Chapter 06
“Did you come?”
Seonghan was a gentle boyfriend.
When they were with others, he pretended not to know her. But when they were alone, he would smile softly and greet her as if they shared a secret.
Sea had come to the student affairs room because she had something to do. When she saw Seonghan standing there alone, she smiled back at him.
“Why are you here this time?”
“To see you.”
He said embarrassing things so casually and stepped closer to her.
After that day, he didn’t kiss her again. But sometimes he would massage her shoulders or gently hold her hand.
“You should be studying, sunbae.”
He was already firmly ranked first in the entire school.
“I’ve already finished studying.”
He placed something in her hand. It was a bread roll filled with chocolate.
“You’ve lost weight. At this rate, you’ll dry up and die.”
“I won’t die. You know I’m strong.”
“I know you pretend to be strong.”
Sea’s eyes widened.
How did he know? Did he notice something that rainy day?
She had never told him anything about her family situation.
She was afraid that if she said something unnecessary, Seonghan might be disappointed. He was her first boyfriend—and the one she wanted to look good in front of the most.
“I’m really strong. I ranked first in hanging from the bar for the longest time.”
Sea bent her arm and showed him her small bicep. Seonghan let out a short laugh.
He pressed her arm gently with his fingers.
“So cute.”
“I’m not cute. I’m strong.”
Sunlight rested in his eyes as he looked deeply at her face. His dark pupils shimmered like a rainbow.
Sea blinked.
Suddenly, his figure disappeared into darkness. The peaceful scene faded, replaced by a faint rustling sound.
What…?
Sea opened her eyes on the bed and realized that where she had been was not reality—it was a dream.
It was from more than ten years ago, back in high school. From the time when she was dating Seonghan.
That was almost the only peaceful time in her life.
Of course, not at home.
Wow, I’m dreaming about everything now.
It had already been a long time since he left. Those days would never return.
Last night, she couldn’t sleep and kept tossing and turning. Even after leaving the café, his final words wouldn’t leave her mind.
“The revenge cheating strategy.”
She had run away after hearing that, but it felt like his gaze was still stuck to the back of her head.
Why was he doing this?
It was already over. Something that couldn’t be connected again. And besides, she had a boyfriend now.
While she was lost in thought, time passed. Sea hurriedly came to her senses and rushed to get ready.
“Good morning.”
She arrived at work looking tired.
“Did you finish all the grade reports?”
Sea asked Lee Minkyung, a fellow Korean language teacher sitting next to her. Minkyung was five years older and had a firm personality, so Sea relied on her in many ways.
“More than that, Ms. Sea.”
Minkyung leaned toward her and spoke in a low voice.
“Do you have a moment?”
“Yes? Of course. Is something wrong?”
“After I step out, come to the rooftop a little later.”
After saying that, Minkyung stood up.
“Ah, I’m so stiff. I need a cup of coffee.”
She deliberately spoke loudly as she walked across the teachers’ office. Sea watched her back with a nervous feeling.
What is it? Does Ms. Minkyung have something she wants to confide in me about? Or… did she see Dongjun and Mokyeon together?
Sea hadn’t told anyone about her relationship with Dongjun, but someone perceptive might have noticed. If that was the case, what should she say?
Should she deny knowing? Or admit that she already knew?
Neither seemed like the right answer.
Without reaching any conclusion, Sea stood up.
The rooftop was usually locked because students were not allowed there. But Minkyung had the key and often went up to organize and clean.
When Sea reached the rooftop, Minkyung was leaning against a pillar. She winked at Sea.
“Ms. Sea. Is there something going on between you and Ms. Mokyeon?”
So that was it. She saw Dongjun and Mokyeon.
Sea swallowed dryly. She decided to pretend she didn’t know anything.
“No. What could there be? Why? What happened?”
“Ms. Mokyeon posted something in a group chat.”
“In a group chat?”
“It’s the Environmental Clean-up Department group chat. A teacher I’m close with sent it to me. Look.”
The Environmental Clean-up Department was the department Mokyeon belonged to. It managed the school’s environment and had five teachers. Mokyeon was the youngest member.
Sea had heard that the department head treated Mokyeon very kindly.
[I’m so upset and having such a hard time that I’m pouring my heart out here.
Please don’t tell anyone about this.]
Sea let out a dry laugh.
She’s telling everyone in a group chat not to tell anyone?
She read on.
[I’m honestly having a hard time because I’m in charge of the same Korean subject as Ms. Sea.
Of course, Ms. Sea is more skilled and much more senior than me, and she was even my homeroom teacher, so it’s natural for me to listen to her.
I’ve thought the same, so I’ve endured it until now.]
Endured what? I’ve been cleaning up all your messes this whole time.
[But this time, I really couldn’t endure it.
About the retest—I taught it the way Ms. Sea told me to.
But in the end, it resulted in a retest, so I went to Ms. Sea and apologized.]
Sea’s eyes widened, and she shook her head.
That’s ridiculous. I told you how to teach it? If you had taught it properly, the students wouldn’t have protested like that. They wouldn’t have come to me saying they didn’t understand anything in Korean class.
And the reason for the retest was because you taught the content backwards.
Feeling dumbfounded, Sea kept reading.
[But Ms. Sea told me to take responsibility.
She scolded me so harshly that I kept crying even at home.
Even now, as I write this, I’m crying.]
Harshly?
She had spoken strictly, yes. But she couldn’t just ignore such a serious mistake.
[But it’s all my fault. I’m lacking.
And I’m only writing this because my heart feels suffocated.
So please don’t tell Ms. Sea or anyone else about this.
Just listen and forget it. Please.]
Sea closed her eyes tightly.
Was this what it meant to repay kindness with betrayal?
So cleverly—pretending to be innocent while pushing Sea into a pit in front of everyone.
“This isn’t true, right?”
Minkyung asked after waiting for Sea to finish reading.
Sea couldn’t even find the right words to answer, so she smiled.
Then she said,
“It’s true.”
“What do you mean it’s true?”
Minkyung’s voice rose.
A laugh slipped through Sea’s lips again.
A hollow laugh.
“At least, it must be true to Ms. Mokyeon.”
“This isn’t something you can just brush off lightly. Department Head Kim Taesik is completely furious. He totally misunderstands you.”
Kim Taesik was the head of the Environmental Clean-up Department and the one who favored Mokyeon.
Mokyeon also flattered him constantly and earned his affection.
Since Mokyeon said she was struggling because of Sea, it was obvious how Kim Taesik would view her.
But Sea couldn’t go to him and say it wasn’t true.
That would put Minkyung in an awkward position for passing the message.
“As long as you don’t misunderstand me, that’s enough. You told me because you trust me.”
“Well, I know the real Jin Mokyeon. But you know how she goes around charming people and making them take her side.”
Minkyung shook her head.
She had been Mokyeon’s homeroom teacher after Sea. Like Sea, she had suffered a lot.
Back then, Sea and Minkyung had talked a lot—mostly about Minkyung’s worries.
“Don’t get taken advantage of by someone like Mokyeon. You did everything for her even while being in the same department. Why are you like this? Just being her homeroom teacher for one year made me grind my teeth. Don’t let her drag you around anymore.”
Minkyung patted Sea’s shoulder and went back inside first.
Sea stood there blankly, listening to the door close, and looked up at the sky.
Jin Mokyeon… what kind of grudge do you even have against me?
Sea bit her lip and casually looked down.
She saw Mokyeon rushing through the school gate.
It was already past work hours.
She’s truly hopeless.
She used to be late all the time even as a student.
Sea went down from the rooftop and returned to her seat.
A little later, Mokyeon arrived at work too.
Suddenly, the teachers’ office door swung open.
The person who entered with heavy footsteps was Principal Lee Sangtae.
“Teacher Jin Mokyeon!”
His thunderous shout made everyone stare at him in shock.
