Chapter Text
It starts like this; Jeongguk has to take all of his fall courses online because of the pandemic and he isn’t too pleased about it – considering he already does bad enough in in-person classes – but he knows it’s for the betterment of society so he sucks it up and does them as scheduled. And really, he finds that he doesn’t mind it too much.
He only has four courses this semester and two of them are just filler classes. The other two are ballet – for his dance major – and one class he’s retaking because he failed it in sophomore year; chemistry. The only slightly difficult one is that last one but – much to Jeongguk’s luck – he has a pleasant distraction from the existential crisis that will come along with the inevitable flunking of such a hard and horrid class and that is his painfully attractive professor; Park Jimin.
Jeongguk takes a liking to Professor Park upon their first session in class.
It starts on a Monday afternoon, which is bad in essence, but Professor Park makes it better. His class begins at thirty minutes past noon on some website designated by the university for all classes to be done through. The way it works is Professor Park shows up on the screen and the rest of them are put into smaller boxes situated at the bottom – a text box to the side. Jeongguk isn’t the type to have his camera and audio off because he thought it was a dick move; the teachers had to do it and it must be awkward trying to talk to a bunch of quiet, black screens so he tried to help them out some. So, a few minutes before class starts he puts on his camera and audio and moves to sit comfortably at his desk chair, hoodie up and one airpod in, prepared to half-listen. In his defense, he was probably only going to cheat his way through the whole class anyway and it was only the first session so it would be mere introductions.
He waits before the notification for him to join the call finally comes up and he clicks it, humming along to the faint tunes of Pink Sweat$ playing in his right ear. He was tired from being up playing computer games late into the night and it was Monday, so his mind was kind of wandering already, and the loading screen was still on. He almost felt like he was going to fall asleep that quick, and that’s when the screen changed and a very, very attractive man graced the front of his laptop.
Jeongguk’s eyes all but popped out of his head.
“Hello, everyone!” A distant, cheery voice and oh my god, the man’s mouth was moving on the screen. Is this his professor?
The guy looked young. Like, he couldn't be more than a few years ahead of Jeongguk young. His hair was dyed a bright blonde and he was wearing glasses that sat perched on his little button nose so cutely but still somehow made him look so sexy? What the fuck, how is that possible? His high cheekbones and sharp jaw were almost – but not quite – hidden by how soft and supple his cheeks were. They had this natural flush and made him look so adorable when he grinned at the camera lens to greet everyone. His smile was pretty too, what the hell is happening?
Jeongguk thought he must’ve been mistaken because there’s no way that’s his professor. No, no way. Jeongguk glanced at the beginnings of the shirt he was wearing before the rest of it was cut off by the edges of the screen. It looked like he was adorning a button-up white shirt. Professional compared to Jeongguk’s black hoodie with the words ‘Fuck Off’ etched into the front, but it didn’t necessarily mean he was a teacher. It could just be a student. It must be another student. No teacher should ever be allowed to look like that, no, nope, not happening—
“I’m your chemistry professor. My name is Park Jimin, but you can all call me Professor Park.”
Of, fuck off.
The attractive guy on the screen moved in sync with the words coming from Jeongguk’s speakers, completely obliterating any chance at denial he had. Great. How great. That squandered any remaining hope Jeongguk had at passing because how was he expected to pay attention when there was someone so hot in front of him? He pouted and sunk deeper into his chair. The world is a cruel place.
The professor looks at the screen like he’s analyzing his students and trying to take everything in for a moment. “How are you guys doing? I hope all of the technology is working properly, I know it can be a little frustrating sometimes. If anyone is experiencing difficulties I encourage you to review the guide sent out by staff yesterday.”
Silence comes and he looks a little…speechless? Nervous? He probably is experiencing the awkwardness of a blank, online class, bettered no more by the fact that it’s still early on a Monday.
Jeongguk applauds him for moving on swiftly. “I see we have a few faces today. I hope to hear from you guys during our classes online the same as if they were in person. It’s good for all parties if we have communication. I enjoy the feedback and it’s good for you all to engage in discussions and ask questions, so please do so.”
A voice suddenly comes and Jeongguk locates it as being from a student this time.
“Hi, Professor Park. I actually already have a question.”
It comes from a smartly looking guy – Jeongguk thinks he vaguely remembers him from a class he took last semester; Kim Namjoon. A bit of a know-it-all but he helped Jeongguk with his essay and had this way of smiling that made his dimples more exaggerated in a manner that he’s positive the guy knows is adorable. So, Jeongguk has nothing bad to say about him. Plus, he’s sweet.
Professor Park looks like he nearly lights up at the comment. “Oh, sure! What is it, Namjoon-shi?”
Wow, his smile is pretty.
Namjoon looks down like he’s focusing on a paper with something on it. “It says that we'll still be taking our mid-term?”
“Yes.”
“Online?”
“Yes, it will have to be.”
Oh, Jeongguk is so cheating.
“How will that work?”
“I suppose we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it but I’m thinking we’ll send out the exam and have it taken on locked browsers, etc.”
“Alright, thank you. That’s just good to know since I wasn’t sure if this was updated yet or anything. Plus, I know a lot of classes are trying to do them in person so that is comforting to hear from the Professor. Thanks,” Namjoon tells him and there is a delayed second before Professor Park responds on camera.
He smiles again and Jeongguk notices that it makes his eyes look creased and puffy. It is so adorable. It’s kind of infectious in a way that makes Jeongguk also want to smile and he has to make a very valiant effort to not do that. “So, you thought I didn’t check and correct my own syllabus before passing it out for the semester?”
Jeongguk’s eyebrows jump up and he purses his lips. It sounds like the professor is offended at Namjoon’s comment. Though Namjoon is quick to issue an apology, “Oh no, no, I didn’t mean...I mean, you know—”
Professor Park throws his head back with laughter. His blonde hair bounces with the movement and it gives everyone a good look at his pretty neck and shoulders in the shirt he’s adorning. “No, Namjoon, I’m only joking. It’s okay. You have a keen eye. It’s good to check for those sorts of mistakes and, like I said, I encourage everyone to ask questions.”
Jeongguk watches in the corner of his screen as Namjoon looks very visibly relieved. Probably a teacher’s pet and doesn’t want the new professor to hate him, Jeongguk thinks to himself. Professor Park moves on after that.
“So, as far as how this semester is going to work—" He shifts in his chair on camera and then leans to grab some papers from off-screen. Jeongguk can’t help but look at the room behind him and feel this sense of familiarity. His eyebrows knit together and his head tilts a little. Why does it feel like he’s definitely seen the bed in the background before, and the curtains and table. Why is it making him search through his brain and pull memories?
The professor keeps talking as Jeongguk continuously stares at the screen, honestly confused. He is getting a sense of Deja vu. Then, he hears Professor Park say, “You there, Jeongguk-shi. I don’t mean to single you out since you are one of the only people with your camera on, but why do you look so confused. Is it the grading scale of the books that lost you entirely?”
There is laughing from a few of the other mike’d students and Jeongguk snaps out of his transfixed state immediately. The professor is staring intensely at his screen and Jeongguk knows it’s him he’s looking at. He feels as his face gets hot from embarrassment at being caught not paying attention, but he catches himself because he refuses to let this attractive man think little of him – especially as quickly as on day one.
“Oh, no, sorry. I understand it. I just, um, I don’t think I caught the name for the book we need to get again?” He already knew what the book was and actually already had it because his friend took the same course last year and passed his copy down to him, but the professor didn’t need to know that he was analyzing his home so that’s that.
Professor Park tilts his head and seems to let his eyes linger on Jeongguk for another moment before humming. “Okay, I believe it. Well, I’ll repeat it one more time for anyone who still needs to know, and I’ll attach the link to purchase it with the post after class for you guys.”
Jeongguk breathes a sigh of relief at being in the clear now, and pays attention for the remainder of the class, only glancing every so often at the background out of curiosity. After a general briefing and discussion, Professor Park says goodbye to everyone, wishes them a good rest of the day and logs off with one more dashing smile. Jeongguk feels like there was a weight on him the entire time and the second the professor’s icon goes dark, he falls back in his chair. Why on earth was that one of the most beautiful and well-read people he has even seen in his life? He thinks about how much of a shame it is that they don’t have in person classes because Park Jimin is someone he would love to see face to face. It feels like a waste that he can’t. As Jeongguk sends a few texts and waits in front of his computer for the opening assignment Professor Park promised he’d send them, he hears a ding from his school’s site. He glances up from his hair and sees a message has been sent to him.
He sits up and rolls back to his desk, and opens the message bubble. It’s from the professor.
It reads ‘Thanks for being one of the few people to have face chat enabled! It encourages others to do the same, and I hope to keep being impressed with you. Have a good day, Jeongguk-shi.’
Jeongguk’s eyes are wide and he feels his heart skip a beat. What does that mean? Did he really like Jeongguk? No, maybe he sent these to everyone with a face camera on. Just to find out, he messages Kim Namjoon on the same site a few moments later to ask if he received a message from Professor Park. He doesn’t know the guy well but it’s just a question so it should be fine.
His response is almost immediate and it catches Jeongguk’s breath.
‘No, he didn’t but he did just send the opening assignment and links! Good luck in class!’
It’s a polite message and Jeongguk texts back a similar note of good luck, before being entirely confused. Why did Professor Park single him out? He thinks on it for a bit before deciding it probably means nothing and he just feels bad for trying to call Jeongguk out at the beginning of class. Yeah, that’s all it is.
It becomes increasingly clear over the next few class periods that that is not all it is. During class, it has been very normal for Professor Park to make a comment to Jeongguk or tease him in a casual way that would typically not be looked at twice, but Jeongguk takes note of it every time. Sometimes they will eye each other after talking to one another – and he knows it seems kind of dumb to say that about an online video chat but he can tell when the professor is doing it to him. Every so often he can catch the reflection of himself in the professor’s glasses and even when he can’t, he just knows. Not to mention, with the few assignments he has turned in so far – and cheated on, notably – the Professor is always very nice to him and leaves encouraging and praising comments and that is not something Jeongguk has known most – if not all – of his teachers to do. At least, not in the same way the professor does it.
‘Wow, good eye on this one Jeonggukie! You caught what a lot of students didn’t. You and I are similar in a lot of ways, I realize.’
‘Jeonggukie is a smart cookie, keep up the fantastic work’
‘You only missed a few and that says a lot given the worksheet I gave out. You and I should meet up for coffee sometime and talk privately about your possible future with chemistry.’
The last one was just the morning before and Jeongguk was spellbound when he saw it. His hot, funny, clever, and – did he mention hot – young professor asking him out to coffee? And forget the chemistry part, the real chemistry is between the both of them. He responded that he would love to sometime soon but the professor hasn’t said anything further on it and so, for now, it’s left at that. Jeongguk was kind of over the moon delusional with the belief that – yes, it’s insane – but maybe Professor Park Jimin kind of likes him? I mean, Jeongguk is aware that he’s a good-looking guy. He’s got a nice face and tattoos and he goes to the gym regularly. Plus, not to brag but he is pretty smart and okay, maybe chemistry specifically isn’t his strong suit but what the professor doesn’t know won’t hurt him.
High on life and with the small desire of wanting creeping up inside of him, Jeongguk decides to go out that night with a couple of friends for dinner. It’s just some people from college – one of them is an old roommate – but they talk over ramen about classes before one of them brings up Professor Park’s class last semester and how hot he was.
“I’m actually taking his class right now,” Jeongguk reveals casually, mouth full of food.
Most of their eyes go wide. The friend who brought it up, Kim Taehyung, says, “What? You lucky shit. I got Ms. Deem for one of my classes this semester. She is so boring, holy shit. I miss in-person class because when I saw the ass on Professor Park, let me tell you—”
“Stop that, you pervert,” One of their senior friends – Min Yoongi – says as he takes another bite of his steaming ramen. “He’s a person, you know. Plus, he probably isn’t even gay, and I’m sure that if he was he would never let a weirdo like you hit.”
Taehyung looks offended. “I’ll have you know I’m a certified sex symbol to some.”
“Who?” Yoongi raises an eyebrow at him. “Sixty year old, depraved men you find on Tinder?”
His jaw drops. “I hate you sometimes, hyung.”
Yoongi shrugs and Jeongguk stares intensely down at his food before finally confessing, “I think he might be kind of into me actually. I know that sounds self-absorbed but I’m telling you he definitely checked me out when I wore that black shirt the other day in class.”
Taehyung gasps, “The one that makes your biceps look unholy?”
Jeongguk nods. “That’s the one.”
A few of their friends laugh or make comments about how crazy that is before Jeongguk adds on, “Also, I don’t know why but I swear to you I’ve seen his room before. Like, in the video chats I look behind him and try to think about where I’ve been that looked like that.”
Taehyung gives him a baffled look, “Oh my god…do you think you have maybe…you know?”
“Fucked?” Jeongguk shakes his head. “No way, I’d remember that. Can’t be that.”
They all throw out their theories and laugh about it before the subject gets changed again. They move on to sports and the classes they are failing and finish off the night in a nice way before Jeongguk says goodbye to them all after, and crashes on his bed the second he gets back to his apartment. He sighs, exhausted but satisfied with having interacted socially for the first time in like two weeks. The last time he had a human connection in real life was a few weekends ago when he slept with some girl he met at a party. She asked for his number but he never called her back because she wasn’t his type when he wasn’t inebriated.
He rolls over and thinks for a while about what he wants to spend the next couple of hours before bed doing before finally deciding on something.
He gets up with a groan to go over to his closet and strip, before throwing on some comfy clothes to sleep in. After putting on his shirt and sweatpants, he goes over to his computer and starts it up. A familiar feeling wafts in as he pulls open a porn link and gets brought to the account he has been running for about a year now. He started out of boredom and because he wanted a bit of attention, and now he has it because it pays him enough money that he doesn’t have to work a job to get his bills paid. He only uploads casual masturbation videos and only about three a month but it does the trick. He has never shown his face and is careful to only wear things that hide his tattoos, so no one knows. It’s basically this fun little secret he has.
He doesn’t want to film anything right now, so he instead moves to his saved videos tab and scrolls through to find an interesting one he likes. He searches for a minute and as he does, he pulls his pants down just enough to pull out his already hardening dick. He doesn’t have to look for long before he lands on one of his all time favorite videos by his favorite creator. It is a video uploaded to the site three months ago by the popular creator Diminie. He’s this faceless guy who is just so, so pretty and has the best body Jeongguk has ever seen and he makes these adorable noises while he films and—yep, Jeongguk is fully erect now.
He clicks on the video titled ‘Cute bottom rides your cock and cums for you'. It’s a video of him riding a hot pink dildo and not even touching himself the whole time before having an orgasm that leaves him shaking on camera. The video has almost two million views and Jeongguk is sure he has contributed at least half of that himself with how many times he’s seen it.
He starts the video and watches as Diminie moves into place, the camera angled right in front of the dildo he got to stay still on his bed somehow. He angles it above him and—oh my fucking god. The bed looks familiar. Jeongguk has definitely seen the bed and the side tables and that window behind him before. Where has he-
Realization hits him like a freight train and Jeongguk makes a noise before removing his hand from his dick and opening a new tab as fast as the speed of light and moving to his school’s site. Professor Park had uploaded previous classes for people to watch if they needed to review and he clicks on one and impatiently waits for it to load before—Yes, yes, oh my god. Oh my fucking god. It’s the same bed. In the background, behind Park Jimin’s pretty face are the same sheets and tables and Jeongguk clicks back and forth between the tabs to confirm. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. He chants like a mantra in his head.
He stares, mouth agape and dick no longer erect, staring at his computer. There is no room for doubt in his mind. There’s no question about it.
“Professor Park is Diminie. Jimin is Diminie," Jeongguk says out loud. “Oh my fucking god.”