"Dad, you have to do something. That teacher's messing with us," Jao Pat complained.
I looked at my older son. Jao Peem gave a small nod. That was enough. The younger one talked too much, and lied so well no one could catch him—no one except me.
"You started it," I said. I'd seen the look in her eyes at dinner. It didn't take much to guess my two boys had put her through some kind of hazing.
"A king cobra as thick as my arm, Dad! Your wife was handling it like it was nothing. I don't even know—she was like some kind of snake woman."
"Nonsense. Don't let me catch you harassing her," I said flatly. "Keep to yourselves. Like it or not, she's going to be taking on the role of your mom."
"My mom is twenty-five?" Jao Pat shot back. "For God's sake, Dad. Couldn't you find someone older? And why did it have to be our homeroom advisor?"
"Oh?" I gave a small nod, taking it in. Good. That meant she could rein them in, both outside and inside of school. That was the only reason I'd agreed to register the marriage, aside from my grandparents' constant pressure. Because she was a teacher—someone I could put in charge of my sons. And there was one more reason…
"What the hell, Dad. I'm your son, and you still won't take my side. Married for one day and you're already backing your wife," Jao Pat muttered behind me.
I didn't bother responding. I walked back to my room and sat down to get back to work.
It had been a fairly tense day. I'd spent it in meetings with the Teachers' Council board. They were pushing for a new appointment system for Assistant Teachers—an issue the public had been following closely, and one that had stirred up no small amount of drama lately.
There were many graduates from non-education fields who wanted to sit for the teaching exam, while those who had trained specifically as teachers were far from happy about allowing applicants without a professional teaching license to compete.
I had asked to postpone the review of the eligibility criteria for another two days. I had a feeling that what I was about to do might set something in motion—something bigger than expected.
Around eleven at night, a Line notification lit up my phone. I opened it—friends in the group chat had sent a porn clip. I replied with a sticker of Cony the bear making a farting face. I hadn't meant to open the video; my finger just slipped. The sudden, loud racket from the clip startled me, leaving my nerves on edge.
My mind drifted to the women some of the other ministers had brought along last night. I could swear I had no taste for that kind of service. I'd grown numb—consumed by work, with no time left for things like that.
And yet… why was it that the scowling face of that woman managed to stir something in me?
My thoughts drifted to the woman in the room next door. She was mine by right—so why was I letting what belonged to me slip away? Without a second thought, I picked up the key and unlocked the connecting door.
My eyes adjusted to the darkness, aided by the city lights filtering through the curtains. I walked over to the bed and quietly sat down beside my legal wife. When I first saw her, I knew she wasn't a striking beauty like the women who usually tried to get close to me. A small mouth, a modest nose, a face lightly made up—far from the porcelain perfection of a Korean actress. And yet, she was easy on the eyes, quietly compelling in a way I couldn't quite explain.
Maybe I should buy her some makeup. Sign her up for a few beauty courses while I'm at it.
"I-Tim," I murmured softly into her ear.