Chapter 2
“Class will begin now.”
Hiding the shock that felt like ruins within her, Ri-hyun started the lecture. She didn’t even notice that some students hadn’t finished marking attendance, nor the whispers passing among them.
“Joseon adopted Confucianism as its state ideology and established a strong centralized government.”
Her calm voice filled the classroom, but in truth, Ri-hyun was trembling. Unfortunately, she couldn’t ignore the presence that paralyzed her nerves. She didn’t want to admit it, but she still hadn’t been able to forget him.
“With the spread of Neo-Confucianism, the yangban class was reinforced, deeply influencing all aspects of Joseon society. The rigid caste system…”
She paused for a moment, drawing a deep breath that made her shoulders rise. Her tangled senses felt chained, her breathing shallow. No matter how hard she tried to endure, her anxiety grew. Even the faintest sound brushing past her ears was unbearable, and just knowing Tae-jun was nearby made her chest pound.
“…Education became exclusively for the children of the yangban, and the civil service examination functioned as a tool for maintaining the ruling class’s power. We’ll continue the rest in the next lecture.”
The lecture, which had felt like a battlefield, ended, yet Ri-hyun had no idea how time had passed. She mechanically read the material, unable to start the content she had prepared.
“Thank you for your effort.”
She collected her materials hastily, ignoring the students’ polite responses. She wanted to leave the classroom as soon as possible. More precisely, she wanted to get away from the target who had torn her apart—Tae-jun.
“Professor Cha Ri-hyun.”
The voice that caught her as she tried to flee echoed like a resonance. She closed her eyes tightly at the sound she didn’t even need to confirm. Yet when she turned her face, it was surprisingly composed.
“What is it?”
“I have something to say.”
The teasing tone of a student was gone, replaced with words that cut through the air like a knife. Ri-hyun, however, maintained a deliberately stiff tone.
“Go ahead.”
“Here?”
“There’s no place more appropriate than the classroom.”
She seemed composed, but a chill running through her entire body whispered unease.
“Our classroom is… special for us, isn’t it?”
When Tae-jun’s lips curved into a smirk, Ri-hyun realized too late. The words implied a private space between professor and student, but the situation had unintentionally taken on an awkward undertone.
“What do you want?”
Before she could react, Tae-jun stepped closer. As she instinctively stepped back, she saw students who hadn’t left yet. University campuses were rife with absurd rumors, and Ri-hyun raised her voice, serious.
“Tae-jun Kang, I asked what you have to say.”
“You still flare up when embarrassed, huh?”
“!”
“Glad to see some things never change.”
With a whisper that was half teasing, half nostalgic, Tae-jun grinned. Then, addressing the curious students, he added:
“I need to speak with the professor alone. Can you leave?”
The already tense atmosphere thickened. Even as students widened their eyes in surprise and Ri-hyun froze, Tae-jun added:
“Don’t forget to close the door.”
The students obediently filtered out, leaving only a cold silence drifting through the dust-laden classroom. After some time, reaching her limit, Ri-hyun roughly brushed her hair back and spoke with a hollow edge.
“What are you doing here?”
Her voice cut through the silence, laced with complex emotions. After a cowardly parting, Tae-jun had suddenly shown up, acting as he pleased. She couldn’t help but feel irritated. Honestly, she still harbored resentment she couldn’t erase.
“I came because I missed you.”
“What do you mean?”
“How have you been?”
Her eyes flashed in disbelief. To casually ask about her life after everything he had done was infuriating. Yet she couldn’t allow herself to reveal the whirlwind of emotions she felt. Erasing the momentary tremor, Ri-hyun spoke indifferently:
“As you can see, I’ve been fine. I even got the professorship I wanted. Life’s comfortable enough to be boring.”
“That’s good to hear.”
The look of sadness on his face had to be her imagination, Ri-hyun thought, turning the subject.
“I don’t know why you ended up in my class, but let’s pretend this never happened—it’s uncomfortable for both of us.”
“Uncomfortable?”
Uncomfortable wasn’t the word. It was a violent shock that seemed to collapse all reason, a feeling as if her soul was burning under a scorching sun.
“We’re not exactly on friendly terms.”
“I wanted to see you.”
Her eyes, misinterpreting his words, turned toward Tae-jun again.
“What did you say?”
“I said I wanted to see you.”
Not a hallucination. Tae-jun spoke with a seriousness that felt like a confession.
“Are you crazy?”
Her face went pale; she couldn’t help but ask. They were already over, and Tae-jun was married to another woman. His words echoed like a curse in her ears.
“I had to be crazy to come all the way here. I missed you so much.”
The gentle tone landed as another wound. Ri-hyun had been the one to fully bear the pain of their breakup, living each day torn apart, erased as if she didn’t exist. Yet Tae-jun appeared again as if nothing had happened, with the same familiar face.
“You’re joking, right?”
“Not at all.”
The chaos she had felt slowly turned into anger. Words that were once whispered with longing now sounded like vicious mockery. Each of his sentences felt like a sharp stake scratching her heart.
“So?”
She ground her teeth, speaking with a chilling edge. Yet Tae-jun, unmoved, stepped closer and said gravely:
“We should meet again. I’m ready now…”
“Shut your mouth.”
The abrupt command froze the air. Ri-hyun couldn’t hold back any longer. Foolish sentiment and sordid infidelity were on a completely different level.
“Don’t want to?”
His shameless question shook her gaze. Was the face of the man she had loved to death, and still couldn’t forget, truly this horrific? Even the memories she had tried to cherish felt thrown into the trash.
“Do I even have the right to say I don’t? Don’t you know how we broke up?”
“Back then…”
“Enough. I don’t want to talk anymore. Leave.”
Though trying to conceal her emotions, Ri-hyun felt herself getting more and more agitated. To have him return so brazenly after building a life with another woman! The wounds she had swallowed painfully were ripped open again, and the rage of betrayal surged up her throat.
“Ri-hyun.”
“Don’t call my name—it’s disgusting.”
She added coldly, not even noticing the harshness of her words.
“Take my class or don’t, whatever you want. But stop taking interest in me. If you have even the slightest conscience…!”
That was when Tae-jun handed her a card.
“Take it.”
“What is this?”
He placed the card into her delicate hand.
“Key to an officetel.”
Shame flooded Ri-hyun’s face. Whether then or now, what he wanted was ultimately physical indulgence. She realized she was nothing more than a puppet swept along by his desire.
“Crazy man.”
Even as she swore at him, Tae-jun spoke calmly:
“Come after work. I’ll explain everything.”
An explanation, but what he truly wanted was pleasure in bed. From the beginning, Tae-jun had been blatant—he had pursued her for a physical connection, not love.
“Do you still see me as a fool?”
Tae-jun’s expression twisted, but the lock he had opened didn’t close easily. The sorrow she had suppressed for so long erupted uncontrollably.
“You must be mistaken. I’m not the same girl from seven years ago. I don’t care about you. I will never go to your officetel.”
