Chapter Text
Yeonjun thinks he’s the last of his kind.
At the ripe old age of 25, the Choi Yeonjun has never been in a relationship and therefore, has never been kissed. Which should be considered a crime considering how kissable his lips are. On one particularly boring night, he got curious and decided to search up what the average age people have their first kiss at. Fifteen years old. He choked on his water. He was sitting comfortably in bed at 2AM, chilling when he became aware of this extremely shocking data. FIFTEEN?! The ONE FIVE? 15?! After wiping his mouth and laptop screen dry with the sleeve of his pajama shirt, Yeonjun places his cup of water down on his nightstand to continue his research. Average age falling in love for the first time: 15-19 years old. Average age being in a committed relationship for the first time: 18 years old. Average age first experiencing a breakup: 19-23 years old.
He did it, he defeated the statistics.
It’s not that he can't get some. Oh, Yeonjun knows he can pull anyone if he so desires. He may appear standoffish at first, but Yeonjun’s aware that he’s attractive, funny, interesting, and well-liked by those around him. On a road trip with his friends back in university, one of the things they did to pass time in the car was come up with ridiculous hypothetical situations and discuss what they would each do. One of the hypotheticals: “Would you rather marry someone you love or someone that loves you?” And of course, Yeonjun answered someone he loves because he is confident that he can get them to love him back. It’s not an overstatement to say that there has been no shortage of admirers and confessions he’s received over the years. But they all end with him rejecting their advances and delivering the same boring line, “I’m sorry, I’m really not interested in being in a relationship.” Ahem, “with you” But he leaves that last bit out.
His family, friends, and even acquaintances curiously wonder why someone as charming as Choi Yeonjun, who's clearly a catch, chooses to be single. Is it so shocking that he just doesn’t care for relationships? He does find some people cute and attractive, but it doesn’t ever go any further than that. He has yet to experience the desire to pursue and court someone.
“What do you look for in a guy?”
“I’m not looking.” His go-to witty response when he gets asked this question (which is way too often unfortunately). And it’s true.
He’s not interested.
Or rather, no one has ever caught his interest.
***
In high school, the only focus on Yeonjun’s mind was his studies so that he could get accepted into a good university. In university, his studies continued to be his main focus, but in addition, he threw himself into extracurricular activities, internships, all while maintaining a bustling social life. He dedicated hours upon hours to studying, and it was all worth it when he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. After graduating, he easily secured a job and is currently working as a computer hardware engineer for one of the biggest tech companies in South Korea.
He was always on the grind advancing his career goals. But that’s all over now, he made it. No more suffering from chronic stress and sleepless nights in college. He finally has time to relax and enjoy the comfortable routine of the life he worked hard for.
“You mean, time for a boyfriend!” Hueningkai gives him a knowing look and wriggles his eyebrows.
Yeonjun rolls his eyes at the common misconception others have of him. “You know, it has never been a time thing, right? It’s simply the fact that I don’t have anyone that I like.”
The friends are currently sitting at a table eating their lunch in the break room of the Engineering department. After joining the company, Yeonjun became close friends with his fellow coworkers in the department: Taehyun, Beomgyu, and the newest recruit, Hueningkai. Taehyun, who is younger than him, entered the company only a little after he did (the smartass graduated high school and university early). Beomgyu has been at the company for two years and Hueningkai just started half a year ago. Yeonjun doesn’t know how the topic of his (nonexistent) love life came up.
“Why don’t you go on dates?” Taehyun inquires, not looking up as he pokes his salad with his fork.
“If I was single, I would totally go on dates.” Beomgyu chirps as he puts his pasta in the microwave. He enters in a minute on the timer, and the room fills with the hum of the microwave. Taehyun shoots his boyfriend a curious look but doesn’t say anything.
“I never really thought about it. Sounds like too much work.” Yeonjun shrugs nonchalantly as he peels his orange.
“But it’s so fun!” Beomgyu laughs, “You should try it!” The microwave beeps and he takes his pasta out. He joins the other three friends already sitting at the long wooden rectangular table, taking the free seat next to Taehyun.
Yeonjun doesn’t even spare a second to even think about it. “Nah. It's not like I’m against being in a relationship, but I’m not really looking for it either. If it happens, it happens, you know?”
“But you’re still open to getting a boyfriend?” Hueningkai nudges him from the side, still wearing a playful grin.
“Yeah? If I find someone I like.” It is actually quite amazing that Yeonjun went through university, surrounded by people his age, and didn’t develop a single crush. He wonders why everyone is always pressing him about this topic. He blames society’s obsession with romantic love and dating - South Korea’s couple culture is next level. Isn’t the fourteenth of each month being a holiday for couples overkill? Apparently the 100th Day Anniversary is an incredibly big deal. That’s not even that long.
“How can you find someone to like if you never put yourself out there! Have you tried using dating apps?” Beomgyu scolds and points at Yeonjun with his fork.
Yeonjun gives him an unimpressed look and knocks the fork out of Beomgyu’s hand. “No, I don’t want someone that is actively looking for a partner. I feel like I would just be a person holding a position they're looking to fill.”
“Who thinks like that...how would you like to meet someone then?” Taehyun asks with genuine curiosity and interest.
“Maybe through a mutual friend?”
“Oh, good thing you have friends like us!” The youngest of the group yells a little bit too loudly, “We’ll find you someone to fall head over heels for!” Hueningkai giggles and Yeonjun sees a glimmer of determination in his eyes.
“Okay, good luck with that.” Yeonjun chuckles as he finishes his orange.
***
His coworkers took the ‘meet through a mutual friend’ detail to heart and are now a little too eager setting him up with their single friends. The three engineers decided to make it a challenge to see who comes out on top as Yeonjun’s cupid. It was cute at first, seeing how interested and enthusiastic they all were. But two weeks is too much for Yeonjun to pretend to care anymore.
“Kim Seungmin. He was my senior in university. He’s also a computer engineer like us, and he works for Samsung. He’s making bank!” Taehyun points excitedly at his phone.
“Hwang Hyunjin.” Beomgyu is next to shove his phone in Yeonjun’s face. “Literally the most beautiful guy I’ve ever laid eyes on, besides Taehyun of course. He’s the dance instructor for the dance class I take every Tuesday. Weren’t you the dance team captain in college? You guys would totally connect!”
Hueningkai pushes Beomgyu out of the way, “Mark Lee. Canadian legend. We used to be in a band together. He plays the guitar.”
The three would crowd around his workstation to show him their phone screens with a picture pulled up of the friend they’re trying to set him up with, Yeonjun spends three seconds looking and listening to their descriptions, then he makes up some random excuse as to why he wouldn’t be interested in them.
“Mark Lee...hmm...he’s cute Kai, but I don’t know. He’s Canadian so there might be too much of a culture difference.”
He’s literally just pulling this out of his ass. This Mark guy’s ethnically Korean and has lived in South Korea for some time now, he’s sure it actually won’t be a problem if it comes down to it. Yeonjun’s excuse for rejecting Taehyun’s match for him, Seungmin, is that he’s also a virgo - and two virgos can’t be together. He literally just made that up. Yeonjun can admit that the Hyunjin guy is beautiful and would consider a date with him, but he doesn’t want to give Beomgyu the satisfaction. So his excuse for him is that he’s too competitive and would try to be a better dancer than Hyunjin, which would lead to conflicts.
Honestly, he’s had fun with the match matching exercises - but his creative juices for perfectly crafted excuses are running low.
“Why do you keep on saying no!” Hueningkai whines as he rests his head on top of Yeonjun’s head, hugging him around his neck. Yeonjun ignores the younger and doesn’t take his eyes off of his work computer.
“Can you just give one of them a chance!” Beomgyu walks over and places his head on Yeonjun’s left shoulder. “Please!” Yeonjun continues typing on his computer. He wonders if he is the only one that does work in this section of the Engineering department.
“What’s the harm in giving some of them a chance, Yeonjun? Unless you are already set on one person?” Taehyun teases.
Oh.
That gives Yeonjun an idea.
He prepares for the best performance of his life.
“Yep, I am already interested in someone.” He playfully smirks as a joke. “I couldn’t tell you guys because you all were soooooo eager to set me up with one of your friends, I didn’t want to disappoint and ruin your fun.” He hopes the three matchmakers can detect his sarcasm and get the memo to stop.
But Hueningkai is an innocent baby and Beomgyu is stupid, so they both fly off him in shock and excitement, both screaming “WHAT!” Taehyun's eyes widen but he doesn’t react in an exaggerated manner like the other two.
“Who?!” Beomgyu demands.
“Show me a picture of him!” Hueningkai shrieks and starts bouncing in anticipation.
Yeonjun doesn’t think it will hurt to flush out his little joke some more. He can’t wait to see their angry and annoyed faces when he tells them he’s just kidding. He goes to their closet of personal belongings in the corner of the office to retrieve his phone, while the other three wait by his work desk. He stands by the closet door and opens up Instagram. As quick as he can, as not to keep the others waiting and raise their suspicion, he scrolls around and clicks on some random profiles.
He stops at one profile, a picture of a tall young man around his age with sparkling round eyes and the cutest dimples he has ever seen. This guy’s smile is bright and absolutely breathtaking. Yeonjun has never seen a more attractive person. If Taehyun, Beomgyu, or Hueningkai had shown him a picture of this guy for one of his matches, he wouldn’t hesitate to say yes to a date.
This one will do.
So with a mischievous smile, he skips to his friends, eagerly waiting for the reveal. “This one. Isn’t he gorgeous?” He grins when he shows the three his phone.
As expected, he watches with satisfaction as the jaws of all his friends' drop and their eyes widen. Beomgyu yanks the phone out of his hand to get a closer look and Hueningkai screams. Yeonjun doubles over in laughter as he watches their reactions.
But their laughs get interrupted when their office door swings open, and Wooyoung, who works at the front desk, strolls in with curious eyes, “Wow! You guys are having fun here! I can hear you all screaming down the hallway!”
Oh shit. Wooyoung, one of Yeonjun’s closest friends in the company. Also the one with the biggest mouth in the company. He needs to get his phone back before it’s too late. Yeonjun reaches to grab his phone out of Beomgyu’s hand, but the latter dodges and laughs maniacally.
“Yeonjun just showed us his man!” Beomgyu cheers and waves the phone.
Yeonjun is about to tackle the brat, but he doesn't need to as he finally manages to swipe his phone out of the younger’s hands. But it’s too late, Wooyoung looks over his shoulder and at his screen, which still has the Instagram profile of the cute stranger open.
“Oh my God! You’re dating Choi Soobin?!” Wooyoung squeals in his ear.
Yeonjun freezes.
WHO THE HELL IS CHOI SOOBIN?
“Y-you know him?” Yeonjun blinks, hoping Wooyoung would say no and that he’s just joking.
“Yeah, we were in the same orientation group when I first started! ”
HE WORKS HERE?
“But I haven’t seen him much, since he’s in the Marketing department.”
AND HE’S IN MARKETING?
Yeonjun swears a little bit of his soul just left his body. Choi Yeonjun...this is your karma. This is what you get for telling a white lie and playing a mean joke on your friends. What a coincidence that he and this random cute guy share a mutual friend. And in the same workplace no less. A small beautiful world. Maybe this can be interpreted as fate, for Yeonjun to find his destined one. But he’s too frazzled to even romanticize this situation. Yeonjun doesn’t even care. He needs to clarify the situation before it gets out of hand.
“No, actually-”
“This is such exciting news!” Wooyoung claps cheerfully.
Yeonjun sees the mischievous and playful glint in his friend’s eyes. Before he is able to correct him, Wooyoung bounces out of their office and out of sight. Wooyoung is well loved and is the social butterfly of the company. In his free time, he walks around to all the departments and chats with whomever he sees, becoming friends with everyone quickly. He is the insider and knows all the gossip, taking part in spreading it too.
Yeonjun needs to get to Soobin before the developing rumour that they are dating reaches his ears. If word gets to him before he does, Soobin is going to think he’s some delusional creep obsessively in love with him. That would be the worst first impression ever; he has to go and explain the situation to the other before it’s too late. And knowing Wooyoung, he doesn’t have much time.
***
The Marketing department is two floors below the Engineering department. Yeonjun flies down the stairs and nearly twists his ankle doing so. He steps out of the floor and just books it down the hallway. Yeonjun debates if he should stop and ask someone for Soobin’s location. But luck is on his side, because twenty feet ahead of him he sees a beautiful side profile exiting a room and into the hallway he is currently speed walking down.
Pictures do not do this man justice. Yeonjun can hardly believe that Soobin looks better in person than in his Instagram photos. He couldn’t really tell from the photos, but Soobin is a lot taller than him and has amazing body proportions.
“Hi, you’re Soobin, right? Can I talk to you for a second?” Yeonjun calls out to him, he is breathing embarrassingly loud from the running.
Soobin hesitates before answering, “Sure?” The taller man tilts his head in confusion and furrows his eyebrows.
He is right to react that way, Yeonjun thinks. If some random stranger comes up to me, panting, I would also be very confused. Yeonjun sees that Soobin just exited from the photocopier room, he motions the other back into the room and closes the door.
“I’m Yeonjun, from the Engineering department. I know you don’t know me, but there’s probably a rumour going around that we’re dating.” He doesn’t know what compelled him to drop the bomb so quickly and with complete lack of context.
A beat of silence as Soobin registers the information.
“Wait, what?! Why?!” Soobin’s eyes are now blown wide in shock.
“Because I’m stupid and showed a picture of you to some of my coworkers, telling them that we’re dating so that they would stop bothering me and setting me up with dates. But I didn’t know you also worked here!” He pauses to catch his breath and closes his eyes. “And Wooyoung caught wind of it.”
“You gotta be kidding.”
“I wish I was.”
Yeonjun watches as Soobin’s expression turns from complete shock to annoyance. His wide eyes now forming into a glare and his face into a scowl. He gives Yeonjun the dirtiest look, and this is the moment that he knew: I picked the wrong person for this stupid prank, he’s not going to take this well.
“Why did you do this? I can’t have people think I’m dating you!” He hisses and glares at him accusingly.
And Yeonjun, pettiness level peaking at the moment due to the stress he just endured, decides to take that personally. “Excuse me? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?!” He narrows his eyes.
“Don’t get me wrong, you’re attractive and I’m sure whoever dates you is very lucky, but no. Not me.”
OKAY?!?? DID I SENSE SOME SARCASM?
Did I ask to date you?!
Why does it feel like I’m getting rejected?
I ran all the way here to get insulted?
Yeonjun raises an eyebrow. “You’re misunderstanding something, sweetheart. I have no intention of actually asking you out, I just thought your pictures were cute and used them to get my friends off my back.” He spits back, suddenly feeling defensive. Yeonjun tries to ignore his wounded pride. He doesn’t appreciate the attitude Soobin is giving him. So to be extra petty, he adds, “Why would I want a relationship with you?”
Soobin doesn’t seem remotely fazed, “The feeling’s mutual, and to tell you the truth, a relationship doesn’t really fit my personal brand.”
What...does that mean.
Yeonjun doesn’t even know how to respond to that.
So basically this guy has a reputation for being single and Yeonjun ruined it. Yeonjun shakes his head, he doesn’t know why he got so offended earlier. It’s not like he actually wants to date Soobin. Especially not after seeing his arrogant and self absorbed attitude. What a waste of a pretty face. Yeonjun came here to explain himself directly to the other person involved, and he completed what he set out to do. He has no time for unnecessary quarrels. “Look, I’m really sorry. I didn’t think this would happen.”
“You really should’ve thought about it first. You better clear this up.” Soobin snaps in a sassy tone, cold as ice.
Yeonjun scoffs. “What did you think I was going to do?” He doesn’t like hearing Soobin telling him what he already knows. It’s not that he expected Soobin to be happy with the situation, but couldn’t he be more understanding? Who put a stick up his ass.
Of all the people, Yeonjun just had to choose the one other person that rivals his singleness.
***
Soobin is walking back to his workspace after the brief encounter with Yeonjun in the small cramped photocopier room. He can’t believe some random coworker from another department told others that they were dating, without his permission and knowledge. Now there is going to be a rumour about him circulating the company. It feels unfair to him that he is forced into this awkward situation. Soobin has to admit, Yeonjun is handsome and the only bright side being involved in this rumour is that at least it’s with someone he finds attractive.
But right now, he’s too upset with the situation to care.
“Soobin, I heard you got a boyfriend!” Changmin, a fellow graphic designer, comes up from behind him and slaps his back. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”
“Actually-”
“You always said you’d be single forever, so I’m so happy that you found someone!” He gives Soobin the brightest smile and envelops him in a bear hug.
His mind blanks, not thinking that he’d be confronted with the rumour so quickly. So he goes on autopilot and his automatic response to a compliment slips out, “Oh..uh..thanks?” Soobin freezes after the word escapes from his mouth. NO. He did not mean to say that. Choi Soobin, are you dumb?
“And with Yeonjun too! You guys look great together.” Changmin pulls back from the hug and pats his cheek.
On what basis?!
“No wait-”
“Choi Soobin finally got a boyfriend?” Another coworker peeks from her cubicle.
Suddenly a wave of coworkers starts to surround him, all congratulating him on his first relationship.
Oh no.
He needs to find Yeonjun.
***
“Yeonjun, your boyfriend is here!” Beomgyu sings.
My WHO? What boyfriend? Since when did I get a- oh right.
He turns around from his work station and sees Soobin standing by the entrance of his office section with an unreadable expression. He rolls his eyes and stands up to meet Soobin at the door. He doesn’t want to deal with Soobin’s prissy attitude right now.
“What?” He says curtly.
“We need to talk privately.” Soobin whispers.
Yeonjun raises his eyebrows in surprise that he isn’t greeted with the attitude that he was expecting. He steps past the entrance and closes the door behind him so that they are now standing in the hallway. “There’s an empty meeting room at the end of the hallway.”
Soobin only nods and obediently follows him as he leads them down to the room. Yeonjun starts to feel worried. What caused Soobin to have such a change in behavior? Did he realize how unnecessarily rude he was earlier? Once they enter the meeting room, Yeonjun closes and locks the door. The room is furnished with a long rectangular table in the middle, with chairs neatly pushed in. Soobin stands with his hands folded over his chest.
“Did you already tell anyone the truth?”
“No, not yet.” Yeonjun replies, clenching his jaw. He seriously cannot believe Soobin had the audacity to come to his department to check if he had cleared up the rumour.
“I accidentally confirmed the rumour.”
Yeonjun had this all planned out. First, he was going to clear up the information with the people he directly told this morning: Taehyun, Beomgyu, Hueningkai, and Wooyoung. He will tell them that he simply has a crush on Soobin, and that they misunderstood and incorrectly assumed that they are dating. Everyone at the company thinks he and Soobin are an item. If they ask Yeonjun directly, he will deny it. Honestly, it doesn’t matter what their coworkers thinks, as long as the rumour hasn't been confirmed by either Yeonjun or Soobin themselves. Rumours can also be false. As long as the parties involved don’t confirm it, it will stay as a vague rumour.
But now, Soobin confirmed that the two are dating.
Take a deep breath, Choi Yeonjun.
This dude was giving you a tough time earlier.
But it’s understandable.
Don’t hold it against him.
“What should we do?” Soobin pleads.
YEAH RIGHT I AIN’T THAT NICE
“Tell everyone that you LIED!” Yeonjun explodes. He watches as Soobin eyes go wide with panic, all the hope that Yeonjun would help him fades away. Yeonjun knows he’s being immature, but he’s too busy being entertained by Soobin’s distress and the satisfaction the sight brings to his petty soul. Well well well, oh how the tables have turned Choi Soobin. Soobin was giving him attitude earlier so he doesn’t feel so bad returning the favor. Now that Soobin is on the short end of the stick, he smirks, “You really should’ve thought about it first.”
Soobin frowns and for a second, Yeonjun thinks he’s going to punch him. “Okay, you got me!” He starts pacing the room and nibbling his bottom lip, “What would I even say? ‘Hehe just kidding, we’re not dating’ I CAN’T! Oh God, I will look like a desperate loser!” He cries out.
Yeonjun rolls his eyes at his dramatics, technically Soobin can. But he knows how humiliating it will be for the other. He’s not a monster that will let Soobin deal with this alone. But the damage has been done, Wooyoung is too powerful and Yeonjun is convinced all 700 employees now think he is dating Soobin. Gossip spreads like wildfire, and especially gossip involving two popular handsome eligible bachelors dating. They need to do some damage control that would cause the least amount of embarrassment for the both of them. A solution pops in his head and he hates himself for thinking it. He can’t believe what he’s about to suggest but what other choice did they have? They’re limited on options. They’ve only just met, but he already knows Soobin is not going to like it.
“We just have to roll with it. For now.”
“No.”
An answer he expected, but Yeonjun ignores him. “This is the plan: we pretend that we’re in a relationship and then have a mutual break up on good terms.”
“No. I don’t want to.” Soobin whines.
“There’s literally no downside in pretending you’re dating me.”
“Except for the fact that everyone will think that we’re dating.”
This stubborn motherfucker.
“Sweetheart, that’s the point!” Yeonjun throws his hands up in exasperation, “What choice do we have? We wouldn’t have to do this if your dumbass didn’t go and confirm the rumour!”
“Don’t act like it’s all my fault when you’re literally the one that got us into this mess in the first place, asshole!” Soobin replies with the same vigor, stepping towards Yeonjun with his fists clenched at his sides.
Yeonjun doesn’t back down and steps even closer until they’re only inches apart. “Okay, yes. That’s true. But we’re both in this shitty situation, so stop making this difficult so we can figure this out together!” He snaps, his voice laced with frustration and impatience. An intense, glaring battle ensues with both parties silently fuming.
After an excruciatingly long minute, Soobin is first to break eye contact. He steps back and huffs a resigned sigh. “Fine. You’re right. And I admit I messed up too.” He crosses his arms, refusing to look at Yeonjun, and pouts with his pretty pink lips.
Yeonjun would’ve thought his sulking was cute, if it wasn’t for the reality that they got themselves in an annoying situation where they have to act like they like each other. Soobin, who looks like a defeated puppy, turns to face him.
“So now what? We have to pretend that we're a couple? How?! I’ve never even dated anyone before!”
“Me either!”
They stare blankly at each other as the room fills with tension and awkward silence, dawning on the fact that they both have zero romantic experience to help them. There’s no way they can convince everyone.