Open Mic (1)

Myeongjeon stretched his stiff neck this way and that as he stepped outside the classroom. He had thought he was awake, but before he knew it, he had fallen asleep with his head buried on the desk.

‘If I keep sleeping like this, I’m going to get a herniated disc in my neck…’

Should I buy a neck pillow?

But if he wore a neck pillow in front of the teachers and they asked, “Why are you wearing that?” and he answered, “Because I think I’ll get a herniated disc in my neck while I’m sleeping,” they probably wouldn’t tolerate it at all. Then again, ‘Ha Suyeon’ was part of the MZ generation, so maybe they would let it slide. Myeongjeon began overestimating the MZ generation.

‘No, more importantly, why did school even reopen if this is all we’re going to do? Was it like this when I was young?’

It had been too long ago for him to remember clearly, but he seemed to recall having classes after winter break ended… or at least being taught something or other.

That was why Myeongjeon had tried to raise the kids’ skill levels before winter vacation ended, and why he had driven them so hard. But once school reopened, they did nothing at all, and apparently spring vacation would begin again in a few days.

“Why did school even reopen if this is all we’re doing?”

Feeling like he wanted a cigarette, Myeongjeon unconsciously slipped a hand into his pants pocket. But there were no cigarettes. Thinking that he would have to find a convenience store willing to sell him some someday, he headed toward the terrace to get some fresh air.

“Hi.”...