*My first story on this site. It's heavily inspired by the subplot between Rhys Ifans and Emily Blunt in The Five Year Engagement, with a few changes. Hope you like it!*
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It was the second day of grad school and I still had a couple of new classes to take. The first class was CIS 505 and it was taught by an Asian professor, Bai Fan. It seemed there was about to be a downpour, so I got myself to class 15 minutes early. I usually sit at the back, I dislike having teachers in my face. It unsettles me and if I get bored, its harder to pretend to pay attention. So I sat at a nice corner I picked out on my first day.
The clock struck 10 and the professor wasn't here yet. I noticed that it had been raining.
In a couple of minutes, he stormed in. And boy, was he a sight. He was wearing a brown trench coat, like a PI from a noir movie. His salt and pepper hair was slightly wet from the rain, and he seemed to have ruffled it to dry it.
"Sorry that I'm late! I know it doesn't make a good impression when I'm late to the first class of the year, but I have an entire semester to change that impression. Welcome to the first class of CIS 505, my name is Bai Fan and I will be your instructor for this semester."
His voice drowned out to me, because I was no longer paying attention to what he was saying. I was paying more attention to his body, which seemed to be in great shape for a man so close to 50. I wasn't sure what was happening to me. Now, I'm a straight guy. I've not had a very active love life, but I've never felt the need to. But this man, he made me feel weird. I spent the entire class figuring out what it was about him that attracted me. Was it his body or was it the way he carried himself? In any case, why was a straight guy attracted to a man?
I couldn't understand. I slept rough for two nights, I didn't have his class again until the day after. This time, I sat in the front. My mind seemed to be forcing me to be as close to him as possible. I tried to focus on my class. His subject was really interesting, and I had a bit of experiences in databases since I had learnt a bit in undergrad. His lectures involved a lot of interactive learning. He would pose questions to us and I would try to answer as many as possible. Yet, I had never engaged in a conversation alone with him.
A few weeks later, I was looking for employment on campus. While going through the available jobs, I found one which particularly intrigued me. The Computer Science department was looking for a teaching assistant for one of its professors. The professor taught databases to undergrad students. While it wasn't specified as to who I would be working with, the notice seemed to indicate that the position would pay well. I filled out an application and sent it in.
A few days later, I had Professor Fan's class once again. As the class ended, I was about to walk out when a voice called out to me.
"Terry? I'd like a word if you've got a minute." It was him. I wasn't sure why he wanted to talk to me. Did he realise that I have been ogling him all this while? I walked up to him nervously.
"Y-yes, Professor?"
"I saw your application for the teaching assistant post. The professor you'll be working with is me. Needless to say, I think you're really talented and would do amazing given this opportunity. The post is yours, if you choose to accept it."
I was shocked. He was the professor who required a TA? And he's offering me the post in the first conversation we've had alone? I was speechless. I mustered my courage.
"Wouldn't there be an interview?"
"Usually there is an interview, but I looked at the other applications and yours stood out to me the best. And since I've seen your progress in class, I don't think we'll require an interview."
"Thank you, professor. I would love to work with you." I tried hard to not say anything sounding like a double entendre.
"Excellent. Swing by my office tomorrow at 5pm, we'll discuss the work you'll need to be doing and set you up with an office."
