Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Flustered, Bom asked back before she could help herself, then quickly clamped her mouth shut. What is with this man? It was a relief that no one else seemed to have heard him.
He slowly parted his smooth lips to say something else, but the Vice Principal was a beat faster.
“It was a joke! A joke!”
Emphasizing his words, the Vice Principal quickly swung the staff room door wide open.
“The cigarette thing was just a joke, a joke! The air in here is a bit stuffy, so shall we take this conversation outside? The bell is about to ring, and the students will be heading this way. Shall we?!”
The Vice Principal desperately urged him along, pushing the man’s back toward the exit. The man cried out, “Whoa, whoa, what’s all this?” but followed the Vice Principal out without much resistance.
As he was being ushered out, the man glanced back at Bom and curled the corner of his lips upward. There was a certain ease in the way he shrugged his shoulders.
He just wanted to give a proper warning and then leave. Bom realized his intention. He had put on a performance to ensure the same thing wouldn't happen again before the new school year started.
Regardless, her mind was a whirlwind. Bom looked down at the paper cup containing only instant coffee powder and poured in hot water from the electric kettle. After stirring it a few times with a nearby teaspoon, she returned to her desk. A small sip of coffee warmed her body.
“Teacher Yoon, Teacher Yoon! Is he gone?!”
She heard a whispered voice. Teacher Hong peeked his head out from under his desk, pulling back his blanket.
“Ah, yes, he left. I think it’s safe to come out now.”
“Thank goodness. Ugh!”
Teacher Hong stood up immediately, swinging his legs and rotating his arms as if they were stiff. Other teachers began to gather around him.
“You went through a lot, Teacher Hong. My palms were sweating when he headed your way!”
“Isn't he crazy? What kind of fuss is that over a measly Filial Piety Award?!”
Everyone shook their heads at Teacher Hong’s loud exclamation, yet they patted him on the back. Some even commented that he wouldn't have had a leg to stand on if he’d been caught.
“Ugh, it’s so dirty, seriously. I mean, how does it make sense to nominate someone for a Filial Piety Award when they don't even have parents?”
“Still, you went too far, Teacher Hong! Isn't it a relief it ended like this?!”
“Exactly. It’s a miracle you survived.”
Everyone crowded around to comfort Teacher Hong. Bom sat in her seat, watching the scene unfold.
...Let’s not worry about it.
Taking another sip of coffee, Bom shifted her gaze out the window.
In the distance, she saw a tall silhouette walking out of the school gate amidst the falling snow. He stood out even from afar. She could understand why the teachers had recognized him as Han-gyeol’s uncle the moment they saw him through the window earlier.
He really was a peculiar man.
The intense encounter, a connection that would likely never cross paths again, faded away into the snow.
⋆★⋆
“Alright, alright. One, two, three, four... nineteen! Everyone is here.”
All the teachers gathered in a small meeting room with the grand name of the Educational Strategy Conference Room. Even so, there were fewer than twenty people. Perhaps the heater had been fixed during the break, as the room was hot enough to make one sweat.
Even though the meeting had just begun, the teachers, meeting for the first time in a while, were busy catching up. Those who had finished exchanging updates were now sighing at the upcoming start of the semester.
“Time really flies, doesn't it?!”
“Ugh, it feels like just yesterday I was saying goodbye for the break, and now school’s starting. It’s relentless!”
While the chatter continued, the microphone held by the Head of Academic Affairs emitted a series of high-pitched beeps. People covered their ears.
The announcement of work assignments for the new school year began, but since most were similar to last year, no one was really listening. Bom was assigned to be in charge of equipment and facilities.
It involved organizing and reporting matters related to the school's physical assets. Fortunately, the budget from the Office of Education had come through last year, and all the equipment had been replaced with new items. It was an easy job since there was nothing to repair or dispose of.
“Uh... next, moving on...”
This was the most important part: the announcement of homeroom teachers. Because the Head of Academic Affairs and the Vice Principal, who were the decision-makers, had kept it a secret until the very end, everyone was in a state of high tension.
The people who had been chatting randomly fell silent as the homeroom assignments began. The 9th-grade homeroom teachers were announced first. Because the number of freshmen had increased to five classes, even the Head of Academic Affairs had to take on a homeroom. Next was the 10th grade.
“...Class 2-1 is Teacher Seo Hye-sook, Class 2-2 is Teacher Yoon Bom, followed by Class 2-3 with Teacher Jung Jin-hyuk, and next is the 11th grade...”
Bom, who had been listening indifferently, tilted her head. She had been certain she would be in charge of the 11th grade again, just like last year. There was more work and pressure than other grades, so the atmosphere usually involved pushing it onto the younger teachers...
“Teacher Yoon.”
Department Head Kang, sitting behind her, tapped Bom on the shoulder. Bom turned her head and realized that others were looking at her as well.
“Hang in there. Fighting.”
“Pardon?”
She returned to the staff room without knowing why. It was only after she received the class list for Class 2-2 that Bom understood the reason for the looks she had received.
Class 2-2, Number 12: Seon Han-gyeol.
He was the student everyone avoided. It was because everyone had been scared witless after his uncle’s visit the other day.
“Eh? Teacher Yoon. You got Han-gyeol? Oh boy, how did the class assignments end up like this?”
As she was pinning the class list to her partition, Jung Jin-hyuk, the math teacher and homeroom teacher for Class 2-3, came over to talk.
“It’s fine.”
“Wow, fine? It’s not just Seon Han-gyeol; Se-jin is in your class too.”
Bom scanned the list again to see who Se-jin was. Her eyes, scanning the names in alphabetical order, stopped at the very last number.
Class 2-2, Number 16: Choi Se-jin
“What? Se-jin is in Teacher Yoon’s class too?”
Seo Hye-sook, the Chinese teacher and homeroom teacher for Class 2-1, chimed in. Seeing how they were both making a fuss, it seemed this student named Choi Se-jin was also a difficult one to handle. Teacher Seo spoke exaggeratedly.
“You don't know? She’s the youngest child of the County Executive, born when he was in his forties. You have no idea how much the family obsesses over her grades. Imagine the pressure on the homeroom teacher!”
“Exactly. She’s the one who applied to the foreign language high school in the city and ended up here after failing to get in. She’s the top student in the entire school.”
The three teachers currently talking were all 10th-grade homeroom teachers, and these three classes made up the entire 10th grade.
Class 2-1: Chinese, ‘Seo Hye-sook’
Class 2-2: Ethics and Ideology, ‘Yoon Bom’
Class 2-3: Mathematics, ‘Jung Jin-hyuk’
Whether by coincidence or not, all the troublesome students were concentrated in Yoon Bom’s class.
...It doesn't matter.
She would be heading back to Seoul soon anyway. This place was merely a passing stop for Bom.
In her first year here—last year—the 11th-grade class she was in charge of had been manageable. Bom had focused on college entrance exams just as she had in Seoul, and the results were quite good. Many students were accepted into better universities than their original grades suggested.
The 10th grade would have relatively less pressure regarding entrance exams, but since she would be preparing them a year early, it might actually be better.
Bom thought that this year would be much the same.
⋆★⋆
March.
The new school year and the new semester began.
As it was the most exciting month of the school year, it was as hectic and noisy as ever.
During the busy period of adjusting after the start of school, the Vice Principal suddenly dropped a bomb. Due to some inexplicable stubbornness, the parent-teacher consultation week was moved up by a full two weeks.
Bom’s head throbbed. This place truly lacked any sense of system. The thought of parents flocking in before she could even grasp the students' grades made her feel rushed.
Bom’s philosophy was to handle her assigned tasks properly. Regardless of her personal feelings, she didn't want to show any flaws in her work as a teacher.
“Teacher Yoon, what are you looking through so intently?”
“I haven't even properly grasped the students' situations yet, but the consultations were scheduled so early.”
Jung Jin-hyuk, the homeroom teacher for Class 2-3, rolled his chair over and scanned Bom’s cluttered desk. There were mountains of data on the students' school grades and mock exam results.
“The time to analyze the grades is too tight. What should I do?”
“Don't worry. You’re safe with the 10th grade, Teacher Yoon.”
What does that mean? Bom stopped her hands, which were busy sorting through the data.
“Pardon? Why?”
“Parents of 10th graders don't come.”
“Teacher Jung is right. The 10th grade is easy.”
Seo Hye-sook, who had been listening nearby, joined in.
The seating in the staff room had also changed, so the 10th-grade homeroom teachers now sat side-by-side. Seo Hye-sook was on her left, and Jung Jin-hyuk was on her right. They were arranged according to their class order.
“Parents of 9th graders come because they’re curious since their kids just started high school, and parents of 11th graders come because they have to send them to college. But the 10th grade is in that awkward middle ground, so no one comes.”
“Ah, really?”
“So don't get too worked up and just take it step by step.”
“I didn't know that. Thank you.”
Since she had only been in charge of the 11th grade even in Seoul, Bom was taken aback. The teachers on either side of her had considerable experience as 10th-grade homeroom teachers.
If that was the case, it was a relief.
Having received advice from the two experienced teachers, Bom headed to the classroom with a light heart, clutching a stack of consultation application forms. Coincidentally, this Ethics and Ideology period was for Class 2-2, the class she was in charge of.
Class 2-2 was immediately to the left after taking the central stairs in the staff room hallway up to the second floor.
The classroom was quiet after the bell rang. Everyone was in their seats. They looked full of spirit, as it was the beginning of the semester. Crisp, unwrinkled textbooks were placed neatly on the desks.
“I have an announcement before we start class. There are parents who wish to have consultations, right?”
Thanks to the quiet atmosphere, she was able to speak calmly. Bom placed her textbook on the lectern and scanned the entire classroom.
“...If there’s something they absolutely must consult about, fill out the application form and bring it tomorrow. It’s better to prepare for college entrance exams in advance.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Alright, I’ll pass out the application forms. Don't forget to give them to your parents.”
While checking if there were enough forms, Bom sensed someone’s gaze.
“....”
The person she made eye contact with was Seon Han-gyeol. They had changed seats this morning, and Han-gyeol ended up sitting in the very front row.
Han-gyeol was resting his chin on his hand, blinking languidly. He had been staring at her like that, and when their eyes met, he gave her a soft smile.
His uniquely refreshing face had a way of drawing one's gaze. Looking at his appearance and aura, it was only natural that he was popular.
Now that I think about it, they do look a bit alike...
Unlike his uncle, who exuded a strong masculine scent, he had a delicate and sensitive impression. However, his height and frame were quite large, and his well-defined features were similar to his uncle’s.
Bom suddenly thought. Will Han-gyeol’s uncle come too...?
No, surely not.