Chapter 9: The Comfort of Routine: Ham, Homework, and a Growing Bond

“How is it already the start of school…”
Winter break flew by, and the first day back was upon me.

I got out of bed with a groan, quickly washed up, and changed into my uniform.

I wanted to eat breakfast, but I had to leave immediately to get to school by eight.

As soon as I closed the front door and locked it, the door next door opened.

“Oppa, where are– Oh! You’re in your uniform!”
“I told you today was the first day of school. I have to go.”
“Aren’t you going to eat breakfast?”
“I’ll be late if I eat. Go inside, it’s cold.”
She really does wake up early…
“When will you be back from school, Oppa?”
“I only have four classes today. Why?”
“Then, should we eat lunch together? What time will you be back?”
“Around one o’clock. Will you be waiting?”
“Yes!”
“Okay.”

I made the promise with Ji-eun and went down the stairs. Ji-eun was still standing by the door, waving at me.

“You’ll catch a cold. Go inside.”
“Okay~ Have a good day at school~”
“I will.”

I said goodbye to Ji-eun and headed to school.

It felt like it had been a long time since I’d said, “I’ll be back.” I hadn’t said it once since Mom died… strange.
After walking down the hill for about ten minutes, I could see the school.
As I passed through the school gates and entered the classroom, the other students were chatting.

Everyone in the class looked tired.

It seemed like some of them had pulled all-nighters, their sleep schedules completely messed up during the break.
Come to think of it, my sleep schedule hadn’t changed during winter break, thanks to Ji-eun.

She always woke me up for breakfast every morning, so it was only natural.

“I wish spring break would hurry up and get here.”
“Me too. What class are you in for your second year?”
“I’m in class 3, what about you?”

The classroom was buzzing with chatter, but I just fiddled with my phone.

When the class president put the phone collection bag next to the teacher’s desk, I immediately turned off my phone and handed it in. Most students would chat with their friends after handing in their phones, but I was an exception.

I wasn’t very talkative, nor did I approach others easily, so I didn’t have many friends.

There were times when I almost made friends, but it was difficult with my part-time job after school and on weekends.

I mostly just had formal relationships, exchanging greetings.

“Jihoon, how have you been?”
“Good. You?”
“I’ve been stuck in cram school… I thought I was going to die.”
“Sounds rough.”
“I seriously hate cram school more than actual school.”
“But your grades will probably improve a lot.”
“You think so? I hope so.”

Our brief exchange ended there.
Cram school… It wasn’t that I’d never considered it.

I was keeping up with the schoolwork, but… thinking about college entrance exams, my situation was a bit difficult.
I was sitting at my desk, lost in thought, when the homeroom teacher entered.

“Alright, everyone take your seats. Is everyone here?”

Everyone answered, “Yes.”
The teacher called roll, looking at each student one by one.

“Lee Jihoon.”
“Here.”

I raised my hand and made eye contact with the teacher.

He moved on to the next student without saying anything else. After roll call, the teacher made a brief announcement.

“I see some of you dyed your hair during break. Make sure you dye it back to black. Got it?”
“Yes~”
“Good to hear. The student council will be checking during spring break, so keep that in mind~. And don’t chat during class even though it’s spring break, okay? If I hear from other teachers that you’re being disruptive, you’re in big trouble.”
“Yes~”
“Did everyone hand in their phones?”
“Yes~”
“Good~”

The teacher left the classroom with the phone bag.

“Jihoon, want to go to the store?”
“I wonder if it’s open, it’s the first day…”
“I think I saw it open this morning.”
“Are we going to miss out on the Choco Pies if we go now?”
“We’ll see when we get there. Let’s go.”

My classmate and I headed to the school store, but there was already a long line.

“We’re out of luck with the Choco Pies.”
“Should we just give up and go back?”
“Let’s do that.”

Back in the classroom, my classmate took out a workbook from his bag.

“Studying already?”
“Homework… I have so much cram school homework…”
“That’s studying too.”
“I wonder if we really need to do this much when we’re not even seniors yet. I literally only studied during break.”
“From what time to what time?”
“I was stuck in cram school from ten in the morning to eight at night. It was so boring.”

Everyone studies during breaks.
Well, that’s usually the case.

“Jihoon, you want to come to my cram school?”
“No thanks. I’m not good at studying.”
“But you’re still around a level 4, right?”
“Level 4 in every subject.”
“Then wouldn’t you go up to level 2 if you came to cram school?”
“How much is the tuition?”

I asked, even though I wasn’t seriously considering it.

“Around 500,000 won for English and math? It’s not that expensive.”

500,000 won wasn’t expensive…? I’d have to spend most of my part-time job earnings on it.

“I’ll think about it if I have the money.”
“Okay!”

I had the money Mom left me, but I decided not to use it until I became an adult.

Should I at least buy some workbooks at the bookstore next time?

Even though it was unlikely to happen, I shouldn’t stutter if Ji-eun asks me about something.

<2>

As soon as the fourth period ended, I got up from my seat.

I grabbed my bag, left the classroom, and walked home.

As I was walking up the hill, I saw a small figure in a jumper in the distance.

“Jihoon Oppa-aa-!”

Ji-eun was running down the hill at breakneck speed.

“Hey, you’ll fall! Don’t run!”

Ji-eun slowed down at my shout and arrived in front of me.

“You should have waited inside. Why are you out here in the cold?”
“I was waiting for you, Oppa~ Welcome back! How was school?”
“How should it be? It’s school. How long have you been waiting?”
“Not long~ Hehe.”

She said that, but her cheeks were red.

“Stay inside from tomorrow, okay?”
“Why? You don’t like me coming to meet you?”
“I like it, but you might catch a cold, so stay inside.”
“Okay~ Let’s eat when we get home!”
“Where’s Grandpa?”
“He went to work this morning. I’m starving. So let’s hurry up and go.”

Ji-eun grabbed my hand and started walking.

“Is there anything to eat at home?”
“Hmm… seaweed and rice.”
“That’s depressing. Let’s cook some ham too.”
“Oh, good!”

As soon as we got home, Ji-eun and I took off our coats and washed our hands.

“Grandpa ate breakfast before he left, right?”
“Yes! But Oppa didn’t eat. You must be hungry!”
“It’s fine. Set the table while I cook the ham.”
“I’ll get the side dishes too~”

We naturally divided the tasks. Well, it was natural since we’d been seeing each other every day for a month.
I put a frying pan on the burner and started cooking the ham.

As I carefully flipped the ham with a spatula, Ji-eun stuck to my side, watching.

“The oil might splatter, so move back a little.”
“I’m bored. Let me watch.”
“No. It’s dangerous, so stand against the wall.”
“Fine~”

Ji-eun leaned against the wall.

“What have you been doing all this time?”
“Hmm, reading and drawing!”
“Weren’t you bored being alone?”
“Hmm… I was a little bored, but I waited patiently for Oppa to come home!”

Ji-eun’s words made me glance back at her.

“Were you bored?”

Ji-eun nodded slightly at my question. I don’t think she’d ever admitted to being bored before.

“Yeah. Reading and drawing is a little boring when you’re alone.”

Had Ji-eun always been bored whenever she played alone?

I hoped I was wrong, but she was only eight years old.

I’d assumed she was doing fine because she always had a bright smile, but she might have been lonely inside.

“Weren’t you lonely?”
“Hmm~ It’s okay. I’m an elementary school student now, so I can play well by myself.”

Her words tugged at my heartstrings.

She wasn’t my biological sister, just the kid next door I’d known for a month, but I felt bad for her.

I kept my expression neutral and put the cooked ham on a plate.

“You’ll make lots of friends when you start school.”
“Yeah! I’m going to make ten friends!”
“Isn’t that too many?”
“Ten? How many friends do you have, Oppa?”
“Uh…”

Ji-eun’s question caught me off guard.

Just because we were in the same class didn’t mean everyone was my friend.

“Let me see…?”
“Why? Don’t you have any friends other than me, Oppa?”

Ji-eun asked with an innocent expression.

“I… I think I do…?”
“You don’t, do you? It’s okay. I’ll play with you a lot.”
“That’s very kind of you.”
“It’s okay~ Playing with you is my favorite thing to do.”

Ji-eun said with a bright smile.

“Let’s eat. Go get the rice.”
“Okay! How much do you want, Oppa?”
“Just a little more than what you’re having.”
“Okay~ I got it~”

I went to the room first and put the ham on the table.

I heard the rice cooker lid close, and Ji-eun came in with two bowls of rice.

“Oppa, let’s eat!”
“Okay.”

I started eating, and Ji-eun followed. Her chopsticks went straight for the ham.

“I’m always telling you, you need to eat your vegetables too. Here, eat some spinach.”

I put some spinach on Ji-eun’s rice.

“Okay. Spinach makes the ham taste better!”

Ji-eun ate with a cheerful smile.

I grew up as an only child, but I wondered if this was what it felt like to have a younger sister.

“You’re eating well.”