4 Chapter 4 - Everybody Makes Mistakes (2/2)
”...How strange. It came out slightly different on the educator's edition.”
”As far as I know, the educator's edition hasn't been distributed yet, Mrs.Kang.”
Her face was scrunching up into a scowl. After small revisions, textbooks had been getting distributed every year. Her book cover, now completely exposed facing the students, was no different from theirs.
In a world entirely based on merit, according to Mrs. Kang. how would they punish her? She tried to remain calm, but the ridge above her lips was already filled with sweat. It was the moment when a mistake became a fault.
”Chuckle!”
Students started giggling. Eventually, the classroom was shaking with uncontrolled laughter. The only people who were not laughing were Juho and Mrs. Kang.
Could things have gone the same way if another teacher had made a mistake and Juho had said the same thing? No. The students knew it. Teachers were human too, which meant they were just as susceptible to mistakes.
These kids had to have understood it by now, but the students taught by Mrs. Kang were different.
Juho sat down. He hoped that Mrs. Kang would stop ridiculing others by bringing up things like English or university. If the value of a person was based on such things, the world would be a miserable place to live in. Juho had no intention of turning the world he was living in into a tiresome place.
Mrs. Kang, the English teacher, rushed out of the classroom. After she left, Seo Kwang quickly turned to Juho.
”Psycho!”
That was unexpected.
”Is your heart made of iron? What were you thinking opening up your mouth at a time like that? Oh, and you didn't stop there. You went the extra mile and really let her have it. You're insane! You're incredible!”
Though Seo Kwang's words were quite misleading, Juho shrugged his shoulder and answered, ”I let her have it? I only spoke up to address her misunderstanding.”
Juho smiled and slowly drew away from the conversation. Seo Kwang immediately caught on to what Juho was really saying.
”Aha! So, you're saying Mrs. Kang is the one who actually made things awkward? You were just acting normal.”
Juho didn't talk back to her or complain about her one-sided statements. He merely corrected her mistake. It was Mrs. Kang herself who had turned the situation into what it was.
Seo Kwang squinted at Juho. He felt that all the reading he had done up to that point had been helpful in a situation like that. There was something dangerous about Juho in the way he played coy when getting to know a person. Next to his peers, there was something quite different about him, and Seo Kwang came to like it.
”Let's be friends.”
”That's random.”
Though he answered light-heartedly, Juho had to read every single book recommended by Seo Kwang.
---
The classroom was rowdy. The students had completely adjusted to their new school now. There were cliques, which meant people started talking to each other. However, that wasn't the only explanation for the rowdy classroom.
It was time for the so-called club invitation season. The upperclassmen came into the first years' classrooms to introduce their clubs.
Next to the chalkboard were the flyers for all the different clubs, and the kids would wonder about which club to choose during recess.
There were upperclassmen before Juho, promoting their club with a hand-made sign, three girls and three boys from the volunteering club. He wondered if it was really necessary to have that many people promoting a club. The only person doing the talking was the girl in the middle.
”The strength of our club is that we really fill up the student record. You all know that you should take care of that on your first year, right? You'll have less and less time as you go up. There's no time for volunteering work, but the teachers are making a fuss about writing whatever helpful thing you can think of on your applications. THAT is when you'll think of this club. This is a testimony. While your friends are struggling, you could indulge in the pleasure of burning through your applications!”
The girl went on with her excited speech. The kids were quietly listening to the upperclassman. Realizing that there was an awkwardness in the air, she quickly wrapped up her speech. The club members who were standing next to her hadn't said a single word until the very end.
”Anyhow, if you're interested, come find me in classroom 2-3.”
Next was the music club. Unlike its name, the reality was that they only sang a few songs at the school festival. A male upperclassman came out to promote it with a picket.
”If you enjoy music on a regular basis, are interested in music or are in love with music, this is the club for you. There is a brief interview, but don't be intimidated. You can still be part of our club even if you're not a good singer or a dancer. It's OK if you know nothing about music. We can learn together. Our basic activity is to enjoy and appreciate.”
Next, came the cultural exploration club. Their activities were mainly outdoors. Perhaps that explained the unusual fashion sense of its members. The upperclassmen who came into the classroom to promote the club were all dressed in extraordinary clothing. It was as if they would be leaving for a jungle exploration at any minute.
”That guy in the khaki hat, he's my style.”
Seo Kwang whispered jokingly to Juho. As if in response, that upperclassman spoke with a loud voice, ”Wherever there's culture, the cultural exploration club is there. As close as the park nearby or as far as a folk village! We go wherever our members desire! Come join our club!”
Then, he took a deep breath and asked for everyone's attention, apparently the most important thing was left to the end.
”Our homeroom teacher treats to some food often.”
At that, a few excited students came forth. It didn't sound all that interesting, but it had definitely been the most energetic club so far. With cultural exploration club as the last, the club promotion came to an end.
”Which club are you planning on joining?” asked Seo Kwang.
After the promotion, there were even more kids looking at the flyers. Seo Kwang and Juho were far from the crowd. They were skimming through the flyers to see the different clubs that were around.
”I don't know. You?”
”I'm thinking about joining the book club, but it kind of bothers me that they have the Chinese teacher as their homeroom teacher.”
”Ah! You mean the one who teaches the second years? He's always in modernized traditional garments.”
That teacher really gave off an intimidating impression with his deep wrinkled brows. Seo Kwang stepped forward and started looking for a literature club. According to him, he had been in a literature debate club for all three years in middle school,
Juho decided to look around by himself. Then, he saw the title 'Documentary Appreciation Club,” the club he used to be part of.
They sat still and watched documentaries of their teacher's choosing. That was the entirety of that club's activity, but Juho was quite fond of it.
”Should I go back to watching documentaries, or should I try something new?” Juho pondered.
verybody Makes Mistakes> The End