Chapter 24
Chapter 24
“I heard you were kicked out and sent here because you’re a disgrace to your family.”
How did he know? Even if Yi-jun had heard about her from his senior, there was no way he could have known that much.
It was the thing she wanted to forget most, yet the thing she could never forget.
It happened in the autumn, just before the transition into winter. It was at a high school in a prestigious school district in Seoul, her first appointment.
The school was filled with teachers boasting impressive credentials, and the atmosphere was heavily individualistic. That was why Bom liked her first placement.
The students were the same. Their singular focus on college entrance exams meant there were rarely any incidents or scandals, which was a huge merit.
That day, Bom was in the faculty office as usual, editing exam questions and preparing materials. The office was quiet despite most seats being filled, as no one really talked—an ideal environment for working.
That was when the hallway grew noisy. Frowning, Bom reached for her earphones to put them on.
A few minutes later, someone tapped her shoulder with enough force to be a strike. It was a woman she didn't know at all.
[Are you Yoon Bom?]
[Yes, I am. Who are you?]
[Who do you think? I’m your boyfriend’s wife.]
[What—what are you doing! Ah!]
Her hair was grabbed in an instant, leaving her no time to process what was happening. She fought with all her might to break free, but the woman lunged at her again immediately.
[Of all the men out there, you had to seduce a married one? You filthy bitch!]
The woman started a physical brawl out of nowhere, screaming nonsense. The louder she shouted, the more onlookers gathered. Even students who had just finished their classes flocked to the scene.
The sight reflected in Bom’s eyes as she was being mindlessly assaulted was miserable. Teachers were watching without any intention of helping, and students had rushed over since it was recess. Some were even filming the scene with their phones.
She couldn't bring herself to ask for help. Amidst the profanities ringing in her ears, she heard the whispers of the crowd.
[See? I told you she looked like the type.]
[She looks so innocent, but a married man? Seriously?]
[The Ethics teacher is a total shock. This is insane.]
The woman, who had turned the place upside down, only left after the school security came up and threatened to call the police.
She didn't leave quietly, either. She screamed as she scattered several printed photos across the faculty office.
[Everyone, take a good look at this! Look at what a disgusting bitch she is!]
Teachers and students alike scrambled to pick up the scattered photos.
[Ugh, what is this! Oh my god!]
[Holy crap. Isn't this a motel?]
[He looks at least twenty years older than Teacher Bom. Gross.]
A photo fell in front of Bom, who had collapsed in a daze. It was a picture of her entering a motel arm-in-arm with a middle-aged man.
The photo was obviously a composite. Nothing like that had ever happened.
It seemed someone had cleverly edited a photo taken of her in the past, but even Bom couldn't help but be shocked. What photo had they used for the edit?
She didn't even know what the original photo of herself was. Had she been followed by a stalker? Someone must have taken a photo of her and then staged this. But who, and why?
Naturally, her anxiety reached its peak.
It was impossible to continue going to school under those circumstances. Deeply scarred, Bom submitted a psychiatric diagnosis and applied for sick leave that very day.
But there was a bigger problem.
The incident in the faculty office, along with the composite photos, had been sent to her parents via an anonymous email. Her parents reacted exactly as she expected.
[We told you to just go on a blind date and get married quietly, and this is what you’ve been doing?]
[I told you it’s not true! Why won’t you believe me? Why?! The photos are fakes! If I report it to the police, they’ll investigate. Please...]
[What does it matter if it’s true or not! You’ve suffered this kind of public disgrace, so you’re already finished. Get out of this house!]
Her father flew into a rage, telling her to leave and stop embarrassing the family, while her mother wavered before finally offering a compromise: go down to the countryside for two years until her father’s anger cooled.
If only she had requested a police investigation, she might not have had to suffer alone for so long. But because her parents were adamantly against it, she had to endure it all by herself.
No one believed her. She spent every day scouring social media, trembling with the fear that a video or post might surface. The anxiety was driving her mad.
Exhausted to the core, Bom eventually accepted Nan-hee’s suggestion.
That was the full story of how Bom ended up here as an exchange teacher.
‘This makes no sense.’
The Head of Academic Affairs had deleted all the videos the students took, so there was no way they could have leaked. And naturally, the family matters were kept within the family.
How could Choi Ji-hwan, a former blind date, know about this? And even if he found out, did he really tell Choi Yi-jun?
“Your family’s dedication to hiding such a defect and making you go on blind dates even here is truly admirable.”
Yi-jun’s mocking words stung. She felt like everything she had eaten was surging back up, making her gag.
“Ugh.”
A sharp pain throbbed in her chest. It felt as if the wound she had barely stitched shut was being ripped wide open.
‘Has the rumor already spread all over Seoul? My brother was right.’
Her throat tight, Bom forced herself to swallow some water. But she couldn't even get the water down and ended up choking. Tears welled in her eyes as she coughed.
What started as a small coughing fit turned into tears that made her vision blur and waver.
She didn't want to show him this side of her. And yet...
“Ugh...”
Tears kept spilling from her heavy eyes. She kept her head bowed low, not wanting Choi Yi-jun to see.
Drip, drip.
Tear stains spread across her elegant, milk-beige one-piece dress. This was the outfit she pulled out every time she went on a blind date. She was sick of it.
The incident that followed her like a shadow, the suffocating task of blind dates, her mother’s futile expectations. She was sick of everything.
“...Are you crying right now?”
“Ugh, why am I... I-I’m s-sorry, I’m so sorry...”
She felt a surge of self-loathing at her own pathetic stuttering. Just as she was drowning in self-deprecation, she heard the sound of a chair moving, and then a strange hand touched her shoulder.
“What is this, suddenly bursting into tears?”
Yi-jun spoke in a slightly irritated voice.
“Ha, let’s just leave for now.”
Nodding, Bom followed Yi-jun out of the Western restaurant. Being outside only made her mind more chaotic. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
Right next to the restaurant was a large imported SUV. Yi-jun swung the car door open.
“Get in. I’ll give you a ride.”
“I’m... fine.”
“What if someone sees you getting on a bus looking like that? You might not realize it, but you look a bit pathetic right now.”
She couldn't get on the village bus with her face a mess of tears. There were many students from her class in this area. She didn't want anyone to see her and start rumors.
“Are you just going to keep standing there?”
If she got in the car, she might be able to offer some kind of excuse during the drive. Bom lowered her head.
“Then... please.”
She climbed into the car for now. She felt pathetic for suddenly bursting into tears. She could have responded calmly, but she had let herself get shaken immediately. It must have been obvious on her face.
She had only succeeded in proving that what Yi-jun said was true. Her eyes were so swollen from crying that she could barely see in front of her.
“Take it out and use it. You don't look good right now.”
Yi-jun pointed to the console box as he fastened his seatbelt. Through her blurred vision, she opened the console box and saw a pair of sunglasses.
He wants me to wear... these?
With a heavy heart, Bom silently took out the sunglasses and put them on, just as Yi-jun had instructed.
“...”
After a moment of silence, Yi-jun spoke again, his tone slightly different.
“There’s a handkerchief inside there.”
“Oh.”
“That’s what I told you to use.”
“...”
“Pfft.”
Yi-jun laughed. Bom was slightly flustered but didn't show it. Did he just laugh? Or is he mocking me?
Despite her racing thoughts, Bom sat perfectly still with the sunglasses on.
She had already been scolded for drooling while sleeping during the Meeting with a Successful Professional, and now she was wearing someone else’s sunglasses... Strange things like this kept happening whenever she was around Yi-jun.
She felt him glancing at her from the side, but she pretended not to notice. Suppressing a laugh of mysterious intent, Yi-jun spoke.
“That... isn't bad either. Just wear them.”
“...”
The car started moving slowly.
Throughout the ride, Bom remained silent, her face half-hidden by the sunglasses.
She complied when Yi-jun asked her to put her home address into the navigation, and she nodded when he asked if he could open the sunroof, but she never opened her mouth.
‘Sigh, I want to take these sunglasses off.’
She wanted to ask what exactly he had heard from Choi Ji-hwan, but it felt awkward to ask while wearing sunglasses. Bom kept her gaze fixed out the window, biting her lip.
They were taking a quiet backroad rather than the main road through town, and the calm atmosphere gradually helped her settle her mind.
‘Should I try saying something now?’
But what should she say?
She wanted to know exactly what Choi Ji-hwan had told him. She also needed to know how far the truth had spread.
And after asking, how should she respond? Should she deny everything? Say that what Choi Ji-hwan said was a misunderstanding? Her mind was a mess.
In the meantime, the car approached the town area near Cheongseol-eup. She knew she had to speak before they reached her house, but she was hesitating, unable to find the words.
Then, out of habit, Bom scanned the outside and suddenly bolted upright.
“Oh! Mr. Yi-jun! Wait! Please stop the car!”