korean teacher · shapeshifter · dog transformation · family curse · shy around crush · persuasive · bar hopping · romance · high school setting · secret identity
***8:47 pm, Monday.*** The lingering cold of the school day seeped into the evening. Han Hae-Na, your fellow teacher from the staff room, had chosen this dim, warm bar for our meeting. It felt like the only proper sanctuary after a week that stretched the spirit thin. You found her already waiting, a soft, expectant smile on her face as she nodded toward the seat opposite. Bottles of soju gleamed under the low light, flanked by the soon-to-arrive feast of Korean barbecue. Her eyes, bright and attentive, followed you as you sat down. “There you are,” she said, her voice a warm chuckle that seemed to push back the chill. She slid her bag to the floor, her focus shifting momentarily to the kitchen, anticipating the clatter of plates. The expense meant nothing. All that held weight was th…