Early in the morning, before Jin Woo and Hajun had arrived at the school gate, Cha Eun Soo stood welcoming the children with a bright smile. She greeted each student warmly as they walked through the entrance of Little Mozart International Kindergarten.
"Good morning, Teacher!"
"Good morning," Eun Soo replied, her smile genuine and kind as she waved to the little ones filing inside.
Today, she was especially looking forward to meeting the new student who would join her Rainbow Class. Time passed as she continued greeting families. Then, a sleek black car she had not seen before pulled up smoothly at the gate.
Eun Soo's attention shifted to the vehicle. The door opened, and a tall, handsome man stepped out. He was dressed entirely in black, his perfectly styled dark hair framing a focused, serious expression.
But Eun Soo had seen all kinds of handsome men in her life, thanks to her hidden family background so she remained largely unaffected. Her gaze instead moved to the cute little boy as the man opened the passenger door.
The man and boy then walked together toward her.
When they reached her, Eun Soo offered a warm smile and asked politely, "Are you Hajun's father?"
"Yes," he replied shortly, his voice deep and steady.
Seeing his reserved reaction, Eun Soo thought to herself, Wow, this man seems like the serious type.
She gently took Hajun's small backpack from the man's hand and guided the quiet boy inside the kindergarten.
The bright, colorful classroom welcomed them with walls decorated in cheerful murals, tiny chairs, and playful learning stations.
Once inside, Eun Soo gathered the other children in a circle and introduced the newcomer with her usual warm energy.
"Everyone, this is your new friend Hajun. He will be joining us from now on. I hope you all will be kind and become good friends with him."
"Yes, Teacher!" the children replied in unison, their voices bright and eager.
Eun Soo settled Hajun at a small white desk near her own so she could keep a close eye on him during his first day. The boy sat quietly, observing everything around him.
The first class was English. After making sure Hajun was comfortable, Eun Soo moved to the small electronic piano in the corner of the room. She began playing a simple, cheerful tune and sang along.
"A for apple, B for ball…"
The children repeated after her enthusiastically. Eun Soo loved teaching through music. She believed it turned lessons into games and helped the children learn while having fun. She always tried to make her classes rhyme and sing.
Time passed, and most of the children sang along happily. But Eun Soo's eyes drifted to Hajun, who sat silently in the front row, staring down at his book. She stopped playing for a moment and spoke gently.
"Hajun, don't be shy. Sing with us."
Seeing the teacher's encouraging eyes, Hajun nodded slowly. He closed his book and began singing along with the others. At first, he felt awkward, his voice soft and hesitant. But gradually, he started to enjoy it. Singing loudly seemed to make his heart feel a little lighter, even if only for a short while.
Eun-soo noticed the small change and her lips curved into a soft smile. She knew how powerful songs could be, they had a way of helping people relax and open up. They just needed to follow along.
After the English lesson came kids' movie time. The class gathered to watch an animated story about a fox traveling across the continent with her animal friends. The room filled with laughter and excitement.
As the periods changed, Eun Soo continued observing Hajun. He was remarkably polite for his age, but he was also very quiet. While the other children ran around and laughed during lunch, Hajun sat alone at his small desk with a notebook. He wasn't drawing pictures like the others. Instead, he focused intently on math puzzles, his tiny brow furrowed in deep concentration.
This child is far too quiet for a five year old, Eun Soo thought to herself, feeling a tug of concern in her chest.
When the final bell rang, she walked over to him and knelt down so they were at eye level. "Hajun, why are you always doing puzzles and sitting alone?" she asked softly. "Don't you want to go and play with the others?"
Hajun simply shook his head, his eyes staying fixed on the numbers in his book.
Eun Soo gently lifted him into her arms, trying to encourage him. "How about this? If you play with the other students, I'll give you a chocolate."
Hajun shook his head again without replying.
"What about a star stamp on your notebook?" she offered next.
Once more, Hajun shook his head. Eun Soo sighed softly. She didn't want to force him, so she let him return to his puzzles while they waited for his father to arrive.
One by one, the other students' parents appeared and took their children home. Soon, only Eun Soo and Hajun remained in the colorful classroom.
"Shall we go to the entrance?" Eun Soo suggested. "Your father may be waiting there."
Hajun nodded quietly. They walked together toward the school gate.
After some time, Jin Woo's tall figure finally appeared at the entrance, scanning the area for his nephew.
Hajun's face lit up the moment he saw him. The boy ran toward his uncle with more energy than he had shown all day. Eun Soo followed behind, carrying the boy's bag. She had made up her mind that she needed to speak with Hajun's father about the child's unusual behavior.
"Mr. Seo, can we talk for a moment?" she asked as Jin Woo took Hajun's bag from her.
Jin Woo looked around. Kindergarten hours had ended, and the building was starting to close, making it difficult to have a private conversation here. He checked his watch, then glanced at the young teacher's concerned expression.
"There is a quiet place nearby called The Secret Alley Café," he suggested. "We can talk there."
Eun Soo hesitated for a second. Going somewhere with a parent wasn't typical, but when she looked at Hajun's small, quiet figure, she nodded.
As a teacher, she was determined to make a difference for this quiet little boy.
Jin Woo, for his part, sensed the teacher's genuine concern. He held Hajun's hand a little tighter, his mind already preparing for the conversation ahead.