Chapter 12 : Moon Rabbit (2)

Lunch break arrived, a refreshing breeze drifting in through the open windows. The warm sunlight and a full stomach combined to make my eyelids heavy.

Sleep. I needed more sleep.
I was a ferocious barbarian, ready to pillage pillows and blankets in my quest for slumber.

I had enough time for a 30-minute nap.
I put my head down on my desk.

‘A nap will clear my head.’

But heroes emerged in times of turmoil.
The world wouldn’t let me rest.

“H… Haram, the… instructor wants to see you.”

Hyelin’s whisper tickled my ear. I wiped a bit of drool from my mouth and groaned inwardly.

Why couldn’t I just sleep? The culprit who disturbed my peace was beckoning me from the front door.

I stretched, trying to wake myself up, and dragged myself towards the door. My grand plan for a lunch break nap was ruined before it even began.

Damn you, Kang Haerin.
A hero in troubled times, a villain in peaceful ones.

***

I found the instructor and she greeted me.

“Haram, want something to drink?”
“Can I have some coffee? I’m tired.”
“Sure. Want me to make you some?”
“It’s okay. Is there ice in the fridge?”

I poured a packet of instant coffee mix into a paper cup, added just enough hot water to dissolve the powder, and dropped in five ice cubes. I stirred. A perfect blend.
My signature iced coffee.

I gulped it down and crunched on the remaining ice. I felt slightly more awake.

“So, Haram, everything alright at home?”
“Yes, Everything is nice and well.”
“That’s good to hear. I was worried after seeing your performance. I thought something might be wrong.”

She seemed genuinely concerned. Haerin took a sip of water and continued,

“Have you seen the script I gave you yesterday?”
“Yes, I read it as soon as I got home. It’s really good. Who wrote it?”
“Of course, it’s good. I had to pull some strings to get it.”

The instructor’s face lit up when I mentioned I had read the script.

“You don’t seem like a complete beginner. Are you an aspiring actor? Or is it just a hobby?”
“It’s a hobby.”
“Why? Objectively speaking, you have the looks to make it.”
“I’m not sure.”
“Not sure?”
“Not sure if I can succeed. It takes more than just talent to become a successful actor.”

So many people chased their dreams only to burn out. I had too much to lose to join that endless race with only a vague hope.

“You’re not denying you’re pretty, though.”
“I’m aware of it.”

I, having lived as a man, knew my own face better than anyone. Haerin chuckled.
She rested her chin on her hand and pointed at her eyes with the other.

“I might not look it, but I have a good eye for talent.”
“Okay.”
“My gut tells me you’re one of *those* people.”
“Those people?”
“The ones who get blinded by the spotlight and dedicate their lives to acting.”
“…Aren’t you one of them, Instructor?”
“You’re not letting me get away with anything, are you?”

She took a green grape candy from a snack box on her desk and popped it into her mouth. The sweet scent wafted towards me.

“Haram, we call those who enter Daehangno ‘those who made a deal with the devil.’”
“Ah, I think I’ve heard that before.”
“Aren’t you curious? Why the devil?”
“I guess I am.”

She reached into the box and grabbed a handful of candy. The green grape candies vanished rapidly.

“The devil, you see, knows exactly what we want. That’s his nasty nature. So, he makes us offers we can’t refuse.”

Haerin leaned forward, looking me in the eye.

“People are foolish. They can’t resist temptation. They take his hand, hoping they’ll be different. And that’s how they become ghosts of Daehangno.”

She offered me the candies in her hand.

“Once the devil notices you, there’s no escape.”
“So, the devil has noticed me?”
“He has. So, how about becoming a Faust tricked by Mephistopheles?”
(TL Note : In the myth of Faust, Mephistopheles, a demon, tricks Faust into making a pact, promising him worldly knowledge and pleasure in exchange for his soul, leading to Faust’s eventual damnation. )

I smiled wryly. I agreed with her analogy.
The candies in her hand looked tempting.

But some people carried too much baggage, too much guilt, to be allowed to dream.

“I don’t know. As a girl, wouldn’t Gretchen be a more fitting role?” (TL Note: Gretchen is a character in Faust)

I politely declined. I would postpone my dreams until I could take responsibility for my loved ones.
If that time never came, it would just be another sad story.
The instructor sighed and said,

“Really? Well, take the candy anyway. You look tired.”
“Thank you.”

I stuffed the candies into my pocket. I wouldn’t have to worry about getting bored for a while.

***

Minseok’s pride was wounded after the morning incident.

“Damn it, that’s annoying.”
He cursed under his breath.
He had tried to be nice to that pretty junior, but Lee Haram had been incredibly rude.

He was her senior! Her disrespect infuriated him.

Just then, Hansongi entered the classroom, crying.
She buried her face in her arms as soon as she sat down. Intrigued, Minseok asked his friend,

“What’s wrong with her?”
“I saw her going down to the first-year classrooms earlier. They must have had a big fight.”
“Really? Do you know anything else?”
“It seemed like something related to the drama club. Shouldn’t *you* know more about it?”

Minseok waited for Hansongi to calm down, then approached her, pretending to offer comfort. He asked what had happened.

“I don’t know… Lee Haram and Han Dojun, those bastards are so annoying!”
“Lee Haram and Han Dojun? What did they do?”
“What difference does it make if I tell you?”
“Tell me. I’ll take care of it. I can’t stand those newbies acting up.”

From what Hansongi said, it seemed those juniors had crossed a line. Minseok smirked.

This wasn’t personal revenge.
It was a senior’s duty to discipline disrespectful juniors.

***

I almost died from exhaustion.
I was literally on the verge of collapsing.

Seeing that my 5th, 6th, and 7th periods were Korean and Math, with Math being a double period, filled me with despair. Apparently, our Math teacher had swapped schedules with another teacher due to a personal matter.

Having barely survived the day, I made a resolution:
I’m going to sleep as soon as I get home. Brush my teeth and straight to bed.

Just as I was indulging in this happy thought, devastating news arrived.

“H… Haram, let’s change into our gym clothes.”

Oh right, drama club.
I gave Hyelin a resentful look. It seemed trouble always followed her summons.

“Hyelin, I hate you today.”
“W… What?”
“…Never mind. We’re meeting at the auditorium again, right?”

We changed and headed to the auditorium. A few of our first-year classmates were missing. I approached Junseok, who was stretching.

“I see a few people missing. What happened?”
“Ah, four of them dropped out, saying it was too much for them. Everyone else is here.”
“So, we have eight first-years left? I hope no one else quits.”
“Those who are still here are probably serious about it.”

Following Senior Joohyuk’s instructions, we started running laps around the auditorium.
Unlike the first day, where only Dojun and I completed all the laps, two more students managed to finish today.

I handed a bottle of water to Min Chaerin, who was sitting on the floor, panting.
She nodded her thanks.

“You are done for the day. Are kids these days just naturally more resilient?”
“Huff… huff… I’m not one to lose. Mind over matter. But Lee Haram, do you work out? You don’t even look tired.”
“Ah, I jog lightly in the evenings. I guess it’s helped build my stamina.”

After running, we started stretching. I used to struggle with this, but this body was surprisingly flexible.

“Ugh… haah…”

I glanced over to see Hyelin struggling with the stretches. She couldn’t fully extend her legs, wincing at the slightest discomfort. I approached her.

“Need some help?”
“H… Huh? How?”
“Straighten your legs and clench your teeth.”

I stood behind her and pressed down on her back.

Go, Hyelin, push past your limits!
She cried out in pain, a pain she had probably never experienced before.

“W… Wait, Haram? Th… This isn’t right.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll decide your limits.”
“Th… This is weird… Ugh… Ow! P… Please!”

I ignored her tears and pressed down harder.

This is for your own good.
Probably.

Just as we were finishing our stretches, Kang Haerin stormed into the auditorium, her face a mask of fury. She yelled, her voice echoing through the space,

“Where’s Hansongi?!”
“Y… Yes!”
“Get over here!”

Senior Songi rushed to the front.
A sense of foreboding washed over me.

‘No way…’

There had been a conflict between Songi and the first-year students, but the details were known only to those involved. There was no way the instructor could have found out unless the seniors had confessed.

But Kang Haerin seemed to know everything. She glared at Hansongi, who was trembling, clearly clueless about the situation.

“Get down. 50 push ups. Now.”