Lessons After Class.

Chapter 17

The bell rang loud and sharp, cutting through the air like a knife. The sound bounced off the walls and settled inside my head. Chairs scraped the floor. Bags zipped. Voices rose all at once. The class was over, but my body stayed stiff in my seat for a moment longer. The room smelled like heat, paper, perfume, and chalk dust. The windows were open, yet the air felt heavy. Morning sun pushed through the glass now in long pale lines, landing on desks and tired faces after the rain.

I was packing my bag when I felt a shadow fall over my desk. I did not need to look up to know who it was. I already felt her presence. Nina always arrived with noise, even when she was quiet. I raised my head slowly and there she was, standing with her usual group. They stood close behind her, forming a small wall. They nodded when she moved. They laughed when she smiled. They were not really friends. They were followers. Everyone knew that.

Nina crossed her arms and tilted her head. Her lips curved into a smile that did not reach her eyes.

“You look all dressed up today. Do not tell me you also applied for the professor assistant job”.

Her voice was smooth, almost sweet, but there was something sharp underneath. I felt my chest tighten. I straightened my back and met her eyes.

“I do not see how it is any of your business but yes”, I replied her.

I stood up, sliding my bag over my shoulder. I needed to leave. I had planned my time carefully. I did not want to be late for the interview. As I took a step forward, Nina pushed me back down into my seat. It was not a hard push, but it was firm enough to make a point. A few students nearby gasped softly. Others pretended not to notice.

“Just so you know I also applied for the same position”.

Her voice was condescendingly low now, meant only for me. I looked up at her, my heart beating fast. The room felt smaller. The smell of perfume grew stronger. One of her followers shifted uncomfortably.

“And so? I do not know how it is any of your business”, I replied.

She laughed softly, like I had said something funny.

“You know that job is mine already right?” She asked me now.

I stood up again, this time faster. My chair tipped back slightly. I did not care.

“Do the interview first”.

I turned and walked toward the other door. My hands were shaking but I kept moving. I was almost at the door when her voice followed me.

“You know Prof Mi Jun is just like family. He was a recipient of my family foundation scholarship when he attended school here”, she said with a snort at the end.

Her words hit me hard. My steps slowed. The room went quiet in my ears. I stopped walking. For a moment, I only heard my own breathing. Slowly, I turned around.

“I am not backing out. I want this job and I am following the due process. If Prof Mi Jun gives me on merit or gives you due to familiarity, then I’ll give up because it is out of my hands”.

My voice surprised even me. It was calm. Steady. I did not wait for her response. I walked out of the classroom.

The hallway outside was long and bright. Sunlight poured in through wide windows. Students leaned against walls, talking loudly. Some laughed. Some argued. Others rushed past with files in hand. The smell of fried food drifted in from outside. Oil and pepper and smoke. My stomach growled but I ignored it.

I will not lie. What Nina said got to me. It sat heavy in my chest as I walked. Prof Mi Jun was one of the top criminal law attorneys in the country. Everyone knew that. Working with him would mean learning things no textbook could teach. It would mean access, guidance, and growth. I could learn a lot from him. I did not know how I never knew he was once a scholarship recipient like me. That fact made everything feel closer and farther at the same time.

I climbed the stairs slowly. The law building was old. The walls were cream but stained with time. The floor tiles were cracked in places. The air smelled like dust and old books. My shoes echoed softly with each step.

When I reached the second floor, my heart sank. Many students were already sitting outside Prof Mi Jun office. Some sat quietly, staring at the floor. Others whispered to each other. A few stood by the window, looking out. The hallway felt tense. Thick. Like everyone was holding their breath.

I found an empty chair near the end and sat down. The chair was cold. I placed my bag on my lap and wrapped my arms around it. The window nearby was open. A light breeze came in, carrying the smell of rain. Dark clouds were gathering outside. The sky had turned gray.

I started calculating my chances without meaning to. I always did that when I was nervous. I counted my grades. My attendance. The times Prof Mi Jun had nodded at my answers in class. The times he had called my name. I replayed our brief interactions in my head like they were proof of something.

A boy two seats away spoke loudly to his friend.

“This job will help my CV a lot. I had worked part time at a firm so I think I have a good chance”, he said confidently but his legs were shaking uncontrollably.

Another girl frowned and shook her head.

“Everyone thinks they have a good chance”.

The door to the office opened and a student walked out. His face was blank. Someone inside called another name. The waiting began in earnest.

Minutes stretched into long moments. The smell of coffee drifted from inside the office each time the door opened. My palms were sweaty. I wiped them on my skirt.

As I waited, my mind drifted to the first day of Prof Mi Jun class.