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Sitting on a white bar stool, Da On fidgeted with his hands as he watched the people in front of him set up the cameras and lights, preparing for the shoot.
He’s only been here for 15 minutes and Da On’s already regretting agreeing to be part in Namgoong’s video for a class project. How he was convinced into even entertaining the idea goes beyond Da On’s understanding.
“Hyung, can you stop looking as though I’m holding you hostage?” a voice called out and Da On noticed his junior from the student council approaching him with stack of papers in his hand.
“Well, seeing how you won’t let me change my mind and leave, I don’t see how this is not a hostage situation,” Da On petulantly retorted, his back slouching slightly.
Namgoong simply laughed, knowing not to take the President of the student council too seriously, even though though he knows there were some truth behind those words.
“Think of it as me doing you a favor,” Namgoong suggested as he placed an arm around the latter’s shoulder, “you’ve always told me you wanted to expand your social circle outside of school.”
“Yes, expand my social circle, not going on blind dates,” Da On protested, side eyeing the staff who placed a blind in front of him, effectively blocking his sight of whoever is to come.
Rolling his eyes, Namgoong, straightened his back, “if you reject him, he can be your friend. If you like him, you can be his boyfriend. Either way, you win, I win and the other guy wins.”
“Now be quiet, put your heart in it, your mystery guy is set to come anytime soon.”
“But -“ Da On spoke up as a last attempt to convince the latter to let him go but it was fruitless. The latter has left and Da On noticed a shadow on the other side of the blind. He unconsciously held his breath, feeling his heart beat in his chest a thousand times faster.
For an all-rounder like Da On, president of the student council, being placed first in his student ranking and achieving the school’s prince title, when it comes to the dating scene, Da On felt like a kid learning how to swim. It doesn’t help that Da On recently only came out to the people he knows.
“Alright, we’re going to start shooting in a minute. I’m just going to need you guys to act comfortably and answer the questions as truthfully as you can okay?” Namgoong shouted from his seat beside the camera.
“Okay, the camera is going to start rolling in 3… 2…” Namgoong raised his hand to signal ‘1’ and cued that the cameras was rolling.
“First question, introduce yourself.”
“Hi, I’m 17 years old and I’m currently a student at “New Light Boys’ High School,” Da On greeted, bowing his head slightly.
“Hello, I’m 16 years old and I’m in a midst of transferring school,” the voice from the other side softly greeted back.
Based on the voice, Da On’s mind couldn’t help but to try to form a mental image of the owner. The latter has a… cute voice, Da On decided.
“If you don’t mind me asking, why are you transferring schools?” Da On asked hesitantly. It was the middle of a term and it was rather unusual to have a student transfer schools during time of the year.
“Uhh… my mum’s company recently transferred her somewhere so we thought it was a good idea to attend school that was nearer,” the latter explained awkwardly.
Before Da On could ask for more, Namgoong gave a cue that the first question was over and it was now Da On decision if he would like to raise the blinds. Seeing no harm to it, Da On reached out for the cord and pulled it slightly.
“Oh, I can see your shoes now. Nice shoes,” the latter suddenly commented to which Da On let out a short laughter at the randomness of the question.
“I see that you’re honest,” Da On commented lightly, “but thank you.”
“Profile,” Namgoong called out.
“I’m 176cm, uhh… I weigh 60kg. And I’m also an ISTJ.”
Da On pursed his lips as his mental image of the latter began to shift accordingly to the description that was given to him.
“I’m 178cm and I weigh 65kg. I’m an INFP.”
“I guess we’re both introverts,” the latter mused out loud.
“People usually call me a people pleaser,” Da On joked, side glancing at Namgoong who was looking at him weirdly.
“So that means you’re kind,” the latter said with such innocence. If only he knew what Da On went through, would he think the same way?
Namgoong obnoxiously cleared his throat when the conversation seemed to be carrying on for too long. The latter caught on and a moment later, the blind raised another inch.
Da On felt butterflies in his stomach when he realize that the stranger still liked him so far. It was strangely exciting, having someone like him without knowing who he is.
Soon, time went by for the two of them, answering question after question until it was time for the last question. Da On could already make the latter’s figure with the only thing left was his face.
“You guys are doing good so far. Now for the final question which will decide if the two of you will finally get to meet face to face or leave this place with just your memories,” Namgoong announced dramatically, placing both his hands over his heart, pouting at the two boys in front of him.
“Do you think you can start a relationship in just a day?”
And for once, the question not only Da On stumped but the stranger fell silent. It felt like a million dollar question, with the prize money being equivalent to seeing the stranger’s face, which Da On is so desperately wanting to see. Either ways he goes about answering, he could see the cons to it.
But Da On has been 110% honest throughout the interview and the stranger seemed to like him. All his life, he wants to find someone who truly likes him for him, without a name or status attached to him. If he were to fake his answer in hopes for the stranger to like him, then it defeats the entire purpose of it.
“I think a friendship can start in a day,” Da On decided to settle on, “a relationship should be based on trust, genuine care for another, the want to see the other person grow while also wanting to be better for that person. Those kind of emotions and feelings takes time to nurture.”
Da On looked down at his fingers that were playing with each other, “it’s easy to like someone almost immediately. It could be the way that they look, it could be the status that they have or just their personality. But being a relationship also means being with the person through their ugly days, their insecurities and wanting to stay after all the mess.”
“So I’m afraid but I have to say ‘no’ to that question. You can’t start a relationship in a day.”
That was it. The final question and his final answer. Da On just hoped it was enough for the stranger to lift the blind up.
“Oh wow,” the stranger said a beat later, “you seem to know a lot about relationships. You must have been in a few. You know, to have your thoughts so properly articulated.”
Da On let out a huff of laughter as he shook his head, “you’d be surprise then. What about you? You haven’t answered the question.”
The stranger hummed out, buying himself some time to think of an answer. “It’s hard enough for me to form friendships in a day so I don’t know how it’s possible to start a relationship in a day. Maybe some people are able to do it but not me. Definitely not me.”
“Great!” Namgoong clapped his hands together, causing Da On to jump from his seat, “since that was the last question, I’m going to need the both of you to turn and face each other.”
Digging his nails into his thighs, Da On did as what he was told, and so did the stranger. Da On had to repeatedly tell himself to take deep breaths before he goes into panic mode, clenching and unclenching his grip on his thigh.
“You look nervous,” the stranger commented, a hint of worry present in his voice, “are you okay?”
Da On instinctively nodded his head before he remembered that the latter was unable to see him. Sucking in his breath, Da On managed to breathe out a “yes”.
“I just feel out of my element right now and I’m never really good at things that were beyond my control,” Da On admitted, “but it’s nice, getting to know someone with no pressure, despite how pressuring the situation is currently.”
“Alright, you guys can continue your chit chat if the blinds are raised,” Namgoong interrupted, “now, the next person to raise the blinds, do you want to raise it and meet the person you’ve been talking to for the past hour?”
Da On looked down at his hands that were still clenching into his thigh. It was completely fine if the stranger decides that he wasn’t interested. He did this to help his favorite dongsaeng. It wasn’t as though he had some kind of hope that this blind date thing would be a success or something. Before his thoughts could continue to consume him, Da On heard a familiar sound of squeaking, the kind you’d hear when…
“Hi?”
The blind is up. Da On looked up and blinked at the sight in front of him. Oh gosh was the stranger pretty.
“Hi,” Da On greeted back, completely awestruck and tongue-tied.
“It’s nice to put a face to a voice I’ve been talking to. My name is Woo Tae Kyung and I’m 16 years old. What’s your name, hyung ?”
Da On gulped, he could already feel his face turning warm with the way Tae Kyung was looking at him, with such curiosity and intensity at the same time. “H-hi. My name is Shin Da On. 17 years old.”
“Shin Da On,” Tae Kyung repeated, as though attempting to familiarise the sound his name, “well it’s nice to meet you, Da On hyung.”
Tae Kyung stuck out his hand to offer a handshake. Mesmerised, Da On mirrored that action, taking Tae Kyung’s hand into his. And if Da On felt any sparks at the contact, he didn’t show it, neither did Tae Kyung.