80. Entrance Exam Prep, and the increasingly real…. with Aki (1)

The faculty office.

I sat across a table from my homeroom teacher.

I hadn’t been summoned for misbehaving. It was just a regular consultation because of the upcoming early admissions in September, less than three months away, and the university entrance exam in November.

“Hmm.”

My homeroom teacher, a middle-aged man with streaks of white in his hair, stroked his chin, scrutinizing the preliminary application I had submitted the day before.

“First choice, Physical Education. Second choice, Physical Education. Third choice, Physical Education…. All Physical Education, huh?”

“Yes. I want to give it a shot.”

“Alright. Physical Education isn’t bad. You can take the teacher certification exam or go into employment; once you graduate, you’ll hardly have to worry about making a living. But are you sure about this?”

“Huh? About what?”

“That first choice, you know. If you get in with that rural scholarship, without needing the practical exam, it’d be a blessing. But if you fall short, you’re stuck lowering your sights or going the regular admissions route, right? To use up such perfect grades on that… it’d be a shame, wouldn’t it?”

My homeroom teacher, arms crossed, peered at me with a concerned look.

I’d anticipated this question, so I had a prepared answer ready.

“Um, I think it’ll be alright. For now, just in case, I’m diligently studying for the regular admissions, and an older friend from college is helping me with the practical exam prep, too.”

“Oh, really? Is this friend a current student, then?”

“Yes. He goes to the physical education department. He even watched me practice the practical skills and said I’m good enough to get full marks.”

“Is that so? No wonder…”

Trailing off, my teacher scribbled something in the blank pre-application form I’d submitted.

A sliver of curiosity piqued, I glanced over. ‘Must Ask 1. Practical – Student says he isn’t worried.’, ‘Must Ask 2. Entrance Exam – Should be fine if test scores are consistent.’ was written there.

“Well, you know, seeing your mock exam scores, regular admissions are feasible too… Okay. Your will is firm, and you aren’t worried about the practical. Only one thing remains then, Woo-joo. Would it be possible to bring your parents to school sometime during the week?”

“Ah, you want to have a parent-teacher conference?”

“It wouldn’t be much of a conference. Just to tell them you made this decision, and I agreed with it. So, your parents should be aware~ something along those lines.”

“Yes. But my parents are working in America right now. It’d be difficult right away, I’d have to ask about their schedules. Would that be alright?”

“Ah, ah, take it easy. I’m here at school every weekday anyway, supervising the after-school study sessions too. It’s just a matter of your parents finding the time.”

“I understand. I’ll let them know.”

“Good, once you’ve figured out when they’re free, be sure to tell me. Conference is over, you can head out now.”

“Yes.”

I stood up from my seat and bowed my head politely.

I slipped out of the faculty room, carefully closing the door and stepping out into the hallway.

And then, fiddling with my phone, I pondered.

‘It’s 7 PM now, and the time difference with where Mom is is 13 hours…’

Washington D.C. is currently 6 AM.

Mom is an early riser, but calling now would be a bit of a nuisance, wouldn’t it? Maybe after the after-school study session, no, take some time before the study session to call?

While I was mulling over the best time to call, *ting*.

Fortuitously, my phone rang at that very moment. It was a call. The caller was my mother.

‘Wow, the timing…’

Like a ghost. Impressed, I quickly headed for the bathroom at the end of the hallway. Going inside, I answered the call.

“Hello. Mom?”

[“Yes, son~? Where are you right now?”]

Her welcome voice sounded through the phone. The surroundings were quiet, so it seemed she hadn’t gone to work yet.

“It’s me, at school. In the midst of evening study hall.”

[Oh, is that so? Am I disturbing your studies, son? Should I hang up and call later?]

“Nah, it’s alright. You’re busy, Mom, and you wouldn’t have time to call otherwise, right?”

[Oh, my boy. In the little time I haven’t seen you, your way of talking has become so stalwart? Soon you’ll be a grown-up, eh~?]

Mom’s voice turning playful.

Though we aren’t face to face, I can roughly picture her expression. She’s probably wearing a faint smile.

[Woo-joo, do you know why Mom called today?]

“Hmm, let me guess? From the sound of your voice, it seems something good happened….”

[You’re right, something good did. And that good thing is… (Woo-joo, Mom and Dad are coming back to Korea next week!) …Ah, Joo Si-won! I said I was going to say it myself!]

“Huh? Mom and Dad are coming to Korea?”

[Eek…. Yes. We’re both going to Korea next week. If we work this month, the dispatch extension will be finished.]

“Really? That’s great. Actually, my homeroom teacher said they want to have a meeting with our parents.”

[Woo-joo, did you get into some kind of trouble?]

Mom’s voice suddenly became serious.

She must have misunderstood upon hearing my words, ‘the teacher wants to have a meeting with our parents,’ but I chuckled, meaning no.

[Perhaps, while Mom and Dad have been gone, did something happen between you and Aki…?]

“Oh, Mom. It’s nothing like that. It’s not that, they want to meet to discuss university counseling, that’s why they asked me to bring you.”

[……Oh, right? My son wouldn’t do something like that. When did the teacher want us to come?]

“The teacher said anytime during the week is fine, just decide on a time beforehand. Once you arrive in Korea, it would be good to give them a call yourself.”

[Yes, alright…? Understood. Then I’ll call again before boarding the plane to Korea next week. Until then, stay healthy. Okay~?]

“Okay, Mom, be careful and have a good day at work. I’m hanging up now.”

[Okay, love you~]

Click.

The call disconnected.

I put my phone back into my pocket and, as I walked out of the restroom, I thought.

When Mom and Dad come to Korea, I should tell them that Aki and I are officially dating, shouldn’t I?

Dad is such a plain sort; he’d probably just say, ‘Okay, congratulations,’ and be done with it, but Mom would likely make a fuss.

‘Oh, my! Oh, my! Really? That’s wonderful. Congratulations. But Woo-joo, be honest. Which one of you confessed first, you or Aki? Hmm? Hmm?’ she would say in that way.

“I should prepare an answer in advance…”

* * *

A week hence, the weekend.

My parents’ dawn flight from Washington D.C., bound for Korea, should be touching down soon.

Having risen early to prepare, I had already arrived at the airport and was waiting.

As time ticked closer to the scheduled arrival, I spotted them in the distance, emerging from the gate, each pulling a massive suitcase. Thankfully, no delays.

“Mom, Dad!”

“…Oh, son!”

I hurried towards where they stood.

Nearly two years had passed since our last meeting, and Mom, sporting a straw hat, beamed a radiant smile, opening her arms as if beckoning me closer. Dad chuckled softly beside her.

“Mom, how have you been?”

“Well, of course, I’ve been fine. How about our son?”

“One would think we’re a family reuniting after decades apart.”

“Ah, Dad. You’ve been well too, haven’t you?”

“Yes, I’ve been well.”

I embraced Mom first, then Dad. He grumbled, “Hey, it’s not like we haven’t seen each other for twenty years…” but when I approached him with a smile, he, feigning reluctance, embraced me in return.

“Dad, thanks for the card. It came in handy a few times when I was in a pinch.”

I whispered softly, careful that Mom wouldn’t hear. It was true, I had relied on Dad’s card more than once.

Dad patted my back gently, then whispered in return, making sure Mom didn’t hear,

“Yeah, keep it. Keep using it, and when you finally land a job and start earning, give it back to Dad then.”

“…Oh, really?”

“Your mother is a little stingy with allowances, isn’t she? You must be short on funds, right?”

“……”

Wow.

My dad is the best…

A sudden wave of emotion welled up inside me, and I hugged Dad even tighter. Mom, witnessing this, playfully remarked, “Son, are you happier to see your dad? You’re hugging him tighter than you hugged me~?”

“Dad, give me the suitcase. I’ll carry it.”

“Son, what about Mom~?”

“Ah, of course, I should carry Mom’s too. Give it here.”

Despite their protests that it was alright, just a joke, I half-forced the suitcases from their hands and began to pull them along.

Mom fell into step beside Dad and me, matching our pace as she pulled out her phone, seemingly searching for something.

“Son, shall we eat out as a family for lunch?”

“I’m good. And you, Dad?”

“I’m good too. I was actually starting to get hungry.”

“Okay, I see. Let’s eat out then. I’ll make the restaurant reservation, and can Aki join us? Woo-joo, can you ask her?”

“Ah, yes. I can ask… uh, yes?”

Had I just misheard something?

I blinked at them, dumbfounded, and Mom chuckled.

“What? Isn’t Aki practically family by now? She *is* Woo-joo’s girlfriend~”

“……”

Huh.

Had I ever actually told them that Aki and I were dating?

I thought I might have, but then again, maybe not. My memories were hazy at best, so I just mumbled something vaguely, and Mom nudged me on the back, as if asking what I was waiting for.

“What are you doing? We’re going to be late at this rate. Go on, call her~”

“Ah, okay….”

* * *

“Mother, Father. It’s been a while. I hope you’ve both been well?”

Aki bent slightly at the waist, bowing politely, and offered a gentle, eye-crinkling smile.

She was wearing a loose-fitting knit top and a checkered skirt.

She always wore form-fitting clothes when we met, but today her style was completely different.

“Oh my, is that really Aki? Oh my, you’ve become so pretty…. Oh my, oh my…!”

Mom covered her mouth lightly with her hand, her eyes wide with genuine surprise.

Dad, standing beside her, reacted in much the same way. He didn’t say anything directly, but the way his eyes widened clearly said, ‘Is this really the Aki I know…?’

“Hehe, thank you. Mother, you’ve become even more beautiful as well. If we went out together, people would think you were my older sister, wouldn’t they?”

“I know it’s flattery… but it feels nice coming from such a pretty girl, you know?”

“Oh, no! It’s not flattery! I’m really being sincere.”

“Oh, look at you. In the short time I haven’t seen you, you’ve become so smooth! Ah, I see. Aki, is this how you seduced our son…?!”

“Hehehe….”

Without batting an eye, Aki continued her flattery, and Mom lightly patted her bottom in response.

After the light conversation, we were led to our reserved seats by a staff member. The seats were located at the very back, and even though it was the dinner rush, the restaurant was relatively quiet. Perhaps because it was a rather upscale establishment.

“Aki, were you preparing for this beforehand or something?”

“Huh? Preparing for what?”

“Earlier today, when I called, you said you were all ready and about to head out, right?”

“Yeah. I was prepared ahead of time. Your mother mentioned eating lunch together two days ago.”

“Oh, is that so….”

She answered as if she’d been waiting.

And here I was, completely unaware, seriously fretting, ‘What is this? How did she know and get ready?’

“Oh, Akihya. You said you had something to tell us, didn’t you?”

Mother, having finished ordering the food, looked at Akihya and asked.

It was news to me, so ‘I guess she must have something to say…’ I thought vaguely, and looked at Akihya with everyone else.

Akihya, finally drawing everyone’s gaze, including Father’s, cleared her throat, *ahem ahem*. As if she were about to make a major announcement.

“Um, Mother, Father…?”

A furtive glance.

Akihya glanced at Mother, then at me.

“Now that college entrance exams are starting in earnest, I wanted to mention it beforehand. After Ujoo~chan and I finish our college entrance exams this year…”

And then she said it.

“We were hoping to find a small place to live, would that be alright?”

“Find a place to live? Ah, you mean you want to live together, just you and Ujoo?”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Mmm, I see…. Alright, sure, go ahead~”

Mother’s immediate answer, without a moment’s hesitation.

“Ah, really? Thank you so much, Mother~!”

“……?!”

My jaw dropped.

*