Chapter Text
The office was too quiet for comfort.
Byunghun sat stiffly on the leather chair, his fingers drumming a nervous rhythm against his knee. The city lights outside filtered through the blinds, striping the floor with bars of gold and grey. Across from him, Jungjae leaned back with an ease that looked practiced, one leg crossed over the other, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He looked like he belonged there; Relaxed, confident and effortlessly composed.
Byunghun absolutely hated that about him.
The silence stretched, filled only the ticking of the wall clock until the door finally opened. Director Hwang stepped in, his grin already suspiciously wide. “Gentlemen”, he greeted, his tone light but edged with something deliberate. “I appreciate you coming in on such short notice.”
Byunghun straightened, glancing briefly at Jungjae before fixing his gaze on the director. “Of course”, he replied politely though his voice carried a faint stiffness. He hadn’t been able to shake the feeling that something was… off.
Hwang clasped his hands, pacing slowly in front of them like a man about to unveil a grand plan. “Now that Squid Game Season 2 has wrapped filming, we’re entering promotion mode.” He paused, his eyes twinkling. “And the public’s interest in the cast chemistry is at all- time high.”
Jungjae’s brows lifted slightly. “You called us here for publicity plans?”
Hwang nodded, too quickly. “Exactly. But not just any publicity plan.” He leaned forward, resting both palms on the desk between them. “You two… are going to fake date.”
The words dropped into the room like a stone into still water.
Byunghun blinked. Once. Twice. Then frowned. “Excuse me?”
“Fake date,” Hwang repeated, clearly enjoying their reactions. “A harmless PR stunt. Think about it, the fans already adore your dynamic. The press photos, the behind the scene moments, the banter during interviews, it all screams chemistry.”
Jungjae’s laughter filled the room, smooth and disbelieving. “You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, I’m very serious,” Hwang said, folding his arms. “You two play along for a few months, hand holding at public events, maybe a few paparazzi sightings.” He smiles. “Let the fandom lose their minds. The internet eats that stuff up.”
Byunghun’s stomach tightened. “That’s manipulative.”
“Welcome to show business.” Hwang replied with a shrug. “Its marketing. You’re both professionals. And it’s not like you actually have to-” He waved a dismissive hand. “- feel anything. It’s just acting off-camera.”
Jungjae tilted his head, smiling faintly. But Byunghun noticed the way his jaw flexed. He was thinking. Calculating. Maybe even intrigued.
“I don’t think this is a good idea.”, Byunghun said finally, voice lower now, less sure.
“Why not?” Hwang asked, his gaze sharp.
Byunghun hesitated, searching for a reasonable answer that wasn’t because pretending to like someone like him would drive me insane.
“Because it’s dishonest.”, he muttered.
Hwang chuckled. “You’re an actor, Byunghun. You lie for a living.”
That stung more than he wanted to admit. His hands tightened around the edge of his chair, knuckled whitening.
Before he could respond, Jungjae spoke up. “How long are we talking?”
Hwang turned to him, eyes lighting up. “A few months. Until the international press tour ends.”
Byunghun’s head snapped towards Jungjae. “You’re actually considering this?”
Jungjae looked at him, calm as ever, the faintest ghost of amusement in his expression. “If it helps the show… why not?”
“Because it is insane”, Byunghun snapped. “You’re asking us to pretend to be in love for the cameras.”
“And?” Jungjae asked softly, his voice steady but his gaze unreadable. “We’ve both done stranger things for roles.”
The air between them thickened- not quite anger, not quite something else.
Director Hwang clapped his hands once, breaking the tension. “Excellent. So, you’ll do it.”
“I never said-”, Byunghun started, but Hwang was already reaching into a folder, sliding two printed contracts across the table.
“Your managements have already approved,” he said casually. “You just need to sign. Think of it as a performance- but this time, the world is your stage.”
Byunghun stared at the paper in front of him. His name was there, bold and official. The terms were clear: staged dates, social media interactions, shared appearances. His throat went dry.
When he glanced at Jungjae again, the older man was already leaning forward, pen in hand.
“You’re really doing this?” Byunghun whispered.
Jungjae’s eyes flicked up to meet his. “You worry too much”, he murmured, and signed with an effortless stroke.
Byunghun swallowed hard. He could already imagine the headlines. ‘Squid Game Stars Confirmed to be Dating!’. The thought made his pulse quicken- with dread, he told himself. Definitely dread.
Reluctantly, he picked up the pen. His signature trembled slightly on the page.
Hwang grinned, satisfied. “Perfect! We’ll start small- maybe a casual coffee outing this weekend. Just enough to get the tabloids curious.” He paused, glancing between them. “Oh, and one more thing. We’ll need a photo. Something candid- looking, but not too obvious. You know, a spark.”
Byunghun’s heart sank. “Now?”
“Yes, now.”
A photographer appeared from the hallway as if summoned by magic. Jungjae rose from his seat, smoothing his jacket with a faint chuckle. “Might as well get it over with.”
Byunghun stood too, every muscle tense. When Jungjae moved closer, their shoulders brushed- a fleeting touch that sent a strange warmth crawling up his neck. He stepped back half an inch, hoping in went unnoticed.
It didn’t. Jungjae’s smirk deepened. “Relax. It’s just for show.”
The photographer lifted his camera. “Closer, please. Maybe look at each other.”
Byunghun’s breath caught.
He turned slightly towards Jungjae, forcing a polite smile, but the other man was already looking at him- really looking. His gaze was steady, almost soft now, and for a moment, the noise of the world seemed to fade out.
Something fluttered in Byunghun’s chest- irritation, confusion, or something more dangerous, he couldn’t tell.
The camera clicked. Once. Twice.
“Perfect”, the photographer said cheerfully. “Got it.”
Byunghun exhaled, stepping away immediately, pretending to check his phone. His pulse hadn’t slowed.
“Well then,” Director Hwang said, tucking the papers back into his folder. “Welcome to your new relationship, gentlemen.”
Jungjae chuckled under his breath. “Guess we are official now.”
Byunghun shot him a look- sharp, defensive. But Jungjae only smiled wider, that infuriatingly calm smile that seemed to say I’m in control of this game.
“Don’t look so tense,” Jungjae added as they walked towards the elevator. “Who knows? You might actually start to like me.” He added with a wink.
Byunghun scoffed, eyes fixed ahead. “Don’t count on it.”
But the elevator doors reflected their faced side by side- and in brief silence that followed, Byunghun caught his own faint smile before quickly looking away.
Maybe it was nerves. Maybe something else.
Either way, the contract had been signed. And somewhere deep down, beneath the irritation and uncertainty, a spark had quietly taken root.