Perfect Timing
That fateful day
The newly hired young professor is starting to lose his temper to his older sister.
‘ Adopted. I already told you I can’t. meet. Up. With any of your friends ok? It’s only my second day of teaching at my new job, you can’t expect me to slack off already and even if I reached years teaching here, you won’t ever convince me to slack off just to attend a date, As a teacher-- ‘
‘ the future of these students are in my hands, if I slack off they will take it as an example, but if I’m diligent they will show me respect and more so idolize me ‘ Off’s older sister completed his statement for him might as well mocking him.
‘ stop mimicking me, I don’t sound like that ‘
The two siblings continued to bicker, and Off being totally occupied with the phone call didn’t notice he took the wrong turn and entered the sophomore’s classroom instead of his assigned room which belongs to the students in their senior year. He hang up his phone and continued what he left off during their last meeting before he was called to the dean’s office.
‘ alright so as I said last time I will be handling your section for the year, I am Mr. Off Jumpol Adulkittiporn, Call me Sir Off or Sir Jumpol either way its fine. We have five rules,
1. I hate late comers if you’re going to be late make sure you have a good reason behind it or I’ll deduct points in your activity during that said day you were late
2. You are allowed to eat or drink inside only if it’s lecture proper as long as it won’t smell inside the room and you chewing is bearable I’m fine with it, during our labs automatically it’s not allowed.
3. Always ask if you don’t understand or if you have questions no need to be shy or scared. I don’t bite.
4. I’ll need a volunteer among of you to be my class monitor, that assigned person will serve as my contact to everyone for important announcements, passing of your requirements hmm everything.
5. Lastly, with me art is all about having fun while learning and enjoying the beauty of art as it should be. Because Art is honestly one of the factors making the world beautiful, keeping the world go on despite how mess up it is.
Art is the diverse interpretation of how humans see every bit of beauty of their surroundings, every bit of emotions a living thing has and etcetera.
Any questions---- aww *blinked eyes* I… don’t think I’m in the right classroom? Right? ‘
Eyes of each student inside the classroom were full of amusement and adoration, Off brushed his hair back embarrassed at his mistake.
‘ Sorry *awkward laugh* I’ll be on my way and you people wait for your rightful professor, forget everything that I said. It will be better if you forget that I even exist.‘
He was almost out the sophomore’s classroom when a loud voice interrupted his step.
‘ SIR! Are you single? ‘
Off clicked his tongue, shaking his head and ignored the students cheering and whistling at him, behind. Gun on the other hand followed him and yelling nonstop until another professor scold him to get inside his room.
‘ BECAUSE I AM! ‘
‘ Sir! do you believe in love at first sight? ‘
‘ how about in destiny? ‘
‘ Sir! You’re going to be mine!!!!! ‘
@ Senior Year Professor’s Faculty Room
The incident earlier was easily spread across all over the university aside from the fact that the new young professor is everyone’s interest at the moment, Off caught the promising student’s attention.
‘ just today Gun marked you as his it’s all over the university hahaha ‘ a literature professor in his late forties teased him
‘ I don’t find anything funny about it? Don’t you think we should stop the kid from spreading that I belong to him ‘ he retorted stiffly
‘ just let him that kid, he won’t cross his limit trust me, he’s just like everyone else crushing on the new hot professor ‘
Off tilted his head awkwardly ‘ I don’t think I agree with your last sentence ‘
‘ aw! You are the hottest professor here not to mention youngest ‘
‘ I’m twenty-six, Sir Prathee and Miss Lan I believe are the youngest? They’re twenty-four years old ‘
Miss Lan chuckle ‘ that’s Mrs for you Sir. I’m already married and Sir Prathee is yes younger than you but definitely not looking young, fresh and hot as you are ‘
‘Isn’t it inappropriate for us to shrug it off, a twenty year old student is literally hitting on me… his professor? ‘Off still tried arguing.
Mrs. Lan patted his back. ‘ It’s just a child’s play no need to feel so uptight about it ‘
The other professors nodded their head.
‘ beside as long as you don’t return his feelings back, nothing is wrong with that, let’s just play along it’s nothing serious ‘
//
-One week later-
Nothing serious? Off uncomfortably thought while staring at his locker filled with love letters coming from Gun.
Dear Sir Off Jumpol,
Hi. My name is Gun Atthaphan Phunsawat. You can call me baby if you like? Or maybe babe? Honey? But if you feel those are too childish fine, I’ll accept you calling me Gun. *heart*
Dear Sir Off,
Why are you so handsome? My heart can’t calm down with you looking like that!
Dear Sir Stiff,
Why are you so uptight? Stop ignoring me. *sad face*
Dear Sir,
Can I at least have your number? My hand is too precious to keep writing you letters like this, but if you like being classic. I don’t mind wearing off my hand for you *winks*
Dear Love,
Thank you for visiting me in my dreams, I’ll use it as an inspiration in my next canvas.
Three months after
With his both arms placed on his hips while looking at his desk in the faculty filled with breakfast and a tulip for 2-weeks straight in a row,
‘ Ok. That’s it. Come here ‘
Both students and professors are both shocked to see a serious stoned-face of Off dragging a confused sophomore inside the faculty room.
‘Kindly step out Sir. Ma’am. I just need to clear something to one of the students here. Privately ‘
His co-professors silently stepped out and leave the two alone, locking the door Off instructed the slightly worried Gun.
‘ are you m-mad at me? what did I do wrong? ‘
Off exhaled crossing his arm against his chest, sitting down opposite to Gun.
‘ Kid, listen. I want you to stop. I’m really flattered with all your sincere gestures and such guts liking me but it’s only cute for a week or so, yet I let it slide and let you do it for almost three months following me around *sigh* since I don’t want you to feel humiliated so I never confront you about it but now you’re even buying things for me. I feel uncomfortable. ‘
Gun looked down while playing with his hands, ‘ i-cooked those breakfast *pout* and those tulips I picked them off from my grandma’s garden so…no need to feel bad? ‘
‘ Mr. Phunsawat ‘
The student being scolded frown and lifted his head. ‘ can’t you just let me? *grab the professor’s hand* it’s my first time! ‘
‘ h-huh? ‘ Off was confused with the intense stare coming from the latter as he pulled away his hand.
‘ it’s my first time actually liking someone sir, can’t you just let me like you? I flirted way back high school and until I met you but that was because of my curiosity, peer pressure and some were because I’m expecting something back in return from them. It’s my first time genuinely liking someone.. can’t you just let me? I know I did told you, I’ll make you mine but that’s no longer my goal. I just really want to express my feelings for you. I just want you to let me, I don’t even need for you to like me back ‘
‘ Seriously child? Why do you even like me? *sighed* I’m nothing special, I’m old. Come on ‘
Frustration is clearly written all over his face yet Gun smiled, cutely poking his index finger to Off’s chest teasing the latter. ‘ I just really like you ‘
‘ Stop… stop giving me a smile flirtingly like that tsk. Alright. You’re really stubborn are you aware of that? ‘ he said sighing loosening his tie as he stood up.
The student grin. ‘ so hearing you sigh like that and loosening your tie it means you are giving up on me and will let me continue liking you right? You have that mannerism when you’re losing hope unto something ‘
Off chuckle sarcastically. ‘ you watched over me to the point that you can tell my mannerisms in that short time of me teaching here? you’re not even one of my student? tch Fine. You can continue liking me but with conditions, You’ll stop giving me things ‘
‘ Aww as in I can’t give you anything at all?! Even if it’s your birthday? *puppy eyes*‘
‘ Stop giving me things but birthdays and only special days can be an exemption. Happy? Please, no extravagant or expensive gifts next, stop flirting me openly—no buts no matter how you look at it, I’m older than you a professor on top of that. Lastly, know when to stop. I have no plans liking a student, I will never be in a relationship with a student. I’m telling you as early as now. I can’t return your feelings so don’t expect-- ‘
‘ I don’t mind. I’m happy enough knowing you’ll let me like you.
Oh and Sir. That phrase of no plans liking a student that applies to everyone right? Not just for me.
I’m totally fine with that! ‘
The student seems ecstatic with the news contrast to what Off expected, he tilted his head shaking it.
‘ You can go now. I need an alone time ‘ The professor waved his hand dismissing, and when the student left the faculty skipping happily, slumping his head to his desk massaging his neck. Off whispered,
‘ That kid. Why is he so optimistic? What did he even see in me to actually be that happy just for being able to like me? what a naïve boy ‘
SCHOOL YEAR-END AFTER THAT FATEFUL DAY: Annual ART Festival
‘ Sir Off, where’s your shadow? Hahaha ‘
‘ right, it’s odd to see you alone at events like this, usually Gun will stick to you like a glue during this kind of events and it’s a must right now, considering a lot of students from guest universities are checking you out thinking you’re a student. I mean, come on can’t blame them professors wearing denim pants paired with our color coded shirts, good-looking teachers like you are easily mistaken as a student ‘
‘ Ahhh but hey it’s quite entertaining seeing you awkwardly being approached by students for your number, haha and they will shyly runaway when you tell them you’re not a student but a professor here. ‘
Off was automatically teased by his co-professors when he was lurking around the event alone, and saw him turn down guest students who asked for his number, again. Annual Art Festival is an event in Silpakorn University for art’s student after their final evaluation exams, at this festival art students from different universities are invited, here the most valuable, meticulously chosen masterpiece of students in each years are being showcased, some were even auctioned and the funds that will be gathered from it will be used for their year-end semester outing, a reward for doing a wonderful job during the school year.
He just shrugged at their teasing, he should be thankful by the fact that Gun finally let him be, yet deep down he was worried, the boy seems to be hiding from him ever since the final exams. He was equally busy before to even notice it but now that their hell week is over, he can’t help but think about it. He visited booths along his co-workers, he even proudly tour them to his student’s booth, and the time they reached the booth made by the sophomore students, Off can’t help but wander his eyes around, looking for a particular student with dimples that calls for attention. But he wasn’t there until a particular booth in the most corner snatched his attention from the rest. The stall was filled with portraits, starting from the left to the rightmost looking at it, flash of memories appear before him, like a déjà vu.
‘ Woah! Wow! That kid is really something else huh. Should we expect this kind of theme every year from now on? Sir Off you look best in the eyes of that student for real. ‘ Mrs. Lan commented amazed followed by other comments of his co-workers, they were all occupied checking each and praising every artwork made by Gun, yet the inspiration of the artist is rooted to the ground, his eyes were drawn deeper in every painting.
Each was obviously made with utmost effort, how every strokes were meticulously made, how amazingly every colors harmoniously blended and complement each other, how detailed it was and most specially the person looking at the portraits can easily feel the emotions the model and even the artist itself is trying to express. A total of 10 acrylic paintings are displayed proudly, the model in it was none other than the professor itself, those paintings clearly represent every expression he does around Gun, such as the first painting the way his eyes were very much detailed as if it clearly screamed embarrassment and his lips were pursed no matter how hard he tried to hide it, that was during their first meeting, a portrait of him with his eyebrows furrowed totally annoyed and if he remember it right it was when Gun was openly throwing him flirty lines, up to the last portrait that shows Off smiling freely while brushing off his hair to the back, he was wearing a tag that stated ‘ SU FOA – Senior Coach ‘ it was the day that the seniors had a back to back national championship in Sculpture. Every painting portrays different emotions of Off bring back memories, it was amazing how Gun see every subtle change in his facial features. His heart stop when at the middle of all portraits, there’s the most simple one, it was the only one in black and white, it was still Off he was slightly facing upwards yet tilted to the side with his eyes close, his neck looked inviting same as his adam’s apple, he looked peaceful and damn… he looked definitely beautiful, his side profile is no joke!
‘ Do I look that beautiful and perfect in his eyes? ‘
...
People at the festival is starting to lessen as sunset approaches, it was nearly six in the evening when the artist responsible for the paintings that made Off stay rooted to that specific booth arrived.
Gun breathed heavily lightly brushing off some of the beaded sweats on his forehead, he bend down resting his hands on his knees, Off observed the crazy sophomore intently, there are still some fainted paints visible on his hands, there’s even a dried paint across his arm, his hair looked like a bird nest, his clothes were crumpled and he even recognized them him wearing those yesterday. Gun was undeniably a mess as if he just woke up yet his eyes were full of life and excitement.
‘ SIR! *exhale* I’m so glad you’re still here! ‘
‘did you just woke up? Just now did.. you ran all the way here from your dormitory?? ‘
Gun nodded.
‘ I made some finalization with those last night and was done by morning so I overslept hehe. I was scared I won’t be able to see your reaction about my work so… I ran. ‘
Off awkwardly rub his nape. ‘ why is your works…. *sigh* why me? I don’t think anyone would want to buy those works of yours, and don’t you think it’s a bit cheesy? ‘
Gun laughed at him
‘ why you? just because, besides you’re my source of inspiration. Didn’t I already told you that? And mind you Sir not to brag, but those paintings are already sold except for the black and white one it’s mine. Hehe the faculty will deliver it tomorrow it was just there because I want you to see it. ‘
The professor was stunned at his revelations. ‘ HA?!!! ‘
‘ *chuckles* it’s your first time experiencing the festival right? Top students auctioned their entry before the actual festival online, and I’m one of them. And for your information it was easily sold out because of you ‘
‘ me? ‘
Gun stood closer, he tiptoed until they were looking at each other’s eyes.
‘ those were my first works of portrait so a lot were interested since I don’t usually do artistic representation of people, I think that’s one of my weakness. Anyway, I was close taking a break from art but then I met you. You came perfectly in my life. So I won’t be able to do it if not because of you, setting it aside mainly it was obviously sold faster not because of my talent but because my model look absolutely amazing and breathtaking. *sigh* my works can’t even give justice how ethereal your beauty is. SIR ‘
‘ *poke* the way your cheeks are giving a slight tint of blush are you feeling touched at how I did great ? And embarrassed at the realization that I always had my eyes on you ‘
Off looked away pushing the latter lightly away from him.
‘ Psh next time ask for permission before using someone as your model *smirk* by the way, I thought you like me? yet it’s ok to you for others, more likely strangers to have your painting of me be displayed in their room? Tsk tsk what if they fall for me because of your work? Hmm haven’t thought about it huh? ‘
Gun felt like he was strike by lightning.
‘ Shit! Shit! NO WAY! I was too happy about the end product of my hardwork that I forgot about that!!!! ah! Wait!!! I need to talk to the dean!!!! ‘
Off scoff smiling while looking at Gun’s retreating back before staring back at the portraits.
How a child like him can knew me better than myself?
How can he observe even the tiniest bit of change in my expression? And already know what I am thinking and how accurate his predictions about my feelings are?
Two years later after OFF’S FIRST ANNUAL ART FESTIVAL & GUN’S FIRST PORTRAIT ENTRIES
‘ Ohoooo! Who’s that? ‘
Off immediately hide the sketchpad he was holding when his annoying sister pop up.
‘ I- I-I was just randomly sketching people. ‘
The unconvinced sister smirk at him.
‘ random? Yet every time I catch you sketching it was the same person? Same smile with dimples? Same eyes? hmm seriously Off… tell me are you seeing anyone? I’ve been catching you smile randomly while spacing out, and that particular smile. I only witness that whenever you are in love. So? Who? ’
THAT FATEFUL DAY BEFORE OFF ENTERED THE ROOM BY MISTAKE
Everyone were minding their own business, some were busy catching up with how they spent their vacation, there are some chitchatting at how great the newly debut idol group are, how they have this newly set of paint brushes, how they broke up with their partner, some were busy flirting, etc. Oddly out of these students Aom and Tina stood out, both are interrogating their usual full of energy friend Gun.
‘Quitting?! what do you mean? ‘ Aom pinched Gun’s arm the latter showed no reaction aside from sighing.
‘ Are you crazy? I am the one who should quit, not you! Damn, Man if only I have your talent and brain my parents will be celebrating every day! Tho they were already celebrating that I reached second year with my awful skills, they will be over the moon if I became half as good as you. But I kind of understand where you are coming from. Nothing is wrong if you wanted a time out. ‘
Aom glared at her, Tina later on zip her mouth knowing her comment is not helping.
‘ Gun ‘
‘ Art is starting to be boring for me Aom. And yes I know I’m good at it, but I feel like I’m stuck in the middle, no improvement and only do repetitive piece. At least for you and Tina there’s a lot of room for improvement and I can see both of your progress. ART is becoming to be dull for me. I don’t quite understand the beauty of it all of a sudden. ‘
‘ aren’t you a little too young to feel that way? We are barely just starting our dreams and passion Gun. Do you seriously want to take a break now? ‘
Aom sounded upset, Tina wrapped her arm around her brushing the latter’s hand up and down
‘ Babe, Gun achieved a lot of his dreams when we were freshmen, he competed outside the country and won it not once but thrice, met a lot of famous artist there, he got awarded multiple of times. I think it’s pretty normal for him to get bored eventually if it goes on in repetitive manner, just like now some professors already lined him up to enter same competitions ‘
Gun snaked his arms around his best friends,
‘ I even thought during our vacation that dating will awaken the passion and thirst that I used to have for arts, since you two are dating and I saw how both of you are inspired every damn day, but I just had a headache out of it. *pouts* Do you think I should go travel, explore to find inspiration? *pull his hair desperately*. I myself don’t want to give up on arts ‘
They were still trying to figure out how they will help Gun with his struggles and convinced him not to take a break when the whole classroom went quiet looking strangely at a good-looking guy who just entered their room. Gun locked his eyes toward the professor, the way he easily switch from one expression to another, how the professor can quickly mask off his emotion behind his perfect face, how his eyes were clear and expressive yet secretive at the same time. Gun’s heart started beating erratically, as if he was inside a canvas surrounded with nothing but different shades of colors and the only focus is Off, he was even startled when Tina brushed her elbow to him and even Aom is looking at him with concern, he was unaware to the fact that he was holding his breath while he observe the beautiful man who just appeared out of nowhere.
Shit! Before I can even stop myself I yelled the questions that was running through my mind,
’ SIR! Are you single? ‘
‘ BECAUSE I AM! ‘
‘ Sir! do you believe in love at first sight? ‘
‘ how about in destiny? ‘
‘ SIR! You’re going to be mine ‘
When Gun returned to the room after being scolded Aom and Tina shoot him with playful glares.
‘ what was that? ‘
‘ Ah… that was me changing my mind about Art starting to become dull? *grins* ‘