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ivan doesn’t expect much when sua sets him up on a blind date. ever since his sister had finally gotten together with mizi, it seemed her sole purpose in life had shifted from ‘seducing mizi’ to ‘securing ivan a boyfriend.’ ivan appreciates the gesture, really he does. it’s just hard to explain how he’s more than comfortable settling under the label of unrequited love and staying there forevermore.
but sua wouldn’t take no for an answer, so here ivan sits, at a chic little italian restaurant in the middle of jung-gu. he’s settled on the terrace at a table reserved under sua’s name, sipping on a random choice of red wine. he’s nowhere near the entrance, so he can’t even watch guests come in and try to figure out which one of these men will be his date for the night.
ivan counts himself lucky that sua had set the date up well. on a friday evening after his work week was done, in a district far from his own home so he wouldn’t have to pass by and be reminded of a night he’s sure he won’t want to remember. the restaurant has a dress code in place, one that ivan is familiar with, one he knows a certain teal-eyed boy would never adhere to. it only solidifies the fact that ivan has no chance of running into him tonight. he’ll just keep up his friendly persona for the night, listen and laugh at the right moments, pay the bill as a gentleman should, and never think of his date again.
it was the perfect plan, ivan thinks. there shouldn’t have been anything getting in the way. nothing except...
...till himself dropping into the seat across his.
“sorry it took me a while to get here. work ran late. did you order already?”
ivan blinks. blinks again. he’s not sure he understands what he’s looking at.
“till?”
till raises his brow. “yeah? what’s up?”
ivan takes a moment to take in the sight in front of him.
till isn’t supposed to wear suits. ivan doesn’t even think till owns a suit. but lo and behold, till is wearing one, a gorgeous sleek design of grey combined with a dark green shirt and a silver tie.
his hair is styled for once, not the shaggy mess that ivan is accustomed to. ivan doesn’t think he’s ever been this awed by a forehead before in his life. it was only narrowly beat by the smoky eyes and the cat-like liner.
“you’re... wearing makeup.”
till blushes then. “mizi had her makeup kit ready when she dropped off the suit.”
“huh.” ivan takes a minute to ponder over till’s words. “so this is... planned? by the three of you?”
till looks panicked then. “no! i mean, it wasn’t supposed to be. i just—”
“ah.” ivan puts a hand up to stop till from rambling as he was bound to do. “don’t worry about it. i get it.”
“what exactly do you get?” till asks warily.
“this is a prank.” ivan is confident, there’s no doubt in his voice. “i mean, it’s kinda funny. i’ll have to give sua credit.”
as well as wring her neck because the prank actually wasn’t a funny one.
for some reason, till looks devastated. “why do you think this is a prank? you don’t think i could be a good date?”
ivan hurriedly shakes his head. “no, that’s not it. i mean, you’d make a great boyfriend to whoever you liked. is this perhaps practice?”
“what?”
ivan is confused. he thought it was obvious. “is this practice for whoever you’re trying to woo? do you have a crush on someone i don’t know? if you’re pulling out a suit and makeup for them, i’m sure they’re someone special.”
“what the fuck.” till’s voice is quiet, angry. “why would i use you as practice? why would i go through... what the fuck. what the actual fuck.”
ivan stills. “till?”
till looks up directly at ivan, tears brimming at his lash line. “this isn’t practice, you asshole,” he hisses. “this is real. i... i wanted to go on a date with you. sua said... she said you would be happy. she said this wasn’t a stupid idea. she said my feelings were reciprocated!”
ivan doesn’t think this is a good prank. “till. you don’t like me.”
“who says?!”
“i’m your best friend,” ivan says unsurely. “i think i would have noticed if you had feelings for me.”
“would you?” till challenges, eyes bright and furious. “just... do you even like me or have i just fucked up based on sua’s words?”
ivan shakes his head. “no, i do like you. which is why—”
“then that’s that, dumbass!” till wipes at his eyes hurriedly. “i like you, and you like me. and we’re here. we’re on a date. c’mon, wave over a waiter, i want to order.”
ivan wants to argue, wants to tell till they can just go home. there’s no reason to continue the charade at his expense.
but till’s expression is set resolutely, and ivan doesn’t want to see any more tears for a reason he’s unsure of.
so they order.
till orders something he can’t pronounce and ivan orders something he knows till will enjoy. predictably, when their food comes, till is disgusted with the scallops he ordered, never a fan of seafood. ivan switches the plate for his own chicken piccata, grinning all the while. a blushing till thanks him and the two dig in.
conversation flows well. ivan asks about till, about his latest commissions and about the gallery opening soon that features some of till’s work. till answers with gusto, and asks in turn about ivan’s accounting job. at some point, till’s hand was reaching out for ivan’s across the table. ivan lets him, smiles when he sees till’s cheeks blossom when their fingers entwine.
they share a chocolate dessert, and till drops the dessert spoon on his suit jacket. it takes him a minute to pick it up; he’s too busy entranced by the sound of ivan laughing at him. ivan doesn’t laugh often, but when he does, it’s kind of all till can think about.
ivan doesn’t get to be a gentleman for the night because till beats him to it.
“are you affording this place on an artist’s budget?”
“fuck you, i do well for myself.”
they’d both had several glasses of wine throughout the evening, so the two decide to walk to the nearest train station.
it’s then that ivan broaches the topic again, having avoided it since the beginning. “so... was this good practice?”
till pauses in his tracks. his eyes are unreadable as they search ivan’s. “you still don’t believe me. you don’t think i like you.”
“i don’t,” ivan says easily. “there hasn’t been any indication. this is out of nowhere for you, till. i did enjoy myself though. if this wasn’t practice for someone else, then maybe it’s a pity date. i’m okay with that too, so—”
ivan doesn’t get to finish his train of thought.
he’s too busy being kissed by till.
it’s a sweet kiss, one that’s more a press of lips than a show of lustful affection, but it’s enough to make ivan’s heart beat harder than it ever has.
till pulls away before ivan can form a coherent thought. the look on his face is determined, stubborn.
“i’ll fucking prove it.”
“huh?”
till pulls at ivan’s shirt collar, brings him closer to till’s level. “i’ll show you how much i like you. i’ll prove my feelings. you can deny them all you want, but i won’t let you go. you’re mine, ivan. i’ll convince you for the rest of my life if i have to.”
ivan can’t help but be captivated by the shine in till’s eyes. his mouth moves before his brain can compute.
“please. show me.”
till grins, vivid and brilliant, and ivan finds himself more willing to play the fool for his favorite boy.
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