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“Shit, shit, shit,” Hyun-bin muttered as he skidded to a stop in front of the door to his first class. His breath came in short gasps, the weight of his backpack digging into his shoulders. Through the narrow window, he could see Mr. Hwang standing at the front of the room, his immaculate posture as intimidating as ever. The man was holding the class’s English textbook, his sharp eyes scanning the room as he spoke.
Hyun-bin closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and muttered under his breath, “You’ve got this. Just apologize, sit down, and hope he doesn’t kill you.”
He pushed the door open as quietly as he could manage, though the creak of the hinges felt deafening. Every head in the classroom turned toward him, and his heart sank as Mr. Hwang’s gaze snapped to the door.
“Lee Hyun-bin,” Mr. Hwang said, lowering the textbook. His tone was calm, but there was no mistaking the sharp edge of disapproval. “How nice of you to join us.”
Hyun-bin flushed red, bowing deeply. “My apologies, sir,” he said quickly, his voice trembling.
Mr. Hwang raised an eyebrow, his expression as unreadable as ever. “We are currently discussing similar words that are often confused with one another.”
He turned to the board and tapped on two words he’d written in neat, even script: Difficult and Wrong.
“Difficult,” Mr. Hwang said in English. He tapped the second word. “Wrong. Can you explain to me what the difference is?”
The classroom was silent, the air heavy with the weight of expectation. Hyun-bin’s palms grew clammy as his mind scrambled for an answer. His English wasn’t terrible, but being put on the spot like this in front of everyone made it impossible to think clearly.
“Uh…” he stammered, his eyes darting between the two words on the board. “Wrong means… not correct? Difficult is um…. It’s…” he trailed off. He knew he could use it in a sentence, but he had no idea how to explain it. “I’m not sure, sir,” he said.
Mr. Hwang tilted his head slightly, his gaze unwavering. “Would you say that your tendency to arrive late is difficult to fix?”
The class chuckled softly, and Hyun-bin’s face burned even hotter. “No, sir,” he mumbled.
“Exactly,” Mr. Hwang said, turning back to the board. “Something difficult is challenging but achievable with effort. Something wrong, on the other hand, is an error—a mistake. Do you understand the difference now?”
“Yes, sir,” Hyun-bin said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Mr. Hwang nodded once. “Good. Take your seat.”
As Hyun-bin shuffled to the back of the classroom, he could feel the amused glances of his classmates following him. He slid into his chair and slumped forward, wishing he could disappear. Mr. Hwang picked up the textbook again.
“Now,” Mr. Hwang continued, “turn to page 45. The exercise at the bottom requires you to choose the correct word for each sentence. Pay attention to context.”
The class flipped open their books, but Hyun-bin couldn’t focus. His heart was still pounding, and the sting of humiliation lingered. He stared at the board, the words Difficult and Wrong taunting him like a bad joke.
As soon as Mr. Hwang left the room, it was as if the class had been released from a spell. The tension that had hung in the air dissipated, and everyone’s shoulders relaxed. A quiet chatter began to fill the room, punctuated by the occasional laugh or rustle of notebooks being shut.
“He hates me,” Hyun-bin said with a groan.
Do-hyun, his best friend, laughed. “He doesn’t hate you, he’s just like that.”
“This is, like, the third time this week he corrected me in front of the class. That does not happen to anyone else.”
“Maybe you should stop being late.”
“You know I don’t do it on purpose.” Hyun-bin pursed his lips. He couldn’t really help being late. He was in-charge of helping his two younger siblings get ready and he had to take them to school every day. His parents didn’t care about them at all, so he had to. Typically, being a few minutes late to class everyday was no issue. Unfortunately, this semester, Mr. Hwang was his first period for three days out of the week.
“You should talk to him,” Do-hyun suggested.
“No,” Hyun-bin said. “That’s basically a death sentence. It’s like you want him to hate me.”
Before Do-hyun could respond, the door opened. The room fell silent again for a brief moment as everyone turned to see who had entered.
It was Mr. Seong, their history teacher, carrying a stack of papers and wearing his usual easygoing grin. The contrast between him and Mr. Hwang was almost comical—where Mr. Hwang was all sharp lines and cold stares, Mr. Seong was relaxed and approachable, his presence lightening the mood instantly.
“Morning, class,” he said cheerfully, setting the papers on the desk. “I hope you’re all excited to learn about the Imjin war today.”
A few students groaned jokingly, and Mr. Seong laughed. “Come on, it’s not that bad. I’ll even throw in a story about my embarrassing middle school days if you promise to pay attention.”
Hyun-bin couldn’t help but smile. It was impossible not to like Mr. Seong. His classes felt more like conversations than lectures, and he had a way of making everyone feel like they mattered.
Hyun-bin leaned over to Do-hyun and whispered, “See? Why can’t Mr. Hwang be more like him?”
Do-hyun let out a quiet laugh. “Yeah, right. Mr. Hwang probably thinks smiling is a sign of weakness.”
The lesson wrapped up with the usual buzz of chatter and scraping chairs as students packed up and prepared to leave for their brief recess. Hyun-bin was halfway out the door when he heard his name.
“Lee Hyun-bin!” Mr. Seong called, his cheerful voice cutting through the noise.
Hyun-bin turned back, surprised, and saw his history teacher waving him over with a warm smile. Do-hyun paused near the doorway, curious, and hung back.
“Yes, sir?” Hyun-bin asked, walking back to the front of the room.
“I just wanted to tell you,” Mr. Seong said, leaning casually against his desk, “your reflection paper from last week was excellent. The quality of your writing was great and your perspectives on the subject were really interesting.”
Hyun-bin’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“Really,” Mr. Seong said, nodding. “It’s one of the best submissions I’ve read. You should be proud.”
A smile spread across Hyun-bin’s face, and he bowed. “Thanks, sir. That means a lot.” Then, because he couldn’t help himself, he added, “I wish other teachers were as nice as you.”
Do-hyun nodded in agreement. “Mr. Hwang was our first period. Scary stuff.”
Mr. Seong raised an eyebrow, his smile softening with curiosity. “Mr. Hwang, huh? What happened?”
Hyun-bin sighed, glancing at Do-hyun before answering. “I was late to his class this morning, and he called me out in front of everyone. Made me explain the difference between difficult and wrong. And when I got it wrong, he made an example out of me.”
“He is definitely not as nice as you, sir,” Do-hyun said.
“I mean, I get it,” Hyun-bin continued, rubbing the back of his neck. “I shouldn’t have been late. But he’s so strict all the time. It’s like… I don’t know, like he enjoys making me squirm.”
Mr. Seong chuckled lightly. “Mr. Hwang can be… intense, I’ll give you that. But he’s also one of the most dedicated teachers I’ve worked with.”
“Oh, he’s dedicated, alright,” Hyun-bin said. “He’s dedicated to making my life miserable.”
“Trust me,” Mr. Seong said, leaning forward slightly, “he’s not. He just has high standards, and he pushes his students because he knows they’re capable of more. I think you’d be surprised how much he notices about his class.”
“I don’t know about that,” Hyun-bin muttered, crossing his arms. “All he ever notices about me is when I mess up.”
“That’s because you’re always late,” Do-hyun pointed out. Then, he looked at Mr. Seong. “Although, sir, it’s not Hyun-bin’s fault. He just has a pretty rough life at home, you know?”
Hyun-bin glared at his friend, not entirely sure why Do-hyun felt that it was appropriate to be spilling Hyun-bin’s business to a teacher. But when Mr. Seong looked at him sympathetically, Hyun-bin’s anger faded away. The teacher really had a way of making anyone feel comfortable.
Mr. Seong’s expression softened further, the usual playfulness in his demeanor replaced by genuine concern. “Is that true, Hyun-bin?”
Hyun-bin hesitated, shifting uncomfortably under the weight of the question. He wasn’t used to talking about his home life, let alone with a teacher. “It’s nothing,” he said quickly, brushing it off. “I mean, it’s not great, but it’s fine.”
“‘Not great’ doesn’t sound like nothing,” Mr. Seong said gently. He didn’t push, though, letting the words hang between them. “Have you talked to Mr. Hwang about this?” he asked.
Hyun-bin’s head shot up, alarmed. “No way. He’d probably tell me it’s not an excuse and give me a lecture about punctuality.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Mr. Seong said, his tone thoughtful. “He might surprise you. He’s not as unapproachable as you think.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Hyun-bin muttered. “But thanks, sir. For, you know… listening.”
“Anytime,” Mr. Seong said with a reassuring smile. “And don’t hesitate to let me know if you need help with anything—not just history. Teachers are here to support you, even if we sometimes seem strict or distant.”
Hyun-bin nodded, feeling a little lighter. He bowed slightly before turning to leave, Do-hyun following close behind.
The next day, Hyun-bin didn’t have English until the last period so the day went by quite peacefully. Lunch, however, turned out to be a little more interesting.
“Guess what,” Tae-joon hissed, taking a seat in front of Hyun-bin on their usual cafeteria table. He was a friend of Hyun-bin and Do-hyun from a different class. “I heard a rumor that Mr. Hwang was carrying flowers when he walked into campus.”
Hyun-bin raised his eyebrows. “Flowers?”
Tae-joon nodded. “People saw him bring it into the faculty office, but he didn’t have it anymore when he left.”
“That sounds… ridiculous,” Hyun-bin said. “Mr. Hwang is supposed to be… coldhearted. He’s not the kind of guy that gives out flowers.”
“Maybe it’s for someone he killed,” Do-hyun joked.
“Or someone he’s going to kill,” Tae-joon added with a mischievous grin, leaning closer. “You know, like some kind of offering. ‘Here’s a rose before I ruin your life.’ Very Mr. Hwang.”
Hyun-bin snorted. The theories were ridiculous, but they did make a lot more sense than the flowers being of… sentimental value. In any case, it really wasn’t any of the students’ business, and Hyun-bin feared that if he pried, Mr. Hwang would use it as a reason to come after him even more.
There was a knock on the door that made Mr. Hwang pause his lecture. He looked up to check who it was, then, Hyun-bin swore he saw the wrinkles on Mr. Hwang’s forehead ease up a bit.
The door opened and Mr. Seong poked his head in.
“Hi, everyone,” he said to the silent class. He looked around and laughed a little. “Wow, they’re never this quiet when I’m teaching.”
Mr. Hwang stepped back from the board, arms crossed as he regarded the interruption. “Is there something you need, Mr. Seong?” Although his stance was intimidating, Hyun-bin noted that Mr. Hwang’s tone was a lot softer.
“Oh, right,” Mr. Seong said with a grin, stepping fully into the room. “Seems my classroom has run out of chalk. Could I have some?”
Mr. Hwang reached for the box of chalk on the table and held out two pieces. “Are these enough?”
“Yeah, thanks,” Mr. Seong replied, then glanced at the class again. No one had said a word since he came in. “Wow, you’ve got them really trained, huh? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a class this well-behaved.”
A few students chuckled nervously, unsure if they were allowed to laugh.
“They’re focused,” Mr. Hwang said simply. “It’s a valuable skill.”
“I’ll bet,” Mr. Seong said with a playful smile. He tapped the desk lightly. “Anyway, I’ll let you get back to it. Don’t be too hard on them, alright?”
Mr. Hwang didn’t respond immediately, just gave a curt nod. As Mr. Seong left the room, he glanced back at the class and gave them a quick wave. “Good luck, everyone!” Then, as though things weren’t awkward enough, he turned to Mr. Hwang and said, “I’ll see you later, In-ho!”
The class looked at one another. Hyun-bin realized no one knew what Mr. Hwang’s first name was until now. The teacher had never told them. A soft murmur spread across the class as the surprise settled in.
“I didn’t know they were that close,” Do-hyun whispered.
“Mr. Seong didn’t even use any formalities,” Hyun-bin said. His heart sank. What if Mr. Seong had told Mr. Hwang about what he said yesterday? Fuck, he would be in so much trouble.
“Class,” Mr. Hwang began, his words silencing the classroom immediately, “please keep quiet. You will have time to socialize after the period ends.”
Hyun-bin and Do-hyun looked at each other.
“Please?!” they both mouthed. In the three years that Hyun-bin had known Mr. Hwang, he had never heard the man say please.
The following week, Hyun-bin found himself running late, again, but this time, as he was walking towards the bus stop, it began to rain. He dug through his backpack, trying to look for his umbrella, only to realize that he had forgotten it at home.
Hyun-bin cursed under his breath as he ran down the block to catch the bus, the rain splattering against him. He glanced at his watch, realizing he was late for this particular bus as well. As he tried to pick up his pace, his foot caught on the curb and he was sent flying forward.
“Shit,” Hyun-bin said, picking himself back up. He looked at his dirtied pants and bruised palm, debating on not coming to class anymore. He realized he had too, though. Mr. Hwang was giving out an exam today, and Hyun-bin was sure that if he missed it, he would get a zero.
Before Hyun-bin could continue walking to the bus stop, a blue car stopped in front of him, and the window lowered to reveal non-other than Mr. Seong.
“Lee Hyun-bin?” Mr. Seong asked. “What are you doing out here?”
“I was on the way to the bus stop,” Hyun-bin replied, squinting at the car as the rain dripped down to his eyes. “I’m late for school.”
Mr. Seong motioned to the door. “Get in.”
Hyun-bin blinked. “What?”
“I said get in,” Mr. Seong repeated. “You’re going to get sick.”
Hyun-bin hesitated, glancing down at his mud-splattered pants and soaked shirt. “Are you sure, sir? I’m a mess.”
“I’ve got seat covers, it’s fine,” Mr. Seong said. He leaned over to open the door himself and beckoned Hyun-bin in. “Come on.”
Hyun-bin climbed into the passenger seat and buckled his seatbelt, shivering a little. “Thank you, sir,” he said.
Mr. Seong smiled at him. “No problem.”
“Mr. Hwang is going to kill me,” Hyun-bin groaned. “We have a test today and I’m already twenty minutes late.”
“I’m sure he’ll understand.”
“Ha. Right.” Hyun-bin stared at him for a little while longer, then asked, “What are you doing outside anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be teaching?”
“Yes, well, I’m taking the day off to go to the doctor’s,” said Mr. Seong. “My… partner is particularly insistent that I get my eyes checked. I’ve been needing an update to my prescription for a while now.”
“Your partner?” Hyun-bin asked. “You’re married?”
“Oh, no, not married,” Mr. Seong said. He paused, contemplating, then finally, he added, “We’re not exactly allowed to get married.”
Hyun-bin raised his eyebrows. “What does that mean, sir?”
Mr. Seong hummed. “I suppose there’s no harm in telling you. I do trust you won’t be mean about it.” He shrugged. “My partner is a man, you see.”
Hyun-bin blinked. “Oh,” he said, unsure of what else to say.
Mr. Seong glanced at him, his expression calm but curious. “That’s not a problem for you, is it?”
“No, sir,” Hyun-bin said quickly, shaking his head. “Not at all. I just… wasn’t expecting that.”
Mr. Seong chuckled lightly, his usual warmth returning. “That’s fair. I guess it’s not something most students think about when it comes to their teachers.”
Hyun-bin hesitated, then asked cautiously, “Does anyone else know?”
“Some of my friends,” Mr. Seong said with a shrug. “It’s not exactly a secret, but I don’t go around announcing it either. People can be… unpredictable.”
“That makes sense,” Hyun-bin said, nodding. He wasn’t sure what else to say, but he appreciated that Mr. Seong trusted him enough to share something so personal. “Thanks for telling me, sir. It’s, uh… cool that you’re honest about it.”
“Honesty is important,” Mr. Seong said, smiling at him. “Besides, you’re a good kid, Hyun-bin. I figured you could handle it.”
The compliment made Hyun-bin’s chest swell a little. “Thanks, sir,” he said, his voice quieter now.
As they parked in front of the school, Hyun-bin was prepared to make a run for it and hopefully still have time to finish the test. However, as soon as he made a move to open the door, Mr. Seong stopped him.
“Let me bring you inside,” Mr. Seong said. “I’ll help you with Mr. Hwang, okay?”
Hyun-bin just nodded. At this point, he was going to take any help that he could get. Mr. Seong walked him to the school entrance and all the way to his classroom.
“Wait here,” Mr. Seong said, his tone calm but confident as he knocked on the door to Mr. Hwang’s classroom. A moment later, the door opened to reveal Mr. Hwang.
“Gi-hun?” Mr. Hwang asked, eyes a little wide. He didn’t seem to notice Hyun-bin’s presence. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at—”
“I know, I know,” Mr. Seong said. He pointed to Hyun-bin, who was standing behind him. “I saw him outside and had to help him out.”
“I’m sorry for being late, sir,” Hyun-bin said, bowing deeply. “I promise it won’t happen again.”
“I believe part of the problem is it does, indeed, keep happening over and over again,” Mr. Hwang said, his voice sharp as his gaze settled on Hyun-bin. His arms were crossed, and his expression was as stern as ever.
“I know, sir,” Hyun-bin mumbled, keeping his head down. “I’m really sorry.”
Before Mr. Hwang could continue, Mr. Seong spoke up. “Come on, In-ho, give him a break. The kid’s drenched and clearly tried his best to get here.”
Hyun-bin froze. There it was again—In-ho. He’d never even considered that Mr. Hwang had a first name, let alone that someone would use it so casually.
Mr. Hwang sighed. “Lee Hyun-bin,” he said.
“Yes, sir?”
“Do you think you will be able to take the test now given your current state?”
“Yes, sir,” Hyun-bin said quickly, nodding. “I’ll manage.”
Mr. Hwang raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. He looked him over, from his dirty pants to his wet shirt, and let out a resigned sigh. “No, you won’t,” he said flatly. “You’re dripping water everywhere, and you look like you’ve just crawled out of a ditch.”
Hyun-bin opened his mouth to protest, but Mr. Hwang cut him off. “Go to the clinic. Get cleaned up, and don’t show up in my classroom until you’re presentable.”
“But the test—” Hyun-bin started, his voice rising in panic.
“I’ll give you a makeup exam at the end of the day,” Mr. Hwang said, his tone brooking no argument. “Now go.”
Relief and embarrassment washed over Hyun-bin in equal measure. “Thank you, sir,” he mumbled, bowing again.
“I’ll go with him,” Mr. Seong offered.
Mr. Hwang shot him a look. “You have an appointment—”
Mr. Seong rolled his eyes and waved a hand in the air. “Doctors are always late anyway.”
For a moment, Mr. Hwang looked like he wanted to protest, but eventually, he simply nodded. “Fine. Just hurry up.”
“Of course,” Mr. Seong said with a grin. He gestured for Hyun-bin to follow. “Come on, let’s get you sorted.”
“How does Mr. Hwang know about your appointment?” Hyun-bin asked as they walked to the clinic. “Are you two close friends?”
Mr. Seong chuckled, as though Hyun-bin had told an inside joke. “We’ve known each other for quite a while.”
“You seem really different from him,” Hyun-bin said after a moment.
“Well, opposites attract,” Mr. Seong said with a teasing smile, then quickly added, “in terms of work styles, I mean. He’s structured, and I’m… not. But, you know, we make it work.”
Hyun-bin swallowed nervously. “Uhm, if it’s not too late to ask… please don’t tell him about what Do-hyun and I said last week. He hates me enough.”
“I can promise you he does not hate you,” Mr. Seong said. “But don’t worry, I didn’t tell him anything.”
“Thank you, sir,” Hyun-bin. As they continued their walk, his thoughts kept circling back to one thing: Opposites attract.
He wasn’t sure why, but it sounded like Mr. Seong was describing more than just a casual friendship. Then, he remembered Mr. Seong mentioning he had a boyfriend.
What if…?
But it couldn’t be. Their personalities were so different.
Hyun-bin frowned. It was impossible… wasn’t it?
Since that day, Mr. Hwang was a little less harsh on Hyun-bin’s tardiness. He still pointed it out and made it known that he didn’t approve of it, but he no longer tried to humiliate Hyun-bin in front of the class either.
Weeks passed, and life at school returned to its usual rhythm. One Saturday afternoon, while out to buy food for him and his siblings, Hyun-bin found himself walking down the narrow streets of the neighborhood market.
He was about to turn a corner when a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.
“Gi-hun, not that one,” said Mr. Hwang’s unmistakably firm tone. “You’re going to regret it.”
“And I’m telling you, this is the better deal,” came an equally familiar voice—cheerful and teasing. “You just don’t have any faith in my shopping skills.”
Peeking around the corner, Hyun-bin froze. There they were: Mr. Hwang and Mr. Seong, standing in front of a fruit stall. Mr. Seong held up two bags of apples, one in each hand, while Mr. Hwang frowned at them as if their very existence offended him.
“I don’t need ‘faith,’” Mr. Hwang said, crossing his arms. “I need apples that aren’t bruised.”
“These aren’t bruised,” Mr. Seong argued, holding up the bag in his left hand. “Look, this one’s perfectly fine. And they’re much cheaper.”
Mr. Hwang gave him a withering look. “They’re cheaper because they’re lower quality.”
“Oh, stop being so picky,” Mr. Seong said.
To Hyun-bin’s shock, Mr. Hwang didn’t bite back with one of his usual sharp remarks. Instead, he let out a soft sigh and muttered, “Fine. Get whatever you want. You’re impossible.”
“Thank you,” Mr. Seong said with exaggerated satisfaction, tossing the apples into their basket.
Hyun-bin couldn’t look away. The scene felt surreal—Mr. Hwang, his normally unyielding teacher, looking almost… normal. He wasn’t scowling, he wasn’t glaring, and he certainly wasn’t terrifying. He just looked like someone out shopping with a friend.
The interaction practically confirmed Hyun-bin’s suspicions from weeks ago. It seemed Mr. Hwang really was the partner Mr. Seong was referring to.
As the two teachers paid for their fruits, Hyun-bin ducked back around the corner, his heart racing. He didn’t know what to make of it. Sure, teachers had lives outside of school, but seeing Mr. Hwang and Mr. Seong like this—bickering like an old couple—was completely unexpected.
He needed to share it with someone. But he couldn’t. Not here. Not with anyone. Korea wasn’t exactly the kind of place where people would see what he’d seen and react kindly. Even if Do-hyun would probably laugh it off, there was still a chance he’d say something hurtful without meaning to.
And what if it got out? The thought sent a chill through him. Teachers had it bad enough, dealing with students and parents; adding a rumor like this to the mix could be disastrous, especially for Mr. Seong. It wasn’t Hyun-bin’s place to decide who knew.
“Ugh,” Hyun-bin muttered, kicking at the pavement as he walked toward the next stall. What had he even seen, really? Two teachers shopping for fruit? That wasn’t evidence of anything.
And yet, the way Mr. Hwang had sighed and given in, the way Mr. Seong had teased him—it felt so different from how adults usually acted. There had been an ease between them, something so familiar and unguarded that it stuck with him. Hyun-bin knew, in his heart, that his suspicions were right.
“Ah, dammit,” Hyun-bin cursed. He and Do-hyun were already halfway to the bus stop when he realized he left his textbook in his locker. “We have that assignment due tomorrow, right? I have to go back and get my book.”
Do-hyun scratched his head. “I don’t think I can go back with you, it’s my sister’s birthday today—”
“No problem,” Hyun-bin said. He gave Do-hyun a fist bump. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you, man.”
Hyun-bin made his way back to the school, quietly cursing himself for being so forgetful. The hallways were practically empty by the time he came back, and he didn’t run into a single person he knew on the way to his classroom.
Thinking no one was going to be inside, he didn’t bother to knock. He simply opened the door. Two silhouettes were clearly kissing in the dark. Figuring it was just two of his classmates, Hyun-bin rolled his eyes and turned on the lights. The sound of chairs clattering echoed in the room.
“Come on guys, there are—” Hyun-bin’s voice faltered as he realized who exactly he was looking at.
Two teachers froze, clearly startled by the sudden intrusion. Hyun-bin’s mouth opened, but no words came out. Mr. Hwang’s usual composure faltered for just a second before he regained his stern expression, while Mr. Seong glanced at him with wide eyes, clearly unsure how to address the situation.
“Lee Hyun-bin,” Mr. Hwang said sharply, stepping forward. “What are you doing here?”
“I—uh—I forgot my textbook, sir,” Hyun-bin stammered. His eyes darted between the two teachers, his mind struggling to process what he’d just seen. He wasn’t sure why he was so surprised. He already had his suspicions anyway. Then again, solid proof was another thing.
Mr. Hwang’s usual stern expression was back in place, but there was a faint flush on his face that Hyun-bin had never seen before. Mr. Seong, on the other hand, looked caught between embarrassment and concern.
“You forgot your textbook,” Mr. Hwang repeated slowly, “and you decided to barge into a dark classroom without knocking?”
“I didn’t think anyone would be here!” Hyun-bin blurted. “I—I wasn’t trying to spy or anything!”
“Calm down, Hyun-bin,” Mr. Seong said softly, stepping closer. His voice carried the same warmth it always did, but his eyes were serious. “It’s alright.”
“It’s not alright,” Mr. Hwang said, glancing at Mr. Seong before turning back to Hyun-bin. “What you saw—”
“Nothing!” Hyun-bin said quickly, shaking his head. “I didn’t see anything!”
Mr. Hwang sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re a terrible liar.”
“Maybe we should sit down and talk,” Mr. Seong said gently, placing a hand on Mr. Hwang’s arm.
Hyun-bin swallowed hard, nodding as he moved toward a nearby chair. His legs felt wobbly as he sat down, his mind racing.
“First,” Mr. Hwang began, standing rigidly at the front of the room, “you are not to speak a word of this to anyone. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” Hyun-bin said quickly, though his voice trembled.
Mr. Seong clicked his tongue and playfully swatted Mr. Hwang on the head. “Stop scaring him, he didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. He walked over to sit next to Hyun-bin. “I’m sure you have questions. We’d be happy to answer them.”
Hyun-bin hesitated, unsure if he should even ask. Finally, he managed a shaky: “So… you’re… together?”
“Yes,” Mr. Seong said simply, with a small smile. “We are.”
“For how long?” The question came out before Hyun-bin could stop himself.
Mr. Hwang raised an eyebrow but didn’t seem angry. “A long time,” he said curtly.
“Fifteen years,” Mr. Seong added, his tone softer.
Fifteen years. That sounded insane to Hyun-bin. They had been together for about as long as he had been living.
He looked at them both, trying to reconcile this new image of his teachers with the ones he’d known all year. “Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
Mr. Hwang frowned, crossing his arms. “Do you even need to ask?”
“Oh,” Hyun-bin said quietly, the weight of it sinking in. Korea wasn’t exactly a safe place for people like them.
“We keep it private because it’s safer that way,” Mr. Seong said gently. “For us, and for the students. But you’ve always struck me as someone who’s thoughtful, Hyun-bin. That’s why I’m trusting you now.”
“We are not usually so careless as to be affectionate in school,” Mr. Hwang said. “You simply caught us at a… particularly vulnerable time.”
“It’s my fault, really,” Mr. Seong said with a small laugh. Then, he regarded Hyun-bin a little more seriously. “Can I trust you not to tell anyone about this?”
Hyun-bin nodded. “I won’t, I promise.”
Mr. Hwang studied him for a long moment before nodding. “Good.”
“Thank you, Hyun-bin,” Mr. Seong said with a smile. “We appreciate it.”
As he left the classroom, the weight of the encounter pressed down on him. His head spun with everything he’d just learned, but one thought rose above the rest: They trusted me.
For the first time, he didn’t see Mr. Hwang as a terrifying disciplinarian or Mr. Seong as just the friendly history teacher. They were people, living in a world that didn’t always make room for them. And now, Hyun-bin held a small piece of their story.
When he got home, he opened his textbook and stared blankly at the assignment. For the first time in a long time, schoolwork felt like the least important thing in the world.
The weeks that followed felt like a strange new reality for Hyun-bin. On the surface, nothing had changed. Mr. Hwang was still sharp and unyielding in class, his strict gaze scanning the room for mistakes. Mr. Seong remained his cheerful self, laughing off students’ groans about assignments and filling his lessons with stories. But to Hyun-bin, everything felt different.
He couldn’t stop noticing the quiet details. The way Mr. Hwang’s tone softened—just barely—when he spoke to Mr. Seong in the hallway. How Mr. Seong always managed to pass off a coffee cup with a casual, “You looked like you needed this,” and Mr. Hwang would take it without a word. The brief glances they shared during faculty events, as if speaking a language no one else understood.
And yet, there was no grand reveal, no dramatic slip that exposed their secret to the world. It was just… them. Existing quietly in the small spaces where no one else looked.