EUN MI

“De…. Detention?” I stuttered.

“I’m sorry, Eun Mi. This is the 7^th time that you’re late this semester. I can’t always cover up for you just because you’re the top student…… Besides, it’s only for 2 hours this evening! It can’t be that bad, you can revise your work in the detention room.” Ms Om tried to cheer me up with a smile.

I sighed and nodded.

I live alone, away from my parents who are working hard in Japan, after my grandmother who has been taking care of me passed away.

I take care of myself well – I do the laundry, iron my uniform, prepare for my 3 meals and lunch box for school, study hard without supervision to maintain my rank as the school’s top scholar.

But one thing I cannot do well no matter how hard I try is……. waking up on time.

I ALWAYS sleep pass my alarms – despite having 10 of them in 5-minutes intervals. I don’t even snooze them, I just sleep like a dead log until I wake up and rush to school every single day.

Sometimes I get lucky and reach just on time, sometimes I climb into school through the ‘secret gate’ I found, but if the Discipline Mistress happens to be there, I just run in through the main gate and hope Ms Om covers up for me.

Other times I am entirely late, and apparently it happened for the 7^th time today, within 30 days since my sophomore year started.

After classes ended, I went to the music room and practiced piano for a bit while waiting for my detention to start. I do this every day after I am home. But it seems I’ll be home slightly later than usual for today.

I finished playing my usual, and favourite piece, Canon in D and was about to start on River Flows in You before I heard a bang from behind the cupboard.

I shuddered, and immediately called out, “Who’s there!”

“Ha ha,” a student emerged from behind the cupboard and laughed apologetically, “did I scare you? Sorry, I was hiding from the DM and then fell asleep until you came in.”

“Why didn’t you announce your presence the whole time?”

“I didn’t bear to. You play amazingly well.”

I looked into his eyes and said thanks before leaving the room.