Love You Teacher

Chapter 11. 

Today is a hectic Monday. Sun sat on the large, plush leather sofa in the middle of the director's office, his face filled with confusion. In front of him, Pobmek, Jee, and Sodchuen sat in other chairs facing him.

Jee quickly opened his laptop and opened a video clip showing someone slowly strumming an acoustic guitar. The atmosphere in the room became eerily silent, as if no one was breathing. Pobmek, Jee, and Sodchuen all stared at Sun, their eyes filled with hope and anticipation, as if they were waiting for the results of the most important exam of their lives.

Sun looked at the three teachers with a puzzled expression, as if they were strangers. He glanced down at the laptop in front of him, not understanding why he had to listen to this guitar music. But suddenly, his body began to sway, his eyelids felt heavy as if heavy stones were pressing down on them, before they finally closed. Everyone smiled broadly.

"There he is! He's asleep!" Everyone felt relieved and happy.

"Heh! I'm not asleep yet!" Sun opened his eyes, smiling mischievously at having teased the human teacher.

The outburst was deafening, but it sent shivers down everyone's spines. The three teachers were so annoyed that they almost collapsed to the floor. They all sighed in unison, disappointment overwhelming them. Sun watched the scene before him with surprise.

"What are you doing? Why do I have to listen to this guitar playing?"

The three teachers exchanged awkward glances, each trying to communicate through their eyes who would speak first. Pobmek sighed wearily, as if carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, before offering Sun a lollipop. Sun accepted it, looking confused.

"Okay, go now. Go back to the classroom."

Seeing the three teachers' expressions, Sun became even more curious. He handed the lollipop back to Pobmek. "But I really want to know. Tell me, okay? Here, I'll give you a reward for telling me." Pobmek took the lollipop back with a smirk. He thought this kid was so adorably mischievous, so he decided to get back at it.

"Okay then, I won't tell you the price. Go now, it's almost time for class." Sun took the lollipop back, looking dejected. He walked out of the room disappointed. The three teachers slumped onto the sofa, exhausted, as if they had just run a marathon.

"I suspect opening it from a regular video clip won't work. Or maybe try a CD?"

"Why don't you take it to a repair shop first?" Sodchuen suggested. Jee picked up the plastic bag containing the broken CD fragments from Pobmek. It was a clear plastic bag with small pieces of silvery plastic inside, as if it had just been through a war.

"Given this condition, I think we're ready for repairs?" asked Sodchuen.

"We are ready to hold a memorial service for the CD of Hope that has left us."

"Yes, sir."

Jee's words made Pombek's face turn pale. He sighed heavily, as if taking his last breath. 

"Sigh... This only happens to teachers." Jee patted Pobmek lightly on the shoulder and smiled.

"Come on, don't lose hope yet, my friend. You still have me and Sodchuen to support you. I'm definitely supporting you."

Seeing Pobmek nod hopefully again, he refreshed himself and stood up with a serious expression. "But first, let's hurry to the meeting. I have something important to announce to all the teachers today."

Sodchuen walked ahead, leaving Mek and Jee looking at each other in confusion before hurrying to follow. The three of them then left the director's office, unaware that Sun was secretly watching them as they walked down the hallway. His eyes were filled with curiosity. Sun crept after them like a spy on an important mission.

Pobmek and Jee were found sitting together at a long table surrounded by other teachers. Both wore bored expressions because the meeting, which was expected to be lengthy, was being planned. A large white projector screen was set up in front of everyone.

Then, a cheerful woman walked into the room with a serious expression. She immediately picked up the remote control and switched off the lights. The bright light vanished in an instant, leaving only an uncomfortable dim darkness. All eyes in the room were fixed on her.

She turned to them all, and there was a moment of refreshing silence before she began to speak in a hoarse, terrifying voice, as if she were telling a ghost story.

"And so this day of the year has arrived, the day when teachers like us didn't want it to come.”

Pobmek turned to Jee, bewildered, and asked, "What day is it, Jee?"

"How would I know? You were here longer than me. You're the one who should know," Jee retorted.

A whisper so soft it was almost inaudible. Jee's answer didn't help at all in clearing up Pobmek’s confusion. Sodchuen continued speaking in a voice filled with pressure.

"That is... the English Department's drama performance day."

"Okay!" As soon as Sodchuen finished speaking, the projector turned on, displaying a slide on the screen with large letters that read "Classroom Play Day," along with accompanying text.

"Absolutely nothing to forget: Record a video of every child's performance! Parents are requesting this!"

The teachers all made disgusted faces. Some even covered their faces in horror as if they had seen a ghost, while others held their breath in fear.

"The format this year is the same as before, held in front of each classroom. But the reason I called all the teachers together today is to ask for your opinions. Now that Teacher Solar is sick, how should we manage the P.2/1 class?"

Pobmek, sitting and listening, was puzzled. He didn't understand why it had to be so serious. At this point, he raised his hand and asked, "Can't it be cancelled?"

Pobmek's question shocked all the teachers in the room. Some teachers gasped in surprise and quickly denied it.

"No, I will absolutely not allow a tragedy like last year to happen again!"

"A tragedy...what kind of tragedy?" Jee asked curiously.

Sodchuen swallowed hard, her face filled with deep-seated fears stemming from past memories. Going back to last year.

Sodchuen was walking along the school corridor. She was strolling cheerfully, her face beaming with a bright smile as if she had received the best news of her life. Sodchuen waved to other teachers passing by, her face filled with happiness as if she had no worries in the world.

That day a year ago... It was supposed to be just an ordinary day for the girl. A young person who has just been appointed as the new director. However, she completely forgot she had to perform on stage in the classroom... that's when the tragedy happened.

As soon as she arrived at her office, she was taken aback by the sight before her. The students from class 1/1 were gathered in front of her classroom, protesting like a chaotic mob. Some were lying across the hallway, as if determined to protest to the very end. Others held signs with misspelt messages, but the message was clear: "JUST KEEP FOR SCHOOL PLAY! Give us back our school play!"

"We love performing!" Some children even screamed so loudly that the vibrations were so exhilarating they made our ears ring. Some smeared paint on themselves and the walls in front of the room, creating complete chaos. Sodchuen stood there in shock, unable to move, as if her body was frozen, as if cursed to turn to stone.

In the current meeting room, Mek and Jee sat stiffly like statues, their faces showing stunned disbelief as if they had just witnessed the most unbelievable thing in their lives. Sodchuen continued explaining the significance of the play in a more serious tone.

"Therefore, this activity absolutely cannot be cancelled, especially for class 2/1. Otherwise, we'll surely be ostracised by both the parents and the children, and they'll refuse to come to school. Alright, does anyone want to volunteer to take care of the children in this class instead of Teacher Solar?" 

The teachers in the room whispered amongst themselves; no one dared to volunteer. Everyone shook their heads frantically, as if this task were a disaster that would bring trouble. Seeing this, Pobmek raised his hand without hesitation. He felt as if a voice in his heart told him to do so.

"Should I take care of Solar’s room for you?"

Pobmek's words stunned the teachers in the room for a moment. The atmosphere was silent, as if no one was there, before laughter erupted simultaneously, as if Pobmek was playing a joke. Jee, sitting next to Pobmek, also burst into uncontrollable laughter, as did Sodchuen.

"Teacher Pobmek is being very funny now."

"I'm not joking, P' [Brother/Sister]. If it's for Teacher Solar, then I can do anything," Pobmek said with a voice full of determination. He wasn't finding it funny at all.

Sodchuen looked at Pobmek with disbelief in her eyes. She asked again, her voice filled with worry, "Teacher Pobmek... this is serious, isn't it? Will you be able to handle it? According to the schedule, it's supposed to be held next Thursday."

"I can do it!" Pobmek replied with a firm voice. He didn't hesitate. Not even a little bit.

"A sigh of relief," she said. "Honestly... I don't believe it. And I'm uneasy about it."

"Okay then, I'd like to ask Teacher Jee to help Teacher Pobmek as well," the teacher said. Jee cheerfully saluted in acknowledgement of the order. He felt excited to be working with them. My dear friend, "Yes, I'd be happy to!"

Pobmek intently read the schedule on the screen, then he said confidently, "Okay, as long as the kids don't choose Sun as the director, it'll be easy."

"Oh, so Sun won't be upset then?" Jee asked, seeing Mek smiling mischievously. "Oh no, not at all. Just give him a lollipop."

"The bribe will shut him up soon. That Sun is so easy to fool." While the teachers were having their meeting, a child was seen hiding behind a potted plant. He was only using a twig to conceal himself, which was completely unconvincing, but no one noticed him. Sun, the boy named Sun, the same one being talked about, was glaring at Pobmek with anger. He slowly broke into a wicked smile, as if he had a plan in mind.

Creak...crrr.

A whiteboard marker was dragged across the board, writing a large heading.

The sign read "Vote for the Play Director." Only "Sun" was listed on the board. Below that, K.S. King, the class president, was diligently counting the votes. He finished counting all the students in the class and looked at everyone with a proud smile.

"So, the person who will be our director this year is Sun!" As soon as King finished speaking, the children in the room cheered with joy. Some jumped around like monkeys who had received a glass, while others clapped loudly, causing Pobmek and Jee, who were standing at the front of the class, to exchange stunned glances. They looked as if they had just seen a ghost.

Pobmek turned to look at Sun in shock. He muttered to himself in a low voice.

"I can't believe it, Sun... what have you done...?"

He smiled proudly, his face contorted as if he were receiving a Nobel Prize.

════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

~A few hours ago~

Inside the P.2/1 classroom, the atmosphere was as chaotic as a bustling market. The children were gathered in front of the blackboard, each making a loud, boisterous noise like a flock of sparrows. King stood in the centre of the group, looking defiant. He addressed the entire class in a loud voice, as if he were giving a speech.

"Everyone! Choose us as directors! We think we should make an Avengers movie."

"Fighting is fun!"

King's words made many of the boys' eyes light up. They murmured in agreement with King, but then Elsa's high-pitched voice interrupted them.

"Ugh, those boys... all about violence. I think we should do Snow White instead. A legendary classic"

"Wow, Elsa, what era are you from? That Snow White is so old-fashioned!" King exclaimed. His face was contorted as if he'd just eaten a lemon. Elsa held her head high with a haughty air.

"If it were really an old movie, they wouldn't bring it back for a live-action adaptation. Even the Avengers had one."

"It's been around for ten years! It's pretty old!" The children in the room started arguing loudly, their debate escalating as if a third world war was about to erupt. Suddenly, a continuous stream of applause rang out. The sound wasn't very loud, but it was enough to make everyone stop arguing and turn to look at the source. They saw Sun standing there, clapping.

"I think both King and Elsa's ideas are fun," Sun walked into the middle of the conversation. He stopped and stood between King and Elsa. Then he spoke in a voice full of confidence.

"But if you want it to be even more fun, you should choose me as the director."

Sun's words silenced everyone in the room. They all looked at him with curiosity. Seeing this, Sun smiled and spoke with a voice full of determination.

"Because we're going to make... Snow White and the Seven Avengers!" The children in the room were stunned for a moment. They looked at each other before bursting into laughter again, this time with sounds of admiration and excitement.

"Wow, that's brilliant! How did you come up with that, Sun! My director!"

The children continued to buzz with excitement, turning their attention to Sun and calling him the director, amidst the cheers of everyone. A wicked smile played on his lips; it seemed everything was going according to his plan from the start.

Right now, Pobmek quickly stepped in to intervene. Speaking in a voice that he tried to make as gentle as possible.

"Um, students, I think that if we let him be the director...it might not be very good."

"How suitable is that? Because Sun only comes to school every other day, right?"

The words of Pobmek did not make the children give up in the slightest. King was the first person to respond with absolute confidence.

"It's alright, teacher. We're professionals, we can manage practising every other day." 

Aurora added immediately. "Besides, my classmates have already chosen [the subject/service/etc.]."

"Okay."

Anxiety began to gnaw at Pobmek's heart. He felt like he was being cornered in a chess game he was about to lose. Jee quickly turned to Pobmek and whispered a question in a voice so hushed it was barely audible.

"What are you going to do next?"

"No way! Sun can't be the director!"

"But do you think the kids will agree to that?"

While they found Pobmek and Jee arguing intensely, they were stunned when they looked at the children again. They were all lying down on the floor and on tables in unison, as if someone had ordered them to protest. Some held signs that read "Our Director Sun, JUSTICK FOR SUN." Only Sun sat proudly in his chair, his face beaming with a triumphant smile.

"Sun is the director! Sun is the director! Sun is the director!"

The children's shouts echoed throughout the classroom. Pobmek stood stunned, unable to react. He felt like he was surrounded by tiny demons ready to tear him to pieces. Then, Sun stood up and walked towards Pobmek, offering him a lollipop.

"Here you go, Uncle. This is your hush money... I'll do my best as a director," Sun said with a wicked, cunning smile. Pobmek could only stand there, his head throbbing like a volcano about to erupt. He met Sun's gaze, who stood there beaming with pride, amidst the deafening protests of the children.