Miracle 1994

CHAPTER 1: the photo

YEAR 2021

※ Ki Joon's POV ※

''Sir, why do you keep on defending criminals, if lawyers are always on the side of justice?'' my student asked.

''Victims deserve justice more than the killers, plunderers, kidnappers, and rapists, right?'' another student asked.

I breathed deeply in the middle of the class and answered them...

''That's the work of a lawyer. To defend whoever and whatever else. The suspect also has the right to have justice. Let me ask you. What if he or she was just accused of doing the crime? And the people will quickly judge him as a suspect? Does it mean that he or she did not deserve justice anymore? So will the person be in jail for his or her whole lifetime?''

And the discussion continued... when the young lady entered the classroom and greeted me.

''Good afternoon, Sir Han. I am very sorry, I'm late,'' she said and she quickly went to her seat.

''Did I tell you to enter the room?'' I responded.

My whole class laughed.

''What's funny?'' I asked them. ''Miss Seo, go outside!''

''But!'' she replied.

''Now.” I responded quickly.

''I entered your room,” she urged.

''I said GET OUT!” I raised my voice.

++

After my class, I walk along the hallway very quickly so I can not be caught by that tardy student.

But when I entered the faculty…

I did not expect that she would be the one I would see first…

''What are you doing here?'' I harshly asked.

''Look sir. I will explain,'' she said with hesitation.

''No. I don’t need your further explanation.'' I quickly replied.

And she blocked my way...

''Look Sir, I'm already in my last year as a Law student. I know that if I am late for your class for this time, I will fail. I sincerely promise that I do not want that to happen again, so as early as now, I deeply apologize for what happened a while ago… like entering a class without your permission,'' she explained.

''But you did not respect me,'' I said.

''But I greeted you, Mr. Han. Please give me a chance. I was just riding a bike that time because there was a traffic accident out there.’’ she said.

''No… please get out... I'm not feeling well… go outside please,'' sarcastically requested her.

But she still stays to convince me, ''But!''

I tried to find someone who would help her to get out of my sight...

When I saw some students entering the office...

''My dear students here, can you help her to get out of this office?'' I asked.

''Ah yes, Sir,'' one of the students replied.

They grabbed her hands and...

''No, I can do it!'' she raised her voice and I could see her disappointment in her eyes and walked out voluntarily of the office.

And my office was in silence now.

※ Hyeon Ah's POV※

''f**k, for Pete's sake. I’m sure that he's literally a genius and a very industrious student at his times, but f**k no, I’m sure that he has tardy records and how dare he can do this to me… Gosh… I will fail his subject… If I fail, I will not graduate in this terrifying and devastating law school and I don't know what to do… pretty sure that my mom will scold me,'' I whispered to myself.

When I found out that he would become my teacher in my last year, I was devastated on the first day of school because of the rumors that I heard. They said that he is the most strict and merciless professor that we will encounter in our entire life. The repeaters also claimed that they tried to threaten his life but they can't because he is the powerful owner and CEO of a prestigious Han Law firm, one of the aspiring lawyers' dream law firms, the one that I want to work on. So, as much as possible, I want to have a favorable approach to him.

Imagine, I talked to a Han Law Firm CEO but it seems that graduation in this school year is just a...

Miracle… to happen.

I really need prayer as of now.

''What happened and you keep on cursing so early on this morning?'' I stood suddenly when I heard my mom's voice.

''I… I am very sorry mom… I’m just scared that you will scold me again.’’ I said.

''Why?'' she picked up the hanger and was ready to raise her hand when…

''No… mom... please… I did my best!'' I said while trying to comfort her.

''You did your best for what? What are you talking about?'' she angrily replied.

''To attend Mr. Han's class earlier yesterday but---'' I was about to explain his side when Mom was already at the peak of her disappointment.

''Really? Mr. Han again?''

''But… wait, let me explain,'' I’m trying to stop her because I know what she will do.

She lowered her hand and aggressively went down stairs and went outside to attack Mr. Han again for the fourth time, ''No but buts again.''

++

''Mom, please stop. I will stop this,'' trying to stop her while riding a bike.

''No, I can't take that anymore!'' she said while riding a bike, too.

''That’s always your line Mom. Please… I should be the one who is responsible for this.” Trying to convince her to stop.

''No. It’s him… It’s his responsibility,” she shouted.

My mom drives her bicycle as fast as she can…

While I stopped convincing her and she is like a bike racer to the point that I can’t really reach her...

++

''Why did you become a professor if you would make my daughter suffer so much in law school?''

Oh my god.

I can really hear mom's voice complaining.

''Did you know?'' while raising her voice.

''Did you know that I did all of my best just to help my daughter pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer... and now what? She will become a repeater instead of graduating this year? Why are you so merciless… no heart… you are so greedy…

And arrogant…!!''

When I hear those words, my tears fall down…

It is true… my mom is my reason why I am here but I fail her.

''Mom, stop. Nothing will happen if you keep on complaining… please?''

''Why?'' my mom smirked.

''Ohhh... maybe you are degrading people like us… like us poor and average people? Because maybe you came from a rich family, so that’s why you can't feel how we suffer just to help our children to pursue their dreams.., and you just quickly make them fail…''

''MOM PLEASE!'' I shouted.

I looked at his eyes...

You can see his blank expression, inexpressive and emotionless eyes…

''It’s okay to be cold towards me, but not to my mom. Don't stare at her like that!'' I responded aggressively to his unfavorable action.

He stared at me for a second and he walked at a fast pace through us.

He walked like there was no person in front of him.

Thinking that because of his attitude... no one... especially me will marry him...

I don’t know why there is a human cruel like him allowed to live on this earth.

What's their purpose in our lives? Is it their purpose to make us suffer like this?

I really can't understand people like him.

++

''Okay class, there will be a photo gallery by Mass Comm students. Are you all excited?'' our professor announced.

''YES!'' my blockmates replied excitedly.

While I'm here… Still thinking about what happened yesterday.

''Hyeon Ah, wait!' I heard my best friend's voice and I hugged him because it was a long time since we had seen each other already.

''Long time no see, Seong Wook!'' I said.

But it seems that he has become more handsome to my sight. Since my father died at an early age, I can't remember his face. Maybe Seong Wook has the most handsome face for me. He is also my type for my future ideal man.

''Well, what do you think? Did I get better?''

''You’re getting better and better. No worries.''

''I heard that there will be a photo gallery here later. Can I be with you?'' he asked me directly.

''Of course, why not?''

''Okay you said that.''

Seong Wook really likes photography. He was also already a graduating law student at Nam Woo National University. Since childhood, we have all dreamed of becoming a scholar at prestigious universities and now we really both become scholars in our dream schools and courses.

++

''I like this photo... this one… and this one,” he said with confusion.

''I think you like all of these photos.'' I said.

''Nope, only some,'' he replied.

''It is so boring, can I walk around because we have already been here for an hour and there are so many photos out there that seem you want to see… I know you, bro.''

''Okay but be careful and watch your steps. Come back once you are finished. Remember, I will be scolded by your mom if something happens to you. Okay?'' he said with obvious care.

''Okay'' I responded coldly because I am so tired and not in a mood right now.

As I was walking through the aisle full of aesthetic and digital photos.

I saw something.

The surface of this photo seems very detailed. It is very familiar to me but I can’t remember anything about it.

I realized that I had stopped walking and I decided to continue instead... but there was a middle-aged man...

A familiar man that always makes me pissed off...

But this is my first time that I saw his eyes very expressive…

Seems that he is heartbroken at what he saw...

''Insensitive, greedy, arrogant,'' he emphasized. ''This is my first time to have become a talkative person in front of my student.''

''You’re always talkative because you’re always discussing a lesson with us,'' I said while I was rolling my eyes, emphasizing that I was sarcastic in answering his thoughts.

''Maybe,’’ he said. ''Do you like this photo?''

''I don't know,'' I hesitated and was confused at the same time because of his question.

He smirked.

”You like this photo because you stopped walking when you saw this.''

''Uh? I’m... I’m just taking a look.'' I coldly replied.

''Do you know what?''

''Stop talking, we're not even close,” I said with my pissed voice.

''After what have you done to my mom… I didn’t think I should have to let that pass and talk to you in a friendly and nice way,'' I said to him frankly.

He looked at me with his sad eyes... for the first time...

I sighed and I walked quickly to get out of his sight but…

''The photo… was mine.''

I suddenly stopped walking and trying to analyze what he was talking about.

''As you can see from that photo. There are two people sitting on the bench. Watching the sunset together. ''

''I really,'' he started with a low voice.

''This painting was unfinished when I lost her.” From the voice that I heard from him, I can really sense the sadness that he felt. It seems he really lost someone that was very special to him.

I am forcing myself to leave, but it seems like I still want to hear something.

But he seemed to have nothing more to say.

''It's too late. I am going home. Sorry for the inconvenience.''

And I hastened to walk away from him.