Jin-woo wasn't afraid of reporting Seo-joon and the others for bullying him or even that they were smoking, but there was no point in doing so as the report would just be thrown out. Not only was Seo-joon the grandson of the chairwoman of ISH with considerable influence in the business world, but he was also a star among South Korea's younger generation in the track and field scene. His name was even known internationally.
In all honesty, Seo-joon didn't even have to come to school, he could go pro and participate in U18 competitions, even when he was back in middle school.
He and Seong speculated that the reason he hadn't dropped out to focus on going pro was because he wanted to continue bullying him.
Mai-Sun pouted at Jin-woo's words, but before she could say anything, Ms. Choi spoke up.
"All right everyone, I have some changes that I'd like to announce. Unfortunately, I won't be your homeroom or P.E. teacher anymore, your class has been assigned to someone else."
The students were all slightly surprised to hear that, it was quite abrupt. As MS. Choi turned to the open door so did the gazes of the students. Soon everyone saw their new homeroom, and P. E. teacher casually sauntered in with a rolled-up attendance book.
Everyone couldn't help but glance at Seo-joon when this teacher walked in to see that his expression had changed.
However, while everyone was observing Seo-joon's mild reaction, they missed Jin-woo's face dramatically changing into a stunned expression.
"Fuck."
Seong cursed next to Jin-woo, while Ms. Choi introduced her replacement.
"Everyone, this is Teacher Park. He will be your new homeroom and P. E. teacher."
Teacher Park smiled slightly and said.
"This decision is sudden, but I hope everyone doesn't feel too much aversion to it. I have a good track record with your seniors, and they even call me Cool Teacher Park."
Some of the students cringed when they heard that name, but internally they all unknowingly accepted Teacher Park as a replacement.
Ms. Choi smiled and said.
"Okay, I'll be leaving this class to you Teacher Park."
Teacher Park nodded as Ms. Choi turned and left the classroom, the door closing behind her. He then looked around the class full of students and said.
"Since it's the first day, I think most of the teachers are lax, so they won't mind you running a little late for morning assembly. I want to hear a quick introduction of yourselves, perhaps your likes and dislikes to get to know you better. So, I'll call on you guys randomly. Okay, the first person, you. Stand up and introduce yourself."
Teacher Park said this while pointing straight at Jin-woo. Every pair of eyes in the room swiveled and then landed on him.
Jin-woo's heart immediately grew cold as he stared at Teacher Park from across the room.
Seeing that Jin-woo didn't immediately stand up to introduce himself, Teacher Park frowned and said.
"Jin-woo, did you not hear what I said? Stand up and introduce yourself… And that watch."
As if realizing the watch on Jin-woo's wrist, Teacher Park added.
"It's not appropriate to wear watches like that in school, so bring it here."
Jin-woo clenched his fists, but he suddenly stood up, his chair harshly scraping against the ground. Due to the silence of the classroom, it was especially ear-grating.
"Jin, don't do anything rash."
Seong immediately said worriedly from the side. However, his worry was unnecessary as Jin-woo had already calmed down. With an expressionless face, he looked at Teacher Park and said flatly.
"My name is Lee Jin-woo. I don't particularly like anything besides reading webcomics, but recently I found out I specifically dislike the smell of cannabis. Also…"
Jin-woo suddenly paused and he seemed to hesitate to say his next words. But eventually, he continued on to say.
"I've also been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and I had it for most of my life."
Jin-woo quickly spotted the expressions of a few students change when he said that, but he added.
"There's a common misconception that people with schizophrenia are unstable and aggressive, but they are more of a harm to themselves than the people around them. Ninety-nine percent of people with it would isolate themselves from the world than run around attacking random people on the streets."
After saying that Jin-woo sat back down.
This was actually the first time he spoke openly about his illness. Seong seemed caught off guard but quickly gave him a thumbs up.
However, someone from across the room suddenly shouted.
"I heard that you see things, is that true?"
Most of the students in the class looked over at Jin-woo, they were perhaps morbidly curious to hear his answer.
Jin-woo hesitated, never expecting a question like that. But shortly he nodded his head.
"Yeah, I do."
"Wait, really? So, are you seeing them now? Is it like seeing a ghost or something? Is it-Ugh!"
The youth tried asking again, but the tall youth who could barely fit through the classroom door yesterday, leaned forward in his seat and bonked the youth on the head.
However, Jin-woo surprisingly answered without much thought.
"Yeah, he's standing next to you."
The youth who was now rubbing his head couldn't help but stiffen in his seat when he heard Jin-woo's ominous words. A few students in the classroom also felt chills running down their spines.
The youth and everyone looked at the space next to the youth's desk warily. However, Jin-woo suddenly said.
"I'm joking."
"…"
A sudden silence overcame the classroom.
"Pfft."
However, amid the silence, the tall foreign student behind the youth suddenly let out a stifled snicker.
The youth, and some other students, however, glared at Jin-woo half out of anger and half out of embarrassment for being tricked.
"Dude, that was not funny."
The youth said while looking at Jin-woo from across the classroom. Though Jin-woo merely shrugged. But he hadn't lied, Seong had walked over there after the youth asked his first question.
The foreign student behind the youth suddenly raised his hand and said.
"I have a question. You said you had that illness most of your life, how long was that exactly?"
Jin-woo opened his mouth to answer, but Teacher Park, who had been silent all this while suddenly spoke up.
"This isn't a Q&A about your illness. Your introduction is finished but I thought I told you to bring your watch here."
"Teacher Park, the school made an exception since my watch is used to remind me to take my medication. If I gave it to you and happen not to take my pills on time, the school will be held liable if I happen to go crazy and start attacking my fellow students."
Hearing that, everyone in the class had dumbfounded expressions appear on their faces.
"Are you serious?! Didn't you just say that ninety-nine percent of people with schizophrenia weren't dangerous?!"
The youth from before was the first to stand up and voice his grievances that perhaps everyone was similarly feeling.
Jin-woo turned to the youth and said.
"Who knows, I've never missed a day taking my recent medication, I might be in that one percent."
Suddenly everyone looked at Jin-woo with caution. However, stifled snickers could be heard coming from the foreign youth once again.
It was because of this that the students immediately realized Jin-woo was messing with them again. It seems like this classmate of theirs had a morbid sense of humor, but his deadpan expression when delivering his jokes made them more frightening.
However, Teacher Park's face contorted into a hideous expression, and he spat out his next words like a venomous snake.
"Bring it, now."
The sudden change in Teacher Park's demeanor caught the students off guard, and silence descended on the classroom once more.
However, before this silence could persist for long, a chair harshly scraping against the floor echoed out.
Everyone immediately turned to the source of the noise to see Seo-joon getting up.
"What are you idiots sitting around for? We have class in the Science Lab for our first period after morning assembly, let's go."
Seo-joon said to his two lackeys as he fitted his hands in his pockets and walked to the front of the classroom to leave. He didn't so much as glance at his father who was staring at him with a frown.
"Move it."
Seo-joon added as he opened the door and left.
The two lackeys looked at each other for a moment before they got up and hurried after Seo-joon. However, they did bow slightly when they were passing Teacher Park.
With Seo-joon leading the way, the other students who didn't feel like introducing themselves tentatively got up and after grabbing their books from their bags at the back they left the room after bowing slightly to Teacher Park. It might be too late to attend assembly, so they decided to just head straight to class.
Teacher Park remained silent as this happened, and the other students took this as a sign of agreement, so they all got up to leave.
Jin-woo was among these students leaving, but he couldn't help but notice that Teacher Park's gaze was fixed on him.
Suddenly Teacher Park smiled and said.
"Fine, we'll pick this back up during P.E. class."
It wasn't clear whether he meant this for the entire class, or just for Jin-woo. However, either way, Jin-woo felt like a big red target had suddenly been placed on his back.