Chapter Text
Hong Joshua waited for the waiter to place his pre-order dinner on the black glass table. He was in a well-tailored burgundy suit on top of black slim-fit shirt, black hair styled in a way that his bang would not get into his eyes. He sliced the well-prepared steak from the 5 stars chef slowly. He ate slowly. Drank slowly. No conversation has been started. He didn’t glance at his wristwatch, because it would be so rude and ill-mannered to do, even if he wanted to.
His black eyes stared blankly at the plate. It’s lifeless, if he would say. He, himself, his life. Everything was dull. So did his life. He felt like a doll, a puppet acting based upon his father’s command. His father’s living doll.
His face remained the same throughout the meal, even when he sipped the well-matched red fine wine and wiped his mouth with a red napkin prepared from the restaurant. His gesture suggested the man opposite of him that he was ready to go. He wasn’t sure how long the man had looked at him, neglecting his dinner. But when he looked up from his plate, the man was already looking at him.
“I’m glad you like the food.” The man spoke softly. This is the second sentence the man talked to him. The first one was their greeting.
“It was excellent.” Joshua replied instantly like he was already programmed with the answer. “This place is nice. They have a very fine wine, if I would say.”
The man in front of him gave him an acknowledge smile. “The best one I have ever had.” He exchanged eyes contact with the waiter, who came to their table with menus. “Dessert?”
Joshua would like to say that he’s fine with the main course. No matter how many times he had done it, this kind of meeting still was not his source of joy. He would love to end it as quickly as he could, but his father’s word was echoing in his head. Dessert is a must, for a date, especially a first date.
“I’d love to, please.” The waiter handed him a menu, stepping back a little waiting to take their orders. Joshua looked at the menu, just because of manner. He did look at it after his father told him he had to see his soon-to-be husband first time at this specific restaurant. He was taught to do. Of course, he had to do. He glanced at the man who was still looking at the menu. His brown eyes didn’t seem to focus to any word written in it. He would have been taught the same thing. His inner mind scoffed at the thought. Did his father and his mother meet the same way he did? He knew they married because of business partnership. He knew their marriage was arranged. Just like his.
“Can I have this one, please?” The man’s soft voice brought Joshua back to reality. He heard the waiter echoed ‘blueberry cheesecake’, which was what he ordered, and was confused. He was never thought to order it, no offense to anyone. He waited for a second before ordering Tiramisu. The waiter echoed their orders again and left their table.
Joshua saw him glanced at his date. Even when the desserts were served, he still took a glance.
His date, Yoon Jeonghan, is handsome. Brown eyes, pink lips, sharp jawline, styled black hair, good manner, neat posture, black waist tie suit with very expensive triangle tie, everything screamed godly perfect. He was popular. No one wouldn’t know about a good-looking businessman who inherited the company from his father two years ago. Joshua had heard about him as well, from his father, definitely. Yoon was Hong’s close partnership for a long time. He was not surprise that he was arranged to marry Yoon Jeonghan. He was at the age to marry, his father told him that, and Yoon Jeonghan was same age as him.
They haven’t met. There was no love between them. This date looked like an informal business gathering more than a dinner date.
He finished his dessert with the same facial expression. This time, Jeonghan still looked at him before he had looked up.
“How was it?”
“Great. How about yours?”
“Not to my liking.” Joshua unconsciously lifted his eyebrow up in confusion. He was taught not to. But he couldn’t help because Jeonghan just did what he presumed that the man was taught not to do as well. “That’s new.”
“Could you please say that again?” He couldn’t quite catch what Jeonghan said. So, he asked back as taught.
“I said ‘that’s new’.” Joshua tried his best to decipher what that could mean, but he couldn’t come to the conclusion, until Jeonghan elaborated more. “Your expression. It’s new to my eyes.”
Oh.
“But I like it.”
Joshua almost dropped his napkin.
“It makes you feel more real.” Jeonghan gave him a small smile. Joshua didn’t need him to elaborate anything this time. He understood. He got the message. He gestured the waiter to get their bill. “You can tell my anything. What you really felt. It’s just you and me here.” In a split of a second, Joshua felt that dark brown eyes reflected sadness. “I won’t say anything. I suppose you, too. Your father won’t know anything.”
“Please don’t get me wrong. It’s my pleasure to have a dinner with you. Your choice of restaurant was great. The food, too. I enjoyed it.” He spoke at his normal, taught, speed; however, his heart was beating really fast. He was nervous. He felt like he was back to being 7 years old Joshua and was found playing video games rather than reading books.
Jeonghan didn’t seem to fully believe him. Nonetheless, he didn’t say anything. And, Joshua was glad at that manner.
Their bill came. They left. The CEO drove him home. The night passed. They resumed their routine. And, Joshua could not stop thinking about his date, his black waist tie suit, his charming smile, his soft voice and his assurance.