Chapter Text
It appeared to be an ordinary day, devoid of any peculiarities, until one would disregard the undeniable truth that it wasn't.
Unexpectedly, Gyuvin rushed into the staff room with an exclamation that reverberated through the air, "You are dating Zhang Hao?"
Yujin, who happened to be right behind Gyuvin, echoed Gyuvin's sentiment, interjecting with a tone of sorrow, "You are dating my teacher, someone who greatly dislikes me?"
This startling revelation caused Hanbin, engrossed in his coffee, to abruptly halt his movements, fixing his gaze upon the two in utter disbelief. "Who may I be dating now?" he questioned, his voice betraying a trace of confusion.
"Zhang Hao, my maths teacher," responded Yujin, his voice laden with a combination of exasperation and dejection.
"I barely know the man," Hanbin swiftly replied, trying to comprehend the situation that had unexpectedly unfolded.
In response to Hanbin's denial, Gyuvin brandished his cellphone and brought it close to Hanbin’s face, demanding an explanation. The screen prominently displayed a photograph capturing the blond locks of the aforementioned teacher, partially obscuring the face of Sung Hanbin. The image portrayed their hands resting upon each other, suggesting a proximity that surpassed reality. On the screen, the username haobin.official could be seen, eliciting an audible gasp from Hanbin as he observed the considerable number of followers amassed by this account. Could it be that the entire school was privy to this disconcerting rumour?
Hanbin glanced over at Gyuvin, whose face had paled considerably, and felt an urgency to clarify the misinterpretation. "This situation is not at all what it looks like," he earnestly proclaimed.
He pondered, "I truly do not know what could be more disturbing."
He thought carefully back to when this portrait might have been captured. Hanbin could see it clearly in his mind's eye. As he had entered the teachers' lounge, a bee had buzzed around him. Being startled by his fear of bees, he attempted to swat it away with a punch.
This led to a melodramatic flurry of wild hand gestures, with a look of almost crying etched on his face. In his haste, Hao had rushed into the room and caught the brunt of Hanbin's elbow on his nose. A yelp escaped from Hao's lips, his eyes brimming with tears from the impact. "Oh fuck, I am so sorry!" Hanbin had exclaimed, peering at the victim's face to assess any potential bleeding. Hao, his vision blurred, clasped onto Hanbin's arm for support. He fought to hold back tears and managed to stammer, "I am fine... I will be okay."
"So, you managed to break the nose of the teacher who dislikes me?" Yujin queried once Hanbin had finished recounting the incident. With a nonchalant shrug, he went back to his work.
Yujin replied, "I cannot quite tell which situation is worse."
The tension in the room tightened as Gyuvin interjected with a frown, "What do you intend to do to rectify this situation?"
Hanbin hesitated, then responded firmly, "Absolutely nothing."
"Nothing?" Gyuvin echoed, disbelief colouring his voice.
"Gyuvin, the students will soon forget all about it. It is merely idle teacher gossip. What is the worst that could happen?" Hanbin reasoned calmly.
Hanbin's expectations were greatly disappointed as the situation unfolded. Unbeknownst to him, the proximity between him and Hao was far more noticeable than he had ever imagined. The students, with their mischievous intentions, took every opportunity to express their amusement with exaggerated exclamations whenever the two were seen together, whether it be during lunchtime, in the teachers' lounge, or even while standing side by side during assembly. To add to his vexation, his fellow colleagues persistently badgered him for gossip.
He was so frustrated with everything happening around him that it consumed him. When the students wouldn't stop bothering him, he felt the need to respond. As he entered the next class, a mischievous smile appeared on his face as he announced, "Get out your textbooks. Every single one of you will be taking a surprise test today."
Zhang Hao sat wearily at a library table, grading a class test. The library was a sanctuary where students didn't bother him. He paid little attention to Ricky's complaints about the situation. His recent breakup with his fiancée of three years had left him too distraught to care about gossip. They're just rumours, he thought, they'll die down soon.
"Why do you look like you saw some puppy getting kicked?" Ricky asked, taking a seat across from Hao and dropping his books on the table.
"I'm just exhausted," Hao replied.
"You slept for, 16 hours yesterday," Ricky pointed out.
"Okay and? I'm heartbroken, just let me be," Hao retorted.
Ricky locked eyes with Hao and suggested, "I know what you need. Some dick. Let's hit a club and find you some-"
Hao winced at his friend's vulgar language in the school library. "I don't need that. I have enough on my plate already. Stop being a whore."
“Well, then let's go for drinks with the other teachers.”
Hao hesitated at first, considering declining the invitation. However, before he could express his reluctance, Ricky interjected. "It's either this or the club," Ricky asserted firmly. "I won't let you rot away in bed."
Reluctantly, Hao responded, "I don't really feel like drinking."
Ricky insisted, "You're coming with me, though." With the bell signalling the end of the period, Ricky got up and said, "I'll be waiting for you after school. Bye!"
With a sigh, Hao reluctantly got up and headed to his next class. Lost in his thoughts, he absentmindedly checked his phone, unaware of someone rushing out of the classroom. The collision caused papers to scatter, and as Hao bent down to pick them up, he accidentally bumped heads with the person. Letting out a wince, he looked up, surprised to see the person he had considered a problem staring back at him. However, this problem’s face was more captivating than he had realised.
Caught off guard and with his mind racing, Hao was torn between asking if the person was okay or apologising for the accident. In a moment of panic, he blurted out in a high-pitched voice, "Are you sorry?"
Hanbin stared at him, puzzled.
"I mean i'm ok..ay?"
After a brief pause, Hanbin chuckled softly, "Yes, I'm alright. Apology accepted."
Hao was stunned as he watched Hanbin leave the classroom, feeling a warmth in his neck. The giggles from the other students snapped him back to reality, "Not. a. word."
“Han Yujin, please stay behind after the class.” Hao commanded just moments before the resounding chime of the bell echoed throughout the room, signalling the end of the lesson. Yujin, feeling a sense of unease, gently tugged on Gunwook's sleeve, silently pleading not to be left alone with the teacher. However, Gunwook, wearing a remorseful expression, offered no solace as he reluctantly departed with the rest of the students. Yujin couldn't help but feel betrayed.
The room fell into a heavy silence as Yujin stood there, his gaze fixated on the floor, avoiding any eye contact with the teacher. Hao's voice broke the stillness, his tone surprisingly calm despite the weight of disappointment that hung in the air.
"I have yet to receive your assignment for my class," Hao stated, his words carrying a hint of reproach. Yujin remained silent, his lips sealed shut, as if afraid to utter a single word.
"And to make matters worse, you have failed the class test," Hao continued, his voice tinged with disbelief. It was a test that seemed almost impossible to fail, with a mere five questions to answer, From the back exercises of the book. Yet, Yujin had managed to fall short of expectations.
Hao let out a weary sigh, removing his glasses and rubbing his temples in an attempt to alleviate the tension that had settled there.
Hao began to suggest, "Call your parents tomorrow-" but before he could finish his sentence, Yujin quickly interjected, "No! My parents are out of town."
Curiosity piqued, Hao inquired, "Are you living alone right now?"
Yujin blurted out without thinking, "No, I'm staying with my uncle." It was as if Yujin had realised later that his uncle, Hanbin, was not any better than his mother.
Hao remained skeptical and propped his head up with his hands. He pressed further, asking, "Who is this uncle of yours?"
Yujin fell silent, but before Hao could speak again, Yujin suddenly shouted, "Gyuvin hyung!"
The said guy turned his head, looking into the classroom from the hallway and pointing at himself, a question mark plastered on his face.
Yujin gestured for Gyuvin to come inside the classroom, and Gyuvin complied, confusion evident on his face.
Hao was taken aback and exclaimed, "He's your uncle?"
“Im-?” Yujin pinched Gyuvin's hand as he winced and clarified, "I'm Yujin's uncle. Yes..."
Hao motioned for Yujin to leave and said, "Please let me talk to your uncle now."
"He currently has a class!" Yujin glanced at Gyuvin, who subtly shook his head.
"It's lunchtime," Hao insisted as Yujin left Gyuvin to face him alone. He'll be fine.
“How is it even possible to fail maths? You just had to use one formula and solve them.”
"I can't possibly solve it when maths involves more alphabets than numbers!" Yujin complained.
"And then you left me to deal with the consequences alone!"
"I didn't know he would hold you responsible for my upbringing."
“But he did.”
Gyuvin sighed and turned, only to unexpectedly get hit in the face with a basketball. "What the f- football!"
"It's a basketball," Ricky corrected, enunciating the word like Gyuvin was an elementary school student. "Have you stopped studying English again?"
The students playing with Ricky looked at their teachers, who were arguing yet again.
Gyuvin's response was sharp and filled with frustration. “Lets not pretend you are an expert in Korean.”
His ears burned with anger, fueling his retort. However, Ricky, smirked and stated confidently, “I may not be an expert but I can tell the difference between football and basketball.”
"Let's see if you can still tell the difference when one of them hits you square in the face.''
The ball came hurtling towards Ricky, who instinctively ducked with a smile on his face, thinking it was aimed at his face. To his surprise, the ball was actually aimed at a much more sensitive area - his groin.
The pain was unbearable, causing Ricky to double over and emit a pained grunt. The athletes standing behind him couldn't help but suppress their laughter. Meanwhile, Gyuvin, wearing a triumphant smile, returned inside with Yujin by his side, who chanted apologies to the teacher on his behalf.
"I am exhausted!" Taerae exclaimed, his body stretching in an attempt to alleviate the weariness that had settled upon him. "I want this to be over already so we can go for drinks," Matthew chimed in, his voice filled with anticipation.
From behind his table, Hanbin interjected with curiosity, "We are going for drinks?"
"Did Gyuvin not inform you?" Taerae questioned, surprised by Hanbin's lack of knowledge.
"No," Hanbin replied, his tone tinged with confusion.
Gyuvin, entering the staff room with an energy drink in hand, inquired, "What did I forget to mention?"
"That we have plans to go out for drinks," Hanbin responded, a hint of frustration evident in his voice.
"I did inform you," Gyuvin insisted, his words laced with certainty.
"You did not," Hanbin retorted, his patience wearing thin.
"I did—" Gyuvin began to argue, only to be interrupted by Matthew's exclamation.
"Whatever!" Matthew exclaimed, his voice now lowered. "You are aware of our plans, so join us."
Hanbin hesitated for a moment before declining, "I'll pass. I have to prepare dinner for my nephew."
Gyuvin inquired with a puzzled expression, "Is that your excuse? Yujin is capable of preparing his own meals.”
"I don't want my house to catch on fire," Hanbin explained as he returned to his work.
"He can always order takeout," Gyuvin suggested.
"No."
"Please, I beg you! Accompany me," Gyuvin pleaded, shaking Hanbin and embracing him in an attempt to irritate him further.
"Gyuvin, enough."
Ignoring the warning, Gyuvin continued to shake the older man more vigorously.
"Alright, alright!"
Having achieved his goal, Gyuvin left once more, his plans for drinking back on track.
As Ricky sat in front of Gyuvin, he declared, "I have no desire to drink anymore."
Gyuvin responded coldly, “You may leave."
Zhang Hao whispered to Ricky, his voice filled with menace, "You can't back out now, especially since you were the one who brought me here."
Taerae intervened, "We are not here to argue, but to drink. Behave civilly for now." The food was served, and the drinking began. Ricky and Gyuvin engaged in a competition to outdrink each other, only to find out that neither could handle their liquor.
"I'm..." Gyuvin started, his speech slurred, "a better drinker."
"No, I’m," Ricky retorted, his head resting on the table.
Taerae sighed as he observed his intoxicated friends. He pointed out to Hao, who was swaying in his chair with bloodshot eyes, "You said you didn't want to drink."
“People undergo changes. Such is the nature of existence.” Hao's poetic response was succinct. Just as those words left his lips, tears streamed down his face.
"Why are you crying?" Taerae asked in a panic, observing the emotional outburst.
"I don't know," Hao replied, downing another glass.
Hanbin, without realising the situation, gently comforted Hao by patting his shoulder, while his phone rang with Yujin's name flashing on the screen.
"It's midnight, where are you?" Yujin's concerned voice came through the phone.
"We... we are drinking," Hanbin stuttered ,lightheaded.
"Do you have a ride home?"
"Nope."
Yujin sighed, feeling like the responsible one in the conversation.
"I will manage, you rest. Go," Hanbin ordered before ending the call.
"I'll..take my leave." Hanbin began, struggling to stand up and maintain his balance.
"No! I am on the verge of winning!" Gyuvin suddenly exclaimed, interrupted by a hiccup.
"You are dreaming," Ricky hiccuped in response.
Hanbin bid a silent farewell and left without paying any attention to Gyuvin.
Hao had ceased his weeping, his eyes stinging as he breathed in the alcohol, feeling numb to its effects. His vision was hazy, ears ringing, and a tingling sensation in his leg as it fell asleep.
Glancing at his watch, he gasped and stuttered incomprehensible words. He opened the door, the cold breeze hitting his face, causing him to flinch. He stumbled to the bus stop, putting on his jacket. Before he knew it, his phone was already ringing next to his ear as the receiver answered.
"You asshole," Hao slurred. "You cheating bitch."
"Hao. Why did you call?" The voice on the other end asked with frustration.
"To curse at you," he spat. "Are you happy with your little girlfriend?"
There was silence on the other end. The sound of blankets shuffling was heard before a soft feminine voice spoke through the phone.
Hao couldn't help but chuckle. So he was with her right now?
The voice responded, "You should move on."
"Oh, I have!" Hao exclaimed, anger fuming inside him. "In fact, I'm with my boyfriend right now!"
"What? Bullshit! We just broke up."
"You are bullshit. If you are already with her, why can't I be with someone too?"
The voice chuckled before responding, "You are deceiving yourself. You are under the influence right now."
"I'm not," Hao retorted firmly, despite the heaviness in his eyelids.
Without a word in return, the phone emitted a beep, signalling the end of the call. Hao stood before the bus stop, his gaze fixed on a figure, fighting against the urge to succumb to sleep . I will show you , he silently vowed.
"Sung Hanbin," Hao called out as the latter raised his head.
"Zhang Hao?" Hanbin replied groggily, still feeling the lingering effects of his intoxication. "What are you doing here-"
"May I kiss you?" Hao interrupted, causing Hanbin's eyes to widen and his mouth to hang open in surprise.
Hao leaned in closer, closing the distance between them, his hand gripping Hanbin's collar. On his other hand, he held his phone, its camera switched to selfie mode.
Hanbin felt a sense of vulnerability, as he looked into the older man's eyes, red from previous tears with a glint of determination. Unbeknownst to him, he glanced at Hanbin’s lips. The plump red lips that reeked of alcohol.
I'll show you, declared a voice inside Hao. He closed the distance, his lips engulfing the softness of the other's mouth.
The kiss was not given or taken, it was shared.
Shutter.