Teacher's Pet
Hello! I'm transferring this story to my Livejournal account. This was one of my entries for Minwoo ficfest 2015 (when will we have one again? T_T) and was written for Hana.
By the way, congratulations on this wonderful, amazing comeback, Winner! Please spread the Minwoo and Winner love~! ^^
TEACHER'S PET
(by kaijin-taichou)
Rating: PG or K+ (just to be safe)
Characters: Song Mino, Kim Jinwoo, Song Minguk, Song Danah
Pairing: Minwoo, MinoxJinwoo
Genre: Comedy; Crack; One-shot
Prompt: Mino or Jinwoo is a busy father who always leaves his son under his trusted nanny but when the old lady couldn't do her work anymore, he was forced to look after his son and send him to his day school. There, he met the attractive teacher that his son always talk about and he found himself always wanting to spend his time on the school during his free time to ask about his son but it's actually just an excuse to see his son's teacher.
==========
The soft sobbing of a five-year-old boy filled Song Mino's unit in addition to Mino's loud sighing.
He had been comforting his sick son, Minguk, for about thirty minutes now with the help of his sister, Danah. Minguk caught colds and his temperature remained 38.3 degrees Celsius since last night. Mino wasn't able to report to work to take care of his sick son.
The life of a single parent.
Of course, Mino would have still called his secretary to cancel his appointments and meetings for today because Minguk was sick if he still had someone to call his wife. But having a life partner, without putting the term ex before the word wife, meant someone would take care of a sick Minguk while Mino worked and not resorting to calling his sister to look after his son.
Minguk's nanny, who had been with Mino's family since he was seven, retired just a week ago. Mino couldn't find a new nanny for Minguk because it seemed like no one could pass his standards.
You are looking for a new wife, not a nanny. His friend, Seunghoon, told him once.
"Oppa... Mino-oppa!" Mino stopped stirring his coffee and looked at his sister. He could still hear his son crying.
"He is still whining, huh?" Mino commented.
Then they heard again Minguk's sobbing voice.
"School... I am okay... I want to go to school... I want to see my teacher..."
Danah laughed. "I'm surprised that Minguk loves to attend classes. I wish he will still have that attitude until his university days. I sent a message to Mom and Dad and they are so proud of Mingukkie's love for school."
Mino just sighed and left the dining table to talk to his son who was lying on their black leathered sofa with a cooling gel patch on his forehead.
"Mingukkie, you cannot go to school today. See that white strip on your forehead? You have that because you have fever," Mino explained for the seventh time.
And Mino already knew what his son would answer him because he heard it seven times as well.
"But daddy, I want to see Teacher Jinwoo..." Minguk sobbed loudly.
Again, Mino sighed. Then he inhaled as though the air surrounding him contained patience he needed.
"That is why daddy will meet Teacher Jinwoo today and tell him that you are not fine. He will understand," Mino said patiently which earned him more sobbing from the five-year-old child.
Mino felt Danah's hand on his shoulder. He looked up as Danah told him, "If you want to meet him before he starts the class, you should go now."
The young father nodded then kissed Minguk's cheek. As he opened the door, he could hear Minguk crying louder, practically begging Mino to take the poor kid with him.
==========
Many children were playing and running as their parents and nannies ran after them. It was an endearing sight for Mino as he reached Minguk's school. However, Mino felt sad because ever since he and Minguk's mother got divorced, Mino hadn't had the time to play with Minguk. He missed running after his little kid.
But Mino felt a lot sadder when he somehow realized that Minguk didn't miss him at all.
I want to see Teacher Jinwoo...
"Really, Song Minguk? You are sick and you are not even looking for your parents," Mino whispered to himself as he walked his way to Minguk's classroom.
Teacher Jinwoo. He has never seen him because the only time he really stayed at the school was during the orientation. What did this Teacher Jinwoo have that his son forgot he had parents, or at least, had a dad who was living with him? Since day one, Minguk had been talking about his Teacher Jinwoo non-stop. It seemed like Minguk had associated all the good adjectives to his teacher and his son might come up with his own words soon just to describe how good his Teacher Jinwoo was.
Mino found about seven children, of Minguk's age, playing inside a classroom. The room reminded Mino of his own childhood with the designs of shapes, alphabets, and numbers found in the room. Then his eyes spotted a corner, one of his favorite corners when he was a child: the arts corner.
Mino smiled widely as he saw Minguk's drawings displayed on the wall. The boy had the talent and he was really superb. He looked at the drawings closely. At the age of five, Minguk's details on the tree he drew were clear. From the lines on the trunk, the length of the branches, the colors of the leaves: everything was present. Everything was skillfully drawn. Everything was perfect. Everything was beautiful.
"Hi."
Mino turned around to face the owner of the voice.
Yes, everything was beautiful, including the guy standing in front of him.
"Uhm... hi," Mino greeted back, plastering a wide smile on his face.
"Oh. You are Mingukkie's father!" the guy said gleefully and Mino found it very cute.
"Yes, I am. How did you know?" Mino asked as he tried his best not to pinch either of the guy's cheeks.
"Mingukkie is your carbon copy!" the guy answered, clasping his hands together.
"I've been told and I am taking that as a compliment. Are you also looking for Teacher Jinwoo? I need to talk to him about Minguk. Oh, by the way, my name is Song Mino-"
"Teacher Jinwoo!" the children started chanting and Mino was confused that everyone was smiling at him... or rather at the guy he was just about to ask his name.
"Are you... are you my son's teacher? Teacher Jinwoo?" Mino exclaimed.
The smaller guy bowed. "Yes. I'm Kim Jinwoo. Nice meeting you." Mino gasped as quietly and as discreetly as he could when Jinwoo suddenly touched his wrist as he addressed everyone inside the classroom.
"Children, Teacher Jinwoo has to talk to Mingukkie's dad. Say hi to his dad," Jinwoo said sweetly that Mino thought he melted on the spot. He wondered why he never attended the parent-teacher meetings and prioritized his stupid conferences.
However, he had to smile awkwardly at the kids who greeted him and bowed to the parents and babysitters who were giggling.
He followed Jinwoo as the teacher walked towards the door of the room.
"What is it that you want to talk about Minguk? I noticed that he is not here. What happened, Mr. Song?" Jinwoo asked and Mino could tell that he was very worried. Aside from his worried voice, Mino also took note of how Jinwoo addressed him: Mr. Song. He made a mental note that he would correct it later but first things first.
"Minguk is sick and-"
"What?! Is he okay? Is he in the hospital?" Mino thought Jinwoo's questions were endless.
"He has fever so don't worry-"
"Fever? Oh my God! Fever?! 40 degrees Celsius?! Take him to the hospital, please!" Jinwoo pleaded. Mino suddenly felt ashamed that he wasn't this worried about Minguk. His ex-wife didn't even panic when he called her about Minguk's fever.
"If his temperature is that high, I am pretty sure you won't be talking to me right now and I have at least killed a doctor if he wasn't taking good care of my son. So please don't worry too much. We will take him to the hospital if we had to. But what I would like to say is that Minguk will be absent today," Mino smiled, hoping that his smile would calm the teacher. It seemed like it did as he heard the other guy's sigh in relief.
"I'm sorry, I worried. It's just that Mingukkie is a very active child. And I could have sworn that viruses hate your son so I was really surprised that he got sick," Jinwoo smiled at him sheepishly.
"Thank you for showing so much concern towards my son. I appreciate it," Mino said as he smiled again, hoping this time that the smile he was giving him was that smile that could melt Jinwoo right away.
But he was disappointed when Jinwoo suddenly got worried again. "I understand Minguk's situation and I know he is a very smart kid. But we have a new lesson today and I feel sorry that Mingukkie will miss it."
And all of a sudden, Mino's disappointment vanished as he thought of an idea that would make Minguk very happy.
==========
Danah's hands were on her waist as her left eyebrow was nowhere to be found because it was arched too high when Mino arrived at around lunch time.
"Do you really have to stay at Minguk's school and attend his class, oppa?" Danah questioned him as he entered Minguk's room. His little angel was sleeping peacefully. He pressed his forehead on Minguk's cheek and Mino was relieved that his son's temperature was becoming normal.
Mino dragged his sister to the living room as Danah didn't stop complaining. Her voice might wake up Minguk.
"His Teacher Jinwoo said that they have a new lesson today and it was very important. Danah, learning what is left and right is very important in case you forgot that you were once a five-year-old kid," Mino argued as he opened his laptop to check his email.
"And you forgot that you are already a twenty-seven-year-old working adult who ignored your colleagues' calls a while ago because you were busy learning the difference of left and right! Your secretary kept on calling me here!" Danah complained.
Mino laughed at his sister. "Danah, calm down. I saw you dancing when they sang I'm a Little Teapot and you were singing along with them during the Left and Right song."
Mino answered his emails while still laughing at his sister who kept on saying, "You are the only parent who will attend his child's class then talk to him through Skype so he could still be part of the class."
"I deserve the Best Father award for that idea, right?"
However, Danah popped his dream bubble when she began teasing him. "Teacher Jinwoo looks cute, right?"
He glared at her as Danah continued. "Your ex-wife won't be happy that you used your child as a reason to stay and learn more about Mingukkie's teacher."
And that was what Danah needed to do for her to be kicked out of her brother's unit.
==========
Mino cursed under his breath. His loose black hoodie caused him to sweat a lot. He crawled as quietly as he could on the grasses and hid in the bushes. He knew he didn't have to do this because Mino could stay with Minguk in his classroom and wait for him until the class started, which meant Teacher Jinwoo had arrived, which also meant Mino had already greeted Minguk's gorgeous teacher with a Good Morning, Teacher Jinwoo, which Jinwoo would reply a sweet Good Morning, Mr. Song. (Mino had to figure out how he would ask Jinwoo to drop the Mr. Song and start calling him Mino without reaching the ears of the gossip-lovers mothers and some fathers and babysitters in the day school.)
But there he was, peeking inside Minguk's classroom through the window. He looked for his adorable son. The handsome dad couldn't be any prouder of Minguk who was actively raising his little hand, trying his best to get his Teacher Jinwoo's attention so he would be called to answer the question (which waswhat sound does a duck make?)
He wanted to see how Minguk was at school and sneaking like that was his only way. Two weeks ago, he stayed with his kid all throughout the class. Minguk kept on looking at him and waving at him. He even raised his hand just to tell his teacher that his dad was there with him.
At least now, Mino could see that the reason why his son was raising his hand was he really wanted to answer the question and not just to get his teacher's attention and proudly introduce his father to everyone.
And speaking of attention, who wouldn't want to get your teacher's attention, Mingukkie? Mino asked himself as he now focused his attention on Jinwoo. He denied for uncountable times Danah's claim that he had an ulterior motive on secretly observing Minguk. And it was to watch Teacher Jinwoo as well.
No, that's not true. It is just one of the unavoidable consequences of observing Minguk.
Mino could tell that Jinwoo loved his job so much. It reflected on his smile and how he communicated with his pupils. Jinwoo's love for children and his devotion to teaching them was reciprocated because his pupils love him, too (which was an obvious state for Mino's son).
Enjoying the view also known as Kim Jinwoo, Mino followed his every movement with his eyes while hiding from Minguk. His son had a habit of getting too excited whenever his eyes caught Mino and Mino didn't want Minguk to shout My dad is here!
As Jinwoo left the classroom, Mino turned his attention to his son, talking happily to his classmates, singing some songs. He realized that Minguk was growing too fast and Mino just wanted his son to be the cute little version of him forever. He wanted Minguk to be always the little Song Mino. But time was flying so fast that he couldn't stop his son from growing up.
His realization made him look for Jinwoo who wasn't inside the classroom yet. He didn't know why but Jinwoo's presence gave him peace of mind and calmness with a little reason to blush. It might be an exaggeration but he would be willing to surrender to Jinwoo's-
"You child molester! What are you doing?! Why are you looking at my pupils, you pervert?! I am calling the police!"
Mino automatically raised his hands on the air and faced the person. This wasn't the kind of surrendering he had in mind.
"Teacher Jinwoo! Calm down! It's me, Mino! Minguk's dad!" Mino panicked as he removed his hoodie from his head, slowly standing up.
He knew he was in a very embarrassing situation but Mino couldn't help but smile upon seeing Jinwoo. The teacher was holding a broom, ready to hit Mino with it.
"Mr. Song?" Jinwoo moved closer to him, as he examined his face but still holding the broom like a baseball bat.
Mino could feel his heart beat on his chest as Jinwoo's face was just inches away from his face. He could almost feel the teacher's breath. Jinwoo looked at his eyes and for a moment, they just stared at each other's eyes before the smaller guy moved away from him. Mino wasn't sure if his face was red but he was sure that Jinwoo's ears were as red as one of his ex-wife's lipstick.
"W-what are you doing here, Mr. Song?" Jinwoo asked him but he wasn't looking at him directly.
"Daddy!"
Mino and Jinwoo looked at the classroom and saw Minguk, as well as everyone inside, looking at them.
==========
"You can stop pouting now, Song Minguk. I've already apologized to your teacher for my behavior. I was wrong to sneak like that. I only did it because I wanted to surprise you and see how well you do at school," Mino looked at his son from the rear-view mirror.
But Minguk ignored him and continued sulking.
"And I gave Teacher Jinwoo a white rose as a peace offering," Mino continued to defend himself.
"You took it from the bush where you were hiding without permission," Minguk accused him with a shaking voice.
Mino just sighed, giving up. He could never win an argument with Minguk. As Mino parked his car from their very silent trip to their house and opened the door to get Minguk, his son asked him a question.
"Daddy, is it true?"
"What?" a confused Mino asked back.
"Aunt Danah said that you like Teacher Jinwoo, too. I like Teacher Jinwoo because he always gives me a stamp on my hand and on my books. Daddy, do you also want to go to school and study with Teacher Jinwoo? Do you also want a stamp? I will not get mad if you also want a stamp from Teacher Jinwoo, daddy. I promise. Even if you get more stamps than me, I will not get mad at you."
Right there, Minguk started to cry as though he hurt his father. Mino hugged his son tightly, telling him that he didn't want to compete with him with the stamps. He was also killing his sister at the back of his head for making his son cry.
"So, you like Teacher Jinwoo?" Minguk asked innocently.
Mingukkie, don't ask daddy this question.
"Yes, I like Teacher Jinwoo."
It was the first time Mino admitted that fact to himself.
==========
Mino looked outside of the classroom as the other parents and guardians of Jinwoo's pupils were waiting. Jinwoo scheduled a sort of one-on-one meeting with the parents while the children played at the playground. Mino looked at the clock on Jinwoo's desk which read 7:39am.
"Are you really sure that it's okay for you to stay until 9am here, Mr. Song?"
Mino nodded as he watched Jinwoo smile. However, it really wasn't okay. Mino had a series of meetings which will start at 8:30am but it was for Minguk... and a special request from Jinwoo.
"Let me look for Minguk's files first, okay?" Jinwoo said as he looked from one file to another. He kept on apologizing to Mino for wasting his time, knowing that he was a very busy person.
Mino told the teacher that it was okay and took the opportunity to send a message to his colleague and buddy, Wonshik.
Move all my 8:30am-whenever you want to end it meetings after lunch. Mr. Song is currently with Mingukkie's gorgeous teacher. More important than seeing your faces. How do I control myself from asking him out? Or more like how will I ask him out? He's really cute... I will make sure he will call me Mino after thi
Mino was still typing his message when Jinwoo cleared his throat to get his attention.
"I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting, Mr. Song. Minguk is doing very well here. He is very active and smart. I am really happy to see how Mingukkie is progressing. However..."
Mino already knew how great his son was so as rude as it was, he was just observing Jinwoo. But he didn't see the however word coming.
"I learned that Minguk goes to your office after school then he will come home with you at around 8pm. I also learned that your office is almost a two-hour drive from here. So I would like to suggest that you enroll Minguk to a day school which is a lot nearer your office," Jinwoo explained.
Mino, shocked by Jinwoo's words, accidentally sent the message to Wonshik as he tried to compose himself.
But one thing was for sure: Jinwoo didn't want his son on his class. And it hurt Mino a lot. He was hurting for his son and he knew that the sudden tightness around his stomach was his own feeling of being hurt and dejected. He couldn't imagine Minguk's reaction if he found out about this suggestion from his favorite teacher.
"This day school is near our house that is why I chose your school. Please don't tell this to Minguk. He will be very brokenhearted if he finds out that his favorite teacher wants him out of his class-"
"No, Mr. Song. You got it all wrong. That is not what I meant. I really love your son like he is my own," Jinwoo desperately corrected himself.
I really love your son like he is my own.
Mino knew it wasn't the right time to think stupid but his mind and heart were screaming because they loved that sentence so much.
I wish you love his dad like he was the father of your children. Mino wanted to tell Jinwoo but he stopped himself.
"This is wrong to say this but Mingukkie is one of my favorite pupils. That is why I am suggesting the transfer. I don't want him to suffer from the travel. A two-hour travel time everyday can be stressful for children," Jinwoo said softly.
"Oh... yeah, right," Mino replied. "Gosh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to accuse you. Of course, of course."
Mino sighed. He didn't realize that their current situation wasn't really bringing anything good to Minguk. He massaged his temple.
"What kind of a father am I? I am selfish. I thought it was a good plan for us. Minguk never asked me about the divorce and just stayed by my side. And I thought all of my decisions were for him so he wouldn't be too affected by the divorce. But I only thought of myself and not the welfare of my child."
He looked at the arts corner and saw Minguk's drawings again. Mino wanted to hug his child that time and apologized for being a selfish father.
"You are doing what you can to give your everything to Minguk so please don't think like that," Jinwoo offered him a kind smile. "Minguk always talks about you. He didn't want me to tell you this but last week, he cried because he said he felt sorry for you. He said you don't sleep because you always put Minguk first in everything. Your son loves you so much, I hope you know that. Most kids stick with their mothers when their parents separate but you have Minguk. In his eyes, you are the best dad."
Mino didn't notice that his eyes shed some tears not until Jinwoo offered him a tissue box.
"I'm sorry. This is embarrassing..." Mino said as he took some tissues.
Jinwoo smiled at him warmly. "It's not."
"So, I guess I will need to look for a new school for Minguk," Mino smiled back.
The teacher nodded. "I know someone who teaches in a day school near your office. Let me get his number." Jinwoo took his bag which he kept under his table. After almost diving inside his bag, he finally found his phone.
"Uhm... Mr. Song?"
Mino looked at Jinwoo who was looking at him, puzzled and somewhat shy. Mino thought Jinwoo was blushing.
"Yes?"
"Uhm... are you really sure that it's okay to meet you today?" Jinwoo asked. The shyness on Jinwoo's face confused Mino even more.
"Yeah?" Mino answered, trying to read what was on the teacher's mind.
"You... you... you don't need to attend a meeting at 8:30am which will end on whenever they want to end it to meet... well... me?" Jinwoo whispered.
Mino didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked at his phone and facepalmed. Why was he not mature enough to just simply put the name of his contacts and not putting adjectives before their names? Why did he have to add Jinwoo as Gorgeous TeacherJinwoo which was followed by Gothic Wonshik?
"I don't know how many times I will embarrass myself today, I'm sorry. And since I'm embarrassing myself more, that how will I ask him out message... y-yeah... can I invite you for dinner tonight?" Mino whispered the last sentence, making sure no one from those parents outside heard him.
"I'm sorry, I can't. It's against the school rules to date a parent. I'm really sorry, Mr. Song," Jinwoo bit his lower lip.
Mino lowered his head and nodded. He was too embarrassed and maybe brokenhearted to face the teacher. Jinwoo just broke two Song men's hearts in just one day. Maybe Mino should invite Minguk for a drink later: milk for the younger Song and a bucket of beer for the older Song.
"But..."
The but word was never good but Mino sensed otherwise so he lifted his head and looked at the teacher.
"I think you have now another reason to transfer Minguk to another school?" Jinwoo grinned at him as he showed him a familiar object: a dried white rose. Mino recognized it as the flower he picked and gave as a peace offering to the offended teacher during the child molester incident.
It took him a few minutes to understand what Jinwoo was trying to tell him. "Oh," he replied, mirroring the grin on Jinwoo's face.
"Will Minguk and his dad still see you everyday if Mingukkie transfers school?" Mino asked.
Jinwoo laughed. "If Minguk's dad is dating Minguk's future former teacher, I think the answer would beyes."
Mino tried his best not to shout so he took Jinwoo's hands. So cute, he told himself when he saw how Jinwoo blushed.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, Mino," Jinwoo winked at him.
==========
The class has ended and Jinwoo breathed deeply. He was left all alone inside the classroom to clean. He was picking up the toys when he heard a knock and saw Minguk, holding a red rose. Jinwoo tried his best not to pinch Mnguk's cheeks as the little kid gave him the flower and he explained, "Daddy said he is too busy today so he wants to ask you if you could drive me to his office today. He also said that he will treat you dinner if you do so. He also said that he really likes Teacher Jinwoo but I like you more, teacher."
Jinwoo kissed Minguk's left cheek then took out his phone from his pocket and looked at his contacts. The number he tried so hard to get from the administration. The number of that hot young dad he saw during the orientation.
And Jinwoo saw it as he hit the call button.
Calling Hot Daddy Song.
xxx