Chapter Text
Class was in session Monday morning. It was chemistry with Professor Hange, a class that Jean used to loath but learned to love because it was the only period he shared with Armin, his boyfriend since freshman year, who also happened to be his lab partner for the class.
Jean loved it because he could hold Armin’s hand under the table and whisper sweet nothings in his ear. He could sneak kisses in between taking notes and carrying out experiments until Armin chided him with a flushed face to pay attention and Jean would do the exact opposite.
But now he hated chemistry with every fiber in his body because he couldn’t understand a single thing the teacher was preaching about, the stool was uncomfortable and the vacant spot beside him was a glaring reminder that Armin wasn’t here.
Jean found himself staring at Armin’s place, desperately wishing he was here instead of being all the way in Vancouver. 142.6 miles away. That’s a two hour and thirty-three minute drive from Seattle, and he hadn’t even counted the hour and a half it took to make it past the border.
Jean wanted to hop in his car and drive over there right this second but what if Armin was busy and he ended up getting in his way?
Armin wasn’t there for vacation. He was on a full scholarship in Sina. He wouldn’t have time for Jean to pop-up unannounced.
The longer he stared at Armin’s vacant seat, the more he missed him. His throat felt dry when he swallowed. Jean tore his gaze away from Armin’s chair, blinking rapidly because his eyes were stinging and the back of his throat felt like it was burning.
Why was it suddenly so hard to breathe?
“Jean?” Sasha whispered from the next table, looking at him with an empathetic gaze that made his clenched fists tighten even more over the desk.
He felt eyes on him, searing into his flesh, and when he looked up, the majority of his classmates were looking at him with similar looks of sympathy. Jean gritted his teeth and glared out the window, ignoring their gazes and Sasha’s comforting hand on his arm.
She gave it a light squeeze to let him know that he wasn’t alone but somehow it sure felt like he was.