Chapter 105

After playing to our heart’s content until the nighttime opening hours, we came home and had a late dinner.

After riding the lift and skiing down dozens of times, the children all fell asleep in the car.

Student Song Do-yoon was in the same back seat as when we came, Yu Hye-won was in the seat where Professor Han had been, and Professor Han was beside me.

Originally, when we came here, Yu Hye-won had tried to sit beside me, but she gave up when Professor Han asked with a dejected face.

It seems that crying earlier over the thought of her parents contributed significantly.

Although Yu Hye-won seems calm on the surface, she has a lot of affection and a tender heart.

With her shoulder leaning on me, Professor Han was drooling and holding onto my hand tightly, refusing to let go.

Seeing Professor Han like that, I felt a tingling sensation in my chest once again.

I started to worry if I could properly guide the children if this kept going on.

Until now, my mental barrier has held strong, allowing me to keep my center despite the children’s perplexing actions, but the situation has changed.

For some reason, my mental barrier has weakened, and whenever I see Professor Han’s tears, it causes a considerable emotional disturbance.

The guilt of not being able to protect the senior couple has only grown heavier since the moment I recognized the past.

If I hadn’t met Professor Han, I might not have known, but the more I get closer to Professor Han, the heavier it becomes.

No matter how I think about it, it seems that…

“Professor…”

In her sleep, Professor Han mumbled and tightly hugged my arm.

Holding Professor Han’s shoulder, I thought.

It would be better for both me and the children to do it this way…

* * * * *

After returning home, we dispersed to our respective dormitories right away.

Due to the children being exhausted, we had to cancel the originally planned late-night movie.

Even if they are Hero Academy students, they are still children.

Expecting them to be fine after a few hours of skiing is a bit too much.

I wasn’t very tired, but since the children all went to sleep and the Chairman of the Advisory Board didn’t seem like someone I could meet today, I decided to go to bed as well.

After cleaning up and lying down, I replied to the messages from Professor Jin.

Professor Jin is currently at the main house for the first time in a while.

With my parents questioning why, now that I’m approaching thirty, I haven’t brought a man home yet, the stress is building up.

She’s considering randomly picking someone and introducing them to my parents.

I understand Professor Jin’s feelings, but I didn’t give a response that might give her any positive expectations.

Right now, I have things to handle other than Professor Jin.

There’s the children to consider and also the villain of the green clouds.

Compared to these, Professor Jin is much lower in priority.

After exchanging words a few times, I said goodnight due to tiredness and turned off my cell phone.

As I lay there looking at the dark ceiling and thinking about various things, I slowly drifted to sleep.

* * * * *

I had a dream.

It wasn’t the tiresome dream of “that time” that I had up until last semester.

This time, it wasn’t the snow-covered mountain range but Professor Han’s house.

It was late in the afternoon.

The sun was setting, quietly and lazily shining through the large living room window.

Intermittent car sounds and the laughter of children coming home from school could be heard from outside. In the empty living room, only the sparkling dust particles in the sunlight were floating.

There, young Han Min-ha sat, head bowed, wiping her eyes with her sleeves.

Next to her was opened mail, and I quietly stepped behind her to see it.

Damn.

It was the dependent’s pension notice in the name of Senior Han Tae-woo and Seo Ji-a.

Han Min-ha, probably a middle schooler, didn’t notice me standing right behind her and continued to quietly sob, still sniffing occasionally.

I forced open my reluctant mouth and called her name.

“Student Han.”

But my voice didn’t seem to reach her, and Han Min-ha continued to cry, so I slowly crouched down and put my hand on her shoulder.

“Student Han.”

Finally, Han Min-ha turned her head toward me, and when I saw her face, I flinched and took a step back.

Blood was flowing profusely from both of Han Min-ha’s eyes.

Professor…

“Student Han. There’s blood coming from your eyes…”

Why did you do that?

“Excuse me?”

Why didn’t you protect my mom and dad?

Han Min-ha’s question tightened around my neck like a noose.

I couldn’t speak, overwhelmed by the unbearable pressure.

Han Min-ha continued talking, tears of blood flowing like a waterfall.

If you had done your role properly back then, Professor, you might have died, but my mom and dad could have lived.

“I know… I’m sorry…”

But you didn’t do that. My mom and dad died, and I became an orphan.

Han Min-ha pierced my chest with sharp words as tears of blood flowed.

Professor, you should have died. After all, you were alone, weren’t you? You were an outsider with no parents or children. So, you should have died.

“I agree. I should have died, but I couldn’t.”

It’s all because of Professor. Professor made it this way.

“I’m sorry, Student Min-ha. I’m truly sorry…”

Professor, don’t apologize.

No. I’m sorry. If I don’t say this, it feels like I’ll be crushed.

Please stop. It’s not your fault, Professor.

It is my fault. I drove Student Min-ha’s parents to their deaths.

“No, it’s not. Professor, it wasn’t you, so please… please stop…”

A warm, soggy touch made me slowly open my eyes.

It was Han Min-ha, kneeling on the bed, cradling my head and crying.

“Student Min-ha?”

“Professor… Did you wake up from your nightmare?”

“Where did you… Wait a moment… Just stay here with me for a bit longer.”

Han Min-ha smiled and nodded.

Her tear-streaked face gently wiped away the tears from my eyes and cheeks.

My face felt damp; it seemed I had been crying too.

“What did you dream about?”

“I met Student Min-ha when she was younger.”

“I see. But now it’s alright. This is Yu Hye-won’s house, and I’m twenty-year-old Han Min-ha. And right now, Professor, you’re in my embrace.”

“It feels good, so warm.”

After looking down at me for a while and wiping the sweat from my forehead, Han Min-ha spoke.

“Professor, please stop saying sorry.”

I tried to say something, but Han Min-ha lightly pressed her finger to my lips.

“You’re a special person to me. You saved me when I was left alone in the world with no hope. And now, you’re the one I love the most.”

Han Min-ha looked at my face with a kind smile and gentle eyes.

“I respect you as an excellent professor who is guiding me, but I love you. Sorry for suddenly saying this, but it’s something I had to say eventually. So, just listen.”

Following her request, I silently nodded without saying anything.

“Regarding yesterday’s events, you’ve noticed, haven’t you? It was me. I loved Professor too much, and I couldn’t suppress those feelings. That’s why I did it. My goal was to make sure Professor would have to take responsibility for me, no matter what.”

Her face slightly flushed with embarrassment, but Han Min-ha continued resolutely.

“Professor, I’m no longer a minor, and my parents were not family by blood to Professor. So, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t love Professor. Of course… I don’t know how Professor feels. You might see me as a child and not feel any interest, or perhaps you don’t find me attractive at all. That’s why I acted the way I did yesterday, thinking that if Professor had no other choice but to take responsibility for me…”

“That’s how it is…”

“Professor, you’re that person to me. So, please stop apologizing. When Professor feels pain, I feel pain too. I don’t want to see you wallowing in guilt anymore. Is it what Professor hopes for me to suffer along with you?”

“No, I hope that Student Min-ha finds happiness.”

“If Professor finds peace, I will be happy. Letting go of the guilt for not saving my parents and making me alone is the way to make me, who’s left alone, happy, Professor.”

There, I couldn’t respond.

Thanks to Han Min-ha, I’ve realized everything and reached this point.

That’s why I want Han Min-ha to be happy.

I want her to always stay bright and cheerful.

But, Min-ha, I can’t throw everything away just for your happiness.

I can pretend for your happiness, but I still have to avenge my only friends, the senior couple.

And I need to seek retribution for turning me into a senseless fool.

That’s Sikrito’s way, and that’s Gracesteel’s way.

Even if I pretend to forget or ignore it, it will all come spilling out sooner or later, won’t it?

But I didn’t voice it aloud. Simply…

“Thank you for thinking of me like this.”

“I’m also grateful that Professor cares for me. We were both lonely.”

Han Min-ha softly smiled and caressed my cheek.

“All of us were loners once.”

“So, let’s stop these serious conversations… How about we comfort each other as loners turned outcasts?”

In response, I gently pulled Han Min-ha closer by her neck.

Her warm, plump lips met mine, her breathing was hot.

Her lips parted, our tongues danced together, exchanging saliva.

Han Min-ha’s saliva tasted sweet.

“Was this your original purpose for coming into my room, Student Min-ha?”

“Uh… Well… Hehe…”

I embraced her as she shyly smiled, her upper body rising slowly.

Every time my lips touched her, Han Min-ha shivered and let out a delicate sigh.

“Haa… Professor…”

Breathing unevenly, Han Min-ha pressed her face into my neck.

“Professor… educate and guide this clueless student… all night until morning….”

“You should take responsibility for what you say.”

As I pushed her shoulders gently, Han Min-ha was thrown back on the bed, emitting an excited breath.

“Yahh…!”

“Hush. Student Song Do-yoon is sleeping in the next room.”

“A, ne… Professor, wait a moment!”

She urgently whispered, grabbing my wrist as it slid into the space between her thighs.

“Uhh, if there’s no blood today, please don’t misunderstand…! I, um, already bled yesterday… It’s true, I swear… So, even if there’s no blood, please don’t think of me as some kind of….”

You worry about everything.

You’re so cute, it drives me crazy.

“Alright, don’t worry about that. Shall we proceed?”

“Yes… please be kind and not too rough…”

And so, we became one and comforted each other through the night.