“Troublemaker~♪” the ringtone on Gina’s phone rings, the vibration shakes the entire nightstand.

          Gina’s hand slowly reaches over; she slowly puts the phone to her ear and speaks in groggy voice “Hello?”

          “Miss Choi, sorry to call you so late tonight but we need you to come down to the police station” the voice over the phone tries to speak over other voices in the background.

          “Is it the boys again?” she asks. She stands up; pulling up some black shorts and slips her shoes on.

          “Yes”

          “I’ll be right there” she hangs up.

She runs to her front door and grabs her purse before rushing down to the car garage. “What did they do now?” she rummages through her purse and pulls out a gigantic collection of keys. “Aish!” she tries multiple keys in the lock. No luck. “Don’t they know what time it is?!”

“Miss Choi”

“Aish! What?!” she tries yet another key.

“That’s not your car. Your car is being fixed, remember?” the night guard hollers.

Gina gasps. “Oh right…” she apologizes then heads out the building.

“I’m so glad that person’s car alarm didn’t go off”

She whimpers as she quickens her pace. “Why the hell did I have to grab my heels of all things!?” She starts running down the streets. People stare at her. “Oh my gosh! Look at me, look at me! Does it look like that’s what I’m saying! So embarrassing!” She tries to cover her face as she runs.

 

“Yah!” Gina yells at her students as soon as she arrives making even the officers flinch. She stomps over to them. “What did they do, Officer Park?” she crosses her arms.

Officer Park, or Changmin, nods over to a group of seven middle aged men. The men looked badly beat. Their faces were swollen and their fists bloodied. One man’s face looked so swollen that his eye looked like was going to fall out and his lips were ripped.

Gina looked back to her students. They were looking impatient more than anything. “Look down!” she ordered. After rolling their eyes and scoffing at her they obeyed reluctantly. “Apologize.”

Sangjune looked up in irritation. “Seonsang (teacher) but we-”

“Apologize” she repeated cutting Sangjune off.

“No! I refuse to apologize to those bastards!” Sangjune snarled.

“Mi chin saeki! (this crazy ) Shikureo! (shut up)” Jaemin looked to Sangjune. Sangjune gulped and then they both looked back down.

Gina bit her lip, she was thankful for Jaemin standing up to Sangjune but as a teacher she could not condone his behavior. “Jaemin,” Jaemin looked up. “Don’t swear.” He nodded to her then looked back down. “Now you guys need to apologize,”

“Jwesongheyo (sorry [polite])” Youngpyo who was sitting the farthest away bowed then sat back down.

“Cheongmal Mian (Really sorry)” Yongbin furrowed his eyebrows and did a small bow.

“Ah, feels ed up.” Sangjune muttered before finally looking up at the older men. “I’m freakin sorry”

Jaemin elbowed Sangjune.

“What?” Sangjune leaned in his seat.

Jaemin shook his head, giving up on Sangjune. “We’re all really sorry.” He stood up and bowed.

Gina nodded approvingly. Her eyes then widened. Her eyes darted around the station. “Where’s Taehwan?”

“We didn’t find him at the scene,” Changmin explained. “He might have gotten away before we gathered them all up.”

“Aish” Gina then directed her attention to the group of men. “Are they planning to sue my students?” she mouthed to Changmin.

Changmin nodded. “Yes. The hospital bill is going to climb very high.”

“Oh no,” Rubbing her temples, Gina sat down.

“Kangdae! My son! Who did this to you? Are you okay?” And old ahjumma ran up and hugged one of the men.

Gina walked up the ahjumma and men. “I’m sorry. My students have caused a lot of trouble. Please forgive them.”

“Ah. I understand now.” The ahjumma clicked her tongue. “Those kids won’t get any better with a ty teacher like you,”

Gina gaped. She realized her clothing could be misleading, shorts, heels, and a night tank top.

“Let’s go Kangdae.” The ahjumma grabbed her son. “We’re suing those students and that teacher.”

“I’m sorry. They’re just kids. They’re reflecting. They feel really sorry what they have done to your son” Gina followed the ahjumma and her son.

“ off ! You should be fired!” The ahjumma screeched. “I can’t believe the government is letting such a into the schools! I will get you to-”

“Yah ahjumma.” Jaemin stood up and walked so he stood not far behind Gina and the Ahjumma. “Watch your words. Seonsang is a really good person. She had nothing to do with-”

“Jaemin… Dok cho ra… (Silence)” With a trembling voice Gina bowed to the ahjumma apologetically. “I’m sorry. My students won’t bother you again.”

Jaemin clenched his fists making his hands shake from the pain he was giving himself. Why?! Why do you have to be humiliated for us? He sat back down next Sangjune.

“You okay?” Yongbin leaned forward trying to see Jaemin’s face. “Yah pabo! Yah! Yah! Yah!” Pointing to Jaemin’s hands, Yongbin started to raise his voice with each word. “You’re starting to bleed again! Yah!”

“This guy” Sangjune rolled his eyes. “Get a hold of yourself!” with a shake of the shoulders from Sangjune, Jaemin snapped back into reality.

“What?” Jaemin looked at them cluelessly.

“Going suicidal now, are we?” Sangjune laughed and showed Jaemin his bleeding palms.

“Oh…” Jaemin looked at his palms. “It’s nothing guys. We already got ourselves bloodied up from the fight.”

“No we didn’t!” Yongbin and Sangjune whined. “We did the bloodying!”

“Yah, Youngpyo! Are you okay?” Jaemin ignored the two and looked to the quiet member of their group.

“Yes hyung.” Youngpyo gazed at him blankly.

Jaemin brought his focus to Gina; she was still apologizing to the men.

“You know, this pisses me off way more than usual.” Sangjune noticed Jaemin’s gaze. “For once we actually weren’t the ones in the wrong,” Sangjune made sure Changmin could hear him before continuing. “But we have to take all the crap for this.”

“Get over it Sangjune, we lost the girl.” Jaemin exhaled.

“Witness!” Sangjune corrected Jaemin. “And victim,” he said with pleasure.

Changmin, who had had been partially listening to the boys the entire time, tuned in.

“Taehwan‼” All four guys yelled at once. They looked at each other trying to confirm what they had just realized. Changmin raised an eyebrow.

“Taehwan, that bastard! He probably helped the girl get out of there while we were fighting!” Yongbin high-fived Sangjune with a face that said victory.

“Mind explaining to me?” Changmin picked up four plastic bags that each held their mobile phones.

“Fine…” Sangjune took a deep breath for the long story ahead of him. “You see we were just wandering around the back alleys like usual. When we saw those sick old bastards” he paused and nodded to the group of men. “Bothering some chick who was probably even younger than us. I swear they were gonna her! So that’s when stupid Taehwan butted in.” he shrugged. “And from there I’m not sure what happened and we ended up here with no chick and no Taehwan.”

“And why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” Changmin took notes.

Sangjune gaped. He slammed his fists down on Changmin’s desk. “I did! This lazy officer just refused to believe me!” Sangjune looked straight into Changmin’s eyes.

Changmin rolled eyes knowing Sangjune was referring to him.

“Calm your , man” Yongbin pulled Sangjune back down.

“What’s wrong?” Gina sat down in an empty chair near Jaemin.

“Seonsang wouldn’t believe us even we told you.” Sangjune scoffed.

Changmin showed Gina the notes he took on their conversation.

“Is this true?” she looked at the boys. “Or are you trying to get out of trouble?”

“! It’s true!” Sangjune hated being questioned when he spoke the truth.

“Seonsang, its true” Jaemin bit his lip.

“Youngpyo?” Gina looked to Youngpyo for confirmation.

“I think so.” With a monotone voice, he nodded.

“What do you mean you think so?” Sangjune growled. “You were there!”

“I don’t remember how it started.” Youngpyo shot back. “All I remember was you guys were suddenly fighting and then someone was going to hit me so I fought back” he snarled.

“You’re making us look like we’re lying!” Sangjune stood up; ready to pounce.

“Sangjune, sit down!” Gina stood in front of Sangjune.

Yongbin went next to Changmin. “It’s the truth Officer Park. Please let us call Taehwan” he begged.

Sangjune sat down. “Just wait and see” he muttered.

“Okay, I’ll let you guys call.” He took one of the mobile phones and gave it to Yongbin. “But you guys have no case if there is no girl that comes with him.”

“We know.” Jaemin retorted.

Sangjune, Jaemin, Gina, and Changmin then looked at Yongbin expectantly.

“What? Yongbin scratched his head.

“What do you mean ‘what’?” Sangjune sneered. “Call Taehwan!”

“But I just texted him.” Yongbin stated and held up his phone to show them.

“Ah, mian” Sangjune rubbed his neck, he was embarrassed.

Yongbin’s eye lit up. “He replied!”

“Is he coming? With the girl?” Gina asked.

Yongbin nodded and jumped on Sangjune. “We’re saved!”

“Get off me!” Sangjune laughed.

Jaemin chuckled. He saw Gina sigh with great relief, her shoulders relaxed and she let herself fall into the chair.

 

Within the hour, Taehwan finally arrived.

“Yo!” Taehwan chimed with a fools grin.

“Yah!” The guys pounced on him.

“Wipe that grin off your face before I punch it off,” Jaemin laughed and pulled Taehwan into a noogie.

Taehwan cringed. “! You guys act like we haven’t seen in other in years.” He rubbed his head.

“And the girl?” Youngpyo nodded to Changmin who was waiting.

“Right here,” Taehwan stepped aside. Behind him was the girl, her face flushed from all its color and her cheeks were stained with tears. Her eyes rimmed with black from her makeup drooping from the wetness. She stayed close to Taehwan, she was so frightened and in shock that Taehwan had become her figure of comfort in those few moments.

From behind them they heard them men gasp. They became fidgeting; making it obvious to Changmin and Gina that the boys were telling the truth.

When the girl noticed the men she started weeping uncontrollably into Taehwan’s arm. She clutched his arm tightly. Changmin tried to calm her down but she started screaming if anyone approached her.

“It’s okay.” Taehwan spoke softly. He rubbed her shoulders reassuringly. “If you tell this officer what happened those old erts will be punished. No one can hurt you while I’m here.”

Jaemin nearly barfed at Taehwan’s cheesy words; Sangjune cringed for the same reason.

The girl sniffled and nodded; still not letting go of Taehwan’s arm.

“Aww~ Kyeopta! (Cute)” Yongbin grimaced. “It’s just like watching a drama!”

Gina felt pity for the girl but she couldn’t help but chuckle at Yongbin’s remark, and at Jaemin’s and Sangjune’s expressions.

 

The girl confirmed that the men attempted to assault. In the end the charges against the boys were dropped and charges from the girl’s parents were put up on the men. The parents of the girl showed great gratitude towards the boys especially Taehwan.

Jaemin couldn’t help but snicker when the old ahjumma and her son were brought back to the station.

“Alright, let’s get you guys home.” Gina smiled. “I’m proud that you helped that girl” She patted Jaemin on the back and grinned at the rest of the boys. “But please, next time no violence and call the police.” She drawled.

After a few more notes and lectures from Changmin they were finally let out of the station.

Sangjune hopped on his motorcycle, Yongbin slipped on his helmet than slapped one on Sangjune. He then hopped on to Sangjune’s motorcycle and off he sped.

“You guys better be going home!” Gina hollered. Yongbin held his hand up and showed a thumbs up, he yelled something but he was too far away for Gina to hear.

“My ride is here Seonsang-nim, good night.” Youngpyo bowed to Gina and then rushed inside a black car with tinted windows.

Gina looked inside through the station’s windows; Taehwan said he would stay with the girl. “Jaemin?” Gina looked to the lone straggler.

“Yes Seonsang?” Jaemin was looking at the ground.

“Are your parents picking you up?”

Jaemin shook his head.

“Alright, I’ll walk you home.” She turned his body by his shoulder. “Let’s go”

The silence during the walk made Jaemin agitated. He had so many things to say and ask but he couldn’t find the courage to speak.

“Jaemin,” Gina’s voice imitated a zombie. Jaemin furrowed his eyebrows. “Why is your house so far away?” she whined.

Jaemin looked to her legs. She was wobbling in her heels. Why do girls wear heals? He exhaled and ran his finger through his hair. He walked in front of her and leaned forward. “Hop on Seonsang”

Gina gaped. “Thanks Jaemin, but I can’t.”

“Get on, or I’m not going home.” He snarled. “If you can’t even make it to my house how do you expect to make it home?”

Gina bit her lip. The temptation of getting a piggyback ride from Jaemin was overwhelming her. It didn’t help that her feet were on fire and her blisters had probably burst thanks to running earlier. It wouldn’t hurt… just this once. She placed her hand on his shoulder and lifted herself up on his back. Her arms held onto each other along his collar bone.

Jaemin’s heart beat quickly. His face was beet red as he cautiously walked forward not daring to lift his face. Aish! Why am I like this, stupid, it’s not like she’s actually hugging you… As he walked over a bump her arm briefly touched his chin. He flinched at the touch. Why is she so cold? She felt like ice.

“I’m sorry, I must be heavy” Gina squirmed.

Jaemin shook his head. He stopped abruptly and then took a few steps backwards realizing he had just passed his house. Gawd, so embarrassing…

Gina laughed at his cartoon like actions. She then hopped off of him stumbling for a few steps then caught her balance. “Go on in, you must be exhausted.” She motioned to his house.

“Good night… Seonsang” he had almost said noona but he caught himself. He wanted to watch her leave but Gina kept staring at him; waiting for him to go inside before she left.

“Good night Jaemin” she waved.

He reluctantly walked inside his house, and carefully closed the door behind him to hide the sound.

A light ; surprising Jaemin. “What is this bull?!” Jaemin’s mother yelled. “We get called at one in the morning from the police station! Then you come home at four in the morning!” she was screaming at this point and all Jaemin could do was pretend to listen. “I’m tired of always getting called by your school and the police Jaemin! You’re a good for nothing just like your father! Get out! Get out! Out! Out! Out!” she hollered while throwing shoes from the shoe stand at him.

Jaemin took the hits silently. When his mother finally stopped hitting him and she was weeping furiously he opened the front door and walked back outside. He looked back at his mother and he saw she was ready to throw another shoe at him. He quickly closed the door and walked down the steps exiting his house.

His teacher was no longer in sight. Damn it! It’s freezing! He walked along the narrow roads not really knowing where he was going. The morning air brushed against his skin making him shiver. The sun was just moments from rising and he had not slept a wink the entire day. I guess I’ll just go to school. It’ll be time for it soon anyway. He changed paths making his way to his school. Good thing I’m already wearing my uniform.

          “! Noona probably didn’t even get to sleep either.” He growled. Why am I so stupid sometimes he smacked his forehead. The bright sun caught his eye, he squinted at it. I wonder if noona is looking at the sun too…