Yours (COMPLETED)

chapter thirty-four: your promise

The morning sun filtered through the high windows of the school hall as the chatter of confused parents and curious students filled the space. Haneul sat on the bench near the front with other students, her fingers nervously fidgeting in her lap. She could see every other student had their parents alongside them except for her. Not even Jungkook was there for her.

Moments later, the principal stood at the podium, adjusting the mic. "Thank you all for coming at such short notice. We have a very special announcement today."

The room quieted.

"We’ve recently received a generous donation from a well-established company. This meeting is to introduce everyone to the company who will also be our main sponsor from now. This contribution is substantial and will fully sponsor our students’ upcoming school trip."

A murmur of surprised delight rippled through the parents. Some clapped quietly. A few looked around, trying to guess who the mysterious contributor might be.

The principal smiled, "I'm sure we are all excited to know who it is...here I present the representative of Daehan Group, Mr Jeon Jungkook, the vice president of the organization."

Gasps echoed softly. Heads turned. From the side entrance, Jungkook stepped into view, dressed in a sleek blazer, a calm smile on his face. Haneul’s eyes lit up the moment she saw him. She jumped up a little, waving excitedly. "Uncle Jungkook!!"

Several parents blinked in confusion. A few teachers exchanged glances. Who was this man? And why did Haneul seem to know him?

Jungkook raised a hand and waved back at her, warm and natural. It was subtle, but noticeable enough. The interaction caught the attention of everyone.

A mother leaned toward another, whispering, "That girl knows someone from Daehan Group?"

"Isn't she the daughter of that disgraced influencer?"

"How is she related to a VP of Daehan Group?", someone muttered under their breath.

Up on stage, Jungkook approached the mic with a practiced ease, nodding politely at the principal before turning to the crowd. The whispers quieted instantly.

He glanced once more at Haneul, a silent reassurance just for her, before facing the rest of the audience.

He adjusted the mic slightly, his tone calm but confident. "Thank you, Principal Han, for the warm introduction. And thank you all of you. The parents, teachers, and students for welcoming me here today. I’m truly honored to stand before you."

He paused, letting the silence settle. His gaze swept across the hall, lingering just a second longer on the group of children seated near the front, where Haneul sat with wide, admiring eyes.

"Daehan Group believes in giving back. Not just through funds, but through values. We value everyone equally and always try to give our best treatment to everyone regardless of their background. Today, we have chosen to sponsor this school because we believe that giving back to these children is just as important as giving back to the community. We want to build a community that supports each other and we believe that when we contribute, the community will give back to us in an equally meaningful way."

A few teachers sat up straighter. Some parents tilted their heads, curious.

"I spent time reviewing stories from this school. What stood out to me wasn't just the academic excellence but the struggles. The invisible battles some of these kids face every day. The kind that don’t show up on report cards but it hurts them personally."

His voice stayed calm, even gentle, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath it.

"We want to support your trip, yes. That's the first thing we will sponsor. But more than that, I want this sponsorship to stand for something. For kindness. For strength in compassion. For the kind of courage it takes not to follow a crowd when someone’s being treated unfairly."