The next day, Kang Min arrived at school on his favorite sports bike. The roar of his engine broke the quiet morning, making some students turn their heads. From upstairs, Kim Hanna looked out the window and shouted, "Hey, idiot! Hurry up! Mr. Choi Sang Woo is coming to class soon!"
Kang Min hurriedly parked his motorcycle, almost dropping his helmet. Without further ado, he ran to the classroom, jumping up two flights of stairs at once. When he arrived, the classroom was like a night market. Some students were playing Uno cards, others were busy dressing up while gossiping excitedly.
Kang Min sat in his seat with a gasp. However, his gaze this time was different-more serious than usual. Usually, Kang Min was known for making noise, both in class and with other classes. However, today he was silent, lost in thought.
Sung Jae, who was busy playing Uno, gave Kang Min a suspicious glance. "Min, what's wrong with you? You're so serious. You're in love, aren't you?" he teased, making some students chuckle.
However, Kang Min just sighed, not responding.
Shortly after, the sound of shoe steps could be heard in the hallway. Panicking, all the students hid their belongings. The Uno player immediately flipped the cards under the table, while the dress-up gang hurriedly put away the mirror and lipstick.
Mr. Choi Sang Woo entered with a flat face. "No class today," he said casually. "I have important business."
Hearing that, the whole class cheered with excitement. Some students even high-fived each other. However, Kang Min sat still, his gaze turned determined.
When Mr. Choi left the classroom, Kang Min immediately stood up and followed him. In the parking lot, Kang Min finally caught up to his teacher.
"Mr. Choi!" he called out.
Choi Sang Woo stopped, turning his head with raised eyebrows. "What's wrong, Kang Min?"
Kang Min looked at him seriously. "Sir, did you kill Kim Dal?"
The look on Choi Sang Woo's face remained calm. He took a deep breath before answering, "No, I didn't kill her. But, even if I knew who did it, it's not something I can talk about with a student."
Kang Min was silent for a moment. However, before he could speak again, Choi Sang Woo added, "Listen, Kang Min. I'm going back to my job as a detective in the regional unit. But, I'm still your homeroom teacher. So, if you think I'm going to leave you completely, you're wrong."
Kang Min was transfixed by the confession. He saw his teacher walking away, but before Choi Sang Woo got too far, Kang Min shouted, "Sir!"
Choi Sang Woo turned around again.
Kang Min scratched the back of his head, looking awkward. "Sorry... for my accusation earlier," he muttered softly.
Choi Sang Woo smiled slightly. "Learn to think before you speak, Kang Min. It will help you in life."
After that, he left Kang Min, who was now standing in the parking lot alone. "Gosh," Kang Min muttered while looking up at the sky.
That day, Kang Min's class was scheduled to have a sports lesson in the field. All the students looked lazy when they came out of the classroom, except for a few who were enthusiastic to play immediately.
Sung Jae, one of Kang Min's best friends, suddenly glanced at a girl in their class. The girl was known to be cold, rarely spoke, and was often alone. However, at that moment she was tying her hair with a serious expression, preparing to exercise.
"Wow, her body is... really good," Sung Jae whispered while elbowing Kang Min who was standing casually on the sidelines.
Lee Jong, another friend, immediately glanced at Sung Jae with an amused look. "You're like this, you even pay attention to cold girls. Are all girls on your radar?
" "His name is also a real man," Sung Jae replied with a wide grin.
Kim Hanna, who overheard the conversation, immediately glared. "You're so fast when it comes to girls, huh," she quipped sharply in an annoyed tone.
Sung Jae just grinned without guilt, while Kang Min started laughing out loud at Hanna's taunts. His laughter was so loud that it caught the gym teacher's attention.
"Hey, Kang Min!" the gym teacher called out while pointing at him with a whistle in hand. "You're too loud. Go around the field five laps right now!"
The class was immediately in an uproar, some of his friends stifled laughter, while others cheered Kang Min's teasing.
"That's good, let the laughter come out!" said Lee Jong while holding back his laughter.
Kang Min, even though he looked annoyed, still complied with the punishment. While running, he continued to make funny comments to his friends on the sidelines.
"Hanna, if I faint, you're responsible!" Kang Min shouted while running in the first round.
Hanna just snorted, but her face was a little red from the spotlight.
Meanwhile, Sung Jae approached the cold girl he had praised earlier. "Hey, you work out a lot, huh?" he asked with a big smile.
The girl just glanced at him with a flat look before saying briefly, "No."
Lee Jong who heard that immediately laughed loudly. "Sung Jae, that's code for you to back off slowly!" he taunted.
Sung Jae was silent, at a loss for a response. In the distance, Kang Min, who was still running, waved his hand and exclaimed, "Sung Jae, that's it, don't embarrass our gang!"
The class broke out in laughter again. Even the cold girl could be seen holding back a faint smile, though she immediately hid it.
When Kang Min finished his punishment, he sat on the sidelines panting.
"Next time, I'll just laugh in class," he muttered as he wiped away the sweat, making Sung Jae and Lee Jong chuckle.
The bell rang signaling that the last class had finished. As usual, students scattered out of the classroom with relieved faces. Kang Min walked casually out of school while putting on his helmet. However, before he could start his motorcycle, Sung Jae and Lee Jong came over.
"Min, are you in a hurry to go home?" asked Sung Jae.
"Why,
do you have an important project? Or do you want to invite me to do some more nonsense?" replied Kang Min while putting on an ignorant smile.
"Nope. Jong and I just wanted to find a place to hang out. They said a new cafe opened near here, their coffee is really good," Sung Jae explained while patting Lee Jong's shoulder.
"You only think about food or girls every day," Kang Min taunted as he started his motorcycle.
"But it's true, Min. I heard a lot of cute girls hang out there," Lee Jong added in a teasing tone.
Kang Min let out a long sigh. "I'm tired today, bro. I just want to go straight home."
However, before they could finish their conversation, Kim Hanna came out of the school gate with her arms folded. "What are you talking about again? It's already this late and you're still making noise."
Sung Jae immediately turned on his acting. "Hanna, want to come to the cafe? It'll be fun if we have coffee together."
Hanna glared. "Do you really want to invite me? Or is this a ploy to get someone to buy for you?"
Lee Jong burst out laughing. "Hanna got caught too. Never mind, Sung Jae, she knows you're broke."
Sung Jae made an annoyed face as he turned to Kang Min. "That's all right. Min, do you really not want to come?
" "I'm serious about going home. But you and Jong don't forget the group work later in the evening. I don't want to do it alone," Kang Min replied while waving his hand at them.
Sung Jae and Lee Jong just nodded while watching Kang Min leave on his motorcycle. Hanna, who had been standing still, also turned her head toward Kang Min's moving motorcycle. "What's wrong with Kang Min? How is he so different today?"
Sung Jae and Lee Jong just looked at each other. "I think he has something heavy on his mind," Lee Jong muttered.
"Well, let it go. Min's a weird person anyway," Sung Jae replied as he walked toward the café, leaving a curious Hanna behind.
Upon arriving home, Kang Min rudely took off his helmet. His head was still full of thoughts about his meeting with Choi Sang Woo and Kim Dal's death. He threw his body onto the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Hyung..." he muttered softly, imagining Kang Soo Hyuk's devastated face when he learned the bitter truth.
Not long after, her phone vibrated. A message from his Hyung came in.
"Kang Min, I need you now. Can you come to my place?"
Without thinking, Kang Min got up, grabbed his jacket, and stepped out of the house. Underneath all his tiredness, there was a strong determination to protect his family, even if he didn't know how.