After a long summer, it was the first day of school and the first day of Onew’s new teaching job. He recently got divorced and moved to a new neighborhood so he applied for a teaching position in the area’s school district.

Onew walked down the hallway as students were running down the hall trying to get to their first classes of the day. “No running in the hallways!” Onew walked into his classroom and students began to quiet the chattering and sit properly when they saw him.

“Good morning, class. I’m Mr. Lee. Welcome to Advanced English. Please raise your hand when I call your names.” Onew picks up the class roster and called out each name, looking up every second to make sure the said person was present.

“Y/N Y/LN?” Onew looked up and saw the said person sitting in the back raising her hand. “Ah, I see your previous teachers gave you recommendations to take this class.”

“Nerd!”

The class started laughing as Y/N rests her chin on her arms. “All right, class. That’s enough!” Onew read the remainder of the names.

After an hour of going over the classwork for the year, the bell rung and everyone gathered their things and left the classroom. “Ah, Y/N, could I speak to you for a minute?” Y/N walked over to Onew’s desk. “Yes, Mr. Lee?” “I want to apologize for what happened earlier. I shouldn’t have spoken out loud about your recommendations.” “It’s fine.” “But I am impressed with what your teachers wrote about you. Do you plan to major in English in college next year?” “I don’t think I’m going to college next year.” “Why not?” “It’s…complicated.”

“Well, I won’t ask any further questions…Except, are you okay? You seem very exhausted.” Onew couldn’t help but notice her dark, baggy eyes. “I, um…worked a lot over the summer. I haven’t slept much.” “I see. As the year goes on, you should be much more awake. And I am looking forward to your work this year.” “Thank you, Mr. Lee. Um, I should go to my class.” “Very well. Off you go.” Y/N leaves the room.

1 month later:

The bell rings.

“All right, class. Your essays are due this Monday. Enjoy your weekend!” The classroom was empty in a few seconds. Onew sat at his desk and checked his attendance sheet. “Hmm…Y/N Y/LN, what are you up to?” For the past month, Y/N had been missing classes although her assignments were emailed to him by their respective due dates. Although he wasn’t allowed to accept her assignments this way, he made an exception due to her impressive academic work.

Onew checked the school’s student data for Y/N’s home phone number. He took out his cell phone and dialed the number. “The number you are trying to reach is not available. Please leave a message at the beep.” Beep. “Hello, this is Mr. Lee, Y/N’s Advanced English teacher. I’m calling regarding her repetitive absences in my class. I think we will have to schedule a meeting to fix this issue. Please return my call and we can further discuss this. Thank you.”

1 week later:

The bell rings.

“Study hard for tomorrow’s test!” The classroom was empty except for Y/N who stood in front of the desk. “Mr. Lee, here’s my assignment. I’m sorry it’s a day late.” Y/N left a paper on the desk. “Y/N, I should penalize you for not only handing this in late but for your absences.” “I’m sorry, Mr. Lee.” “Y/N, I’ve heard great things about you. It’s been over a month now and you’re at a C average. What happened?” Y/N shrugs. “Have your parents received my message?” Y/N shook her head. “Then I’ll have to come over and speak with them.”

“No!” Onew jumps from Y/N’s suddenly loud voice. “I mean, no, you can’t.” “Y/N, I have no choice. I don’t want you to fail my class.” “I’m not failing now, am I? Just, don’t ever come to my house or I’ll call the cops on you. Goodbye, Mr. Lee.” Y/N ran out of the classroom and Onew just stood by the chalkboard feeling confused.

After school was out for the day, Onew looked up Y/N’s address in the student data and wrote it on his cell phone. He drove to where his GPS led him to. He pulled up to a small house and saw a car in the driveway. That meant someone was home.

He walked to the door and knocked. A woman opened the door. “Yes?” She had an accent and Onew had a feeling that English wasn’t her first language. “I’m sorry, are you related to Y/N Y/LN?” “Who are you?” “My name is Onew Lee. I’m Y/N’s English teacher.” “What you want?” “I wanted to talk to Y/N’s parents about her progress in my class.” Onew heard the sound of a baby crying from inside the house. “Is that Y/N’s little sibling?” “You go away. Bye bye.” “Excuse me, I--” The woman shut the door on him before he could even finish the sentence. He heard the door locks clicking and he returned to his car to go home.

As Onew sat on his table grading his class’ assignments during the late night hour, his phone dinged from a new email. He opened the email and widened his eyes at the message being written entirely in capital letters. “MR. LEE, HOW DARE YOU COME TO MY HOUSE AFTER I TOLD YOU NOT TO? I SWEAR IF I CATCH YOU NEAR MY HOUSE AGAIN I WILL PRESS CHARGES AGAINST YOU! I AM PRETTY SURE YOU DO NOT WANT TO LOSE YOUR JOB FOR BEING A ERT! FAIL ME ALREADY IF YOU WANT, JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!” Onew sighs as his eyes scanned the angry email, several times.

The next night:

Despite Y/N’s email warning, Onew was parked across from Y/N’s house again. He was worried because she wasn’t in class today. He gulps nervously as he went over to the door and knocked. The door opens. “Mr. Lee, what the hell are you doing here?!” “I’m sorry, Y/N but I have to talk to your parents.” “Well, they’re not here so get off of my property!” “I don’t mean to intrude but--” Onew managed to bypass Y/N and got into the house. “This is really urgent. I don’t want to fail you just because you’re missing my classes.” Y/N huffs as she closes the door. “Fine. Sit down on the couch and don’t move.”

Onew looks at Y/N sitting on the table and doing her homework. She seemed to be struggling. “Um, do you need help?” “Don’t talk to me.” Onew put his hands together. The awkward silence between them was really bothering to him. “Where are your parents?” “I said they’re not here, didn’t I?” “Right...”

After sitting on the couch for over an hour, Onew finally stood up. “Since it seems your parents aren’t returning soon, I’ll take my leave.” “Good.” Onew was about to head for the door when he heard the sound of a baby crying. Y/N sighs and went into the hallway. “Shh, don’t cry.”

Onew’s curiosity grew as he slowly walked into the hallway, listening to the sounds of her soothing voice as he peeks into the room and saw Y/N rocking a baby wrapped in a pink blanket. His presence startled Y/N when she turned around. “Mr. Lee, get out.” Onew still stood at the doorway. “Is that your little sister?”

His question went ignored as Y/N sat in the rocking chair. Onew looked around in the nursery. A picture on the dresser caught his attention. It was a picture of Y/N in a hospital gown, holding a little baby. “Oh my god…” He turned around and met with Y/N’s eyes. “Y/N, you’re a mom?” “That surprised? You’ve only known me for a month now.” “So that woman from before…” “She’s the nanny.”

“Don’t your parents take care of your baby too?” “My parents have been dead for 2 years.” Onew’s mouth dropped in shock. “Y/N…You’re only 17 and you have a child and no parents…Don’t you have any other relatives?” “No, I’m all alone.”

Onew got down on his knees in front of her. “Y/N…Tell me everything.”

TO BE CONTINUED OR TO NOT BE CONTINUED?!