episode_0072

Episode 71: The Beginning of Awkwardness.

Next Monday.

May, the month of family, has arrived.

It was just like any other morning, except for the slight awkwardness between Han Se-in and Jung Ah-young.

To be more precise, it was only Ah-young who felt awkward.

“Hello.”

“Uh, uh, uh, hello…”

Was it their first meeting? No, it was even more awkward than that. Ah-young’s hesitant voice seemed to be scraping the ground.

As usual, they waited in front of Daiso. It may have seemed like a trivial action, but it was one of the bravest things she had done recently. Perhaps even more so than confessing her feelings.

“I, I’m going home…”

“You went in well.”

“O-oh, I see…”

With her head bowed, Ah-young spoke hesitantly. She was not someone devoid of emotions to the point of being indifferent. The guilt and anxiety deeply embedded in her heart had the power to break even the seemingly strong parts of her.

“Let’s go.”

“Uh-huh…”

She flinched. Right after hearing the words “Let’s go,” Ah-young’s gaze shifted downward. It had been there from the beginning, but the direction was different this time.

Instead of the cold asphalt, it was a warm hand. Her boyfriend, Han Se-in’s hand. They always held hands when going to school together.

However, was it a mistake on her part to forgive someone who had committed such a heinous act?

Han Se-in didn’t ask for forgiveness. Nor did he grant it. He simply remained silent.

But Ah-young couldn’t stay silent. Her lost hand couldn’t fulfill its purpose and had to watch her boyfriend’s retreating figure.

“What are you doing?”

“I-I’m going!”

Thump thump. Ah-young’s chest heaved urgently as she ran. She neither led nor followed.

Beside her, they walked side by side.

At that moment, Ah-young’s heart sank. It was anxiety. It would have been excitement under normal circumstances, but now?

It was a simple continuation. A shy interaction as lovers.

Han Se-in’s hand reached out, but what touched her was not warmth, but a soulless fabric. It was not his hand, but his sleeve that she held onto. It was his action and declaration as a boyfriend.

“…….”

She didn’t say anything. No, she couldn’t. If she held back her actions now, even the touch of the sleeve felt like it would slip away.

Her heart sank deeply. It started to ache, and she couldn’t help but ponder the meaning of holding onto the sleeve instead of the hand.

The 30-minute walk to school. It might feel like 3 minutes if they were chatting, but for her, it felt like 3 hours.

The world was dominated by women. Blood and slaughter, romance and hope, science and art. Women showed overwhelming abilities in all fields.

However, the wars that changed the world were born from the hands of the powerful, and it was always men who influenced those powerful figures.

Some say that women change the world, that it’s the natural order. But changing those women is the work of men.

“Oh, on behalf of Representative Kim Sun-hee…”

The auditorium. A cultural and arts space that could accommodate many people, located within the hall.

But right now, it was just a boring speech time.

May 2nd. It wasn’t a special day, not a political one either. Just a routine event at the hall.

When the hall was first built, it was a day for various officials to encourage new students.

There was nothing special about this year. The only difference, perhaps…

“Shining the future of South Korea.”

The woman giving the speech on the podium was not Kim Sun-hee. She was a kind of substitute.

If you are interested in politics, she was a familiar face.

No one considered her to be special.

Of course, why would they?

She was simply a stand-in.

Busy or unable to come due to special circumstances, it means sending my person.

It could be considered fortunate.

The students listening to the speech were somewhat focused.

It could be attributed to her ability.

Despite the boring speech, she held the microphone with a voice that rivaled a professional voice actor.

Her talent allowed her to enter the political arena.

But it had been 10 years since she became someone’s shadow.

In the position of a politician who should be remembered, it could only be poison.

“Thank you.”

Clap clap clap.

Anyway, the long speech had come to an end.

If there was any reward for the floating hour, it was this.

Students were free to study or use their smartphones until lunchtime.

“Phew.”

Kang Shin-hye descended from the platform and took a step.

Normally, an assistant would have accompanied her.

But due to the lack of schedule afterward, she was left alone.

To be precise, she wanted to look around the school.

It was also where her daughter attended, and she had sent a text asking for guidance.

As the students filed out, she waited in the empty space under the platform.

Then, a clear voice rang out.

“I…”

Kang Shin-hye turned her head towards the direction of the sound.

There stood a young man.

He was a bit peculiar.

Shorter than average height.

His black hair was Korean, but what caught her attention was his cute and pretty appearance… and his red eyes.

That appearance was enough to stick in Kang Shin-hye’s memory.

There was no one else.

Because he said he wanted to be alone, she was the only one here.

In conclusion, he had approached her.

It was a special occasion.

A student from the school council, not an adult with business, had approached her.

Given that he came right after the speech ended, he must be a new student.

“What’s the matter?”

“Can you sign this for me?”

“…?”

He extended a book and a pen towards her.

It was a first.

It was the first time she had received a request to sign something from a student, not a payment document.

For a moment, she felt flustered.

But she regained her composure.

“I’m not Kim Sun-hee.”

“I know.”

He was bold.

Unknowingly, showing difficulty in front of an adult was a way of expressing it.

The peculiar boy with red eyes was boldly expressing his opinion.

“You’re Teacher Kang Shin-hye.”

“I’m not a teacher.”

“I see.”

“….”

“Can you sign it, please?”

“No. I won’t.”

Kang Shin-hye took the notebook.

Awkward, but the signing continued.

She didn’t expect to do this.

The freshness from the student and the peculiar situation matched.

Kang Shin-hye’s heart felt fuzzy.

She was human too, and unfamiliar experiences revealed her true self.

Her lips twitched.

You could see a part of Kang Hyun-ah in her.

The sharp charisma of the inspector began to melt.

“Do you know me?”

“Yes. I’m a fan.”

“A fan…”

The conversation continued.

It was a good coincidence that her daughter was far from coming.

It was a fortunate coincidence as she was bored.

Absolutely.

It wasn’t because the boy was pleasing to the ear.

Oh, don’t misunderstand.

It wasn’t in a sexual sense, but simply a good situation.

“Most people like Representative Kim Sun-hee… but I’m different.”

“Why do you think that?”

Kang Shin-hye’s eyes sparkled.

Young people interested in politics were rare.

The dying heart in the political arena was rekindled.

The soil was moist, and it didn’t take long to sow the seed of desire.

“In fact, she’s practically confirmed as the party leader and aiming for the next presidential election…”

“….”

“It’s definitely not something she achieved alone.”

It was a straightforward statement.

As a member of the same party.

It might sound offensive, but the man bravely spoke up.

And his voice made Kang Shin-hye restless.

“What if that’s also a skill… it’s still a waste, honestly.”

“Is that so?”

“No, it’s not. But still, as members of the same party… I’m sorry.”

He bowed his head.

In hindsight, it was a wrong thing to say.

It was disrespectful to someone Kang Shin-hye respected.

He made a mistake, and apologizing was the right thing to do.

However.

Kang Shin-hye’s lips twitched.

The desire that had been suppressed and ignored rose up.

If he wasn’t a student, he would have worn a mask.

If he was someone important or someone to be held accountable, he would have held back his words.

But the boy in front of her was neither.

The radar that had been spinning in the political arena stopped working.

The innocent-looking boy stimulated a woman’s desire.

“No, keep talking.”

“Still…”

“A politician shouldn’t just swallow the sweet stuff. You have to know how to handle the bitter stuff too.”

“…Yes.”

His lips moved.

Words that made her heart sway and her lips dance spilled out.

Criticism of Kim Sun-hee became praise for Kang Shin-hye.

“Lastly, lastly…”

“Yes.”

“Is there a reason you became a fan? It’s hard for young people to like politicians.”

“That’s…”

His lips pressed tightly together.

His slightly trembling gaze shook her heart.

Slowly parting lips stole her gaze.

Throughout history, it was women who changed the world.

The natural order and principle of nature.

And.

The great whisper that manipulates such women.

The beginning of a great plan.

“10 years ago, and last year.”

“…”

“My family was poor. Thanks to the policies that you helped with…”

“…”

“I was able to study. I was able to enter college.”

“Ah…”

“Now, I can stand in front of you, teacher.”

“I see…”

“Thank you.”

A waist bent at a 90-degree angle.

A heartfelt expression of gratitude.

The man’s secret whisper echoed.

It was a request that came after pleasure.

A temptation that was hard to refuse.

It was the natural order.

From a woman’s perspective, it was nothing special.

“I hope someone like you, teacher, becomes president.”

“…”

“I’ll support you.”