6

While Minseok was still sitting in the library his phone buzzed, indicating a call. He quickly grabbed it to not make any more noise and took the call without actually checking the caller id but he instantly knew who it was as a high pitched squeal rang in his ears. “O-M-G, thank you so much, baozi! This was the best I have ever had! I love you, my little Korean bun!“

“Shhh, lower your voice, TaoZi! I am still at the library and I don't want to hear anymore. This is information enough.“ Minseok huffed and blushed, a tint of pink spreading over his cheeks. He heard kissing noises and giggles on the other line, protests from ZiTao and widened his eyes a little as he heard YiFan's hoarse voice.

“Are you seriously calling baozi after we just had ?“ Minseok whined softly and turned a darker shade of red, covering his eyes because he just imagined his best friend and cuddling with his boyfriend.

“Come one, FanFan. I need to thank my best friend for our amazing lovemaking, don't I?“ ZiTao giggled and cleared his throat softly. “Anyways, thank you so much, baozi. Can we kiss again sometime?“

“No way! And now hang up. Seriously, calling me right after- ugh, you are so weird, TaoZi!“ Minseok voiced high pitched and shivered before just hanging up himself. Huang ZiTao was like an alien to him sometimes. He shook his head again and collected his books to go home as the library was about to close anyway.

The report cards for the first half of the year were quite good for everyone in the class, for some like Minseok exceptional good. Even YiFan had passed most of his classes, be it by only a few points but he had passed them! Heechul's strictness and methods seemed to carry fruits, his colleagues had told him that his students were putting more effort into the other subjects as well and it made the young teacher's heart swell up in pride and love for his little sheeps.

While Heechul was still spreading the report cards, the class was chatting and joking and laughing and their homeroom teacher actually didn't mind for once, he was also smiling, which was kind of creepy to some of them.

“I am so proud of you, Fannie! I knew you can do it! You just needed someone to show you your way and kick your pretty .“ The high pitched voice of ZiTao rang happily through the classroom. Heechul turned around and grinned.

“Very right, Mr. ZiTao.“ Everyone started to laugh and YiFan groaned and buried his face in his hands of embarassment. Minseok chuckled and poked ZiTao's cheek.

“Are you sure this is going to get you another amazing night, TaoZi?“ The tiny Korean whispered into his best friend's ear and made the tall Chinese blush. ZiTao widened his eyes and slapped Minseok's shoulder.

“Shut up, are you insane? If anyone hears that, baozi. Since when are you like this?“ ZiTao hissed quietly. Heechul went to the front again and cleared his throat, everyone facing him instantly and shutting up.

“I hope everyone of you is somewhat happy with the grades I gave them. Long story short: I don't want to keep you from going into your long weekend, so we will discuss the plans for the next semester on next Wednesday. You are dismissed. Mr. Minseok, if you would stay just a few minutes longer? I would like to talk to you for a moment.“ Heechul explained and everyone stared at Minseok for a moment, wondering if he had done something bad but then quickly started packing and rushing outside one by one.

The troublemaker quartette smirked at him, Kyuhyun even patted his shoulder and Key mumbled something of their class' baby finally growing up and shed some fake tears; he was a dramatic diva, sometimes even more dramatic than ZiTao and that was very difficult. Minseok shook his head and told ZiTao to wait for him at the locker walls as he waited for the others to leave, so he could be alone with their homeroom teacher; okay, that just sounded weird. The tiny Korean stood up and walked up to the front to face his homeroom teacher with a nervous smile. “Did I do something bad, Mr. Kim?“

Heechul smiled at him warmly and chuckled softly, shaking his head. “It's the opposite, you did everything right, Mr. Minseok. I have some good news but only if you agree to work with me in a team.“

Minseok tilted his head and hummed, being curious now. Yes, it would be a little awkward to form a team with his homeroom teacher but he liked the other and wouldn't mind it at all. Just, the others would probably start talking about them and oh man, not to forget ZiTao. “Sure, Mr. Kim. I don't mind.“ He smiled at the young teacher, relieved that it were no bad news.

“Okay, so you are my best student of all my English classes and there is an international project where teacher and student form a team and work on a given task together. The best entries will be publicized and the best ten entries get to be invited to London where they will be given another task and competite with each other. I actually don't like stuff like this but you really are my best English student and I thought why not try it, we have an actual chance of winning. The main point is though that there is a high possibility that you will be offered scholarships to different universities around the world. So what do you say?“ Heechul explained, the warm smile never leaving his lips and actually making Minseok a little dreamy.

The tiny Korean listened carefully, it sounded very interesting and the possibility of being offered scholarship around the world? He would definitely be in for it but was he really good enough for it? Yes, he was a very good student, no doubt he admitted it himself, but would it really be enough? The praises of his teacher made the younger blush slightly though. If he said so there must be something true behind it. “But do you really think I am good enough for such a global competition? Won't there be native speakers?“

Heechul leaned against his desk and shook his head. “This competition is only for people who have English as a second or third language. And yes, you are good enough. I am the one judging your work and I am not very easy on your guys, remember?“ He chuckled softly. “You are very good, even your pronunciation is almost perfect. And this is very difficult, especially for Koreans. Even I am not perfect. Together I believe we can get very far!“

Minseok touched his heated cheeks embarrassed and smiled shyly at the older male who gave him a cheeky grin. “You can really do it, Minseok. I believe in you, I wouldn't have asked you if not. Now, you can sleep a bit over it. We will see each other on Wednesday, that leaves you five nights to think about it. If you have got any more questions.“ Heechul stopped for a moment and got a sticky note and wrote down his private cell phone number, handing it to his studen.t. “You can call me anytime. I trust you, don't tell anyone that I gave you my number.“

“Th-thank you, Mr. Kim. But …,“ he hesitated and gently pushed the offered note back to his teacher. “I don't feel comfortable if you trust me with something so important. I mean if someone like ZiTao finds it in my room by accident. I don't want to be at fault if your privacy is invaded.“

Heechul smiled and took Minseok's hand, opening it so that he could put the note on his flat palm and close it again. “You don't need to use it, just keep it. And now leave into your well-deserved long weekend.“

“Alright, Mr. Kim. I hope I won't disappoint you. Have a nice weekend.“ Minseok gave his homeroom teacher a polite bow and walked to his seat to collect his things before leaving the class room with a last wave of his hand towards the older male.

Heechul smiled back and gathered his things as well to leave into a weekend full of work. As a teacher there was barely any space time, weekend or vacation. Teachers were busy with preparing tasks, lessons, exams for their students and it wasn't any different for the young teacher.

On his way to the teacher lounge to get a few papers he needed for the weekend Heechul saw Minseok and ZiTao chatting excitedly, Minseok touching his heated cheeks and ZiTao seemingly squealing as he hugged his best friend or rather squished him. It was no secret to the older male that there were many students that found him attractive and he had overheard ZiTao and a few other gossipers talking about him. He didn't even mind, it was a boost for his ego and he didn't take those puberty crushes serious anyway. He just shook his head, walking into a teacher because he didn't pay attention. “Mrs. Oh, I am sorry. I didn't watch my steps.“

~~

“I can't believe it, you are doing a group work with this one y piece of teacher, baozi!“ ZiTao squealed indeed and hugged the cute male close. Minseok coughed and tried to squirm out of the taller and ridiculously strong male.

“Yah, I didn't say yes yet. TaoZi, y