised by the unexpected presence.
"Yeah, but I decided to take just a half-day off 'cause I hate staying at home," Hyun explained, diverting his attention toward the teacher. "Mr. Glenn, may I steal Min for a while?"
"Sure! You can take him. Min, make sure you and Hyun go to a place like the terrace or library where there aren't many teachers around right now," Mr. Glenn granted permission.
"Thanks! We'll be careful," Min expressed his thanks as he stood up and followed Hyun, hopeful for a change of scenery and a momentary respite from the troubles that plagued his mind.
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