I awake in bed, covered in sweat. Bleary eyed I look to my left and read the time, Six in the morning. Alright, getting out of bed I head into the shower.
After thirty minutes, I'm fully clean and nearly fully conscience. I look into the mirror, meeting a face that isn't mine. My hands and fingers poke, prod, and pinch my face. This is truly real, not something I had dreamed up. I rinse my face and leave the bathroom.
The sun is just now rising as seen through the rays in the curtain. I head on over to the counter and start a pot of coffee. As I'm waiting for it to finish, Ryung and Hana exit out of the bedroom. They sit at the table and lay their heads upon it.
"You also waiting for the coffee?"
"Yes." they both say in unison.
I lightly chuckle to myself. Five minutes go by in silence before the coffee gets done. I grab three mugs, fill all of them, and set them at the table. It didn't seem we were rich enough to buy sugar or powdered creamer.
Drinking our black coffees in the soft light, I enjoy 'my' siblings company.
When we're all done, the clock read seven ten meaning we had two hours before school started. To try and get to know them better, I strike up a conversation, "What all are you learning in school?"
"I'm learning how to multiply and divide and social studies." Ryung states enthusiastically.
Hana sighs before saying, "I'm learning pre-algebra and not really getting it. Teacher doesn't really explain any of it. Could you help me sometime?"
"Sure, I'll help if you need."
And with that the conversation was done. We waited in another silence till it was time for us to go. I made them both lunch, We all put our uniforms on, and finally we left for School.
They headed in the opposite direction of the Highschool so we didn't get to talk more. I will say, that even though I've only known them for a morning, they're really enjoyable to be around. Is that because I actually like them or need a substitute for my family? It's probably the latter.
It's while I'm lost in these thoughts that I arrive at school. Taking my shoes off, putting them into the cubby, and then putting on my slippers, I begins my first day of Highschool in Korea(?).
After ten minutes of wandering I make it to my homeroom. The handsome teacher is at his desk in the back, grading papers. I put my stuff down at the farthest back desk and then head over towards him.
He looks up from his grading and leans back in his chair, "How can I help you, Choehabu?"
"Um sir, I don't remember anything."
He leans forward now, slightly concerned, "Please define what you mean by 'I don't remember anything.' ?"
"Well sir, I hit my head really hard yesterday and don't remember anything. I don't know the school's schedule, I don't know my classes, Hell I've even forgotten how to read and write!"
Hearing this, Teacher gets lost in thought. For a minute silence reigns in the classroom before he speaks, "Would you like assistance with relearning how to read and write?"
I smile and fervently nod my head, "Yes please sir, thank you so much."
He puts his hand forward, "As you've likely forgotten my name too, I'm Mr. Han your homeroom teacher, pleasure to remake your acquaintance."
I shake his hand, "The pleasure's all mine, Mr. Han."
"For our first lesson, I'll teach you the basic phonetics for the first week. After that... we'll cross that bridge when we get there."
For the next thirty minutes before class, I learned the Korean phonetics. Mr. Han stopped the lesson when the first students were entering. Within two minutes all of the desks were taken up. Three minutes later the bell rang and Mr. Han went to the Teacher's Podium at the front of the class.
He went into rollcall. After sixteen other students, he calls, "Choehabu, please come to the front of the class."
My classmates seem confused as to why I was called up and start to whisper to each other. When I get to the front of the class, Mr. Han calls for silence, causing the students to become silent.
"You're all curious as to why I called up Choehabu, something I don't usually do with any of you. The reason is because Choehabu has amnesia that has wiped out nearly to all of his memories, resulting in a lack of knowledge about the world, and even our language past speaking it. I ask all of you to please help him through this troubling time in his life." he then looks towards me, "You are dismissed, head back to you seat."
I do as he asks and head towards to my seat. My classmates are very intrigued by my sudden 'amnesia' and for the rest of the class and our lesson, try to get answers from me. I tray and keep the details to a minimum, don't want anyone finding out that I'm not actually Choehabu.
The bell rings signaling the class's end. Everyone grabs their stuff and heads out into the hall to their next period. I follow after them before getting called after by Mr. Han "Choehabu, you're going outside, just follow the rest of your classmates. Oh, and do tell the practical Martial Arts instructor that you don't remember anything, that way he doesn't dig into you more than he usually does."
"Yeah, thank your Mr. Han." I call out from the halls and continue on walking. Wait, did he say practical Martial Arts!?