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“Lee Gilyoung.” Gilyoung tries his best not to flinch at the cold, emotionless voice. “Your presentation still has a grammar mistake, one that should have been easily avoidable. Along with that, the slides and overview are not coherently strung together. Why would you jump from this point to that point without a common idea connecting them?”
In a rare display of camaraderie, Shin Yoosung is staring at him with sympathy and Gilyoung would’ve felt touched, if not because he’s too busy trying to endure the brutal dressing-down Professor Yoo Joonghyuk is giving him. From the corner of his eyes, he can also see Kim Namwoon and Lee Jihye sitting unusually still, obviously uncomfortable and nervous about their upcoming presentations.
“The half-hearted way you constructed this slideshow reminds me of my fiancé.” Gilyoung’s ears perk up at the mention of the person Professor Yoo always brings up despite rarely being asked about. “He is also the type to plan a general outline, but never thinks about how to explain them in detail. ‘The ideas will generate on their own,’ he said.”
“Uh, Professor Yoo…” Kim Namwoon raises his hand. “If your own fiancé can do that, maybe it’s not that bad for Lee Gilyoung to do the same, either? Sometimes, thinking on the sly can create good things rather than just planning ahead all the time, after all…”
The glare shot at his direction causes Kim Namwoon to shut his mouth right away, along with grimaces from the rest of the class. “An important difference is that my fiancé somehow has actual spontaneous creativity and intelligence to make a seemingly unplanned presentation work. Lee Gilyoung, however, doesn’t seem to have gained the same ability yet, which only makes his presentation look shabby. I hope you will keep it in mind to write detailed ideas from now on.”
“So is he insulting his fiancé or praising him? I don’t get it.” Lee Jihye mumbles behind him and he has to agree with her. Professor Yoo always manages to link his fiancé to pretty much anything, alternating between talking shit about him or gushing about him in a very dickish way. Whoever Professor Yoo’s fiancé is, Gilyoung genuinely feels bad for that person.
After himself, the rest of the class doesn’t fare much better, either. The whole ‘Kim Dokja & Yoo Joonghyuk Company’ all get chewed out by Professor Yoo for the slightest mistakes, or even just something that doesn’t match his personal preferences (such as how Kim Namwoon’s choice of colors in his slides look too chuuni for his liking). When the period ends and their professor walks out without so much as a goodbye, Gilyoung finally lets out the thoughts he’s been holding in.
“Yoo Joonghyuk is an asshole.”
“Hey, he can be cool sometimes! It’s not like anyone could just fix broken projectors and malfunctioned microphones in less than five minutes.” Lee Jihye uses the magic their professor had performed a few days ago to defend him, but then deflates with a defeated sigh. “When it comes to grading us though, yeah, he’s an asshole.”
“You forgot to add that he was the Supreme King of the gamer world and no one could beat his records even now. But I wish he didn’t act like there’s a major stick up his ass in class…” Kim Namwoon sprawls himself on the table as if the mere action of sitting up straight is too much for him, and the three pat his back in consolation. The roast Professor Yoo gave him earlier was enough to power his kitchen stove for at least a decade, after all.
“If only he could be a bit more like Professor Kim. If it was Professor Kim, he would smile while gently tell us what we did wrong and how to fix it.” Shin Yoosung pouts in dismay at the lower score than what she usually gets, and despite how they normally fight with each other over the littlest things, Gilyoung nods furiously in agreement.
“Not only that, he would suggest a way to do things better next time! He’s too good for this world, and yet that jerk Yoo Joonghyuk keeps on picking on him.” Gilyoung’s face sours as he remembers the way Professor Yoo occasionally brought up Professor Kim in a critical manner. At least Professor Kim also sometimes throws shade back at him.
“Well, there’s a reason we’re named ‘Kim Dokja & Yoo Joonghyuk Company’ and not the other way around…” Lee Jihye tiredly comments in a matter-of-fact way. The four of them give out another long, suffering sigh, before gathering their spirit to go to the next class, where their souls will be soothed.
===
“What’s with everyone and looking so down today?” Their angel, Professor Kim, immediately asks the moment he steps into the class with an earnestly concerned voice.
“Professor Kim!! We were in Professor Yoo’s class earlier, and he was so harsh!” Shin Yoosung immediately wails with the most dramatic crying face Gilyoung has ever seen her making, and he earns a quick stomp on his foot for scowling at that.
“He burned Kim Namwoon so hard that not even going to Antarctica can help heal him.”
“Shut up Lee Jihye, it’s not as if yours was any better. What did he say again? Ah, inappropriate usage of slide transitions-”
“You little…!”
“Ah, Yoo Joonghyuk, huh?” Professor Kim chuckles and uses the projector to show his ‘Korean Language and Literature’ presentation today. Most other students would find this compulsory course boring, but because this is their beloved Professor Kim, the four along with the whole class hurriedly take out their notebooks, ready to write down every word. “I’d say that you just need to remember the actual constructive criticism he left, not his unnecessary wording. He might be handsome and talented elsewhere, but his social skills leave so much to be desired.”
Encouraged by how he agrees with them, Gilyoung continues listing all the crimes Professor Yoo has committed. “And also, he spoke about his fiancé in a really confusing way! He was praising his fiancé while insulting him at the same time.”
“Oh?” Professor Kim’s eyes glint with interest. “Did he, now?”
“Yes! Professor Yoo first said that my presentation was shabby and not carefully planned, then said that his fiancé was also the kind to have the general idea but not the proper way to express them. Yet he immediately followed by saying that his fiancé was smart enough to get away with that. I don’t get it.”
“I feel bad for Professor Yoo’s fiancé. It must be frustrating to deal with someone who’s so critical and harsh.” Shin Yoosung adds in.
“I wouldn’t say that. Perhaps those two just have a unique way of expressing their love, and someone who signed up to be the fiancé of Yoo Joonghyuk of all people must have readied themself for his personality already.” In contrast to the righteous anger on the fiancé’s behalf that they were expecting, Professor Kim just patiently reasons with them in a calm, rational manner.
“Professor Kim, you seem like someone who would be much more understanding and nice to your partner, unlike Professor Yoo. Then, how come he has a fiancé and you’re still single?” A girl from two tables away asks with a pout, and Gilyoung recognizes her as Jang Hayoung, who seems to fangirl very hard for Professor Kim but unfortunately can’t join the Company because she otherwise doesn’t have any class with Yoo Joonghyuk, only having heard about him from the Company and Professor Kim himself.
“... Let’s not talk about that, shall we? My love life is nothing to write home about. Rather, why don’t we start the lesson?” Any trace of open amusement on Professor Kim’s face disappears as his expression closes off warningly despite still smiling. The class groans in disappointment, but has to accept that when Professor Kim gets like this, there will be no way to pry out any juicy information from him.
It’s at moments like this that the differences between Professor Yoo and Professor Kim become even more pronounced and amusing. Professor Yoo is a certified jerkass that never minces his words for anyone and seems incredibly closed-off at first glance, but is surprisingly willing to talk about his personal life, especially when it comes to his fiancé. In contrast, Professor Kim is easygoing, smiley and full of encouraging words for his students, but the moment someone even remotely suggests the tiniest thing about his personal life, he shuts off like a clam and becomes more unresponsive than a computer having a blue screen of death.
Weirdly enough, however, what doesn’t make him clam up is when his archnemesis, Professor Yoo, is mentioned. Depending on whether Professor Yoo is being an asshole that day or not, Professor Kim will have some choice words or amused remarks for him, all the while looking obviously interested in his colleague’s life.
This apparent rivalry has caused Gilyoung and Shin Yoosung (self-proclaimed biggest fans of Kim Dokja) to declare that one day, Professor Kim will sweep Professor Yoo’s poor fiancé off his feet and run together with him to the sunset, so he can be with someone who’ll treat him better. In contrast, Lee Jihye (who idolizes Yoo Joonghyuk in a masochistic way) believes that those two will actually have an enemies-to-lovers arc, where they realize the hidden good things about the other, causing Professor Yoo to let go of his fiancé and explores Professor Kim in a… more intimate way.
(Kim Namwoon, being the delusional chuunibyou he is, just wants to see the two professors fighting for the death, so they all ignore his input.)
Interestingly, none of the Company members even bothers entertaining the idea that maybe, just maybe, Professor Kim and Professor Yoo’s fiancé are the same person. It just seems… wrong, somehow. Mostly because Gilyoung and Shin Yoosung find it too difficult to accept that their beloved professor might have a thing with their beloathed professor, while Lee Jihye and Kim Namwoon find the dynamic between them too vitriolic to be that of two people who are engaged.
At least, until that fateful day.
===
Professor Yoo’s expression when he walks into class that day is dark and thunderous, perfectly complimenting the heavy rain outside. His periods are usually heavy enough, but the dark aura around him drapes over the whole class like an incredibly stuffy and suffocating blanket, causing the whole class to sit still, afraid to even breathe wrong.
Unexpectedly and amazingly like a knight in shining armor, Han Donghoon, normally shy and awkward, breaks the silence with a quiet voice. “Professor Yoo, is there something wrong?”
The class all turn to his direction in awe, then turn back to their professor with bated breaths, ready to defend their brave classmate - or at least take him to the hospital in time - if Professor Yoo unleashes his wrath on him.
To their relief, Professor Yoo doesn’t get violent or anything, instead simply narrowing his eyes while actually answering the question in a bitter voice. “... My fiancé is an idiot.”
Ah, so it was about the (in)famous fiancé. No wonder he’s so willing to answer the question, then. Feeling an unexpected courage rising in him, Gilyoung decides to follow his classmate’s example. “If I may ask, what did he do?”
“Selfishly assuming and deciding things without asking how I actually felt, is what he did.” This time, Professor Yoo’s voice makes the room drop at least -10 in temperature from how cold it is. “Now, I trust that everyone has finished the assignment I gave?”
Everything only gets worse from then on with the way their professor acts even more pissy and nitpicky than usual, along with more scathing words for those who were actually stupid enough to forget to do an assignment given by Yoo Joonghyuk of all people. By the end of the class, there are more than one pair of teary eyes and a few muffled sniffles. Gilyoung can’t help but hope that they make up with each other soon, because it will be Hell on Earth if every single class with Yoo Joonghyuk becomes like this from now on.
Except for the Company, the rest of the room gets up to leave, because the next period is taught by Professor Kim. Who, coincidentally, steps into the room right at that moment, causing everyone who’s about to leave to instead stare at him.
“Oh. I didn’t realize that your class hasn’t ended, Professor Yoo. My apologies, I arrived a bit too early.” Shrugging off all the attention on him like a champion, Professor Kim gives an apologetic smile to the man who’s glaring at him as if he killed his entire family.
“No, it already ended. I would rather not delay your class by my unwelcomed presence, so I’ll be taking my leave now.” For some reason, that response contains too much unnecessary spite, at least to Gilyoung’s ears. However, when he glances at Shin Yoosung, she nods with wide eyes like she also feels the same. Did Professor Kim and the fiancé somehow both pissed off Yoo Joonghyuk today?
“You seem somewhat under the weather today. Did something happen?” Completely ignoring the previous jab at him, Professor Kim continues asking with concern for his colleague.
“None of your business.” Everyone in the room winces at the sheer coldness of that reply.
“Hmm… If I may guess, I’ve heard some tales about you and your fiancé. Could it be something related to him that made you like this?” Professor Kim places a thoughtful hand under his chin while casually bringing that up, and Gilyoung can’t help but get worried. It’s one thing for Professor Yoo to tell his students by himself, but to have that brought up by his archnemesis is…
“Yes, I was upset about my fiancé. However, once again, this is none of your business, Kim Dokja.” If looks could kill, Professor Kim would have become a pile of ash on the ground with how Professor Yoo is glaring at him right now. “And what are you still all doing here? Hurry up and leave so the people of this class can get in.” He then directs his anger to the curious students staying behind, who immediately get out of class with an admirable speed.
Professor Yoo then turns to leave without another word, but what’s really surprising is the way Professor Kim stares at his back until he completely disappears into the distance. There are so much emotions in those eyes at once - longing, sadness, regret, and…
If Gilyoung doesn’t know better, he might even say that it’s ‘love’.
Yet, the panicked expressions from Lee Jihye, Shin Yoosung, and Kim Namwoon as they turn to look at him confirm that Gilyoung isn’t the only one who thinks that way, which causes an unpleasant idea to form in his head.
The idea is only reinforced further when Professor Kim then teaches with a more depressing face than usual, lacking all of his usual witty remarks and enthusiasm. Once class ends and he leaves the room in the manner of a man just being divorced by his spouse, the Company immediately gathers together so they can full-on panic.
“Did you see what I see?!” Lee Jihye flails her arms in such a way that Gilyoung’s worried they might fall off.
“Yeah!! I… I can’t believe that Professor Kim has been in unrequited love with Professor Yoo all along!!” Kim Namwoon clutches his head with both hands in horror.
“That’s why he looked so sad when Professor Yoo talked about his fiancé and told him not to interfere… He loves Professor Yoo and wanted to do something to help, but can’t!!” Shin Yoosung’s eyes become suspiciously wet with tears.
As for Gilyoung himself, he’s so overwhelmed with emotions that the only words he can finally utter are, “... I feel so bad for Professor Kim.”
“Me too!! But… we can’t do anything about it, either! It’s not like we can just walk up to Professor Yoo and tell him to consider Professor Kim’s feelings.” Lee Jihye groans in frustration.
“I don’t want Professor Kim to become a homewrecker.” Shin Yoosung nods despite her obvious dissatisfaction.
“But then Professor Kim will have to keep suffering. What the hell can we do?” After Kim Namwoon’s depressing question, their discussion has to end because it’s Professor Han Sooyoung’s class next, and they can’t think of any way to answer that question.
The four of them have been walking home together afterward with heavy hearts, still stressed out over everything that has happened and draining (what little of) their brain juices trying to think of a solution, when Shin Yoosung suddenly squeaks and points at two certain very familiar people in a distance.
“Look!! Aren’t they Professor Kim and Professor Yoo?!”
“What?!” Astonished, the four of them immediately hide behind a wall to see that those people are indeed their two professors, who seem to be in an argument with each other, although this argument looks a bit weird if the way Professor Kim is squeezing his colleague’s hand tightly is any indication.
“Joonghyuk-ah, listen to me!” Professor Kim exclaims desperately. Wait a minute… Did he just use a pet name for that Yoo Joonghyuk of all people?!
“Why should I? You certainly didn’t listen to me when you made all that stupid assumptions.” Professor Yoo bites back with all the resentment of a scorned lover.
“Joonghyuk-ah, I’m really sorry, and I mean it. I should never have doubted your love for me, nor should I assumed that you would just go ahead and dump me for anyone else.” Professor Kim now cups his colleague’s cheeks while his voice becomes even more desperate.
“... Don’t do something like that again.” Professor Yoo finally replies after a long silence, and if Gilyoung’s eyes aren’t betraying him, his professor looks like he’s on the verge of crying.
The intimate hold and passionate kiss on the lips that follow are such a shock to them that Lee Jihye and Kim Namwoon can’t hold back the unholy screech they’re making. Unfortunately, that causes the two professors to turn to their directions, and the four immediately make to run away, still treasuring their lives very much.
“Wait!! Gilyoung, Yoosung, Namwoon, Jihye, don’t run!!” Professor Kim calls each of their names, and their legs can’t help but stop. “Come here. I can explain.”
===
“So…” Professor Kim begins with a shy smile as the six of them sit at a table in a coffee shop, pointing his hand at the other professor, who looks like he would rather be anywhere else but here. “Allow me to reintroduce - this is my fiancé, Yoo Joonghyuk.”
“... Likewise. My fiancé, Kim Dokja.” Professor Yoo lets out a huff.
The Company stare at them in disbelief, too stunned to say anything as they just sit there trying to make themselves as small as possible. Finally, Shin Yoosung - bless her sometimes - asks what they have been wondering for the longest time in a timid voice.
“Why did you pretend that you weren’t engaged?”
“In our previous college, we didn’t hide it. But then Yoo Joonghyuk earned a stalker who was jealous of me, and started harassing both of us, even spreading rumors to the other teachers and students. So we had to move, and in this new college, we believed that hiding our relationship might be better.” The explanation causes Gilyoung to shiver in anger as he tries to hold back the urge to find that stalker and beat them up. Judging by how the other three are biting their lips, they must feel the same.
“So far, we have not been harassed again, so Kim Dokja and I decide to keep this going. But, well… I’m ashamed to admit that I can’t hold myself back from talking about him.” Before, if anyone told Gilyoung that Professor Yoo could make a flushed and shy expression, he would’ve laughed at them… but he’s making exactly that. Love is amazing, huh…
“I was certainly surprised to know that you were so critical of me in what you said to them. Aren’t I your fiancé, Joonghyuk-ah? You wounded me.” Professor Kim’s face looks too amused to be wounded.
“A good relationship will have the two people unafraid to point out mistakes the other makes so they can improve.” Professor Yoo replies with so much fondness dripping in his voice that Gilyoung has to interrupt before they can begin losing themselves in each other’s eyes.
“Excuse me, if it’s okay to ask… Why was Professor Yoo so mad at you earlier, Professor Kim?”
Professor Kim’s smug face turns red in embarrassment, and Professor Yoo answers with a sigh. “Yesterday, I ran into an old friend in high school. Kim Dokja saw us talking and assumed that I was cheating on him. But before I could explain, he told me that I could break up with him and be with her instead, if that would make me happy. So I became angry at him.”
“In my defense, you are the most handsome guy I ever knew, and she is also the most beautiful woman I ever laid eyes on, so I couldn’t help but… Okay okay, don’t get mad again! I’m sorry!!” Professor Kim raises his arms in surrender at the deadly glare he’s getting.
“She was asking my advice about how to propose to her own lover, you idiot.”
“Geez, I promise to always ask you for clarification first before thinking anything weird, okay?” Professor Kim lets out a long sigh, then turns back to the four with a bribing smile. “As for you guys, it’s my treat today, so keep what you just saw a secret, alright?”
The Company members nod shyly and begin to dig into the mountain of treats that Professor Kim bought for them, but as Gilyoung steals a glance at his fellow members, the glint in their eyes causes him to hide a smirk.
At the very least, Jang Hayoung and Han Donghoon will certainly get to know about this later.
And if those two decide to share this information with anyone else, well…
Gossiping about their professors is one of the ways to keep students from the sheer boredom of college, after all.