Chapter Text
“Everyone, keep passing the bag around once you’ve pulled out a name!” Professor Larson cheerfully announced to the class as everyone just gave her an apprehensive look.
Dylan was in his second year of university now, and he hadn’t done a Valentine’s Day exchange since he was in elementary school. It felt a bit overdone and frankly out of place for college, but the professor said she would give extra credit to anyone who participated, so naturally most of the class didn’t want to pass up an opportunity for an easy grade boost.
Professor Larson had said it would be an ‘opportunity to have fun’ and ‘break the ice’ since the semester just started a couple weeks ago. She often came to class with an overly-joyful personality - which Dylan supposed was better than most of the drab professors who seemed less excited to be attending class than the actual students.
“Now, you will all have the next week to surprise your valentine, and no swapping!” Professor Larson instructed. “A gift exchange is a fantastic way to make new friends, and I want you all to get creative with it! Afterall, homemade valentines are the best way to show someone you care.”
He rested his cheek in his hand and sighed. Honestly, Dylan didn’t really care much to get any of his classmates a gift. He didn’t talk to anyone in the class and only knew a few people in passing. The only reason he chose to participate was because he tanked their last quiz and could use the extra credit.
Dylan watched over his shoulder with a bored expression as the bag went around the room until it was passed to Jun Tangsakultham.
“Who’d you get as your secret valentine, Jun?” A girl sitting next to Jun batted her eyes at him. Dylan recognized her as one of the sorority girls around campus.
Jun looked at the paper he had just pulled and smirked, looking back to the girl obviously flirting with him. “I can’t tell you. That’s the point,” Jun cheekily replied whilst giving her a wink.
Dylan looked back towards the front of the room and rolled his eyes. Jun was one of the school athletes who everyone on campus had a crush on - including Dylan. Yes, he knew it was ridiculous and completely out of his league, but what could you say? The man was hot. He was obnoxiously friendly, always having a huge, conceited grin on his face, and had brown highlights in his dark hair that would swoop in front of his eyes like you saw from models. It was unfair. It was annoying. But Dylan would be lying to himself if he didn’t say he secretly wished from time to time that Jun would look his way.
A tap on his shoulder brought Dylan out of his thoughts and back to reality, where the person beside him was holding the paper bag out to him containing the names of participating students.
“Sorry,” Dylan muttered and sat up to take the bag. As he reached inside the bag to choose a name and seal his fate, he just thought one thing: Please don’t be Jun. Please don’t be Jun. Anyone but Jun.
He would have been fine having to give a gift to most anyone in the class. The only person he didn’t want to pull the name of was the campus jock who everyone fawned over. Dylan already tried to lay low at school, not particularly being a big fan of attention, and he really didn’t want to be teased by anyone for giving the Jun a cheesy Valentine’s Day gift.
He blindly handed the bag to the person next to him, keeping his eyes on the slip of paper in his hands. Dylan unfolded the name and swallowed hard. ‘Jun Tangsakultam.’
Fuck. Dylan thought. It was just his luck.