Chapter Text
"Remember, your paper due tomorrow night should be written in MLA format. Anything that isn't will be an automatic zero. Do you understand?"
This is a story about Choi San. A college professor who absolutely hates everything about his life; or lack of. Every day is the same. After he comes home, he grades assignments and papers, makes his lesson plans, goes to the gym, has dinner by himself, and then calls it a night. He has a couple of friends he sometimes sees, but a love life was out of the question.
Overall, he was completely alone.
He watched as dozens of students rushed out of his classroom, in a hurry to leave for the day. He wished he could do the same and experience freedom like he used to when he was younger. But instead, he chose the foolish life of being a teacher.
"San, it's so late. Why are you still here?" A fellow professor, Jeong Yunho, asked.
"I could ask you the same thing." He sighed, taking off his glasses and resting them down on his desk.
"Well, I was just leaving. Can't keep the wife and kids waiting."
"You are a single man with a loser roommate that mooches off of you. Is he ever gonna move out?"
"Mingi? I hope not. He keeps me company. Maybe you should find a roommate so you're not alone all the time. You're breaking my heart out here, Sannie."
"I don't mind it." San shrugged, deciding to call it a night.
"Don't lie. Seonghwa tells me you're miserable."
"He over-analyzes stuff, you know that."
"What if I thought the same?"
"Then I'd say you're also overanalyzing."
"Okay, okay." Yunho sighed, not wanting to annoy his coworker. "Don't stay too late, or else you'll work yourself to death."
"I'm right behind you." San put all his papers in his bag, then threw it over his shoulder.
"Any plans for tonight?"
"The same old."
"San, get a cat or something. You're killing me, man. If you ever wanna come over, my door is always open."
"You act like I'm dying." He smiled.
"You will! Of loneliness!"
"I'm 25, not 60."
"Can't believe you're withering away so soon in your lifetime." Yunho dramatically said as they walked together towards the faculty parking lot.
"You're older than me."
"And I still make time for fun!"
"Do you not see the size of my classes? Do you seriously think I can afford 'fun'?"
"Oh, that's right." Yunho rolled his eyes. "Everybody loves Professor Choi. How many transfers did you have again?"
"Eighty-two," San mumbled.
Yes, eighty-two students transferred into San's English class. He figured he'd have an empty room during his 9 am lecture, but that's his largest group by fifty.
"With that many, I'd think you take your shirt off and let a student lick your abs."
"Don't be gross."
"Face it, you're the hot teacher that all the students fawn over."
"Wow, I'm so thrilled that four years of college got me to where I am today." San sarcastically replied.
"Would you ever get with a student?"
"Come on, Yunho. That's disgusting. I mean, seriously. Who thinks like that?"
"It's just a question! You have students in their 20s, it's not that crazy to ask."
"They could be older than me for all I care, but it wouldn't make a difference. Any type of relationship with a student is disgusting."
"Alright, alright, I get it." He raised his hands defensively, still with a smile on his face. "Do you drink?"
"Not really."
"So if I invited you for a night out with me and Mingi, would you come?"
"When?"
"Tonight."
"I don't know." San unsurely said.
"Oh, come on," Yunho whined. "I'll ask Seonghwa to come too. He's the life of the party."
"Fine, but only if he comes."
"Wow, not even if it's just me and Mingi? And here I thought you cared." Yunho sighed playfully. "I'll see you tonight, San."
"Maybe."
"You have my address, right? Wanna carpool or get a ride?"
"Maybe."
"See you in three hours!" Yunho got into his car, not allowing San to say another word.
"Why me?" The professor whined, resting his forehead against his steering wheel. "Just why?"
When he got home, he threw his bag and his jacket on the couch, then made his way to his bedroom. Lying down, he wondered why he even bothered buying a bed big enough for two since he'd never brought anyone home. What a waste of money, he thought.
After about an hour of fighting to stay awake, San decided to get up and choose an outfit for the night. If they were only going to a local bar, he didn't see the point in changing. But he figured everyone would be in different attire.
Suddenly, his phone rang, taking him out of his indecisive thoughts.
"Yunho told me you're coming tonight!" Seonghwa beamed, practically shouting.
"Yeah." San sighed, ultimately giving up on a new outfit. Hopefully, his work clothes would suffice.
"You should be excited because I'm excited!"
"I'm so excited," San replied, clearly unenthused.
"Is it because you hate us?"
"No, are you crazy? I even told Yunho I wouldn't go unless you went."
"Really?" Seonghwa gasped. "I feel so special."
"I just don't wanna fall behind with grading papers, you know?"
"Yunho and I do exactly what you do, don't stress out. If anything, we can help you out."
"Thank you." San felt a bit of relief. Seonghwa was the only other professor he'd trust to do his work for him.
"Of course. But I was just calling because I'm in front of your house."
"Wait, what?"
"Yeah, Yunho told me to give you a ride."
"Oh my god." That relief San felt moments ago had now been ripped from him as he rushed out the door. "Holy shit." He stared at Seonghwa once he got into the passenger seat. "Are we...not going to a bar?"
"That would explain your outfit, gotcha." Seonghwa nodded.
"And yours."
While San stayed in a white button-up with black slacks, Seonghwa wore a silver mesh top with tight leather pants.
"We're going to the strip club, baby!" He cheered as he drove to their destination. "Hope you brought cash with you."
"And just objectify women like that? No thanks."
"Who said anything about women?" Seonghwa winked.
"Oh god," San mumbled. "Whose idea was this?"
"Mine." He smiled proudly. "Why would you wanna go to a boring ass bar? Plus, you wear your heart on your sleeve, Sannie. You don't wanna see big tits and long hair."
"I feel like I've been exposed."
"We were college roommates. Hiding from me was impossible."
"Yeah, right back at you." San laughed.
With a name like Cyberpunk, they both knew they were in for something special. To the extrovert, it was thrilling. But to the introvert, it sounded like a death sentence.
"Mingi and Yunho are already here," Seonghwa said as they waited in line to get inside.
"Are strip clubs usually busy like this?"
"Have you never been to one? Wait, why am I asking that? Of course, you haven't. But the answer is yes."
When Seonghwa and San finally made their way in, their reactions couldn't have been more different.
"There's so many people here!" San tried his best to shout over the loud house music.
"I know, right! Isn't it great?" Seonghwa smiled. "Let's go get a drink, then find Yunho and Mingi."
"Shouldn't we find them first?"
"Nah." He waved his wrist dismissively, then took San's hand to lead him towards the bar area. "Two green tea shots for me and my friend here."
Seonghwa's smile immediately fell once the bartender turned around.
"Two green tea shots for ya." The short, blue-haired man replied.
"Thank you." San nodded, realizing his friend was too stunned to speak. "His name is Seonghwa, by the way."
"Seonghwa." The bartender smiled. "That's pretty. I'm Hongjoong, nice to meet you."
"You too." Seonghwa faintly said.
"Come on, buddy." San patted his friend on the back, then took their shots off the counter. "Someone's in love." He began to tease once they were far away.
"I won't even lie to you. That is the most beautiful human being I've ever seen in my entire life."
"He must be if you forgot how to speak."
Seonghwa took his shot, as well as San's. He felt it was necessary so he'd loosen up.
"I need about five more of those."
"If you're lucky, he might pay for them."
"Don't say things like that, I get nauseous easily."
"San! Seonghwa!" Both heads turned at the familiar sound of their friend's voice.
"I need to be sedated." Seonghwa dramatically said.
"Well, hello to you too." Mingi smiled.
"Hwa is in love with the bartender," San interjected.
"Is that so?"
"Yes." Seonghwa nodded, not afraid to admit he'd fallen for a stranger.
"We're supposed to find someone for San, not you." Yunho laughed.
"Huh?" San gasped.
"Shit, I wasn't supposed to say that." It was obvious Yunho and Mingi already had a few drinks in them.
"Let's get fucked up!" Mingi shouted.
"We can't go back to that bar." Seonghwa pointed to where the newfound love of his life was.
"I think you mean we have to go back to that bar." Yunho smiled. "Let's see him."
"No, I'm terrified."
"How are you supposed to get his number if you won't even talk to him?"
"I got his name. That's enough."
"Did you really?"
"I did actually." San chimed in, taking the credit. "Seonghwa was paralyzed the entire time. His name is Hongjoong. He's the short one with the blue hair."
"Maybe there's a bouncer or a stripper we can set you up with," Mingi said to San.
"A stripper? Are you out of your mind?"
"Maybe." He shrugged innocently. "Look at him."
Mingi pointed to one with neon green hair and a stunning complexion. Money was getting thrown at him every passing second.
"Oh, he's cute." Seonghwa nudged San and winked expressively.
"And a stripper." San rolled his eyes, not willing to entertain his friends.
"So? We're here for a good time, not a long one."
"What about Hongjoong?"
"He's different. We're getting married."
"Jesus Christ." Mingi laughed. "Let's go see your future husband then." He held onto Seonghwa's wrist and dragged him towards the bar he was at earlier for a drink and then some. "His name is Hongjoong, right?"
"Please don't," Seonghwa begged.
"Hey, Hongjoong." Mingi smiled, ignoring the off-duty professor. "Are you single? Asking for a friend."
"Interesting." The bartender smiled while making a drink for someone else. "Your friend wouldn't happen to be the gorgeous man next to you, would it?"
"No, that's my roommate." Mingi was simply playing along for fun.
"I mean him." Hongjoong pointed to Seonghwa, also not afraid to show his attraction.
"Me?" Seonghwa's eyes widened.
"Yes, you." He laughed. "Seonghwa, right?"
"Yes." He quickly nodded.
Hongjoong poured a shot, then slid it towards him. "This one's on me. And so are the rest."
"Move." A younger man with glitter covering his body, along with dramatic black makeup, bumped his hip into Hongjoong's behind the bar and grabbed himself a bottle of soju.
"That coming out of your tips for tonight?"
Being the brat that he is, the stripper poured the rest of the bottle all over him with his tongue stuck out.
"I needed that." He dropped the bottle, not caring about the broken glass, then walked back to his stage.
"Not him." Yunho said to San.
"Oh, you think?" He replied.
"Who's that?" Mingi asked Hongjoong.
"That would be Jet. He's our main attraction, but he's a pain in the ass to deal with." The bartender replied.
"Jet? That's quite the name." San was oddly intrigued.
"Not his real name." He shook his head. "The same goes for Nova, the one with the green hair. Both of them agreed to only go by their stripper names for privacy. There's a lot of creeps out there so I don't blame them."
San looked back at 'Jet' and watched him dance with vulgar intent. It gave him a lump in his throat and a pit in his stomach once he saw a man shove money into the stripper's waistband.
"How old is he? He looks like a kid." San wasn't asking out of curiosity, it was out of concern for his safety.
"Jet is 22. People usually think he's 18 which is why he gets so many tips. Weird, I know."
San shook his head, wondering why a person would throw their life away and make this a career. There are other ways to make money and survive in this world.
"I think Sannie boy could use a drink, huh." Yunho noticed his friend's stares, trying to figure out how he was feeling. It didn't seem like attraction, it was more like sadness.
With a few shots of hard liquor in his system, San was officially intoxicated. He tries to come off as someone who can handle their alcohol, but it's always clear that isn't the case.
"I'm fucking miserable." San sniffled, hardly able to speak articulately.
"Right now?" Yunho pouted, feeling bad for his drunk friend.
"No, every day. You're right. I'm so alone and I hate it. Is there something wrong with me?"
"Yes, you idiot. Do you expect someone to just magically show up in your life if all you do is spend every second by yourself?"
"Yes!" He stressed, then slammed another shot down his throat. He wasn't sure if he'd ever get used to the burning sensation.
"Maybe you should try online dating or something?"
"Or maybe you should come here more often because it's worked out really well for those two." Mingi chimed in, pointing to Seonghwa and Hongjoong who were now feverishly making out behind the counter.
"I gotta get laid." San sighed, feeling ashamed for admitting something so out of character.
"Don't worry, buddy." Yunho patted his back. "We're here to help."
As expected, San went home alone that night. All he did was drink, shed a couple tears, and drunkenly confess to his friends.
Lying in bed, his head was spinning and he felt sick. That's when he rushed to the bathroom and vomited in the toilet. Still feeling the effects of the alcohol, he felt his misery intensify. He knew that if he had someone in his life, they'd take care of him.
But that's all he'll ever be.
Alone.