|| 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐄𝐑 || HeeJake ||

• || 25 || •

Days passed, and the university swiftly transitioned to online classes due to the ongoing investigations. The campus, once bustling with students, had fallen silent, and the usual energy of face-to-face lectures was now replaced with the glow of screens. It wasn't ideal for anyone, but it was necessary for the time being.

Jake found himself logging into the new online sessions, his mind less focused on academics and more on the interactions unfolding in front of him. Today was no different, as he settled into his chair, laptop open, ready for Sunghoon's class. The feeling of being in the same virtual space as Sunghoon, even though there was a screen between them, made his heart race.

Sunghoon, as always, presented himself with composure. His voice was calm but commanding, filled with an authority that Jake couldn't help but be drawn to. As Sunghoon began the lecture, Jake found himself drifting, his thoughts becoming clouded with the overwhelming attraction he felt.

But today was different. As Sunghoon began discussing a topic Jake wasn't particularly interested in, his words somehow managed to seep into Jake's mind. It wasn't the subject matter that caught Jake's attention, but Sunghoon's presence. His voice, steady and measured, made Jake's chest tighten with the same emotions that had been brewing for weeks.

Jake had tried to ignore it, tried to focus on his studies, but the connection with Sunghoon was undeniable. The way Sunghoon moved his hands when explaining concepts, the way his eyes scanned the virtual classroom as if he could see each student, made Jake feel as though he were the only one there. And as his feelings grew stronger, Jake's mind wandered again, imagining a world where he wasn't just a student.

It was in this moment of contemplation that he realized he'd been slowly falling for Sunghoon—not just for his intellectual prowess or teaching abilities but for the way Sunghoon seemed to effortlessly command attention without even trying. His attraction had grown from a mere admiration into something more intense, something that left Jake questioning his own feelings and whether Sunghoon could ever see him as more than just another student.

As the class ended, Sunghoon's usual closing remarks brought Jake back to reality.

"Remember to send me your papers by next week," Sunghoon said, his gaze locking on the screen for just a second longer than usual. "Good luck, everyone."

The class disconnected, and Jake sat there, staring at the screen. His heart was still pounding from the brief moment when Sunghoon's eyes had met his, however briefly. It was a fleeting connection, but it lingered, filling Jake with a sense of longing he couldn't explain.

He sat in silence for a while, wondering what it would be like if Sunghoon knew how Jake felt. Would he find it strange? Would he be disgusted by the idea of his student being attracted to him? Jake had never felt this way before about anyone—especially not a professor. But something about Sunghoon made him feel exposed, vulnerable, yet somehow safe in a way he couldn't put into words.

As he snapped himself out of his thoughts, he realized he had to focus on his assignment. But the weight of his feelings remained, lingering in the back of his mind as the night stretched on. Jake sighed, hoping that, somehow, this new dynamic of online classes would bring him closer to Sunghoon, even if it was just through the screen.

As Jake stepped into the bathroom, the hot water cascading over his body, the steam quickly enveloped the space, blurring his thoughts just as it blurred the mirror. He closed his eyes, allowing the warmth to sink in, trying to forget the storm of feelings that had stirred within him during Sunghoon's class.

But suddenly, a sound cut through the silence—soft, but distinct.

A faint thud from somewhere in the apartment.