That's two nos and a yes. Back to square one—or so Sohee is thinking, judging by the drained look on her face. It won't stay like that, not after this.
"Sohee, is it still recording?"
We both look down at the pink-cased phone on the table.
She shakes her head, "I turned it off after Shizuka left."
Good. It's better if no one else knows what I'm about to do here.
If you have stuck with me long enough, you might realize I am good at it. Talking. Once, I convinced a hospital that I was a doctor. All I did was choose the right words to say and act as if I owned them. Now I can't recall why exactly I was in that situation, but that's beside the point. The point is, if I could do that to a group of educated people, what of Sohee?
The recording, which has captured a few hours of events in this room, is on her phone.
You see where I'm going with this?
Sohee could never. Haven't you seen how she acted in those games? She never cheated. She can't. Sohee is an angel, an honest being.
And the angel became the devil, didn't they?
"Can you play it, Sohee? Don't worry, we're not going to listen to everything in it. Just one part."
Her face is all questions, but her hand is already on her phone and pressing play. We fast-forward to the part where the bell rang—a perfect indicator of an end.
But leaving the few minutes unplayed.
"Sunbae?" Her pink eyes find my face. She gets it—what I was trying to say. Now she is just begging for an answer. Confirmation.
I simply just give her a nod.
— "But this is…" she trails off, afraid to say it out loud.
And now her eyes are on her hands, a little shaky. She might not be able to look at my face anymore. But if I say the right things, it would only be for a while.
"Before I came in here," I start, "I knew it was hopeless. The girls would never receive me. We both know that, right, Sohee?"
She didn't nod.
I grab her hands, trying to keep them still. "You said it yourself. I can help them. If you don't trust that, trust me and the goods you see I can do to the girls. Was I not a good tutor to you, Sohee?"
I know the answer to that question. Sohee, too. But she has to say it.
"You're… the best," she mutters. "Because of you… I can be where I am at."
"Then let me be a good tutor to them."
In hindsight, the ball is in her hand. She has to decide which side she is taking — herself or the guy in front of her. But my hands are at the back of hers. I'd guide this confused hand to an answer.
"A single white lie hurts nobody."
And I make sure you believe that, Sohee.
"What if the girls find out…?"
"At that point, I'd come out. I'll own the blame."
"But I—"
"You're only doing what you're asked. The girls will be mad, sure. But I guarantee you, Sohee, they'll forgive us."
"Sunbae, I'm sorry, but I can't see the girls doing that."
"After they spend a little time with me, they would."
She is still not looking up. At this rate, she is not going to. Unless I take a risk.
"When have I ever disappointed you, Sohee?"
Please say—
"Never."
She answered quickly.
I can feel my face smiling, "And not anytime soon."
She turns her hands upside down, facing my palm.
Pink eyes.
There they are—two beautiful cotton candy eyes. Showers my face with your love.
"I'd do it, Sunbae."
Her lips thin, eyes narrow, and head nods.
"I'd do it," she says, once again.
And I bind the deal with a "I am in your debt, Sohee."
"Hm'n," she shakes her head, "You've done more for me, Sunbae. Remember?"
Nope.
I still give her a nod, though.
"This is nothing… compared to what you did."
I'm curious now. What happened between you two that even Sohee finds it justifiable to lie for this cause? I'd like to ask, but this might not be the right time for that. I'd just have to put it at the back of my head for now.
We let our hands stay a little longer in silence… before detaching them.
She looks toward the door, thinking of something. Is she hesitating to leave? But she doesn't want to. Maybe she would rather stay here forever, where she can feel my warmth.
"Sunbae, I have to leave," she says, standing up reluctantly, "I… I have to present the recording to them before I get to go home. Nelly is waiting, too."
"Quick question, Sohee."
She flops on the couch, smiling. "Yes, Sunbae?"
"What does Varrie mean when she said to enjoy my one month?"
She tilts her head in Sohee's fashion, "Did Sunbae forget?"
Either that or I just never knew.
"They get to decide whether to keep the teacher—in your case, a tutor—after a month."
"So there would be another voting session again?"
She nods.
I chuckle, "This feels like voting for a president, huh? Instead, for four years, it's every month."
"It's the girls after all."
Who are these girls anyway? Shizuka mentioned that she is Nodaka's heir? Are they like a very wealthy family in this city? Are all these girls actually a group of big shots? The school even went out of its way to create this environment for only them. And not to mention the damn being that put me here.
"Say, Sohee, am I rich now?"
"What does Sunbae mean?"
"How much will I get paid for this?"
She cups her chin, looking up. "A lot."
Sohee, the Sohee who only took seconds to figure out the number of chances my winnings on Two Jokers… didn't put numbers when it came up to my salary.
Is it that much?
"Is there… any more questions, Sunbae? We'd best be going."
"No, thank you, Sohee. I'd stay here a little while longer; you can go ahead."
She nods, stands up, picks up her belongings, bows, and, before leaving the room, asks, "Sunbae… don't worry. I can do it."
"Don't push yourself too hard."
"Got it."
Thud.
Now the room has no one but me and my thoughts.
Cards on the table.
The Jokers.
"Aye' man, yo' did it!" "Sup bro, sorry I wasn't around."
I can hear these cards…
"Yo, you hearin', can't talk?"
Yeah, maybe I overstayed a little. I'm not talking to a card again. I'm leaving.
"Yo, fuck you, too, man. Not my fault, you're bad at Two Joker. Yo! Fuck man, he ignorin' us now, and is all your fault bro,"
Thud.
I left. And I stop hearing them.