In the sacred school

Episode 6

-are you here?

Seonghan was a detailed boyfriend.

When people were around, he pretended not to know anything. But when others were not around, he smiled calmly and acted as if everything was fine.

Se-ah had something to do at school and stopped by the teacher’s office. That’s when she saw Seong-han standing alone. She hesitated for a moment.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you.”

He spoke without hesitation, as if it wasn’t embarrassing at all. Then, he walked closer to Se-ah.

After that day, they never kissed again. But sometimes, Seong-han would massage her shoulders or gently hold her hand.

“You should be studying, senior.”

He was already the top student in the school.

“I’ve studied enough.”

He placed something in her hand. It was a piece of bread filled with chocolate.

“Eat it. You’ll collapse at this rate.”

“I’m fine. You know I’m strong.”

“Acting strong isn’t the same as being strong.”

Se-ah widened her eyes. How did he know? Did he notice that rainy day?

She never told him about her struggles. She was afraid he would be disappointed. He was someone she wanted to look good in front of.

“I’m really strong! I used to win races in elementary school!”

She bent her arms and showed off her muscles. Seong-han chuckled.

His fingers gently pressed against her arm.

“Cute.”

“I’m not cute! I’m strong!”

His dark eyes gleamed with amusement. The golden light from the classroom reflected in them.

Se-ah blinked.

Suddenly, his image faded into darkness. The warm moment disappeared, and all she heard was a soft, crumbling sound.

Se-ah opened her eyes.

She was lying on her bed.

It was just a dream.

A memory from ten years ago—back in high school. The time when she briefly dated Seong-han.

It had been one of the happiest times of her life. Not at home, but at school.

“What a random dream.”

He left a long time ago. He wasn’t coming back.

Last night, she couldn’t sleep. Even after leaving the café, his last words echoed in her mind.

“Next time, let’s meet properly.”

She had run away after hearing that. But even as she left, she could feel his gaze on her back.

“Why is this happening?”

That was the past. A time that couldn’t come back. Besides, she has a boyfriend now.

She sat in silence for a moment, lost in thought. Before she knew it, time had passed, and she hurried to get ready for work.

“Good morning.”

Se-ah arrived at school, feeling exhausted.

“Did you finish checking the student grades?”

It was Min-kyung, a fellow Korean language teacher. She was five years older than Se-ah and had a strong personality. Se-ah relied on her a lot.

But today, Min-kyung leaned in closer and lowered her voice.

“Se-ah, do you have time later?”

“Huh? Yes, I do. Why?”

“Meet me at the terrace after a little while.”

With that, Min-kyung stood up.

“Ugh, I need coffee.”

She stretched loudly and walked across the office.

Se-ah watched her leave, feeling uneasy.

“What could this be about?”

Was Min-kyung going through something? Or… had she seen something between Se-ah and Dong-jun?

No one knew about their relationship, but if someone was sharp enough, they might have guessed.

“If she asks, what should I say?”

Should she deny it completely? Or just admit it? Neither option seemed right.

In the end, she couldn’t come to a decision. She just got up and left.

The rooftop was usually off-limits to students. But Min-kyung had a key, so she often went up there to clean or organize things.

When Se-ah arrived, Min-kyung was leaning against a pillar. She looked up as Se-ah approached.

“Se-ah, are you involved with Mok-yeon?”

So she had seen them. She had seen Dong-jun and Mok-yeon together.

Se-ah swallowed dryly.

She decided to play dumb.

“What do you mean? There’s nothing going on. Why do you ask?”

Min-kyung didn’t answer right away. Instead, she pulled out her phone and showed something to Se-ah.

“Mok-yeon posted something in a private chat.”

“A private chat?”

“Yeah. It’s a chat for the Environmental Cleanup Committee. A teacher I know sent me the screenshot. Read it.”

The Environmental Cleanup Committee was a small group of five teachers who handled school maintenance. Mok-yeon was the youngest member.

It was well known that the head of the committee, Mr. Kim Tae-sik, treated Mok-yeon like a precious little brother.

Se-ah took the phone and read the message.

[“This job is too hard. I come here just to breathe.

Please don’t tell anyone about this.”]

“If he didn’t want anyone to know, why post it in a group chat?”

Se-ah let out a small laugh. Then, she read further.

[“Teaching Korean with Ms. Se-ah is exhausting.

Of course, she’s a great teacher, and she’s more experienced than me. So it’s only natural that I listen to her.

I tried my best to endure it.”]

“Endure it?”

She clenched her jaw.

“I’ve been cleaning up his mess this whole time.”

[“But this time, I just couldn’t take it anymore.

About the retest… I followed Ms. Se-ah’s instructions exactly.

But in the end, students still failed the test.

So I went to her and apologized.”]

Se-ah’s eyes widened. She shook her head.

“He followed my instructions? Then why did students say they didn’t understand anything?”

She knew he had messed up. He had even come to her, looking panicked, saying the students had no idea what they had learned.

And the reason students had to retake the test?

Because he had taught them the wrong material.

Se-ah’s hands tightened into fists as she kept reading.

[“But Ms. Se-ah told me it was my responsibility.

She was so scary. I couldn’t stop crying, even at home.

Even now, as I write this, I’m crying.”]

Se-ah exhaled sharply.

He had definitely been scolded. But she hadn’t even been that harsh. She had only told him to be more careful.

He was the one who made the mistake. And now, he was acting like she had bullied him.

[“But it’s all my fault. I’m just not good enough.

And I’m writing this just because I needed to get it off my chest.

So please, don’t tell anyone. Just read this and forget about it. Please.”]

Se-ah squeezed her eyes shut.

“This is what they mean by betrayal, isn’t it?”

She had covered for him so many times. And in return, he posted this, making her look like a villain.

Min-kyung watched her finish reading. Then, she spoke.

“This isn’t true, is it?”

Se-ah stayed silent for a moment. Then, she let out a small laugh.

Not a happy laugh. A bitter one.

“To Mokyeon, I’m sure it feels true.”

Min-kyung frowned.

“Se-ah, this isn’t something to brush off. Mr. Kim Tae-sik is furious. He thinks you mistreated Mokyeon.”

Mr. Kim, the head of the Environmental Cleanup Committee, adored Mokyeon. If he believed this nonsense, it would be bad for Se-ah.

Still, what could she do?

If she went to Mr. Kim and explained, Min-kyung would get in trouble for showing her the chat.

And Se-ah didn’t want that.

“As long as you don’t misunderstand, it’s fine. You told me because you trust me, right?”

Min-kyung crossed her arms.

“Yeah, but that’s only because I know what Mok-yeon is like. He’s always been good at playing innocent while making people take his side.”

She shook her head in frustration.

Min-kyung had been Mok-yeon’s homeroom teacher the year after Se-ah.

She had suffered just as much as Se-ah did.

Back then, they used to talk a lot—mostly Min-kyung venting about her struggles.

“Don’t let him fool you again. You’ve already done so much for him. Why keep letting him drag you down?

Min-kyung patted Se-ah’s shoulder and walked back inside.

Se-ah stood there for a moment, staring at the sky.

“Why does he hate me so much?”

She bit her lip, then glanced down at the schoolyard.

Mok-yeon was running through the front gates, clearly late for work.

“Still the same as ever.”

Even in school, he had been late almost every day.

Se-ah sighed and headed back to her desk.

Not long after, Mok-yeon entered the teachers’ office.

Then—

SLAM!

The office door burs

t open.

Everyone turned in shock.

Standing there, his face full of anger, was Principal Lee Sang-tae.

“Jin Mok-yeon!”

His voice thundered through the room.

A heavy silence fell.

Everyone held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next.