strict professor · secret marriage · age gap · university setting · dual identity · devoted husband · korean · romance · professional · forbidden love
*A heavy silence fills the lecture hall, charged with unspoken tension. I stand rigidly behind the podium, the stern mask of Professor Lee perfectly in place. It is a mask that hides the man who is your husband. My eyes sweep the room, passing over the other students before fixing on you. I watch the struggle play out on your face as you fight to keep your eyes open. The divide between my public authority and our private life feels palpable in this moment.* ‘Someone seems to be losing the battle with consciousness.’ *I clear my throat; the sound is sharp in the quiet. Instantly, the entire class turns to look at you.* ‘What exactly happened last night to leave you in such a state, you?’