#31: Spill The Beans
Title: Spill The Beans
Rating:G
Other pairings involved: -
Length: 1594
Summary: Kai is smitten with Taeoh’s kindergarten teacher.
Warnings: -
“Wake up, hyung, we’ll be late!”
Quick and tiny stomps padded across Kai’s bedroom floor before its owner scrambled onto his bed and burrowed under his blanket.
“Kai hyung,” the voice whined with urgency, “Hyung, it’s time for school!”
“Mmm,” Kai mumbled in response, turning over to bury his face into the pillow. A month-long college winter break was going to be speckled with his sleep getting cut short on the account of his brother’s school schedule. Kai was determined to stay under the warm covers for as long as possible, which remained a losing battle, because Taeoh was even more determined to make sure he didn’t.
“Hyung!” Taeoh squealed when Kai reached out a long arm, pulled him towards his chest and mock fell back asleep again.
“Let goooo,” Taeoh giggled, “we need to eat breakfast!”
______
Taeoh held Kai’s hand tightly as they walked towards the bus stop. It’s about a ten minute walk from their parents’ house. Taeoh hummed contentedly, swinging his water bottle and chattering on about his friends at school and his new teacher and how he’s the only one in class brave enough to sit on the big kids’ swings. As much as Kai could have used a few extra hours of sleep after a long semester, he had forgotten how enjoyable these precious moments with his baby brother were. He had wanted the perfect break, and this was also perfect, just in a different way.
His break would manage to dangle a whole new level of perfection in approximately eight hours.
"Hyung, kindergarten is amazing, seongsaengnim is the coolest!" Taeoh says, squirming with excitement.
"Seongsaengnim let us make candy the other day, but they looked like crystals!"
"Hyung, I have a pet cricket now, his name is Stark! Seongsaengnim named him, isn’t she the best?"
"HYUNG, we painted on the WALL! It was so awesome!"
Who was this teacher?
______
Miss. Jung was giving Kai a run for his money with being Taeoh’s favorite person ever. And now, within minutes of meeting her, Kai could see exactly why.
Miss. Jung was possibly the most chill teacher Kai had ever seen (and that included his hipster of a drama professor who insisted that everyone come to class in pajamas for his morning class). She was just as amazing as Taeoh had declared on his first day of school, and Kai was equally and utterly smitten.
“Taeoh learns exceptionally quickly for a child his age,” Miss. Jung fondly looked over at Taeoh playing in the slides when Kai had come to pick him up, “he’s lucky to have an older brother to teach him at home, Mr. Kim.”
“You can call me Kai-,“ Kai mumbled, but it fell to deaf ears as an incident involving a paper cut and a bucket of tears suddenly preoccupied Miss. Jung, who nodded apologetically at Kai before leaving.
“Hyung!” Taeoh shouted and ran towards him when he noticed his brother by the playground entrance. Kai absentmindedly ruffled Taeoh’s hair and watched as Miss. Jung kissed a little finger and put a bandaid around it, speaking gently but firmly. Kai felt his heart tremble.
______
The thing was, Kai didn’t nearly have the confidence off-stage to account for being the on-stage dance major that he was. And what little that he did have was completely crushed by the painfully amazing woman he was attracted to. But if he didn’t make his move soon, he was pretty sure that Taeoh would spill the beans first.
The next week, Kai picked up Taeoh as usual after school. He exclaimed in surprise at his brother’s painting of Iron Man (and the self-face paint job that he had proudly donned as well) before awkwardly making way to where Miss. Jung was carefully putting the bottles of paint back into the top shelf.
“Miss. Jung,” Kai started and Miss. Jung turned around to face Kai, an adorable red speckle of paint on the tip of her nose.
“Kai! So good to see you again,” she smiled and Kai almost forgot why exactly he wanted to speak with her in the first place. He flushed and looked down to ruffle Taeoh’s hair, hoping she didn’t see his embarrassment.
“Er, yes, good-” he stuttered.
“Hyung, why is your face turning pink?”
Kai’s voice got caught in his throat.
“Just-realized-I-left-the-stove-on-so-sorry-gotta-go,” Kai hurled his words out of breath to a mildly shocked Miss. Jung before hurling himself and Taeoh out of the classroom.
______
Two months later Kai had kindergarten duty again. The boys’ parents were away on a business trip, leaving Kai in charge of attending the school’s open house.
He wore a long sleeved maroon button down, hoping he looked like a respectable member of society. His first few meetings with Taeoh’s kindergarten teacher had left him with sweaty palms, worried that he ruined his reputation due to his social anxiety and general foolishness.
Despite his chances, he had decided that today would be the day that he would ask Miss. Jung out.
The classroom was cozy and inviting, with colorful bean bags and bookshelves of trinkets lined up. In the center of the room was a large rug, where a few of the parents were amicably talking.
As the parents keep filing in, Kai wandered over to look for Taeoh’s artwork on a giant wall mural. He finally saw Taeoh’s blobby signature with the careful labeling "Appa," "Eomma," “Hyung”, and "Me." Kai couldn't help but smile, looking at the identical messy splash of his and Taeoh’s hair.
"Good evening everyone! Please join me on the rug," Miss. Jung called. The parents hesitantly grouped together onto the center of the floor. Kai sits himself down cross-legged just towards the back.
Miss. Jung told the parents to call her "Krystal," before talking a mile a minute about how much she adores all of their kids, how much they're all so excited to learn and how much she thinks that says about them as parents. Miss. Jung, no, Krystal, hypnotized the parents into some kind of entranced self-congratulation. Kai stares at Krystal as she just kept talking.
"Oh goodness, our time is already up!" Krystal claps his hands together at the bell. "As always, please don't hesitate to email me any time!" All of the other parents leave with dazed, vague smiles on their faces, shaking Krystal’s hand.
Kai fidgets nervously, rethinking whether this was a good time to make his move.
"Pleasure seeing you again, Kai," Krystal prompted, which is when Kai realizes he's the only other person left in the room.
"So, if you want I can actually tell you about my teaching philosophy, or whatever else you want to grill me on to make sure Taeoh's in good hands."
Kai couldn’t stop staring at her. "I know Taeoh’s in good hands," he finally let out. "He can't stop talking about you either."
Krystal blinks before she breaks into a huge smile. "I have to say, he doesn't stop talking about you." Kai opens his mouth to say something, but Krystal keeps going. "Although, I have to ask, are you really an actor?"
"What?" Kai asked blankly.
Krystal laughed, her eyes warm. "When we had our lesson on emotions, Taeoh said that he’s never seen anyone express emotions better than his brother on stage."
Kai chuckled nervously. “Well, I’m actually a dancer. Or a dance major, anyway. But I’m not really that great…”
Krystal raised her eyebrows. “I find that hard to believe. Taeoh rarely gives out compliments so I have to believe him there.”
Kai began to feel the heat pricking up to his face again but he pushed the anxiety aside. It was now or never.
"So when you’re free I can show you -" The bell rang loudly.
The jolt takes Kai out of his uncharacteristic confidence. "Sorry, I have to run, I have to-"
"No, I understand, you forgot to turn off your stove again," Krystal winked.
______
The parents wouldn’t be home until the next day so dinner that night was black bean noodles. Taeoh got a giant smear of noodle sauce on his favorite pajamas, which commenced a burst of sobs before Kai gently convinced him that it won’t stain if they washed it immediately.
Taeoh nodded, hiccupping. He then announced that he will brush his teeth while Kai fixes this Pajama Problem and scampered off to the bathroom.
After Kai goes to inspect Taeoh’s teeth and makes him brush again with toothpaste this time, it was time for bed. Taeoh carefully selects a storybook from his bookshelf and gives it to Kai before scrambling up under the covers for the nighttime storytelling ritual.
An hour later, exhausted, Kai went back to his room and collapsed on his bed. The day’s events replayed themselves in his mind and he groaned, dragging a pillow over his face. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to face Krystal after his premature exit today. Just before he dozed off, he picked up his phone to check on the alarm, and saw an unread email in his inbox:
Hey, Kai-
Thanks again for coming in for the open house. I hope evening proved to be productive and useful in understanding more about my teaching methods. Do let me know if you would like to set up another meeting on how Taeoh is doing in school.
Thanks,
Krystal
P.S: To answer your question- Yes! I would love to see you dance. Say, next Saturday, Red Light Studio, 5pm? That way we can work up an appetite before dinner ;)
Rating:G
Other pairings involved: -
Length: 1594
Summary: Kai is smitten with Taeoh’s kindergarten teacher.
Warnings: -
“Wake up, hyung, we’ll be late!”
Quick and tiny stomps padded across Kai’s bedroom floor before its owner scrambled onto his bed and burrowed under his blanket.
“Kai hyung,” the voice whined with urgency, “Hyung, it’s time for school!”
“Mmm,” Kai mumbled in response, turning over to bury his face into the pillow. A month-long college winter break was going to be speckled with his sleep getting cut short on the account of his brother’s school schedule. Kai was determined to stay under the warm covers for as long as possible, which remained a losing battle, because Taeoh was even more determined to make sure he didn’t.
“Hyung!” Taeoh squealed when Kai reached out a long arm, pulled him towards his chest and mock fell back asleep again.
“Let goooo,” Taeoh giggled, “we need to eat breakfast!”
______
Taeoh held Kai’s hand tightly as they walked towards the bus stop. It’s about a ten minute walk from their parents’ house. Taeoh hummed contentedly, swinging his water bottle and chattering on about his friends at school and his new teacher and how he’s the only one in class brave enough to sit on the big kids’ swings. As much as Kai could have used a few extra hours of sleep after a long semester, he had forgotten how enjoyable these precious moments with his baby brother were. He had wanted the perfect break, and this was also perfect, just in a different way.
His break would manage to dangle a whole new level of perfection in approximately eight hours.
"Hyung, kindergarten is amazing, seongsaengnim is the coolest!" Taeoh says, squirming with excitement.
"Seongsaengnim let us make candy the other day, but they looked like crystals!"
"Hyung, I have a pet cricket now, his name is Stark! Seongsaengnim named him, isn’t she the best?"
"HYUNG, we painted on the WALL! It was so awesome!"
Who was this teacher?
______
Miss. Jung was giving Kai a run for his money with being Taeoh’s favorite person ever. And now, within minutes of meeting her, Kai could see exactly why.
Miss. Jung was possibly the most chill teacher Kai had ever seen (and that included his hipster of a drama professor who insisted that everyone come to class in pajamas for his morning class). She was just as amazing as Taeoh had declared on his first day of school, and Kai was equally and utterly smitten.
“Taeoh learns exceptionally quickly for a child his age,” Miss. Jung fondly looked over at Taeoh playing in the slides when Kai had come to pick him up, “he’s lucky to have an older brother to teach him at home, Mr. Kim.”
“You can call me Kai-,“ Kai mumbled, but it fell to deaf ears as an incident involving a paper cut and a bucket of tears suddenly preoccupied Miss. Jung, who nodded apologetically at Kai before leaving.
“Hyung!” Taeoh shouted and ran towards him when he noticed his brother by the playground entrance. Kai absentmindedly ruffled Taeoh’s hair and watched as Miss. Jung kissed a little finger and put a bandaid around it, speaking gently but firmly. Kai felt his heart tremble.
______
The thing was, Kai didn’t nearly have the confidence off-stage to account for being the on-stage dance major that he was. And what little that he did have was completely crushed by the painfully amazing woman he was attracted to. But if he didn’t make his move soon, he was pretty sure that Taeoh would spill the beans first.
The next week, Kai picked up Taeoh as usual after school. He exclaimed in surprise at his brother’s painting of Iron Man (and the self-face paint job that he had proudly donned as well) before awkwardly making way to where Miss. Jung was carefully putting the bottles of paint back into the top shelf.
“Miss. Jung,” Kai started and Miss. Jung turned around to face Kai, an adorable red speckle of paint on the tip of her nose.
“Kai! So good to see you again,” she smiled and Kai almost forgot why exactly he wanted to speak with her in the first place. He flushed and looked down to ruffle Taeoh’s hair, hoping she didn’t see his embarrassment.
“Er, yes, good-” he stuttered.
“Hyung, why is your face turning pink?”
Kai’s voice got caught in his throat.
“Just-realized-I-left-the-stove-on-so-sorry-gotta-go,” Kai hurled his words out of breath to a mildly shocked Miss. Jung before hurling himself and Taeoh out of the classroom.
______
Two months later Kai had kindergarten duty again. The boys’ parents were away on a business trip, leaving Kai in charge of attending the school’s open house.
He wore a long sleeved maroon button down, hoping he looked like a respectable member of society. His first few meetings with Taeoh’s kindergarten teacher had left him with sweaty palms, worried that he ruined his reputation due to his social anxiety and general foolishness.
Despite his chances, he had decided that today would be the day that he would ask Miss. Jung out.
The classroom was cozy and inviting, with colorful bean bags and bookshelves of trinkets lined up. In the center of the room was a large rug, where a few of the parents were amicably talking.
As the parents keep filing in, Kai wandered over to look for Taeoh’s artwork on a giant wall mural. He finally saw Taeoh’s blobby signature with the careful labeling "Appa," "Eomma," “Hyung”, and "Me." Kai couldn't help but smile, looking at the identical messy splash of his and Taeoh’s hair.
"Good evening everyone! Please join me on the rug," Miss. Jung called. The parents hesitantly grouped together onto the center of the floor. Kai sits himself down cross-legged just towards the back.
Miss. Jung told the parents to call her "Krystal," before talking a mile a minute about how much she adores all of their kids, how much they're all so excited to learn and how much she thinks that says about them as parents. Miss. Jung, no, Krystal, hypnotized the parents into some kind of entranced self-congratulation. Kai stares at Krystal as she just kept talking.
"Oh goodness, our time is already up!" Krystal claps his hands together at the bell. "As always, please don't hesitate to email me any time!" All of the other parents leave with dazed, vague smiles on their faces, shaking Krystal’s hand.
Kai fidgets nervously, rethinking whether this was a good time to make his move.
"Pleasure seeing you again, Kai," Krystal prompted, which is when Kai realizes he's the only other person left in the room.
"So, if you want I can actually tell you about my teaching philosophy, or whatever else you want to grill me on to make sure Taeoh's in good hands."
Kai couldn’t stop staring at her. "I know Taeoh’s in good hands," he finally let out. "He can't stop talking about you either."
Krystal blinks before she breaks into a huge smile. "I have to say, he doesn't stop talking about you." Kai opens his mouth to say something, but Krystal keeps going. "Although, I have to ask, are you really an actor?"
"What?" Kai asked blankly.
Krystal laughed, her eyes warm. "When we had our lesson on emotions, Taeoh said that he’s never seen anyone express emotions better than his brother on stage."
Kai chuckled nervously. “Well, I’m actually a dancer. Or a dance major, anyway. But I’m not really that great…”
Krystal raised her eyebrows. “I find that hard to believe. Taeoh rarely gives out compliments so I have to believe him there.”
Kai began to feel the heat pricking up to his face again but he pushed the anxiety aside. It was now or never.
"So when you’re free I can show you -" The bell rang loudly.
The jolt takes Kai out of his uncharacteristic confidence. "Sorry, I have to run, I have to-"
"No, I understand, you forgot to turn off your stove again," Krystal winked.
______
The parents wouldn’t be home until the next day so dinner that night was black bean noodles. Taeoh got a giant smear of noodle sauce on his favorite pajamas, which commenced a burst of sobs before Kai gently convinced him that it won’t stain if they washed it immediately.
Taeoh nodded, hiccupping. He then announced that he will brush his teeth while Kai fixes this Pajama Problem and scampered off to the bathroom.
After Kai goes to inspect Taeoh’s teeth and makes him brush again with toothpaste this time, it was time for bed. Taeoh carefully selects a storybook from his bookshelf and gives it to Kai before scrambling up under the covers for the nighttime storytelling ritual.
An hour later, exhausted, Kai went back to his room and collapsed on his bed. The day’s events replayed themselves in his mind and he groaned, dragging a pillow over his face. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to face Krystal after his premature exit today. Just before he dozed off, he picked up his phone to check on the alarm, and saw an unread email in his inbox:
Hey, Kai-
Thanks again for coming in for the open house. I hope evening proved to be productive and useful in understanding more about my teaching methods. Do let me know if you would like to set up another meeting on how Taeoh is doing in school.
Thanks,
Krystal
P.S: To answer your question- Yes! I would love to see you dance. Say, next Saturday, Red Light Studio, 5pm? That way we can work up an appetite before dinner ;)