Blood Is Thicker Than Water

Yerin😂: Heyy!! Stop saee!!! Wait for me!!!

*Panting*

running with hairs flying over her face, through the pathway near the main highway road as she runs her properly combed hair got messy over and over

Humans have decided to work on their hair half the morning and then ruin it like a main character in a dramatic movie

Far ahead of her sae or Park saeyoon 16 year old ran as if her life depend on it..Behind her jenny ran ,again behind her ran so-hi..

All three in their school uniform..poor students maybe they had studied all night and woke up late and now running to school..

*Maybe* is the key word..In our case our girls hadn't seen their textbook for the past few months except when making paper airplanes..

Sae was ahead of all of the other three she ran fast and enter a fancy looking shop..it sells snacks and cakes..

Sae ran towards a specific section ..she looked through the rows and took a chocolate pie.. The only one left..she looked victorious..

The door opened revealing the three girls panting..sae proudly lifted the pie

Sae😏: Looks like some people ran all the morning for nothing!

Yerin🥺: saee..!

Jenny😊: sharing is caring isn't it?

Sae😊: Yes! Absolutely..

Jenny🙂: let's share then?

Sae🤗: No!

Jenny😑: ....

Sae🙂: what?

Jenny😐: Don't look innocent and do evil things!

So-hi😐: girls! Its just chocolate !

Jenny😐: its last one!

So-hi😐:still chocolate!

Sae😶: lets share

Yerin🥳: finally!!!

Sae😑: dont act like I never share!

Jenny👀: she dont have to act!

Sae😐:Mm..

Sae🤐: eh??

Yerin😂: she got you!!!

Sae😐: oh I noticed.

So-hi😐: are you all finished? Can we finally go to school?

Jenny😑: nerd

So-hi😐: what?

Jenny🙂: nothing

So-hi😐: Mm..come lets go..

They all started walking..peacefully approximately for 5 min before jenny and sae again started arguing..

They all arrived at school..so-hi couldn't bear their nonsense anymore so she left them halfway and started walking faster apparently she is responsible by the time sae,yerin,jenny reached the school gate the clock ticked 9:20.They are 20 min late..not a huge event it happens always..

The security glared at them

Sae😐: problem?

Security🤨: Yes

Sae😐: Is it on my face?

Security😶: No?

Sae😐: Then why are you staring at me?

Security😑: cause you are late!

Sae😐: so?

Security😑: its a school

Sae😐: good observation

Jenny😑: sae lets go..we dont have to argue with him..

Security😑: you'd better not!

Yerin😑: mind your business!

Security😑: I am!!

Yerin😠: You-

Before she can continue so-hi's voice got through her ears from the school compound,she wasnt far away.

So-hi😐: Yerin!

She walked over

So-hi😐: Mr.kim,I apologize

Security😐: You dont have to

So-hi😐: I know

Can we go?

Security😐: Yes..but as usual there will be consequences for being late for saeyoon,yerin and jenny

So-hi😐: I understood

They walked towards the school..

Yerin😶: you didnt have to apologize

So-hi😐: Walk!

They reached their class room..students were all talking..some standing, some running, some studying even in all these chaos..

They three walked into the classroom..As usual sae took her seat on the last row..Yerin,So-hi and Jenny took their own seats..

Few min later the door opened revealing their homeroom teacher

Mr.park🙂: Good morning class..

Class: GOOD MORINING SIR

Mr.park🙂:so today im not the one who is gonna take attendence..

Students exchanged glances

Mr.park🙂: Im not gonna teach you here

Studnet1😶: Saem!!! What are you sayinggg?

Mr.park😁: Im gonna teach your seniors this year..So I can't teach you guys..

Students collectively groaned

Student2😐: You made it sound like you quit teaching!

Mr.park🙂: I only think about it when I see some of your answersheets

Class laughed

Student3🙂: Saem? Are you really not gonna teach us?

Mr.park🙂:Students.. The decision isn't mine.

Student3🥺: Still

Mr.park🙂:Guys im still im this school..

That didnt help..students exchanged glances ..some looked sad some looked they are ready to fight some looked something closer to relief and some were unbothered

Student 1🤔: So who's gonna teach us?

Mr.park🙂: Your new homeroom teacher will arrive soon..

Whispers and mutters spread across the classroom.

Some students turned toward each other immediately.

Some looked toward the door.

Others simply leaned back in their chairs, curious but too lazy to care.

Sae didn't bother looking up.

She was still staring out of the window, tracing something invisible on the corner of her desk with her finger.

Jenny leaned toward Yerin.

Jenny🤨: What if he's scary?

Yerin🥺: Don't say that.

Jenny😏: Why?

Yerin🥺: Because I don't want a scary teacher.

Jenny😐: Then pray.

Yerin frowned.

Yerin😑: You're not helping.

A few seats ahead, students had already started making guesses.

Student 1🤔: Maybe he's young.

Student 2😏: If he's young, maybe he's cool.

Student 3😐: Teachers aren't cool.

Student 2😐: Mr. Park is.

Mr. Park looked over.

Mr. Park🙂: I heard that.

The class laughed.

Sae finally glanced toward them.

Sae😐: What's everyone so excited about?

Jenny turned toward her.

Jenny🤨: New teacher.

Sae looked toward the door.

Then back at her desk.

Sae😐: Okay.

Jenny stared at her.

Jenny😑: That's it?

Sae shrugged.

Sae🙂: What else am I supposed to do?

Jenny opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

Fair point.

Mr. Park checked the clock.

Mr. Park🙂: He should be here any minute.

The class slowly settled down.

Not completely.

That would have required a miracle.

But enough.

A few more whispers passed between desks.

Someone fixed their hair.

Someone else straightened their uniform.

One boy quietly told his friend that if the teacher was young, he was going to behave properly for exactly one day.

The classroom door remained closed.

One minute passed.

Then another.

Sae had already lost interest.

She rested her cheek against her palm and stared blankly at the board.

Then footsteps could be heard from the corridor.

The talking gradually faded.

The footsteps came closer.

The door opened.

A man stepped into the classroom.

For a second, nobody spoke.

He was young.

Not student-young.

But young enough that several students immediately exchanged looks.

He wore a dark, neatly fitted shirt with black trousers, his sleeves folded once at the wrists. His hair was neatly styled without looking like he had spent an unreasonable amount of time on it.

He carried a thin folder in one hand.

His expression was calm.

Confident.

The kind of face that would probably have half the school whispering if he walked through the corridor without a teacher's ID.

Someone in the back whispered barely loud enough to hear.

Student 4🤯: Is he actually a teacher?

Another student leaned closer.

Student 5🤯: He looks like an idol.

Student 4🤫: Don't say that out loud!

Too late.

Mr. Park gave the class an amused look.

Mr. Park🙂: Everyone, this is your new homeroom teacher.

The man stepped farther into the room.

His eyes moved across the classroom once.

Not hurriedly.

He took in the desks, the students, the noise that had suddenly disappeared.

His gaze passed over the last row.

Sae happened to look up.

Their eyes met for barely a moment.

She looked away first.

Mr. Lee continued toward the teacher's desk.

Mr. Park🙂: I'll leave you to it.

The man gave a small nod.

Mr. Park walked out.

The door closed behind him.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

The new teacher placed the folder on the desk.

He looked around the classroom.

New Teacher😐: Good morning.

Class🙂: Good morning, sir.

His voice wasn't loud.

It didn't need to be.

He waited until everyone had finished.

Then he looked around the room again.

New Teacher😐: I'm Lee Taehyun.

A few students straightened unconsciously.

Mr. Lee😐: I'll be your homeroom teacher from today.

He paused.

Not dramatically.

Just long enough for the class to settle.

Mr. Lee😐: I don't expect you to like me.

A few students exchanged surprised looks.

Jenny raised her eyebrows.

Yerin blinked.

Sae looked up for a moment before returning her attention to the desk.

Mr. Lee😐: That's not part of my job.

A tiny smile appeared on one student's face.

Mr. Lee😐: My job is to make sure this class functions properly.

He rested one hand against the desk.

Mr. Lee😐: You don't need to be nervous around me.

A few students relaxed.

Mr. Lee😐: But when I'm speaking, I expect you to listen.

The room became quieter.

He wasn't threatening them.

He wasn't shouting.

He wasn't giving them the usual speech about respect and discipline.

He simply sounded like someone who expected to be listened to.

And somehow, that was enough.

He picked up the attendance sheet.

Mr. Lee😐: I'll take attendance first.

Students sat properly.

Mr. Lee began reading the names.

Mr. Lee😐: Kim Minji.

Minji🙂: Here, sir.

Mr. Lee😐: Choi Jisung.

Jisung😐: Here.

Mr. Lee😐: Han Yuna.

Yuna🙂: Present.

Mr. Lee😐: Lee Hyunwoo.

Hyunwoo😶: Here, sir.

Mr. Lee😐: Kang Mira.

Mira🙂: Here.

The attendance continued.

One name after another.

The classroom gradually became quieter as the students realized their new teacher was actually paying attention.

A few students answered loudly.

A few barely answered at all.

One student accidentally answered for his friend and immediately received a look from Mr. Lee.

Mr.lee:Are you minsol?

Student:No

Mr. Lee😐: Then I didn't call your name.

Student😶: Sorry, sir.

Mr. Lee simply continued.

Mr. Lee😐: Jung Sohee.

Sohee🙂: Here.

Mr. Lee😐: Park Yerin.

Yerin sat up straight.

Yerin🥺: Here!

Jenny looked at her.

Jenny😏: Why did you sound guilty?

Yerin😑: I don't know.

Mr. Lee continued down the list.

Mr. Lee😐: Kim Jenny.

Jenny🙂: Here, sir.

She glanced sideways at Yerin with a tiny smile.

Then another name.

Another answer.

Another page of ordinary attendance.

Until eventually his eyes reached the next line.

Mr. Lee😐: Park Saeyoon.

Sae was staring out of the window again.

She didn't answer.

Jenny lightly tapped her desk.

Sae blinked.

Sae😐: Here.

Mr. Lee marked the sheet.

His eyes lifted briefly toward her.

Then moved to the next name.

Nothing unusual.

Nothing worth noticing.

At least, not to anyone else.

Mr. Lee closed the attendance register.

He placed it on the desk and looked at the class.

For the first time since entering the room, there was something almost like amusement in his expression.

Mr. Lee😐: So.

Nobody spoke.

Mr. Lee😐: This is the class I've been assigned.

Student 1🙂: Yes, sir.

Mr. Lee looked around.

Mr. Lee😐: You sound very confident.

A few students laughed.

Student 1😶: I was trying to.

Mr. Lee😐: Don't.

The class laughed again.

Even Yerin smiled.

Sae didn't.

She was looking out of the window.

Mr. Lee picked up a piece of chalk.

Mr. Lee😐: Since I teach mathematics, I suppose we should begin with mathematics.

The reaction was immediate.

Student 2😩: Sir, no.

Student 3🥲: We just met.

Mr. Lee😐: Exactly.

He turned toward the board.

Mr. Lee😐: You haven't disappointed me yet.

Someone laughed.

Student 4😏: Give us time.

Mr. Lee paused.

He looked over his shoulder.

Mr. Lee😐: I was planning to.

The class laughed louder.

Sae finally glanced toward the board.

For the first time, she was actually listening.

Mr. Lee wrote a problem.

It wasn't particularly difficult.

But it wasn't easy either.

Several students stared at it.

Mr. Lee turned around.

Mr. Lee😐: Take three minutes.

A student raised his hand.

Student 5🙋: Sir, are we allowed to discuss?

Mr. Lee😐: Quietly.

The classroom immediately came alive.

Chairs shifted.

Pens moved.

Whispers passed from one desk to another.

Yerin leaned toward Jenny.

Yerin🤨: Do you know how to do it?

Jenny😐: Absolutely not.

Yerin😐: Then why are you writing?

Jenny🙂: To look intelligent.

Yerin stared at her.

Sae, meanwhile, had already written half the solution.

She stopped.

Looked at the next step.

Then closed the notebook.

She wasn't interested in finishing it.

Mr. Lee walked between the rows.

He didn't hover over students.

He simply moved around the classroom, occasionally stopping to look at someone's work.

When he reached the last row, his eyes briefly fell on Sae's notebook.

The page was open.

The first few steps were correct.

He continued walking.

Sae noticed.

She pulled the notebook slightly toward herself.

Not because she had done anything wrong.

She simply didn't like people looking at her work.

A few minutes later, Mr. Lee returned to the front.

Mr. Lee😐: Time.

Pens stopped.

Mr. Lee😐: Who got an answer?

Three hands went up.

Then five.

Then one disappeared.

Jenny slowly lowered hers.

Yerin looked at her.

Yerin😑: You didn't even solve it.

Jenny😐: I changed my mind.

Mr. Lee pointed toward one student.

Mr. Lee😐: You.

Student 6🙂: Sir, I got twelve.

Mr. Lee nodded.

Mr. Lee😐: Correct.

The class reacted.

Student 7😲: Already?!

Mr. Lee😐: It's not a difficult question.

A few students looked offended.

Student 7😐: It was difficult for us.

Mr. Lee😐: I noticed.

The class laughed.

Sae almost smiled.

Almost.

Then Mr. Lee looked toward the back.

Mr. Lee😐: Park Saeyoon.

Her almost-smile disappeared.

Sae😐: What?

Mr. Lee😐: What did you get?

Sae looked down at her notebook.

Sae😐: I didn't finish.

Mr. Lee😐: That's not what I asked.

She looked at him.

Sae😐: Twelve.

Mr. Lee nodded.

Mr. Lee😐: Correct.

Then he turned back toward the board.

That should have been the end of it.

But Sae frowned.

She hadn't shown him her answer.

He had only glanced at the first few lines.

She didn't like that.

Not because it was impressive.

Because it made her feel watched.

She closed the notebook.

Mr. Lee continued explaining the solution.

The lesson went on.

And strangely, the class seemed to like him more with every passing minute.

He didn't yell.

He didn't make unnecessary rules.

He answered questions without making students feel stupid.

When someone gave a ridiculous answer, he didn't insult them.

He simply stared at the board for a second and said:

Mr. Lee😐: Let's pretend you didn't say that.

The entire class laughed.

Even So-hi smiled.

By the end of the period, students were already talking about him.

Student 2🙂: He's actually nice.

Student 3😏: I told you young teachers are cool.

Student 2😐: You said that because he looks young.

Student 3😌: Both can be true.

Jenny leaned toward Sae.

Jenny🙂: I like him.

Sae was putting her notebook into her bag.

Sae😐: Good for you.

Jenny🤨: You don't?

Sae shrugged.

Sae😐: He's a teacher.

Jenny😑: That's your reason?

Sae😐: It's enough.

The bell rang.

Students immediately started moving.

Mr. Lee remained at the desk, sorting through some papers.

Sae stood up.

She was halfway toward the door when his voice stopped her.

Mr. Lee😐: Park Saeyoon.

She stopped.

Slowly.

She turned around.

Sae😐: Yes?

Mr. Lee pointed toward her desk.

Mr. Lee😐: Your notebook.

She looked down.

She had left it open.

Sae walked back, picked it up, and tucked it under her arm.

Sae😐: Got it.

She turned again.

Mr. Lee😐: And your homework.

Sae stopped.

Sae😐: What homework?

A few students still near the door turned around.

Mr. Lee looked at her calmly.

Mr. Lee😐: The problem I gave you.

Sae stared at him.

Sae😐: You didn't say it was homework.

Mr. Lee😐: I wrote it on the board.

Sae😐: You said solve it.

Mr. Lee😐: Which you did.

Sae frowned.

Mr. Lee😐: I'm asking you to write it properly and bring it tomorrow.

Sae😐: Why?

Mr. Lee😐: Because that's how classwork works.

Sae leaned slightly toward him.

Sae😐: I already solved it.

Mr. Lee😐: In your head?

Sae didn't answer.

Mr. Lee waited.

Sae looked away.

Sae😐: Maybe.

Mr. Lee nodded once.

Mr. Lee😐: Then your head can write it down tonight.

Jenny covered her mouth.

Yerin turned away so she wouldn't laugh.

Sae stared at him.

He stared back.

Neither moved.

Finally, Sae grabbed her bag.

Sae😑: Fine.

She walked out.

Jenny hurried after her.

Jenny😂: Your face!

Sae😐: What about it?

Jenny😂: You looked like you wanted to throw your bag at him.

Sae😐: I didn't.

Jenny😏: You were thinking about it.

Sae😐: I wasn't.

Jenny😏: You were.

Sae walked faster.

Behind them, Yerin caught up.

Yerin🙂: He's not even mean.

Sae😐: I know.

Yerin🤨: Then why are you angry?

Sae didn't answer immediately.

She tightened her grip on her bag.

Sae😐: He acts like he knows everything.

Jenny laughed.

Jenny😂: He's a mathematics teacher.

Sae😑: That's worse.

The three girls continued down the corridor.

Behind them, the classroom door remained open.

Mr. Lee stood beside the teacher's desk, looking over the attendance sheet.

His eyes briefly stopped at one name.

Then he turned the page.

Nothing about his expression changed.

By lunch, half the class had already decided that their new homeroom teacher was surprisingly easy to like.

He was calm.

He was funny without trying too hard.

He didn't shout.

He didn't embarrass students unnecessarily.

He listened when they spoke.

And, most importantly, he didn't behave like someone desperate to prove that he was in charge.

Sae, however, had reached a completely different conclusion.

He was irritating.

Far too observant.

And somehow, in the space of one mathematics period, he had already managed to make her dislike him.

It wasn't hatred.

Not yet.

It was something smaller.

Sharper.

The beginning of a problem.