HOT FOR TEACHER for TAOPINGS [1/2]
For: taopings
Title: Hot For Teacher
Pairing(s): Chanyeol/Chen
Rating: PG-13
Length: 11,449w
Summary: The new teacher is a usurper and Chanyeol is horny and suspicious. Not necessarily in that order.
Author's note: This teacher prompt was crazy cute, and I really hope I managed to write what you were expecting. ^^
Chanyeol is used to being the cool teacher. Granted, he doesn’t have a lot of competition when he’s the only teacher at the high school under 30. Only just, but still.
He doesn’t try exactly. He’s a favourite because Chanyeol still remembers what it’s like to be a student. He knows it’s different because things are always changing, the students change every year. He doesn’t quite understand why this younger generation was so stressed about the things they were stressed out about, but he assumes his teachers thought the same thing when he was a student.
He knows kids learn when they’re interested so he tries his best to keep things interesting. It’s part of the reason he doesn’t really talk to any of the seasoned teachers. They think he’s too soft on his students, that these lesson plans were his way of sucking up to them, even though most of his lesson plans have already been approved by the principal. He used to go to the break room just to get his coffee, but he and Kyungsoo switch off on coffee runs so now he spends most of his time in the library.
One of the older teachers had lectured him on the disadvantages of being lenient with deadlines, the main reason being that his students wouldn’t respect him and they would take advantage of this. But his students usually never ask for an extension and when they hand in their assignments and projects, most of them do well. He doesn’t see any reason to change the way he handles things in his classroom when it’s working.
And it does work. He makes his classes fun and interesting, takes them out on field trips when they’re not especially necessary, but he has the test scores to show for all of the things he does-his kids are learning.
His only friend is the librarian, Kyungsoo. They met during Chanyeol’s first week, when he was still new and he had stumbled into the library looking for a textbook he needed for his class. When he had walked in, the library appeared empty.
“Get out.” Those were the first words he heard from Kyungsoo.
Kyungsoo had been arranging books on one of the lower shelves and Chanyeol had mistaken him for one of the students. He’d been a little taken aback that a student was being so rude. “Is the librarian here?”
“I’m the librarian. Didn’t I tell you to get out?”
Chanyeol was confused at all this uncalled-for contempt. “Oh. Uh, hi. I’m Chanyeol. I’m the new history teacher and-”
“Do you need the magic word? Fine. Please get out.”
“But I need a book for-”
“Don’t care. Go ask one of the other teachers about the rules you need to follow when you need a book.”
“Rules?”
Kyungsoo had been impatient with him from the start. He had let out an impatient huff before he stood up. “Rules. When you need a book from the library, leave a note at the front desk and I’ll leave it out for you to pick up at the end of the day.” He pointed to the desk up front and Chanyeol noticed a small pile of books sitting on the side. “Like I said, one of the other teachers could’ve told you all this.”
“They don’t really talk to me,” Chanyeol had said. “I don’t think they like me.”
Kyungsoo had studied him for a few moments like he was trying to decide something. “I’m Kyungsoo,” he said finally and held out his hand. “They don’t like me either.”
Apparently being the pariahs in their school is a good reason to start a friendship to Kyungsoo. He insists that they’re only friends by default, but it only takes Chanyeol two weeks before he decides to assign himself as Kyungsoo’s best friend despite Kyungsoo insisting that he doesn’t want a friend.
The other teachers are puzzled by this and ask how he can stand to be around Kyungsoo so much. But since they only talk to him when they’re questioning the choices he makes, Chanyeol decides he doesn’t care what their opinion is on who he chooses to hang out with. He spends all his free time in the library because he’s safe from all their nagging since most of them avoid it-avoid Kyungsoo really.
They still find reasons to gripe about him. He knows they had complained about his high grade curve but Principal Lee had looked through some of the tests and deemed them appropriate.
“Your tests are hard,” Kyungsoo says. Chanyeol can’t figure out if he sounds proud or annoyed. “How come your students test so well when all you guys do is goof off?”
“We don’t goof off,” Chanyeol says in indignation. “Just because I make learning fun doesn’t mean they don’t actually learn.”
“How do you do it?” Kyungsoo asks.
“Because I treat them like human beings,” Chanyeol says, “instead of glaring at them like they’re-”
“Heathens?”
Chanyeol snorts. “They’re teenagers, Kyungsoo.”
“Yes. Heathens.” Kyungsoo grabs a battered copy of The Giver from Chanyeol’s hands. “Now tell me why you’re here.”
“My kids,” Chanyeol says, sticking out his lower lip. “I had to work hard to keep their attention today. I never have to do that. They were all talking about some…Mr. Kim person. Who is that?”
Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. “Seriously Chanyeol, you need to start attending the staff meetings. They’re not all test scores and syllabi planning. Jongdae is the new English teacher.”
Chanyeol frowns. “So? What’s so great about a new teacher? We always hire old men for that position.”
“Jongdae’s pretty young. I think he’s around our age. That’s probably why your kids like him so much.”
Chanyeol blinks. There’s a new teacher, who is around his age. He’s wanted a teacher closer to his age since he was hired three years ago. But he’s gotten used to being the only one his students liked, and now there was someone else who got them excited about school?
Usurper.
Chanyeol is drawn into a false sense of security when his students stop talking about the new English teacher after a few days. Kyungsoo reports that Jongdae is apparently well-liked by the other teachers, so that probably explains why the students aren’t so interested anymore.
Passing fancy, he thinks, feeling satisfied.
He was wrong.
First, the questions started.
His students usually loved reenacting scenes, it was one of the easiest ways to get them to learn big events. They’re learning about Napoleon when he notices that the boy roleplaying Napoleon seems confused.
“Is something wrong?”
Jongin looks thoughtful and finally he says, “Sir, do you think Napoleon’s brashness was a result of his poor self-esteem since he was so short?”
At first Chanyeol thinks he’s kidding, but Jongin looks serious and the rest of his class are looking at him, obviously expecting an answer. “What?”
“You know.” Jongin gestures to his outfit. “Let’s invade Russia! I declare myself emperor of France! Maybe he was overcompensating.”
“I don’t think so,” Chanyeol says doubtfully. “He had a really big ego.”
“That’s a result of overcompensation,” Jinri pipes up from behind her desk.
“Why is this important?” Chanyeol asks. What is happening?
“How do I know how to play him?” Jongin asks patiently. If Chanyeol didn’t know better, he’d say he was being patronizing. “I can’t play him well if I don’t know why he did all these things.”
“We know why he did these things,” Chanyeol says desperately. “He had a big ego.”
“That’s just a superficial reason though,” Sehun says.
“Right?” Jongin turns to him, looking pleased that he agrees.
“Sir.” Soojung’s hand goes up. “I think we need to have a proper discussion where we analyze Napoleon before we can act this scene out.”
What?
“I agree,” Jongin says, shrugging off the coat and handing it to Chanyeol before he returns to his seat.
Then came the debates.
Chanyeol had to quickly move on from Napoleon after his students started arguing about whether he was elected emperor or he proclaimed himself emperor. In retrospect, he should have known moving on to King Henry VIII wouldn’t end well.
“Sir?”
Chanyeol wants to cry when he sees Seohyun’s hand go up. “Yes?”
“Can we talk about why these women agree to marry King Henry VIII when they know what he’s like? Why would Catherine agree to a divorce? She was the rightful queen.”
“She didn’t agree to it,” Sooyoung argues. “He forced the divorce. He separated from the church just because his dick wasn’t satisfied with a wife and a mistress.”
“It wasn’t about his dick,” Sehun says. “He wanted an heir.”
“Don’t be stupid,” Jinri says scornfully. “He only wanted Anne because she refused to jump on his dick like her sister did.”
“You have to give Anne props,” Jino says, grinning. “She made the king of England start a whole new religion just so he could marry her.”
“No one is denying how boss Anne was,” Seohyun says. “I’m just saying that-”
Chanyeol tunes them out. What is happening? Why are his students questioning history? History is facts. Not analyses of historical figures. His ears perk up when he hears a familiar name.
“Yeah, but that’s not what Mr. Kim would say.”
Mr. Kim, Chanyeol thinks. As in Kim Jongdae. So he’s the reason for all this ruckus.
Usurper.
To: Kyungsoo
12:35 P.M.
i’m going to confront the english teacher >:( >:( >:(
To: Chanyeol
12:36 P.M.
About what?
To: Kyungsoo
12:36 P.M.
HE’S DISRUPTING MY CLASS. ಠ_ಠ
To: Chanyeol
12:38 P.M.
Your students are expanding the way they approach history. It’s a good thing. Get over yourself.
To: Kyungsoo
12:39 P.M.
HE’S A USURPER. a? an?
To: Chanyeol
12:40 P.M.
Maybe you can ask the English teacher since you’re headed there.
To: Kyungsoo
12:40 P.M.
ur not funny. (╥_╥) u r an unhelpful best friend. ╥﹏╥
To: Chanyeol
12:41 P.M.
I try. Do you at least have a plan?
To: Chanyeol
12:46 P.M.
Chanyeol??
Of course Chanyeol doesn’t have a plan. He knows he probably should have one. It’s not like he can just barge into the English teacher’s classroom and yell out, “Usurper!” while pointing an accusatory finger at him. Well, he could. It just wouldn’t paint him in a very good light.
Not that he cares what stupid Kim Jongdae thinks of him.
Jongdae, he thinks, disdainfully. What a stupid name. I bet he’s a nerd with a dumb sweater vest and glasses.
He shoves the door open when he arrives at the right classroom and strides in, getting himself ready to-he’s not sure what he was going to do, but it doesn’t matter because now he’s face to face with Kim Jongdae and Chanyeol can’t believe that he is actually wearing glasses and a sweater vest-a horribly ugly one, the ugliest Chanyeol has ever seen-just like he’d expected.
What he hadn’t expected was high cheekbones and bright eyes and lips that curve into a smile that makes Chanyeol irrationally think he would invade any country if he was asked to if it was accompanied with that smile.
“Hi?”
He’s talking. He has a nice voice. You say words now, Chanyeol tells himself. “Usurper,” he blurts out.
Jongdae’s eyebrows knit in confusion, but he looks amused. “It’s Jongdae actually.”
“Oh,” Chanyeol says faintly. Oh? What was he doing? “I mean, hi.” He hopes what his mouth is doing is smiling. He can’t really tell. Maybe if he stopped looking at Jongdae’s mouth he could concentrate on what his own-
“You’re the history teacher, right?”
Chanyeol snaps back to attention and Jongdae is smiling. “Yeah. Park Chanyeol.”
“I know,” Jongdae says, his smile deepening. “The students talk about you a lot. Seems like you’re a favourite around here. The favourite actually.”
It doesn’t matter. Chanyeol doesn’t care about being the students’ favourite anymore. Of course Jongdae is their favourite. He’s Chanyeol’s favourite and he’s only known him for two minutes.
“Is that what the usurper thing is about?” Jongdae smirks. “You think I’m usurping the favourite teacher title from you?”
“No,” Chanyeol says hurriedly, because Jongdae can’t think he’s this petty. “It was a question. I- I had a question. Is it a usurper? Or an? Because U is a vowel.”
Jongdae looks likes this is the most amusing thing he’s ever heard in his life. “A usurper,” he answers. “Because phonetically, there’s a Y in front of the U, so we use ‘a’ as if it was a consonant.”
Chanyeol doesn’t get most of that because he’s distracted by the way Jongdae’s mouth moves, especially when he says U. “Thanks,” he says anyway.
“Sure,” Jongdae says grinning. “That’s what I’m here for.”
“I just came here to introduce myself.” Chanyeol knows he should leave before he starts swooning or doing something just as embarrassing.
“And to ask about the usurper thing.”
“Yes, of course, the usurper thing,” Chanyeol says quickly. “I’ll see you around.” He’s almost out the door, when Jongdae calls him back.
“I haven’t seen you around the teacher’s lounge. I’ve been waiting to meet you. I mean, you were the only one I still had to meet, plus the students say all these nice things about you.”
“I’m in the library most of the time. It’s easier to do my lesson plans there since all the resource materials are there.”
“The library.” Jongdae smiles again. “So if I need to find you, I’ll check there first.”
“Yup,” Chanyeol says and dashes out of the classroom and into the hallway where he can safely let out a squeak of excitement before he pulls out his phone.
To: Kyungsoo
1:31 P.M.
the english teacher is so cute!!!! ✿♥‿♥✿
To: Chanyeol
1:32 P.M.
You’re gross.
Chanyeol has himself pathetically draped over Kyungsoo’s book cart as he-they-move around the library returning books to their rightful place. He allows himself to be poked away when Kyungsoo needs to grab a book from the cart before he spreads himself out as inconveniently as he can again.
“Kyungsoo, I love him.”
Kyungsoo grunts as he attempts to move the cart along. “You don’t love him. You don’t even know him.”
“I can feel it in my heart,” Chanyeol insists.
Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. “You can feel it in your dick.”
“Why are you being like this?” Chanyeol complains. “Why aren’t you supporting my love?”
“You sound like a character from every bad YA novel I have ever read.”
Chanyeol pouts. “Help me!”
“You hated him an hour ago.”
“Yes, and you were all, ‘You don’t even know him, Chanyeol,’ ‘You can’t dislike someone you don’t know, Chanyeol.’” Chanyeol pulls a face.
Kyungsoo aggressively yanks the book Chanyeol is resting his head on from the cart. “You still don’t know him.”
“But he’s so pretty!”
“Pretty people can be assholes too.”
“But he’s not.” Chanyeol looks at Kyungsoo pitifully. “He’s nice.”
Kyungsoo throws a hardcover of Romeo and Juliet at his face, but Chanyeol manages to duck in time.
“You could have broken my nose!” Chanyeol gingerly feels his nose as if he really had been hit.
Kyungsoo doesn’t seem to care because he just ignores him. “Do you know what happens to fools who fall in love after one meeting? They die.”
“Spoilers!”
Kyungsoo freezes to throw him a dark look. “What kind of high school teacher doesn’t know that Romeo and Juliet die in the end?”
“They both die?”
“Chanyeol.”
“What? I’m a history teacher. Who has time for Shakespeare?”
Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. “Who has time for Shakespeare,” he repeats in disbelief. “Why don’t you try saying that to your true love? I’m sure he’d love that.”
Chanyeol (along with his dick) goes back to normal after a few days. He sees Jongdae in the hallways in between classes, and exchanging hellos and getting that smile are keeping him upbeat. All Kyungsoo has to deal with are annoying texts, which Chanyeol suspects he just deletes without checking.
He’s picking at his sandwich during lunch, Kyungsoo happily ignoring him, when he feels a shadow fall over him. He hopes the little squeak he hears is just in his head because Jongdae is there. In the library.
“Hi,” Jongdae says. He’s wearing an even uglier sweater vest today. Chanyeol can’t figure out if those are horses on it or unicorns.
“Hi.” Chanyeol is so proud of himself. One word out of his mouth and he’s actually coming off as a normal human being.
There’s a displeased grunt behind the desk and when they both look over, Kyungsoo glares at them before he slinks away with a pile of books in his arms.
“Was I too loud?”
“Nah,” Chanyeol says. “That’s just Kyungsoo. He doesn’t like people.”
“At all? Even children.”
“Especially children.”
The corner of Jongdae’s mouth quirks up. “Why is he a librarian at a high school then?”
Chanyeol shrugs. “He really likes books.”
Jongdae grins. “Valid point.” He points to the chair across the table from Chanyeol. “Can I join you?”
Chanyeol nods and pushes the chair out with his leg.
“Thanks.” Jongdae sits down and Chanyeol does his best not to stare. Except his face is even closer now and there are beauty marks he hadn’t noticed when they first met. “Are you planning on teaching Egyptian history this term? Or have you already covered it?”
Chanyeol is confused. “Yeah,” he says uncertainly. “I think I’m supposed to start teaching that in…hold on. Let me check.” He grabs his lesson planner from his bag and slips his glasses on as he flips through the pages. “Three weeks. Maybe two, depending on how fast we get through the Tudor dynasty.”
“Ahh, the Tudors. Henry VIII and his many wives.”
“Yes,” Chanyeol grimaces. “That was a very unpleasant lesson to teach because of you.”
Jongdae laughs. “Why?”
“Why? Because all the kids wanted to do was talk about feelings and why any woman would want to marry him. Soojung called him a pig.”
Jongdae looks like he’s trying to hold back his laughter. “He was though.”
“Obviously. But no one cared about feelings before you came along.”
“Sorry for corrupting the kids by making them talk about feelings,” Jongdae says, laughing. “But that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
Chanyeol raises an eyebrow. “What? Feelings?”
Jongdae smirks. “Kind of. Are you going to teach them about Cleopatra?”
“Yeah. One whole week on Cleopatra.” Chanyeol turns his planner towards Jongdae and taps at the dates.
“Great. I was thinking that maybe we could collaborate? I was planning on teaching Antony and Cleopatra in my class, so maybe we could teach it at the same time so our kids get two different points of views. The historical side, the more accurate part, in your class and Shakespeare’s take on her in mine.”
Our kids, Chanyeol thinks happily. “Yeah, sure. That sounds like a great idea.”
Jongdae beams and even his teeth are fascinating. “I’ll take care of all the feelings,” he says, grinning.
“Are you going to act out scenes from the play?” Chanyeol asks.
Jongdae brightens up at that. “No. I heard you act out stuff in your class.”
“It helps them learn,” Chanyeol says, adding a smirk. “And it’s fun for me to watch.”
Jongdae laughs and Chanyeol wants to sigh at how much he enjoys that sound. “We should do a joint project for their final assignment on Cleopatra.”
“What do you have in mind?”
Jongdae bites his lip as he thinks about it, while Chanyeol just thinks, Teeth! Lips!
“I don’t know yet,” Jongdae finally says. “We’ll figure it out.”
“Okay.” Chanyeol forces himself to look away from Jongdae’s mouth, but Jongdae’s smirking at him so he’s probably been caught. “Do you want to have lunch tomorrow to discuss it?”
Jongdae quirks an eyebrow. “We’re not starting for another three weeks,” he says. He reaches out to pat Chanyeol’s hand when he blushes. “We could just have lunch to…have lunch.” He laughs when Chanyeol perks up. “So that’s a yes?”
“Yes,” Chanyeol says happily before he realizes something and frowns. “I usually have lunch with Kyungsoo. He might feel-”
“Just go.” Kyungsoo appears from behind a shelf with two books in his hands. “I might actually have a peaceful lunch for once.” He turns to Jongdae. “Please take him for lunch tomorrow.”
“Okay,” Jongdae laughs. He pats Chanyeol’s hand one more time before he gets to his feet. “I’ll see you tomorrow for lunch.” He waves goodbye to Kyungsoo, who ignores him, and sends Chanyeol one last smile before he leaves.
Chanyeol yelps when Kyungsoo throws the two books at him. “What was that for?”
“Read,” Kyungsoo says, gesturing to the books. “So the smart boy doesn’t realize how dumb you are.”
Chanyeol looks at the titles. “Romeo and Juliet?”
“So you know how stupid people can get when they think they’re in love,” Kyungsoo says. “And Antony and Cleopatra because you should probably know what Jongdae is talking about when you guys are collaborating.”
Chanyeol looks at him suspiciously. “Why are you helping me now?”
Kyungsoo shrugs. “Because he seems interested in you and your dick. Probably not as much as your dick likes him, but who am I to stand in the way of True Dick Love?”
Chanyeol grins. “Go Team True Dick Love!”
Kyungsoo stares at him, appalled. “You are not allowed to say any words for the next five minutes.”
To: Kyungsoo
12:01 P.M.
idk how someone can have so many ugly sweater vests and still look so cute in them. (｡♥‿♥｡)
To: Chanyeol
12:02 P.M.
I thought you had a lunch date?
To: Kyungsoo
12:02 P.M.
I DO! i’m on it. (^～^) i’m eating salad! even though i hate salad. why am I eating this rabbit food to impress him?? is he even impressed though? i can’t tell! 【・_・?】
To: Chanyeol
12:03 P.M.
Why are you texting me? I’m pretty sure that’s not proper dating etiquette. Don’t be rude. Talk to him. Find out if you like other things about him besides his dick.
To: Kyungsoo
12:04 P.M.
i’m not being rude!
To: Chanyeol
12:04 P.M.
It’s rude to ignore your date. (╯︵╰,)
Chanyeol stares at his phone, confused. Since when does Kyungsoo use emoticons? Wait. He glances up at the name and sees Jongdae! :) instead of Kyungsoo. Oh. Fuck. He’s already screwed up and all they’ve done is order food.
“Sorry.” He can feel his face burning.
Jongdae doesn’t look angry. “It’s okay. It would be nice if you paid more attention to me than to your phone though.”
“Yeah, of course.” Chanyeol shoves his phone into his bag and finally manages to face Jongdae. “I’m kind of nervous.”
Jongdae smiles at that. “Why? It’s just…lunch.”
Just lunch? Wasn’t this a date? Didn’t Jongdae say he was Chanyeol’s date in his text? Had he read it wrong? Chanyeol almost tries to get his phone when he remembers that’s why he’s in trouble in the first place. “Lunch date?” Wait. What? What does that mean? Why is he just saying words? He can do sentences.
“Right,” Jongdae says, because he apparently understands Chanyeol’s ramblings. “Lunch date. But the key word is lunch. Lunch date means no pressure. Just…talking.” He smirks slightly. “That would require full sentences though. Think you can manage that?”
Chanyeol gives him a sheepish smile. “Yes. Words good.” He grins and it grows even wider when Jongdae laughs. I did that, he thinks happily. I made that laugh happen!
“Yes,” Jongdae agrees. “Words very good.”
Chanyeol rests his chin on the back of his hands as he watches Kyungsoo separating a pile of books into different batches. He’s not really paying attention to him though.
He’s thinking about how Valentine’s Day is approaching. Okay, maybe being three and a half week away doesn’t count as approaching. He and Jongdae have been on four lunch dates now and he wonders if he’s expected to do something nice for Jongdae. Not that he doesn’t want to. They should talk about that, he thinks. Or maybe not. Because if Jongdae asks him what he wants to do, Chanyeol knows he’ll say something inappropriate.
Like how what he really wants is to see Jongdae spread out for him in bed. Only maybe he’d try to paint a more romantic picture. Like the room will only be lit by candles. There will be rose petals scattered across the bed, and Jongdae won’t be wearing anything. Just bare skin and a bouquet of rose strategically placed over his-
Chanyeol frowns. Wait. Did roses in bouquets still have the thorns? That’s not good. There shouldn’t be any thorns next to Jongdae’s dick. Not roses then. What are other romantic flowers? Daisies? Daisies are cute. Jongdae is cute. Maybe daisies.
“What are you going to do with daisies?”
Chanyeol is pulled out of his thoughts and he’s about to glare at Kyungsoo when he realizes that Jongdae is standing next to him. “Hi!”
Jongdae gives him an odd look, but he’s smiling. “Hi.”
“Did you need a book?” Kyungsoo asks, sounding bored.
Jongdae leans across the check out counter, wide grin on his face. “Why? Are you actually going to give me the books right now if I asked?”
“I might as well,” Kyungsoo says. “Since I’m sure you’ll be hanging around here because of this fool.” He jerks a thumb at Chanyeol. “So what do you need?”
Jongdae shrugs. “No books,” he answers, turning to Chanyeol. “Just Chanyeol.”
Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. “Whatever,” he says, taking his cart filled with books and leaving them alone.
“What’s up?” Chanyeol asks. He has a free period coming up so he’s getting ready to correct some assignments-or fantasize about Jongdae some more-but he knows Jongdae has a class.
“I can’t do lunch today,” Jongdae says, pouting slightly. “I’m helping out a student with a paper.”
“Oh. So…dinner then?” Chanyeol blurts it out before he even really thinks about it.
Jongdae blinks, obviously surprised. “Really?” He sounds excited and maybe Chanyeol has actually been doing something right during their lunch dates.
“Yeah,” Chanyeol says, and he’s proud that he actually sounds confident. “We did lunch, so the next progression is dinner.” And then breakfast.
“Sure,” Jongdae says cheerfully. “And then breakfast.”
Chanyeol almost chokes. “I’m sorry, but I have high dinner expectations if you plan to eventually move on to breakfast.” He realizes that somewhere in between their four lunch dates, he’s actually managed to stop being a complete train wreck around Jongdae.
Jongdae smirks. “I’m very good at progressing from dinner to breakfast,” he says, reaching out to lightly touch Chanyeol’s wrist. “I’ll see you later.”
Chanyeol wonders if it’s lame to have their first kiss in the library of a high school. Jongdae doesn’t seem like he’d mind, but then the warning bell rings for the next class, and Jongdae pouts some more before he moves his hand down to squeeze Chanyeol’s and he leaves.
Just as well, he figures. He doesn’t want to kiss Jongdae when Kyungsoo is skulking around.
To: Kyungsoo
6:17 P.M.
what do i wear??????
To: Chanyeol
6:20 P.M.
Don't care.
To: Kyungsoo
6:21 P.M.
i bought a new sweater the other day. maybe i should wear that?
To: Chanyeol
6:22 P.M.
Don't care.
To: Kyungsoo
6:24 P.M.
it's mint green! that sounds good right? mint is refreshing. he'll open the door and boom, HIS EYES ARE REFRESHED. d(-_^)
To: Chanyeol
6:24 P.M.
Don't care.
To: Kyungsoo
6:26 P.M.
hmm, maybe this is more of a sixth-date sweater. do you think this is our ~first date or fifth? do lunch dates count as ~date dates?
To: Chanyeol
6:26 P.M.
DON'T CARE. I'm not some token gay best friend.
To: Kyungsoo
6:26 P.M.
o(╥﹏╥)o i just wanted advice…
To: Chanyeol
6:27 P.M.
I don't think it matters. He has all those weird sweater vests and he probably won't care because he seems to actually like you.
To: Kyungsoo
6:27 P.M.
ヽ(;^o^ヽ)
To: Chanyeol
6:42 P.M.
Just don't wear that weird black shirt with the white polka dots. It makes you look like an overexcited dalmatian.
Chanyeol only checks his phone and sees Kyungsoo's message after he knocks on Jongdae's door. He's wearing the dalmatian shirt. Why didn't Kyungsoo say anything earlier?
When the door opens, Chanyeol plasters a smile on his face but Jongdae isn’t the one standing there. Was he at the wrong apartment? He peeks a glance at the apartment number. No.
“Do you need something?” The blond guy who opened the door is staring at Chanyeol expectantly.
Chanyeol tries to look past him to see if there is some sign of Jongdae, but this just makes the blond guy defensive and he blocks Chanyeol’s view by getting right in his face.
“What is your problem?”
“Uh, is Jongdae here?”
The blond guy gives him a scrutinizing look, until it looks like something has occurred to him. “You’re Chanyeol, right?”
Chanyeol almost breathes a sigh of relief. “Yeah.”
“Sorry about the…” The boys gestures at the almost non-existent space between them and he steps back. “I didn’t know what you were trying to do. Does Jongdae know you’re coming over?”
Chanyeol nods. “We have a date.”
The blond guy looks surprised. “Come in,” he says, stepping aside. “Jongdae’s in his room. Napping the last time I heard from him. I’ll get him.” He leaves Chanyeol in the living room and disappears down the hallway.
Jongdae forgot their date? Chanyeol is still standing there when Jongdae appears, his hair in a mess and his glasses are on slightly crooked. Chanyeol can’t figure out how he’s even more attractive like this.
“I’m so sorry,” he says, running a hand through his hair. “I was so tired when I got home and I got a call from my mother and it was-I ended up falling asleep. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Just give me five min-”
“Is everything okay?”
Jongdae stops rambling to give him a confused look. “What?”
“Your mother,” Chanyeol says. “You said she called and you seem…” He tries to find a word that’s not going to offend Jongdae. “Out of sorts.”
“Oh. Yeah, it’s fine.” Chanyeol can tell Jongdae’s upset about something, but it’s probably not proper date etiquette to press your date about their family problems. “I’ll be right back, okay?”
“Wait.” Chanyeol reaches out to grab Jongdae’s arm. “We can do this some other time. I don’t mind.”
Jongdae reaches up and fixes Chanyeol’s collar. “But you got all dressed up for me,” he says, glancing up at Chanyeol though he keeps his fingers entangled in his collar. He gives Chanyeol a smile that’s different from all the ones Chanyeol has categorized in his mind and he feels something in his stomach do a swan dive.
“It’s okay,” Chanyeol says, resisting the urge to flatten out the hair sticking out on Jongdae’s head because he feels so disgustingly smitten right now. “I can dress up for you again.”
“I can take you to this restaurant nearby,” Jongdae offers. “It’s cheap but the food’s really good.”
Chanyeol already has everything planned out, but Jongdae looks worn out but hopeful and he doesn’t have the heart to say no. “Okay.” How can he already be. So. Whipped?
Jongdae smiles-that’s how, Chanyeol thinks, that’s why he’s so whipped. “Give me a few minutes, okay?” He briefly brushes a thumb across Chanyeol’s collarbone before he turns to head towards his room.
Chanyeol sits on the couch in a daze and tries to hang on to the feeling of Jongdae’s touch on his collarbone.
“Can I ask you a question?” Chanyeol looks up and sees the blond guy, who he assumes is Jongdae’s roommate. “What do you think of the blond?”
Chanyeol’s eyes flicker up to his hair. “It’s nice.”
The guy keeps pulling on his hair. “I just dyed it,” he explains. “On an impulse. I’m not sure what I was thinking because now I’m blond.”
“It doesn’t look bad.”.
“Let’s hope my boyfriend agrees,” the guy says, before his eyes settle on Chanyeol like he’s just noticed he’s there. “I’m Baekhyun.”
“Chanyeol.” Chanyeol feels dumb as soon as he says it because Baekhyun already knows that.
Baekhyun smirks. “Jongdae really likes you,” he says, offhandedly. “He gets all moony when he talks about you.”
“Shut up, Baekhyun.” Jongdae comes up behind him and flicks the back of his head. “Your hair is gross by the way.”
Baekhyun glares at him. “Your boyfriend likes it.”
“He was just being nice,” Jongdae says, grabbing Chanyeol’s hand. “Come on, let’s go before he tries to rope you into letting him dye your hair.”
Chanyeol isn’t sure if chicken and beer at a restaurant that’s tucked away in between much bigger restaurants constitutes as a good first date, but Jongdae doesn’t seem so tired anymore and he’s smiling and laughing, so maybe that’s all that matters.
“I like your shirt,” Jongdae says.
They’re done with their food and they’re just lingering with their beers now. Jongdae is slouching in his chair, looking relaxed-maybe too relaxed.
“Are you drunk?” Chanyeol asks, looking at him over his beer can.
Jongdae laughs a little too loudly. “A bit,” he says, grinning. “But I still like your shirt. It’s like a…” He squints like he’s thinking hard.
“Dalmatian?”
“Yes!” Jongdae points at him with his beer. “You’re smart.”
Chanyeol smirks because Jongdae is definitely more than a little drunk. “Being smart is helpful when you’re in charge of educating today’s young minds.”
“Yes!” Jongdae says loudly. He takes a sip of his beer before he pulls it away and looks at it in puzzlement. “Nothing’s coming out.”
Chanyeol reaches out to take the can from him and shakes it lightly. “It’s empty,” he says, laughing. “Should we get you another one?”
Jongdae shakes his head. “Probably not a good idea.” He places his hands flat on the table and rests his chin on top of them.
Chanyeol grins when he feels Jongdae studying him. He puts his beer on the table and mimics Jongdae, resting his chin on his hands as well. “What?”
“I was just thinking,” Jongdae says. “Dalmatians are cute.”
Chanyeol can feel his smile getting wider. “Yeah?”
Jongdae hums into his hands. “You’re cute too.”
Chanyeol wishes he could control his face better. “You’re drunk,” he says.
“I am,” Jongdae agrees, smiling. “But I still think you’re cute.” He pushes himself so he’s sitting up straight again, and he holds out his arms. “You should take me home now.”
Chanyeol doesn’t move, just raises an eyebrow. “Home?”
“Or buy me ice cream first and then take me home,” Jongdae says, his arms still open wide.
Chanyeol laughs but he gets to his feet and helps Jongdae up as well. “Okay,” he says, keeping a tight arm around Jongdae’s waist. “Let’s get ice cream and then I’ll get you home.”
“Sounds good,” Jongdae says. He’s making a sound that sounds close to purring and Chanyeol can’t believe how ridiculous he is outside of school.
“I’m sorry.” Jongdae looks at his ice cream forlornly.
“For?” Chanyeol feels him shiver beside him so he shifts over and presses their legs together.
“This horrible, cheap date.”
“It’s fun,” Chanyeol says.
He’s not lying. He’s pretty sure his fancy date wouldn’t have resulted in Jongdae being as laid-back as he is right now. Less drunk probably, but Chanyeol doesn’t mind. He likes listening to Jongdae talk about things other than their classes and their students. Sitting on the pavement with an ice cream cone is nice too. It’s a nice reminder that dating doesn’t have to be so stressful.
“I’m sorry I got drunk,” Jongdae says, slumping down against Chanyeol, narrowly missing knocking Chanyeol’s mint chocolate chip scoop off his cone.
Chanyeol shifts to accommodate Jongdae when he rests his head on his shoulder. “You’re a lightweight. You only had two beers.”
“Not really.” Jongdae scoops up a spoonful of his ice cream but he doesn’t eat it. “I had another two beers while I was waiting for our order.”
Chanyeol remembers waiting outside because the restaurant was packed and he had only managed to nab a table outside, which he ended up liking in the end. He doesn’t remember Jongdae being gone that long, unless he had downed the beers.
“I don’t drink all the time,” Jongdae says quickly. He pulls away and sits up to turn towards Chanyeol. “I know my limits, so I usually don’t get drunk.”
“Is this about your mom?” Chanyeol asks quietly.
Jongdae gives him a small smile. “You’re smart.”
Chanyeol returns his smile. “I’ve heard,” he says. He isn’t sure if he should ask what’s wrong because he doesn’t want to seem pushy or nosy. Jongdae makes the decision for him when he turns away.
“I’ll be a much better date next time,” Jongdae says, returning to his ice cream
Next! Time! Chanyeol thinks to himself happily. “You’re already a good date,” he says, licking at the ice cream that is starting to spill over his cone. “We could have rescheduled though. Since you were upset.”
Jongdae tilts his head up and he gives him a real smile this time. “I’m glad we went out,” he says, spooning more ice cream into his mouth. “I’m having fun. I would have just slept this night away. Or woken up and been sad.”
“No, sad Jongdae bad. Happy Jongdae good.”
Jongdae snorts when Chanyeol grins at him. “Neanderthal,” he says fondly.
Chanyeol just beams in reply, because he’s too busy being happy that the nerd with the glasses and the ugly sweater vests is actually into him.
“Sorry there was no dick involved tonight,” Jongdae adds.
Chanyeol chokes on his ice cream, but when he looks up, Jongdae is smiling at him.
►
Title: Hot For Teacher
Pairing(s): Chanyeol/Chen
Rating: PG-13
Length: 11,449w
Summary: The new teacher is a usurper and Chanyeol is horny and suspicious. Not necessarily in that order.
Author's note: This teacher prompt was crazy cute, and I really hope I managed to write what you were expecting. ^^
Chanyeol is used to being the cool teacher. Granted, he doesn’t have a lot of competition when he’s the only teacher at the high school under 30. Only just, but still.
He doesn’t try exactly. He’s a favourite because Chanyeol still remembers what it’s like to be a student. He knows it’s different because things are always changing, the students change every year. He doesn’t quite understand why this younger generation was so stressed about the things they were stressed out about, but he assumes his teachers thought the same thing when he was a student.
He knows kids learn when they’re interested so he tries his best to keep things interesting. It’s part of the reason he doesn’t really talk to any of the seasoned teachers. They think he’s too soft on his students, that these lesson plans were his way of sucking up to them, even though most of his lesson plans have already been approved by the principal. He used to go to the break room just to get his coffee, but he and Kyungsoo switch off on coffee runs so now he spends most of his time in the library.
One of the older teachers had lectured him on the disadvantages of being lenient with deadlines, the main reason being that his students wouldn’t respect him and they would take advantage of this. But his students usually never ask for an extension and when they hand in their assignments and projects, most of them do well. He doesn’t see any reason to change the way he handles things in his classroom when it’s working.
And it does work. He makes his classes fun and interesting, takes them out on field trips when they’re not especially necessary, but he has the test scores to show for all of the things he does-his kids are learning.
His only friend is the librarian, Kyungsoo. They met during Chanyeol’s first week, when he was still new and he had stumbled into the library looking for a textbook he needed for his class. When he had walked in, the library appeared empty.
“Get out.” Those were the first words he heard from Kyungsoo.
Kyungsoo had been arranging books on one of the lower shelves and Chanyeol had mistaken him for one of the students. He’d been a little taken aback that a student was being so rude. “Is the librarian here?”
“I’m the librarian. Didn’t I tell you to get out?”
Chanyeol was confused at all this uncalled-for contempt. “Oh. Uh, hi. I’m Chanyeol. I’m the new history teacher and-”
“Do you need the magic word? Fine. Please get out.”
“But I need a book for-”
“Don’t care. Go ask one of the other teachers about the rules you need to follow when you need a book.”
“Rules?”
Kyungsoo had been impatient with him from the start. He had let out an impatient huff before he stood up. “Rules. When you need a book from the library, leave a note at the front desk and I’ll leave it out for you to pick up at the end of the day.” He pointed to the desk up front and Chanyeol noticed a small pile of books sitting on the side. “Like I said, one of the other teachers could’ve told you all this.”
“They don’t really talk to me,” Chanyeol had said. “I don’t think they like me.”
Kyungsoo had studied him for a few moments like he was trying to decide something. “I’m Kyungsoo,” he said finally and held out his hand. “They don’t like me either.”
Apparently being the pariahs in their school is a good reason to start a friendship to Kyungsoo. He insists that they’re only friends by default, but it only takes Chanyeol two weeks before he decides to assign himself as Kyungsoo’s best friend despite Kyungsoo insisting that he doesn’t want a friend.
The other teachers are puzzled by this and ask how he can stand to be around Kyungsoo so much. But since they only talk to him when they’re questioning the choices he makes, Chanyeol decides he doesn’t care what their opinion is on who he chooses to hang out with. He spends all his free time in the library because he’s safe from all their nagging since most of them avoid it-avoid Kyungsoo really.
They still find reasons to gripe about him. He knows they had complained about his high grade curve but Principal Lee had looked through some of the tests and deemed them appropriate.
“Your tests are hard,” Kyungsoo says. Chanyeol can’t figure out if he sounds proud or annoyed. “How come your students test so well when all you guys do is goof off?”
“We don’t goof off,” Chanyeol says in indignation. “Just because I make learning fun doesn’t mean they don’t actually learn.”
“How do you do it?” Kyungsoo asks.
“Because I treat them like human beings,” Chanyeol says, “instead of glaring at them like they’re-”
“Heathens?”
Chanyeol snorts. “They’re teenagers, Kyungsoo.”
“Yes. Heathens.” Kyungsoo grabs a battered copy of The Giver from Chanyeol’s hands. “Now tell me why you’re here.”
“My kids,” Chanyeol says, sticking out his lower lip. “I had to work hard to keep their attention today. I never have to do that. They were all talking about some…Mr. Kim person. Who is that?”
Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. “Seriously Chanyeol, you need to start attending the staff meetings. They’re not all test scores and syllabi planning. Jongdae is the new English teacher.”
Chanyeol frowns. “So? What’s so great about a new teacher? We always hire old men for that position.”
“Jongdae’s pretty young. I think he’s around our age. That’s probably why your kids like him so much.”
Chanyeol blinks. There’s a new teacher, who is around his age. He’s wanted a teacher closer to his age since he was hired three years ago. But he’s gotten used to being the only one his students liked, and now there was someone else who got them excited about school?
Usurper.
Chanyeol is drawn into a false sense of security when his students stop talking about the new English teacher after a few days. Kyungsoo reports that Jongdae is apparently well-liked by the other teachers, so that probably explains why the students aren’t so interested anymore.
Passing fancy, he thinks, feeling satisfied.
He was wrong.
First, the questions started.
His students usually loved reenacting scenes, it was one of the easiest ways to get them to learn big events. They’re learning about Napoleon when he notices that the boy roleplaying Napoleon seems confused.
“Is something wrong?”
Jongin looks thoughtful and finally he says, “Sir, do you think Napoleon’s brashness was a result of his poor self-esteem since he was so short?”
At first Chanyeol thinks he’s kidding, but Jongin looks serious and the rest of his class are looking at him, obviously expecting an answer. “What?”
“You know.” Jongin gestures to his outfit. “Let’s invade Russia! I declare myself emperor of France! Maybe he was overcompensating.”
“I don’t think so,” Chanyeol says doubtfully. “He had a really big ego.”
“That’s a result of overcompensation,” Jinri pipes up from behind her desk.
“Why is this important?” Chanyeol asks. What is happening?
“How do I know how to play him?” Jongin asks patiently. If Chanyeol didn’t know better, he’d say he was being patronizing. “I can’t play him well if I don’t know why he did all these things.”
“We know why he did these things,” Chanyeol says desperately. “He had a big ego.”
“That’s just a superficial reason though,” Sehun says.
“Right?” Jongin turns to him, looking pleased that he agrees.
“Sir.” Soojung’s hand goes up. “I think we need to have a proper discussion where we analyze Napoleon before we can act this scene out.”
What?
“I agree,” Jongin says, shrugging off the coat and handing it to Chanyeol before he returns to his seat.
Then came the debates.
Chanyeol had to quickly move on from Napoleon after his students started arguing about whether he was elected emperor or he proclaimed himself emperor. In retrospect, he should have known moving on to King Henry VIII wouldn’t end well.
“Sir?”
Chanyeol wants to cry when he sees Seohyun’s hand go up. “Yes?”
“Can we talk about why these women agree to marry King Henry VIII when they know what he’s like? Why would Catherine agree to a divorce? She was the rightful queen.”
“She didn’t agree to it,” Sooyoung argues. “He forced the divorce. He separated from the church just because his dick wasn’t satisfied with a wife and a mistress.”
“It wasn’t about his dick,” Sehun says. “He wanted an heir.”
“Don’t be stupid,” Jinri says scornfully. “He only wanted Anne because she refused to jump on his dick like her sister did.”
“You have to give Anne props,” Jino says, grinning. “She made the king of England start a whole new religion just so he could marry her.”
“No one is denying how boss Anne was,” Seohyun says. “I’m just saying that-”
Chanyeol tunes them out. What is happening? Why are his students questioning history? History is facts. Not analyses of historical figures. His ears perk up when he hears a familiar name.
“Yeah, but that’s not what Mr. Kim would say.”
Mr. Kim, Chanyeol thinks. As in Kim Jongdae. So he’s the reason for all this ruckus.
Usurper.
To: Kyungsoo
12:35 P.M.
i’m going to confront the english teacher >:( >:( >:(
To: Chanyeol
12:36 P.M.
About what?
To: Kyungsoo
12:36 P.M.
HE’S DISRUPTING MY CLASS. ಠ_ಠ
To: Chanyeol
12:38 P.M.
Your students are expanding the way they approach history. It’s a good thing. Get over yourself.
To: Kyungsoo
12:39 P.M.
HE’S A USURPER. a? an?
To: Chanyeol
12:40 P.M.
Maybe you can ask the English teacher since you’re headed there.
To: Kyungsoo
12:40 P.M.
ur not funny. (╥_╥) u r an unhelpful best friend. ╥﹏╥
To: Chanyeol
12:41 P.M.
I try. Do you at least have a plan?
To: Chanyeol
12:46 P.M.
Chanyeol??
Of course Chanyeol doesn’t have a plan. He knows he probably should have one. It’s not like he can just barge into the English teacher’s classroom and yell out, “Usurper!” while pointing an accusatory finger at him. Well, he could. It just wouldn’t paint him in a very good light.
Not that he cares what stupid Kim Jongdae thinks of him.
Jongdae, he thinks, disdainfully. What a stupid name. I bet he’s a nerd with a dumb sweater vest and glasses.
He shoves the door open when he arrives at the right classroom and strides in, getting himself ready to-he’s not sure what he was going to do, but it doesn’t matter because now he’s face to face with Kim Jongdae and Chanyeol can’t believe that he is actually wearing glasses and a sweater vest-a horribly ugly one, the ugliest Chanyeol has ever seen-just like he’d expected.
What he hadn’t expected was high cheekbones and bright eyes and lips that curve into a smile that makes Chanyeol irrationally think he would invade any country if he was asked to if it was accompanied with that smile.
“Hi?”
He’s talking. He has a nice voice. You say words now, Chanyeol tells himself. “Usurper,” he blurts out.
Jongdae’s eyebrows knit in confusion, but he looks amused. “It’s Jongdae actually.”
“Oh,” Chanyeol says faintly. Oh? What was he doing? “I mean, hi.” He hopes what his mouth is doing is smiling. He can’t really tell. Maybe if he stopped looking at Jongdae’s mouth he could concentrate on what his own-
“You’re the history teacher, right?”
Chanyeol snaps back to attention and Jongdae is smiling. “Yeah. Park Chanyeol.”
“I know,” Jongdae says, his smile deepening. “The students talk about you a lot. Seems like you’re a favourite around here. The favourite actually.”
It doesn’t matter. Chanyeol doesn’t care about being the students’ favourite anymore. Of course Jongdae is their favourite. He’s Chanyeol’s favourite and he’s only known him for two minutes.
“Is that what the usurper thing is about?” Jongdae smirks. “You think I’m usurping the favourite teacher title from you?”
“No,” Chanyeol says hurriedly, because Jongdae can’t think he’s this petty. “It was a question. I- I had a question. Is it a usurper? Or an? Because U is a vowel.”
Jongdae looks likes this is the most amusing thing he’s ever heard in his life. “A usurper,” he answers. “Because phonetically, there’s a Y in front of the U, so we use ‘a’ as if it was a consonant.”
Chanyeol doesn’t get most of that because he’s distracted by the way Jongdae’s mouth moves, especially when he says U. “Thanks,” he says anyway.
“Sure,” Jongdae says grinning. “That’s what I’m here for.”
“I just came here to introduce myself.” Chanyeol knows he should leave before he starts swooning or doing something just as embarrassing.
“And to ask about the usurper thing.”
“Yes, of course, the usurper thing,” Chanyeol says quickly. “I’ll see you around.” He’s almost out the door, when Jongdae calls him back.
“I haven’t seen you around the teacher’s lounge. I’ve been waiting to meet you. I mean, you were the only one I still had to meet, plus the students say all these nice things about you.”
“I’m in the library most of the time. It’s easier to do my lesson plans there since all the resource materials are there.”
“The library.” Jongdae smiles again. “So if I need to find you, I’ll check there first.”
“Yup,” Chanyeol says and dashes out of the classroom and into the hallway where he can safely let out a squeak of excitement before he pulls out his phone.
To: Kyungsoo
1:31 P.M.
the english teacher is so cute!!!! ✿♥‿♥✿
To: Chanyeol
1:32 P.M.
You’re gross.
Chanyeol has himself pathetically draped over Kyungsoo’s book cart as he-they-move around the library returning books to their rightful place. He allows himself to be poked away when Kyungsoo needs to grab a book from the cart before he spreads himself out as inconveniently as he can again.
“Kyungsoo, I love him.”
Kyungsoo grunts as he attempts to move the cart along. “You don’t love him. You don’t even know him.”
“I can feel it in my heart,” Chanyeol insists.
Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. “You can feel it in your dick.”
“Why are you being like this?” Chanyeol complains. “Why aren’t you supporting my love?”
“You sound like a character from every bad YA novel I have ever read.”
Chanyeol pouts. “Help me!”
“You hated him an hour ago.”
“Yes, and you were all, ‘You don’t even know him, Chanyeol,’ ‘You can’t dislike someone you don’t know, Chanyeol.’” Chanyeol pulls a face.
Kyungsoo aggressively yanks the book Chanyeol is resting his head on from the cart. “You still don’t know him.”
“But he’s so pretty!”
“Pretty people can be assholes too.”
“But he’s not.” Chanyeol looks at Kyungsoo pitifully. “He’s nice.”
Kyungsoo throws a hardcover of Romeo and Juliet at his face, but Chanyeol manages to duck in time.
“You could have broken my nose!” Chanyeol gingerly feels his nose as if he really had been hit.
Kyungsoo doesn’t seem to care because he just ignores him. “Do you know what happens to fools who fall in love after one meeting? They die.”
“Spoilers!”
Kyungsoo freezes to throw him a dark look. “What kind of high school teacher doesn’t know that Romeo and Juliet die in the end?”
“They both die?”
“Chanyeol.”
“What? I’m a history teacher. Who has time for Shakespeare?”
Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. “Who has time for Shakespeare,” he repeats in disbelief. “Why don’t you try saying that to your true love? I’m sure he’d love that.”
Chanyeol (along with his dick) goes back to normal after a few days. He sees Jongdae in the hallways in between classes, and exchanging hellos and getting that smile are keeping him upbeat. All Kyungsoo has to deal with are annoying texts, which Chanyeol suspects he just deletes without checking.
He’s picking at his sandwich during lunch, Kyungsoo happily ignoring him, when he feels a shadow fall over him. He hopes the little squeak he hears is just in his head because Jongdae is there. In the library.
“Hi,” Jongdae says. He’s wearing an even uglier sweater vest today. Chanyeol can’t figure out if those are horses on it or unicorns.
“Hi.” Chanyeol is so proud of himself. One word out of his mouth and he’s actually coming off as a normal human being.
There’s a displeased grunt behind the desk and when they both look over, Kyungsoo glares at them before he slinks away with a pile of books in his arms.
“Was I too loud?”
“Nah,” Chanyeol says. “That’s just Kyungsoo. He doesn’t like people.”
“At all? Even children.”
“Especially children.”
The corner of Jongdae’s mouth quirks up. “Why is he a librarian at a high school then?”
Chanyeol shrugs. “He really likes books.”
Jongdae grins. “Valid point.” He points to the chair across the table from Chanyeol. “Can I join you?”
Chanyeol nods and pushes the chair out with his leg.
“Thanks.” Jongdae sits down and Chanyeol does his best not to stare. Except his face is even closer now and there are beauty marks he hadn’t noticed when they first met. “Are you planning on teaching Egyptian history this term? Or have you already covered it?”
Chanyeol is confused. “Yeah,” he says uncertainly. “I think I’m supposed to start teaching that in…hold on. Let me check.” He grabs his lesson planner from his bag and slips his glasses on as he flips through the pages. “Three weeks. Maybe two, depending on how fast we get through the Tudor dynasty.”
“Ahh, the Tudors. Henry VIII and his many wives.”
“Yes,” Chanyeol grimaces. “That was a very unpleasant lesson to teach because of you.”
Jongdae laughs. “Why?”
“Why? Because all the kids wanted to do was talk about feelings and why any woman would want to marry him. Soojung called him a pig.”
Jongdae looks like he’s trying to hold back his laughter. “He was though.”
“Obviously. But no one cared about feelings before you came along.”
“Sorry for corrupting the kids by making them talk about feelings,” Jongdae says, laughing. “But that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
Chanyeol raises an eyebrow. “What? Feelings?”
Jongdae smirks. “Kind of. Are you going to teach them about Cleopatra?”
“Yeah. One whole week on Cleopatra.” Chanyeol turns his planner towards Jongdae and taps at the dates.
“Great. I was thinking that maybe we could collaborate? I was planning on teaching Antony and Cleopatra in my class, so maybe we could teach it at the same time so our kids get two different points of views. The historical side, the more accurate part, in your class and Shakespeare’s take on her in mine.”
Our kids, Chanyeol thinks happily. “Yeah, sure. That sounds like a great idea.”
Jongdae beams and even his teeth are fascinating. “I’ll take care of all the feelings,” he says, grinning.
“Are you going to act out scenes from the play?” Chanyeol asks.
Jongdae brightens up at that. “No. I heard you act out stuff in your class.”
“It helps them learn,” Chanyeol says, adding a smirk. “And it’s fun for me to watch.”
Jongdae laughs and Chanyeol wants to sigh at how much he enjoys that sound. “We should do a joint project for their final assignment on Cleopatra.”
“What do you have in mind?”
Jongdae bites his lip as he thinks about it, while Chanyeol just thinks, Teeth! Lips!
“I don’t know yet,” Jongdae finally says. “We’ll figure it out.”
“Okay.” Chanyeol forces himself to look away from Jongdae’s mouth, but Jongdae’s smirking at him so he’s probably been caught. “Do you want to have lunch tomorrow to discuss it?”
Jongdae quirks an eyebrow. “We’re not starting for another three weeks,” he says. He reaches out to pat Chanyeol’s hand when he blushes. “We could just have lunch to…have lunch.” He laughs when Chanyeol perks up. “So that’s a yes?”
“Yes,” Chanyeol says happily before he realizes something and frowns. “I usually have lunch with Kyungsoo. He might feel-”
“Just go.” Kyungsoo appears from behind a shelf with two books in his hands. “I might actually have a peaceful lunch for once.” He turns to Jongdae. “Please take him for lunch tomorrow.”
“Okay,” Jongdae laughs. He pats Chanyeol’s hand one more time before he gets to his feet. “I’ll see you tomorrow for lunch.” He waves goodbye to Kyungsoo, who ignores him, and sends Chanyeol one last smile before he leaves.
Chanyeol yelps when Kyungsoo throws the two books at him. “What was that for?”
“Read,” Kyungsoo says, gesturing to the books. “So the smart boy doesn’t realize how dumb you are.”
Chanyeol looks at the titles. “Romeo and Juliet?”
“So you know how stupid people can get when they think they’re in love,” Kyungsoo says. “And Antony and Cleopatra because you should probably know what Jongdae is talking about when you guys are collaborating.”
Chanyeol looks at him suspiciously. “Why are you helping me now?”
Kyungsoo shrugs. “Because he seems interested in you and your dick. Probably not as much as your dick likes him, but who am I to stand in the way of True Dick Love?”
Chanyeol grins. “Go Team True Dick Love!”
Kyungsoo stares at him, appalled. “You are not allowed to say any words for the next five minutes.”
To: Kyungsoo
12:01 P.M.
idk how someone can have so many ugly sweater vests and still look so cute in them. (｡♥‿♥｡)
To: Chanyeol
12:02 P.M.
I thought you had a lunch date?
To: Kyungsoo
12:02 P.M.
I DO! i’m on it. (^～^) i’m eating salad! even though i hate salad. why am I eating this rabbit food to impress him?? is he even impressed though? i can’t tell! 【・_・?】
To: Chanyeol
12:03 P.M.
Why are you texting me? I’m pretty sure that’s not proper dating etiquette. Don’t be rude. Talk to him. Find out if you like other things about him besides his dick.
To: Kyungsoo
12:04 P.M.
i’m not being rude!
To: Chanyeol
12:04 P.M.
It’s rude to ignore your date. (╯︵╰,)
Chanyeol stares at his phone, confused. Since when does Kyungsoo use emoticons? Wait. He glances up at the name and sees Jongdae! :) instead of Kyungsoo. Oh. Fuck. He’s already screwed up and all they’ve done is order food.
“Sorry.” He can feel his face burning.
Jongdae doesn’t look angry. “It’s okay. It would be nice if you paid more attention to me than to your phone though.”
“Yeah, of course.” Chanyeol shoves his phone into his bag and finally manages to face Jongdae. “I’m kind of nervous.”
Jongdae smiles at that. “Why? It’s just…lunch.”
Just lunch? Wasn’t this a date? Didn’t Jongdae say he was Chanyeol’s date in his text? Had he read it wrong? Chanyeol almost tries to get his phone when he remembers that’s why he’s in trouble in the first place. “Lunch date?” Wait. What? What does that mean? Why is he just saying words? He can do sentences.
“Right,” Jongdae says, because he apparently understands Chanyeol’s ramblings. “Lunch date. But the key word is lunch. Lunch date means no pressure. Just…talking.” He smirks slightly. “That would require full sentences though. Think you can manage that?”
Chanyeol gives him a sheepish smile. “Yes. Words good.” He grins and it grows even wider when Jongdae laughs. I did that, he thinks happily. I made that laugh happen!
“Yes,” Jongdae agrees. “Words very good.”
Chanyeol rests his chin on the back of his hands as he watches Kyungsoo separating a pile of books into different batches. He’s not really paying attention to him though.
He’s thinking about how Valentine’s Day is approaching. Okay, maybe being three and a half week away doesn’t count as approaching. He and Jongdae have been on four lunch dates now and he wonders if he’s expected to do something nice for Jongdae. Not that he doesn’t want to. They should talk about that, he thinks. Or maybe not. Because if Jongdae asks him what he wants to do, Chanyeol knows he’ll say something inappropriate.
Like how what he really wants is to see Jongdae spread out for him in bed. Only maybe he’d try to paint a more romantic picture. Like the room will only be lit by candles. There will be rose petals scattered across the bed, and Jongdae won’t be wearing anything. Just bare skin and a bouquet of rose strategically placed over his-
Chanyeol frowns. Wait. Did roses in bouquets still have the thorns? That’s not good. There shouldn’t be any thorns next to Jongdae’s dick. Not roses then. What are other romantic flowers? Daisies? Daisies are cute. Jongdae is cute. Maybe daisies.
“What are you going to do with daisies?”
Chanyeol is pulled out of his thoughts and he’s about to glare at Kyungsoo when he realizes that Jongdae is standing next to him. “Hi!”
Jongdae gives him an odd look, but he’s smiling. “Hi.”
“Did you need a book?” Kyungsoo asks, sounding bored.
Jongdae leans across the check out counter, wide grin on his face. “Why? Are you actually going to give me the books right now if I asked?”
“I might as well,” Kyungsoo says. “Since I’m sure you’ll be hanging around here because of this fool.” He jerks a thumb at Chanyeol. “So what do you need?”
Jongdae shrugs. “No books,” he answers, turning to Chanyeol. “Just Chanyeol.”
Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. “Whatever,” he says, taking his cart filled with books and leaving them alone.
“What’s up?” Chanyeol asks. He has a free period coming up so he’s getting ready to correct some assignments-or fantasize about Jongdae some more-but he knows Jongdae has a class.
“I can’t do lunch today,” Jongdae says, pouting slightly. “I’m helping out a student with a paper.”
“Oh. So…dinner then?” Chanyeol blurts it out before he even really thinks about it.
Jongdae blinks, obviously surprised. “Really?” He sounds excited and maybe Chanyeol has actually been doing something right during their lunch dates.
“Yeah,” Chanyeol says, and he’s proud that he actually sounds confident. “We did lunch, so the next progression is dinner.” And then breakfast.
“Sure,” Jongdae says cheerfully. “And then breakfast.”
Chanyeol almost chokes. “I’m sorry, but I have high dinner expectations if you plan to eventually move on to breakfast.” He realizes that somewhere in between their four lunch dates, he’s actually managed to stop being a complete train wreck around Jongdae.
Jongdae smirks. “I’m very good at progressing from dinner to breakfast,” he says, reaching out to lightly touch Chanyeol’s wrist. “I’ll see you later.”
Chanyeol wonders if it’s lame to have their first kiss in the library of a high school. Jongdae doesn’t seem like he’d mind, but then the warning bell rings for the next class, and Jongdae pouts some more before he moves his hand down to squeeze Chanyeol’s and he leaves.
Just as well, he figures. He doesn’t want to kiss Jongdae when Kyungsoo is skulking around.
To: Kyungsoo
6:17 P.M.
what do i wear??????
To: Chanyeol
6:20 P.M.
Don't care.
To: Kyungsoo
6:21 P.M.
i bought a new sweater the other day. maybe i should wear that?
To: Chanyeol
6:22 P.M.
Don't care.
To: Kyungsoo
6:24 P.M.
it's mint green! that sounds good right? mint is refreshing. he'll open the door and boom, HIS EYES ARE REFRESHED. d(-_^)
To: Chanyeol
6:24 P.M.
Don't care.
To: Kyungsoo
6:26 P.M.
hmm, maybe this is more of a sixth-date sweater. do you think this is our ~first date or fifth? do lunch dates count as ~date dates?
To: Chanyeol
6:26 P.M.
DON'T CARE. I'm not some token gay best friend.
To: Kyungsoo
6:26 P.M.
o(╥﹏╥)o i just wanted advice…
To: Chanyeol
6:27 P.M.
I don't think it matters. He has all those weird sweater vests and he probably won't care because he seems to actually like you.
To: Kyungsoo
6:27 P.M.
ヽ(;^o^ヽ)
To: Chanyeol
6:42 P.M.
Just don't wear that weird black shirt with the white polka dots. It makes you look like an overexcited dalmatian.
Chanyeol only checks his phone and sees Kyungsoo's message after he knocks on Jongdae's door. He's wearing the dalmatian shirt. Why didn't Kyungsoo say anything earlier?
When the door opens, Chanyeol plasters a smile on his face but Jongdae isn’t the one standing there. Was he at the wrong apartment? He peeks a glance at the apartment number. No.
“Do you need something?” The blond guy who opened the door is staring at Chanyeol expectantly.
Chanyeol tries to look past him to see if there is some sign of Jongdae, but this just makes the blond guy defensive and he blocks Chanyeol’s view by getting right in his face.
“What is your problem?”
“Uh, is Jongdae here?”
The blond guy gives him a scrutinizing look, until it looks like something has occurred to him. “You’re Chanyeol, right?”
Chanyeol almost breathes a sigh of relief. “Yeah.”
“Sorry about the…” The boys gestures at the almost non-existent space between them and he steps back. “I didn’t know what you were trying to do. Does Jongdae know you’re coming over?”
Chanyeol nods. “We have a date.”
The blond guy looks surprised. “Come in,” he says, stepping aside. “Jongdae’s in his room. Napping the last time I heard from him. I’ll get him.” He leaves Chanyeol in the living room and disappears down the hallway.
Jongdae forgot their date? Chanyeol is still standing there when Jongdae appears, his hair in a mess and his glasses are on slightly crooked. Chanyeol can’t figure out how he’s even more attractive like this.
“I’m so sorry,” he says, running a hand through his hair. “I was so tired when I got home and I got a call from my mother and it was-I ended up falling asleep. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Just give me five min-”
“Is everything okay?”
Jongdae stops rambling to give him a confused look. “What?”
“Your mother,” Chanyeol says. “You said she called and you seem…” He tries to find a word that’s not going to offend Jongdae. “Out of sorts.”
“Oh. Yeah, it’s fine.” Chanyeol can tell Jongdae’s upset about something, but it’s probably not proper date etiquette to press your date about their family problems. “I’ll be right back, okay?”
“Wait.” Chanyeol reaches out to grab Jongdae’s arm. “We can do this some other time. I don’t mind.”
Jongdae reaches up and fixes Chanyeol’s collar. “But you got all dressed up for me,” he says, glancing up at Chanyeol though he keeps his fingers entangled in his collar. He gives Chanyeol a smile that’s different from all the ones Chanyeol has categorized in his mind and he feels something in his stomach do a swan dive.
“It’s okay,” Chanyeol says, resisting the urge to flatten out the hair sticking out on Jongdae’s head because he feels so disgustingly smitten right now. “I can dress up for you again.”
“I can take you to this restaurant nearby,” Jongdae offers. “It’s cheap but the food’s really good.”
Chanyeol already has everything planned out, but Jongdae looks worn out but hopeful and he doesn’t have the heart to say no. “Okay.” How can he already be. So. Whipped?
Jongdae smiles-that’s how, Chanyeol thinks, that’s why he’s so whipped. “Give me a few minutes, okay?” He briefly brushes a thumb across Chanyeol’s collarbone before he turns to head towards his room.
Chanyeol sits on the couch in a daze and tries to hang on to the feeling of Jongdae’s touch on his collarbone.
“Can I ask you a question?” Chanyeol looks up and sees the blond guy, who he assumes is Jongdae’s roommate. “What do you think of the blond?”
Chanyeol’s eyes flicker up to his hair. “It’s nice.”
The guy keeps pulling on his hair. “I just dyed it,” he explains. “On an impulse. I’m not sure what I was thinking because now I’m blond.”
“It doesn’t look bad.”.
“Let’s hope my boyfriend agrees,” the guy says, before his eyes settle on Chanyeol like he’s just noticed he’s there. “I’m Baekhyun.”
“Chanyeol.” Chanyeol feels dumb as soon as he says it because Baekhyun already knows that.
Baekhyun smirks. “Jongdae really likes you,” he says, offhandedly. “He gets all moony when he talks about you.”
“Shut up, Baekhyun.” Jongdae comes up behind him and flicks the back of his head. “Your hair is gross by the way.”
Baekhyun glares at him. “Your boyfriend likes it.”
“He was just being nice,” Jongdae says, grabbing Chanyeol’s hand. “Come on, let’s go before he tries to rope you into letting him dye your hair.”
Chanyeol isn’t sure if chicken and beer at a restaurant that’s tucked away in between much bigger restaurants constitutes as a good first date, but Jongdae doesn’t seem so tired anymore and he’s smiling and laughing, so maybe that’s all that matters.
“I like your shirt,” Jongdae says.
They’re done with their food and they’re just lingering with their beers now. Jongdae is slouching in his chair, looking relaxed-maybe too relaxed.
“Are you drunk?” Chanyeol asks, looking at him over his beer can.
Jongdae laughs a little too loudly. “A bit,” he says, grinning. “But I still like your shirt. It’s like a…” He squints like he’s thinking hard.
“Dalmatian?”
“Yes!” Jongdae points at him with his beer. “You’re smart.”
Chanyeol smirks because Jongdae is definitely more than a little drunk. “Being smart is helpful when you’re in charge of educating today’s young minds.”
“Yes!” Jongdae says loudly. He takes a sip of his beer before he pulls it away and looks at it in puzzlement. “Nothing’s coming out.”
Chanyeol reaches out to take the can from him and shakes it lightly. “It’s empty,” he says, laughing. “Should we get you another one?”
Jongdae shakes his head. “Probably not a good idea.” He places his hands flat on the table and rests his chin on top of them.
Chanyeol grins when he feels Jongdae studying him. He puts his beer on the table and mimics Jongdae, resting his chin on his hands as well. “What?”
“I was just thinking,” Jongdae says. “Dalmatians are cute.”
Chanyeol can feel his smile getting wider. “Yeah?”
Jongdae hums into his hands. “You’re cute too.”
Chanyeol wishes he could control his face better. “You’re drunk,” he says.
“I am,” Jongdae agrees, smiling. “But I still think you’re cute.” He pushes himself so he’s sitting up straight again, and he holds out his arms. “You should take me home now.”
Chanyeol doesn’t move, just raises an eyebrow. “Home?”
“Or buy me ice cream first and then take me home,” Jongdae says, his arms still open wide.
Chanyeol laughs but he gets to his feet and helps Jongdae up as well. “Okay,” he says, keeping a tight arm around Jongdae’s waist. “Let’s get ice cream and then I’ll get you home.”
“Sounds good,” Jongdae says. He’s making a sound that sounds close to purring and Chanyeol can’t believe how ridiculous he is outside of school.
“I’m sorry.” Jongdae looks at his ice cream forlornly.
“For?” Chanyeol feels him shiver beside him so he shifts over and presses their legs together.
“This horrible, cheap date.”
“It’s fun,” Chanyeol says.
He’s not lying. He’s pretty sure his fancy date wouldn’t have resulted in Jongdae being as laid-back as he is right now. Less drunk probably, but Chanyeol doesn’t mind. He likes listening to Jongdae talk about things other than their classes and their students. Sitting on the pavement with an ice cream cone is nice too. It’s a nice reminder that dating doesn’t have to be so stressful.
“I’m sorry I got drunk,” Jongdae says, slumping down against Chanyeol, narrowly missing knocking Chanyeol’s mint chocolate chip scoop off his cone.
Chanyeol shifts to accommodate Jongdae when he rests his head on his shoulder. “You’re a lightweight. You only had two beers.”
“Not really.” Jongdae scoops up a spoonful of his ice cream but he doesn’t eat it. “I had another two beers while I was waiting for our order.”
Chanyeol remembers waiting outside because the restaurant was packed and he had only managed to nab a table outside, which he ended up liking in the end. He doesn’t remember Jongdae being gone that long, unless he had downed the beers.
“I don’t drink all the time,” Jongdae says quickly. He pulls away and sits up to turn towards Chanyeol. “I know my limits, so I usually don’t get drunk.”
“Is this about your mom?” Chanyeol asks quietly.
Jongdae gives him a small smile. “You’re smart.”
Chanyeol returns his smile. “I’ve heard,” he says. He isn’t sure if he should ask what’s wrong because he doesn’t want to seem pushy or nosy. Jongdae makes the decision for him when he turns away.
“I’ll be a much better date next time,” Jongdae says, returning to his ice cream
Next! Time! Chanyeol thinks to himself happily. “You’re already a good date,” he says, licking at the ice cream that is starting to spill over his cone. “We could have rescheduled though. Since you were upset.”
Jongdae tilts his head up and he gives him a real smile this time. “I’m glad we went out,” he says, spooning more ice cream into his mouth. “I’m having fun. I would have just slept this night away. Or woken up and been sad.”
“No, sad Jongdae bad. Happy Jongdae good.”
Jongdae snorts when Chanyeol grins at him. “Neanderthal,” he says fondly.
Chanyeol just beams in reply, because he’s too busy being happy that the nerd with the glasses and the ugly sweater vests is actually into him.
“Sorry there was no dick involved tonight,” Jongdae adds.
Chanyeol chokes on his ice cream, but when he looks up, Jongdae is smiling at him.
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