Apocalypse's Teacher - Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Cultural Activities Enrich Life

***

“A projector?”

In the penthouse living room, I looked at Mr. Park with a blank face.

Mr. Park, grinning ear to ear, nodded enthusiastically.

“Yeah, a projector.”

Tap tap.

Mr. Park tapped the chubby projector with his hand and continued.

“A guest brought this over. After tinkering with it a bit, it worked.”

“Is this why you came in such a hurry?”

“Do I need another reason?”

Mr. Park tilted his head.

I finally let out a breath of relief.

“I thought there was a war or something.”

Honestly, seeing him rush over on a non-class day, I thought something major had happened.

But realizing it was just a projector made me feel a sudden wave of relief.

Mr. Park clicked his tongue and said to me.

“Don’t you get it? It’s a projector. Isn’t that amazing?”

“Why? Does it have something important stored in it?”

Mr. Park’s mouth fell open.

Confusion filled my face.

Mr. Park looked at me and said.

“…I mean, we can watch movies!”

A brief silence.

Then, I reacted even more intensely than Mr. Park and shouted.

***

Movies.

A visual medium that consumes about two hours.

The most universal medium of modern cultural life.

And a medium that became unwatchable after the apocalypse.

“Is everyone here?”

At Mr. Park’s question, the kids and I nodded.

Mr. Park smiled and finished connecting the battery and the projector.

He even hooked up a DVD player.

“What are we watching?”

I asked with a face full of anticipation.

It couldn’t be helped.

T hi s w a s c o pi e d f r om k i ng m t l . o r g
‘It’s been so long.’

How long had it been since I enjoyed the benefits of civilization?

How long since I savored culture?

T h i s w a s c o pi e d f ro m k i n g mt l. o r g
None other than a movie.

None other than a visual medium.

Seeing a moving picture on a screen was enough to fill me with emotion and anticipation after so long.

Mr. Park jingled the DVD.

“Master of Wing Chun.”

“Oh…!”

An action movie.

Good.

It was a classic of its time that any boy who lived through the 21st century must have seen at least once.

“That one was really fun.”

“I found just one copy when rummaging through the DVD room.”

“Tsk- the second part is really the best though.”

“Indeed.”

As we chatted away, Mr. Park brought out a bottle of whiskey.

“Movies go with alcohol.”

“How romantic.”

I laughed as I accepted the drink.

The only one among the gathered kids who didn’t know what a movie was, Hyesung, asked with a blank face.

“What’s a movie?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s like a book made into a video.”

“Uh?”

I suddenly found myself at a loss for words.

I had no idea how to explain a movie to Hyesung.

After pondering for a moment, I awkwardly patted Hyesung’s head and said.

T hi s w a s c op i e d f r om k i n g m t l . o r g
“You’ll understand when you see it. It’s fun.”

“Fun…!”

Hyesung’s eyes sparkled.

She stared at the clattering projector.

The projector beamed light.

It projected an image onto one wall.

“Ooh…!”

Hyesung let out an exclamation.

Mr. Park, the old man, Helen, and I watched the screen with nostalgic expressions.

[Master of Wing Chun.]
T h i s w a s c o p i ed f rom ki ngm t l .or g

The title filled the screen, followed by scenes from when civilization still existed.

Hyesung’s mouth fell open in amazement.

***

After the movie ended, Mr. Park left.

He really only came to watch the movie and disappeared without looking back.

‘He must really like movies.’

Even someone who hates doing things with others has a side like that.

Such thoughts briefly came and went.
T hi s w a s c o p ie d fr o m k i n g m t l .o r g

“Hi-yah! Ha!”

A childish shout came from somewhere.

I turned my head to see Hyesung immersed in Wing Chun.

“Hiyah!”

Hyesung was sweating profusely.

Her eyes were filled with passion and determination.

She had been wiggling in her seat throughout the movie, and now she was like this.

I chuckled as I watched her for a while.

Then.

“Hya!”

Hyesung suddenly turned to me and took a Wing Chun stance.

Blinking in surprise, I saw Hyesung furrow her brow and shout again.

“Hya!”

“Oh.”

She wanted to play.

Realizing it late, I got up.

‘Kids are hard to figure out.’
Th i s w a s co p i ed f r o m k i n gm t l. o r g

Was the movie that shocking?

Judging by her actions, Hyesung would probably be obsessed with this game for the next few weeks.

“Hoi~.”

I took a Mantis Kung Fu stance, which was used by the villain in the movie.

Hyesung swallowed nervously.

“Haaa…!”

Hyesung cautiously approached.
T h i s w as co p ied f ro m k i n gmtl. o r g

She made a small fist and tapped my knee.

“Ugh~.”

Pretending to fall dramatically, I closed my eyes, and Hyesung’s cheeks turned bright red.

“Master is amazing!”

Her shout, full of respect for the actor, echoed as she looked into the air.

I continued to play dead, stifling my laughter.

It was an action to allow Hyesung to revel in victory a bit longer.

As I diligently pretended to be dead, letting Hyesung bask in her triumph, she suddenly patted my shoulder.

“Hyesung is hungry!”

All that moving around must’ve made her hungry.

Should I get up right away?

I was about to open my eyes when a mischievous idea stopped me.

‘…Wait.’

I was curious about how Hyesung would react if I kept pretending to be dead.

Several reactions crossed my mind.

-Hyesung, too powerful…!

She might revel in her own strength.

-This is a seal…!

She might shake her head, believing she needed to seal her overwhelming power.

-Mister is weak…!

She might find the huge gap in our strength boring.

Whatever the reaction, it would be cute and delightful.

Determined to see it through, I closed my eyes tightly and continued to pretend to be dead.

“Mister?”

Hyesung shook me.

“Hyesung is hungry!”

Pat pat! She tapped my shoulder.

“Hyesung wants to eat!”

She grunted, trying to lift me.

Excitedly awaiting the outcome, I continued to play dead when Hyesung gave an unexpected reaction.

“Mister…?”

Hyesung’s voice began to quiver with tears.

‘Huh?’

I squinted to see her face.

…Her eyes were brimming with tears.

I jumped up.

“Tada! Mister is up!”

I raised my arms and shouted.

Cold sweat ran down my back.

‘I didn’t expect her to cry.’

Who would’ve thought she’d react so well?

“Huh…?”

Hyesung’s head shot up.

She looked at me with a blank, tear-streaked face.

“Hiccup….”

She started to hiccup.

I realized immediately.

‘Stage three.’

It was stage three crying that wouldn’t stop for at least two hours.

A chilling silence.

In that stillness, my arms reached out.

I lifted Hyesung and spun around the living room.

“Peek-a-boo! Mister just fainted because you’re so strong!”

Hugging her tightly, I said that, and Hyesung finally relaxed and sniffled.

That settled one thing.

I prevented stage three!

…Or so I thought too soon.

“Waaah!!!”

“H-Huh? Hyesung? Mister didn’t die? Mister is alive?”

T h is wa s c o p ie d f ro m k i n g mtl. o r g
I tried to calm her, but it was futile.

Hyesung clung to my neck and cried even harder, while the old man clicked his tongue from afar.

“A grown man doing such foolish things.”

…I had nothing to say.

***

Late at night, after finally calming Hyesung and finishing dinner, I lay down, exhausted, and sighed.

‘…Never again.’

Hyesung seemed bright but was sensitive to such pranks.

My body trembled.

-Are you an idiot?

-Did you swallow your age through your butt?

-Seokho, idiot.

The scornful looks and insults from before resurfaced in my mind and then faded.

Suddenly.

“Mister.”

Hyesung poked my waist.

I turned my head to her.

“Hmm?”

Hyesung, looking innocent as if she hadn’t cried earlier, stared at me with bright eyes.

“Aren’t you sleepy?”

“Not sleepy!”

You’d think she’d be tired after playing so much, but she was full of energy.

I chuckled and patted her back.

“It’s already eleven. You should sleep.”

“Hyesung is a child of the night!”

“Where did you learn that?”

“Grandpa!”

I didn’t know what that man was teaching her.

I shook my head at the ridiculous answer and then asked.

“Did you have fun today, Hyesung?”

“Yes! Master is amazing!”

“Looks like you enjoyed the movie.”

“Yes!”

Hyesung wriggled.

“So many people!”

T hi s wa s c op i ed f ro m k i ng m t l . or g
Stop.

My hand froze as I patted her back.

“…Really?”

“So many people… and outside was so clean…!”

Counting on her fingers as she spoke in awe made me feel a pang of sadness.

As I pondered, I came to a conclusion.

‘Maybe….’

It was probably because these were things Hyesung would never see in the world she’d grow up in, making me feel guilty for instilling such fantasies in her.

I patted Hyesung’s back again.

T h i s wa s c o p i e d f rom k i ng m tl .o rg
After chatting excitedly for a while, Hyesung’s voice gradually faded.

“So many….”

“Yes.”

Hyesung’s eyes slowly closed.

I watched her sleep, feeling indescribable emotions, and finally spoke.

“Goodnight.”

End of Chapter