THE SECOND CHANCE

THE FINAL EXAM OF THE SECOND CHANCE

THE SECOND CHANCE LECTURE

Chapter 8: "The Final Exam"

6 Months Later. Kang Apartment. 5:30am.

Waaaaah

Seo-woo was crying.

Ethan was already up. Bottle in hand. Hair messy. Glasses on.

"Shh, buddy," he whispered. "Dad’s here."

He changed the diaper. Fed him. Burped him.

Soo-jin walked in, hair in a bun, wearing scrubs. "Morning, daddy."

Ethan looked up and smiled. Tired but happy. "Morning, mama."

Today was big.

Ethan was going back to SNU to teach 1 class.

Soo-jin was going back to Kang Biotech to present the drug trial results.

And Seo-woo was going to daycare for the first time.

All on the same day.

"Final exam," Soo-jin said. "For us."

Ethan kissed her forehead. "We’ll pass."

---

9:00am. SNU. Lecture Hall B.

The same hall. 200 students.

Ethan walked in. Black suit. No ring on his finger. He took it off for lab work.

The students clapped.

On the front row: a sign. PROFESSOR KANG’S #1 FAN

With a drawing of baby Seo-woo.

Ethan’s lips twitched. "Thank you."

He started teaching. About derivatives. About limits. About second chances.

At the end, a student raised her hand. "Professor, is it true you have a baby?"

Ethan paused. Then pulled out his phone.

Showed a photo. Him, Soo-jin, and Seo-woo. Asleep in a pile.

"Yes," he said. "Best grade I’ve ever gotten."

The hall awww'd.

---

10:00am. Kang Biotech. Conference Room.

Soo-jin was presenting.

"The drug showed 89% success rate in phase 2," she said. "With minimal side effects."

The board clapped.

Her boss, Mr. Lee, stood up. "Dr. Han. Because of you, we’re moving to phase 3. And because of you, we’re naming it: Seo-woo."

Soo-jin froze. "Sir?"

"After your son," Mr. Lee said. "He’s the reason we started this project."

Soo-jin cried. Right there.

---

3:00pm. Daycare Pickup.

Ethan got there first.

Seo-woo was playing with blocks. Happy.

The teacher smiled. "Mr. Kang. Your son is very smart. He already knows how to say 'dada'."

Ethan’s chest exploded.

Soo-jin arrived 5 minutes later.

They picked up Seo-woo together.

"How was your day?" Soo-jin asked.

"I taught," Ethan said. "And I missed you."

"Me too," she said. "And I think... I think we passed the final exam."

Ethan nodded. "We did."

---

8:00pm. Home. Bedtime.

Seo-woo was asleep between them.

Ethan was reading him a textbook. "This is how you calculate the trajectory of a star, Seo-woo..."

Soo-jin laughed. "He’s 6 months old."

"He’s smart," Ethan said seriously. "Like his mom."

Soo-jin leaned on his shoulder. "Ethan. Do you regret anything?"

He thought. "I regret waiting 3 years to tell you I love you."

"Me too," she said. "I regret leaving."

He kissed her hair. "No more regrets. Only us."

---

11:00pm. A Phone Call.

Unknown number.

Ethan answered. "Hello?"

A voice. Cold. "Professor Kang. This is Kang Tae-won."

Ethan stood up. Went to the other room. "You’re in jail."

"I got out early," Tae-won said. "Good behavior. And I heard congratulations. A baby boy."

Ethan’s blood went cold. "Don’t you dare—"

"I just want to see him," Tae-won interrupted. "Once. For closure."

"Never," Ethan said. "If you come near my family, I will—"

The line went dead.

Ethan stared at the phone.

Then he called security. Called the police. Called Madam Kang.

No one was getting near Seo-woo.

---

Next Morning. Police Station.

Tae-won was arrested again.

For violating his parole. For stalking.

He was going back to jail. For 10 years.

Ethan didn’t tell Soo-jin. Not yet.

He didn’t want to scare her.

---

1 Week Later. Family Dinner.

Madam Kang. Ethan. Soo-jin. Baby Seo-woo.

Madam Kang held Seo-woo. "He looks like you, Ji-hoon."

Ethan smiled. "And stubborn like his mom."

Everyone laughed.

After dinner, Ethan stood up.

"I have an announcement," he said.

Soo-jin looked at him.

"I’m quitting SNU," he said. "To be a full-time dad. And to work from Kang Biotech. So I can be home for dinner."

The room went silent.

Then Madam Kang clapped. "Good. Family first."

Soo-jin teared up. "Are you sure?"

Ethan nodded. "The best lecture I ever gave was to our son. 'Dada'."

Seo-woo gurgled.

---

TO BE CONTINUED...

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Writed by Omahcbeauty

Chapter 8 Done