+Destiny's Lectures+
Coming Home
SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – ASSISTANT DEAN’S OFFICE
3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.
A plump man in his early forties can be seen in deep thought, forehead leaning down against his clasped hands as if they were in a praying gesture hoping for a miraculous intervention. It has been two weeks since one of his precious professors resigned, leaving nothing but a resignation letter in his possession without even enclosing a valid reason why. She just left, never to be seen or heard from again.
Seoul National University had always been first in the list of the ideal colleges with a 90% passing rates in the examinations and there is no way that he, the great assistant dean Park Jae Sang would let their title be taken away by rival universities.
Knock,
Knock,
Knock…!
“You called me, professor?”
Jae Sang immediately identified that deep, cunning voice as one of his subordinates and immediately called for the visitor to enter.
“Come in, Seung Hyun.”
Jae Sang finally let out a short sigh of relief, leaning his already aching back against the comforting cushion of his office chair and rested his hands flat on the armrests. He let his little eyes focus at a spectacled young man who entered the room, owning the floor with his upright posture and dignified walk—boasting his well-thought matching clothes fit for an assistant professor. Smart casual was his code of attire, rose pink colored long sleeves under his beige checkered coat that were the same color as his slacks. His necktie hung prim and proper in between his collars and his shoes were shined perfectly as if they were newly bought.
The fluorescent lighting of the room presented the young professional starting with his gelled up, dirty blonde locks then proceeding down to caress his mature, slender face. Thick furrowed brows rested above his deep, piercing eyes that were graced with long, thick lashes. A perfectly bridged nose centered his face, then sculpting down a dip just above his lips to form his philtrum, carved and rested just above his plump, pale-pink tinged lips. Aside from his stare, a prominent feature of his face were his magnificently chiseled jaw lines that made majority of his female students swoon over him.
His field of specialization? – Algebra.
“It’s been two weeks—“
“I know, sir.” The younger man interrupted. “I instructed the others to be meticulous in
observing the students in their self-study periods and worksheets.”
“But we can’t just rely on our students’ pacing. I need someone who can replace Lee Chae Rin as soon as possible because by all means, you know what I’m talking about!”
Seung Hyun couldn’t help but bite his lower lip as he stood frozen in front of the man’s desk.
“I respect your previous relationship and I know it’s been hard for you since Chae Rin left but please understand that this is also for the school. If the curriculum gets—“
Knock, knock, knock!!
“Professor Park!! I have something to talk to you about!”
Both men turned towards the door which holds another visitor on the other side. It was Jae Sang’s secretary who had just returned from his afternoon break.
“Not now, I am in the middle of an important discussion!”
“But sir, I think this is the solution to our problem regarding the scarcity of faculty members.”
Jae Sang and Seung Hyun turned their heads toward each other, giving a look of surprise. A few seconds later, Jae Sang hurriedly gestured for Seung Hyun to open the door, letting the man in.
“What is it?!” Jae Sang asked as he got up on his feet.
“Sir, it’s a letter sealed with the symbol of the Ministry of Education.” The man continued, placing the white envelope with the dry seal of the said ministry in the middle.
After a short glance at the document, the assistant dean hurriedly got his letter opener from his drawer and tore the envelope open, caring enough not to damage the letter enclosed in it.
=o=o=o=
“They did WHAT?!”
Dara was at the verge of spurting her iced tea out of her mouth when her best friend enumerated everything that happened to her before she left. The two hung out in a café which was patronized by a number of people so the others couldn’t help but turn their attention towards their table when Dara almost threw a fit.
“Shhh! Dara, quiet down!” Bom pleaded and gestured her best friend to relax, but Dara kept on holding her forehead with her eyes rolling about in complete frustration and anger.
“How can I quiet down after hearing what they did to you?!” she growled. “I knew Walker was a rotten guy, I knew it! I shouldn’t have approved of your relationship! This is unfair, he should’ve been the one suspended!”
“…They didn’t bother to investigate what happened. The university kept it confidential.”
“Now that’s just being racist.”
“You know the guy, he has connections with the higher ups. He can pull any strings he wants to pull and get away with it.”
“Come on, girl! YOU’RE PARK BOM!! The daughter of the prime minister of education! With just a whisper from your dad, they’ll have their knees shaking and their heads bowing to your every need if you just say so.” Dara shook her head in disbelief. “You should’ve fought for your reputation.” You shouldn’t have let them revoke your license as a professor.”
“I didn’t want to bother my father.” Bom sighed, looking down towards her lightly consumed cup of joe. “I burdened him enough already.”
“I’m sure your father will do everything in his power to help you out, Bom. He is still your father after all.”
“Yeah, but…”
Seeing her friend’s gloomy face once again, Dara decided to shake the matter off their minds.
“Know what?! Let’s forget all about this shit and drink the night away!” she declared in an utterly enthusiastic tone, even stretching both her arms and throwing her fists in the air. “We have to reform you! Get you back up on your feet!”
Bom couldn’t help but cough out a laugh.
“C’mon, let’s go to my place! There’s a new restaurant a few blocks away from home and I heard they serve the best drinks!”
Seeing her best friend reach out her hand towards her, the two exchanged their loving gazes at each other before holding each other’s hand.
“Welcome home, Bom.”
3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.
A plump man in his early forties can be seen in deep thought, forehead leaning down against his clasped hands as if they were in a praying gesture hoping for a miraculous intervention. It has been two weeks since one of his precious professors resigned, leaving nothing but a resignation letter in his possession without even enclosing a valid reason why. She just left, never to be seen or heard from again.
Seoul National University had always been first in the list of the ideal colleges with a 90% passing rates in the examinations and there is no way that he, the great assistant dean Park Jae Sang would let their title be taken away by rival universities.
Knock,
Knock,
Knock…!
“You called me, professor?”
Jae Sang immediately identified that deep, cunning voice as one of his subordinates and immediately called for the visitor to enter.
“Come in, Seung Hyun.”
Jae Sang finally let out a short sigh of relief, leaning his already aching back against the comforting cushion of his office chair and rested his hands flat on the armrests. He let his little eyes focus at a spectacled young man who entered the room, owning the floor with his upright posture and dignified walk—boasting his well-thought matching clothes fit for an assistant professor. Smart casual was his code of attire, rose pink colored long sleeves under his beige checkered coat that were the same color as his slacks. His necktie hung prim and proper in between his collars and his shoes were shined perfectly as if they were newly bought.
The fluorescent lighting of the room presented the young professional starting with his gelled up, dirty blonde locks then proceeding down to caress his mature, slender face. Thick furrowed brows rested above his deep, piercing eyes that were graced with long, thick lashes. A perfectly bridged nose centered his face, then sculpting down a dip just above his lips to form his philtrum, carved and rested just above his plump, pale-pink tinged lips. Aside from his stare, a prominent feature of his face were his magnificently chiseled jaw lines that made majority of his female students swoon over him.
His field of specialization? – Algebra.
“It’s been two weeks—“
“I know, sir.” The younger man interrupted. “I instructed the others to be meticulous in
observing the students in their self-study periods and worksheets.”
“But we can’t just rely on our students’ pacing. I need someone who can replace Lee Chae Rin as soon as possible because by all means, you know what I’m talking about!”
Seung Hyun couldn’t help but bite his lower lip as he stood frozen in front of the man’s desk.
“I respect your previous relationship and I know it’s been hard for you since Chae Rin left but please understand that this is also for the school. If the curriculum gets—“
Knock, knock, knock!!
“Professor Park!! I have something to talk to you about!”
Both men turned towards the door which holds another visitor on the other side. It was Jae Sang’s secretary who had just returned from his afternoon break.
“Not now, I am in the middle of an important discussion!”
“But sir, I think this is the solution to our problem regarding the scarcity of faculty members.”
Jae Sang and Seung Hyun turned their heads toward each other, giving a look of surprise. A few seconds later, Jae Sang hurriedly gestured for Seung Hyun to open the door, letting the man in.
“What is it?!” Jae Sang asked as he got up on his feet.
“Sir, it’s a letter sealed with the symbol of the Ministry of Education.” The man continued, placing the white envelope with the dry seal of the said ministry in the middle.
After a short glance at the document, the assistant dean hurriedly got his letter opener from his drawer and tore the envelope open, caring enough not to damage the letter enclosed in it.
=o=o=o=
“They did WHAT?!”
Dara was at the verge of spurting her iced tea out of her mouth when her best friend enumerated everything that happened to her before she left. The two hung out in a café which was patronized by a number of people so the others couldn’t help but turn their attention towards their table when Dara almost threw a fit.
“Shhh! Dara, quiet down!” Bom pleaded and gestured her best friend to relax, but Dara kept on holding her forehead with her eyes rolling about in complete frustration and anger.
“How can I quiet down after hearing what they did to you?!” she growled. “I knew Walker was a rotten guy, I knew it! I shouldn’t have approved of your relationship! This is unfair, he should’ve been the one suspended!”
“…They didn’t bother to investigate what happened. The university kept it confidential.”
“Now that’s just being racist.”
“You know the guy, he has connections with the higher ups. He can pull any strings he wants to pull and get away with it.”
“Come on, girl! YOU’RE PARK BOM!! The daughter of the prime minister of education! With just a whisper from your dad, they’ll have their knees shaking and their heads bowing to your every need if you just say so.” Dara shook her head in disbelief. “You should’ve fought for your reputation.” You shouldn’t have let them revoke your license as a professor.”
“I didn’t want to bother my father.” Bom sighed, looking down towards her lightly consumed cup of joe. “I burdened him enough already.”
“I’m sure your father will do everything in his power to help you out, Bom. He is still your father after all.”
“Yeah, but…”
Seeing her friend’s gloomy face once again, Dara decided to shake the matter off their minds.
“Know what?! Let’s forget all about this shit and drink the night away!” she declared in an utterly enthusiastic tone, even stretching both her arms and throwing her fists in the air. “We have to reform you! Get you back up on your feet!”
Bom couldn’t help but cough out a laugh.
“C’mon, let’s go to my place! There’s a new restaurant a few blocks away from home and I heard they serve the best drinks!”
Seeing her best friend reach out her hand towards her, the two exchanged their loving gazes at each other before holding each other’s hand.
“Welcome home, Bom.”
