Substitute teacher.

The classroom buzzed with life. Students roamed around, chatting about the latest K-pop release or the most recent blockbuster. In one corner, a group of boys huddled together, engrossed in a video game. A few girls were busy reapplying their makeup, while Lara, Su Ryeon, and Ji-won stood by the board, pretending they were at a fan signing event, scribbling fake autographs with exaggerated flair. The atmosphere was light and carefree—after all, their homeroom teacher, Miss Hara, had taken a leave of absence to prepare for her wedding, leaving them with the sweet taste of freedom.

Their carefree joy, however, was short-lived. Ji-eun, the class president, burst into the room, her face flushed with urgency. "The principal's on his way here!" she announced breathlessly.

Panic swept through the classroom like a wave. Books were hastily grabbed, desks straightened, and students scrambled to their seats, adopting the guise of diligent scholars. The door creaked open, and in walked the principal, accompanied by a man who looked to be in his late thirties.

"Good morning, students," the principal began, his voice calm yet authoritative. "As you all know, Miss Hara has taken a leave of absence for her wedding preparations. In her stead, we have arranged for a substitute teacher, Mr. Deuk, who will be with you for the time being."

The announcement was met with a collective sigh of disappointment. So much for their dreams of unsupervised freedom. As the principal exited the room, leaving them alone with their new teacher, Mr. Deuk began to introduce himself, his tone warm and approachable.

Lara watched him closely, wondering if he would be another strict disciplinarian like Mr. Han, their former teacher. She resolved to make a good impression, hoping to avoid any trouble that might lead to a dreaded phone call home.

As Mr. Deuk continued speaking, the door opened again, this time revealing Minji and Suzi, who strolled in casually, oblivious to the presence of the new teacher. They halted abruptly, faces flushing with embarrassment as they realized their mistake. Bowing their heads, they greeted him with a mumbled, "Good morning."

"What are your names?" Mr. Deuk asked, his tone even but with a hint of curiosity.

"Kang Minji," Minji answered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Ji Suzi," her friend added quickly.

He nodded and gestured for them to take their seats. As they walked past, Lara noticed the way Mr. Deuk's gaze lingered on Minji for just a moment too long. A flicker of curiosity sparked in her mind. Did he know her from somewhere? she wondered.

To Lara's surprise, Mr. Deuk wasn't nearly as harsh as Mr. Han—or perhaps it was just the first-day politeness. She found herself hoping he would turn out to be one of the better teachers she had encountered. Overall, it had been a good day, except for the nagging sadness that followed her around like a shadow. She still couldn't understand why she couldn't get close to Minji at school anymore. Suzi was always with her, and she never seemed to face any backlash or bullying. Was Minji embarrassed by her? The thought gnawed at Lara, filling her with a deep sense of loneliness.

During lunch, she couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer. "Ji-won," she began hesitantly, "can you tell me more about this Suzi girl and her friendship with Minji?"

Ji-won looked at her with a teasing grin. "If you're so interested, why don't you just befriend them?"

Lara let out a sigh, her expression downcast. "No, it's not like that…"

Ji-won's playful smile faded as she saw the genuine concern in Lara's eyes. "Suzi and Minji are pretty close. They do everything together—study, eat, hang out—just like me and Su Ryeon. They're basically best friends."

"That's not entirely true," Su Ryeon interjected, joining the conversation. "I heard Minji has another best friend, outside of school."

"Really?" Lara and Ji-won exclaimed in unison, their curiosity piqued.

Lara's heart lifted slightly at the thought. Maybe she still thinks of me as her best friend, she mused, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Yeah, Suzi's just a school replacement, according to some people," Su Ryeon continued, her tone nonchalant.

Ji-won raised an eyebrow. "And where do you get all this information from?"

Su Ryeon grinned mischievously. "That's a secret, and I'm not telling!" She blew a playful raspberry at them, making Ji-won roll her eyes.

Lara couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Despite everything, it seemed Minji still cared about her. Maybe things weren't as bad as they seemed.