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Checking his reflection in the café window, Baekhyun fussed with his hair, his collar, before returning his attention to his phone.
Chanyeol had sent an encouraging text with copious emojis, which Baekhyun quickly responded to. It helped to do something with his hands; he was always extra antsy when he was nervous.
Tonight’s date was about as close to blind as one could get with social media and online dating so prevalent. But when his last attempt through the latter had fizzled out, Baekhyun commiserated to Chanyeol, his friend suggesting a single friend of his own in kind.
Do Kyungsoo barely had an instagram and Chanyeol had only a couple pictures he could show off, but they were enough for Baekhyun to readily agree to meet the other man.
That smile, heart-shaped and crescenting his eyes, made every butterfly in his chest flutter to life. He was far too handsome to be real and yet looked like someone you could run into in the grocery store all at once.
Chanyeol gave Kyungsoo his number and the two managed a few precursory texts before agreeing to meet for a late lunch.
Baekhyun had been about to text Jongdae about his nerves when he heard someone stop near him, clearing their throat. “Excuse me, Baekhyun?”
Perking up and pocketing his phone, Baekhyun slid on his best smile. “The one and only.”
At his response, Kyungsoo chuckled, hand moving to his hair. “Ah, Chanyeol said you were playful.”
“That a bad thing?” Kyungsoo looked even more gorgeous in real life, Baekhyun couldn’t believe his luck. “He gave you more than he gave me. Just a couple pictures and then a comment about you barely being online.”
Kyungsoo shrugged, moving to open the door for him. “Not too much, really. Just mentioning you might be good for me and a few photos from you two at the station.”
Baekhyun thanked him as he slipped inside, only to groan as the topic shifted. “Work photos? We dress so…stupid half of the time.”
“I don’t know,” Kyungsoo’s smile was difficult to read, having just met him, but Baekhyun felt it was playful. “I think the easter bunny look was cute.”
Baekhyun whined. “That one? He showed you the holiday collection? I’m going to put salt in his coffee on Monday.”
Charming a laugh from the other man was an early victory. Kyungsoo’s body language was still stiff, reserved, but the conversation did ease his shoulders slightly.
Continuing the gentlemanly behavior, Kyungsoo pulled out his chair. “I’ve never been here before. When I looked it up online, the reviews were great and the menu had a lot of variety.”
“Oh yeah,” Baekhyun beamed and sat down. “They have this new curry chickpea salad with in house made croissants I really wanted to try. And the spicy tofu bites are incredible.”
Kyungsoo’s movements slowed for a moment, brows meeting for barely a second, but the expression was gone before Baekhyun could dissect it further. “Ah, so you’ve got experience. What do you recommend, then?”
“In more ways than one,” Baekhyun wriggled his brows and laughed as he opened the menu. “I’ve never had anything bad here. I’ve not had any of the meat options, but Chanyeol says their tilapia is really good.”
Kyungsoo’s brows furrowed again, but with the menu obscuring most of his face, his hair the rest, Baekhyun was left with little to decipher.
They ordered their drinks, and Baekhyun thought of good get to know each other questions they could share as Kyungsoo looked over the menu. “So, how do you know Chanyeol?”
“Telling this story might not really reflect my regular behavior, then again…maybe it will.” Kyungsoo took a sip of his lemonade. “It was at this club called Cream Soda.”
Baekhyun was surprised by the admission. “You don’t seem like the club type.”
“I was hiding away at the bar. I’d promised my friend Jongin that we’d go out for his birthday. Our birthdays are just a couple of days apart, so he always puts up with whatever niche culinary thing I want to do for mine, so I wanted to return the favor.” Kyungsoo softened, clearly fond of his friend. “He loves dancing and so I did dance with him the one time, but he got a lot of attention and several numbers, so I left him to bask in the spotlight.”
“Got a pic?” Baekhyun leaned over as Kyungsoo turned his phone, seeing a handsome, smiley taller man on the screen. “Oh he’s precious.”
“He really is. He’s like a little brother to me.” Kyungsoo pocketed his phone again. “Anyways. He’s dancing and Chanyeol comes over to try and lay the moves on me, I can’t even remember the line he used now, and manages to spill his entire beer onto my lap.”
Baekhyun was glad he wasn’t drinking, or Kyungsoo would have been drenched once again as he burst into laughter. “Of course he didn’t tell me all this! God, why am I not surprised.”
“So we started talking in the men’s room as he’s trying to help me dry off my legs. He promised he’d make it up to me and we got lunch a week or so later. I’m not the best at making friends, but he was persistent and has stuck around ever since.” Kyungsoo picked the menu back up as the waitress returned, waiting until they both ordered before he continued. “He says you met in college, right?”
Baekhyun nodded. “Mhmm. At the college radio station. We’ve been a duo ever since. Baekhyun and Legs has a pretty good following anymore. A few of them are even from back when we were undergrads.”
“The pun’s cute.” Kyungsoo was an attentive listener; nodding along and making nice eye contact, for someone who came across so reserved.
Baekhyun grinned. “We do love them. Everyone at the station teases me for using a bacon pun when I’m a vegetarian, but I think it adds to it. Plus, I’ve got the meat that matters if you know what I mean.”
As he’d hoped, the reaction was instantaneous and exasperated. Still, Kyungsoo didn’t seem too annoyed. “Is this just to show off for me, or is the innuendo permanent?”
“I might have turned it up to eleven, but it’s definitely a feature, not a bug.” Baekhyun took some of the complimentary bread from the table to munch on. “So, what do you do, then?”
Somehow, this took all of the mood from between them and stopped the energy dead. Baekhyun was more than a little confused as to why the question was so loaded, but he gave the other man the room to respond for before investigating further.
Kyungsoo sighed before taking a long drink from his glass. He sat it down before making direct eye contact with him. “I’m a butcher.”
Well, that explained a lot, including those earlier looks of confusion Baekhyun hadn’t been able to understand.
“I’m gonna fucking strangle Chanyeol.” Baekhyun groaned, head in his hands. “Jesus, you probably thought this whole time that I was one of those guys who’d start screaming at you about being a murderer and make a giant scene. I should have known he was scheming. No wonder he was snickering and being all vague.”
Kyungsoo still appeared a little tense, but he did manage a small laugh. “He didn’t tell me much, like I said. But when you mentioned all the vegetarian options, I started to worry. You brought up Chanyeol eating meat, so I was hopeful you wouldn’t be too upset, but there’s a difference between eating it and literally working with it.”
“I don’t want to become that stereotype of always telling people about being a vegetarian and all, but if helps, I’ll elaborate.” Baekhyun gave a winning smile. “I wouldn’t even mind learning about what you do.”
This seemed to do the trick, allowing Kyungsoo to ease back towards their atmosphere from before the reveal. “Sure. I try to be as ethical as I can be. What does Chanyeol call my shop again…buggy, bougie? Something like that.”
Baekhyun chuckled. “He thinks McDonalds is high end, so I’m not surprised. But umm…so I became a vegetarian in college, surprise surprise. I took some classes on the environment and health, then went down one of those rabbit holes where I learned all about the industry and just…couldn’t imagine eating all those cute animals anymore.”
“That’s fair enough.” Kyungsoo took some bread for himself. “I don’t sit like a movie villain laughing as I hack into a carcass, if that helps.”
“I’d hope not. That’s some peta shit right there I’m not getting into.” Baekhyun took another piece of bread. “But yeah, it’s my choice and I try not to be an ass about it. I have a few friends and a cousin that are vegetarians, a couple vegan friends too, but I try not to preach about it. I only suggest places that are good options if they are going to consume meat if they ask. Or offer recipes if they’re interested in trying something.”
Kyungsoo tilted his head. “Where do you recommend?”
Baekhyun thought briefly of the name again. “Cleaves and Cloves.”
The smile that bloomed on Kyungsoo’s face was enough to bring one to Baekhyun’s in kind. “That’s my shop.”
“No shit, really?” Baekhyun laughed. “I’d heard they work hard to support small farms and go out to check on the livestock themselves.”
“I do.” Kyungsoo paused the conversation as the food arrived. “I know a lot about the industry as well. The last thing I want to do is participate in all of that. It doesn’t just taste worse, cook worse, but also just…feels wrong.”
Baekhyun nodded. “I’m glad you take the time to care about that shit. And that I’ve given you business over the years.”
“Thank you.” Kyungsoo tucked into his sandwich, looking pleased. “I haven’t tried too many vegetarian options. Maybe for our next date, you could introduce me to some?”
Although the date, despite all odds, was going well, Baekhyun hadn’t dared to hope at it progressing further, let alone for Kyungsoo to suggest it himself. He licked the corner of his mouth for any lingering sauce and beamed. “I’d like that.”
“Maybe we could do a Meatless Monday thing?” Kyungsoo mused further. “I’ve heard a lot of people talk about that. We even have discounted cheeses at work on Mondays to support people who participate.”
“I’m going to have to pass on that offer. If you’re taking me to your place, I insist on seeing your meat, Monday or not.” Baekhyun grinned like a cat that caught a mouse, leaving it on the doormat for his owner to deal with.
Kyungsoo’s exhale was so exhausted, but Baekhyun caught that brief twinkle of amusement in his eyes. “How many more meat jokes do you have?”
“I don’t know, but I think we’re going to find out.” Baekhyun was nearly wiggling with excitement at the prospect. “The steaks are high.”
“I’m texting Chanyeol right now asking for an apology.” Kyungsoo pretended to take out his phone to do so, but Baekhyun could see his smile peeking around the device.
As the date continued, they shared hobbies and interests, learning they both loved music and dogs, teasing Chanyeol, and a good movie night. Baekhyun promised to show him some video games when he came over for that vegetarian meal night, scheduled on both of their calendars.
Leaving the café, Baekhyun checked his phone, pointedly ignoring an expectant text from Chanyeol, before returning his attention to his date. “So, how about a kiss before I go?”
Kyungsoo chuckled and nodded. “I’d like that.”
As far as first kisses went, Baekhyun would have to place this one in his top ten. Kyungsoo had the most plush lips he’d ever kissed, the perfect amount of pressure and urging. The hand at the small of his back made his toes curl and his pulse thud in his ears.
“I’ll see you on Monday?” Kyungsoo pulled back first, smile soft and heart-shaped.
It took him a moment to find his voice, but Baekhyun cleared his throat and responded. “See you then, Soo.”
Floating as he walked back towards his bus stop, he noticed a notification on his phone from Kyungsoo.
It was nice to meat you, Baekhyunie.
Baekhyun laughed to himself at the bus stop. Oh yeah, this one was a keeper.