Although the purchase documents were flawless, one crucial piece was still missing: the license plate. He'd have to find time to visit the Driver's License Agency (Gunchal Gwalli-sil). Fortunately, the afternoon was free. He could go after school.
He could drive the car home tonight and give his parents the shock of their lives. Hehe~
With that pleasant thought, he checked his surroundings, started the engine, and carefully guided the imposing black Range Rover out of the storage unit and onto the road, heading towards Daehan High.
Perhaps a love for driving is hardwired into men. Eun-woo, who had only driven his father's old Sonata a handful of times since getting his license, felt completely at ease behind the wheel of the powerful SUV.
On the way, he connected his new phone via Bluetooth. Upbeat K-pop immediately filled the premium sound system.
After all the morning's errands, the final morning class had already started, but Eun-woo was unfazed.
Arriving at the school gates, as expected, even a multimillion-won vehicle was no guarantee of entry. The security guard waved him to a stop.
Fortunately, Eun-woo was familiar with the guards. He rolled down the window and poked his head out. The two guards did a double-take.
"Song Eun-woo? Aigo! Is that a… Range Rover? Ssi-bal! You're a secret chaebol heir! And here we thought you were just a mooching student! You've been hiding it well!"
He understood their shock. His previous persona had been the polar opposite of 'wealthy.'
"Ya! Who's a chaebol heir? Your whole family are chaebol heirs!" Eun-woo shot back with a grin. "I earned this with my own sweat, got it? Come on, open up. I'm late. If 'Sparta' catches me, I'm dead."
Recognizing him, the guards chuckled and activated the gate. One shook his head with a wry smile.
"You're something else, kid. The morning's almost over. Any later and you might as well have stayed home."
---
Arriving at his classroom door, Eun-woo felt a wave of relief. It wasn't Teacher Park's class right now.
But just as he tried to slip in quietly through the back door as usual, Mr. Gong, the chemistry teacher at the podium, spotted him instantly.
"Song Eun-woo! Stop right there! Don't even bother sitting down. Go straight to the staff room!"
Instantly, every head in the classroom turned towards the back.
Han Seo-jin also turned. Behind her thick glasses, a flicker of concern passed through her large eyes. She didn't understand why, but these past few days, Eun-woo's figure kept appearing in her mind—his teasing smile, the way he bossed her around. Yet, she didn't dislike it. She sensed that beneath the scolding was a clumsy sort of care.
She hadn't seen him since their lunch yesterday, and every time she secretly glanced at his empty seat, a small frown would crease her brow. Now that he was here, a tiny spark of happiness ignited, only to be snuffed out by Mr. Gong's harsh command, replaced by a cold pang of worry.
"Aigoo… Hyung's done for," Kim Do-hyun muttered, facepalming as he mentally mourned for his friend.
As for our protagonist, Eun-woo, he completely ignored Mr. Gong. He chose the simplest form of defiance: acting as if the teacher hadn't spoken.
This guy really doesn't learn. Has he already forgotten about singing 'I Will Show You' in front of the whole class?
He walked leisurely to his seat. Before he could even sit down, the classroom door opened again.
The stern figure of Teacher Park Mi-jung filled the doorway.
"Song Eun-woo. With me. Now."
Hearing this, Kim Do-hyun slapped his forehead harder. "It's over. Totally, completely over."
Uh-oh.
Eun-woo was also at a loss. Teacher Park delivered her line and turned to leave without another word.
He could ignore Mr. Gong, but defying his homeroom teacher, the formidable 'Sparta,' was another matter entirely.
He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly and trudged toward the front of the classroom.
However, as he passed Seo-jin's desk, he paused, turned, and flashed her a bright, confident smile.
"Wait for me for lunch. My treat yesterday means it's your turn today."
Without waiting for a response, he strode out after Teacher Park.
Of course, the reason he framed it as Seo-jin 'treating' him was pure strategy. He knew her stubborn, proud nature would make her refuse a direct offer. This way, she'd feel obligated to go to the cafeteria with him.
Watching him leave, Seo-jin's cheeks warmed. She quickly buried her face in the textbook on her desk, her heart beating a strange, fluttery rhythm.
---
In the staff room corridor, Teacher Park was waiting for him before he even reached the door.
"Come with me to the principal's office. Principal Kim wants to see you."
Eun-woo's surprise must have shown on his face, because before he could ask, Teacher Park continued, a rare, almost imperceptible smile touching her lips.
"What's this? The fearless troublemaker is nervous? You skipped the entire afternoon yesterday without a word. I came looking for you five or six times this morning." Her tone softened slightly. "The principal wanting to see you isn't necessarily bad. He's aware of your… recent test performance."
Hearing this, Eun-woo felt a twinge of genuine embarrassment. He'd always seen Teacher Park as an inflexible tyrant. Now, he was beginning to see her as a fiercely dedicated educator. Perhaps this shift in perspective was another unconscious change brought on by the system and his new maturity.
They walked in silence to the principal's office.
Knock, knock.
At Teacher Park's rap on the door, a calm, authoritative male voice called from within. "Come in."
"Principal Kim, I've brought Song Eun-woo."
Principal Kim, a distinguished-looking man in his fifties behind a large oak desk, smiled and gestured for them to sit on the plush sofa in his office. He then rose and joined them, his keen eyes studying the student once known as the school's top underachiever.
"Song Eun-woo. Your homeroom teacher has briefed me on your situation. I have just one question for you now." Principal Kim's gaze was direct, piercing, as if it could strip away any lie. "Are these results a true reflection of your ability?"
Faced with this imposing scrutiny, Eun-woo didn't flinch. A confident, easy smile spread across his face.
"Whether they are or not, words are cheap, Gyosunim. If I'm not mistaken, you've already prepared a little… test for me, haven't you?"
[To be continued…]