Ch 82
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 82
I returned to the hotel from school and since I had no schedule, I tried to take a quick nap, but when I opened my eyes, the short hand of the clock on the wall was pointing to 6.
I slept for nearly 3 hours.
It's a bit of a waste of time, but I feel really good since I slept so well and feel refreshed.
This is what vacation is like.
Thinking that Kim Do-hyun's mother might have contacted me, I checked my phone, but there were only a few messages from the kids and no phone calls.
The administrative staff member didn't forget, did they?
Maybe they did contact her, but Do-hyun's mother felt hurt by the offer to help since their situation is difficult and just said no...
It would have been better if I had made the call there myself, but first I need to eat.
I'm too lazy to go out, so I was thinking about ordering room service as I entered the bathroom.
Even if I don't go out, I should at least wash my face and hair.
In the past, I would have just received food, but these days hotel staff seem to recognize me, which makes me somewhat self-conscious.
Of course, it could just be my overactive self-awareness.
I came out of the bathroom and was looking at the room service menu when the phone on the table started vibrating.
It was an unsaved number, so I was about to decline, but thinking it might be Do-hyun's mother, I pressed the call button.
"Hello?"
―Is this Teacher Kang Shin-hyeok's phone?
It's a young woman's voice.
"Yes, that's correct. Who is this?"
―I'm called Yoon Mi-jeong. Today I received a call from the administrative office of the middle school my son attends...
"Ah, you must be Do-hyun's mother. I was actually waiting for your call."
―I heard a brief explanation from the administrative staff, but I don't quite understand why a high school teacher, not a middle school teacher, would suddenly offer to help us...
I can sense she's somewhat wary, but I was expecting this.
It's natural to think it's strange when a high school teacher you've never met suddenly offers to help.
"I heard about it from a junior colleague. Oh, of course my junior isn't the type to go around talking about students' family situations, but it was probably last fall. It was around the time for school trips, so while we were talking, I heard that there was a middle school student who didn't apply for the school trip."
School retreats and trips organized by schools aren't actually mandatory.
Such cases are extremely rare, and most... No, almost all students apply.
If you don't apply, it gets replaced with independent study at school.
But Kim Do-hyun didn't go on retreats or school trips throughout his third year of middle school.
Retreats and school trips are individual expenses.
In the original story's first year, Kim Do-hyun doesn't apply for the retreat either.
Of course, Lee Ji-sung finds out about this and pays the money instead, so he ends up going.
―School trip? I didn't hear about that... Excuse me, do individuals have to pay for school trip costs?
"Yes, that's correct."
She seemed shocked and suddenly went silent.
"...Ma'am?"
―Sorry. It's a bit of a shock...
It seems like more than just a bit...
―When Do-hyun said the school covers everything so nothing was needed, I thought it was a bit strange, but he's not the type of child to lie... Are there more things that individuals have to pay for?
I can hear moisture in her voice, as if she's very hurt.
"Uh... Well, there would be more, but from now on the school will really cover everything, so you don't need to worry. When I made the donation today, I specifically asked them to support those areas."
―Ah, thank you. I heard about it from the administrative staff, and you're truly a wonderful person.
I felt a bit guilty.
I didn't donate out of completely pure goodwill.
"Not at all. Um, I'd like to help you personally, so would it be alright if we could meet once?"
―Personal help, what kind of...?
"Whether it's financial or otherwise, if there's any way I can help you, I'd like to do so."
―I appreciate your words, but wouldn't that be too much trouble...?
I thought she might not easily accept, but it can't be helped.
Emotional appeal ON.
"You might know from seeing me in the media lately, but my family environment wasn't very good when I was young either. Honestly, you could say it was worse than Do-hyun's situation. I was placed in an orphanage when I was young. For about 6-7 years? Do you know about the aptitude test falsification incident that became a big issue?"
―Ah, I think I saw that incident on the news too.
"I'm also one of the victims of that incident. The director of the orphanage I was at reported my aptitude test results as the lowest, so I couldn't even enter Hunter School and graduated from a regular high school. I felt lost and wandered around, but there were people who extended helping hands to me. Without that help back then, there wouldn't be the me of today, so I thought I must help people in difficult situations around me once I could make a decent living."
―It must have been very hard for you...
"So I hope you won't feel burdened. By donating now and helping you and Do-hyun is me repaying the debt I owe to the world."
―Ah, with such circumstances... I understand. Then when should we meet...
Honestly, even as I was saying it, I felt a bit cringy, but well, as long as you reach Seoul, it doesn't matter which way you go.
"I'm fine even today, how about you, ma'am?"
―Today is a bit difficult...
"Then would tomorrow be alright? Which area is your home? Is it perhaps Gyeonggi-do?"
―No. It's Seoul, but our house is a bit...
"I wasn't suggesting to visit your home, but asking because I thought it would be more convenient to meet near your house."
―It's around Junggye-dong.
"Junggye-dong? Wait a moment."
It's a neighborhood I've never heard of, so I searched and found it's a neighborhood in Nowon-gu.
We arranged to meet at a cafe in Junggye-dong at 1 o'clock and hung up.
***
I arrived at the cafe where we agreed to meet.
Perhaps because the cafe is in a somewhat secluded location, there are only 3 students who look like they're our kids' age and one couple, so I should be able to recognize the mother at a glance when she comes.
I went to the counter to place an order and took a seat where I could clearly see the entrance for immediate confirmation.
When I checked the time, I seemed to have hurried too much as there were still more than 15 minutes left until 1 o'clock.
RING! RING!
The bell rang, probably because my order was ready, and I was about to get up when the door opened and someone entered. I hesitated for a moment but headed back to the counter.
The person who entered was a woman, but she didn't look like she was in the mother's age range.
When I returned with my coffee, I saw that the woman who had entered earlier was continuously looking around the store... Our eyes met.
"Excuse me, are you Teacher Kang Shin-hyeok?"
"Huh? Are you perhaps Do-hyun's mother?"
"Yes. I'm Yoon Mi-jeong."
"Ah, you look so young that I never thought you could be his mother."
"Ah... No. I'll also place an order and come back."
She quickly headed toward the counter, and I'm not just saying this to be polite.
From my previous life, I've always been good at guessing people's ages among other things, and even generously estimating, she looks like she's in her early thirties. With a little exaggeration, if someone said she was in her late twenties, most people would probably believe it.
She doesn't seem to be wearing much makeup, which gives her a somewhat modest feeling, but she's quite a beauty.
Well, in the original story, Kim Do-hyun is described as an incredibly handsome flower boy, so it's natural that his mother would be beautiful.
I was taking a sip of coffee when the mother returned.
"Did you wait long? I didn't expect you to come so early, I should have come earlier..."
"Oh no, not at all. There are still more than 10 minutes left until our appointment time. Since this area is new to me, I was worried I might be late so I hurried and came a bit early. It's vacation so I have plenty of time, so it's fine."
"Ah... Yes."
She seemed a bit nervous, so I started the conversation with compliments, saying I heard a lot about Do-hyun from my junior colleague, that his class attitude is good, his grades are excellent, and his relationships with classmates are harmonious.
There's no parent who dislikes hearing praise about their child.
The reaction was quite good, so I could naturally continue the conversation and hear about their situation.
She didn't tell me everything in complete detail, but it wasn't much different from what was in the original story.
"Thank you for trusting me and telling me. Now, if you could comfortably tell me what you need so I can know how to support you."
"Ah... Then I'm really sorry to ask this of someone I'm meeting for the first time, but could you lend me about 200... No, 1 million won? I'll definitely pay it back within three months."
J-just 1 million won?
At first she said 200, then changed it to 100, so the amount she actually needs seems to be 2 million, but whether it's 1 million or 2 million, it's much less than I expected, so I'm a bit deflated.
No wait, in another sense, this means she doesn't even have 1 million won right now... This seems like their situation is much worse than I thought.
"Sorry? I'm the one who offered to help you first. What you actually need is 2 million, right? If you give me your account number, I'll transfer it right away. You don't need to pay it back."
"No. How could I just accept such a large sum? Of course I have to pay it back."
"I told you yesterday. I also grew up in difficult circumstances and received a lot of help, so I'm repaying the debt I owe to society. When you and Do-hyun's situation improves, helping people in difficult situations around you then would be repaying me."
"But..."
"It's really okay. Please give me your account number."
After I urged the mother who was hesitating for a moment once more, she finally gave me the account number and I sent the money through mobile banking.
"I just sent it, so please check."
"I got the notification. Really... Truly, thank you so much."
She bows her head repeatedly with tears welling up in her eyes.
"Not at all."
In the end, she showed tears, so I took out a handkerchief from my breast pocket.
"Here, at least this..."
"Th... Thank you."
If a stranger saw this, they'd think I did something wrong to make her cry, but fortunately she calmed down quickly.
"Actually, yesterday at work they also told me to quit, so I was at a loss about what to do going forward, but I'm so grateful that I couldn't help myself... I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
But if she even lost her job, would just 2 million be enough?
It's not even 2 million per month.
Even if Do-hyun goes to Hunter School, she has a younger child and debts to pay, so it doesn't seem like she'll be able to hold out for long...
"Um, I'll just go to the bathroom for a moment."
"Ah, yes. Go ahead."
RING! RING!
At the vibrating sound, I looked at my phone, but it's not mine, it's the mother's phone.
The sound is quite loud, so I thought I should tell the mother when she comes back, and I was about to flip the phone over when I noticed the name on the screen is a bit strange.
[Bastard]
She didn't seem like the type to use profanity at all, so this is unexpected.
Shortly after, the mother returned and I told her there was a call, but when the mother checked her phone, her expression turned rapidly pale.
"Um, I'm sorry for continuously leaving my seat, but could I take a call for a moment..."
"It's fine. Go ahead."
She hurriedly went outside, and something felt off.
I thought about following her, but that wouldn't be proper, so I waited, and the mother returned sooner than expected.
"Um... Teacher Kang, I'm really sorry, but something urgent came up at home so I think I need to go."
"Ah, then I'll drive you home. I brought my car."
"No. It's not far from here... Thank you so much for today."
She hurried out like someone being chased, and I had a bad feeling, so I left the cafe.
***
I asked Teacher Kang for understanding and went outside to immediately make a call.
―Did our customer eat tiger liver or something these past few days? You're ignoring all the calls. Your guts have really swollen up properly.
"It's not that I didn't answer on purpose..."
―We don't need excuses like that, and we'll arrive in 5 minutes, so let's talk face to face.
Right now only Yeon-ji would be at home, absolutely not.
"I'm not at home right now. I... I'll give you the money. I'll send it right now, so please don't come looking."
―That repertoire again? It's tiresome. We'd be idiots if we fell for it again.
"No. I can really send it right now."
―Oh, you really have it? You must have borrowed it from somewhere. Good, how much are you going to send?
"I'll send 1 million won."
―1 million? Who are you telling to stick that money on their nose? That doesn't even cover the overdue interest.
"Then... Then I'll send 1.5 million."
―It bounced once and now it goes up by 500,000? Our customer always says she has no money, but this won't do. Customer, let's meet and talk.