Chapter 1 No Late Entry
📖 A SECRET NO ONE KNOWS
Hate to Love | Romance | Slow Burn
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Characters:
· Ha-rin (하린) — Bold, broken, coffee-addict college student
· Professor Kang Joon-ho (강준호) — Cold, mysterious, strict professor
· Soo-ah (수아) — Ha-rin's best friend, the voice of reason
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PART 1
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The morning sun poured through the corridors of Seoul National University. Students were heading to their respective classes. Coffee cups, headphones, and half-sleep eyes — a normal morning.
But today wasn't normal.
Today, a new professor was arriving.
Course: Business Ethics. Professor: Kang Joon-ho.
Everyone had heard the name. But nobody had seen the face. Speculations were circulating — someone said "he must be an older man," someone said "he'll be strict," someone said "he's come from NASA."
When he entered the classroom, everyone's eyes went wide.
Tall. Sharp jawline. Black blazer, white shirt. Hair perfectly set. And eyes... as if they had no intention of forgiving anyone.
He approached the podium. Set his bag down. Looked at the entire classroom once — as if conducting a military inspection.
"I am Kang Joon-ho. Business Ethics. The rules are simple. Late is not allowed. Phones are not allowed. Nonsense is not allowed."
There was no warmth in his voice. No smile. Only steel-like strictness.
The entire class fell silent.
On the back bench sat Soo-ah. She looked at her best friend. Who still hadn't come to class.
Soo-ah pulled out her phone. Typed a message:
"Ha-rin, come quickly. The new professor is a killer."
Reply came: "Killer handsome? Or killer strict?"
"Both."
Another message arrived: "On my way. Getting coffee. 5 minutes."
Soo-ah put her phone away. The professor looked in her direction. Soo-ah immediately put her phone down.
The professor began teaching. Logic. Frameworks. Corporate responsibility. Everything by the book.
Then, seven minutes later — the door opened.
Ha-rin walked in.
White oversized hoodie. Black ripped jeans. Coffee in one hand, phone in the other. Headphones on. As if she existed in some other world.
She glanced at the professor without really looking. Began walking toward her seat.
"Stop."
One voice. Cold. Firm. Completely emotionless.
Ha-rin stopped. She took her headphones off. Coffee still in hand.
"You?"
"Ha-rin."
"Ha-rin. Why are you late?"
"Traffic."
"Lie."
Ha-rin looked the professor up and down once. Her eyes spoke something — "what difference does it make to me."
"Sir, I came here to study. So I was late. Whatever you're supposed to teach, teach."
No one in the class even breathed.
The professor set his chalk down. He stepped out from behind the podium. The sound of his boots echoed throughout the entire room.
"Get out."
Ha-rin took a sip of her coffee. "What?"
"Get out. Didn't you hear me?"
Ha-rin looked at Soo-ah. Soo-ah shrugged — "I told you so."
Ha-rin picked up her bag. As she passed the professor, she stopped. She looked at him — that same typical attitude in her eyes.
"Sir... your watch is really nice. What brand is it?"
Someone in the class covered their mouth with their hand. The professor's face didn't change.
"Get out."
Ha-rin left. Coffee in hand. Bag on her shoulder. As she closed the door, she looked at the professor one more time — and smiled.
That smile wasn't fake. It was daring. As if she had said — "I haven't lost yet."
The professor looked at the class. "Where were we?"
The class resumed. But there was a different energy in the room.
Ha-rin stood outside. She finished her coffee. Sent Soo-ah a message on her phone:
"This professor is dangerous."
Soo-ah replied: "He is handsome though."
Ha-rin looked for a second. Then typed:
"He is handsome too."
And then one more message:
"And I like problems."
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Part 1 ends.
