Chapter 3
1297 Words
I had been walking all over the school since morning. From one building to another. Up the stairs. Down the stairs. Across the courtyard. Back again. My legs ached like I had been standing all day in the sun. My shoes felt tight and uncomfortable, but I could not stop. I did not have that luxury.
I held my brown file close to my chest as if someone might try to snatch it from me. Inside were papers that could decide my future. Some already signed. Some still blank. Every signature felt like a small victory. Every missing one felt like a weight on my chest.
The school looked normal around me. Students laughed. Some sat on the grass with food. Some hurried past with backpacks bouncing. Life was moving easily for everyone else. For me, it felt like I was stuck in one long test I could not fail.
I had gone to the faculty office earlier. They told me the officer was not around. I waited. He came. He signed. Then sent me somewhere else. The next office told me to go upstairs. Upstairs told me to come back later. I smiled. I thanked them. I walked away even when I wanted to scream.
This scholarship was not just money. It was peace. It was sleep at night. It was not having to worry about how the next semester fees would be paid. I needed it badly.
By the time I checked the papers again, only one signature was missing.
Criminal Law.
My chest tightened immediately.
I stopped walking and stood still for a moment. I already knew who the professor was. Kim Mi Jun. The same man who had embarrassed me this morning. The same man who had told me to leave his class without raising his voice. The memory still burned.
I still remembered my offence. I had rushed into class late. When I opened the door, the whole class went quiet. He stopped talking. He looked at me. Not angry. Just disappointed.
He told me to step out.
I had wanted the floor to open and swallow me.
Now, I had to face him again.
I stared at the building where his office was. My feet felt heavy, but I forced myself to move. One step. Then another.
When I got to the hallway, it was quiet. His office door was closed. Room 214. His name was written neatly on a small plate.
Prof. Kim Mi Jun.
I stood there longer than necessary. I adjusted my clothes. I took a deep breath. I reminded myself why I was there.
I raised my hand and knocked.
Nothing.
I knocked again.
“Come in”, I heard.
His voice made my heart jump.
I opened the door slowly.
The office was calm. Clean. Books arranged neatly. Papers stacked properly. A small plant by the window. Sunlight came in softly, touching the desk.
He was sitting behind the desk, reading something.
“Yes”, he said without looking up.
“Good afternoon sir”, I said.
He looked up.
Our eyes met.
For a second, time felt strange. I could tell he recognized me. His eyes narrowed slightly, then relaxed.
“You”, he said.
“Yes sir”.
I stood there, unsure of where to put my feet. My hands held my file too tightly.
“What do you need?” he asked.
“Sir, I need your signature for my scholarship form.”
He leaned back slightly.
“Come closer.”
I walked toward the desk, my heart beating faster with each step.
He stretched out his hand.
The form.
I handed it to him.
As he took it, something clicked in my head.
“Sir”, I said quickly. “I also wanted to apologize”.
He paused and looked at me.
“Apologize for what?”
I finally placed where I recognized his familiar voice. He was the one I bumped into earlier today. He was the start of my bad day. But I spoke to him rudely and needed to apologize to free my mind.
“For being rude this morning when we bumped into each other. I was stressed and spoke wrongly.”
He blinked, then smiled lightly.
“So it was you, he said. I thought I recognized you.”
He reached into a pile on his desk and picked up a paper.
“I should apologize too. I was in a hurry and not paying attention. I found this later.”
He handed it to me.
I gasped softly.
It was my missing form. The one I thought I had lost forever.
“Sir, thank you so much”, I said.
“You are welcome”.
I smiled without thinking. A real smile.
He noticed.
“You are Hana”, he said, looking at the form.
“Yes sir.”
“Criminal Law student.”
“Yes sir.”
“I remember you”, he said.
My stomach flipped.
I hope not only for bad reasons, I thought.
“I threw you out of class this morning”, he continued.
Yes sir.
“I was late and I deserved it”, I added quickly.
He studied my face for a moment.
“You look different”
“Different how sir?”
“More serious. More focused.”
I shrugged, “I am trying to improve.”
“That is good”, he said.
He signed the form.
As he did, my eyes drifted to his face. I could not help it.
He was handsome.
Not flashy. Not forced. Just naturally good looking.
His hair was dark and neatly cut. His skin was smooth. His eyes were sharp but calm. There was something steady about him. His lips moved slowly when he spoke, and his voice was deep and soothing.
I felt my face heat up.
I quickly looked down.
Stop it, Hana, I told myself.
This is just stress. Just relief. Nothing more.
He handed the signed form back to me.
“Submit it immediately”, he said.
Yes sir.
He hesitated.
“About this morning in class. I was strict. It was not personal.”
“I understand sir.”
“Do not let one moment define your semester.”
“I will not.”
I turned to leave.
“Hana.”
I turned back, “Yes sir?”
“Do better. I know you can.”
I nodded and left the office.
The hallway felt brighter when I stepped out. My chest felt lighter. I walked quickly to the administrative office.
When I got there, I almost laughed.
The queue was gone.
Only two people stood ahead of me.
Today was finally turning around.
Soon, it was my turn.
The woman at the desk flipped through my papers.
“Everything is complete”, she said.
She stamped the form.
“Scholarship approved.”
I felt weak with relief.
“Thank you so much ma.”
“You are welcome. I have also booked an appointment for you with the guidance counselor.”
My heart skipped.
“Now?”
“Yes. Office 109.”
I thanked her and walked out.
The guidance counselor’s office was calm. She had kind eyes.
“I went through your records”, she said.
I nodded.
“Your grades dropped last semester. What happened?”
I took a deep breath.
I was overwhelmed ma.
“Were you dealing with issues?”
“Yes ma.”
Did you ask for help?
“No ma. I’m better now though. I know I’ll do better this year”
She nodded.
“With your grades, you will need to do extra. Possibly serve as a professor assistant.”
- Writer
