nurse's office | minsung ✓

9

Jisung had always admired Minho's intelligence. From the very first conversation they had, he knew there was something more behind the quiet confidence the nurse carried. But the more time he spent in Minho's office, the more Jisung became convinced—Minho was wasting his talent.

It all started with the little things: the casual conversations about how quickly Minho understood the most complex concepts, how he always had an answer to the questions Jisung asked, even if they were completely unrelated to his job. There was no denying it—Minho didn't belong in this tiny school office. He belonged in university classrooms, solving big problems, maybe even working as an engineer.

But here he was. Sitting at his desk, shuffling through paperwork like this was where he'd always meant to be.

"Minho," Jisung said abruptly, his voice breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them during lunch break. "Why aren't you finishing school?"

Minho glanced up, a mild expression of confusion crossing his face. "What?"

Jisung shifted in his seat, leaning forward slightly. "You told me you wanted to be an engineer. You should be out there doing that—not stuck here as a school nurse."

Minho's brow furrowed, and for a second, Jisung thought he might have crossed a line. But instead of shutting him down, Minho let out a soft sigh, leaning back in his chair.

"It's complicated, Jisung," he said, the weariness in his voice betraying a weight he usually kept hidden. "I couldn't finish. Life happened."

"But you could now," Jisung pressed, his heart pounding with determination. "You're so smart, Minho. You're always helping me with everything, answering questions that have nothing to do with this job. You don't belong here. You should be doing something bigger."

Minho smiled at that, a small, almost bittersweet smile. "It's not that easy. There are bills to pay. Responsibilities. Going back to school isn't really an option."

"It could be," Jisung countered, leaning in more. "I've been looking into it. There are part-time programs, scholarships—you wouldn't have to give up working completely. I bet there's a way you could finish your degree while still doing this job."

Minho's eyes flickered with something—surprise, maybe, or disbelief. "You've been looking into that shit?"

"Yeah," Jisung said, nodding quickly. "I've been researching ways to help you get back. You're wasting your talent here, Minho. You shouldn't just give up."

Minho fell silent for a moment, his gaze dropping to the floor. Jisung could feel the weight of the conversation hanging in the air, and he wondered if he'd pushed too far. But he didn't want to back down. Minho had done so much for him—listening, supporting, helping him get through some of the toughest moments of his life. Now it was Jisung's turn to help him.

"Jisung," Minho started, his voice soft. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, but—"

"No, listen," Jisung interrupted, his words spilling out in a rush. "You don't understand. You're actually the smartest person I know,. You're wasting your potential here. And I know you think it's impossible, but it's not. You're helping me when I thought things were impossible, right? You're showing me there's always another way. So let me help you this time."

Minho's gaze met Jisung's, and for a moment, the younger boy thought he saw something shift in the older man's expression—something like hope. But it quickly faded, replaced by the familiar mask of calm composure.

"It's not that simple," Minho said, his voice steady. "There are a lot of things holding me back."

"Like what?" Jisung challenged, his frustration mounting. "Money? Time? You could figure that out. You always figure things out."

Minho sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not just that. There's...a lot more to it than you realize. But it's not something I can dive into right now."

Jisung felt a pang of disappointment, but he wasn't ready to give up. "I get that it's complicated, but you can't just let it go. You deserve better than this. You deserve to finish what you started."

Minho looked at Jisung for a long time, his expression unreadable. "You really think I could go back? After all this time? Fuck no."

"I know you can," Jisung said, his voice filled with conviction. "You're helping me find hope when I didn't think I had any left. Now let me do the same for you."

For the first time in what felt like forever, Minho looked vulnerable—like he was actually considering the possibility Jisung had put in front of him. His eyes softened, and he gave a small nod, though his expression still held some hesitation.

"We can talk about it more later," Minho said quietly. "But...thanks, Jisung. I didn't expect anyone to care this much."

Jisung smiled, relief washing over him. "I care because you cared first. And I'm not going to stop until you're back where you belong."

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