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Jisung sat on his chair behind the teacher's desk and instantly started boucing his leg up and down out of anxiety.

He felt like he could vomit any second.

He wasn't ready to face Mr Lee but what else could he do? Quit his job?

No way.

Jisung looked up and his stomach did a double flip when he noticed Mr Lee at the door, gesturing at him to come closer.

Jisung swallowed air. It was time.

"Goodmorning Mr Lee" he started once they were in the corridor.

"Listen, Jisung. I'll get straight to the point" his eyes were filled with guilt, his voice strained:

"I'm so sorry about my behavior at the party Saturday evening. It was unforgivable. I was upset and I drunk too much... I acted in such an unprofessional way and I understand if you don't want to keep working for me. You'd have all the right..."

Jisung stared up at Minho until he felt sure that his pain was sincere.

"....I can ask Seungmin to move you elsewhere, I mean you can't give up on this career, you're too brilliant so-"

"Mr Lee" Jisung interrupted him and Minho froze in his tracks:
" 's ok"

The profesor arched an eyebrow, curious:

"Is it, thought?" he asked.

Jisung shrugged:
"You were drunk. People say dumb things when they're drunk. Happens."

He could tell Minho thought he was being made fun of or something. He chuckled:

"I'm serious, professor I forgive you"

at that he saw his features relax considerably and before he could stop himself he let slip:

"Besides... I didn't mind"

Minho's eyes widened with surprise but Jisung didn't stick around to find out what how he felt about that. Quickly, he gestured to the clock. It was time to teach.

As he sat on the sidelines, chin propped on the palm of his hand Jisung started counting the times Mr Lee would get distracted by him while carrying out his class.

There, one.

His eyes had shifted to him, fast then back to the presentation.

Two.

A swift glance as he passed next to him to grab a pen from his bag.

Three.

Their eyes met that time and Minho stumbled on his words.

A small grin appeared on Jisung's lips. He was feeling himself, excitement buzzing in his chest. Having someone in his grip like that made him feel...powerful. He wanted to fluster Minho more and more...

Then he realised what he was doing and his grin faded.

"Mr Lee is still married dumbass."

Jisung pressed his lips togheter and resorted to helping the students with that day's map.

"Is it me or is Mr Lee distracted today?" Julia whispered to Matt as Jisung walked past them.

"Huh?" answered the boy, who was falling asleep on his desk.

"You're right Ju... he's lacking" agreed Nagyung, eyes like slits, analising her professor.

"I wonder if something happened" Beomseok seemed worried instead.

"Guys, focus on the map" Jisung whispered back at them and they jumped.

"Right!" exclaimed Julia:"Sorry Jisung"

He just smiled at her. He was about to leave but Nagyung stopped him:

"You know why Mr Lee is like that, don't you?"

Jisung gave her an innocent look and shrugged.

"You do!" she beamed.

"I didn't say that" he teased:
"You should really focus on that map Nagyung..."

"Nagyung!" called Minho that second:
"Wanna describe the altitude here?"

She jumped and Jisung mumbled an apologetic:"Told you..."
before walking back to the teacher's desk.

When he sat down Minho stole one more glance at him. They held eye contact for a bit. Jisung saw millions of question marks in his boss' eyes and answered with a cocky smirk.

Mr Lee sighed and turned back to his students.

Everything continued smoothly until it was time for them both to leave.
They gathered their things in silence, Jisung could feel Minho's stare burn holes in his back.

"What?" he asked gently.

At that Minho seemed to snap out of a trance. He sighed again:

"Nothing"

They exited the classroom side by side as usual but for the first time the corridor was void of their banter.

Jisung bit his lip. He was starting to regret having messed with him.

"Is it always going to be like this from now on?" asked Minho then.

"Like what?"

"Awkward"

They looked into eachother's eyes for a second then Jisung answered:

"Doesn't have to be"

"Everything sounds so simple when you talk about it"

Jisung frowned.

"Well of course I know it's not simple. I'm just trying to give you an easy out of this so we can get along again, pick up on it please"

"It is simple!" he retorted:
"I still think highly of you Mr Lee and I'm happy to work alongside you. A little bump in the road isn't going to change that for me. So just relax, ok? Everything's fine."

Minho looked at him in awe for a bit then a small grin appeared on his face:
"Talking back to your superior like that? Fiesty. Now I totally understand why you're Seungmin's favorite"

"Modestly" grinned Jisung back.

They both let out a bemused chuckle.

"So...you ready for our first laboratory tomorrow?"

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