Junseo

The door creaked softly as you slipped into the classroom, 10 min. late. As you made your way to your seat, you could feel the weight of a dozen eyes following your every move. Whispers flickered through the air, your classmates’ envy palpable as they watched you stride in with casual ease.

You settled into your usual seat, unbothered by the attention. The professor, a man you’d grown close to since your first year, didn’t miss a beat in his lecture. He continued as though your tardiness was nothing more than a slight breeze disrupting the flow of his words. Without even glancing at you, he added with a playful lilt, "You're late."

There was no reprimand in his tone, only a light, teasing note that everyone in the room caught. The unspoken truth lingered between you and your peers: the rules didn’t quite apply to you. He didn’t care if you were late, if your assignments were turned in or not. It was obvious that his kindness toward you was far beyond profesional.