Meeting in Reality
Haa. I just can't make sense of it. A sudden parent consultation out of nowhere? Did she somehow catch on?
I couldn't shake the unease the entire way to work. There wasn't a scrap of physical evidence, so the odds of her coming after me for real weren't all that high. Still, the anxiety sat heavy in my chest. That crazy woman was impossible to predict. Even if everything had only happened in a dream, the chance she might try to get even with the real me wasn't zero.
I pulled into the kindergarten parking lot, hurried inside, and knocked on the director's door.
—Knock knock knock
"Director. It's me. Juhyeok."
—Ah, yes. Come right in, Teacher Kang.
I opened the door and was greeted by that grotesque face plastered in Botox and makeup. The director offered only a brief nod of greeting before diving straight into business.
"Mrs. Han will be here around nine. As I mentioned earlier, she says she wants to discuss Lia's lessons, so take good care of her, Teacher Kang. I've cleared your entire schedule for the day as an off-site appointment."
"What? Off-site? So this isn't an in-house consultation—we're going somewhere outside?"
"That's how it worked out. Probably a nearby restaurant or café. So don't even think about inventing some class excuse and running off. You know Mrs. Han's personality. Conduct yourself properly."
"...Haa. Of course."
"Anyway, get the lesson materials ready ahead of time. I'm counting on you, Teacher Kang. Hang in there."
"...Understood. I'll go prepare, then."
I bowed my head and slipped out of the director's office with zero strength left in my legs. Was this what a calf felt like being led to the slaughterhouse? My feet barely wanted to move. For now I decided to follow the director's orders and start organizing the materials. My hands were already trembling from the tension.
Time flew, and before I knew it nine o'clock had arrived. She showed up at the kindergarten entrance right on the dot. A high-end German sedan glided to a smooth stop. An elegant beauty stepped out from the rear seat. A man who looked like her attendant quickly took up position at her side.
She was dressed far more provocatively than usual. A black tube-top dress that left her bare shoulders exposed, the hem so short her dizzying thighs were on full display. At the appearance of that queen, the director scurried over and poured on the flattery. Han Gyeowool accepted the greeting with lukewarm politeness, then turned her gaze toward me. She clicked closer on her towering heels, one measured step at a time.
—Gulp
My whole body locked up stiff, as if I were facing a lioness. Whether it was my imagination or not, the aura rolling off her felt far sharper and more intense than anything I'd seen in the dream. She came right up to my face, leaned in, and locked eyes with me. Guilt pricked at me and I hurriedly dropped my head.
"A-ah, good morning, Lia's mother. Have you been well?"
When I offered my usual deep bow, a strange light flickered in her eyes. Han Gyeowool studied me from every angle, as if carefully observing my reaction. At last her lips moved.
"I've been fine. Teacher Kang, your complexion looks rather poor today."
"A-ahaha. No way. I'm in excellent condition today."
"Is that so? Then why are you breaking out in cold sweat?"
"W-well, I wonder? M-maybe the weather's a bit hot? Ugh. Now that you mention it, it does feel a little warm."
As I kept stumbling over my words, her eyes narrowed even further. But with nothing solid to press me on, she eventually withdrew that piercing stare.
"Hmm. We'll let that slide. You heard, I assume? I booked a consultation for today."
"Ah, yes. Of course. The director specifically told me to take excellent care of you."
"Hmph. That bootlicking of his. Anyway, I'm going to stop by the director's office first. Wait here a moment, Teacher Kang."
She didn't even wait for my reply before heading straight for the director's office. The old director hag and the attendant trailed after her like ducklings. I let out a long breath of relief and looked up at the sky. Dark cumulonimbus clouds blanketed everything. For some reason, it felt like a downpour was coming today.
"Pfft! Kang-ssaem! I heard you're going on a date with Mrs. Han today?"
In the teachers' lounge, Teacher Ju came bouncing over to where I was slumped across the desk. The cute-faced woman who co-taught French with me. She jabbed me in the side, teasing. Of course, to someone whose mood was already foul, she was far from a welcome guest.
"Haa. Don't talk to me. I'm not in a good mood right now."
"Pfft pfft! You're gonna go get worked over and come back wrecked, huh? That's what you get for not staying on her good side. How badly did you get on her radar for her to single you out like that?"
"...Worry about yourself, Ju-ssaem. Last time I took the hit for the mess you made. I almost spilled everything and only barely held back."
"Ack! Eeeing! Why are you suddenly poking at a lady's secrets like that!"
She put on a cute act, trying to coyly brush it off. I glared at Teacher Ju and left a short warning.
"Don't think you're getting off that easy. I still remember you promised to buy me beef."
"Tch! You've got a good memory!"
"Throw in drinks with the beef and I might completely wipe the slate clean."
"Oh-ho? That's straight-up robbery! Kang-ssaem! Do you want to go on a date with me that badly? Hmm? If that's the case, just say so honestly!"
"Haa. You're not my type, Ju-ssaem. I care more about the body than the face."
"What?! What's wrong with my body? Have you seen it? Have you?!"
She kept jabbing my side, apparently determined to chase away my gloomy mood. Teacher Ju was famous for being a little gremlin even on ordinary days, so I just went along with the teasing.
But right then—
The lounge door suddenly burst open, and a familiar face appeared. Arms crossed, Han Gyeowool looked at me and Teacher Ju with half-lidded eyes. A distinctly chilly voice issued a command.
"Teacher Kang. Aren't you ready yet?"
"Yes! All set! Shall we go right away, ma'am!"
I scrambled to gather my things and shot up from my seat. She fixed me with a sharp glare—but for some reason that gaze also landed on Teacher Ju beside me. No. The killing intent aimed at her was different from what she directed at me. Under that inexplicable stare, Teacher Ju shrank dramatically. I found myself wondering about Han Gyeowool's behavior. She hadn't particularly disliked Teacher Ju before. Why was she staring daggers like that?
What is this? Did Teacher Ju mess something up?
But before I could find an answer, Han Gyeowool started walking. I shot Teacher Ju a quick look of sympathy, then fell in right behind her. Something about this felt off.
Inside the high-end German sedan. She and I sat facing each other on seats as luxurious as a limousine's. She crossed her legs with aristocratic indifference, not caring in the least that her bare legs were on display. I somehow managed to pin my gaze—which kept drifting that way—onto empty air. Han Gyeowool glanced at me several times before finally speaking. The question, however, was rather out of left field.
"Teacher Kang. Are you dating someone at work?"
"...What? Dating at work?"
"Yes. That female teacher earlier. You two looked quite close."
She meant Teacher Ju. I hurriedly waved my hands in denial.
"H-haha. No, ma'am. You've got the wrong idea. We're just a bit friendly, that's all. Absolutely nothing like that."
"...Is that so? Then do you have a girlfriend elsewhere?"
"No, no. Really, I don't. Right now I'm focused only on work."
"...Hmm. Unexpected. I assumed you would. Shouldn't a young man have at least one girlfriend?"
Yet contrary to her words, a flicker of what looked like relief crossed her face. The moment I saw it, a wild possibility flashed through my mind.
Wait... a woman... is she actually jealous? Did she think I was dating Teacher Ju?
No. No way. That couldn't be. The great Han Gyeowool, jealous? That was simply impossible. No matter how much heated lust we'd shared, that had only been a dream. The idea that she would develop real feelings for me over something so small was a hypothesis I simply couldn't accept.
"......"
But the more I turned it over, the more no other explanation presented itself. If not that, why ask a question like this out of nowhere? She wasn't the type who usually pried into things like that.
...Nah. Must be my imagination. Just a mood thing. Han Gyeowool isn't some adolescent girl.
I shook off the thought and casually looked her way—only to see her cheeks flush a soft pink. Then she whipped her head aside, avoiding my eyes. Even her lips were slightly pouted. The reaction was far too clear.
...Holy shit. Is this real? Is she actually... seeing me as a man?
I couldn't believe it, so I secretly opened the app while she wasn't looking. As of yesterday her Affection had been a mere 1%. Even after all the sucking and licking in the dream, no real emotion had taken root. But what on earth was this? The number that floated onto the screen was completely different from yesterday. The moment I saw it, my eyes flew wide open.
• Respect : -17%
• Fear : 2%
• Obedience : 6%
• Affection : 8%
...It went up?
Affection 8%. Maybe not a particularly meaningful number on its own. But right now the size of the number didn't matter.
Han Gyeowool... this viper of a woman... actually developed feelings for me?
In the heart that had always been a sheet of ice, a single flower had bloomed in the middle of that snowfield. A bright wildflower named Affection. It was nothing short of a miracle. At the same time, a hot craving flared up inside me.
Yeah. Why shouldn't it be possible in reality too? Han Gyeowool is still human in the end. A person who feels loneliness just like anyone else.
If it was possible in a dream, why not in reality? After all, her emotions were shared between dream and waking life alike. I looked at her luscious body and swallowed hard. Could I really lay that incredible woman beneath me? Could I truly train her into my own woman?
—Nod
An inexplicable confidence surged up. She would become my woman. I swore it to myself and burned with fierce resolve. She had no idea what was coming.