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The twisting feeling in Namjoon's gut never goes away, despite the number of blind dates his friends have set him up on over the last several months. That feeling has only gotten worse as he sits at the table waiting for his date to arrive. Traffic on a Friday evening can be difficult, or at least he has been told to expect that. Namjoon doesn't drive himself, but he has eyes and can see the row of lights passing outside the window of the restaurant. The subway he took to get here was quite packed. He does his best to distract himself from the nervous unsettling of his stomach by reviewing the menu. It helps distract him from checking his watch for a whole ninety seconds.
No text from his date.
No text from his friend, Yoongi, who arranged the date.
But it's only fifteen minutes past their scheduled meeting time. It's not that late. Yet.
The waiter comes by with a bright smile, a black apron tied around his waist and the top button of his button-down undone. His name is Hoseok and he's been very patient with Namjoon so far.
"Good evening, sir," the waiter says. "Are you ready to order, yet?"
Namjoon tries to smile back, but it feels more like a grimace. "I'm still waiting on my date. I'm sure they'll be here any minute."
Hoseok nods as he holds his order pad at the ready. "I'm sure they will be. Maybe I can get you started with a drink? Or an appetizer?"
A drink sounds nice. Something to calm his nerves. Namjoon isn't sure what his date would like since they've never met. "Can I get two waters and a beer for myself?"
"Certainly," Hoseok says with a smile (and maybe a bit of relief). He is probably worried that Namjoon is taking up space on a Friday evening and not ordering anything. Namjoon can empathize and resolves that he's going to tip well at the end of the night for the man's trouble.
The waiter smoothly glides away and Namjoon catches himself watching the retreating back of the man. Hoseok is handsome and probably does pretty well on tips without Namjoon's guilt money. Feeling a little bad that he's checking out the waiter while waiting for his date, Namjoon averts his gaze back to the menu. He's pretty sure what he's going to order by the time Hoseok comes back with the tray of waters and the single beer: foamy and cold.
"Thanks," Namjoon says as Hoseok places the beer and one water in front of him before setting the other water at the empty table setting across from him. "I'm sure he’s just caught in traffic."
"I'm sure that's the case, sir," Hoseok says kindly and stands. "Do you want to order a drink for your friend? I can hold it until they arrive."
"Oh," Namjoon gives an awkward laugh as he feels heat rise to his cheeks. "I really don't know. This is a blind date and we haven't actually met, you know?"
Hoseok looks properly contrite and gives a small smile. "Well, I'm sure they'll be happy when they get here. Let me know if there's anything else I can get you."
"Thanks you," Namjoon reaches for the beer and raises it in a little toast before Hoseok hurries off to help other customers who were surely here on time.
Twenty minutes late now.
At least Namjoon has a drink now and he sips the beer as his eyes drift back to the front door. He isn't even sure what his date looks like other than what he's been told. Yoongi said he was pretty and petite since Namjoon likes "cute small things." Namjoon had been talking about a little crab he found at the beach when he said that, but it seems as good a critereia as anything else for a blind date. Well, maybe he should add "punctual" to the list, because this waiting is not helping his nerves.
Namjoon taps out a text to the number Yoongi gave him for his date.
KNJ : Hey, just checking in. I'm at the restaurant and the waiter wants to know what you'd like to drink. Are you almost here?
The little notification "sent" pops up and Namjoon waits a few more seconds. It never switches over to "read", but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Maybe he's driving?
Sighing, Namjoon sips his beer and looks back out the restaurant window. His heart sinks further when the pavement starts to darken as the pitter patter of rain begins. Surely that's going to delay his date even further.
Namjoon gazes out the window and wishes he'd brought his notebook with him. He enjoys people watching and likes to write observations down in his notebook, but he didn't bring it with him. It felt unnecessary for a first date, but now Namjoon wishes he had something, anything, else to distract him from the increasing twisting in his belly. He's never had to wait this long for a date and normally the nerves settle once the person arrives.
His date is thirty minutes late when Hoseok comes back to the table. "Any news?" he asks companionably.
"Not yet," Namjoon admits. "I'm sure the rain is just making them later."
Hoseok hums and nods. "Do you want something to start with? I can bring you some mandu."
It's hard to tell if the twisting in Namjoon's stomach is nerves or hunger at this point. "Mandu would be great."
"I hope your date comes soon," Hoseok offers before slipping off between the tables once more.
Oh great, pity from the wait staff. Namjoon must look pretty pathetic. The embarrassment burns even more in front of his handsome waiter. Hoseok's kindness only soothes the shame a little.
By the time Hoseok is back with the steaming plate of savory treats, Namjoon has tried texting both Yoongi and his date.
MYG : I haven't heard from Jungsu. Sorry, man.
The text conversation with his date remains "sent" and never "read."
"Has there been an update?" Hoseok sets the small plate of Mandu next to Namjoon's elbow. It's not like there's anyone at the table to share it with.
"Not yet," Namjoon sighs. How long should he wait before it’s obvious he’s being stood up?
Hoseok gives him a sympathetic smile that makes Namjoon feel like he's definitely being stood up. "Look, if you keep ordering stuff you can stay at the table. My shift ends in about thirty minutes though, so I'll have to hand you off to my relief."
Namjoon can read between the lines: Hoseok may be patient, but his replacement may not be. "Well, I'm sure they'll be here before you leave," he says with more confidence and optimism than he actually feels.
Hoseok's smile brightens as if that optimism is actually real. "I'm sure that's the case," he offers. "Otherwise: they are the ones missing out."
Namjoon's brain falters as he processes those words and Hoseok disappeaers again before Namjoon can determine if those are words of comfort, or if the man is actually flirting with him. Surely he's not flirting. It's probably just his customer service that Namjoon is misreading.
Namjoon picks up one of the mandu with his chopsticks and pops it in his mouth. It's a little hot, but the juicy little dumpling bursts against his tongue and helps ease some of the ache in his stomach. Yeah, it's getting late and he's hungry. Maybe he should just order food and get the fuck over it. If his date were going to show up, he would have texted Namjoon or Yoongi by now. He needs more than mandu and beer to soothe the rejection.
The next time Hoseok comes by the table, Namjoon's date is officially forty-five minutes late. "Can I order?" Namjoon asks before Hoseok can inquire about an update. There is no news and Namjoon doesn't want to have to admit it.
"Sure thing," Hoseok says, pulling out his order pad. Namjoon orders the jajangmyeon he usually saves for comfort food. This seems like an appropriate occasion. "I'll have that right out to you," Hoseok promises.
"And bring me the bill," Namjoon adds. "I want to make sure I pay out before you have to leave."
Hoseok freezes mid-motion while tucking the order pad into his apron pocket. "Are you sure?"
Namjoon smiles up at him. "You've been really great and I'd hate to have to tip someone else," he says honestly.
"Sure thing," Hoseok gives him another bright smile. It's probably his customer-service-smile, and Namjoon tries not to assume there's pity in the man's bright face.
MYG : I just heard from him and he said he was still thinking about it.
MYG : Prick.
MYG : Are you still waiting?
The text messages pop up on the home screen of Namjoon's phone, the final nail in the coffin that was this date.
KNJ : No, hyung. I think I'm just going to eat and head home.
KNJ : Thanks for trying to set this up.
MYG : Yah, don't thank me for this. We'll do better next time.
We. Namjoon sighs. His friends have been trying their hardest. Perhaps he's just hopeless? Dating are for people with more social skills than he apparently processes. He’ll just have to tell his friends that they should give up, but that can wait until tomorrow. Tonight he has some noodles and beer to consume.
Hoseok returns with both his food and the bill. Namjoon tucks his card into the plastic folder, not even looking at the receipt. "Thanks," he says as he reaches for his chopsticks. Hoseok just nods as he takes away the bill to run his card and Namjoon slurps up some noodles. The thick brown sauce sticks to his lips and it's the best part of his evening. Nothing like eating your feelings.
Hoseok returns with the bill and Namjoon wipes his mouth with a napkin before signing and leaving Hoseok a larger tip to make up for occupying his table for so long this evening. "Thanks," he says again, handing the folio back and tucking his card in his pocket.
"Of course," Hoseok offers. "Um, is there anything else I can help you with this evening?"
Namjoon glances up to find Hoseok watching him. It makes his chest squeeze and he rushes to reassure the waiter. "No, you've been great. Thank you for checking on me even when I was taking up space."
Hoseok's lips twist into a frown and it looks so wrong on the man's sunny face. "You're allowed to take up space," he says adamantly. "Your date missed out."
Namjoon chuckles in surprise. "Thank you, Hoseok-ssi. Have a good rest of your evening."
Hoseok nods, his lips pressed into a thin line before he turns and gracefully makes his way between the tables away from him. Maybe Hoseok doesn't have to pretend anymore? Namjoon sighs and returns to his own pity party of noodles and existential crisis.
His phone sits, silent, next to his plate. A drop of sauce beads on the screen. Sighing, he picks it up and wipes away the sauce, waking the phone up. On an impulse, he opens his texts to his "date."
KNJ : It's fine.
KNJ : Have a good evening.
And then he deletes the contact and their texts. It feels final, but better to close that door than dwell on it.
A fresh glass of beer is set down next to his empty one and someone settles across the table from him. Namjoon blinks, glancing up in surprise to find Hoseok getting comfortable in the seat, apron gone, and his own beer in hand. "Um, I don't think I paid for another beer," he says dumbly.
"This one is on me," Hoseok says and raises his own glass. "Do you mind if I join you instead?"
The tightness in his chest finally lets loose and is replaced with a fluttering instead. He picks up his beer and holds it out towards Hoseok. The man clinks their glasses together and takes a sip. "Um, can I ask why you want to have a drink with me? I mean: I've been wallowing in your section, occupying a table that could have gone to someone else, and just got stood up. Those can't be good qualifications."
Hoseok finishes sipping his beer and chuckles, shaking his head. "I wasn't lying when I said your date is missing out. You're hot. Patient - though maybe too much so. And you seem like a nice guy, Namjoon-ssi. Why wouldn't I swoop in and try to steal you before someone else gets a chance to realize that you're a good guy?"
Heat rises to Namjoon's cheeks and he can't believe it. "So this isn't a pity beer?"
"Far from it," Hoseok gasps in mock offense and then laughs. "Finish your noodles and we can chat."
"Are you hungry?" Namjoon feels a little awkward eating in front of Hoseok.
Hoesok shakes his head and waves a hand of dismissal. "I had my dinner break already. But I wouldn't say no to grabbing some ice cream when you're done."
Namjoon smiles and nods. "Ice cream sounds perfect. My treat?"
"Sounds like a nice date to me," Hoseok replies and sips more of his beer.
Maybe tonight won't be a total loss like Namjoon thought. And hopefully there'll be no more blind dates in his future.