Chapter 2: An Unexpected Transfer and a New Job

What on earth had transpired while I was away from school? Only two days prior, there had been no inkling of anything amiss, yet now, a transfer had occurred overnight.

Furthermore, while Im Namwoo’s transfer might have been accepted, the homeroom teacher had made no mention of the other two students who were also absent.

Yet, that was not the sole peculiarity.

“Who finished this homework?”

“Who said they’d present?”

“I completely forgot to wash my gym uniform. The stench is unbearable.”

It seemed no one but me found their absence peculiar. The unsettling atmosphere swirled solely within my own mind.

Everyone else acted with a strange composure, as if they had known about Im Namwoo’s transfer all along. Such significant news typically would have sparked boisterous chatter among them.

‘Was it… a forced transfer?’

For a third-year high school student, a transfer at this point in the academic year was exceptionally rare, unless, of course, there was an unavoidable circumstance, much like my own.

The unanswered questions adhered to my thoughts with the tenacity of melted caramel, yet I found myself with no one to approach for answers.

Reluctantly, I decided to abandon my musings and simply focus on the lesson.

First period commenced. The English teacher, stepping lightly as on any other day, strode into the classroom, only to abruptly halt and fix their gaze directly upon me.

“Are you, by any chance, the transfer student?”

I knew the teacher typically buried their head in textbooks, showing scant interest in students, yet to be asked this now, of all times, was baffling.

While it was true I was the only one wearing a different uniform, making me conspicuous, I had, after all, transferred a full month ago.

Before I could even formulate a response, the class president interjected.

“Teacher. Not them.”

“Ah. Right. Open your books. Today’s lesson is…”

The English teacher promptly launched into the day’s lesson.

Only on my journey home did the stark realization hit me: despite three seats in the classroom now standing conspicuously empty, not a single teacher had bothered to inquire about the circumstances.

A soft rustling sound stirred me awake. Through the narrow gap in the door, I sensed a presence. Still groggy with sleep, I bolted upright and clutched onto my mother.

“Mom, so what kind of work are you doing?”

“Oh, you startled me!”

My mother hadn’t been home when I briefly returned for dinner the previous evening. Her workday began earlier than my school day and ended later.

By the time I finished my self-study and returned, she was already asleep, leaving me to await our morning encounter.

“Didn’t I tell you yesterday?”

My mother blinked, as if the detail had completely slipped her mind. Such forgetfulness was hardly rare. “When you’re busy earning a living, things tend to slip,” she would often remark.

“You know that villa, don’t you? They were seeking a housekeeper, so I took the job.”

“A villa? A housekeeper?”

“You know it, right?”

I certainly knew of it. I’d heard about it from my mother, who, in turn, had picked up the information while scouting for job opportunities.

I had always wondered why there were so many vacant homes and why the rent was comparatively low. This area, I recalled, had once been earmarked for tourist development, only for the plans to eventually fizzle out.

Instead, single villas had begun to appear recently, with the first one said to have been constructed over a decade ago. Its striking facade made it well-known throughout the neighborhood.

However, since the owner was an outsider and the mountain behind it, along with all the surrounding land, was private property, no one was ever permitted to enter.

The villa my mother spoke of was, indeed, that very estate.

Yet, I had always understood that no one resided there. Hadn’t it been reported as abandoned?

“Doesn’t anyone live there?”

“It’s true that it had been vacant for quite some time. But they supposedly moved in recently.”

My mother’s explanation unfolded: the villa had remained unoccupied until recently, when its owner arrived for a period of recuperation.

Having descended in haste, they had been unable to secure a live-in housekeeper. While inquiring, they had fortuitously made contact with my mother.

“I see. If that’s the case…”

Inwardly, I let out a profound sigh of relief. Finding work like this was an immense stroke of good fortune.

Truth be told, even paying next month’s interest was already a struggle. If things continued, we would have to dip into our meager room deposit. My mother and I hadn’t spoken of it aloud, but our anxieties were considerable.

However, other concerns surged in like an incoming tide, instantly overwhelming me. This sudden turn of good fortune felt less like a blessing and more like a source of unease.

Perhaps it was simply because a relentless string of misfortunes had plagued us for so long.

“…Mom. It’s not a strange place, is it?”

“Are we in a position to be picky now?”

My mother snorted dismissively at my question.

“I don’t quite know what kind of household it is, but it’s not strange. They appear to be quite wealthy, and they pay generously.”

“Really?”

“Do you know how much they pay? Well…”

As she disclosed the sum, my eyes widened to the size of lanterns.

“Mom. Isn’t that place really strange?”

It was far from an average monthly salary for a housekeeper. Such a generous payment undoubtedly suggested an underlying reason.

Yet, my mother responded with the same casual indifference as before.

“I told you, it’s not particularly strange.”

“Or is the work incredibly hard? Paying that much is a bit odd, isn’t it?”

Undeterred, I pressed on with my questions.

My mother’s safety was paramount; I could not allow her to be in any danger. As I pondered this, my expression grew solemn.

My mother, however, responded as if she had just heard the most amusing jest.

“Nonsense. There are only two people in the house; what could possibly be difficult? There’s barely anything to do.”

“Two? The owner didn’t come down alone?”

“Her son came down with her. Apparently, he’s a late child, and the madam dotes on him immensely. That’s why she brought him, they say.”

“Does that make sense?”

My confusion only deepened. I had naturally assumed she had come alone for recuperation, yet she had brought her son along?

Even with a housekeeper, if she was ill, would she truly possess the capacity to look after a child?

In stark contrast to my complex thoughts, my mother offered a simple retort.

“You truly fret over such unnecessary things. How could we possibly comprehend the inner workings of the wealthy?”

“That’s true, but…”

There were simply too many dubious elements to dismiss so casually.

“Mom, if anything seems strange, come right out.”

“What are you talking about? Your mother is working under a signed contract, you know.”

“Even so…”

As anticipated, my mother paid no heed to my words; she might have listened had it been my older brother, but not me.

To her, my concerns were nothing more than unnecessary ramblings.

“From your mother’s perspective, it was divine intervention. Had that madam not come down, I would still be jobless.”

…

“Initially, arriving in this unfamiliar neighborhood, unable to secure work, and utterly penniless, I truly felt like biting my tongue and ending it all… This is such a tremendous blessing.”

My mother’s words cast a heavy pall over the atmosphere. As I silently averted my gaze, she made a concerted effort to shift the mood with a brighter tone.

“Oh, and they say her son is the same age as you. Try to get along with him.”

“The same age as me?”

Having imagined a much younger child due to the “late child” remark, I was utterly bewildered. If he were indeed my age, then he would also be a third-year high school student.

“Is it that person you mentioned yesterday? Yoon, what was it?”

“Yoon Heesung.”

Even upon hearing the name again, it remained unfamiliar to me.

My mother reiterated her request once more.

“Be kind to him. The madam is here specifically for her son, and she’s incredibly anxious about his ability to adapt.”

“If he’s my age, he’s a third-year high school student. Why such worry? He’s not a kindergartener.”

“Oh, please. Even if he’s the same age, is he anything like you? He’s a young master, a true young master.”

My mother placed particular emphasis on the term ‘young master.’ It seemed the boy was exceptionally delicate and required a great deal of attention.

I found myself picturing a small, slender boy in my mind.

“When I interviewed with the madam, she asked if I had any children. When I mentioned I had a son in his third year of high school, she was absolutely delighted, saying he was the same age as her own son. I even suspect she hired me because of it.”

“So, please, take good care of him, alright? You know, eat meals together, strike up conversations.”

…

It seemed her instruction to “be good to him” was far from a casual remark. My mother continued to elaborate on her requests at length.

Unsure of how to respond, I simply kept my lips sealed.

“Yesterday too, she earnestly implored me. She pleaded for her son and you to become close.”

My mother had no idea how I fared at school. I had never told her, after all.

That was why she was making such a request, completely unaware that I was hardly in a position to look after anyone else.

I stammered, offering a hesitant excuse.

“He and I seem to be in different classes…”

“Even if you’re in different classes, you should go find him and try to act friendly.”

Naturally, it was futile. Still, it wasn’t my mother’s fault.

I hadn’t told her anything, and she was speaking from a place of ignorance.

“…Alright.”

I replied, my voice devoid of conviction. Only then, upon hearing my answer, did my mother begin to gather her belongings.

“You know your mother’s work starts early, don’t you? From now on, even without me, make sure to go to school on your own.”

“Then what time do you get off?”

“I have a break in the middle, so I get off late too. I’ll be home by 8 PM. I’m leaving now.”

“Oh! Have a good day!”

My mother, finishing her words quickly, hurried to prepare to leave, and I saw her off. It seemed even seeing her face in the mornings would become difficult now.

Compared to my previous school, everything here was smaller. With fewer students, the buildings, the playground, the faculty office, and naturally, the number of classes were all smaller.

Quite a few students seemed to have given up on their studies, but they didn’t ruin the class atmosphere. No matter how rural the area, examinees were still examinees.

So, I thought I would adapt easily here as well.

However, I encountered a major obstacle as soon as I transferred. It was Im Namwoo.

Even at my old school, there were strange kids. Those who would needlessly poke at people and utter useless words.

But there was no one who deliberately tormented others like Im Namwoo. It was the first time in my life I had been punched by someone.

Yet, I was afraid to escalate the situation. My mother was already struggling, and I couldn’t add to her burdens. Since graduation was near anyway, I decided to endure, looking only toward that goal.

On the way to school, worries constantly plagued me. What would Im Namwoo’s gang say to me today? What would they make fun of? What would they say to me? What if they hit me again? My nerves were constantly on edge.

Then one day, Im Namwoo suddenly transferred.

Im Namwoo vanished as if he had never existed. If not for the empty desk, I might have been confused myself. Speaking of which, why was the empty desk still there? If he transferred, they should clean it up.

In truth, from the moment I first heard the news, I felt a slight uneasiness rather than pure joy. It bothered me like a grain of sand in my shoe. The overnight decision to transfer, the indifferent classmates, and the equally calm teachers. Moreover…