Chapter Text
“I’m telling you. I can do it,” Sunghoon says from where he’s sprawled out on Jay’s bed.
Jay ignores him as he continues to scroll through his Instagram mutuals in the hopes of finding someone, also ignoring the fact that there is no hope for it anymore. Not when the gala is going to start in less than 24 hours.
“Jay-ah,” Sunghoon whines his name out loud, the way only he ever does when he needs attention.
“I’m being serious. I thought hard about it. I might actually be the best candidate for it,” he continues. Jay chances a look at him. Sunghoon’s face is earnest and he’s looking back into Jay’s eyes, an occurrence rare enough that Jay believes him easily. He knows that the younger is serious with his offer. But still,
“Sunghoon-ah” Jay sighs, unable to explain why he’s not readily agreeing to the idea.
Sunghoon sits up straight on the bed as he pulls Jay to sit beside him and places a pillow in the elder’s hands.
Jay hugs the pillow tight as he gives himself a chance to think about it. If Jay is being truthful to himself, Sunghoon might actually be the best choice for it. There were too many incidents in the past, where people mistakenly assumed the both of them to be a couple. Not to mention their high school years, where their teachers and classmates used to call them blackandwhitez, a nickname which unfortunately spread around too much and Jay still gets random DMs from his old school mates asking if he was still dating Sunghoon.
So, yes. Sunghoon would probably be a good candidate for Jay to go on a fake-date with. Maybe. Probably. But the thought of acting lovey-dovey with Sunghoon around people is enough of a con to make Jay reconsider all the pros. Jay would rather keep his hand in freezer for an hour straight than willingly hold Sunghoon’s hand when others can notice. He cringes at the image of behaving sweet with Sunghoon like the male leads in Sunoo’s favourite dramas do.
“Stop being a stubborn idiot and think about it properly,” Sunghoon scolds him.
Offended, Jay throws the pillow at him because ‘thinking’ was what he was doing. Too much of it. “You’re the idiot here. I didn’t even ask you. And if you think you’re the best, what were you doing these last 3 days?” “Why do you even think you’re the best candidate, huh?” Jay adds, annoyed that Sunghoon is being so calm while he himself is freaking out over the proposition.
Sunghoon again places the pillow calmly in Jay’s arms.
“Firstly, you really don’t have any other options. You told your parents that you’ve been dating your boyfriend for more than a year. So, your non-existent boyfriend has to know you well enough and I know you the best out of everyone. Secondly, I have experience in fake-dating actually. So, I know how it-”
“Excuse me, what do you mean you have experience in fake dating?” Jay interrupts him, his annoyance increasing at not knowing this about Sunghoon while the younger claims to know Jay the best, a fact most likely to be true though Jay would never admit it out loud. Sunghoon’s ego is big enough already.
“Keep up Jongsaeng. Remember two years ago, when I went with Jake to Australia for a family event. Though it’s less of intentional fake-dating and more of people there assuming we were dating and us not correcting it to spare Jake from unwanted lectures and matchmakings.”
Jay remembers it well enough. Actually, now that he thinks about it, Jake and Sunghoon too were mistaken for a couple multiple times, before Jake started dating Heeseung. What is with Sunghoon and his ability to look like he’s dating his friends. He’s not even a physically affectionate or openly sweet with his words type of person.
“Why are you so calm about this?” Jay finally asks, because as much as Jay doesn’t want it to be true, he already accepted Sunghoon’s offer to be his fake boyfriend for the day the moment Sunghoon proposed the idea. Not that there were any options. If not Sunghoon, the only possible option left is Minjun, who Jay knows has a crush on him and Jay could never take advantage of someone like that.
Sunghoon grins at the question because he knew by now that Jay accepted it. The fucker.
“I wasn’t before actually. But then I thought about it and how hard can it be? And it’s only for one night.”
“Sunghoon, we have to look so in love that when I announce our breakup, my mom would not bring up another date for at least a year after because she needs to believe that I was so heartbroken that I might never move on.”
Sunghoon raises an eyebrow at that. “And you think you can look like that with someone else easily?” He asks, folding his hands and glaring at Jay.
Jay groans because he’s missing the point. “No, idiot. If it was anyone else, I would just pray for tomorrow to go smoothly. But if it could be you, I have to use the opportunity to my fullest and update my plan to be safe for another year at least.”
Sunghoon is still glaring at him but Jay doesn’t care. He glares right back. They are now in a glaring contest all of a sudden and when Jay realises this, he softens the glare and tilts his head, looking intensely into Sunghoon’s eyes, at which the younger drops his head quickly and looks down as his neck and ears turn pink. Bingo. Of course, Jay would win this game.
“Loser,” Jay drawls, grinning. Sunghoon looks up to glare at him as he quickly raises his hand to snatch and hold Jay’s hand like he’s preparing for them to play hand wrestling. Jay tries to free his hand and succeeds immediately, reminding him that for how big his muscles are, Sunghoon’s grip strength is very weak. So much for all those muscles, huh?
Annoyed, Sunghoon pounces on him to pin him down, catching Jay off guard, after which he lies across with his head on Jay’s stomach. Forcing him to stay calm under him. Jay wiggles under him just to annoy the younger. Sunghoon lifts his head to glare at him and hits Jay in the stomach with his elbow. Hard. Jay groans out in pain but stays silent trying not to look at the satisfied smile on the younger’s face. It’s a bit hard because Sunghoon’s smile is showing his fangs, eyes scrunched up like Jay in distress is the happiest thing ever for him. Maybe it is and that is why the guy picks fights with Jay too many times.
“Right, coming back to your crisis, what were you so worried about?” Sunghoon asks.
Jay lets out a sigh. For a moment, he forgot about it. It’s an unwelcome realisation that Sunghoon annoying him on a regular basis, has become one of the things that calms Jay down when he overthinks his worries. And Sunghoon probably knows that too.
“It’s really only one night. But also, most of my family is gonna be there. And I have to look settled down in front of them and my parents. Enough that they’ll stop the accusations against my career choice and blaming my lack of love life on it. It’s been years and they still like to lecture me that I’m wasting my life away by not taking over the company. I’m afraid they would do anything to nitpick me and find faults in me to prove that they’re right. Which they’re not.”
The familiar rage builds up in him as he remembers his last family dinner five months ago, at his cousin’s wedding, a destination wedding in Singapore where Jay had planned to enjoy the sights and absorb the happy vibes, but later opted to stay asleep in his hotel room the whole day after because of all the nitpicking and lectures on the day before during reception. “It wasn’t this bad before. Or maybe it was and I just didn’t realise it. I don’t even know what they want to achieve. Do they think I’m gonna quit my job to take over the company if they criticise my choices enough? The thing that’s making me more upset is that I really thought they supported my choice. Like yes, they weren’t happy with it but I thought they accepted it for my sake.”
It’s something Jay really didn’t want to think about. It was difficult at first but Jay thought they would move on as the years went by. Except it only became worse and Jay already missed too many family events to avoid their scrutiny. A part of Jay feels so horrible for complaining about it because he knows most of them really just want him to be successful and their criticism isn’t something they enjoy. But they should learn that Jay’s definition of success is different from theirs, shouldn’t they?
Jay didn’t realise his fists are clenched tight until Sunghoon holds his hand and separates his fingers one by one. He later places his palm over Jay’s like he’s comparing hand sizes. Jay’s agitated self, for some reason, calms down as he does so.
“I think the more they lecture you about your lack of love life, the more it proves that they don’t have anything else to properly criticise you about. They couldn’t find any faults in you, career or behaviour wise so they’re gravitating towards your unsuccessful love life and linking it everywhere instead.”
Sunghoon’s words sound rational and true and Jay accepts it a bit more that he’s only so worried and agitated over it because he misses the harmony and peace of mind he used to have with his family before Jay revealed his choice of becoming a chef and more than half of his family took it as him abandoning the company because he has no respect for it.
“I just feel bad about getting annoyed at them but I cannot do that if they’re being annoying. I really need tomorrow to go well. You need to make everyone there fall in love with you.” Begrudgingly, Jay admits to himself that it’s an easy task. If he ignores the disaster it might be if Sunghoon and Jay suck at being boyfriends, and focus on the fact that it’s gonna be their first introduction to Sunghoon, Jay is not too worried about the latter. Sunghoon’s pretty privilege and his shy and calm persona works wonders when he meets people for the first time. Except his parents. They already know and love him. They’re gonna have so many questions for Jay to answer to, when he reveals Sunghoon as his boyfriend. Jay had cursed Sunghoon and called him an idiot too many times in presence of his parents before, for them to now readily believe that he’s in love with the guy.
“Well, if you think they’re gonna annoy you with their criticism, I’m afraid I’ll only add to it by parading you around and singing your praises. Look at the bright side Jay-ah. You got a golden opportunity to hear me compliment you. Although I’ll need time to think of them. I don’t think I have much material for it.”
Sunghoon is still holding his hand so Jay turns it over so that he’s the one now holding the other’s hand. And then pinches his palm resulting in a yelp from Sunghoon. Miraculously, Sunghoon doesn’t retaliate but he throws the hand that got pinched in front of Jay’s face. Jay looks over at him, confused, but holds it, before the younger can hit him on the face or anything.
“I’m not gonna hit you,” Sunghoon speaks out offended. Jay only raises a brow.
“Kiss it better,” Sunghoon declares, freeing his hand from Jay’s hold and bringing it to his lips.
Jay opens his mouth to call him out about his stupidity but his lips touch Sunghoon’s palm. Jay immediately removes the younger’s hand as he calls out “You idiot. What is wrong with you?”
Sunghoon lifts his head from Jay’s stomach and moves up and is now hovering over Jay, looking into Jay’s eyes and Jay’s stupid heart speeds up. He looks away from Sunghoon’s eyes but immediately finds his moles instead. One on his cheekbone, one on the side of his nose, one under his left eye, that Jay knows is there but isn’t properly visible unless you’re too close. And Jay is now. Too close and too aware of it. Jay wants to move away or push Sunghoon off of him but he feels frozen, the only thing running through his mind is that Sunghoon is too pretty. There is a knot in his stomach that’s making him stay frozen. He needs to push Sunghoon off if it’s nausea. Sunghoon, who’s still looking into his eyes. What the fuck is wrong with the guy? Can he please move away? Jay needs to shout at him for his absurd behaviour.
“Jay-ah” He hears Sunghoon call him.
“Yeah?” Jay’s throat feels dry and his voice comes out rough.
“We need to kiss tomorrow.” Sunghoon’s voice is soft when he says it. And he finally moves his eyes away from Jay’s as he looks at Jay’s lips now.
“Yeah,” Jay agrees because it’s true and Jay was worried about it. Is worried about it. Maybe. The thought of kissing Sunghoon suddenly doesn’t feel as irritating.
“Should we practice it now?” Sunghoon asks in that same soft voice.
Maybe Jay should think more about it. But he doesn’t. “Yeah,” he answers.
“I ….” Sunghoon falters at Jay’s agreement, all the calmness he had until now suddenly vanishing, as he looks visibly panicked now.
Jay rolls his eyes at that, his own nerves vanishing the moment he saw Sunghoon’s calm demeanor go away.
“Shut up. What if you’re bad at it?” Sunghoon complains, like he’s trying to annoy Jay.
Smirking, Jay turns them over so that Sunghoon is now the one lying on the bed, caged between Jay’s arms.
“How does it feel to be the one cornered?” Jay asks enjoying the disgruntled expression on the younger’s face.
“Shut up,” Jay laughs at his weak rebuttal.
“You’re so stupid,” Jay says because it’s default when it comes to Sunghoon. His voice comes out fond though, unprompted but at least Sunghoon’s displeased expression goes away.
“Jay-ah. Kiss me,” Sunghoon says, lifting his eyes to look up into Jay’s.
There are a million things running through his mind that Jay wanted to say in return, but he doesn’t. He leans over to capture Sunghoon’s lips in his, gentle at first but then Sunghoon’s hands are on Jay’s collar, pulling him closer and the only thing Jay feels is the softness of Sunghoon’s lips, the knots in his stomach breaking out to release butterflies. Sunghoon kisses like he’s trying to consume Jay, and Jay feels an overwhelming need to do the same in return. The intensity of the kiss softens after a few minutes and Jay breaks the kiss only when Sunghoon loosens his hold on Jay’s collar.
Both of them are breathing heavily as they stay there like that. Sunghoon closes his eyes and his hands are still holding Jay’s collar. As he looks over Sunghoon’s pretty face, Jay, whose mind is still only filled with the kiss, gives in to his impulse as he leans over to kiss Sunghoon’s moles.
“Well, congrats, you’re not too bad at it,” Sunghoon says after few moments, his hands no longer holding Jay’s collar, but his right hand still on Jay’s chest.
Jay sighs as he moves away to lie beside Sunghoon on the bed, groaning internally that he’s unable to retaliate at the younger because his mind is still full of the kiss and Sunghoon’s pretty face and his pretty moles. It feels a bit unfair that the world is still the same after he kissed Sunghoon. The guy is still good enough to quip at Jay and there are no butterflies or pink glitter falling around him. The world around him is still the same. Everything is only inside Jay because he kissed Sunghoon and liked it. Wouldn’t hesitate a second to do it again. In fact, he wants to do it again. What has the world come to?
“Jongsaeng,” He feels a finger poking at his chest. Jay ignores it because his world is still tilted and full of imaginary pink glitter.
“Jong-saeng-Jong-saeng-Jong-saeng” Sunghoon sing songs his name into his ear, still poking him repeatedly at his chest.
Well, at least Sunghoon can still annoy him as easily as he did before. Jay wouldn’t know what to do if it changes. Jay raises his hand to remove the finger poking him and intertwines his fingers with Sunghoon. No thoughts in his mind, just pink imaginary glitter.
Sunghoon turns silent at that, no protests or whining about Jay holding his hand. Jay chances a look at him. Sunghoon is lying beside him, looking up at the ceiling, his face and neck pink in color, his lips that Jay was kissing moments ago, his mole calling for Jay’s attention. Jay turns away from him and reflexively tightens his grip on Sunghoon’s hand. He should release his hold. Why the hell is he holding hands with Sunghoon?
Sunghoon clears his throat. “What kind of outfit should I wear for tomorrow?”
Jay brightens up at the reminder because dressing Sunghoon up is a task that he immensely enjoys.
“I’ll come over to dress you up.”
“Right.” Sunghoon says absent mindedly. His face is still pink and he’s biting his lower lip, the one Jay bit minutes before. Jay looks away. He tries to free his hand from where it’s intertwined with Sunghoon’s but Sunghoon tightens it.
Okay, Sunghoon is being weird. He still can annoy Jay as easily as breathing but he’s also being weird now isn’t he? Maybe Jay’s world isn’t the only one that’s tilted and filled with pink glitter. Jay doubts it’s the same with Sunghoon though, the guy hates pink. A big red flag if you ask Jay. Maybe his glitter is gold, but that’s basic. Maybe it’s blue. Or maybe it’s white which is just similar to snow. Maybe it’s snow. Sunghoon loves snow.
“What are you creepily smiling about?” Sunghoon asks out loud and Jay realises that he’s involuntarily smiling. Too bad for Sunghoon, Jay too has no idea of why he’s smiling.
“Stop being weird,” Jay replies instead.
“I’m not being weird. You’re the one that’s weird. Are you still worrying about tomorrow?”
Right. Tomorrow. And Sunghoon being Jay’s boyfriend. Fake boyfriend. And the charity gala. And his family’s pointed criticism. “A little. But not too much. Are you worried about tomorrow?”
Sunghoon groans out loud. “Me too. I’m gonna need a debrief on your family and we need to build our backstory.”
“Don’t worry too much. Bat your eyelashes at them and show your fanged smile and they’ll fall in love with you.”
Sunghoon doesn’t reply and when Jay looks over at him, the younger is blinking rapidly with his mouth open a little and tongue darting out to touch his fangs and lips. He’s practicing it. Oh my god. Jay rolls his eyes, thankful Sunghoon is not looking at him because he meant to roll his eyes at the idiocy but he can feel in his bones that it came out fond. Jay gets up from his bed, feeling the need to separate himself from Sunghoon before the idiocy transfers over to Jay.
“Stay here,” Jay scolds him when Sunghoon starts to get up too. “I need to cook dinner and I don’t want you annoying me. We can discuss specifics after dinner but until then stay put and do not come near me,” he continues as he moves over to find the charger to plug his phone.
Sunghoon grumbles but stays on the bed, searching around. For his phone maybe. “I don’t want to be near you too. Don’t want your stupidity spreading to me.”
Jay blinks at the similar thought process and quickly gets out of the room. He can charge his phone after dinner.