Chapter 4: Youth

Youth dramas are made for the sole purpose of giving viewers nostalgia, at least that's what I think.

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Back then, I don't really get why people miss these times since I never liked studying and being at school, but I think I kind of get it now.

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There is a certain lightness that being back in school brings. It brings back memories to times where you have less worries and thoughts.

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I thought that didn't really apply to me, but actually being back to school brings it to a different level compared to simply watching a drama.

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It feels odd. In a good way.

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It's like the long time I spent in my past life was just a distant dream of ridiculous teenager.

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Maybe it is, I don't know.

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It feels so weird to wear a uniform again though. I try to look for words to describe it, but I can't really find any. Maybe it's the feeling of being different, but no one else can see that.

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Like a protagonist of a youth drama, I'm being fashionably late to school.

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Fortunately my middle school is quite close to my house and I still remember the location. Otherwise, I might as well take a peaceful stroll around town while I look for my school.

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Running harder than I ever did, I tried my best to reach school.

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And that would be an exaggeration, because I definitely did not run that hard. Can you blame me though? I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about school.

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I managed to get through the gates before it was closed, but now I am presented with another problem.

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I can't remember for the life of me which class I belonged to.

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How am I supposed to remember, it's been 10 years. I spent so much time outside school as well.

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I barely even remember my classmates.

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The only person I still keep in touch with was my seatmate Bae Soo-hyeon because we were particularly close.

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I decided to text Soo-hyeon about where my class was. It's the least embarrasing solution I could think off.

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'Hyeon-ie, I forgot the way to class. Can you tell me the way?'

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Is that convincing enough? It makes me cringe to type like this. Should I just pretend to have partial amnesia?

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Whatever, I'll think about it later.

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'Ha-na, did you forget again? Our class is next to the library, be quick! Teacher Han's lesson is the first subject today.'

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Turns out, I have always been quite forgetful.

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Teacher Han sounds familiar though.

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I stopped a random staff and asked for directions to the library.

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I reached my class, but the teacher has already arrived.

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I knocked, bowed, and prepared to scurry off to my seat.

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However this teacher seems to have some sort of grudge on me.

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"Kim Ha-na, you're late."

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He looked like he just caught a mouse on his trap, looking overtly pleased at my mistake.

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Is this that Teacher Han?

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I recognize that sleazy face. In my past life he is convicted for embezzlements and sexually assaulting a few girls in this school.

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I peaked at the clock, "I arrived at school before the gates are closed, I arrived here exactly when the class is supposed to start."

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"Unless you would like to count the microseconds, maybe you should stop wasting everyone's time and start the lesson."

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I don't like that man's gaze. I've seen it too often in the entertainment industry. I guess it makes sense, he is a predator after all.

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To do it or not to do it?

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"Tsk, you have no respect for anyone don't you? A person like you would never succeed."

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"You have horrible grades and terrible attitude. You want to become an actress? Your only hope is the unspoken rules."

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Wow, he's saying all that in front of these kids.

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But you know what? I couldn't give a damn.

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I've heard many insults that are both more creative and deadly than whatever he tried to pull here.

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I walked to my seat, not bothering to give that guy any more attention.

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"Kim Ha-na!"

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I pulled my book from my bag and replied to him without even bothering to dirty my eyes with his visage.

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"Respect is for people who earned it."

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I hear him huffing and puffing like he was about to blow out a roof.

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"I think you're the only teacher in this school who wouldrather be wasting time humiliating the students instead of focusing on your job."

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"No one has the time to waste on being childish like you do. I suggest you start the lesson before I let the whole school know about your incompetence."

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He begrudgingly started the class.

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It was the most boring and unclear class I have attended in my two lives.

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"Ha-na! You scared me over there!"

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Soo-hyeon whispered to me after Teacher Han left the room.

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Before I could reply to her, our class leader approached me.

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"Ha-na, the principal called you and for a meeting with Mr. Han."

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That guy is acting like a whiny kid.

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I thanked the class leader and asked Suhyeon to lead me to the principal's office.

She obliged like it's natural for me to not remember locations.

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Maybe I shouldn't have been that impulsive, but he's about to get arrested for embezzlement and sexual assault. I remember hearing about it while shooting Spring Breeze. All in all, he's a ticking time bomb.

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It's more on the embezzlement rather than the sexual assault that got him though.

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I remember that he got done in for a long time. Someone probably had a grudge on him.

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I probably don't have to deal with him for long.

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Unbeknowst to Ha-na, some people decide to explode the ticking time bomb faster than she could have thought.