Chapter Text
SOOBIN CAN’T BELIEVE WHAT HE’S HEARING RIGHT NOW. His best friends look at him with fists pumped in the air as if they just won the lottery, anticipating for him to speak. He can’t think right now. Not with the noise blaring through the home speakers and certainly not with his friends egging him on. “No.” Is the simple reply he gives, but the counter is a group of boo-ing. “C’mon. We haven’t even said anything about—” Soobin takes his headset off and glares at them. They cower a bit, but don’t back down.
“Why are you so obsessed with finding me a lover? I’m not even interested in finding a lover.” The chestnut-haired boy scoffs, giving his hyung a peeved look. “It’s about time you stopped moping—”
“Beomgyu, seriously, shut up.”
“What? I’m right.” He continues. “It’s been forever since you and,” He gestures vaguely, “happened.”
Soobin sighs and unpauses Mario Kart. Why is he even listening to this? He shifts his controller to the left, body moving along with it. “Binnie come on, he didn’t mean it like that.” Yeonjun attempts to pacify, but the younger one gives a blank face, feigning disinterest. Amidst the silence, the second youngest speaks up. “Hyung, we are only looking out for you. These days we’re so busy and we know you don’t spend time with anyone else.”
Ouch. Okay so Taehyun wasn’t lying, but they weren’t right either. He had plenty of friends, but he was perfectly fine by himself. He has moved on, and has found serenity in being alone.
Sometimes, he misses it though.
Soobin thinks he has some sort of selective type of narcissism. He doesn’t like showing off per say, but takes pride when others do it for him or boost his ego—when others brag about like him or when they do it together. For one, the narcissism is mutual and shared—so he feels less of an asshole, and two; It makes him feel like somebody.
So he agrees to his friends’ stupid blind date and their stupid schemes, on the off chance you do hit it off—even though it sounds like it would be a complete disaster. They cheer, as the youngest grabs his shoulders. “You won’t regret this hyung. This time? We picked the perfect person for you.”
Doubt it.
“You’re what?!” He screeches, and you raise your hands to hover your ears. The rest of the quad turns to face the source of the sound for a second before resuming their individual affairs. Studying, eating, gossiping, sleeping; these are things the students are currently doing—what you could’ve been doing. Yet standing in your way was your dramatic-baby friend. Oftentimes you think that if he were to stop screaming so much; he would’ve been a campus heartthrob, face carved like a Greek God’s and built like an athlete. You think he’d be too cool, and that you’d be intimidated to even approach someone of such caliber. Except he isn’t calm and collected, nor quiet like any of your initial assumptions.
“Not interested, Kai. Please stop trying to set me up with your friends. Didn’t work the last three times, and surely it won’t now. Face it babe, you’re horrible at matchmaking.” Gathering your things, he follows the movements with his eyes, soon trailing behind like a puppy, pouting. “I already told him you’d go!” You glare at him and stick your tongue out. “Not my fault, not my problem.” ”This time I’m so serious. You guys have so many in common.” You peruse, stopping in front of the taller. “Oh yeah? Like what.” He pauses before answering, “Both of you are mean to me.”
He smiles like he’s giving himself a mental pat on the back. “Yeah. No. Your attempts get weaker and weaker as time goes on.” Walking past him, Kai struggles to find the words, until he blurts out: “He’s willing to clout-chase with you!” Your head snaps back, and he knows he has you. “That’s the sort of stuff you like right? Boasting about stuff online? Making people jealous of what you have and they don’t?” “Hyuka you make it sound way worse than it actually is.” “Those were the exact words you used last week. Please give him a chance. He needs it.” Eyebrow raised, you pry for more information. “He needs me? Is he dying or madly in love with me?” Kai thinks to himself, picking his words. “Okay so he had a really bad situationship. One that took months for him to get over. He says he’s fine but I hate seeing him all alone.” “So you need a rebound for him.” You let out a laugh, “This is seriously your worst excuse so far. Pass.” Continuing your walk, he fishes his phone out of his pocket. “This is him. He’s perfect for flaunting. He’s like arm candy. A great accessory.”
“Oh wow.”
Oh wow is an understatement. In the photograph stands a tall man on a busy crossing; The rest of the crowd gets washed out in his presence. Aside from a navy blue polo, the rest of him dawns black; his slacks that hug him perfectly, his oversized beanie, and his thick-rimmed glasses. You aren’t even sure if they’re graded, because his eyes were big even as they formed crescents from his wide smile. “Oh wow is right—and I didn't even lie when I said you’ve got similar tastes.” Eyes fixated on the screen, you respond, “Uhuh… Those being?” He snatches his phone abruptly, shit-eating grin more annoying than ever before. “Find out for yourself. Pick a time and a place and bag his ass. I promise I’ll cover your expenses, you cheapskate. ”
What’s the last romantic date that simultaneously will benefit you the most?
“Fine, but don’t blame me if I max out your card.” The younger claps his hands and does a little victory dance. “That won’t happen. You love me.” He coos, making a kissy face. “He’ll definitely be there!”
It’s been 20 minutes and he is definitely not here. Not that you minded, it meant more food for yourself. Despite Kai’s protests, you’ve chosen to eat at an unlimited grill. Smoke heavy in the air, and the sound of overworked students and workers alike, this wouldn’t be on a list for ideal first dates. ‘If he likes me enough, it wouldn’t matter where we meet’ you defend, and the younger caves—desperate enough and glad that you had agreed in the first place.
When another tray of enoki beef rolls come by, your gluttonous self giddily adds them onto the grill. Pathetically, you try stuffing your face with a bit of everything, Voraciously engulfing maekjeok; quickly followed by lettuce, kimchi, cheese, an egg roll, and pickled radish (it’s like a tiny full meal in your mouth!).
“I think… I’ve got the wrong person.”
You look up to see your date, wearing a striped button down and beige slacks; a basic combination salvaged by the figure and face of the man standing in front of you. Chewing food and nearly choking, you raise your hand and he follows by raising an eyebrow. It’s taking forever for the food to go down, so you mention your name with a full mouth and gesture for him to sit down. “Thanks. I’m Soobin.” Humming, your hands drop the tongs to push him cooked meat and a menu just in case. After exchanging general information like your birth dates and courses, he rests his face in his palm, a small smirk tugging at his lips. Right now he has the urge to be annoying for no reason. “Beomgyu said you were a classy, civilized person.” He remarks.
“Choi Beomgyu? That man’s a liar. Don’t believe him.”
“You know him?”
“Went out on like two dates with him. Not my type.”
“What?”
Nodding and registering the fact that there is nothing to feed on at the moment, you result to organizing the table for it to look tidy. (plates in descending order from the middle, the correct and only way to arrange them). Soobin notices, but doesn’t comment. “Yeah. Hyuka sets me up with all his friends. First was Yeonjun—got super drunk and threw up on my shirt, then Taehyun, he was a bit too blunt- not that there's anything wrong with that! I just don’t think I can handle the hard truth all the time. I’m a silly guy,” Flailing your arms around, the older is still on the same expression, eyebrows turned up and mouth slightly agape. “Then there was Beomgyu. Oh my God that little shit. He’s my friend now and stuff, but he is such a nightmare!” You exclaim, placing more food onto the other’s plate. He’s still processing that this individual across from him, scarfing down food like it’s your last meal, has gone on dates with all of his best friends. And has never told him about the (probably) disastrous dates they’ve had. And has been dumped by said creature, not the other way around.
“What’s with the face?” You ask. “With all those failed attempts, I’m most likely the least you’d get along with.”
“Hey, don't call them failures. Now I have more friends! Yay!”
"Sure..."
“Plus, Hyuka said we had a lot in common.”
“Uh, okay? Let’s see them then.” You glare at him. “This is an exchange, not a product pitch. I’m not trying to sell myself here, I don’t really need it.” He looks at you bewildered, looking around to an imaginary audience as if saying, Are you guys believing this right now? “You don’t need it? Isn’t that the reason you’re here in the first place?” Furrowing your eyebrows and putting your chopsticks away, you retaliate. “Kai said he had a friend who was willing to clout-chase with me. I’m just bored and hungry. I don't need the hassle.” “What does that even mean?” Your patience runs thin, and so do the kimchi. Calling over the grill's staff, you give the man across you a half-baked answer. “Like, I don’t know, I like getting attention through boasting about random events in my life. One of those includes showing off a romantic interest.” His amusement prevails through his expression, and you swear you could punch (kiss?) it off him. “That is pathetic.” “Don’t be so naïve Choi Soobin. It’s an undeniable fact about human beings. We run on envy and pride. I’m just self-aware of my wants.”
The two of you keep silent, tension heavy and eyes locked. It’s not until a server awkwardly sets down more meals when the older breaks eye contact. “Okay you know what? Let’s start this new. I’m Soobin, and I can’t swim. I’m diamond rank, and I was 20 minutes late because I couldn’t find my pet hedgehog.”
Your lips crack a small smile, "Is this two truths one lie? ‘Cause I pick the last one.” He shakes his head, “Nope. All true facts about your very cool date.” “All of those don’t seem real. Except for League, knew you had to have a red flag somewhere.”
Feigning offense, he uses his free hand and puts it atop his chest as the other picks out bulgogi and sets it down on your plate. “You can’t swim? And really? A hedgehog?”
The older digs through his canvas sling for his bag, “Stop hating on me. I have pictures.” He moves over to sit on your side of the booth, suddenly conscious of the space between you, or the lack thereof. The both of you dismiss it. “This is Odi. Here he is taking a bath,” he points, as if it wasn’t obvious. “Here he is in his playpen, taking a nap—oh! I have a fancam!” Rotating the phone for a clearer view of the video, it shows said hedgehog doing absolutely nothing while an Animal Crossing beat plays in the background. You aren’t sure at what you’re supposed to be looking at, or where you should be looking. Looking up, you're met with his face; pupils disappearing as he eagerly watches and mouths the beat.
Your eyes trail on every accessible feature he has on display, the bridge of his nose, his eyelashes, his Adam's apple as it bobs, his lips.
It’s not fair. Not fair that he looks so pretty doing something so dorky.
You realize you might have been staring at him for too long (not your fault by the way, he looks celestial). “You play Animal Crossing?” He nods, head quickly turning to face yours—and they’re too close. Moving away, Soobin clears his throat. “Yeah, I own a switch. What stuff do you play?”
“A bit of everything, but I’m damn proud of my seven hundred plus hours spent in ACNH.”
“You are actually insane.”
“I like to think dedicated is the right term.”
“Who do you have on your island?”
“I have all my dream villagers: Kabuki, Marshal, Raymond—” You’re interrupted by a loud scoff, and the man beside you folds his arms on his chest. “Those are like everyone’s dream characters.” A line was crossed. “And yours are?”
Besides a sheep from their Sanrio collaboration, the rest are animals you’ve either never heard of or dismissed from your island. “Now you’re just trying to be different; You're just stuck with them. You don't actually want all of them. You have to have at least one popular villager on your wish list.” "No way. I love all my babies. I don't need any of the popular ones." He lies, reminiscing the unhealthy amount of time and in-game currency trying to get the cute little squirrel present on your island. “I'm perfectly content! You should visit my island. I have the best theme.”
“Nuh-uh. I do. I spent forever terraforming hills and waterfalls.”
“Mine is almost entirely flat. I went with an urban Japan city theme.”
“Otaku. Nerd. Lame.”
He grins and holds out his phone, the screen showing a fresh contact information page. “I guess we’ll have to settle this seriously. Loser has to pay for the next date.” Cocking your head to the side, you take the gadget and input your details. “So you want to see me again?” He pretends to think, “You can say that. You could also say that I want free food and that I take pride in my island— and I want you to be envious of what I have.” He returns, referring to your statement earlier.
────────────
Once you reach your apartment, you immediately take a shower. Feeling the grill’s smoke clinging onto your hair and clothes, a warm shower with the smell of citrus body soap and soft indie rock playing through the speakers is a great way to relax. The rest of the night is mellow compared to the rowdy nature of your outing, and you intend to keep it that way until you hear your phone ping.
otaku loser nerd ♡: [9:43]
Why did you save your contact info as “My cutie ♡”?
You: [9:43]
well obviously we have to sell it right?
also,
can i soft launch u?
otaku loser nerd ♡: [9:43]
?
What’s that?
You: [9:43]
okay so
it's like
i’ll share a very vague post where the focus is the grill and ur in front
but i wont show ur face
You: [9:44]
so they know im with someone but they dk who
its like im dropping a teaser for a potential relationship
otaku loser nerd ♡: [9:44]
Oh so we’re in a potential relationship?
You: [9:44]
shush
otaku loser nerd ♡: [9:44]
The concept of soft launching is
So funny to me idk why
otaku loser nerd ♡: [9:44]
But you can post
Tag me so I can repost it
You: [9:44]
what no
if i do that ppl will know its u
Uu have to keep them on their toes yakno, keep them guessing
otaku loser nerd ♡: [9:46]
You’ve really thought this out…
Fine, but I’ll post one of you too
I’ll head off now, I have an early lecture tmr. Goodnight
You: [9:47]
gn ^0^
Setting an alarm and shutting your phone off, you're met with a deeper tranquility the night brings forth. White noise from the ringing of your ears in addition to no source of light at all, you close your eyes and hug the bolster beside you.
In truth, you had no idea what you were doing or where this was going. No idea what the end goal or what you'd actually benefit from getting this—but you've known that for a very long time; So why not lean in to your hedonistic tendencies?