Rebirth – 4

A few days later.

As the season grew colder, the sun began to set earlier.

The moon peeked its face through the window, subtly illuminating the room with its soft glow.

Kang In-ho was in his room on the second floor, receiving tutoring.

It was a math lesson, and he was solving application problems after listening to Yoon Sia’s explanation of the concepts.

Yoon Sia stared intently at the student’s face.

His gaze was fixed on the problem book, making it seem as if he was concentrating on the lesson, but Yoon Sia immediately noticed that this was not the case.

“…….”

He was clearly thinking about something else.

The way he was deeply engrossed in his thoughts was unfamiliar, and Yoon Sia silently observed him.

“…….”

He seemed a little dazed, as if he had some worries.

It was similar to how she had looked when she first heard the news of her father’s hospitalization.

“Inho.”

After observing him for a few minutes, Yoon Sia decided to pull Inho out of his swamp of deep thought, feeling as if time was passing idly.

“…….”

Inho didn’t respond to her call.

He simply stared quietly at the problem book.

“Kang In-ho.”

Yoon Sia called his name and gently shook his shoulder.

“Ah… yes?”

Only after the external contact did Kang In-ho react.

“You can’t seem to concentrate today?”

She spoke with concern rather than reproach.

Could it be that he was having problems because of bad friends? Yoon Sia guessed.

He was a student who was trying to get his act together and walk the right path. It was her hope that his resolve would not crumble.

“Ah, it’s just… I’m just a bit off today.”

He avoided her gaze, turning his eyes to the problem book.

“Still, I’m an adult. If you have any worries, tell me. I’ll help you.”

She was still a young adult who hadn’t shed her student image, but she still comforted him.

“Teacher?”

Perhaps her words resonated with him, as he opened his mouth while still looking at the problem book.

“Yes, I’ll help you.”

Yoon Sia answered without hesitation.

Truly, she wanted to help him.

There was a mix of altruistic feelings, wanting to help a commendable student,

and selfish feelings, as if she wouldn’t feel at ease unless she erased the dark shadow hanging over his face.

Kang In-ho’s eyes turned to her.

He slowly scanned Yoon Sia.

It could have been mistaken for a sexually harassing gaze, but Yoon Sia didn’t particularly find it unpleasant.

It didn’t feel like he was scanning her with lustful intentions.

Kang In-ho, who had been looking at her with serious eyes, chuckled and shrugged.

“Thanks for the offer, but I’m fine. I have to solve the things I’m responsible for myself.”

His response was a rejection. Yoon Sia unconsciously pouted.

“Responsibility is something an adult can say. What responsibility does a student have?”

Words that were so cold that she surprised herself popped out of her mouth.

“Teacher?”

Surprised by her sharp reaction, he looked at her.

Ahem, ahem.

Yoon Sia cleared her throat, smiling awkwardly.

“Inho, I still think you’re too young to solve problems on your own, okay?”

She wore a gentle expression and patted his thigh.

Stroke, stroke.

While Inho didn’t know what to do with her hand stroking his thigh from top to bottom, Yoon Sia continued to speak.

“You don’t have enough social experience yet. It’s hard to tell what’s right and wrong. What to do and what not to do… It’s hard to distinguish these things, right? Huh?”

Yoon Sia looked at him as if seeking his agreement. Still with a smiling face.

“So, if you have any problems, consult me. Okay?”

Yoon Sia nodded, as if telling him to nod along with her.

“…….”

Kang In-ho seemed to have forgotten how to make a sound, staring at Yoon Sia with his mouth slightly open as he thought.

What’s she talking about, acting younger than me.

The next day, Shin Jeonga didn’t come to the morning class.

Normally, Inho would have just thought nothing of it, but because of his conversation with Kim Jin-tae, his gaze kept going to Jeonga’s empty seat throughout the class.

After having lunch with Jeong Sanghoon and a few other students, he leaned back in his chair and pondered.

Whether it was the right choice to contact Shin Jeonga.

“Wouldn’t it be even funnier to contact her now?”

He had a feeling that Shin Jeonga would definitely answer if he contacted her, but he also had a strong premonition that a hasty contact would only worsen the situation.

“I was too complacent.”

Was he too focused on distancing himself from Shin Jeonga? He failed in many ways when it came to distancing himself.

Although it wasn’t a situation he created, Shin Jeonga’s status within the school had plummeted due to what happened in the classroom the other day.

It wouldn’t have been a problem if Shin Jeonga’s friendships had been smooth, but Jin-tae explained that because of the karma she had built up while hanging out with him, the backlash was quite significant.

Kim Jin-tae was still preventing bullying that crossed the line like a fierce bulldog, but Kim Jin-tae’s status had also fallen. Like sinking into a swamp, their status would slowly sink.

That’s why Kim Jin-tae had swallowed his pride and asked Kang In-ho for help.

“What to do….”

He had spent his school days completely unrelated to things like bullying or school gangs, so he couldn’t see a suitable solution.

He could only continue to worry without coming up with a sharp answer.

In the meantime, lunchtime ended, and the class time led by the homeroom teacher began.

In the middle of the class, the back door opened and Shin Jeonga came in.

Everyone’s eyes turned to her.

“Did you go to the hospital okay?”

The homeroom teacher asked Shin Jeonga in an indifferent voice.

“Yes.”

Shin Jeonga answered curtly.

“Go to your seat.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the homeroom teacher resumed the class.

“…….”

Her eyes briefly met his as she went to her seat.

She was thinner than before, as if she wasn’t feeling well, and dark crescents were thickly spread under her eyes.

After sitting down and hanging her bag on the chair, she looked at him again.

Thus, a silent exchange of glances took place.

After the class ended and the homeroom teacher left, the classroom became noisy again.

The classroom was filled with moderate noise, and Shin Jeonga quietly got up as if hiding in the noise and passed by Inho.

It seemed like she was going to the bathroom as she went out the back door again.

“…What is this.”

Shin Jeonga dropped a note on his desk as she brushed past him.

Kang In-ho looked at the door she had left through and unfolded the crumpled paper.

[Let’s talk for a bit after school today.]

The note contained a simple message, and Inho felt an ominous feeling for some reason.