Midday classes arrived, and students entered as usual. Today, the homeroom teacher came to teach kan's class personally. She taught with great focus, and although she didn't say anything directly to kan, her eyes occasionally drifted toward her as if she had words stuck in her heart. When recess arrived, she asked the Class President to call kan for her, indicating there was a matter to discuss.
"Huh? She asked you to call me?" "Mm-hmm!" kan didn't say much else; she just glanced at Hana, noting that the two of them hardly spoke to each other anymore. When she arrived at the office, she saw several teachers working at their respective desks. She offered a polite greeting and walked toward her homeroom teacher's desk.
"Respectful greetings, teacher. Did you have something you wanted to say to me?" Her voice was polite but carried a noticeable distance a sharp contrast to the past when they were like friends, family and kan would tell her everything. Ever since the incident with Hana, kan hadn't been close to her, and she never expected this teacher to become her homeroom teacher once again.
"Mmm, follow me." The teacher's brief instruction left kan silent as she followed quietly. "Kan, how is Hana doing?" "yes?" then kan smiled slightly as if realizing something. "Yes, she's fine." "Mmm… regarding that incident, I really have nothing left to say. Now, I only ask that you two take care of each other. Regardless, I never imagined it was her." "That's right. Hana isn't that kind of person. I will always believe in her." she said this because Hana had forbidden her from reopening the case. They stood in silence for a moment, and kan, wanting to end the awkwardness, asked, "Is that all you wanted to say? If so, tell the teacher not to worry."
She turned to leave, but the teacher suddenly asked, "For the past few months, have you had financial problems, kan? Is that why you went back to work?" kan looked up in surprise how did the teacher know? The teacher shook her head, not wanting kan to focus on work since this was her graduation year. Kan interrupted immediately, saying she was fine and needed to do it for both the money and the experience. "But don't you care about your studies?" "I care too," she said casually as they walked outside. Suddenly, the Physics teacher appeared from the other side of a bench near a tree and asked, "Where do you work?"
Kan felt troubled again. Now that her working was known, what if Yin found out the teachers knew? She asked both teachers not to tell others or the students, claiming she simply liked working. She told them it was a noodle soup shop. The Physics teacher grew interested, saying he wanted to see the workplace and taste the soup. Seeing his interest, kan thought for a moment and then gave him the location cause of he ask her.Having finished, she asked to return to class.
As she walked away, the teachers watched her from a distance. The homeroom teacher remarked that she shouldn't be working at this age, but the Physics teacher praised her, saying a youth like kan who wants experience should be allowed to be herself, noting her studies weren't bad either. The homeroom teacher kept her eyes on kan. What she felt guilty about was that back then, she had chosen Hana. Indeed, kan's ability could compete with Hana's, but because there wasn't time for a competition, she had asked kan to step down. She had explained it to her then, despite feeling she shouldn't have done it, but there was no choice. She knew kan was frustrated and hurt, but if they had competed, Hana would have still won. When Hana did compete, the results were excellent, and she advanced through every round. The teacher felt relieved then, but her guilt had prevented her from reaching back out to kan. She, in turn, had never been as close to her as before.
In the evening, kan messaged the location to Sina for after her work shift. Walking out, she saw Siv Siv walking with Hana. Not wanting to disturb them, she smiled. Suddenly, a bicycle bumped into her slightly it was Yin. He looked at her as if he knew she had a problem, but he said nothing, waiting for her to speak first. Kan stared at him in confusion the road was wide, yet he managed to hit her? Kan asked if he was riding properly. Yin smirked and told her to give him a ride on the back. Kan was annoyed! As they rode past Hana and Siv Siv, kan turned to tell them she was heading off first. Hana saw them, and Siv Siv almost burst out laughing but tried to hold it back.
Hana and Siv Siv walked on in silence until Hana finally asked, "Siv! Why are you still following me?" "Huh? I don't know!" Siv Siv's face fell. She really didn't know. Was it out of friendship, or because of her guilt over hiding the secret about her broken relationship with Kim Hana's boyfriend? She felt slighted, yet she didn't understand why she was still walking behind Hana. "The truth has been revealed. Kan and I didn't tell you. Aren't you upset?" Siv Siv went quiet. "Right, I am upset." She then laughed, saying she was still human after all. Despite Siv Siv's laugh, Hana smiled slightly and agreed, "Right, still human." Hana apologized to Siv Siv for that matter, and the two walked hand in-hand to the bus stop. Siv Siv didn't want to dig up the past anymore; she would never love that man again.
After Siv Siv left, Hana sat at the bus stop waiting for another bus. An elderly man with a cane sat down slowly nearby. It reminded her of an old man from her childhood when she was about six years old. Her memory was very strong. That day it was raining, and there was a funeral at the house. She sat crying, looking at the photo of the old man, feeling deep regret. She cried out, "Grandpa, Grandpa!" Nearby sat a woman looking dejected, tears flowing, wearing white mourning clothes. Little Hana went to her, stroked her back, and called her "Mom." A man came out and sat nearby as well that was the family that had adopted Hana .
A gust of wind blew her hair across her face, and when she looked up, the old man was gone. The bus had already passed. She laughed a little at herself and continued to sit there. It was as if she were too lazy to continue her journey; she just wanted to sit. Her hands gripped the bench as she watched the traffic. In the evening breeze, her eyes were neutral, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking. Even kan didn't know that Hana had been adopted multiple times. Hana never told her because kan never asked, and even if she did, Hana had no intention of sharing her past. Kan never asked because she had no reason to suspect anything.
When Hana first met kan, she was seven years old. Little Hana was adorable but smaller than kan. She was a mess, her clothes soaked because she had just woken up from being unconscious on the seashore. She had walked along the beach until she reached a village with fresh sea air. Hana saw a cat and loved it immediately. She went to play with it, and despite meeting her for the first time, the cat wasn't afraid. It seemed to bond with her instantly. Hana's eyes were plain, but her behavior showed she was a cat lover. Suddenly, she saw a group of kids kicking another cat. Hana was furious and rushed to help, but they mocked and bullied her. Then, a girl came to the rescue it was kan. She was brave, like a "big boss," and chased the kids away. Turning back, she saw Hana in tears, looking at the cat with great care.
"Are you crying? The cat's injury isn't that bad!" Hana, still tearful, looked at kan angrily because kan spoke as if the cat didn't feel pain. "Don't glare at me! I'm sorry, okay!" kan then picked up the cat and told Hana to bring the other one; they would take both home. "Are they your cats?" Hana asked, eyes full of wonder. "Mmm." kan asked for her name and, after finding out, asked whose child she was and why her clothes were wet. Hana didn't want to say. Kan didn't mind, but Hana kept looking at the cats. Seeing this, kan laughed and told Hana to follow her if she wanted to check on the cats. Hana smiled and thanked her. On the way, kan told Hana to tell her the way home so she could drop her off. "Tell me, don't be afraid. I know this whole area!" Hana was quiet for a moment, then said, "I don't know where my house is." "What? Don't lie!" Seeing Hana's sad face, kan didn't want to ask further. She decided to tell her parents that evening so they could take Hana home.
When they arrived home, kan's parents were surprised. They asked some questions and took Hana to bathe. Kan's mother the real is she is stepmother in the photo was very warm. Her smile made Hana stare in a daze, and she complimented her, saying, "Auntie, you have a beautiful smile!" Auntie was delighted by Hana's manners and pinched her nose playfully, saying she was adorable. Kan and her father watched from outside, joking that they looked like mother and daughter. Suddenly, a baby cried. Auntie hurriedly asked kan to take Hana to the room while she went to check on the child. Hana left, glancing toward the sound of the crying baby likely a toddler who was just learning to crawl.
The bus arrived at the stop! Someone tapped her shoulder. Hana started and turned to see Vice President Neaya. She was surprised; she didn't expect to see Neaya on the bus. They stepped off, and Hana thanked her, saying she had been too deep in thought. Neaya, holding a book, nodded and prepared to part ways, but she hesitated. "Ha… Ha… Na, Hana!" At the sound of her name, Hana turned back. "Mmm?" "Uh, I want to ask one thing!" Hana raised an eyebrow but didn't refuse; she walked back toward Neaya and nodded with a smile. "Do you like the Class President?"
Hana froze for a second. She smiled slightly and answered without hesitation, "No!" Neaya blinked and, not knowing what else to ask, took a deep breath. "It's nothing, thanks," she said and left. Hana watched her from a distance with a neutral expression, but what she had just said was spoken without any doubt. Along the way, Neaya's hands gripped her book tightly to her chest, smiling with hope. The answer she received did not disappoint her! But what was she expecting?
The sound of a bicycle bell rang out. One person was exhausted from pedaling because she was giving another male student a ride. The other had a neutral face but was secretly pleased that kan was the one pedaling for him. "Hey, you two are riding together openly now?" Sister Khai teased with a smile. Yin looked displeased by the teasing and didn't answer; he just smiled slightly and went inside to change his clothes. Kan gave a forced smile, saying Sister Khai shouldn't tease like that. She then whispered to Khai, "Yin secretly loves you!" The two whispered and glanced at Yin, leaving him confused inside. He made a gesture indicating he would "kill" kan if she dared say anything nonsense! Khai knew, but she continued to play along. "It's fine! Besides, Yin hasn't said anything. How are you so good at knowing, kan? Or do you secretly love someone?" kan smiled and didn't deny it! Khai was excited to know who could make kan have a secret crush. Kan asked Khai not to tell Yin she told her. Khai smiled, nodded, and gave an 'OK' sIgn. It seemed kan had forgotten that the teachers knew she was working and hadn't told Yin either. They worked very hard, and before they knew it, payday had arrived!
Payday was here! A cheer for a three-person party went up. They were very happy and contributed money together so Khai wouldn't have to spend too much. Kan had saved a decent amount from her salary. Suddenly, Sister Khai went outside for a moment, saying her friend was coming. She hadn't told kan or Yin who the friend was. Yin asked kan, but she didn't know either, so they just had to wait and see. "Hello! My nephew…" Khai said in a teasing voice over the phone, asking where he was. "I'm arriving now!" It was san. He walked up just then. He waved, and Sister Khai who was his aunt ran to him. Kan and the aunt's friend were waiting. She missed her nephew, even though she was never particularly nice to San. When he was little, san was always teased by his aunt whenever she visited. Hearing she was coming would annoy him. Even though they were seven years apart, by the time he was happy, Khai was already in higher grades and didn't have much time to visit. It was a happy time, and they hadn't met for a long time because his aunt had received a scholarship to study abroad. He was even happier until he moved to Kampot for Grade 12. The problem was his father told him to tell his aunt to come to Siem Reap, but there was no news from her. This gave san a massive headache until he found her contact and realized she was working at a shop specifically with kan. He was relieved.
Back to the present, Khai took San's arm and walked over. "Huh?" kan pointed at san, realizing that the "friend" Khai mentioned was san all along. She burst out laughing. Khai smiled and nodded back. But a pair of eyes filled with "fire" was staring. He remained quiet but glared at san, realizing that he was kan's friend! Yin looked at kan, wanting an explanation as to why kan's close friend was so close to Sister Khai. Seeing this, kan was delighted and laughed out loud. She said through her laughter, "San is Sister Khai's nephew."
"Huh?" Yin calmed down slightly. Seeing Sister Khai nod, Yin tried to understand. San smiled at Yin, saying, "Meet again!" That was back in the classroom when Ree's secret was exposed both Yin and Sun had stood by kan to help. Yin smiled and nodded. Suddenly, he felt a bit stiff and didn't know how to act because san asked Sister Khai: "Auntie! So Yin is your friend?" "Mmm!" Sister Khai smiled and didn't deny it. San understood then that Yin was also close to his aunt. He noticed that Yin, who seemed angry earlier, had now calmed down. Khai told san to eat a lot, as she would be paying the most this evening. San smiled and rubbed his stomach, saying not to worry. That evening, they sat and ate together, chatting happily.