Golden Slumber 📚 ATEEZ [▶]

1

The city's hustle and bustle surged, piercing the nine o'clock morning hour. Most were occupied with criticizing the intense traffic, lacking time to efficiently sit in a morning cafe with a screen full of essential documents. Park Seonghwa, a thirty-four-year-old man hoping for a new call in the four-story building where he positioned himself this time, was no exception. Sitting in front of a stern-faced leader, he presented a folder containing documents that became the sole focus of the man before him. Relaxing himself, he occasionally glanced out the window in search of a refreshing view. Fortunately, some well-maintained trees added a more interesting touch to the otherwise plain white building without any motifs on the ceramic.

"I have read your resume."

Seonghwa adjusted himself, straightening the shirt he had ironed multiple times the night before for the best possible outcome now.

"You have a lot of experience. However, teaching experience—"

"Honestly, I don't have teaching experience," Seonghwa interrupted, offering honesty to a school principal who had just read his file.

This statement seemed to make Kim Eden, the school principal, confident enough to close Seonghwa's file and then hand it back. "We have many troubled students here. We need an experienced teacher."

Seonghwa on the other side just smiled, nodding slowly before reaching into his pocket to retrieve something, ignoring the principal's further remarks.

"We can provide you with a recommendation letter. You can try at another school."

Another piece of paper was handed to Eden, stopping him just as he was about to sign a letter. Not too worn, only having four messy folds from being crammed into a pocket. However, it seemed Eden didn't care about that. He frowned, reading carefully before finding a section that completely changed his suggestion from a few moments ago regarding Seonghwa's application.

A neatly handwritten recommendation letter, stamped with a red fingerprint, complete with an official name.

Principal Ma Dongseok

The tension on Seonghwa's face slowly faded as he received a thin smile from Eden.

"No overtime pay, irregular working hours. Start at eight, don't be late," Eden explained in a flat, bland tone, as if he had no excessively high expectations.

Not surprising, really. The notion of teachers as unsung heroes had continually become a truth. He couldn't blame many young people for not being interested in this unprestigious job.

So, it was somewhat surprising to see the model figure of Park Seonghwa before him now. However, Eden was accustomed to teachers who, at most, lasted only a month. Miss Jung, a young teacher with only five years of teaching experience, lasted less than two weeks in the school.

"I will do well," Seonghwa disregarded some shortcomings of the job he had just secured. He rose with a bright smile, shaking the Headmaster's hand before adjusting his bag and the documents he brought. He bowed politely before stepping towards the entrance.

"Mr. Park," the older man called, as if something was stuck in his mind that he needed to express.

Seonghwa took a moment to look back when the call he desired a few moments ago had just been given to him.

"You came from America, returned to Korea just to become a teacher? Why do you want to do it?" Eden expressed his curiosity, having placed many question marks on the new teacher's life history.

Seonghwa didn't think, or even give the answer Eden expected. He just expressed gratitude before disappearing behind the door.