Today, Mr. Lee looked unusually grumpy and disappointed.
His usually stern face was now clouded with frustration, and the students in the classroom exchanged worried glances, whispering softly to ease his tense mood. Some students even smiled nervously, trying to lighten the atmosphere, but Mr. Lee's eyes only lingered on Ha-Joon.
Ha-Joon sat with his head lowered, hands resting limply on his lap.
His expression was blank, and his eyelids drooped heavily, betraying his tiredness. Joy, sitting nearby, kept nudging him gently, trying to get him to look up at the teacher, but he remained focused on the ground.
Suddenly, Mr. Lee raised his voice sharply. "Kim Ha-Joon!" he shouted.
Startled, Ha-Joon immediately stood up, his eyelids heavy, and his heart pounding in his chest. His voice was low and hesitant as he responded,
"Yes, sir..." The entire class erupted into giggles at his reaction.
Mr. Lee pointed a stern finger at him.
"You've been sleeping in my class… You've become so lazy, always absent-minded. Your grades have dropped rapidly," he scolded, his voice echoing through the room.
Ha-Joon bowed slightly, apologizing quietly. "Sorry, sir…".
Just then, the classroom door swung open, and Nara stepped inside.
She carried herself with gentle confidence—her soft, layered bob framing her face, her blue eyes sparkling warmly as she looked at the teacher.
Her neat, tidy uniform accentuated her elegance. She held a folder tightly against her chest, her expression calm but slightly tense as she addressed the teacher.
"Hello, Mr. Lee. I heard you were looking for me," Nara said softly.
In-Su, sitting nearby, watched her with intense focus, his eyes lingering on her unwaveringly.
His expression was unreadable, but his gaze was piercing.
All the students looked at her with awe and amusement. Her presence seemed to command attention effortlessly.
Mr. Lee smiled warmly, nodding. "Yes, Nara—my very best student. Come on in."
Nara nodded politely and stepped further inside, giving a brief, respectful glance around the classroom. She then turned her attention to Ha-Joon.
"Ha-Joon, come here," Mr. Lee called out, but then turned to Nara with a sly smile. "Since you're so intelligent, kind, and nice, I want you to tutor Ha-Joon," he said cheerfully.
Ha-Joon immediately protested,
"What? I don't need a tutor," but he quickly shut his mouth as Mr. Lee shot him a quick look and a "keep quiet" gesture.
Turning back to Nara, Mr. Lee asked kindly,
"What do you say, Nara…? Will you tutor him?"
Nara hesitated for a moment, then nodded gently. "Yes, sir," she replied softly.
Mr. Lee sighed happily, then turned serious again, his expression firm. "Go now," he ordered.
Ha-Joon grabbed his backpack, glancing nervously at Nara, then left the classroom with her. The door closed behind them, fading their voices.
A few moments later, Mr. Lee relaxed and announced, "No class today," earning cheers from the students as they started to leave.
Ji-Hoo leaned closer to In-Su with a teasing grin.
"I think Grandpa has a nice taste," he whispered.
In-Su, crossing his arms and wearing his usual mask of indifference, responded coolly, "Yeah, sure. Nice taste…".
Ji-Hoo moved back slightly, sensing In-Su's mood.
"Geesh, why are you so grumpy today?" he asked, trying to lighten the mood.
In-Su's sharp glare made Ji-Hoo raise his hands defensively. "Okay, okay, I get it," he muttered with a smirk.
In-Su's expression remained stern, and he simply said, "Suit yourself," with a rough tone, turning away.
Ha-Joon sat on a bench behind the school garden, the sunlight filtering softly through the trees.
Across from him, Nara sat at a small table with her books spread out, a pen in her hand. She was explaining something patiently, her lips moving gracefully as she spoke.
Ha-Joon watched her intently, feeling a strange flutter in his chest. Her gentle gaze, the way she looked at him with every word, made his heart skip a beat.
He tried to listen, really he did, but his eyes kept flickering to her lips and her expressive eyes. It was somehow entertaining—her calm demeanor, her soft voice—and he found himself smiling without realizing it.
Nara paused, her expression kind and encouraging. "Do you understand?" she asked softly.
Ha-Joon blinked, realizing he'd been lost in thought. He shook his head quickly, a bit embarrassed.
"Yeah, I understand…" he said, his voice dreamy and a little distant.
As soon as the words left his mouth, he blushed furiously, cheeks flushing bright red. He looked down, trying to hide his embarrassment. Nara giggled softly, her gentle laughter easing the mood.
"I think you're a pretty great student," she said warmly, her eyes shining.
"It's just your grades that are slipping… because you've been lazy lately." Her smile was kind but teasing. "And I'm here to help you, so don't hesitate to ask if you need anything."
Ha-Joon nodded earnestly, feeling a mix of gratitude and awkwardness. "Thanks..."
Nara gathered her textbooks into her bag, adjusting the strap comfortably. "So, how was my teaching? Was it okay, or do I need to change something?" she asked playfully.
He hesitated for a moment, then blurted out,
"No, you're great—a really good teacher. But… you should look at me more when you're talking," he added, his words rushing out before he could think.
The moment the words left his lips, he instantly felt embarrassed.
Nara chuckled softly, her gentle smile widening. "Okay, I'll do that," she said warmly.
She stood up, waving goodbye with a cheerful smile. "See you then," she called out before heading away.
Ha-Joon watched her go, feeling a little dazed. He felt a small, self-deprecating smile tug at his lips. You're so easy, Ha-Joon, he murmured to himself. This heart won't fall easily; I'm hard to get.
He gave himself a quick, playful slap on the face, trying to shake off his fluttering feelings.
Unbeknownst to him, In-Su had been watching from the shadows, his hands deep in his pockets. His eyes were stern, intense, observing everything with quiet attention.
Joy's voice was soft and playful, but there was a hint of curiosity behind it. "So, how was learning from Nara?"
Ha-Joon, who had been resting his head on his hand, let out a sigh. His voice was quieter now.
"It wasn't bad," he replied, though his tone seemed a little distant.
Joy nodded, a gentle smile playing on her lips, teasing. "Yeah, you're blushing," she said with a teasing glint in her eyes.
Ha-Joon's cheeks warmed unexpectedly, and he looked away, trying to hide his embarrassment. "Yeah, well, it's just hot today…"
Joy chuckled softly, nudging him with a playful smirk. "Quit with the excuses," she said, her voice tender but teasing. "You've got a crush on her, don't you?"
Ha-Joon's face flushed deeper, and he quickly shook his head, a little defensive. "No, I don't… She's just nice, that's all."
Joy raised her eyebrows, smiling teasingly, but there was a warmth behind her eyes.
"And what about you and Ji-Hoo?"
Joy's expression suddenly softened, a hint of sadness flickering across her face.
He looked down, avoiding her gaze. "He's always been annoying," he said quietly, though his words sounded more like an excuse than a denial.
Joy sighed, her voice gentle now, almost empathetic.
"Yeah, he's always been like that. But I guess I've been spending more time with him lately," she admitted, her voice a little uncertain.
Ha-Joon hesitated, then spoke again, his tone more thoughtful. "You've been pretty close lately," he said softly, almost as if he was afraid of saying too much.
Joy's mind drifted to that day they spent together—laughing, sharing stories, just enjoying each other's company—and how Ji-Hoo kept teasing her, making her feel both annoyed and strangely warm inside.
"Yeah… since that movie," she whispered, a small smile touching her lips.
Ha-Joon nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of understanding and unspoken feelings.
"Yeah, I guess we're trying to get along but we are like peanut butter and jelly. But he's still too annoying," he said, voice tinged with a hint of longing.
Joy sighed again, this time more softly, her gaze distant.
"Yeah, he won't stop teasing me. That's just how he is," Ha-Joon added, almost to himself.
The kitchen fell into a quiet lull, the hum of activity around them. Both of them sat in silence for a moment, lost in their own thoughts, the playful teasing lingering in the air, but beneath it all, a deeper emotion quietly fluttered—something unspoken, yet undeniable.