CLOS-ER
A year later after that fateful day
Gun, after class as usual was lurking around near the faculty that belongs to the professors handling 5th year students, behind him is the usual scene wherein Aom is glaring and scolding her girlfriend for conspiring with Gun at his craziness for the professor, a total of two years, Gun is chasing after Mr. Jumpol for almost two years yet the latter never once show interest to Gun as a man, yes they were civil now, Off will smile from time to time towards him and compliment him at times. Still, Off will always remind the boundary between them, that they will never cross far from being a student and a professor. That the way he is treating him is equal to his treatment with every student. He is just like everyone else to him.
‘ Gun, aren’t you tired? ‘
‘ But Aom you noticed it too right? Professor Off doesn’t look ok? he looks unwell. I just want to see him up close and ask if something is bothering him ‘
‘ you equally don’t look well, we just finished midterms, you need to rest aside from us studying all night and finishing requirements, you’ve been helping everyone with their stuffs too ‘
Sympathy is written all over Aom’s face, Tina squeeze her girlfriend’s hand,
‘ babe ‘ she called out with a sweet voice while shaking her head. Aom sighed before tapping her friend’s attention.
‘ Gun, let’s go home. It’s already starting to get dark. Maybe Sir Off already went home ‘
Gun pouted crossing his arm like a child. ‘ but we saw his car at the parking lot earlier ‘
Tina patted Gun’s shoulder,
‘ let’s check it again and if it’s no longer there, we all go home and take a rest it’s been a long day for everyone ok? Gun? Babe? ‘
The two nodded and went on their way home after confirming Off’s car is no longer there. Feeling bothered and sleep not coming to his way Gun changed to his hoodie and duo tone pastel jogging pants as he decided to take a walk outside his dormitory. Coincidentally he saw a familiar car parked carelessly near outside his dormitory, he was about to brushed it off when he heard a very very familiar voice even if it’s in a different tone far from the calm tone he was used to.
‘ Ah fuck it! Fuck! ‘ Off yelled not caring at his professor image anymore he was a messy, cursing machine type of drunk, yet he still drunk himself with strong alcohol. Off’s white polo sleeve had his three buttons open, his hair that was usually styled in a neat way is all over the place, his tie is almost undid and out of place. He was sitting uncaring outside his car when,
‘ S-sir Off? ‘ Gun reluctantly asked, the latter laughed in a sarcastic tone, confused student was shocked when Off trapped him, leaning to the car with both Off’s arm locking him in between.
‘ Mr. Phunsawat ‘
Gun slightly looked away as the smell of strong liquors hit his senses, Off firmly held his chin in place directly staring back at him.
‘ Take a good look at me. Far from the well-behaved, composed and respected professor of the senior year faculty. Can you still proudly say you like me? ‘
His breathing hitched as Off leaned closer to his face, he sighed out of relief when Off just leaned his head against his shoulder.
‘ Kid. Tell me. Why can’t my family just let me be? Why are they so scared of me ending up being alone? So what if both of my exes are now getting married? It’s their loss for letting me go back then. It’s their fault for expecting too much from me *snorted* then break up with me when I end up not following their whims. So what if everyone are in a relationship? It doesn’t mean I have to be in one too. ‘
‘y-you hate being in a relationship that much? Besides, your family are just worried ‘
‘ I understand that. It’s just, sometimes overbearing. I am just barely starting to live for myself after being stuck in a relationship that drained everything in me. ‘
Off moved away slapping his own head lightly, he chuckled. ‘ Why am I even telling you all of this when you obviously won’t understand. You unexperienced child won’t understand. You should go home ‘
‘ Sir ‘
‘ I’m fine kiddo. I can handle myself ‘ Off stated slouching down, leaning his back to his driver’s seat door. Gun sat down beside him.
‘ didn’t I just told you to go home? You have class tomorrow ‘
‘ you also have class tomorrow ‘
‘ I’m a professor ‘
‘ much more that you should set example to students ‘
Silence….
‘ go home, it’s not safe here ‘
‘ Psh. Your safety is more at bay here. Sir, I can even take advantage of you if I want to ‘
Off chuckled, recklessly and maybe due to the alcohol that he jokingly leaned closer to the student, his chest is seductively closer to Gun’s while he whispered to the latter’s ear as he painfully play with the latter’s other ear
‘ and in what way you’ll take advantage of me? ‘
Gun gulped, ‘ shit shit shit, I didn’t know you’re a pervert drunk!!!! ‘ he closed his eyes tightly with both hands formed in a fist. A minute later when he felt a heavy thing on his lap he opened his right eye to peek and fully relax when he saw the professor sleeping as he collapse uncomfortably to his thighs.
--
Off can barely open his eyes, the sunlight directly hitting his face is annoying him but nothing can compare to the way his head feels like breaking, he groans and stretch his arms when he heard vehicles horns, he fully opened his eyes and got confused when the blue sky greeted him
‘ I slept outside??? ‘
He thought and abruptly sat up when a flash of memory last night came rushing when he noticed Gun’s face after the sky view,
‘ Ahhhh finally you’re awake sir, gee I can’t feel my legs because of you! Your head is so heavy! ‘
‘ Mr. Phunsawat!!!! W-wwhat are you doing here?! ‘
Gun looked at him a teasing look ‘ aw isn’t it obvious we slept together here SIR ‘
--
Gun can’t help but tease the older guy when he noticed how rush of panic and disbelief crossed his face. Off had no choice but drag Gun inside his car for them not to gather more attention from people outside.
‘ hahaha come on! I was just messing with you sir. I’m not cheap even if you’re sexy when drunk I won’t give in to you in the middle of the road * winks* ‘
‘ Phunsawat ‘ Off warned.
Gun laughed and snorted, ‘ Fine. I’ll stop. Drop me there Sir that’s my dorm. Told you it’s near and I was not stalking you last night psh. You were the one who appeared in front of me unannounced. Of course I can’t ignore you ‘
‘ get off the car and make sure to go to your class ‘
Gun pouted. ‘ What a meanie. I listened to your drunk ass last night, lend my body * Off glares* my shoulder for you to lean on and my thighs for you to sleep on tsk you ungrateful adult! ‘ he walked out slamming the passenger seat, Off noticed how stiff Gun was walking and felt guilty, he called him out
‘ Phunsawat, t-thank you. ‘
Gun grinned before giving a small smile saluting at him ‘ anytime crush ‘
Off shakes his head, and was about to leave when..
‘ Sir! You should just straight up tell your family not to mess with your love status. Assure them you are fine and happy being single. I personally think attending your exes wedding and congratulating them will put your family at ease knowing you heartily doing well on your own and no bitterness left. If they personally saw it for themselves that you are really fine they will eventually stop pressuring you to it
Or….
Just tell them all you are waiting is to fall for me before we officially be in a relationship. I’m always waiting just right here anyway! Don't forget Sir we just level up our student- professor relationship ok?! *flying kiss* ‘
After that time spent together Gun and Off’s closeness is more evident, Off is no longer trying to get Gun off his back, with the latter before always chasing after him, from always behind him Gun can actually walk side by side with Off now without the latter being uptight and stiff. Even Aom and Tina were confused how the professor suddenly eased up around Gun.
‘ soooooo what’s the deal between you and Gun? ‘ the literature professor Mr. Thok asked curiously.
‘ Professor- student. Hmm and I guess we’re just being friendly these past few days after all the kid is not that bad. He’s not a dangerous student I should avoid that I used to think. And perhaps I witness a mature side of him and not just the flirty brat impression I have on him‘
‘ Really now? Come on, just between us even if it’s more than that I won’t judge you ‘ he teased
Off laughed at him. ‘ Sir, I already told you there’s no way I will be in a relationship with a student in a romantic way. And I honestly have no plans being into someone romantically for now. Also, I concluded there’s nothing wrong with us being friends with students. Mr. Phunsawat is a good student and most of the professors here is close with him, and they were right that even if he openly flirt and express his likeness of me. He still respect me as his superior. ‘
--
‘ respect as his superior my ass! ‘ he thought.
‘ D-did you just smacked the head of a professor? ‘
Off unbelievably looked at the fearless student, they are currently inside the visual art laboratory, Gun dragged him here after class asking for an evaluation for his landscape painting project since they are now friends, consulting him with his important art piece before submitting it became a usual routine for them.
Sticking his tongue out Gun hissed ‘ you earn that! I saw you flirting with the 5th year student of yours even after our agreement! ‘
Off chuckled ‘ flirting?! I don’t know how to flirt! ‘
‘ yes you do! I suffered from it first hand when you were drunk! ‘ Gun blushed pointing the tip of his paint brush to the professor,
‘ Ohhh. Scary! The child is pointing his paint brush at me! ‘ Off mocked in fake terrified tone,
‘ that’s it! You’re so dead you loveless stiff!!! ‘
Off laughed as Gun chase after him with a paint brush, on the corner of the room the Aom Tina couple are silently eyeing each other as they look at their friend and their professor chasing one another like a teenager couple.
‘ Babe ‘ Tina twirl her girlfriends hair around her index finger,
‘ is it just me or they really look good together? They really look like a couple to me these past few days don’t you think? ‘
Aom that is comfortably sitting on Tina’s lap as she paint her current assignment glanced at their topic, she giggle lightly when she saw Gun tripped and fell above Off,
‘ let’s just pretend we can’t see them acting as if they’re in a romantic movie ‘
But Tina being Tina commented something that made Aom pinched her arm yet Tina just smirk at her kissing her shoulder after.
‘ why not try rolling around on the floor to make it look more romantic? Haha ‘
--
When they got tired fooling around, Off started evaluating Gun’s work, he stood behind Gun while checking every detail of his landscape with Gun in front of him. Gun’s heart is already having a hard time to recover from their falling trip accident earlier and now with Off standing closely behind him, a part of him is silently praying for the professor not to notice it. This is Gun’s struggle ever since Off let him in and ease up around him, Off always forgetting that Gun is different from his other students, Gun is not just a student he can act closely like this. He doesn’t have any single idea how hard for Gun to control his emotions.
Gun inhaled deeply when he smelled Off’s manly perfume when the latter leaned in closer, his head was almost beside Gun’s face,
‘ Try to create a more subtle variances in areas with narrow range of colors, ‘
The student was standing still stiffly like a soldier when Off started speaking near his ear, Off even had to point some points that Gun can feel Off’s chest against his back.
‘ the harmony of your chosen colors are somewhat overwhelming try toning down you color experiments—Phunsawat? Are you even listening? ‘
Gun immediately moved away from him when Off turned his face towards his way the latter’s nose even hit his cheeks that’s how close they are!!!
‘ *cough* Ok. I got it! ‘
Feigning ignorance Off asked ‘ why are you so red? ‘
‘ I have a natural blushed skin! Yup that’s it! Ah! Sir! I think I’ll go ahead. Thanks for today! Tina! Aom let’s go we’re done! ‘
Off waved his hand at the students who were still bidding him goodbye but Gun already dragged them away.
‘ What was that? ‘ Gun frustratedly asked Tina and Aom, the couple laughed at him
‘ what’s up with you?! Before you were dying to have alone time with the professor and now that you have it. You’re acting shy! Haha ‘ Tina commented.
‘ Right. We were trying so hard to focus with our own business but we can’t help but to notice the tension between you guys hahaha! It was fun and cheesy to watch and add the fact that Sir Off was wearing a casual clothes instead of his usual professor look. We actually like those couples in movies that always choose to be left behind after class pretending to study but the truth is we were just finding excuse to flirt ‘
‘ is he doing it on purpose? Have he forgotten that I have a crush on him? Is he that comfortable with me now? Ah!!! How will I survive if he keeps being like this with me?! ‘
‘ is he also like that when you two are alone? ‘
Gun nodded. ‘ You two have no idea how hard for my heart not to explode and have my low body react when were alone last time! he fucking hold my hand teaching me how to do stippling and shadowing properly in a sketch last weekend! And please that remind me he even gave me a hand massage—‘
‘ hand massage?! Where!!!? ‘ the couple chorused while looking at his lower area.
Gun pinched the both of them ‘ Not that kind of hand massage!!!! Aish! ‘
Gun shifted his body and as if his energy was drained collapsed to the couple, they patted his head lovingly.
‘ hang in there haha! ‘
‘ should I be thankful that we are close now? ‘
‘ hmm speaking of, how did you two became close anyway? Aside from you comforted him when he had a personal problem? There’s no way he will easily break down his walls just like that there must be a turning point somehow‘
Gun lowered his gaze. ‘ I somewhat told him… ‘
‘ told him? ‘
‘ that I will stop liking him romantically as long as he don’t shut me out again ‘
‘ WHAT?!!!!!’
SIX YEARS AFTER THAT FATEFUL DAY
‘ Love!!!!! Hurry up! ‘
Twenty-six years old artist Gun smiled softly looking at the old acrylic painting that he saw accidentally when he went to visit his old room. Two arms snaked their way around his slim waist,
‘ Geez. You’re staring at that painting of that old man once again. I’m really starting to get jealous now and it will take longer than three months of you making up with me this time around ‘
Gun’s shoulder started trembling as he laughed before, kissing the latter’s cheek
‘ Shut up! Dad and Mom are waiting. Let’s go home ‘