11 Virtues A Hero's Civilian Friend Must Uphold - Chapter 62

“Teacher, teacher! What do you mean your first love was terrible?”

I really want to quit this academy. Maybe Seo Hee Won will take care of the aftermath somehow.

Na Eun, who was making booklets for math class in the teaching materials preparation room, inwardly gritted her teeth at the strange question from the female student who suddenly approached her.

She unconsciously glanced to the side. Unfortunately, since the large copier in the preparation room was the only one on this floor, Han Jae Kyung, who had come to copy teaching materials, was standing right next to her.

Na Eun stared blankly at the student who seemed to have come to make copies without bringing her own book and said,

“Stop asking useless questions and hurry up and print. You’ll be late for class.”

“Ah, but I don’t know how to use that copier…”

It’s admirable that she had the courage to come into the prep room on her own, even though she didn’t know how to use it.

Na Eun looked at the pile of binding papers in front of her. It would take all day to finish this, even if she worked non-stop.

As she was about to sigh and offer to do it for the student, Jae Kyung smiled and said to the student,

“I’ll do it for you. Can you give me the book?”

“As expected of Teacher Jae Kyung! I love you!”

Students who found love easy were never hesitant in expressing their affection towards teachers they liked.

How many pages do you need? From here to here! Jae Kyung asked for the page numbers after receiving the book from the student, and he started copying as the student had indicated.

The girl with a good memory didn’t forget the question she had asked earlier and threw it at Na Eun again.

“But Teacher Na Eun, what’s this about your first love being terrible?”

“You guys are really quick with rumors.”

She had impulsively said it in the study room just so Han Jae Kyung would hear, but the students who seemed to find everything interesting except studying had already gossiped about it among themselves.

No doubt they had pointlessly chattered like, ‘I heard Teacher Na Eun’s first love was terrible.’, ‘How can a first love be terrible?’, ‘I don’t know either.’ Na Eun sighed as she imagined the students.

“Teacher, teacher. Did your first boyfriend cheat on you?”

“How did the story turn into that?”

“Because you said it was terrible…”

“First love can be terrible too, you know. Is there a rule that it always has to be sweet and nostalgic?”

She replied gruffly.

Originally, Na Eun was known for being kind to students at the academy, but since Jae Kyung arrived, she had become sharp, and her words often came out harshly.

Still, the student who had been attending the academy for quite a while and knew that Na Eun was usually gentle didn’t seem fazed at all.

“Of course it should be sweet! It’s first love!”

The child who hadn’t even experienced puppy love yet jumped up and down, blushing over something that wasn’t even her own business. The student also asked Jae Kyung, who was in the middle of copying,

“Teacher Jae Kyung! I heard you can’t forget your first love!”

Jae Kyung, who was pressing the copier buttons, chuckled.

“Yeah. She was pretty.”

That’s really… Even though she had been trying to focus on the binding work, he seemed to have a knack for irritating people.

Na Eun tried hard to hide her rising anger, while the student squealed with delight at Jae Kyung’s words, liking him even more.

Don’t let it bother you, don’t let it bother you. As Na Eun was muttering to herself like she was practicing meditation, she put more strength into her hands holding the binding machine.

Maybe she had put too many A4 sheets in at once?

The stiff handle wouldn’t go down easily, so she forced it, but perhaps due to lack of concentration, her hand slipped. Bang. Accidents usually start from small things.

Thanks to the handle that Na Eun had suddenly applied force to and then let go, the binding machine on the desk lost its balance and fell over.

It should have just rolled forward once and stopped, but because it was hanging over the edge of the desk, the heavy metal binding machine fell towards Na Eun.

Eek. A scream with a different meaning from earlier burst out from the student.

Even Na Eun, the person directly involved, froze in shock, but it was Jae Kyung who intervened in front of her.

Jae Kyung caught the binding machine that could have shattered Na Eun’s ankle with one arm, while pushing her back with his other hand.

Thanks to him, she wasn’t hurt, and she blankly stared at Jae Kyung’s back as he calmly put the metal object back in its place.

Jae Kyung briefly glanced back to check if Na Eun was injured, then naturally started picking up the scattered papers.

“…I’ll do it.”

“Ye Joo, the copying is done, so take it and go upstairs. You’ll be late for class.”

Na Eun, who had been in a daze, came forward saying she would do it, but Jae Kyung turned his attention to the female student standing at a distance.

So cool…

The student, who had witnessed the entire situation and was covering her mouth with both hands in admiration, nodded excitedly when Jae Kyung called her name.

After briefly watching the back of the student who left the preparation room with the copied prints and book in her hands, Na Eun sighed for what felt like the umpteenth time.

She didn’t want to imagine what kind of rumors would spread among the students starting from today.

Unwillingly left alone again with Jae Kyung in the preparation room, Na Eun crouched down next to him and started picking up the scattered papers on the floor.

She felt embarrassed that he was cleaning up when she had caused the accident. Perhaps because she was in a hurry?

As she quickly picked up A4 papers following Jae Kyung, she felt the sharp edge of the paper deeply graze her index finger and unconsciously let out a sound.

Ah! The voice that involuntarily escaped due to the pain was of course heard by Jae Kyung who was next to her.

He grabbed Na Eun’s wrist in surprise, and unfortunately, it was her left hand, causing Na Eun to jerk away as if having a seizure.

It was her index finger that was hurt, but suddenly her pinky finger, which she couldn’t feel well, hurt.

“…”

Silence crept in between the two. Na Eun froze in a crouched position, protecting her left hand by pulling it to her chest wrapped in her right hand, while Jae Kyung sat with one knee bent in front of her, saying nothing.

Their eyes didn’t meet.

Jae Kyung was only looking at Na Eun’s left hand, while Na Eun was busy trying to steady her breathing, feeling like she was suffocating again, her eyes fixed elsewhere.

Eventually, it was Jae Kyung who broke the uncomfortable silence.

“…I’ll clean up, so go inside.”

He added as he continued picking up the papers.

“Tell the counseling office, they’ll give you a band-aid to put on.”

“…”

Giving the disease and then the medicine. Na Eun inwardly sneered. Now everything looked unpleasant to her when she was in front of Jae Kyung, so she persisted out of spite.

“It was originally my job. You go print what you need to and get out.”

Jae Kyung, who had already finished organizing all the scattered papers on the floor and placed them next to the binding machine, turned his head for a moment and took a deep breath.

He was clearly trying to suppress his anger.

“I’ll do the binding for you, so go and rest.”

“Why should you do that? It’s my job.”

Those mountains of binding papers were originally her responsibility.

It’s the job of an assistant instructor, not something a direct instructor should do.

If another teacher had said this, she might have been grateful and accepted the help, but Na Eun didn’t want to say anything that could be seen as needy to Jae Kyung of all people.

But Na Eun’s attitude seemed to provoke Jae Kyung’s anger, as he put one hand on his waist and rubbed his forehead with the other.

It meant he was trying to summon patience, and it was also a gesture she had seen only once when they were dating.

“…Just accept the help when it’s offered. What do you have to lose?”

In her second year of high school, she had collapsed from drinking excessive amounts of caffeinated beverages while studying for exams and was rushed to the emergency room.

The Jae Kyung who had seriously scolded her then was not much different from the Jae Kyung now.

Na Eun laughed bitterly, thinking he was quite a good actor.

“Someone might think you’re really worried. You’re a good actor.”

“…”

“I told you before. Whatever you do, you can’t use me anymore.”

For some reason, Na Eun felt angry at Jae Kyung, who seemed to think he could use her again if he just made up his mind.

When Na Eun openly sneered, Jae Kyung tightly closed his eyes once and bit his lip.

After suppressing his surging emotions as much as possible, he said,

“If you’re confident you won’t be swayed by me, then accepting this little help won’t change anything.”

Na Eun’s sneering expression suddenly hardened.

“If you think I’m doing this to gain your favor, you can just use me and be done with it.”

He opened his eyes and looked at Na Eun. She flinched at his penetrating gaze.

“−Stop being stubborn and go rest.”

Don’t get hurt again by making another mistake. Can’t you understand? The last words seemed like a warning at first glance.

Still, when it seemed Na Eun wouldn’t budge, Jae Kyung took an intimidating step towards her.

Because of Jae Kyung, who had suddenly changed the atmosphere around him, Na Eun instinctively stepped back.

Her skin tingled from the intimidation.

“If you can’t understand, should I make it easier to understand with a threat?”

“…”

Reminding her that the method that had initially bound Na Eun to this place was a terribly childish threat, Jae Kyung murmured lowly.

As Na Eun looked up at Jae Kyung, frozen, fortunately, a savior appeared.

Footsteps were heard from beyond the closed door, and soon the door to the teaching materials preparation room opened. It was the counseling manager who was close to Na Eun.

“Oh my, you were both here? I’ve been looking everywhere!”

The manager entered, showing a very pleased expression.

Not lacking in perception, she sensed the chilly atmosphere between the two and tilted her head.

“What’s with this cold atmosphere? Did you two fight?”

What reason would an instructor and an assistant instructor have to fight? It was just a joke, but it was quite a sharp question.

Jae Kyung, as if he had never been intimidating, put on his usual kind smile and said,

“Teacher Na Eun cut her hand on some paper. I told her she should put a band-aid on it, but she’s being stubborn.”

“Oh my, really? …You’re right! Isn’t it cut quite deep? The blood’s still coming out.”

The manager checked Na Eun’s left index finger and worried. Only then did she realize that her left hand was more injured than she had thought.

The manager, who always treated Na Eun like a mother or an older sister, grabbed her wrist and led her outside.

“I have a bandage. I’ll put it on for you, so come with me.”

“Ah, I’m fine…”

“If you leave it like that, it’ll hurt every time you wash your hands! Come on, let’s go.”

Although she had rejected everything from Jae Kyung, she ended up being dragged along by the manager without a word of protest.

As Jae Kyung watched Na Eun’s retreating figure, a low sigh escaped his lips.

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Led by the manager into a small room attached to the counseling office, Na Eun slumped her shoulders at the question thrown at her as she was handed ointment and a bandage.

“Teacher Na Eun, is there really nothing going on between you and Teacher Jae Kyung?”

I saw you two standing face to face earlier and wondered if I shouldn’t have come in. It was probably half a joke, but it was a sharp observation.

Na Eun forced a smile and shook her head, quickly sticking a disposable band-aid on her index finger and standing up.

As she was about to finish the work she had left earlier, the manager stopped her and conveyed her business.

“Oh, right. The English teacher on the lower floor suddenly got sick and had to go home urgently during class. So instead of class, they’re having a test, but there’s no one to supervise. Can you do it, Teacher Na Eun?”

Today is just one thing after another. Focusing on the fact that she was receiving higher hourly pay than elsewhere, Na Eun smiled with a resigned heart and said she would do it.

Eventually, as if there wasn’t just one piece of business, the manager explained again the reason she had been looking for both Na Eun and Jae Kyung earlier.

“And we’re planning to have a company dinner tomorrow, is that okay? After classes end. The other teachers all said okay, but I realized I hadn’t asked you two today.”

“Ah…”

Na Eun briefly couldn’t hide her troubled expression and rolled her eyes. The assistant instructor job was just a simple part-time job.

So Na Eun didn’t often attend company dinners, but because the manager and director took such good care of her, she received invitations like this often.

The manager glared at the hesitating Na Eun.

“Why, are you going to say no this time too? You said no last time, and the time before that. And the time before that too!”

“…Haha.”

“Come on~ You worked hard during the exam period. The director said he’ll treat us to something expensive! Hm? Hm? Na Eun~.”

Na Eun couldn’t bring herself to refuse the manager who was now even switching to informal speech to persuade her.

[−Just say you’ll go. I’ll wait outside.]

The voice of Seo Hee Won, who had always been there to do whatever she needed whenever she needed it, also contributed to her acceptance.

[This is the timeline separator]

After hastily finishing the suddenly assigned test supervision duty, she rushed to the teaching materials preparation room as soon as she finished organizing the test papers.

It was almost 10 PM, but she went to tackle the mountain of binding work that had piled up.

However, upon entering the prep room, Na Eun slumped her shoulders, feeling a bit dejected at the sight before her.

The messy desk had been cleaned up, and neatly bound books were placed on top of it. Na Eun bit her lip as she saw this.

She didn’t know how to express this emotion that was hard to define.