Chapter 03
However, Sangtae spoke as if everything was going perfectly.
“Of course. You need to know where you’ll be working. Ms. Han Sea, do you have time right now? You don’t have any classes anyway. Please take the Chairman around for a tour.”
Why should I?
Sea’s lips twisted slightly.
“If you’re busy, it’s fine. You must already have a lot of work. Perhaps I asked too much.”
Seonghan waved his hand after noticing her expression. But Sangtae shook his head.
“Ah, it’s exam period right now, so there are no regular classes. It’s actually the most relaxed time for teachers. Ms. Han Sea, are you busy? Or did something happen?”
At the words did something happen, Sea flinched.
Right. I need to stay on the principal’s good side right now. That way I won’t get scolded as much.
Even without that, this wasn’t something she could refuse anyway.
“I’m not busy. I’ll guide you.”
“Thank you.”
Seonghan bowed smoothly and stepped out of the principal’s office first. As Sea was about to follow him, Sangtae’s voice stopped her.
“Why?”
“Yes?”
“That expression in front of the Chairman. That won’t do. You know the school’s situation right now.”
Sangtae lowered his voice and whispered.
“That man is holding the key right now. We need to gently persuade him and make him our ally. Otherwise, the school will be in serious trouble.”
Our ally? Since when were we on the same side?
She didn’t fully understand what the principal meant, but it sounded like he was telling her to flatter him. So she nodded.
“I understand.”
“Fortunately, it seems he likes you, Ms. Han Sea. Guide him well. Don’t give him any reason to find fault.”
The way he said it made it sound like there was something to find fault with. Sea felt uneasy again, but sensing that Seonghan was waiting outside, she quickly bowed and left.
When Seonghan saw her, he slightly furrowed his brows.
“What were you talking about for so long?”
“It was nothing. I’m sorry.”
Sea bowed her head. She walked ahead, and Seonghan followed at a slow pace.
It was a different high school from back then, but walking down the hallway with him still felt strange. The sound of his shoes echoed clearly in the corridor.
“Shall we start from the fourth floor and take our time? Or—”
“Let’s just go outside.”
He moved toward the exit as if he had no interest in the school at all.
“Chairman?”
Weren’t you the one who asked to see the school? Why are you acting like this?
“What’s the point of looking around the school? Let’s go to a nearby café.”
What?
Sea’s eyebrows lifted and then fell.
She had thought she was done with him long ago. Yet complicated emotions rose again.
Biting her lip, she followed him—then suddenly stopped at the entrance.
Not far away—
Beyond the parking lot, she saw someone.
It was Dongjun.
And the other person—
Mokyeon.
Dongjun was holding the back of Mokyeon’s head. Mokyeon lightly hit his chest with her fist.
Then, in the next moment—
Dongjun pulled her closer.
His lips touched her forehead.
At least, that was how it looked to Sea.
What kind of situation is that?
Her face twisted.
She couldn’t move forward, but she couldn’t step back either.
“What are you doing?”
When she didn’t follow, Seonghan walked back toward her.
At that moment, Sea suddenly turned and hurried back into the school building. She couldn’t even go over there and confront them, let alone shout.
She just hid.
But she didn’t understand why she had done that, and the confusion made her bite her lip.
What made it worse was that Seonghan had seen her reaction.
“What’s going on?”
He had also seen Mokyeon and Dongjun, but he simply assumed they were teachers secretly dating inside the school.
“I just… need to go to the restroom.”
She turned away with that clumsy excuse. Then a low voice reached her ears.
“Is your boyfriend among them?”
Sea froze in shock.
Seonghan walked past her with steady steps.
“Seems like it is.”
His indifferent tone made her eyes flare.
“But why are you the one avoiding them?”
“N-No, it’s not like that.”
Sea turned around again and walked outside. Dongjun and Mokyeon were already gone.
Maybe that was for the better.
Her mind was a mess. She heard footsteps beside her.
“Why didn’t you confront him? Ask what he was doing there?”
Sea stopped walking.
“I’m a teacher at this school.”
Her trembling hand clenched tightly.
“Why are you speaking casually to me? Please show some respect.”
The principal told me to stay on his good side. I shouldn’t act like this.
But unlike her thoughts, her words came out sharp—like someone venting anger in the wrong place.
Seonghan stared at her quietly.
He didn’t look angry. That made her heart shrink even more.
Is my school life over now? I’ve struggled so hard to survive here.
Seonghan finally spoke.
“All right.”
A small sigh escaped from Sea’s lips.
“Then… are you not going to guide me to the café?”
But he wasn’t finished.
“I suppose I’ll have to ask the principal instead. I’m sure he’ll do at least that much—for the Chairman.”
Sea’s eyes widened again.
If she refused to go to the café, he would report it directly to the principal.
Of course. Shin Seonghan wouldn’t back down so easily.
“O-Okay. Let’s go.”
Honestly, she didn’t feel like it.
The image of Dongjun and Mokyeon kept replaying in her mind.
She walked out of the building and headed toward a nearby café she often visited.
“Unnie, you’re here—oh!”
Hyungyeong, the café owner, was close to Sea like an older-younger sister. She greeted her warmly, then widened her eyes at the man behind her.
“A new teacher? Wow. Nice.”
Hyungyeong, who was never good at hiding her feelings, gave Seonghan a thumbs-up. He simply raised an eyebrow slightly.
“I’m the Chairman. Is the coffee good here?”
“The Chairman? Wow. Chairmen these days are so trendy. As expected of a school leading the 21st century.”
“Stop talking nonsense. I’ll have an iced Americano, two shots. And for her?”
Sea pressed her hand to her forehead, already feeling a headache.
“What kind of coffee do you like?”
“Something sweet.”
He answered.
“The sweetest coffee you have.”
“Then how about a caramel macchiato? Iced, or with ice?”
Realizing her mistake, Hyungyeong covered her mouth.
“They’re the same thing.”
“Then the same. Iced. With ice.”
Seonghan pulled out his card.
A black card with no limit. Even without knowing much about such things, it looked powerful.
“Uh… card received.”
“And get one for the teacher too.”
“What?”
“You seem close with her. Use that and have one yourself. Running a business isn’t easy.”
After saying that, Seonghan returned to his seat. Hyungyeong winked excitedly at Sea while preparing the coffee.
She was clearly saying that the Chairman was incredibly considerate—she never expected him to pay for hers too.
“Then I’ll order the most expensive one. Is that okay, Chairman?”
Even while checking something on his tablet, Seonghan raised his hand and made an O sign without looking up. Hyungyeong grinned widely.
“Thank you! Please visit often, Chairman!”
“Just make the coffee.”
Sea lightly tapped Hyungyeong’s arm. Hyungyeong laughed and continued making the drinks.
“Ooh, he’s handsome. Of course, Unnie, you’re not allowed to make a move.”
At the teasing joke, Sea pressed her lips together.
“Ah, sorry. I went too far. You don’t even think like that, and I’m teasing.”
“Just make the coffee.”
Sea turned to go back to her seat, but sitting across from Seonghan felt awkward, so she sat at the next table.
Then Seonghan reached out.
His long, straight fingers tapped the table twice.
“We’re not strangers.”
His lips moved again.
“Sit here.”
“There’s no one else here. Please sit comfortably, Chairman.”
Sea smiled politely and turned her head away.
That was when her eyes widened.
Of all people—
Mokyeon and Dongjun walked into the café.
“Oh my, Teacher, you’re here?”
Mokyeon smiled brightly as she approached Sea.
