Path of Silence: Silent Minority

“Teacher! Teacher! What happened to the giant in the end?!”

“Yea yea! We wanna know!”

“Did he die?”

“Noooo! He can't die! He's a GIANT!”

“Let us know! Let us know! Let us know nooow!”

“Now now, remember what I said about shouting? Fingers on your lips while I tell you, ” you sigh and smile at them. Fingers raised to their lips, you continue, “This is the end of this volume, so Teacher will have to go and find the next one. There may be a chance that it will take some time, but I trust that you all will be good kids that will wait patiently right?”

“What?? Nooo!”

“That means there’s a chance we won't know what happens if you can't find the book?”

Sniffs and cries begin to fill the small room, and multiple eyes start to become watery.

“My lovely little kids, hear me out,” you say calmly. “There's a lovely big sister at the library which I am very close with, and she helps me to find all sorts of books for you adorable kids. So will you give your trust to that lovely big sis?”

You're returned with hesitant nods.

“Why don't you all come with me and wash your faces and snot? We can't let your Mommies and Daddies see your sad faces right?” you say, coaxing them towards the hand washing basins.

When the bell rings, you bring the kids outside with refreshed but slightly swollen faces, releasing them towards their parents one by one. You give small smiles and nods as you watch them run towards their parents with open arms.

The playful chaos soon dies down and only one child remains. She tugs the fabric of your trousers with her small, delicate hand.

“Teacher, you promise you will find the book?” she looks at you with cute pouty eyes. “I promise I will wait patiently. Please tell big sister to find it…”

You crouch down and ruffle her hair.

“I promise.”

“Haein-ah, we're here!” A pair of voices shouts.

“You have a name that means brightness, Haein, so don't keep crying okay?” you say, rubbing her cheeks. “Now go to your parents.” You turn the little girl and nudge her towards the two waving figures.

“Sorry we're late, Teacher. Thanks for waiting!” They offer their thanks before turning to head off with their child. You turn around to face the internal mess of the classroom they made and sigh. Got to get it cleaned.

You wipe your hands on your trousers that's still sticky from glue and paint and breathe in the sudden quiet of the empty classroom.

It’s only been thirty seconds, but it already feels like breathing again. Once done, you're off to the same place.

The library.

The sky has already turned into a bruised purple of late evening. Many stores have shuttered, if not are cleaning up despite still thirty minutes away from closing — and as a part-time restaurant service staff in the past, you know how shitty it is to receive a customer five minutes before closing time. So dinner is a quick convenience-store kimbap and iced americano at the standing counter, because sitting down means you share a seat with noisy university students.

You're tired from the noise at work.

You want quiet.

And you want to see her.

The small supermarket near the subway station is still open. You duck inside on impulse and head straight for the drinks aisle. The chocolate milk is on the second shelf from the bottom — her favorite brand, the one with the little cartoon cow on the carton. You grab two bottles, cold enough that condensation immediately fogs your fingers, and pay without thinking too hard about why your heart is beating a little faster.

The walk to the library takes fifteen minutes. The streetlights are just flickering on, and the air has cooled enough that the back of your neck finally stops prickling from the day’s overwhelming hustling. When you reach the glass doors of the special-collections branch, the “OPEN” sign is still lit, but the place looks nearly deserted. Only a few reading lamps glow in the far corners.

You push the door open. The familiar welcoming hush greets you like an old friend, and the smell of yellowed and fresh books mixed wafts into your nose. And then you see her.

Gaeul is at the returns cart near the back, sliding books onto the reshelving trolley one by one. As usual, she’s dressed in a sleek black halter-neck dress with crisp white collar accents, the fabric hugging her frame just enough to look effortlessly sharp yet professional. Long, dark hair falls straight past her shoulders, framing a pair of thin, dark-rimmed glasses perched on her nose. The overall look is quietly commanding, elegant and composed, but under the warm light she looks softer than usual, almost tired. When she glances up and spots you her whole face changes.

“You’re late,” she says. It's small and surprised, but you sense that she's quietly pleased.

“Cleanup took longer than expected, and a few parents were late,” you answer just as quietly, walking toward her. “And, I had to make a detour.”

You hold up the small plastic bag. The chocolate milk bottles clink gently against each other.

Her eyes flick to the bag, then back to your face. Something softens around her mouth as she raises her fingers to gasp.

“Is that…?”

“Your favorite. Figured you might need it after a long shift.”

She sets the last book down carefully, like it matters, then steps closer. Her fingers brush yours when she takes the bag.

“Thank you,” she says, and it’s so sincere it almost aches. “You didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to.”

She chuckles and one out, twisting the cap before tipping the bottle into her mouth.

“Kyaaa~ It’s still cold!” she exclaims softly, delighted, then quickly covers her mouth like she surprised herself. She looks into the bag and gives you a pout of gratitude. “You even put some dry ice in to keep it cool…”

“Milk tastes the best when it's cold,” you smile. “And why are you drinking it like you're drinking soju…”

“Because chocolate milk to me is like soju!” she giggles softly. “Oh! Give me a while, I have some things to pass to you as well.”

Gaeul turns and pushes the book cart off, leaving you in the comfortable silence. You walk towards the returns counter and set your tote bag down, the one that's heavy with 43 different storybooks. You’re a Diamond ranked borrower of the library by now, courtesy of the chaotic bundle of happiness at the kindergarten you work at.

You slot the first book in.

ding

You slot the second, third and fourth.

ding

ding