Chapter 20
“What do you mean?”
Seonghan looked at Pyo Se-jin with arrogant eyes.
“If you’re talking about the cigarette issue, I believe that was settled back then.”
“No, not that. I’m not asking for anything big. Just… just make it so I can at least step foot in this house again. Please, just say a word for me.”
Crying again, Pyo Se-jin dropped to her knees. Seonghan stared at her with a distorted expression before crouching down in front of her.
“You’re making me feel like I’m the villain here. Why are you doing this?”
“Please, I’m begging you.”
“Then first, take care of the mess you created.”
Seonghan spoke with haughty eyes.
“Of course, even then, I can’t guarantee anything. My grandfather is extremely angry. I’m just saying I’ll try mentioning it.”
“That’s enough. I’ll do anything you say.”
Tears streamed down Pyo Se-jin’s face.
Sea opened her eyes.
A week of sick leave had been longer than she expected. The shock of almost being slapped had been great, but after a week, both her body and mind had settled somewhat.
‘They told me to come to the hospital once more today.’
It was Friday, the last day of that week—time to go back to the hospital to check her condition.
‘How annoying.’
Sea closed her eyes.
A psychiatric hospital. When she first experienced panic attacks, she hadn’t even considered going to one.
She had thought psychiatric hospitals were places only “strange people” went.
But when panic disorder overlapped with depression and even led to suicidal impulses, she couldn’t stubbornly refuse forever.
Thankfully, with help from the counseling center affiliated with her university, Sea began seeing a psychiatrist and took medication for the first time.
How could she ever forget that moment?
‘I’ve become someone who takes psychiatric medication now.’
It felt like crossing a river she could never return from. She felt utterly miserable and pathetic, and cried all night.
But after she finally confessed to Yeonsil that she was seeing a psychiatrist, she ended up getting scolded instead—along with a smack on the back.
—Hey, I thought it was something huge. I already took meds back in high school!
—Why?
—Why else? I collapsed before a mock exam. I went to every hospital and they couldn’t find anything wrong. Turned out it was an anxiety disorder.
Sea had been shocked. Confident Yeonsil had an anxiety disorder?
—You had anxiety too?
—Why wouldn’t I? Ugh, when I was young I even had nervous cystitis. You know, constantly feeling like you need to pee and leaking a bit.
—I had that too.
—See? You, me—we’re not exactly “normal.” But honestly, there aren’t that many normal people out there. If you look closely, they’re all a little broken. Them too.
From Yeonsil’s words, Sea realized more people took psychiatric medication than she had thought.
‘Let’s go. I should go.’
Seeing that her appointment time was approaching, Sea got dressed. Just then, her phone rang.
Her body stiffened when she looked at the screen.
An unknown number.
Other than her mother, Sea didn’t stay in contact with family. She hadn’t even told them where she lived. She had changed her phone number so that only her mother knew it.
So when an unknown number called, it sometimes frightened her.
Even though she knew it shouldn’t.
She didn’t answer at first. But when the call came again, she still ignored it. By the time she arrived at the hospital, a message from the same number appeared.
[This is Hwang Min-young’s mother. Please answer the phone.]
The moment she saw who it was, Sea’s face froze.
Someone she truly never wanted to deal with again. Why was she calling?
But this wasn’t something she could just avoid.
Resolving herself, Sea called back.
“Yes, this is Han Sea.”
Her voice came out stiff.
[This is Hwang Min-young’s mother.]
“Yes, I know.”
[Can you meet me right now?]
Why suddenly ask to meet? To cause more trouble she hadn’t finished causing before?
Sea didn’t want to relive that situation again.
“No. I don’t have time to meet. I’m at a psychiatric hospital right now.”
She said it bluntly.
“I’m being treated for psychological trauma. Because of someone.”
[Ah… I see. I see.]
What kind of situation was this?
The voice sounded almost sympathetic. Sea’s brows furrowed deeper. She wondered if an insult would follow.
Instead, the woman said:
[I’m sorry.]
What?
Sea doubted her ears.
[That day, I was struggling too. With my child and other things. I treated you recklessly. I’m truly sorry. It was all my fault.]
Sea remained blank, unsure what to say.
[Min-young is transferring schools. There were issues—smoking and various conflicts with students. We decided it’s best she go somewhere far away. So please, let go of your anger and forgive us.]
The call ended. Sea stared at her phone.
Was that really the same woman who had tried to slap her?
The voice and tone were identical.
As her surging anger suddenly subsided, she felt lighter than before.
It was strange.
“Waaaaah!”
A week passed, and Monday arrived.
“Teacher’s here!”
As Sea entered the classroom, applause erupted.
The exact reason for her sudden leave hadn’t been shared. The students were only told she was ill.
“Didn’t you miss us, teacher?”
“Teacher! Why were you gone so long?!”
Hearing the mixture of complaint and affection, Sea was reminded once more that she was a teacher.
Right. I have work to do.
I have my students.
While greeting them, Sea suddenly stopped and looked toward the corner seat.
An unbelievable sight.
The seat that was always empty had someone in it today.
“Ji-tae!”
Sea shouted and ran toward him. Ji-tae was curled up in the corner, wearing a wrinkled uniform. He looked so crumpled it seemed as though not just the uniform, but Ji-tae himself, was wrinkled.
“Ji-tae, it’s been so long!”
When she tried to hug him, he jumped up and stepped back, avoiding her arms. Head lowered, he mumbled.
“If you were alive, you could’ve at least contacted me! Huh? Anyway, I’m glad you’re here! Did you keep coming even while I was gone?”
“No. Today’s the first time in a while.”
Another student answered for him.
Sea spread her arms wide and clapped. The other students joined in.
“Ji-tae, welcome back!”
“Hey, we almost forgot your face!”
Amid the noise, Ji-tae kept his mouth shut, only bowing his head slightly.
“Yes.”
But regardless of his attitude, Sea was simply happy he had come.
After barely finishing the morning assembly, Sea walked to Ji-tae’s desk. Suddenly, he grabbed his bag and stood up.
The bag looked empty—no textbooks inside.
“Ji-tae, where are you going? I wanted to talk to you.”
“I have to go now.”
Cutting her off, he hurried away. Sea quickly grabbed his arm as he exited.
“Why? Why come just to leave?”
“My mom kept nagging me about not going to school. Just tell her I came.”
“Ji-tae!”
Sea grabbed his bag as he tried to break free.
At that moment, Ji-tae slipped off the bag and threw it to the floor, shaking her off.
Sea fell into the hallway, still clutching the bag.
“Ji-tae!”
By the time she tried to get up, he had already disappeared from sight.
Sea sat on the hallway floor in disbelief. Holding the empty bag, she felt tears welling up.
‘I finally came back to school, and this is how it goes.’
The mood that had slightly improved yesterday sank back down.
What did I do wrong? Am I such a lacking teacher? Would he have been better with someone else?
Her chest ached as if pricked by needles. If she blamed Ji-tae, she felt guilty. If she blamed herself, her heart collapsed.
Then she sensed someone passing by.
Startled, Sea quickly stood up.
It was Seonghan.
Perhaps because she hadn’t seen him in a while, she felt strangely glad. Realizing she was still holding the bag, she hurriedly put it down.
But Seonghan only gave her a slight nod and walked past.
‘Is he still in a bad mood?’
Sea reflected on their relationship.
He had slammed his desk. She had left the chairman’s office with only a half-hearted greeting. They hadn’t contacted each other since.
‘Maybe I should have at least thanked him. Whatever our past relationship was, he’s my superior now.’
She had hesitated, thinking it might be unnecessary. Now she regretted it.
While she stood there awkwardly, Seonghan suddenly turned back and approached her.
He lowered his eyes, as if he had something to say.
“Good morning, Chairman. Thanks to you, I rested well and have returned to work.”
Sea bowed politely.
“Elbow.”
After hesitating, Seonghan said that word and lowered his gaze again, as if saying something uncomfortable.
‘My elbow?’
Sea checked. There was nothing there. Yet he kept hesitating.
“Don’t just stand there—go check in the restroom.”
“My elbow?”
“Something’s stuck to you.”
After saying that, he quickly turned and walked away, almost as if fleeing.
What was that about?
Puzzled, Sea headed to the restroom.
There was nothing on her elbow.
But when she turned her body to check more carefully—
“Oh my!”
The problem was somewhere far more embarrassing.
It must have happened when she fell, but thick white dust clung all over the seat of her pants.
Sea’s face flushed bright red.
