Moments With You

Penance

"Stop it!" Logan pushes himself between the girls, barely managing to separate them. Rushing down, he takes hold of Seok Kyun and pulls her back from Rona, who's pushed on the floor trembling, orange juice dripping from her hair. "Both of you, my office," he barks. He glances around to the other students who are gaping at the scene without intervening. More than one phone is out, capturing the fight, the spectacle of the week. "And you all are explaining yourselves after," he aims at them.

"I didn't do anything. Let go of me!'' Seok Kyun yanks her hand away, fixing him with a manic stare.

Logan doesn't let go. Furious—his blood thumping in his ears as if he were the one battered and humiliated—he brings her hand up to her face, forcing her to look at the strands of Rona's hair still clutched in her fingers.

"Now."

___

It's been three months since he started teaching physical education at the Cheon Academy, but it's not the first time he's had to deal with this kind of incident. The kids hail from the elite families of Seoul and navigate the world as if it's their playground –all fun, no rules, no consequences.

He's witnessed horrific bullying and teachers who sweep it under the rug and he can't stand it. For Seol Ah, he won't.

___

He's dealt with Seok Kyun's father enough to dread the call. An arrogant man who controls half of Seoul's real estate market, rumored to have threatened his way to success, with connections always keeping him out of trouble. He and his wife apply the same philosophy to his daughter's transgressions –denial and blaming everyone else. She'll never learn that way, only get better at covering her actions, and Logan fumes that it's all for a girl who wants attention from her parents.

His office door bursts open, and he's ready to raise hell. Instead of the thumping footsteps of a self-important man, the clack of stiletto heels announces no other than Shim Su Ryeon. She bypasses the girls on the sofa and strides to his desk, puts her five-figure handbag on his neatly stacked papers and looks down on him.

"Who's responsible for this?"

For a moment, he's speechless. She's towering over him, arms crossed, exuding the protectiveness of a wolf mother who's ready to fight for her cub. They've met a few times at school functions –she's very involved despite her painting career. But she's always polite, greeting everyone with a smile. The woman before him now is fuming. His ire awakens.

"Your daughter."

She bites a grimace and stares at him, daring him to back down.

He's dealt with parents and she's taking it like they all do –unapologetically.

"Seok Kyun pulled Rona's hair, pushed her to the ground and doused her with orange juice. In front of the whole class".

Ignoring him, she touches her daughter on the shoulder.

"What's wrong honey? Why are you behaving this way?"

Seok Kyun flinches and she drops her hand.

"Rona has sustained a wrist injury," he adds. "When I'm done questioning the bystanders, I am pushing for disciplinary action."

Seok Kyun looks at her phone, as if this doesn't concern her at all.

"After-school cleaning," he says to get a reaction from them both. These people think carrying a broom is more humiliating than death.

"Not a chance. I'll discipline my kids however I see fit," Su Ryeon objects.

He bares his teeth.

"Will you?"