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Riku’s on his third shot at the local bar. He’s usually pretty busy at work, being the manager at a local daycare in Seoul. He’s been single for a while now and promised Yushi, his roommate that he would get out of the house on that day. Valentines is Yushi’s supposed gaming day where he runs a Super Smash brothers tournament in their shared space, entry free of 20 dollars. Yushi has many nerd friends so it’s always a hit and Riku thought it would be better to meet someone new instead of spending money on Yushi’s tournament to lose the first round because he was bad at the game no matter how many times Yushi taught him.
Riku’s having a Rose Gin and Tonic. The gin is taking him out because he’s a lightweight and he usually drinks with Yushi around but hey, it’s time for new experiences. He’s scrolling on his phone for Tiktoks of cute hamsters when his supposed date texts him.
“Sorry Riku, I can’t make it. One of our cows went into emergency labor. Will make it up to you next time.” read the text.
It’s such a ridiculous excuse but it was the truth. Sion’s a farmer and half-joked that the only way he’d miss the date was if one of the cows delivered on the day of love, but hey, shit happens. This was all Ryo’s fault. He was the one who set him up with that farmer. Okay, Riku agreed because his abs showed in all the pictures he sent but it wasn’t just that. He thought a provincial boy would match him well.
“Ryo, he flaked on me.” Riku texts his friend who immediately replies in concern.
“Yeah, I called him because he texted me too. Do you want to hear what a cow sounds during labor? He’s not lying.” Ryo says, like he expected this too.
“Do you want me to call Yushi? He’s your emergency contact.” Ryo says, nonchalant on the line.
“Why would you call Yushi?” Riku says, ashamed to go back home before Yushi’s Super Smash Brothers tournament was over. He promised to stay out of the house and he intends to keep it.
“Because this is an emergency! You’re single, alone, and dateless on Valentines day! And judging how you’re slurring your words now, you probably got drunk sipping on a pretty drink without looking at the alcohol content. It’s sad! We can’t have you suddenly celebrating single awareness day.”
“It’s okay. I’m fine, Ryo. Seriously. Don’t even think about calling Yushi.” Riku says, warning his friend with the remaining energy he has left before Ryo says he has to go because he’s picking up a Valentine-exclusive keychain for Sakuya.
Riku’s annoyed. Fuck cows. He orders a triple beef burger with extra cheese at the bar and a milkshake and is overwhelmed by the size of his order. Riku’s not particularly enthusiastic about burgers but he was going to eat this abomination and transfer his rage onto this oily slab of meat like a person with good coping mechanisms does.
Riku’s eating the burger and he notices he’s the only person eating an actual meal and realizes this fucks up any chance he finds an impromptu date in this bar. He want to cry- half because of the alcohol and half because he does feel lonely, he should’ve paid the 20 dollars and joined the Super Smash tournament. At least Yushi would be there- Yushi who called him cute one day of the year, Valentines day. If Riku didn’t know better, he’d think Yushi was flirting with him.
In this stupor, Riku realizes he looked forward to the yearly tradition of hearing Yushi call him cute. It’s so stupid. Yushi doesn’t even like him that way and that would ruin their very co-dependent roommate relationship. Just the other day, Riku was telling Yushi off because he didn’t use parchment paper on the air fryer so he had to clean the oil out himself.
“I wanted to cook for you, Riku. I guess I’m not cooking for you again.” Yushi says. He looked a little hurt which was never Riku’s intention, but Riku ordered take-out as well so Yushi cooking was just an unexpected surprise where they just had too much food and a lot to clean-up.
“I’m sorry. I’ll eat all of it. We can reheat the take-out for tomorrow. Thanks for cooking for me, Yushi.” Riku says, nudging at him playful. Yushi goes back to his room, hastily grabbing the meal he prepared for himself before locking himself up.
“Yuu-chan. I’m sorry. I promise I won’t bother you on your annual Super Smash Brothers tournament to make it up to you.”
“What will you do then?” Yushi texts back almost immediately, like they didn’t fight at all.
“I’m on a date! We seem compatible. Imagine if it works out, I’d finally move out and you’d be rid off me.” Riku jokes, half hoping Yushi would protest and say something like “Don’t leave. I like having you around.” Half the things Riku says around Yushi are done to fish validation. It’s one of his shittier traits.
Yushi leaves him on read. He never replies back.
The I’m on a date message was the last thing Riku sends Yushi until a very, very drunk Riku who decided to get his 5th gin and tonic (when his limit was three drinks) texts Yushi.
“I know it’s late. But can you be my date after the tournament is over. I miss you. Sorry for texting you about my date. Also, please call me cute even if I look a mess.” This is what Riku thinks he’s texting but he’s too drunk to hold the keyboard correctly so he just texts.
“Yu$hi.”
Yushi shows up after 15 minutes. Riku’s lowkey wondering how this happened, considering no venue was texted to him but he’s also buzzed out of his mind. On his tab was a half-eaten burger, a milkshake and six drinks.
“Are you paying for this man?” the bartender asks. “He just keeps on fluttering his eyes when I ask him if he wants to close his tab.”
“Yeah, put it all on my card.” Yushi says, before tapping his black card on the machine. “Thanks for taking care of him. Sorry for this.”
“My knight in shining armor.” Riku claps to himself, amused. “My Yushi.”
“Let’s get you home, you’re drunk.” Yushi says, slinging his coat on Riku. It’s February but it’s still cold somehow.
“You must do this with all your girlfriends. No wonder everyone loves you.” Riku hiccups, putting his arms around Yushi’s shoulders to steady his gait.
“I’m not like this with anyone. It’s because it’s you.” Yushi corrects him.
“Hic. Yushi thinks I’m special.” Riku’s laughing into Yushi’s arm, and Yushi’s just trying to hold him right so he doesn’t fall.
“You are special, Riku. You know, if it was me, I would’ve never stood you up.” Yushi says, fitting Riku into the cab. He’s then apologizing to the driver because it took a while to fit Riku in, who keeps hiccuping for some reason.
“That’s not like you, Yuu-chan. You’re saying so many nice words.” Riku says, resting his head on Yushi’s lap. He’s looking at Yushi now, wondering why Yushi’s so gentle with him.
“You always act like you know me. It’s annoying.” Yushi says. He’s still holding Riku gently, looking at him like he was to be protected.
“It’s because I like you. Because I like you, I know everything about you.” Riku declares. “We’re friends. So of course, I would know everything about you.”
“Friends. That’s some shit. You can’t even tell I like you.” Yushi mutters.
Riku thinks he’s hearing things.
This can’t be. I must be sleepy and it’s the voices in my head saying this. It’s just too convenient…. That Yushi likes me back….
Riku falls asleep on Yushi’s lap. Yushi watches him like a hawk until they get back.
When Riku wakes up, he’s in his pajamas nestled in his bed. He has no recollection of anything happening yesterday except for being mad at Sion and ordering a burger. How did he get home? How was he in pajamas? How did he not smell of vomit? Did Yushi give him a bath? Did he ruin the Super Smash tournament?
Riku’s thoughts are racing. Yushi. He argues with me all the time. He says I’m not cute. The way he makes everyone around him do his bidding is cute. His normal and controlled face breaking into a sly smile makes him hard to resist. When he pays attention to me, I get so happy. I rely on him. Underneath his exterior, he’s kind. And he’s the best roommate ever. He feeds me when I’m hungry. He goes to the daycare and plays with the children whose parents are late to pick them up. He makes time for me, always.
Jesus, am I in love with Yushi?
Yushi knocks on the door.
“Riku, I made you breakfast.” Yushi has a whole platter of all the things Riku loves, white rice, mochi, dubai chewy cookies, some jellies, and tamago. Yushi writes Riku’s name with ketchup lettering the way he does, the letters spaced out weirdly, cutting the tamago in half.
“You said you’d never cook for me again.” Riku’s crying. He’s so grateful. He should’ve gone on a date with Yushi. He shouldn’t have ruined the tournament. He’s been horrible but Yushi has given him grace over and over again.
“It’s not good because I made it. We can order take-out if you don’t like it.” Yushi says, looking away. “Also, please drink water. You’ve been hiccuping since yesterday, it scared me a bit.”
“I told you already, I’ll eat anything you make.” Riku says, wolfing on his breakfast like Yushi would yank it back and eat it in his room again by his loneself.
“What happened to the tournament?” Riku asks, concerned he ruined Valentines for both of them.
“It’s fine. Jaehee ran it. Besides, something more important came up.” Yushi says.
“You know I’d drop anything if you needed me, right?” Yushi asks, and Riku replies choking tears as he swallows the egg in his mouth.
“Right. You would.” Riku says, echoing him.
“Let’s go on a date, Yushi.” Riku says adamantly. “We can go to the aquarium. Didn’t you say before you wanted to see the fish?”
“What’s happening, Riku? Are you still drunk?” Yushi says, concerned.
“I’m sorry for not seeing Yuu-chan. I see it now.”
Riku's smiling.
“I see you.”