Archive of Our Own ^beta

There’s a certain hierarchy when it comes to Asian parents’ most sought out careers for their child. Unsurprisingly, a profession in medicine or law is, more often than not, a parent’s dream come true.

In Taehyun's case, his choice to become a lawyer is his own parents’ worst nightmare.

“Are you sure about this, Taehyun?” Eomma wears a kind smile — a mask to conceal the disappointment. His mother has the tendency to be too nice to display any dismay on her sleeve.

Taehyun nods, holding his stack of books closer to his chest. “I think I’d make a great lawyer.”

Appa looks up from his desk, and that’s when Taehyun knows that he has said the wrong thing. It’s a rare sight for his father to look away from whatever piece of art he was studying. Today, it’s a large printed copy of an ancient painting with religious figures. Notes are scrawled on the margins in his father’s messy penmanship.

Could it be Baroque or Medieval? Taehyun could never tell the difference.

“But you’re great at painting! Eomma was hoping to have your work displayed at some of her friends’ galleries.” Appa says, pushing his thick-rimmed glasses up his nose.

His grimace doesn’t go unnoticed by his parents; while his talent in art could be passable, Taehyun always thought it could never be as good enough to appease his mother’s art collector peers.

“I have to go pick up Yeonjun.” It’s a desperate attempt to flee their probing. “I’ll see you later. Love you! Bye!” Taehyun dashes out the door before they could stop him.

Things would’ve been easier if he had been raised in a stereotypical Asian household.

With an art curator for a mother and his father being one of Korea’s top art history professors, Taehyun had been expected to dive into artistic intentions at a very young age. Holding a paintbrush was just as important as potty training, and by the time he was three, he could distinguish robin’s egg blue from seafoam green.

It’s quite unfortunate that when Taehyun participated in his high school’s debate team, he started considering a career in law.

The drive to Yeonjun’s house takes ten minutes, but by the time he arrives, his best friend is already waiting on the front steps for him. As always, he’s dressed in a perfectly curated outfit with a brown peacoat over a plain white top and jeans.

“Your hair.” Taehyun gasps as Yeonjun enters his car and settles into the passenger seat. “It’s very... pink.”

Yeonjun pulls down the sun visor to examine his hair, running his fingers through his bangs. “Awesome, right? I’m thinking of getting some streaks of turquoise added in.”

“How typical-fashion-major of you,” Taehyun says lightly, pulling down the gearshift and starting the drive to their favorite cafe.

“Not yet a fashion major,” Yeonjun corrects, flipping the sun visor back up. “I still start class in the fall. Have you told your parents that you got into the pre-law program at Yonsei?”

Taehyun nods. “They’re not the most thrilled about it.”

“Are you sure you’re Korean?”

Rolling his eyes, Taehyun can’t help laughing at the joke. The two often jest about how unorthodox Taehyun’s upbringing was. “Would you like to trade? My parents would love having a son who worked in the creative field.”

“And deal with their stuck up friends? No, thanks.”

“Ugh. Don’t remind me.” Taehyun groans at the flood of memories involving the kind of circle his parents associate with. He has dragged Yeonjun to various art club events for his best friend to be very much acquainted with them.

For the rest of the drive, the pair share their plans for the summer before they start university; there’s a music festival that Yeonjun wants to attend, while Taehyun has an internship with a law firm in Gangnam.

“Wow, Taehyun. You’ve really outdone yourself. An internship during your last summer of freedom — I’m bursting with jealousy,” Yeonjun says dryly as Taehyun easily parallel parks in a spot in front of the cafe.

“There’s nothing more exciting than reading through divorce papers.” Taehyun wraps his down coat tighter around his body. The winter Seoul breeze hits him as soon as he exits his car, and he and Yeonjun dash inside the establishment.

After Yeonjun pays for their drinks (and his own meal), they find themselves in their usual spot by the window. For a Saturday afternoon, there’s not much people milling about at the cafe, so Taehyun preoccupies himself by watching people outside while listening to Yeonjun devour his katsu sandwich.

“What are you thinking of?” Yeonjun asks in between bites of his food.

Taehyun shrugs, taking a sip of his caramel macchiato without averting his gaze from the street outside. “College, I guess.”

“Excited? Nervous?”

“More like concerned for what happens after. I’m lucky that my parents are funding my undergrad, but I don’t think they’d pay for law school.”

Yeonjun pauses for a bit, before speaking. “You could try some part-time jobs. And, you can’t rule out a scholarship either.”

Taehyun scoffs at the suggestion, but Yeonjun throws him a pointed look.

“I’m serious! Your grades are good enough.”

“Maybe,” Taehyun says without much thought. “I’ll probably have to cut back on some expenses, and get a job. But, it’ll be worth it.”

His best friend doesn’t look too convinced, but doesn’t object.

"Anyway, tell me about this new guy you're seeing." Taehyun decides to change the subject before Yeonjun can press any further.

There’s a sparkle in Yeonjun’s eye as he leans forward like he’s about to divulge a juicy secret. “Oh! His name is Wooyoung. He’s a Sagittarius...”

Taehyun tries to stay focused while Yeonjun rambles about his flavor of the month, but he finds his thoughts drifting back to his situation about school. Becoming a lawyer has been one of his only consistent dreams — other than meeting Justin Bieber. He can’t bring himself to accept the possibility that going to law school might not even happen.

But as he listens to his best friend speak about things that hardly last, Taehyun considers it may not hurt to stop thinking too far into the future.

**

School doesn’t actually seem too bad when learning actually becomes enjoyable. Taehyun quickly learns this throughout his first semester at university.

While he had been considered an above average student throughout high school, it’s a different story when he actually looks forward to studying and going to class. His social life seems to be improving as well, thanks to his popular roommate.

Though it’s true that Kai tends to stick out in a crowd due to his good looks that could be compared to a Greek god, it’s undoubtedly his charisma that has captured a multitude of students at the university. Wherever he goes, he just seems to captivate a room full of strangers.

“Do you want to grab dinner tonight?” Kai asks as soon as he arrives back at their dorm room. He kicks off his blue sneakers and deposits his backpack by the door.

Taehyun nods towards the mountain of clothes piled on his bed. “Wish I could. I’m meeting my parents tonight.”

“Aw. My friends from the Glee Club were looking forward to meeting you.” Kai plops himself on his own bed, adjacent to Taehyun. “Why do you dorm if your parents live in the city? Your dad even teaches here.”

“You’d know why I need space if you lived at home with me.” He sifts through his clothes, pulling out a green polo shirt and holding it up for Kai to see.

Kai shakes his head. “I’m not the most fashionable, but even I know that green isn’t your color.”

With a sigh, Taehyun tosses the top back into the mass of clothing, and continues to dig through it once again. This wouldn’t be a problem if Yeonjun wasn’t studying at a different school.

“I think that blue shirt would look good on you.” Kai points to a navy shirt. “You seem kinda stressed with your outfit.”

“I am.” Taehyun shrugs off his t-shirt to replace it with the navy button-down that Kai had suggested.

He regards him skeptically. “Your dad doesn't seem so bad — I mean, there's a reason why his Art Appreciation class was full before I could even enroll."

Taehyun doesn't know how to explain that the pressure is derived from the possibility of running into any of his parents' judgmental friends while having dinner at a fancy restaurant. Something about their cold scrutiny never fails to put him on edge.

"I'll be sure to put in a good word for you if you get into his classes in the future," Taehyun offers with a small smile. Brushing down the wrinkles in his shirt, he turns to face Kai with a flourish of his arms. "Do I look okay?"

Rising to his feet, Kai brushes a strand of Taehyun's dark hair away from his forehead. "There. Now you look good."

“Thanks. Have fun at dinner.” Taehyun smiles appreciatively, reaching to grab his wallet and keys from his desk.

Kai waves his hand off, already preoccupied with some mobile game. “You too. Make sure you can join us next time!”

After a quick wave and a promise to bring home any leftovers, Taehyun sets off to the university parking lot where his car is. The black Hyundai had been a gift from his parents for his eighteenth birthday, and not a weekend went by that it sat dormant in its parking space. Taehyun enjoys the freedom, and the feeling of being behind the wheel; more often than not, he’d spend extra time cruising for a few extra minutes before returning home.

Inside his car, he sets up his phone and types in the restaurant’s address into the GPS. Eomma had selected his favorite Italian restaurant for tonight’s meal and while she has always been considerate of Taehyun’s preferences, he can’t shake off the feeling that she may be buttering him up for something later on.

His parents are already waiting at their usual table by the time Taehyun arrives at the restaurant.

“Hi, Mom — Dad. Did I keep you two waiting for long?” Taehyun kisses Eomma’s cheek before sliding into the booth across from his parents. Appa, dressed in his favorite tweed blazer, acknowledges Taehyun with a nod before returning his attention back to his phone.

Eomma smiles, waving her hand. “Not at all. But I ordered a cream pasta with poached egg for you.”

“That is why you’re my best friend, Eomma.” Taehyun spreads the white cloth napkin across his lap, before reaching over to swipe a piece of bread.

His mother’s laugh rings in the air, and Appa even diverts his attention from his phone to chuckle alongside her. Happiness swells from Taehyun’s chest at the sight of his parents’ happiness.

The rest of dinner continues with Taehyun sharing stories about his time in university. He tells them about his classes, and how he’s finally enjoying what he’s studying. Appa listens when Taehyun talks about Kai, his liberal arts major–roommate, and promises that he’ll take note of him if he ends up as his student in the future. When their main courses are set on the table, Eomma almost forgets to start eating her risotto because she’s fully engrossed with updating Taehyun about the progress on the plans for her first project hosted by her art club. Taehyun doesn’t know much about it other than it supposedly connects different artists and themes in locations all around Seoul, with a variety of art installations, talks, and live bands.

“The places we’ve rented is so lovely.” Eomma’s eyes sparkle as she describes the set up for the event. “We’ll be starting out in Soyoung’s art gallery, of course. Each week of the exhibit follows a different theme to match the location. The last one will be a surprise!”

“It sounds really nice,” Taehyun says as his dessert arrives — a strawberry panna cotta. Its creamy consistency melts in his mouth, and he finds himself closing his eyes in awe. “They don’t make dessert like this back at school,” he comments.

Appa clears his throat, circling his teaspoon in his espresso. “Anyway, son. About your mother’s exhibit...”

“Don’t worry, Appa. I’ll be going on one of the days. Maybe the second or the last one.” Taehyun thinks aloud. “What do you think?”

“That’s the thing, Taehyun. We want you to go on all days.”

Taehyun sighs, consuming the last of his dessert. He doesn’t know how to tell them about his disinterest in spending every Friday at an art exhibit for a whole month, regardless of who organized it.

“We want to leave a good impression on your mother’s peers and their friends,” Appa continues, taking a sip from his coffee. “And it’s important to us that you be a part of that.”

Has his father gone mad? Taehyun knows next to nothing when it comes to the world of art and his parents are well aware of that fact. It seems rather ridiculous that they would rely on him to boost their reputation.

"No offense, mom, but I don't know how I can contribute to this situation."

"Some of the artists' children will be there, and you just need to talk to them. We need as many people on board to help make this exhibition a success," Eomma explains.

Scratching the back of his head, Taehyun scrunches his nose. "I don't know—"

"We'll pay for your law school."

Taehyun freezes, eyes widening in disbelief. "I—wait. Are you serious?" He looks back and forth between his parents, but their faces don't indicate any lightheartedness. Appa takes off his glasses to rub the bridge of his nose, while Eomma wears a tight-lipped grin.

"But you guys don't want me to go to law school," Taehyun points out with an arch of his eyebrow.

"It's what you want to do. We can't force you to follow our path, son,” Appa explains nonchalantly, as if he were offering to pay for a small trip to the arcade. “In return, you just need to attend your mother’s art exhibitions. It’s very simple.”

There's a pause that lingers in the air as Taehyun considers his parents' proposition. They must be truly desperate to make the art exhibition a success if they're willing to shoulder his future tuition fees — which could cost an arm and a leg, if he manages to get accepted into a top school. While Taehyun had been hellbent on spending his free days next month hanging out with his friends, he understands that it's a small price to pay for his future career.

Taehyun pulls out the pen that he habitually carries in his pocket, and reaches for an unused paper napkin at the head of the table. It takes a few tugs of the rough tissue for the ink to show up, but Taehyun is nothing, but determined when it comes to the scribbling.

"Taehyun, dear, what are you writing?" Eomma tries to peek at the napkin with a curious gaze.

"It's an acknowledgment letter — think of it as a receipt." Taehyun slides the napkin across the table, along with his ballpen, for his parents to read. Appa scans through the improvised agreement, then mumbles his acceptance.

"Appa, I'm going to need you to sign." He flashes a brilliant smile, tapping on the edge of the napkin where he had drawn a straight line. Eomma playfully comments on Taehyun’s serious nature as she watches Appa carelessly mark the paper with his signature.

When Appa returns the letter, Taehyun briefly double checks its contents before folding it in half, and tucking it into the front pocket of his jeans. “I’ll type this up, and bring the official copy next time we meet.”

Eomma humors him with a curt nod. “Sure, honey. The exhibition starts next month, okay? I’ll text you the details.”

For the first time in his life, Taehyun doesn't have to worry about his future.

**

"Has anyone ever told you that you take life too seriously?"

Even with Kai's sunny expression, the question can only be interpreted as an insult. Taehyun averts his attention from the screen of his iPad — away from some website that advertised itself as a free crash course in art — to glare at his hovering roommate. Kai's smile is open and understanding, his brown eyes don't hint at any judgment.

And it only frustrates Taehyun even more.

"I have three weeks to understand this art crap. How the hell am I supposed to understand symbolism from a picture that looks straight out of a child’s art project?" He leans back against the uncomfortable chair, sinking lower until his head rests on its top rail.

"Why do you have to anyway? Don't you just need to show up to your mom's art exhibit?"

"They're counting on me to mingle with the crowd — helps with their image, I guess."

"Oh. Good luck with that."

Taehyun extends his arm to flick Kai's cheek. "Aren't you going to offer help?"

"Nope." Kai says happily, trudging to their closet to pull out a cardigan. "I'm going out to dinner."

No surprise there. Kai burns through his monthly allowance with dinner plans alone. "Which group of friends are you seeing tonight?"

"Some guys from my Art Appreciation class. You wanna come?"

But it's likely that Kai already knows the answer to that: "Can't. Have to read up on how to feel the emotions of colors."

Kai's laugh echoes even when he leaves.

**

The following week, Taehyun starts to panic.

He had tried to immerse himself in Art For Dummies, yet could barely retain the information long enough to be able to apply it in actual conversation. Kai had—finally—provided some help through mock conversations before bedtime, but it only proves Taehyun's lack of intelligence when it comes to art interpretation.

Hidden meanings behind colors and shapes are hard to understand; they don't have the same objectivity that numbers and factual statements can supply. How can blue pertain to sadness, when clear skies are for happy days?

Life would've been much more simple if people stopped pretending that everything could be viewed in black and white. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have to spend so much time guessing the double meaning behind everything.

"How's the studying going?"

On Facetime, Yeonjun's newly dyed cobalt hair is all that Taehyun can notice.

Taehyun shifts so that he lies down on his left side, pressing his cheek on to his soft pillowcase. "College or the art shit?”

Yeonjun’s chuckle is a familiar tune in his ears. “Whatever you want to talk about.”

“I thought I could get rid of unnecessary lessons about art after I graduated high school, but my parents are making sure that this goes out with a bang.”

“Yikes. Sounds terrible.”

“Tell me about it.” Taehyun sighs. “I wish I had a little chip in my brain that could feed me the things I need to say to my parents’ stuck up friends.”

“Or a starfish.”

“Starfish?”

“You know — like in Aquamarine.”

“Aquamarine?”

Yeonjun rolls his eyes. “The best summer movie about friendship. But now that I think about it, those starfish earrings whispered compliments, not ways to analyze a painting.”

The absurdity of it all makes Taehyun grin. It’s Yeonjun’s special talent — to make him smile regardless of the situation.

"Hold on. I've got an amazing idea. You should bring a date." Yeonjun states it like it's the easiest thing in the world.

Taehyun snorts in response.

"Dude, I'm not playing. If you find a date who knows a crap ton about art, then you wouldn't have to worry about studying so much."

As Taehyun opens his mouth to make a sarcastic comment, Kai suddenly bursts into the room, singing at the top of his lungs.

"Honey, I'm home!"

"Honey?" Yeonjun repeats, pursing his lips in amusement. "You've got a boyfriend without my help?"

"It's my roommate. Shut up," Taehyun hisses at his phone, before saying a quick hello to Kai.

Kai bounces his way to Taehyun's bed, crawling into the sheets as if he belongs there. "Oooh. Are you busy? I was just about to invite you to dinner."

"Which group of friends is it tonight?"

Psst...

"Some buddies from the football team."

PSST!

"Sorry, Kai." Taehyun turns to his phone to glower at his best friend through the screen. "What is it?"

"Aren't you going to introduce me?" There's a coquettish twinkle in Yeonjun's eye. It suddenly dawns upon him that Kai is visible on the screen.

No.

Absolutely not.

There's no way in hell that he would allow Yeonjun to date-then-dump his perfectly decent roommate. Kai is probably one of the nicest guys he knows, which is precisely why he could never let his philanderer of a best friend go anywhere near him.

"Hi! I'm Kai!"

Taehyun mutters a swear underneath his breath. “Kai, this is my best friend, Yeonjun. He’s studying fashion design at Kyung Hee.”

Yeonjun fixes a charming grin on his lips. “Hiya. Nice to meet you—”

“Anyway,” Taehyun interrupts before the conversation could go beyond polite introduction. “I’m going out to dinner with Kai!”

“You are?” Kai perks up.

“Wait—“

“Bye, Yeonjun!” Taehyun quickly ends the call with a triumphant grin, turning to his oblivious roommate.

Kai pokes his cheek as Taehyun puts his phone away. “So, you’re coming to dinner with me?” There's an expectant gleam in his eyes.

With no other excuse, Taehyun says yes.

**

Kai is like sunshine; he's bright and makes everyone around him feel warm. Added with his knowledge in art, Taehyun decides that he would make the perfect date to his mother's exhibit. He proposes the idea after their dinner with Jake and Riki, and luckily, Kai is all for it.

There's just one problem: his blatant lack of free time.

For each day of the exhibit, Kai has been indebted to a prior engagement, varying from shopping trips to hiking Mount Achasan. Hanging out with one of the most popular guys in school is virtually impossible; it's as if Taehyun needs to schedule months in advance.

To make up for it, Kai invites him to the arcade with his classmates the next weekend.

"I'm telling you, Kai, I'm not very good at video games," Taehyun says when they arrive at Hongdae. It takes fifteen minutes to find a parking spot, but it does nothing to waver Kai's cheery mood.

"It's fine, Taehyun! I'm probably as bad as you are."

"Then why are we going to the arcade?"

Kai swings his arms while they walk to the arcade. There's a bounce in step that Taehyun finds absolutely endearing. "Beomgyu and Heeseung invited me — they're my classmates in Art Appreciation."

The A-word makes Taehyun stop in his tracks. Tugging on Kai's elbow, he pulls him back. "They're not art snobs, right?" He's had too many encounters with the kind to make him hesitate.

With a shake of his head, Kai pulls Taehyun to continue their walk towards the arcade. "They're just taking it because it's a required class for their major. Heeseung's studying Psychology, and Beomgyu's taking up Communications, if I remember correctly."

"What's your major again?"

Kai smiles impishly, but doesn't answer him.

The arcade is buzzing with people by the time they arrive — nothing unusual for a Saturday afternoon. Kai maneuvers his way between cramped machines and boisterous children, to lead Taehyun towards two tall boys waiting by the counter.

He first notices the one with dark auburn hair, who listens animatedly to the other’s story. The boy has a wide smile that complements his elvish features. Once in a while, he contributes to the conversation with a short comment and a laugh.

Then, Taehyun drags his gaze to his companion. Dressed in jeans and a patterned button-down, there’s something about him that is alluring, yet mischievous at the same time. With his dark hair falling in soft waves and striking brown eyes, the boy looks like someone straight out of a comic book.

“Hi, guys. Sorry to keep you waiting — parking was a nightmare!” Kai exclaims when he reaches the two.

“No worries. We changed some money already.” The elvish boy holds up a plastic bag that jiggles with silver coins.

“I’ll cover the next round. By the way, Taehyun, this is Heeseung.” He gestures to the elvish boy. “And Beomgyu.”

“So, you’re the famous roommate,” Beomgyu says. His voice is deep and velvety — a harmonious tune in Taehyun’s ears.

“I hope he's only been saying good things. Otherwise, I'm going to look for an excuse to leave," Taehyun jokes lightly.

Kai swats Taehyun's arm in protest. "No! I just told them that you're Professor Kang's son."

Heeseung snickers. "Beomgyu was pretty bummed about not getting into his class."

The statement piques Taehyun's interest.

"Having a cool professor wouldn't hurt my GPA," Beomgyu points out, a slight pink tinging his cheeks.

"Gyu, you don't need a cool professor to get good grades." Kai rolls his eyes, turning to Taehyun, "He's the smartest guy in the College of Liberal Arts."

"No, I'm not!"

"He's too humble," Heeseung mock-whispers to Taehyun, before turning back to the group. "C'mon. I'm ready to kick Kai's ass at Dance Dance Revolution."

Kai scrunches his nose and raises his fists jokingly. "Bring it on, Lee."

**

Hanging out the arcade proves to be a perfect, albeit temporary, escape from his troubles regarding the art exhibit. Although he isn't the best at games, Taehyun finds himself enjoying the company of Kai and his friends. Heeseung challenges him to a game of air hockey (which Taehyun wins), and he helps Kai with the claw machine (with not much luck).

Eventually, Taehyun finds himself alone with Beomgyu at some Zombie shooting game while Taehyun and Heeseung play some ball game. Not that he minds — there are worse things to experience than spending time with an attractive boy. But it would be a lie to claim that there's nothing about Beomgyu that intrigues him. Heeseung's comment earlier about Beomgyu being saddened over not being Appa's student makes Taehyun suspect that he may have an interest in art. Added with the assumption that Beomgyu is, indeed, an intellectual guy, Beomgyu could be a prime contender as a date.

So, he uses this opportunity to investigate.

Taehyun holds the toy gun awkwardly. "Do you play games often?"

"Yeah. I'm pretty good at it," Beomgyu announces confidently. He holds the bulky gun with ease and familiarity.

A gamer. Very unlikely that he's the type to have deep conversations about Michelangelo.

"Do you?" Beomgyu asks.

Taehyun shakes his head. "Not really. I played Okami as a kid, though." He smiles wistfully at the memory of his childhood, particularly of the puzzle games.

"I did too! Did you know that its art was inspired by Katsushika Hokusai?" Beomgyu shares excitedly as he inserts some coins into the machine to start the game.

He did not.

"Interesting. You seem to really like art. I think Heeseung mentioned you wanted to be in my dad’s class?" Taehyun tries his best to sound indifferent.

Beomgyu shrugs, aiming his gun at a zombie crawling towards the screen. "I wanted to be in your dad's class because I've heard he's really cool."

"I don't think I've ever heard anyone describe my dad as cool." Taehyun flinches as a zombie's face suddenly appears out of nowhere.

"I dunno. He might be cool when he's teaching art — OVER THERE!"

Taehyun maneuvers his aim at a large zombie, shrieking, "Help me! Help me!"

Beomgyu finishes off the last of the zombies and completes the first level on their behalf. Taehyun almost feels bad about his lack of contribution, but then remembers that it’s because he’s trying to extract important information from his new friend.

“So... you like learning about art?” Taehyun attempts to return the topic to its original purpose.

“I guess. I probably know more facts than the average person.”

“Can I test that?”

“Shoot.”

Taehyun tries to think of a question hard enough that only art-lovers could answer. “How can you tell a Baroque painting from a Medieval?”

Beomgyu snorts like he had been just given a simple mathematical question. “Easy. Baroque has cute babies. In Medieval paintings, they all look like weird gangly beings.”

Damn. Even Taehyun has problems with identifying those things. He never would’ve thought of it that way, but looking back, it does make sense.

He’s about to continue testing Beomgyu’s knowledge when a loud group of high schoolers walk past them. A disapproving scoff by Beomgyu doesn’t go unnoticed by Taehyun, who asks him about the reaction.

“That guy’s shirt,” Beomgyu whispers harshly. “It’s Supreme.” He says the brand name as if it’s sacrilegious.

“Do you have a problem with the brand?” Taehyun chuckles.

Beomgyu laughs bitterly, shaking his head. “It’s a brand that profits off plagiarized work of a female artist, who specifically makes anti-capitalism art,” he explains. Under his breath, he mutters, “God damn. Where are the reparations for Barbara Kruger?”

Taehyun almost drops the toy gun in shock.

“Oh, shit! Hang in there!” Beomgyu exclaims as he turns his attention attention to the game and spots Taehyun’s dwindling health bar.

But as he mentioned earlier, Taehyun isn’t the best at things that don’t involve rules and regulations. So when his character dies, he automatically returns the gun back to its holster with indifferent resignation.

"I'll avenge you, Kang Taehyun!" Beomgyu cries out, raising his gun with conviction. His eyes narrow in concentration, hellbent on clearing the last round. Once in a while, traces of a Satoori accent slip out.

Watching Beomgyu expertly aim and shoot the remaining zombies to finish the round makes Taehyun wonders in what universe does a gamer know the politics behind art? Beomgyu is a mystery, with his obscure art jokes and enchanting smile. Unraveling the inner workings of his mind would be a great challenge. But luckily, Taehyun has a knack for solving puzzles.

**

That night, his thoughts are full of a certain curly-haired boy.

After their encounter with the zombies, the pair had convened to continue playing a few more games until it was time to grab dinner at a Thai restaurant nearby. Over plates of Pad Thai and Chicken Satay, Taehyun starts to learn a little bit more about Beomgyu. By the time he dropped them off at their dorm, he deduces the following:

(1) Kai wasn't exaggerating when he mentioned that Beomgyu is a stellar student. Despite being only in their first semester at university, he’s predicted to secure a spot on the Dean’s List.

(2) Beomgyu sleeps at 4 am on a daily basis due to his habit of playing video games.

(3) His sense of humor includes O’Keefe’s artwork. A quick Google search tells Taehyun everything he needs to know.

Within the few hours that they have spent together, Taehyun realizes that Beomgyu’s his best shot at fulfilling his parents’ conditions. He has enough artistic knowledge to effortlessly weave references into mundane conversation without trying too hard, and is charismatic enough to charm a group of strangers. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s devilishly handsome.

As he tosses and turns in bed, trying not to wake his sleeping roommate, Taehyun ponders on his next move: how would he ask for Beomgyu to accompany him? More importantly, if he succeeds, how would he explain why he brought Beomgyu — someone he's never even mentioned before?

His mind wanders to Yeonjun, and how it's never a huge issue for him to show up with a different guy on his arm. At one point, Taehyun just stopped questioning who Yeonjun's plus-one would be at events. Maybe if he had a boyfriend, it would be easier to manage.

Unless Beomgyu wouldn't oppose posing as his boyfriend for the next few weeks.

But first, he needs to practice his skills in negotiation.

**

If there's one thing Taehyun is terrible at, it's the art of subtlety.

Based on Kai’s intel, Beomgyu usually finishes his Monday shift at a coffee shop at 1 PM and arrives on campus at 1:38 to prepare for his 2:30 class. That gives Taehyun roughly 22 minutes to locate him, initiate a conversation, and propose the fake boyfriend agenda.

But Taehyun is willing to bet that he can do it in a quarter of an hour.

At 1:35 PM sharp, he's already milling about the quad of the university. According to his previous calculations, it would probably be the best location to run into Beomgyu, who would be walking towards his class. Taehyun tries his best to appear casual, but he ends up looking like a fool standing in the middle of the square.

It might've been simpler to just call him and ask if they could meet. Though, that would give Beomgyu enough time to speculate the nature of the meeting. A surprise interrogation would be the best course of action if he wanted to get answers fast and with his mother's exhibit only a few days away, Taehyun doesn't have the leisure of time nor the patience to wait.

"Taehyun?"

He jumps at the sudden call of his name. Beomgyu is standing behind him with a perplexed look on his face, clutching a leather messenger bag close to his body.

Composing himself, Taehyun raises his brows slightly in feigned surprise. "Oh, hi! I didn't know you'd be here."

"But we go to the same school?"

"Ah, right. I meant here. In the quad. Right now." Taehyun coughs awkwardly as Beomgyu tilts his head in confusion. "Anyway, I'm glad I ran into you. There's something I need to ask you."

When Beomgyu waits silently, Taehyun takes it as a signal to begin speaking.

"My mother is an art curator and she's hosting a series of exhibits every Saturday for the month of August. They're making me go to help impress their snobby friends, and if I leave a good impression, they'll pay for my law school. But here's my problem: I know practically nothing about art."

"You're Professor Kang's son, though?" Beomgyu interrupts with a comment.

"Yeah. My parents aren't too happy with how I turned out," he replies. "And here's where I need your help: I want you to pose as my boyfriend for every event, and tutor me in art. It's not something I can confidently do alone."

"Is the boyfriend title really necessary?"

"My parents would be suspicious."

Beomgyu's lips curl into a small smirk. "Is there anything in it for me?"

Rule one of negotiation: don’t be the first one to name the price.

"What do you want?"

He considers it for a moment. "I'd like a new gaming keyboard."

That's it?

"Done." Taehyun relaxes at the straightforwardness of it.

"It's 600,000 won."

Taehyun's eyeballs almost pop out of its sockets. "Are you out of your mind!?"

"That's my price."

"What if I get you a 100,000 won keyboard and I put in a good word to my father?" Taehyun offers, crossing his arms defiantly.

"200,000 won keyboard, an Iced Americano, and you put in a good word to your dad," Beomgyu counters.

Taehyun sticks out his hand for Beomgyu to shake. "Deal."

Beomgyu slots his hand into his and Taehyun's surprised that their hands are a perfect fit — not one overpowers the other. With a slight tug, Beomgyu pulls Taehyun closer to whisper in his ear. "For your information, I would've done it for a gift certificate."

Pulling away, Beomgyu giggles at the shock written all over Taehyun's face, his laugh deep in his chest that reverberates throughout the quad. "I have to go to class, but text me all the details. Catch 'ya later, boyfriend!"

As Taehyun watches Beomgyu walk away, it suddenly dawns upon him that he's the only person who has bested him at negotiation.

**

FAKE DATING AGREEMENT

This Contract is entered into by and between Choi Beomgyu, (First Party), and Kang Taehyun, (Second Party),. The term of this Agreement shall begin on 7 AUGUST 2021 and shall continue through its termination date of 28 AUGUST 2021.

The specific terms of this Contract are as follows:

1. Choi Beomgyu (hereinafter referred to as "Beomgyu") must accompany Kang Taehyun (hereinafter referred to as "Taehyun") to the series of "Connect" Art Exhibit every Saturday for the month of August.

2. As his "boyfriend", Beomgyu must aid Taehyun in impressing the attendants of the art exhibit.

3. Beomgyu and Taehyun must hold hands for a collective thirty (30) minutes every night.

4. Under no circumstances are they to develop actual feelings for one another.

In consideration of the mutual promises set forth herein, the First Party covenants and agrees that it shall do its best to act the part of a boyfriend, and impart the necessary information before every exhibit. The Second Party covenants and agrees that it shall provide transportation for the First Party.

This contract may not be modified in any manner unless in writing and signed by both Parties. This document and any attachments hereto constitute the entire agreement between the Parties. This document and any attachments hereto constitute the entire agreement between the Parties. This Contract shall be binding upon the Parties and shall be enforced under the laws of fake dating.

Choi Beomgyu Kang Taehyun

**

Throughout the next few days, Beomgyu slowly becomes a consistent figure in Taehyun’s life. Whereas Kai has his usual dinners with different friends, the two have found solace in each other's companionship over takeout meals on the floor of Taehyun's dorm room. Beomgyu does his best to teach him different hacks when it comes to art: what to say, what to do, and everything he may need to know.

"When all else fails, walk past a painting, then suddenly turn back.” Beomgyu demonstrates; he glides across the length of the dorm room before abruptly halting. An audible gasp escapes his lips, obsidian eyes widening as he raises a hand to cover his mouth dramatically. “The gasp is important.” In a snap, the theatrical charade fades away and Beomgyu relaxes into his typical form.

Taking it upon himself to practice, Taehyun tries to mimic his teacher-slash-fake boyfriend. He crosses the room to stand beside Beomgyu, gasping in the same manner. Once finished, he looks at Beomgyu expectantly for his verdict.

“Almost there.” Beomgyu‘s smile is reassuring. Lessons with him are far more enjoyable than reading Art for Dummies.

Before he knows it, it’s Saturday and he’s standing on the sidewalks of Gangnam, looking upon the art gallery where the first installment of his mother’s art exhibition is being held, themed after Past Meets Present: The Amalgamation of Historic Techniques with Modern Art. The rectangular building’s exteriors are marked by tall windows and black beams, alluding to an industrial aesthetic. From outside, he can see the amount of guests that have gathered in front of various paintings hung up on the white walls.

Next to him, Beomgyu watches him with concern. The artificial light streams through the glass, casting a warm glow on his honeyed skin. Clad in a sweater vest over a powder blue button-down, Beomgyu’s appearance tonight is a stark contrast from the laid back style that he usually sports. When Taehyun picked him up earlier, he had to do a double-take when he entered the car. Beomgyu clearly knows how to dress for a part.

“Don’t worry,” Beomgyu says, threading his fingers through Taehyun’s. His touch sends sparks running through his arm. “I got you.”

With a deep breath, Taehyun nods and enters the building with his head held high.

He spots his parents speaking to one of their longtime friends. When his mother looks in his direction, her eyes bulge out at the sight of her only child holding hands with a stranger. Taehyun looks at Beomgyu nervously in the corner of his eye, but he’s too busy scanning the area.

At a painstakingly slow rate, Eomma extracts Appa away from the conversation to greet Taehyun at the entrance. With her bouncy shoulder-length curls and floor-length skirt, Eomma looks radiant as the star of tonight's exhibit. Appa, on the other hand, is dressed in a new variation of his tweed blazer and wears the same thick-rimmed eyeglasses.

"They’re coming," Taehyun whispers before he raises his arm to wave at his parents. When they're close enough, he drops Beomgyu's hand to wrap his arms around Eomma. "Hi, Eomma. Congratulations! The exhibit looks great."

"Thank you for coming, Taehyun. Who's your friend?" Her eyes flicker to Beomgyu curiously.

Taking a step backward to return to Beomgyu's side, Taehyun pulls his companion closer. "This is Beomgyu, my boyfriend.”

His parents don’t do a good job at hiding their surprise. After all, Taehyun has never introduced them to a romantic partner before.

Beomgyu uses the silence as an opportunity to step forward to shake their hands. “Mrs. Kang, I’m really excited about the exhibit. I think I saw some works by Seulgi from outside.”

“Oh? You’re a fan of her work?” Eomma looks taken aback at the mention of the artist as takes a hold of his hand.

“Very much so.” Beomgyu nods enthusiastically.

“I’ll be sure to introduce you two. She should be around here somewhere.”

“I’d be delighted!” Beomgyu grins at her, before turning to Appa. “Professor Kang, it’s an honor to meet you. Your essay on the psychology of color in Kazimir Malevich’s works — it was amazing.”

Appa blinks, clearly stunned by Beomgyu’s knowledge. “T-thank you, Beomgyu — was it? I’d love to hear your thoughts about it.”

“That can wait, dear. We really should entertain the other guests,” Eomma chastises, nodding at the pair with a smile. “Please enjoy the exhibit, Beomgyu. We’ll see you two later.”

The satisfied smiles on his parents’ faces tell Taehyun everything he needs to know: they’re impressed by the mysterious man whom he claims to be his boyfriend.

Taehyun beams as he turns to Beomgyu, playfully yanking at his hand. “C’mon, babe. Let’s go fool some art snobs.”

Beomgyu laughs as he lets himself be led away by Taehyun and into the swarms of “art snobs”, as he puts it.

**

“Oh! The use of color!” Taehyun exclaims as they stop before a painting. In spite of the words and false admiration all over his face, the art work resembles a pool of hues that had been mindlessly spilled onto a canvas.

Suddenly, a man nearby turns to him after overhearing his remark. “I’m happy that you recognize the efforts of my hard work.” He pushes his glasses further up his nose. “Kim Kibum.”

“Kang Taehyun.”

“Yejin’s son?” Kibum’s eyes sparkle at the realization. “Artistry runs in the family, then.”

“This is my boyfriend, Beomgyu.” Taehyun gestures to his partner, who seems too invested in the painting for the fascination to be genuine.

Beomgyu’s fingers curl under his chin as he examines the canvas. “This piece is aware of its own derivativeness — it’s very meta.”

Kibum absolutely glows at the comment and suddenly launches into a conversation with Beomgyu. There's a lot of 'chiaroscuro' and other unfamiliar words that gets thrown into the conversation, and Taehyun finds himself nodding along to whatever they say.

After a few minutes of casual conversation, Kibum excuses himself when he sees other acquaintances. Once he's out of sight, Beomgyu bumps his hip against Taehyun's with a conspiratorial grin. "That was great."

"Thanks to you." Taehyun blushes at the recognition. He steals a salmon crostini from the silver platter of a passing waiter and pops it in his mouth, savoring the smokiness and tart flavor as it melts on his tongue.

Leaning over, Beomgyu murmurs in his ear. "Taehyun, that guy is staring at you."

Taehyun's eyes snap upwards, and land on a lanky figure a few feet away. The boy's straight dark hair hangs above his eyebrows, pushed aside in the middle to expose the ivory skin of his forehead. When their eyes meet, the corners of the boy's heart-shaped lips turn upwards in a welcoming smile.

Choi Soobin.

He hasn't seen him since they were in middle school and though the contours of his face are still the same, there's a maturity in his eyes that wasn't there before. A blush creeps on to Taehyun's skin as he watches Soobin approach, his long legs carrying him to Taehyun in only a few strides.

"Hi, Taehyun." Soobin's voice is like a flower — it's gentle and caresses his ears.

The blush that tinges his cheeks deepens, crawling up to his ears and down his neck. "Oh, Soobin. I haven't seen you in forever. How's your mom?"

"She's around here somewhere. Your mom asked my older sister if she'd like to showcase some of her works in the exhibit," Soobin explains, tugging at his black turtleneck shyly.

Behind him, Beomgyu clears his throat and Taehyun is reminded of his presence. "By the way, Soobin, this is Beomgyu, my... uh..."

"Friend," Beomgyu finishes for him, extending a hand towards Soobin. "We go to Yonsei together. Pleasure to meet you."

Soobin shakes his hand, the large size of his limb enveloping Beomgyu's. "I've known Taehyun since we were kids and I've never met his school friends before. It's nice to finally meet one."

"Do you have any embarrassing stories?"

"A ton."

"You have to tell me all about it." Beomgyu gushes.

"Anyway," Taehyun cuts in, drawing the word out. "We have to go look for my parents now. Nice seeing you! Bye!" Grabbing a hold of Beomgyu's wrist, he steers them away from a very confused Soobin.

It's not that he didn't want to speak with Soobin, but rather, he was afraid of what may come out of that conversation. For reasons that he cannot say out loud, Taehyun very much didn’t want to make himself a fool out of his childhood friend.

Snaking through the crowd, Taehyun lets go of Beomgyu’s wrist as soon as they find a spot at the other end of the art gallery. Onlookers throw curious glances their way as Beomgyu pokes Taehyun’s cheek affectionately.

“You like him, don’t you?” He coos.

Taehyun swats his hand away, looking around consciously. “Keep it down! You’re supposed to be my boyfriend, remember?”

“That was pathetic, Taehyun. You were so flustered.” Beomgyu ignores his scolding with a roll of his eye. “It looks like I have a new mission on my hands starting from now on.”

“What do you mean?”

“By the end of the month, I’m going to make sure you land Choi Soobin.”

**

It’s no secret that his parents adore Beomgyu. The following morning, Taehyun receives a message from his Eomma regarding the events of last night.

‘Thank you for dropping by last night. I’ve heard from some of my friends that they were pleasantly surprised by you and your bf when you spoke with them. Pls make sure to bring Beomgyu next week too. Xox’

When Taehyun relays the message during their study session in the library the following week, Beomgyu cannot wipe the smug grin off his face.

“I wouldn’t have expected any less,” he comments, the wicked glint in his eyes prominent from across the table. He mindlessly flips through the pages of a textbook whereas Taehyun studiously color coded his highlights.

Taehyun shakes his head, unable to stop himself from mirroring Beomgyu’s grin. “What’s the point of this study session if you barely glance at your notes?”

For the entirety of their time at the library, Beomgyu has done anything, but study. Whether it’s gaze at Taehyun with a mischievous look in his eyes or scribble on the edges of his notebooks, Beomgyu has preoccupied himself with matters outside of school. It’s a wonder how he manages to maintain his outstanding grades with his habits.

Beomgyu shrugs lazily, shifting the topic altogether. “Is Soobin going to be at the exhibit next Saturday?”

“Possibly.”

“Great. Let’s make sure you end the night with his number. What should I expect?”

Bringing out his phone, Taehyun opens up the message from his mom. “It's being held at a park since the theme revolves around nature this time.”

“What do you plan on wearing?” Beomgyu asks.

"Does it really matter?"

Beomgyu rolls his eyes, reaching across the table to grasp Taehyun's right hand to absentmindedly play with his fingers. "Of course it does, dummy."

"You're starting to sound a lot like my best friend," Taehyun says sardonically, the image of the blue-haired boy fleeting in his thoughts.

"Why?"

"He's a fashion major."

"Text him — we could use his help on Saturday," Beomgyu insists, pinching the buds of his fingers.

Taehyun surrenders to Beogmyu's command. "Fine. Do you want to watch a movie tonight?"

The way Beomgyu's eyes light up is almost electric. "It's my turn to choose tonight. I’ve been dying to watch To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before."

"Okay, fine. But you're paying for dinner."

Later that day, after Beomgyu finishes his shift at work, he arrives on Taehyun’s doorstep bearing packed sandwiches and slushies. Taehyun boots up Netflix on his laptop and much to his chagrin, Beomgyu’s choice of film tonight is a romantic comedy (which he blindly selected only because he heard that the main character was half-Korean.) Nevertheless, they settle into Taehyun’s bed, tangling themselves in the soft bed sheets and compressing themselves into the small mattress as comfortably as possible.

This is their routine — a mix of spontaneous hang outs where they can enjoy each other’s company outside of the expectations of his parents or the fake dating contract. Once in a while, Kai or Heeseung joins them, but most of the time, they only have each other.

Though it’s something he wouldn’t admit out loud, Taehyun has grown fond of Beomgyu’s chaotic antics and booming laughter. Perhaps once they have fulfilled the fake dating agreement, their friendship can still continue on.

**

On the night of the second exhibit, Yeonjun shows up in the threshold of Taehyun’s dorm carrying black zipper bags and a Yves Saint Laurent duffel bag. He swaggers into the room as if it isn’t his first time there, and hugs Beomgyu like an old friend.

“The fake boyfriend! You’re taller than you look in pictures,” Yeonjun muses, setting his things on Taehyun’s bed.

“And you’re the best friend. Your hair isn’t as bright in photos,” Beomgyu playfully shoots back with an easygoing grin.

Yeonjun looks around the room before settling his eyes on Taehyun, who sits cross-legged on his bed. “Where’s your roommate?” He asks with a little too much eagerness.

Fortunately, Taehyun has made sure that Kai had already left for his plans that evening before inviting Yeonjun. He had been serious when he said that he would not let the two ever go near each other.

“Out,” Taehyun says simply, reaching over to unzip the garment bag. “Ooh... what’s in here?”

The shriek of protest that comes out of Yeonjun’s mouth is enough to make Taehyun retract his hand. “Don’t touch anything! I have everything organized perfectly for you and Beomgyu.”

“Me?” Beomgyu points to himself, stunned at the mention of his name. He had shown up in a dark blue knit cardigan, which seemed appropriate for the occasion.

Yeonjun scoffs, waving a hand. “Please tell me you didn’t think I forgot about you. I know we only just met, but I’m determined to make sure you two are the finest fake couple at the event.”

Shoving a garment bag into Beomgyu’s arms, Yeonjun instructs him to get changed, citing his research into what size he wears had been extracted from a few minutes of stalking his Instagram page. From the bag, Beomgyu pulls out a pastel colored sweater with black detailing on the front and Yeonjun assists him by fastening a detachable collar around his neck to tuck into the sweater.

Taehyun has to avert his gaze when Beomgyu peels off his shirt, indifferent to the rush of color that floods Taehyun’s cheeks. Beomgyu has so often covered himself in loose-fitted clothing that seeing the smooth planes of his taut chest has Taehyun’s mind spiraling into dissonance.

He focuses his attention on unraveling his own assigned outfit for the night: a baby pink button-down that matches the accents of Beomgyu’s top. Taehyun quickly changes into the shirt, leaving a few of the top buttons undone and rolling up the sleeves to his elbows.

Yeonjun lets out a low whistle when he sees the result. Waggling his fingers to Beomgyu with an evil grin, he says, “Now, let me fix your hair!”

Any objections are useless as Beomgyu eventually concedes. Yeonjun ushers him into the desk chair and begins to apply different products into his wavy locks.

“So, how did you convince Taehyun to finally seek out fashion advice?” Yeonjun asks, twirling a strand of Beomgyu's hair.

Beomgyu snickers, however his face is angled away from Taehyun's field of vision. "Little guy's got a crush. I was kind enough to offer help with that."

"Is the guy Choi Soobin?"

"Yup. You know him?”

"Taehyun had a huge crush on him when we were younger. Good luck with that. I’d rather be stuck in quicksand than help him out with his love life. He’s a Cher Horowitz — totally clueless!"

Glancing up from his phone incredulously, Taehyun calls out, "Hello? I'm still here!"

Ignoring his protests, Yeonjun and Beomgyu continue their conversation regarding Taehyun's school days. His best friend makes no intention to spare him of any embarrassing tales, from blunders at school to fleeting crushes. In turn, Yeonjun asks Beomgyu questions about himself — where he's from and what interests him. As Taehyun listens discreetly, he notices that Beomgyu doesn't reveal anything that he doesn't know already: that he grew up in Daegu and moved to Seoul for college, his pet bird is his best friend, and that he's taking up Communications because of its versatility. His answers are concise, albeit vague. There's not much information that Beomgyu is willing to volunteer of his own volition.

Taehyun ponders the guarded nature of his new friend. Though he seems lively and enthusiastic upfront, there's a shadow in his eyes that Taehyun has registered before, but never thought much of. Could it be that there's more to the mysterious Beomgyu than meets the eye?

The group is interrupted by the jangle and twist of the doorknob, and Taehyun's stomach drops at the realization that Kai must've finished his business early. His roommate opens the door, astonished at the amount of people in the room, but nevertheless, wears an easygoing grin as he says hello. "I didn't know you were having a party, Taehyun."

Yeonjun smoothens down his blueberry hair, ceasing to remember that he had been helping Beomgyu out. "Oh, hi! Kai, right?" He bats his eyelashes.

Taehyun is in disbelief when Kai doesn't reciprocate his flirtatiousness, but moves to wave excitedly. "That's me! You're Taehyun's best friend!"

Blinking, Yeonjun withdraws. "Y-yeah. Yeonjun."

"Right. My bad." Kai sheepishly rubs the back of his head as he enters the room after kicking off his sneakers. "Whatcha' doin'?"

"We're getting ready for tonight. I thought you had dinner out?" Taehyun swings his legs off the bed to sit facing Kai, who has situated himself on his own bed.

Kai sighs. "We had to cut things short because Jake had an emergency to attend to."

"All finished!" Yeonjun pats Beomgyu's back with a flourish, urging him out of the seat.

When Beomgyu stands to face him, Taehyun is momentarily stunned by the results of Yeonjun's handicraft. The usual curl of his hair has been tamed in a deliberate fashion, providing him with the look of effortless appeal. Beomgyu consciously fingers his bangs, to which Yeonjun slaps his hand away.

"Wow, Beomgyu! You look great," Kai compliments him earnestly.

Beomgyu smiles radiantly. "So, can you two come tonight now that you don't have plans?"

Yeonjun doesn't hide his aversion to spending his time with a bunch of condescending art enthusiasts. "I'm going to have to pass—"

"I'd love to!" Kai says at the same time.

"—on my original plans for tonight," Yeonjun finishes, shifting his expression into forced excitement. "Thank God I always prepare for last minute-plans." He pulls out a cream-colored sweater from his bag and subsequently puts it on.

Tahyun tries not to appear too amused by Yeonjun's display of desperation. The normally calm and collected heartbreaker had been reduced to a fool clawing for Kai's attention to no avail. Maybe their interactions wouldn't be too bad, as Kai seems to be immune to Yeonjun's coquettish advances.

Their little group tidies up the room before leaving, cramming themselves into Taehyun's car with Beomgyu in the passenger side (Yeonjun pushed him away from the backseat as soon as he noticed Kai climbing in). The car ride is filled with boisterous laughter and singing along to Girls Generation, and Taehyun is later able to secure a spot just by the entrance of the exhibit.

Under the twinkling fairy lights, the orange and pink hues of the summer Seoul skies have bathed the exhibit in a fantastical luminescence. White boards have been set up throughout the grass, with paintings hinged on each side. Off the far east of the park, a generous buffet has been laid out, offering a variation of delicacies ranging from roast beef to fruit tarts.

He and Beomgyu find themselves drawn away from their original group, greeting Taehyun's parents and mingling with their peers. They promenade around the park, hand in hand, until Beomgyu spots Soobin's arrival and quickly detaches himself to reconvene with Yeonjun and Kai by the refreshments. It gives Taehyun the opportunity to muster the confidence to approach Soobin and engage him with a chat.

Soobin's presence is a familiar one despite the years that they have spent apart. He makes Taehyun feel warm and fuzzy, his smile touching his heart in ways nobody has before. Being with Soobin is easy, like floating amidst a gentle wave. Taehyun finds himself ardently clinging on to every word Soobin says, unaware of the longing glances that Beomgyu sneaks in his direction from across the green.

**

Love is something that Beomgyu knows nothing about. He's learned the difficult way that it's a feeling that may be innate to others, but never to himself. Growing up in a difficult household, Beomgyu has made a habit out of distracting himself from emotional turmoil by focusing his efforts on various activities, from reading to watching conspiracy videos on YouTube. As a result, his knowledge about random topics has been broadened and his grades in school soared.

He doesn’t know exactly why he chose to major in Communications or what it is about art that has captured his interest. But what he does know is that the feelings that start to bubble in his chest when he looks at Kang Taehyun is a dangerous one.

“You’ve been awfully quiet lately.”

Beomgyu drags his gaze away from the zooming streets outside the window to settle upon Taehyun, who’s gripping the steering wheel with his eyes diligently trained on the road ahead. The light from the dashboard gives his skin a blue hue, dancing off the black cloth of his blazer. His dark hair had been parted, the front portion curling inward towards his face.

“School has been killing me.” It’s a bold-faced lie and fortunately, Taehyun doesn’t pick up on the subtle undertones that indicate the truth.

“You didn’t have to come with me tonight if you were too busy.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Taehyun. We had an agreement and it’s the second to the last day of the exhibit.” Beomgyu turns back to the window, where he sees his reflection in its glass. He had attempted to style his hair the same way Yeonjun did the previous week, but it pales in comparison.

They’re dressed a little more formally tonight as the location for tonight’s exhibit is a bar on the rooftop of one of Seoul’s tallest skylines. How Taehyun’s mother managed to reserve a whole floor of a 5-star hotel is something that will always remain a mystery to Beomgyu. The extension of her connections and power hadn’t gone unnoticed by the familiar faces that Beomgyu had seen in the leaflets of magazines that he had read through when bored.

Taehyun keeps his arm wrapped around his waist on the elevator ride to the rooftop, his palm melting into the side of Beomgyu’s torso in unfortunate ease. Playing boyfriends for the past three weeks have put the two at an obvious ease in each other’s presence that physical contact has become the norm, even when alone.

“I think there’s an open bar tonight,” Taehyun shares, a devilish twinkle in his eyes. “Shall we take advantage of it?”

“But you drove tonight,” Beomgyu points out with a disapproving glare.

Taehyun shrugs easily as the elevator door opens. “I can ask my mom to take care of it.”

When they step into the bar, Beomgyu is stunned by the amount of expensive suits and elaborate gowns that the attendees wear. Taehyun’s mom, dressed in a silver number that glitters in the lights, quickly approached them as they entered to greet them both with a kiss on the cheek.

“You two look so cute!” Her eyes crinkle the same way as Taehyun when she grins. “There’s an open bar and food. Taehyun, tell me you didn’t drive tonight.”

Taehyun smiles sheepishly as he holds up the keys to his car, which his mom snatches away.

“Use the driver to bring you back home. You two have fun, alright?”

“Sure will. Is Soobin around tonight?”

Beomgyu has to keep himself in check when he notices the visible disappointment on Taehyun's face. Shoving down unnecessary feelings that could only be jealousy, Beomgyu turns to assess the crowd and the paintings adorning the wall that highlight fantastical (and somewhat mythical) interpretations of the phases of life. He recognizes the techniques of rising artists, Jeon Jeongguk and Shin Yuna, as well as other sculptures that he has never seen before.

When Taehyun finishes his conversation with his mom, he pulls Beomgyu away by linking their arms. “I think you need a drink,” he says affectionately with a tender smile.

He cannot subdue the grin spreading across his lips. “Only if you have one with me.”

Those are his famous last words.

**

It takes two glasses of expensive wine for Beomgyu to loosen up, but four for him to completely release his inhibitions. He had probably made a fool out of himself by babbling to different people about art mockingly, with Taehyun giggling by his side. Once it had been clear that their reputations were close to being on the line, the pair had retreated to the terrace outside where not many people linger.

Nestled between Taehyun’s legs, Beomgyu stares idly at the Seoul skyline from his comfortable position leaning against his fake-boyfriend’s chest. Taehyun draws circles on his chest, igniting a flame in its wake through the fabric of his dress shirt. From their spot on the lounge chair, the jazz music from inside the bar flows into the air outside.

Something about it seems romantic — maybe even magical. It could also just be Beomgyu’s mind playing dirty tricks on him.

Beomgyu turns around on his stomach, resting his cheek on Taehyun’s chest. His heartbeat is a steady rhythm in his ears and the rise and fall of his chest a comforting sensation.

“Hey.” Taehyun’s words are a drunken slur, as he plays with the mop of brown curls atop Beomgyu’s head. “What are your parents like?”

The question makes Beomgyu stiffen. He rakes his thoughts for a suitable answer as his fingers draw a line across Taehyun’s hard chest. “I don’t know how to describe them. We’re not exactly the closest.”

Taehyun catches Beomgyu’s hand and intertwines their fingers — two pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly together.

“You know, Taehyun, I envy the way you’re so certain about everything,” Beomgyu says before he can stop himself. Looking up at Taehyun through his long eyelashes, he can see the tipsy flush crawling up his neck.

“Like what?”

“The future.”

“What do you want to do after college?”

“When I figure it out, I’ll tell you.”

Beomgyu’s breath hitches in his throat when Taehyun drags his finger down the length of his spine. The touch almost sends him into a frenzy.

“I’m starting to learn, however, that there are perks to not thinking about the future so much,” Taehyun murmurs, his gaze dropping faintly to Beomgyu’s lips that seem to promise unspeakable sweetness.

It may have been the wine, but Beomgyu finds the courage to draw himself closer to Taehyun, compelled by the scent of bitter orange and musk that radiates from the heat of his neck. His heart is a rapid rhythm that sends his blood in a dizzying rush through his veins as Taehyun slowly leans downward.

Taehyun’s breath is hot against his skin and the air between them is electrifying. Beomgyu is about to close the gap between their lips when a sudden roar of laughter from inside the building makes him jolt away.

Blinking rapidly, Beomgyu watches in horror as Taehyun’s eyes roll backwards and he falls against the chair in a drunken stupor.

**

Beomgyu doesn’t remember much about the exhibit the following morning, aside from downing too much free alcohol and carrying Taehyun’s limp body to the Mercedes-Benz that belonged to his mother. Though Mrs. Kang assured him that it wasn’t the first time she has seen her son this way, Beomgyu cannot help feeling shameful for his inability to take care of Taehyun. How was he supposed to know about Taehyun's low tolerance for alcohol?

His bad mood caused by the raging hangover is only amplified by the incoming stress of the mountain of requirements he has to fulfill for school. Unfortunately, that means he would be unable to see Taehyun for the rest of the week until the last day of the exhibit on Saturday. Not much information is known about it, other than that it's supposedly going to end with a bang.

However, their diverging schedules do little to prevent them from corresponding through texts. Beomgyu finds himself elated whenever his phone lights up with a notification from Taehyun, and he doesn't realize that he's counting the days until they can see each other again.

Most of Beomgyu’s experiences with relationships are limited to shallow flings and one night stands, but he’s finding it harder to ignore the sinking feeling that occurs whenever he remembers that he would no longer have an excuse to hold Taehyun's hand.

Taehyun's black Hyundai is in its usual spot by the time Beomgyu ascends down his apartment building. Unlike his friends, he had opted to live off campus by renting his own small studio. It isn’t too far from campus and is still a walking distance, albeit an exercise. Beomgyu tries not to look too excited as he enters the car, the scent of pinewood, mixed with Taehyun's perfume, wafting through the air.

"Hey!" Taehyun greets him cheerily. "How was hell week?"

"Nothing I couldn't handle." Beomgyu maintains his blasé appearance with a slight shrug of his shoulders.

Taehyun chuckles, shifting the gear shift to begin the drive. "Of course. I don't expect any less of you."

"Do you know where we're headed?"

The invitation just gave an address, but no specifics.”

Beomgyu’s head falls back as he laughs. “How ominous.”

The secret location requires them to park the car and walk the rest of the way to the destination. Against the shroud of the trees in the middle of the park, Taehyun is a vision in his velvet black suit. He can't determine why, but Beomgyu's heart races at the sight of his friend basking in the fleeing orange sunlight.

"Why do I think that Eomma is dramatic enough to not use the same location twice?" Taehyun murmurs to himself, eyebrows furrowing as he scrutinizes the directions on his phone. To Beomgyu, he says, "It should be up ahead."

That’s when Beomgyu spots a large cruise ship docked by the river in the distance. The two-story boat adorned with blue lights stands majestic in the water. Various signs by the port indicate that the cruise ship had been rented out for the art exhibit and its exclusive guests.

“Incredible.” Beomgyu gasps as they inch closer to the port. He turns to find Taehyun watching him with an unreadable expression. “What?”

Taehyun shakes his head, smiling somberly. “Nothing. Just thinking about how this is the last of our fake dates.”

“You sad about it?”

The question is left unanswered as Taehyun promptly shows their invitation to the bouncer, who grants them entry onto the ship. Ever so the gentleman, Taehyun keeps his hand on the small of Beomgyu's back as they walk up the ramp that leads them onto the boat. Cocktail tables have been set up around the terrace, with people sipping champagne and tasting hor d'oeuvres while enjoying the live band. The indoor portion of the cruise is where artwork is displayed, highlighting the themes of the ebb and flow of life — a perfect wrap up to the series of exhibits for the month.

Beomgyu cannot contain his excitement as he tugs Taehyun's arm towards the railing, securing a spot for them to experience the moment that the cruise sails off across Han river. They pass on the alcohol for tonight, especially since they both cannot recall what happened the previous Saturday. As his first time on a cruise ship, Beomgyu wants to remember every single moment.

He watches with awe as the boat begins its journey, admiring how the reflection of the city lights dance in the water. As the sky grows dark, Seoul awakes in its glittering magnificence. A stark difference from his hometown in Daegu, Beomgyu finally feels that this is where he's meant to be.

Taehyun grasps his elbow, pulling Beomgyu away from his reverie. Nodding in the direction of the makeshift gallery indoors, he says, "We should go inside. A bunch of my parents' friends are there."

For now, Seoul's horizon would have to wait for Beomgyu still has a role to play.

**

La Cittá di Smeraldo, as the bronze plaque reads, is an acrylic painting that depicts the unrequited love between an illegitimate noble and a poor girl. Despite the artist's impeccable technique that highlights the subject's grotesque appearance, and the beauty of the garden, it leaves a sour taste in Beomgyu's mouth.

"Are you familiar with The Emerald City of Oz?" The artist asks with a kind smile. Because he's a friend of Taehyun's mom, unfortunately Beomgyu is forced to partake in polite conversation.

Taehyun shakes his head, unable to draw his attention away from the large canvas. "Is that what the painting is about?"

The artist, who introduces himself as Kim Namjoon, is more than happy to share the inspiration for his work. "What you see here is the City of Smeraldo, found in Northern Italy. Our protagonist, the illegitimate son of a duke and a gardener, lives in the castle where he was sent away to." His fingers hover over the canvas, pointing to the figures as he speaks.

"The protagonist bides his time by tending to a garden. One day, a poor girl from the village steals some and initially, the protagonist is angry about this. But after finding out that she sells the flowers for a living, the man decides that he wants to help the girl by growing more flowers for her. It becomes a goal for the man to grow a special flower that can be sold at a higher price for her, but unfortunately, the girl never returns to the garden to ever see it."

Surprisingly, Beomgyu has found himself invested in the story. He cranes his neck, as if afraid to miss out a single detail. "Why?"

"He later visits the village where the girl lived to find out that she had died." Namjoon's tone is somber as he gestures back to the painting. "What you see here is the scene of the man waiting for the girl behind a mask."

"The flowers — they represent the love that the man was never to admit," Beomgyu thinks out loud, gazing upon the field of blue petals painted with fine detail. "And the fear of showing your true self."

"Indeed," Namjoon says, obviously pleased at the correct interpretation of his artwork. “Love is full of its ebbs and flows, intimacies and vulnerabilities. It’s a cycle of fear and desire, just like in the story of Smeraldo.”

The silence that follows is awkward, not one daring to carry the burden of breaking the solemn mood brought about by the tale of Smeraldo.

"The use of color is amazing!" Taehyun laughs nervously, raising his arms in amazement.

Beomgyu is suddenly grateful for Taehyun’s lack of ability in reading emotions.

**

Once they've finished socializing with Taehyun's parents and their peers, the two seek refuge once again on the rear of the ship as the night dwindles. Sometime during their conversation, Taehyun had loosened the skinny tie around his neck, while Beomgyu's hair tangled in a disarray due to the wind. And when Beomgyu asks about his dreams, Taehyun speaks hurriedly, like he wants to say everything that comes to mind before he forgets.

Eventually, the sound of buzzing interrupts their discussion and when Beomgyu glances down at the caller ID, it's instinct to hit the decline button.

Buzz.

Buzzzz...

"Aren't you going to get that?" Taehyun inquiries, eyes flickering to the phone that had been conveniently placed screen-down on the cocktail table.

"I'm busy," Beomgyu declares, keeping his eyes trained on his companion.

BUZZ!

Letting out a groan, Beomgyu flashes an apologetic smile to Taehyun. "One second," he assures before walking away to answer the phone.

Walking a few feet away, he finds a spot by the railing devoid of any wandering eyes. Pressing the answer button, Beomgyu holds the phone against his ear in vexation. "What?"

"Is that the way to greet your mother?"

The voice on the other end of the phone never fails to make his blood run cold. "Hello, mother."

"I've been trying to call you — why haven't you been answering?"

Beomgyu resorts to a vague answer. "I'm out."

"Shouldn't you be studying? Anyway, Beomgyu. Did you get my text about switching your major?"

"Like I've said numerous times before, I don't plan on becoming a doctor."

His mother lets out a sound of annoyance. "What a waste of your intellect. You're very lucky that I still fund your tuition, even if you don't listen to me."

Beomgyu stills, fighting the urge to cuss her out. He resolves to watch the ripples in the surface of the water.

"I still don't understand why you chose to study in Seoul — I bet you're having a hard time coping."

Her words couldn't be any more false, of course. After all, Beomgyu's choice of university is directly associated with his desire to be away from home. It had been the easiest escape from his mother's narcissistic tendencies, and more than anything, he actually feels as if he's living on his own terms.

"Is there anything else you want to talk to me about?" He chooses his words carefully, treading on thin glass.

"I just want to know what you're up to, even if I'm certain you aren't doing anything bad."

Wanting nothing more than to return back to his companion's side, Beomgyu searches for an excuse to end the phone call as soon as possible without hurting his mother's feelings. "You should go to sleep, mom. It's getting late."

"You're right," His mother chuckles on the other end of the line. "I'll call you again soon. Think about what I'm telling you, okay?"

"Okay, mom."

"I love you very much."

"Love you too."

The dial tone is a haunting chord in his ears and Beomgyu finds himself stuck in a daze even after the call ends. Speaking to his mother makes him feel that way, bringing about the crawling sensations of self-loathing and anxiety. Only his mother has the power to do such a thing, as the cause of his guarded nature.

Shaking the thoughts away, Beomgyu swallows the intrusive ideas like a large pill. There would be no opportunity for his mother to ruin his night, especially since he was enjoying the company of a dear friend.

A friend who has been waiting for him for five minutes.

Beomgyu mutters a swear underneath his breath and pushes himself away from the railing, moving hastily towards the table that he and Taehyun had occupied. But when his eyes land on Taehyun, his stomach knots uncomfortably as he abruptly ceases his approach.

During the time that he had been away, Soobin had miraculously weaved his way towards Taehyun to engage him in what looks to be a captivating story. The two don't spot him from his position a few feet away, but Beomgyu has the growing suspicion that even if he were right next to them, they would pay him no attention. Taehyun clings on to every word that leaves Soobin's mouth, like it's a gospel proclaimed by the heavens. When he looks at Soobin, Beomgyu can see the light shine in his eyes.

And it's something that Beomgyu will never experience for himself.

Torn between joining them or letting them be, Beomgyu is drawn out of his dilemma by the sudden burst of light that illuminates the dark sky. Gasps of amazement are echoed all around the boat as fireworks are set off in various shades of red, green, blue, and purple. Amidst a blanket of stars, the fireworks are a part of the exhibition — the largest piece of art unveiled to the crowd.

Beomgyu tears his eyes away to settle back to Taehyun, who glows underneath the fireworks. He points excitedly whenever a new group of fireworks crackles in the sky, and Soobin murmurs a comment in assent.

Now that Beomgyu has finished his business with Taehyun, what more is there to do? There's clearly no use for his presence anymore, so Beomgyu does what he does best.

He leaves.

**

When the cruise returns to the dock, Beomgyu is the first person off the boat.

It takes a few moments for his legs to stop wobbling once he returns to land, but eventually, he regains his balance to carry himself on the route to the nearest bus stop.

He should be happy. In just a few days, Taehyun would be gifting him with a new keyboard. In no time, he would have his days freed up and he could return to climbing the ranks of his latest video game.

He should feel relieved. There would be no more obligations to attend exhibitions hosted by the art club of Mrs. Kang.

But why does he feel emptiness, instead?

Around him, Seoul is bursting with life at the thrills of a new weekend. Rambunctious young adults scurry off to their next engagement of the night. Whereas their night is just beginning, Beomgyu's is dwindling to a close.

Perhaps he had been dramatic about taking his leave without informing Taehyun. Though, he busies himself with the fact that Taehyun had been too preoccupied with his new beau. Just as promised, Beomgyu promised to help Taehyun land Soobin. Alone time would be necessary to take their friendship to the next level.

Soobin would be good for Taehyun — this, he understands for a fact. Though he has only had the pleasure of meeting him twice, Beomgyu can tell that he's genuinely a nice guy. A tad bit too soft-spoken for Taehyun, but still nice, nonetheless.

Beomgyu wonders if he would know how to hold Taehyun's hand. He has learned every contour and line of Taehyun's palm — a craftsman memorizing every inch of his latest masterpiece. Would Soobin know that Taehyun has a habit of wrapping his arm around the other's waist when standing idly? Or that when Taehyun hugs, he likes to rest his chin on the other's shoulder?

He wouldn't be good for Taehyun. Beomgyu’s lack of direction would only be a hindrance to Taehyun, who has his entire life planned out. Beomgyu is too much of a coward and incapable of expressing his emotions.

He would just be a waste of Taehyun’s time.

A black car screeches to a stop on the pavement, alerting Beomgyu to a yelp in surprise. Oh, God. He's too young to die. He hasn't even rolled Keqing on Genshin Impact.

"What the hell are you doing, Choi Beomgyu!?"

Beomgyu freezes, the shriek dying in his throat when the car's window is rolled down to reveal a very angry Taehyun. Composing himself, he arranges his features into a cool expression.

"I'm walking to the bus stop."

"Yeah, I figured that out. Get in the car."

Narrowing his eyes, Beomgyu says testily, "Where's Soobin?"

"I'll answer if you get into the car."

"No."

Taehyun pulls his hands away from the steering wheel to grasp his hair in frustration. "Beomgyu, please get in the car."

Although the car's air conditioning is tempting in the humid summer night, Beomgyu plants his feet firmly on the sidewalk.

"You can’t make me. I’ve fulfilled my end of the contract. You can leave me alone now." Beomgyu juts his chin outward in defiance, and prepares to return to his stroll towards the bus stop.

However, Taehyun has other plans. He shifts the car into park, and practically jumps out of his vehicle to grasp Beomgyu's arm. When the latter tries to wring himself away, his hold only tightens.

"Talk to me," Taehyun pleads.

Beomgyu turns his chin to the other direction, unable to meet Taehyun's piercing gaze. "What about?"

"Why did you leave?" With his free hand, Taehyun shifts his hand to Beomgyu's cheek, gently forcing their eyes to lock. "Honestly."

Resigned, Beomgyu's shoulder slump. "You looked happy with Soobin. I didn't want to bother the happy couple." There's a bitter note to the words.

"I don't have a crush on Soobin, you idiot."

"What?"

"I mean," Taehyun corrects himself, "I thought I did. But talking to him isn't the same — we're too different. I was too caught up in the idea I had of him when we were kids," he admits.

Beomgyu nods slowly. "Okay. What does that have to do with me?"

Instead of answering, Taehyun rolls his eyes and snakes his arms around Beomgyu's arms before taking his mouth with his.

Taehyun tastes like sweet ecstasy mingled like sin, the elusive flavor driving a hunger in Beomgyu that threatens to rage out of control. Nothing would ever equal the feeling of being in Taehyun's arms. Beomgyu gasps when he feels Taehyun's tongue beckoning his lower lip for entry, immediately tangling his fingers in Taehyun's hair to prevent him from pulling away as they deepen their kiss.

They pull apart after what seems to be an eternity, Beomgyu resting his forehead against Taehyun's while caught in a trance. "So, no more fake dating, then?"

"No more," Taehyun confirms, a captivating grin spreading across his face. "Let's do this for real."

**

4 years later

Taehyun gazes upon the canvas, drinking in its muted colors and the mysterious smile of the subject. Mischievously, he leans over to his companion to whisper, "You know, it's a lot smaller than I thought it would be."

Beside him, his longtime boyfriend rolls his eyes, turning his attention back to the painting a few feet away. "Is that all you can say about the Mona Lisa?" Beomgyu asks incredulously.

Tourists scamper around the two, craning their necks for a glimpse at the masterpiece. Oftentimes, Taehyun finds himself pushed against Beomgyu, which he would've enjoyed if they were not in the middle of a crowded museum. Fed up with the behavior, Taehyun grabs Beomgyu's hand to pull him away from the horde.

"Was a trip to the Louvre really necessary? You and I aren't even that obsessed with art," Taehyun points out when they begin to walk along another room, portraits of scantily-clad Europeans conspicuous against the burgundy walls.

"I promised your parents I'd send them photos of us here. After all, this is your graduation trip and the last hurrah before law school." Beomgyu glances back and forth between the paintings on the wall and the guidebook nestled comfortably in his hands. "And before I have to go back to Japan."

Taehyun frowns, threading his arm around Beomgyu. "Do you really have to go?" He whines.

"It's my job, babe." There's a teasing smile playing on his boyfriend's lips.

"Can't you develop games in South Korea?"

"It took a lot of convincing for me to work abroad independently. Now, hold on. Look: that's The Coronation of Napoleon."

They halt before a large painting that takes up the entire length of a wall. Taehyun still doesn't know much about art, but he can appreciate the masterful portrayal and the meticulous attention to detail. Despite its size, every figure in the painting had been attended to with diligence. For a moment, he seems to forget that it's oil paint on a canvas, rather than a photograph.

"Now, that's an amazing use of color," Beomgyu says in awe, eyes twinkling with the stars as he gazes upon the painting with admiration. Taehyun has fallen in love with the way Beomgyu’s eyes light up when he praises a painting he finds particularly fascinating. And while Taehyun has never found personal joy in looking at paintings on a canvas, Beomgyu's smile is a masterpiece that he can look at forever.

End.