Apocalypse's Teacher - Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Welcoming the New Year (2)

***

Tick-tock.

The clock hands move.

Just sixty more ticks of the second hand, and the year will be over.

The sixth year of the apocalypse will begin.

The surroundings were lively with mild drunkenness.

Hyesung, drowsy, was nestled in my arms, while Mr. Park was chuckling and chatting beside me.

I should be used to it by now, but at moments like this, I still feel awkward.

The fact that I’m no longer alone seems strangely surreal.

“10 seconds!”

Dabin shouted.

Our gazes turned to the clock on the table.

T h i s w as c op ie d fr o m k i ng m t l . o r g
Less than ten seconds remained until the New Year.

Mr. Park laughed loudly.

“8 seconds-!”

Helen shouted.

“Seven-!”

Next, Dayoon counted timidly, Jinwoo counted brightly, and the old man counted benevolently.

It was Ki-hyun’s turn.

Startled, Ki-hyun counted nervously.

“Four-!”

Finally, it was my turn.

Patting Hyesung, I called out.

“Two-.”

Hyesung blinked.
T hi s wa s co p i ed f r o m k i n g mt l . o r g

Looking at me with sleepy eyes, she smiled brightly and said.

“One!”

Tick-tock.

With Hyesung’s shout, the year changed.

Following her lead, I smiled brightly and said.

“Happy New Year.”

“Yes!”

There were no loud bells.

No fancy lights, no delicious food, no excited reporters or award ceremonies.

But we had family.

In the fifth year of the apocalypse, we had become a family and welcomed the next year together.

“Hyesung is seven now?”

“Yes! Hyesung is seven!”

“And Dabin and Dayoon?”

“Twelve!”

“Jinwoo is now fifteen? Ki-hyun is sixteen.”

The kids nodded.

I smiled softly, looking at each of them.

‘Hyesung will start elementary school next year.’

The twins might begin serious studies now.

Jinwoo was in the midst of his tumultuous middle school years, and Ki-hyun would prepare for high school.

Ah, memories of the past surfaced.

Parents who were obsessed with getting their kids into good high schools had already started preparing for entrance exams.

Seeing Ki-hyun stressed and tired from exams would be quite amusing.

A chuckle escaped me.

Maybe it was the alcohol, but I found myself imagining a peaceful future that would never come to pass.

Feeling a bit excited, I spoke up.

“Everyone did well this past year.”

T his was c op i e d f ro m k i n g m tl . o r g
Tap.

Tap.

I said this while patting Hyesung’s back.

Perhaps staying up this late was too much for her, as she was already snoring softly.

“You’ve all done very well. Thank you for hanging in there and enduring.”

Jinwoo smiled.

Ki-hyun let out a deep sigh.

“You seem drunk. Go to bed.”

“Really? Do I?”

Listening to her, I did feel a bit tipsy.

I usually didn’t get drunk this easily, but since I hadn’t been drinking much lately, it seemed my tolerance had decreased.

“Well… it’s a shame.”

As I smacked my lips and spoke, Mr. Park tapped my shoulder.

Turning to look at him, I saw him pulling out a new bottle of alcohol with a drunken face.

“Since it’s the New Year, we need one more drink, right?”

“But we already drank.”

“That was the New Year’s Eve drink. This is the New Year’s drink.”

“Oh.”

He had a point.

I immediately held out my glass to receive the New Year’s drink from Mr. Park.

I thought I heard a sigh from somewhere, but it must have been my imagination.

After filling my glass and Mr. Park’s, Helen approached.

“Pour me a drink too!”

“Huh? Were you drinking too, Helen?”

“Yes!”

Helen held out her glass.

Her cheerful face showed she was quite excited.

Mr. Park happily filled Helen’s glass.

“Old man! Aren’t you going to drink?”

“No, thanks. Bring the child over here. I’ll lay her down in the room.”

“Oh, okay.”

The old man took Hyesung and went to the room.

The twins, looking sleepy, also headed to the bedroom, leaving only me, Mr. Park, and Helen in the living room for the drinking session.

And Jinwoo and Ki-hyun, who were snacking.

“Raise your glasses!”

Mr. Park stood up, sounding like an old man.

Helen and I stood up and raised our glasses high, just like Mr. Park.

“Cheers-!”
T h i s w as c o p ie d f ro m k in g mtl . o r g

Clink-!

The glasses clinked.

The alcohol went down.

…That’s as far as my memory goes.
T his w a s co p i e d f r o m ki n gm t l . or g

***

There are times in life when you face crises.

For example, involving women, women, and more women.

The kind of crisis that comes when alcohol, night, and women are involved.

Late in the morning, I was sweating cold as I looked at the scene before me.

‘…Why?’

Why was I sleeping in the same bed as Helen?

Why were we both undressed?

No, why were we hugging?

I pondered deeply.

I tried to recall last night’s events, but no answers came to mind.

‘I don’t know!’

I didn’t know.

I had no memory of what happened last night.

I remembered starting to drink with Mr. Park and Helen, but nothing else.

‘Am I… wearing underwear?’

I checked.

Thankfully, I was.

But I couldn’t let my guard down.

I might have put them on while half-asleep after the deed.

The blanket covered us up to our necks.

I had a strong feeling that lifting it would reveal something I shouldn’t see.

‘Someone…!’

Someone, please tell me what happened last night!

I wished for it desperately, but the only one who might know was currently asleep in my arms.

Did I screw up?

Was I about to gain a ‘girlfriend’ just like that?

Was that really happening?

Cold sweat trickled down.

My head spun, and I felt nauseous.

T h is w a s c o p i e d f r o m ki n g m t l. o rg
I couldn’t tell if it was from the hangover or the crisis I was facing.

Rustle-.
T hi s was c o p i ed fr o m k in g m tl. or g

While I was still deep in thought, Helen stirred.

My body froze, and I held my breath.

My eyes rolled over to Helen.

“Mmm….”

Helen slowly opened her eyes.

Her dazed eyes blinked blankly before they finally focused on me.

The bed fell silent.

I held my breath, my face tense with anxiety, as Helen smiled bashfully.

“Good morning.”

Her breath smelled of alcohol.

Feeling like crying, I asked.
T h i s wa s c o p ied f r o m ki n g mtl .o r g

“Um, why are we like this…?”

Please, no.

Please tell me it’s not what it seems.

Please tell me we were too drunk and accidentally fell asleep like this.

Yes, the reason we’re undressed is that Helen sleeps that way.

Countless hopeful thoughts flashed through my mind.

Praying fervently, I waited for her answer.
Thi s wa s c op i e d fro m k i ng m tl. o r g

“Seokho, you were amazing.”

Helen blushed.

I closed my eyes tightly.

‘Damn it!’

I was screwed.

***

Lee Seokho, age 34, former middle school teacher and current leader of the penthouse.

After 34 long years of suffering and humiliation, I lost my virginity.

…In a moment I couldn’t even remember.

I curled up under the blanket and cried.

‘Why!’

Why did this happen?

What did I want to do while drunk?

‘If you’re going to do it, do it sober!’

If I remembered, I wouldn’t feel so wronged.

I could accept the situation with humility.

But just look at this.

I had no memory of the previous night, and the only person who remembered told me I was ‘amazing.’

And she even blushed.

It was clear we had done it, and I had to take responsibility, but I felt utterly wronged because I had no memory of it.

“Sniff…!”

Ah, farewell to my innocent youth.

Even in this world, I had kept my chastity, but now it was gone.

While trembling, Helen, who had gotten dressed, patted my shoulder.

“Seokho?”

Gasp-.

I flinched.

I turned my creaky neck to look at Helen.

“Huh…?”

Helen spoke nonchalantly.

“Let’s go eat. Seokho, get up.”

I squinted at Helen’s face.

She seemed unbothered, but if I looked closely, there was a hint of redness.

As I stared intently at her, her eyes darted nervously.

But even that looked only slightly awkward.

‘Ah, she’s fine?’

Was this the confidence of someone experienced?

Was I the only one shaking after losing my chastity?

It felt as if our roles were reversed.

An inexplicable emotion washed over me.

My stomach churned, though I couldn’t tell if it was from the hangover or my feelings.

As I trembled, Helen cleared her throat to catch my attention.

“Seokho.”

“Uh, yes…!”

Helen and I locked eyes.

After rolling her eyes for a moment, Helen gathered her courage and spoke.

“Next time, for sure…!”

She clenched her fist.

‘Next… next time?’

A question arose within me.

Helen looked at me for a moment before dropping her red face and raising one hand.

Her index finger extended from her fist.

The straight finger slowly bent.

“…Just a little drink.”
Thi s w as c opi ed f r o m ki ngmt l.or g

“Oh.”

My body shivered.

A strange mix of relief and disappointment filled me.

I wasn’t stupid enough not to understand the meaning of that gesture.

‘I survived!’

I was saved by drunkenness!

We hadn’t done it!

As a smile spread across my face, Helen quickly left the bedroom.

Filling my entire body with strength, I shouted inwardly.

‘Thank you, whiskey!’

Your high proof saved me!

Fireworks of joy exploded in my mind.

It was only when the day was almost over that I recalled Helen’s words, “Next time, for sure.”

End of Chapter