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Wooje sighs for the tenth time in the class and just wishes it would be over so he could go to breakfast.
"...It's a project I'm working on with Professor Sanghyeok..."
Wooje's ears perked up as if they were those of a puppy paying special attention to this part of the class.
His eyes search for his boyfriend at the desk next to him and he looks back at him with tired eyes before pretending to write something down.
He and Hyeonjoon have taken the same political economy class for three semesters because Professor Hyukkyu is the calmest person on earth, is approachable with students and, above all, doesn't leave homework.
But in each and every class he has been in, Professor Hyukkyu mentions Professor Sanghyeok and the finance project they are working on together.
Not only does he talk about the project, but he mentions that they both went to the same high school, that they were classmates during graduate school in college, and that they sometimes often play League of Legends together.
Professor Sanghyeok is the most sought-after professor at the university, teaching classes from first-year students to senior seminars, but he is also a thesis advisor and a full-time researcher.
Wooje and Hyeonjoon also like him because he always speaks in a very correct manner that makes his classes not boring.
Professor Hyukkyu finishes the class and leaves the classroom in a hurry as usual.
It is when he and Hyeonjoon are sitting on the grass under a tree eating breakfast that Wooje finally speaks.
"I really feel that Professor Hyukkyu likes Professor Sanghyeok, but in serious mode."
"There you go again" Hyeonjoon rolls his eyes "We know Professor Sanghyeok is married and has two cats" Hyeonjoon shrugs "Besides Professor Hyukkyu seems to be too proper to mess with someone who is married"
"I'm not saying he wants to mess with him, but semester after semester he always brings it up even when Professor Sanghyeok has nothing to do with it" Wooje drinks from his juice "It's very strange"
"Don't make weird theories where there's nothing, maybe they're just good friends. Besides, you're paying enough attention to this matter this semester, we need to focus on other things" Hyeonjoon leans towards him and leaves a kiss on the tip of his nose.
Wooje pouts and continues to bite his fruit reluctantly.
***
"I just posted the link for you to register for the finance seminar if you're interested, it's a project that Professor Hyukkyu and I are working on together..."
Wooje turns his attention back after those words.
Actually, Professor Sanghyeok very rarely talks about Professor Hyukkyu, but when he does, he still mentions the project, he never talks about whether they went to high school together or if they actually play League of Legends together.
He picks up his phone and texts Hyeonjoon.
[I think it might be unrequited love.]
Hyeonjoon beside him picks up his phone and answers his message.
[Wooje, give it a rest already]
[Think about it, it makes sense, one always speaks well of the other, but the other rarely mentions it.]
[Well, I'll buy your theory, now what do we do with that information?]
Wooje frowned and after finding no response locked his phone and set it down on his lap before continuing to write down.
***
Minseok and Minhyung had invited them over for pizza to catch up like every Thursday since they hadn't been able to get all the subjects in together.
"Is there anything new?" Minhyung asked taking another slice making Hyeonjoon roll his eyes.
"Agh, why did you ask that?"
Wooje punched him in the arm before his eyes flashed and he leaned his body towards the table, a sign that he had juicy gossip. Minseok and Minhyung leaned the same way.
"I have a theory that Professor Hyukkyu fell in love with Professor Sanghyeok when they were younger, but then he married another woman before Professor Hyukkyu confessed his feelings to him, and so now he can't stop talking about him and the times they had throughout their lives."
"Oh my goodness, that makes so much sense" Minseok brought both hands to his cheeks in surprise "That's why maybe Professor Hyukkyu is single, as a way to mourn the love he has for Professor Sanghyeok."
"Totally agree" Minhyung nodded.
"Don't encourage Wooje to go along with this 'shipp' anymore, surely the professor..." Hyeonjoon cleared his throat and kept silent, paying excessive attention to his can of soda.
Wooje frowned and raised his head to notice Professor Hyukkyu who was entering the store.
"Hello Professor" Wooje greeted as Professor Hyukkyu walked past him.
"Oh, hi guys enjoying the free time?"
"Yeah, that's right" Minseok he smiled likewise "Would you like to sit down?"
"Oh no thanks, I'm in a hurry, I just came to pick up an order I placed."
"Oh sorry, we didn't mean to interrupt you"
Hyukkyu denies with a smile and then walks over to the counter to pay and pick up two boxes of pizza.
"See you guys tomorrow in class, don't be too late coming home."
"Thanks teacher."
The boys nod and the professor leave the store.
Wooje and Minseok look at each other for a second before getting up from their seat and running off after the professor. Wooje walks across the parking lot stealthily at a reasonable distance while Minseok follows him.
Professor Hyukkyu opens his car door and out of it comes a pair of hands grabbing the pizza boxes, after which he smiles and bends down as if receiving a kiss. He seems to talk something to the person and then circles the car to the driver's seat and then drives off from there.
"Is he dating anyone then?" Minseok folds his arms "God, I feel so offended now."
"So do I" Wooje pouts "My theory just vanished like dust and it hasn't even been an hour."
"We need to know who he is"
Wooje nods in agreement before sighing and heading back to the pizzeria along with Minseok.
***
"Well, today's class will end a little early so let's hurry."
Wooje frowns and raises his hand to be able to speak.
"Professor is something wrong? do you have a problem?"
"Oh no, it's just that today is my birthday and my husband has a surprise for me at a bar near here, he made a big deal about me not being late."
Wooje's eyes widen in shock, but he tries to compose himself and nods, then looks at Hyeonjoon who is already texting him.
[Is he gay?]
[Oh my god, I was expecting anything but this.]
[I can't believe I'm interested in this situation again].
They both laugh quietly and block their phone to pay attention.
When the monetary theory and policy class ends and Professor Sanghyeok leaves the classroom, Hyeonjoon can't help but peek out the door to get an idea of where he's going.
"Should we follow him to find out what his husband looks like?"
Wooje thought about it for a second before denying.
"It's his birthday, we should let him spend it quietly, we'll continue the investigation on Monday."
***
"I hope you read the lecture for next class, we have a lot of things to comment on it."
Wooje's eyes were drawn to the ring finger on Professor Hyukkyu's left hand where there was a silver ring that he hadn't noticed all class.
Had it always been there?
Why did it look strangely familiar?"
He waited for all the students to leave so he could approach the professor.
"Excuse me professor, but I couldn't deliver the past assignment can I turn it in, even if it's late?"
"Oh yes don't worry, tell me your name and when I get home, I will enable the space again for you."
"I'm Choi Wooje" The professor nodded and wrote his name on a post-it before sticking it inside his Tablet case "Excuse me for the question are you married?"
Hyeonjoon pursed his lips, a sign that he was holding in laughter.
"Oh yeah" The professor smiled as he saved his things "I don't really like to wear my ring, but today is our tenth anniversary so I'll use it as an additional gift for my partner."
"Ten years together?" Hyeonjoon sounds really amazed "Wow..."
The professor smiles and Wooje sees a hint of blush on his cheeks, which he finds too adorable.
"Well, lots of gossip guys, gotta go, see you tomorrow."
They both nod and bow as the professor walks away and leaves the room.
"What are you thinking?"
"That you were right about them just being close friends" Wooje sighs "The only thing I have to be thankful for is that we didn't bet anything or I would have lost in the most humiliating way possible."
"Come here" Hyeonjoon takes his backpack and hangs it on his other shoulder before hugging him "But you were pretty good at researching this."
Wooje smiles.
"There's something else I'm thinking about though."
"What is it?"
"Is it possible for you and I to last as long as Professor Hyukkyu has lasted with his partner?"
"Uhm..." Hyeonjoon kisses his cheek "If you're good, probably yes" Wooje rolls his eyes and hits him on the chest "Eish, you know I'm just kidding, I'll do my best to make sure you never get tired of me."
Wooje grabs Hyeonjoon's face by the cheeks and gives him a kiss before leaving for his next class.
***
"Let's get out of here, I'm really hungry" Hyeonjoon climbs into the passenger seat in Wooje's car.
"Close the door tightly" Wooje starts the car and prepares to leave the university parking lot.
"Hey, isn't that Professor Sanghyeok?"
Wooje stops his movements, turns off the car and walks over to the window, climbing on Hyeonjoon's lap to look in that direction.
Professor Sanghyeok was beside his car talking to someone else, he seemed to be in a much happier mood than usual.
"Would that be his husband?"
"I guess so, he doesn't smile like that to anyone, not even to me being his favorite student" Hyeonjoon laughed at his answer.
"Weren't we going to leave this alone?"
"I just want to see what your husband looks like."
"Wooje, I'm really hungry."
"Shut up, we'll leave in a moment."
The other person, who has his back turned, removes the navy-blue jacket from Sanghyeok's shoulders and holds it on his arm while Professor Sanghyeok takes out a pack of cigarettes from his pants bag and then lights one.
The other person steals the cigar from his lips and seems to take a puff before kissing Professor Sanghyeok.
"I feel strange witnessing this" Hyeonjoon hugs Wooje by the waist. "If you're still on top of me you can't blame me for whatever happens."
"Shh, pay attention."
Wooje squints his eyes to sharpen his eyesight as people are about ten meters or so away.
They both laugh and share the cigarette until they finish it, Professor Sanghyeok then loosens his tie slightly and turns to open his car door for his husband to enter the passenger seat, but the moment the person enters the car, the profile of his face is exposed.
"Are you kidding me?" Wooje covers his mouth while Hyeonjoon stays totally still " He is cheating on his husband with Professor Hyukkyu?"
"Wooje don't talk nonsense" Hyeonjoon swallows saliva "His husband is Professor Hyukkyu"
"Shit!"
They both stand still, watching as the car carefully pulls out of its parking spot. Wooje climbs off Hyeonjoon's lap and settles into the driver's seat.
And everything seems to happen in slow motion, Professor Sanghyeok's black colored BMW passes in front of their car with the windows down, both professors smile quietly before leaving the university.
Wooje and Hyeonjoon share looks full of shock, not knowing what to say. A few minutes pass before Wooje starts laughing.
"Technically my theory was correct, Professor Hyukkyu likes Professor Sanghyeok, if he didn't like him, he wouldn't have married him."
Hyeonjoon lets out a big laugh before hugging Wooje.
"You should stick to being a private detective instead of studying economics."
"Hey don't make fun of me, you should have some respect for me, you can never hide anything from me."
Hyeonjoon rolls his eyes before looking at Wooje carefully.
"If by hiding you mean being disloyal to you, believe me I would rather cut off my arm than betray you, how could I be unfaithful to this pretty face?" Hyeonjoon kneads Wooje's cheeks as Wooje lets out coy giggles.
"Ugh, you always know what words to use" Wooje kisses Hyeonjoon's lips then pulls away and starts the car "Come on, it's on me this time"
"Finally" Hyeonjoon buckles up and rolls down the window "Although now that I think about it I find it hard to believe that people their age play League of Legends."
"Ugh, don't judge them for that, they need something to occupy their mind after dealing with students like us" He picks up his phone and tosses it to Hyeonjoon "Call Minhyung and Minseok and tell them if they have class to leave it aside and we'll see them at the usual pizza place, I have to tell them this in person"
Hyeonjoon laughs but complies with the order, receiving affirmative response in no time, and it's only then that Wooje's car pulls out of the parking lot.
"You really are a danger, Choi Wooje."
Wooje can't help but laugh.
"May be."
They both laugh.
Wooje knows he's too much of a gossiper, but Hyeonjoon is always with him in every 'investigation' so he can't complain.
He is just as gossipy as Wooje.