episode_0002

He closed his laptop, stood up from his seat, and headed out of the cafe.

“Are you leaving already?”

The cafe owner asked as if trying to stop him from leaving.

“Oh, yes. It seems like there’s some issue with my son.”

“Oh, I see. I hope everything gets resolved smoothly.”

“Yes, thank you.”

As he smiled gratefully, you could somehow see his cheeks turning red.

Oh well. Beauty is indeed a weapon.

Exiting the cafe, I went straight into the apartment complex and started the car in the underground parking lot.

-Vroom!

As the engine roared to life, I drove roughly towards the school.

A 10-minute drive later, I arrived at the school entrance, but the security guard stopped me.

“How did you come here?”

“Oh, I’m a parent. Jung Da-bin from 3rd grade, class 3.”

“Could you wait for a moment?”

The security guard turned and headed towards the security office, probably making a call to confirm.

“These days, even the security guards are quite young.”

Back in our day during elementary school, there wasn’t such a thing, and even when Dayoung was in middle school, they seemed like venerable elders.

Lost in these thoughts, the security guard returned to the car.

“Yes, I’ve confirmed with the homeroom teacher. Please go in.”

“Yes, thank you.”

As I greeted and rolled up the window, the security guard suddenly grabbed it.

“Oh, there!”

-Gasp!

“Yes, yes?!”

“I know it might be meddling, but you’re not planning to go in like that, are you?”

The security guard glanced over my attire, looking a bit judgmental due to the micro-expression.

“I have a cardigan in the car. I plan to put it on before going in. Haha.”

“I see. I apologize if I overstepped.”

“No, it’s okay.”

Saying that, I raised the window and met the security guard’s eyes, which seemed somewhat regretful.

“Security duty can be lonely.”

After parking the car in the school parking lot and putting on the cardigan from the back seat, I got out of the car.

Then I entered the main building of the school, searching for the way.

“Hey, student.”

Unable to find the faculty room, I approached a male student nearby.

“Yes, what?”

Though he seemed a bit fierce, I mustered the courage and calmly asked.

“Do you know where the faculty room is?”

“Yes. Shall I guide you?”

“No, no need. Just tell me the location…”

Feeling like I was taking too much of his time, I said that, and the student clenched his fist, looking displeased.

“No, I’ll guide you. Please let me.”

Phew, intense. Why is he suddenly so passionate? I should be grateful, but…

“Okay then. Thank you…”

Following the student to the faculty room.

The student spoke first.

“Are you a new teacher here?”

“Uh, yeah?”

At 39, being called a new teacher felt odd, so I chuckled.

“Oh, you… seem too young to be a teacher or a parent.”

“Haha, just kidding!”

I lightly tapped the shoulder of the student walking beside me.

“You have a son, don’t you? Anyway, thanks for the lip service.”

Being called young after crossing 30 isn’t always welcome. It’s even more so nearing 40.

Hence, even if it was due to my rejuvenation from TS syndrome, the remark sounded rather uncomfortable.

“Oh! You’re a parent? Wow, you’re so young. Is it someone’s mother…?”

“In 3rd grade, class 3, it’s Jung Da-bin…”

“Oh, Da-bin! He’s really famous. How popular is he as the most handsome guy in our school?”

At that, my shoulders suddenly twitched.

“Really? Hmph! I see.”

“Of course. How persistent girls can be… Ah. Seeing the mother, I understand why Dabin is doing so well. Haha.

This one. She was a diligent and polite student to the extent that I couldn’t tell if I was talking to a student or a teacher. It was her father, not her mother.

Thanks to her, I could arrive at the staff room without getting bored.

“Here.”

“Thank you, student. If it wasn’t for you, I would have been lost.”

Unusually, the staff room, which is usually on the first floor, was located on the second floor of the annex.

“…Yes?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m not a student, I’m Kang Seungyoon. That’s my name.”

“Oh, I see. Thank you. Seungyoon, are you friends with Dabin?”

“We’re in the same class, but not that close…”

“Hahaha, honest. Usually, people say they’re close in situations like this, right? Anyway, I’ll let Dabin know, so come over to our house soon. I’ll make something delicious.”

Upon hearing this, Seungyoon blushed noticeably.

“Yes, I’ll definitely come over.”

“Okay, go quickly anyway. It seems like break time, you’ll be late for class.”

“Yes, thank you. I’ll definitely come over soon!”

Seungyoon, with a bright expression, disappeared, and I cautiously knocked on the door of the staff room and opened it.

“Excuse me.”

As I entered the staff room, all eyes turned towards me.

“Uh… Is this where the homeroom teacher for 3rd grade, Class 3 is…?”

Then, among all those gazes, a pair of eyes widened.

“Oh, hello! Are you Dabin’s mother?”

I was about to correct him by saying I was the father, but then I regained my composure and nodded.

“Hahaha, yes.”

“Would you mind stepping out first?”

Following Dabin’s homeroom teacher, I entered the parent-teacher meeting room.

“Please, have a seat.”

Facing each other across the table in the meeting room were Dabin’s homeroom teacher, Choi Sungjoon, who introduced himself as the homeroom teacher for 3rd grade, Class 3.

“Dabin’s soon-to-be mother.”

Since there was no separate submission of documents to the school due to divorce, unless Dabin blabbered about it while going around, this teacher wouldn’t know that I was the mother.

“Hahaha, I was wondering who Dabin took after to be so handsome, turns out it’s mostly his mother.”

“Hahaha, thank you.”

After the brief exchange of greetings, homeroom teacher Choi Sungjoon spoke to me with a slightly more serious expression.

“I contacted you suddenly, must have been quite surprised. The reason I called you is because Dabin hasn’t been looking well lately, so I was wondering if something was going on at home. Since he has good relationships with his peers and is a bright child.”

“Oh, I see…”

Knowing the reason, my complexion darkened rapidly.

Although things seemed cheerful at home just like before, it was far from normal. In just two months, my wife left home and my husband transformed into a woman. If anything, that was more abnormal than normal.

Being clueless like a fool, trusting and relying on the children who treated me the same as before. My fatherhood has been stripped away.

“From your expression, it seems like you have an idea. Can you tell me what’s going on?”

Asked by Teacher Choi Sungjoon with a concerned look.

“Well… We actually got divorced two months ago.”

“Oh… I see. No wonder Dabin seemed down.”

“At home, I always thought everything was fine since he put up a good front…”

Suddenly, tears welled up.

“Oh dear… How hurt you must have been.”

Saying that, he handed me a handkerchief.

Taking it, I wiped away my tears.

“Divorce is a significant upheaval for children. It’s impossible not to be affected. Your wife must have gone through a lot too, but as a teacher, I would suggest paying a little more attention to Dabin…”

“Sob, yes. I was a poor parent.”

“Oh my~ No, that’s not true. Dabin, this kid is so well-mannered that you wouldn’t even notice. However, I will continue to observe Dabin and stay in touch. It seems right to care for him together at home.”

*Sob* “Thank you.”

“No, I’m more thankful… Oh. It’s nothing. Anyway, are you living separately from your husband now? Has Dabin been in contact with his father…?”

“I’m embarrassed to say this, but he suddenly left home…. I can’t reach him either.”

“Oh, then the reason for divorce is…”

*Nods*

“You must have been very distressed.”

Saying that while clenching her fist and striking a pose close to Nice!, whether it was for comfort or not, she graciously accepted it.

Then suddenly.

“Mom!”

Teacher Choi Sung-jun, holding my hands, looked at me with fiery eyes.

“Although you are going through a difficult time, this too shall pass. Regarding Dabin, I will actively guide and cooperate with you in every way possible, so please stay strong and overcome the pain quickly.”

Surprised by his passion, I almost burst into tears, but anyway, the parent-teacher consultation ended successfully.

“Oh, by the way. Usually, don’t teachers receive calls on their contact numbers? Why did Dabin contact me…?”

“Well… Dabin, as sharp as he is, noticed how worried I was about him. He said if there’s anything to tell his parents, he would always let me know. So I had no choice but to ask Dabin to contact you.”

“I see…”

Probably because my number was registered under my father’s name in the student roster. He really cares about his father. What a filial son.

As I returned to the office and exchanged brief greetings with the teacher, it happened.

“Oh! What’s wrong with this!”

Teacher Choi Sung-jun looked at the pale computer screen in confusion. He tried to reboot it hastily, but the blue screen appeared again.

“Oh dear, is it broken? Why is this happening?”

*Bang!*

He suddenly started hitting the computer with his thick hands. What an ignorant behavior.

“Oh, that’s not how you fix it.”

Unintentionally, words of reprimand came out of my mouth.

“What?”

“That’s not how you fix a computer like that.”

Teacher Choi Sung-jun looked at me with a puzzled expression.

Looking at the computer with the eyes of someone who found a delicious prey, I asked Teacher Choi Sung-jun, “Can I help?”