Chapter Text
Taehyung couldn’t stop moving, pacing back and forth through only to sit down again on the bench, stand up and sit down again. It had been like that for the last five minutes, that had felt like five hours, fighting against the urge of knocking on the wooden door again even though he knew no one was inside.
He continued fidgeting with a loose strand on his sweater, not even caring that it would totally leave a hole. Patches existed for a reason after all.
He was about to take his leave when he heard the steps echoing on the corridor, making him perked up and then stand up so fast he almost felt dizzy.
“Mr. Min! Good morning!” He chirped, bowing repeatedly until the grumpy blonde finally walked down the long hallway.
“Rest, Mr. Kim. And breath for God’s sake, it’s not like I’m royalty or something like that.” Said the professor with a raspy voice, probably because he had just woken up, unlocking his office door that creaked once it opened. “Please, come on in. And sorry for the mess.”
Taehyung entered the room full of books, the wooden desk in the middle almost hidden under a disturbing amount of empty styrofoam cups and folders, the computer screen covered with flashy sticky notes. He smiled when he saw that the only clear part of the whole office was the shelf with a picture of Mr. Min and Mr. Jung looking at each other as if the rest of the world didn’t exist.
“How can I help you, Mr. Kim?” Mr. Min sighed when he sat on his leather chair, taking a sip of his coffee. “Is this about the assignment I gave you for next week? Because I know for a fact that you must be almost finished with that.”
Taehyung gaped at him. “Ho-How did you know?”
“It might look like I’m not paying attention, but I know a diligent student when I see one.”
Taehyung felt himself blushing. With a timid hand he took the thirty pages out of his bag and handed them to him. “I need help with the conclusion.”
Mr. Min nodded, slowly browsing through the pages. ”And with the concept of suicide by Comte. Maybe adding a bit to the Bibliography could help.” He put the work inside his suitcase and then turned his gaze towards him. “I’ll send my suggestions by the end of the day.”
Taehyung nodded but made no move of leaving.
Mr. Min sent him a questioning look. “May I help you with something else?”
Taehyung looked at him like a deer in the headlights. “I just…”
“Yes?” Mr. Min said when now words left his mouth.
“I...I wanted to thank you, sir.” He finally said after taking a deep breath.
“Correcting is part of a professor’s work. There’s nothing to--”
“Not about that. About...Mr. Jung and you. Your relationship.”
Yoongi raised his eyebrows. “You’re thanking me for being romantically involved with him?”
“Yes and no. I---” He huffed when he didn’t know how to explain himself. “You know my friend Park Jimin and his boyfriend, right?”
“Of course. Mr. Jeon keeps invading my class almost every morning.”
“Well, they’re together. You know, like together together .”
“I know what you mean, Mr Kim. And let me tell you, if they were trying to hide it, they did a terrible job.”
Taehyung shook his head. “No, they are out and proud. It took some time, but they’re finally comfortable enough to show it in public. You know, even when the cretins still bother them.”
Mr. Min straightened his back, a worried look taking over his usual impassive face. “Did someone hurt them? Should I call the authorities?”
Taehyung shook his head even harder, flailing his hands in front of himself. “Nono, don’t worry! They just said a few nasty things to them, maybe posting a few photoshopped pictures on social media---”
“You’re not very convincing.”
“We took care of that! Don’t worry!”
“Okay…” Mr Min still sounded unconvinced.
“I just, listen. I just wanted to thank you because...because they’re my friends, okay? And even though their relationship got stronger and they’re happy together, it really hurts to see the dirty looks and hear the unfounded rumors only because of who they love. I see how guarded Minnie acts in public and how tense Kookie is every time someone even looks their way, as if he’s prepared to kick someone’s ass. And, let me tell you,” he said in a conspiratorial voice, “he can do it without breaking a sweat.”
Mr. Min snorted.
“Saying that, I wanted to thank you because the other day was the first time in quite a long time since I saw Minnie with real hope in his eyes. Mr. Jung and you, well it was a huge ass surprise.”
“Mr. Kim…”
“But a welcomed one! Because,” he beamed at him, “it felt like they’re not alone anymore. Believe me, they may have the acceptance of their families and friends and a few classmates, but when the place where you spend most of your time doesn’t...it gets hard. But now, with you here, it’s not that scary anymore. It means that, with time, things could finally change.”
Mr. Min was silent, so silent that Taehyung was almost scared that he had said something wrong. But then, to his surprise, the professor cleared his throat and subtly wiped the corners of his eyes, pretending that he was arranging his perfectly placed glasses. When he spoke, he did it with a restrained voice.
“I’m glad that we were of any help.”
“You were!” Taehyung said, excitedly, swaying on his feet until he realized the man would not talk again. “So...I’ll see you in class.” He moved towards the door but suddenly stopped. “Oh! Sir!”
“Yes?”
“I asked Wheein on a date!”
The blonde raised his eyebrows. “Congratulations. Did my love for Mr. Jung had anything to do with that?”
“Yes, actually! I believe in love again.”
Mr. Min lips twitched, like he was trying to hide a smile.“I’m glad, Mr. Kim.”
“Also, if you had the confidence to invite Mr. Jung out I could do the same with Wheein.”
“I hope you’re not trying to tell me my husband is out of my league,” Mr. Min said in a playful tone.
Taehyung’s eyes bulged out of his head when he realized how it might have sounded. “Not at all! You’re a hot couple. I mean wow .”
“Okay, Mr. Kim.” Mr Min chuckled.
“10 out of 10. Couple of the year. The decade.”
Mr. Min raised his hand to stop his rambling. “I understand. Thank you.” Taehyung made an awkward salute and was almost out of the door when Mr. Min called him. “Mr. Kim.”
“Yes?”
“Please, tell your friends that my door is always open. Also Mr. Jung’s.”
Taehyung was stunned into silence, looking at his professor in a new light. Not the stoic Mr. Min that everyone respected because of how strict he was; but Min Yoongi, the man of the photograph that looked at his husband as if he was his whole world. The same Min Yoongi that spoke passionately on his classes and never judged his student’s questions. The Min Yoongi that no one feared but everyone admired.
“Thank you. It will mean a lot to them.”
“Also for you, Mr. Kim.” Taehyung felt his cheeks hurting because of how hard he smiled. “See you in class.”
“See you in class,” he bowed before leaving with a special spring in his step.
FIN.
