Golden Slumber 📚 ATEEZ [▶]

5

Seonghwa observed the horizon for a moment.

From the second floor of the old school building. Not that old, really. But old enough to be considered new.

There were some shoe marks on the staircase wall. Seonghwa noticed shoe imprints higher than his own as he descended the stairs. He pondered on how shoe prints could be that high—either there was a nearly two-meter-tall student with remarkable flexibility or a student simply threw their shoes up that high. Most likely the latter. But Seonghwa preferred the first theory.

He had just descended the stairs. Occasionally checking his watch, he contemplated whether he had time for a quick coffee. He saw two security guards emerging from the teacher's lounge. Not something usual, he thought.

Eden stood at his usual spot, arranging documents, looking stiff. Perhaps it was lunchtime, or maybe being a leader inherently drained the joy out of life for him.

"Mr. Kim," Seonghwa greeted gently.

Eden turned, revealing deep furrows on his forehead. "Five of your students involved in the fight will be expelled. No more chances. This school is on the brink of closure, and retaining students like them will only worsen the situation."

Seonghwa didn't need much time to figure out that the five students Eden referred to were San, Jongho, Yunho, Yeosang, and Wooyoung. Only they exhibited unruly behavior, with smoking being just one example.

"No more chances? Why aren't they given a chance? Wouldn't it be better to educate troubled students so that they may potentially contribute to their own education and improve the school?" Seonghwa questioned.

Eden sighed. "Mr. Park, Capital Vivid Secondary School is at risk of closure due to declining student interest. Moreover, not a single student has successfully passed the university entrance exam. The education department will cut off support if conditions don't improve next year. There's no hope for them. This year should have been a good focus for all your students to prepare for the college entrance exam. But have they paid attention? Or at least shown interest in learning well?"

Eden used to be as optimistic as Seonghwa.

Once.

A long time ago.

It felt like seeing himself a century ago, witnessing how Seonghwa tried to sound optimistic.

Eden glanced at a photo from the early days of his teaching career, displayed in a small frame next to his nameplate and position on his desk. It seemed like it was ten years ago. His face was rounder and more groomed back then.

"So what?" Seonghwa furrowed, lowering his voice to emphasize the seriousness. "Just because they gave up on their future and chose the wrong path, are we supposed to do the same? They have potential, just like students in prestigious schools."

Eden wanted to laugh. Potential, he said? Yes, maybe. But what good is potential if it's not nurtured? Just wishful thinking.

The government won't grant you funds based on wishful thinking.

They lived in a capitalist world where everything had to benefit the owners of capital.

A low-performing school with no achievements couldn't compete with those that had funding. Funding meant facility adequacy. Facility adequacy led to enthusiasm for learning. Enthusiasm for learning usually resulted in positive impacts on achievements.