Chapter Text
Sehun checked his mailbox to see if the clothes he ordered online came in yet, but instead he found an envelope with his full name in fancy gold lettering.
Immediately, he knew it was another wedding invitation.
After Sehun hit 25, his friends started getting married one right after another! Practically every other weekend he was attending a wedding. It was fun at first, but there were only so many times someone single could attend a wedding before feeling seriously bummed about their nonexistent love life. Most of his other non-married friends were in committed relationships so it was probably only a matter of time before they got married, too. At his assigned dinner table, Sehun was always the fifth wheel.
People were way too nosy about Sehun's dating life, his colleagues at work, his family, and acquaintances especially at weddings when he got to see people he hadn't since university. He'd laugh it off saying he wasn't looking and was trying to focus on his career, but if Sehun were honest with himself, he was wondering the exact same thing. Was he ever going to find his soulmate? Maybe he was destined to live the single life.
As a hopeless romantic, things were looking quite hopeless for Sehun.
♡
When Sehun was bored he went to check his for you page on TikTok. The first video that popped us was about some office worker who hired a fake girlfriend during Chuseok to get his parents off his back about not settling down.
First of all, how did TikTok even know this was the exact content he needed? The algorithm was too accurate, but he was also offended. Secondly, this was seriously a thing? This could be the answer to all his problems... alright maybe not all his problems, but it was a temporary solution to him feeling awkward and lonely at his friends' weddings. His parents were another story, but one step at a time here.
After doing a quick internet search, Sehun confirmed that the service was 100% real and one was even based in Seoul, with quite a few positive reviews. Within seconds he signed up for a free account. It was crunch time-- the next wedding he had to attend was already this Saturday (he lost track of time!) and he refused to show up once again without a plus one.
Sehun spent 10 minutes filling out a lengthy questionnaire asking for his preferred age range, hobbies, likes, dislikes, qualities he wanted in his fake date, plus the time frame he needed the service. When he was done he hit submit and was told that within 48 hours, he'd be matched with someone with the highest compatibility, and contacted to confirm the date and payment. It was Wednesday night, so 48 hours was cutting it. He was living on the edge.
♡
Sure enough, Sehun got a call from the fake dating agency on Friday informing him he was matched with 99% compatibility. Apparently this was considered extremely high even for the service, so Sehun was pleased by his luck.
Finally, things were going in his favor.
"Sehun-ssi, please be aware that because you booked close to your event date, you cannot get a full refund if you wish to cancel or change your date."
"Ah, okay. I understand."
"We believe you will be more than satisfied with your date, as we have assigned you one of our top employees who are hard to book due to popular demand."
"Great! Thank you."
Sehun was feeling good after the conversation ended, and immediately got started on picking out his outfit. In his excitement, Sehun caved and texted his best friend Sooyoung about his fake date. He had intended to keep it a secret from everyone, but he was horrible at keeping secrets.
"Fake dating? They actually monetized this?"
"I know right? I didn't know this was a real thing until I saw it on TikTok."
"Well this is either going to be a horrible disaster, or the best idea you've ever had."
"I'm leaning towards the best idea I've ever had," Sehun said confidently.
Sooyoung laughed. "If your date is hot I might have to try out that service myself..."
"Well, I'll find out in about 3 hours. She's coming over."
"Tonight?! That's so soon!"
"Yeah, we don't have time because the wedding is already tomorrow and I wanted to get a feel first."
"Damn, copping a feel on the first date?" Sooyoung joked. "Wait, is that actually part of the service, because damn."
"What the hell? I'm not hiring a prostitute! This is a completely platonic date."
"So was that a yes or a no?"
Sehun rolled his eyes. But his best friend made a good point. Did his fake date involve physical interaction? He assumed so, in order for their relationship to be convincing they'd have to at least hold hands, right? But the question was how far they were allowed to take it. Would they have to kiss, and would she be comfortable with that?
While Sehun was wondering about this while drying his hair after a shower, Sehun got a text from the dating agency number that said his date was already here. Someone started knocking as soon as Sehun rushed to the door. Although Sehun had the option to meet his date right at the venue tomorrow, he decided against it. Thanks to the questionnaire, his date knew enough about him and was trained to just wing it, Sehun figured it was best they met in person first.
But when Sehun opened the door, his jaw dropped (and he might've audibly gasped).
For two reasons.
First, the person standing in front of his door was drop-dead gorgeous. Like sculpted by the gods kind of attractive. Handsome, tall, all lean muscle obvious even under his clothes (not that Sehun was imagining him naked or anything), had a beautiful sunkissed skin tone, and the most strikingly intense brown eyes. Which brought Sehun to his second point, his date wasn't a woman!
Not that Sehun had anything wrong with gay guys, of course. Or bi guys...or pan guys...whatever this guy was, it was just that Sehun was expecting a lady. Maybe he didn't indicate that on his questionnaire? Sehun identified as straight, but comfortable enough to admit when other guys were attractive. Like right now. This dude was hot, no question. The thing was he had never imagined himself actually dating a man before.
There was a first time for everything, apparently.
The panic must've shown on his face, because the man raised his eyebrow and asked, "You're Oh Sehun, right?"
"Um, y-yeah. I'm Sehun. You're my date?"
"Yeah, my name is Jongin. Did you... not check out my profile?"
"I meant to, but uh, I sort of got distracted and lost track of time."
"I see. Are you not happy with me? You can call the agency to cancel, but this late of a notice you'll only get a 30% refund."
"No! That's not it, you're really sexy," Sehun blurted out (fuck!) and he blushed at how his date smirked at the compliment.
"Thanks."
"It's just that I was sort of... expecting a woman," Sehun whispered the last part.
Jongin's eyes widened. "Oh. In your questionnaire you checked off that any gender was fine, so they matched based on highest compatibility. Was that a mistake?"
"I did?!"
Jongin took his phone out of his pocket to pull up Sehun's information, then showed him the screen. The box that said any was in fact checked.
"Oh shit." Sehun was mortified. "Sorry, that was definitely a mistake..."
"It's alright, mistakes happen. You'd be surprised how often in this line of work," Jongin said with a smile. "So yeah, call the agency to let them know... they might be able to find a female date for you tomorrow, but there's no guarantee."
"No, it's fine. Really. It's my mistake but I don't mind! I mean, I'm straight but, we could make this work?" Sehun said with an optimistic desperation that surprised even himself. Something about the man at his door made him not want to say goodbye just yet.
"Are you sure?" Jongin raised his eyebrow again in that way that made him look even sexier than he already was, dressed casual chic in black jeans and a black button down shirt with the top few buttons undone. Sehun was admiring him from a platonic, straight guy perspective, of course.
"Yes. It's more important to me that I have a date to this wedding," Sehun explained. "It sucks being the only one without a date."
"Weddings are a popular event I get hired to do for a reason," Jongin agreed. "But won't this cause some problems? You said you're straight, right? So I assume that means you haven't come out to anybody. What will your friends think?" Jongin asked with concern.
Sehun smiled, oddly touched by how much concern Jongin was giving him as a complete stranger. It was probably part of his job, but it was nice nevertheless. He could see why this fake dating thing was gaining popularity.
"My friends would be cool with it! At least I hope so...if they aren't, then I wouldn't wanna be friends with them anymore." Sehun pointed out.
"Alright," Jongin nodded. "As long as you know what you're getting into."
"What am I getting into, though?" Sehun wondered aloud. "It's my first time hiring a fake date, so... what can I expect?"
"Well I've studied your answers so I could prepare a background story for us. Let me know if you want me to change anything, but usually it's easier for me to answer any prying questions and you follow my lead."
"That's fine with me. Me and social interactions? Not the best combo. Most of the time I get too flustered to answer questions so you'll be doing me a favor."
"Cute," Jongin said with a smile.
For some reason Sehun's face felt hot.
"So I keep things simple and close to the truth, which makes you less likely to trip yourself up with a bunch of outright lies," Jongin explained. "We met on a dating app, no need to be specific. Our first date was at a museum, and you invited me over your apartment after. We really hit it off, and I asked you to start going out with me."
"I put out on the first date?!" Sehun exclaimed, ignoring how the last part had his heart beating fast. What was that about.
"I can change it, but it's the best explanation for how we met and got close so fast."
"It's fine, I was just joking... putting out on the first date sounds like me," Sehun said, waving his hands. "My friends wouldn't even be fazed."
"Okay." Jongin laughed wholeheartedly at that, and suddenly a warm feeling bloomed in Sehun's chest. (Weird. Sehun made a mental note to get that checked by his doctor). "Not that we have to mention any intimate details about me staying the night on our first date, but it's good to be on the same page, just in case. It's your friends, so I don't know how nosy they normally are. If I were meeting your parents, that's a whole other game plan."
"Nope, no parents! Not yet, at least," Sehun added with a nervous chuckle. "My friends are pretty nosy so, good luck with that."
"Don't worry, I'll handle it," Jongin assured him.
The easy confidence Jongin exuded was so cool it it actually made Sehun feel butterflies. Jongin could probably bag anyone he wanted with his looks alone, and it made Sehun wonder if he had a girlfriend (or boyfriend?). Somehow Sehun doubted it, because the fact that he worked for a fake dating agency would surely make a significant other feel jealous.
"Just to confirm, you wanted me to use a nickname every now and then, right? Sehunnie?"
Sehun nodded, feeling oddly pleased by the sound of Jongin addressing him so casually, even though they were strangers.
"What about um...skinship? How does that work?" Sehun asked shyly.
"I can do whatever you feel comfortable with. Including nothing at all, if you'd prefer no physical touch."
"I'm okay with touching. It'll be more convincing that way, I think. But what about, uh-- k-kissing?" Sehun asked. Somehow this whole ordeal was turning him into a blushing virgin all over again.
"Again, it's up to you. We don't have to, or I can just kiss you on the cheek if you aren't comfortable kissing guys. Being straight and all," Jongin added with a quirk of his lips.
Sehun's brain short-circuited imagining what kissing Jongin would be like, and the other man seemed to pick up on his indecision.
"Well, just think about it tonight and you can let me know tomorrow, alright? I don't want you to stress too much about this. My job is to make you feel comfortable tomorrow."
"Okay. Thanks. I'll let you know tomorrow."
"So I'll pick you up around 2:45? We should get to the 3:30 reception with plenty of time."
Sehun nodded.
"If you think of any urgent questions overnight, feel free to text me at my work number," Jongin informed him, handing him his business card. It was discrete, with no real indication Jongin was working for a fake dating company.
"Got it."
"Alright, see you tomorrow, Sehunnie," Jongin said with a wink before heading out the door.
When the door clicked shut, it took Sehun a moment to realize that for the first time in forever, he was excited to attend a wedding.