Effect

⑬We Don't Have To Be Strangers

 
After their classes, Jeongguk needed some extra time to pack his things and lock his locker. Although his friends asked many times if he needed help, he said no. But being unable to use his right hand — his good hand — was quite frustrating. And he usually wasn't a big fan of curses, but oh boy did he curse when he missed the bus and had to wait twenty-five minutes for the next one.

"I can't believe this shit is happening to me today, what else do I have to go through today, goddamn it, fuck, fuck, fuck!" he murmured angrily, well, to himself since he was sitting at the bus stop alone. He was too immersed in his little rambling he didn't perceive a certain someone standing next to him.

"Are you okay?"

Jeongguk let out a gasp as he snapped his head to the side. "Fuck, you scared me!" he cried, annoyed.

"Sorry," mumbled Taehyung, and a moment of silence rolled by. "How's your wrist?"

He glanced at him for a slight second. "It hurts, but it's gonna be okay."

Taehyung was tense. He knew he shouldn't even be talking to him and just follow Hoseok's advice, but he couldn't help it. He wanted to know if he was okay, and judging from all the cursing he did just moments ago, he most certainly wasn't.

"You missed the bus?"

"Um, yeah."

"You know I can give you—"

"Mr. Kim..." he interrupted, voice sharp but fading. He knew pretty well what he was about to say. "Doing that goes against the whole clear teacher-student relationship."

Taehyung sighed softly. "It's been a long day for you. I just wanted to help you out a little."

"Why do you even care?" he asked in a murmur.

"I usually care about my students, you know." A trace of vexation was mixed in his calm tone.

"Just leave, Tae—I m-mean Mr. Kim." His eyes widened upon realizing what he almost tossed off. In his head, he wasn't referring to him as Mr. Kim or Mr. Daddy material. He was referring to him as Taehyung, and he almost made the mistake of calling him that. And calling him by his name was something only a student who was close to his teacher would do. And were they close? No.

Taehyung, of course, registered that he almost called him by his name, and honestly, he was a little disappointed he didn't say it. He wanted to hear how his name would sound from Jeongguk's lips.

"I won't talk to you at all. I won't even park the car. Think of me as an uber driver."

And Jeongguk pondered over it. It had been a long day for him indeed, and he was already exhausted. He just wanted to go home. "Fine."

A delicate smile dangled on the corner of Taehyung's lips as he trailed behind the younger, who was trudging towards his car.

And Taehyung kept his promise. He didn't talk to him at all — he didn't even glance at him until they arrived outside of his house.

Jeongguk was ready to get out without saying anything but stopped his movements abruptly, making the other raise his eyebrows. "We don't have to be strangers," he said with a smile that didn't really reach his eyes.

"We don't?"

"Yeah, I mean... you're my teacher, and I'll be seeing you every day either way so..." He peeked at him thrice. "And I just thought that if I befriend you, you'll be offering to drive me home after school every day," he added in an impish tone, leading the other to chuckle.

"Well, I offered to drive you home today when we're not friends and you still hate me."

Jeongguk's smile melted away as he turned his head and set his eyes on him. "I don't hate you, Ta—Mr. Kim, damn." He tossed his gaze down and shook his head. He almost did it again for fuck's sake.