3 ♥ Heart Warmer
Hearts are Made to be Broken
"A class on 1 PM and then another one on 3 PM," I read my schedule, walking to the staff room with books in my other hand. "This class is currently having English..."
I stop my steps when I see the lecturer's name. Feeling curious, I turn around and head to the classroom where she is teaching English right now.
It's alright, isn't it? I just want to see my colleague works. Besides she is a new teacher so it's alright to see how she is doing, right?
There she is, standing in front of the classroom with a smile on her face. I take a peek of the class from the window, trying to observe the situation.
The whole class is paying attention to her and she is writing something on the whiteboard. She turns to the students and speaks, "And this is what I want you to do for next week, a letter in English."
"Eh?!" the students sound disappointed and they start to give complaint, saying that they still have a lot of homework and they don't think a new one will help them at all.
"Ssst," she puts her index finger on her lips and smiles. "It's not a homework. Write this letter for your dearest one. Your parents, your best friends, your lovers. This is not a homework. This is your effort for people you love."
I blink, surprised with her explanation. More likely, I'm amazed because of her. This is the first time I see her teaching the class after two weeks and I understand why the students in my vocal class who take her class like her.
She teaches the lesson without making them feel burdened with tasks and everything. She tries to make them feel comfortable, to make the class enjoys the lesson.
It's not something easy, I guess.
The students whisper to each other but they look calm now. She smiles to them and then clasps her hands, "Now since it's almost lunchtime, I'm going to give you a new word to add in your vocabulary. Who still remember what I gave last week?"
A male student raises his hand along with the others. She points to the first one who raises his hand, "Yes, Dongwoon?"
"Epiphany," Dongwoon says in English. "It means a moment of sudden and great revelation or realization."
"Good," she nods with satisfaction. She takes the spidol and write a word in English. "This is the new word: Serendipity."
I frown, trying to figure out what the meaning is. It's interesting how she can grab the attention from the students easily. None of them is talking right now because they are waiting for her explanation.
"Serendipity means the occurence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. To put it simple, it means a happy accident or pleasant surprise," she explains briefly. "You know, things like the moments when you accidentally find something good or useful without looking for it."
"Like falling in love, Choi Songsaenim?" a girl chirps in with a wide smile on her face.
She looks at her for seconds before smiling gently, "Yes, like falling in love with the right one, Jihyun."
She dismisses the class after reminding them about writing the letter and the students leave the class, discussing about their homework. Some of them, who are also students in my class, greet me when they see me.
I flash a smile to them while glancing secretly at the girl who is cleaning the whiteboard dilligently. She turns off the lights after that and locks the door.
When she notices my presence, she smiles sweetly and greets me politely, "Ah, Nam Songsaenim. What a surprise to see you here."
"It's alright to call me by name when we're not in class, Eunye," I tell her as we walk together to the staff room. "It's alright that I call you by your name as well, right?"
"Sure," she chuckles and then looks at me. "Well, I guess it's alright if I call you Woohyun Oppa then?"
I can't help myself but to smile when I hear her mention my name. I nod and say, "Glad to hear you call me Oppa."
~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~
"Big news!" Dongwoo, one of the dance teachers barged in the staff room with a wide grin. "We will have a new teacher today!"
"So?" Yong Junhyung, the senior teacher in composing class, asked without any interest. "It's not a big news. We all know that this school needs new teachers for the new semester."
"It's a girl," Dongwoo added and it quickly drew attention from the male teachers. "She is going to teach English and she will start today! Isn't it a good news?"
Junhyung rolled his eyes and returned to his task. Dongwoo gave him a sharp gaze and , "Yeah, I know someone here has a girlfriend already. Don't worry I won't tell Isun!"
"Yah!" Junhyung groaned but I could see he was blushing slightly. "Who knows that this new teacher is an old lady, eh? I bet you will wipe off your smile wh-"
His words were cut off when someone opened the door. She stepped in the room and closed the door. She gave us a bow and smiled politely, "Good morning."
Every pair of eyes were locked on the girl with long black hair that almost reached her waist. She wore a white blouse and black skirt with a pair of black high heels.
"My name is Choi Eunye. I will start to teach English, starting from today. Glad to work with all of you," she bowed again before straightening her body.
I was not sure but I thought she was glancing at me. She gave me a smile that made my heart to skip a beat for no reason.
Did she know me?
For the whole day Eunye became the celebrity in the staff room. The single male teachers were trying to know her better and, in the end of the day, they gathered together to talk about her.
"She was born in 1991. Her birthday is, wait, 28 August," Dongwoo revealed whatever he knew. "She doesn't have experience in teaching before."
"She lives by her own in an apartment because her parents live in States," Lee Gikwang, another dance teacher added in. "And, on top of all... she doesn't have a boyfriend!"
I laughed when they grinned boyishly and I knew exactly what they're thinking. Our school only had a few female teachers and Eunye's arrival was like an oasis.
"Yah, Lee Howon! Don't you have something to share about her?" Dongwoo called out Howon when he was walking pass them. "Something about the new teacher? Come on! Anything will do."
Howon turned to them with straight face. He didn't say anything and walked out from the room, making all of us confused with his sudden cold attitude.
Lee Howon was a new dance teacher here and he was well known as the cool and handsome one that made the girls melted in front of him. I was not close with him but I did know that his dance skill was awesome.
"What's wrong with him?" Gikwang frowned. "Don't tell me he doesn't have any interest with Eunye?"
They continued to talk about Eunye again, ignoring about everything else.
~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~
I was heading back to the staff room after I dismissed the last class when I see Eunye and Howon are talking about something with serious expression at a corridor.
"Didn't we agree that you won't interrupt because you don't want to help me?" Eunye leans against the wall. "I enrolled in this school by my own effort, Hoya."
"You enrolled with another purpose," Howon sighs. He looks pretty much frustrated. "How could I forget that there is an English class here? I thought it's impossible because you don't have talents in arts."
"Yah!" Eunye slaps his shoulder lightly. "I'm enjoying my work here! It's not like I'm playing around when I'm teaching!"
I never knew that Eunye and Howon know each other. Not to mention that Eunye doesn't call Howon by his real name.
Hoya?
Unfortunately, I accidentally drop my book and they turn to look at me. I quickly bend down to get the book, grinning to them awkwardly, "Sorry. I just passed by. Sorry to interrupt."
"Ah, no, it's alright," Eunye approaches me and smiles. "Have you finished your classes today, Woohyun Oppa?"
"Yes," I rub the back of my neck nervously and glance at Howon. "Did you two know each other?"
"Ah," Eunye turns to look at Howon before returning her gaze to me with a smile, "he is my best friend since college. He is the one who told me about the job vacancy here."
Now that explains a lot with his cold attitude whenever the others talk about Eunye. Is Howon... jealous?
"I did not," Howon interrupts with unhappy expression. He walks pass us without another word, leaving me with Eunye alone.
"Shall we?" Eunye gives a sign to continue walking, heading to the staff room. "Ah, have you eaten yet, Oppa?"
"No," I shake my head. "Why?"
"I haven't eaten as well. Do you mind to accompany me for a while?" her face beams. "It's my treat! Don't worry!"
Perhaps I can get to know her better. The others will be happy if I can get some new information from her but, well, it's more for my sake instead of theirs. It's a friendly invitation and I will be happy to befriend with a new colleague.
"Sure," I answer cheerfully. "Just two of us or you will ask Hoya to come along?"
"Well," she bites her bottom lip and I think it's really cute of her, "is it okay if I... just... want two of us..."
Her voice grows into a whisper and I can feel my heart beats uncontrollably just by looking at her. She looks extremely cute when she acts so shy.
Without asking another question, I return to the staff room and grab my things after we agreed to meet at the school gate. We head to a restaurant that Eunye chose and take a table for two.
"I was wondering...," Eunye tilts her head aside. "Is it alright? Will someone be mad at me if we're together like this?"
"I don't think so," I answer. "I think Howon will be mad at me actually. Are you sure you're only best friends with him? He is famous among girls in our school, you know."
"Yes, we're just best friends and I don't think we will be something more than that," she chuckles and then props her chin, looking at me directly. "Besides I have my eyes on someone else right now."
She surely knows how to make my heart race even though we barely know each other. I clear my throat nervously and then check my phone because I just receive a new text message.
It's from my childhood friend.
"Eunye, is it alright if my friend come here?" I ask her since I don't want her to feel uncomfortable with a stranger for her during her dinner invitation. "He just arrived from Los Angeles and he will stay with me so..."
"Sure," Eunye answers right away. "I will be glad to meet your friend."
"Thanks," I mumble and reply to my friend, telling him to come over to the restaurant. I return my gaze to Eunye and ask her, "I also wonder... It's not that I don't want to but... may I know why did you ask me for dinner? Why didn't you ask someone else?"
There are a lot of teachers that can accompany her but she asked me out of the others. Is it just by a chance or there is something else?
"Well, what if I say that I only think of you?" she drops her gaze, biting her bottom lip shyly. "Ah, I'm babbling, right? Please just ignore me."
She looks at me with a sheepish smile, "You know, when I look at you, I think I need to teach my students a new vocabulary next week."
"Eh?" I blink, returning my senses after I was captivated by her. "What is it?"
"Heart warmer...," she murmurs vividly. "Since you can make my heart feels warm just by looking at you..."
Before I could think of anything because I'm sure I am blushing because of her statement, a voice catches my attention, "Ah! Woohyun!"
I turn around to see my childhood friend that I haven't seen for years. He approaches me and we exchange a brotherly hug, "It's been a while, Woohyun!"
"Yeah, you look good, Hyung" I laugh, hoping that he will not notice that I'm blushing. "It's fast. Were you around this area when you texted me?"
"I was trying to find the school where I will start to work next week with you!" he smiles widely and then glances at Eunye. "Ah... You're with..."
"Oh, let me introduce you to Eunye. She is a new teacher too in Eungeum," I turn to look at Eunye who has her eyes widen. Is it just me or I think she looks really surprised with my friend's presence?
"Eunye, this is my childhood friend who will start to work in Eungeum next week, Kim Sunggyu."
__________
Author's Note:
"Eungeum" means Silver Gold.
"Eun" (은) means 'silver', "Geum" (금) means 'gold'.
__________
Author's Note:
"Eungeum" means Silver Gold.
"Eun" (은) means 'silver', "Geum" (금) means 'gold'.
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