syaf | 20

“The guy from Tempest?” she questions. Even if you can't see her, you know her eyebrows are furrowing. 

“No,” you clarify. “He’s an engineer and he went to Seoul University.” 

“Oh, wow!” she exclaims. “He’s quite the catch.” 

“Yeah, I know,” you utter proudly, as if the man you made up in your head was actually your boyfriend.

“That’s so wonderful, dear,” your mom remarks, genuinely pleased. “I’m so happy to know you’ve found someone special. When can your dad and I meet him?” 

You hesitate for a moment, caught off guard by her question. "Actually, he's quite busy with work. I’m not sure when he’ll be free for a visit.” 

"Ah, I see," she replies understandingly. "Well, let me know soon!” 

“Of course,” you reply, trying to mask the unease in your voice. “It’s getting late now, so I’m going to get ready for bed.”

“Alright, dear. Take care and get some rest.”

“Will do,” you acknowledge, feeling a mix of relief and guilt before you were about to hang up the phone. “Good night. Love you.”

The call immediately ends and you find yourself lying on your bed, staring at the ceiling. Wow, if you knew that would get you off the hook for blind dates with mediocre men, you would have told your mom you had a boyfriend a long time ago.

Now the only issue was finding one named Kim Taerae who happens to be an engineer and an alumni of Seoul University.

Grabbing your phone, your fingers nervously type “Kim Taerae Engineer Seoul University” on the search bar. With each keystroke, your anticipation grew, mixed with a tinge of apprehension. While the probability that this imaginary man exists is almost impossible, at least it isn’t zero. 

Faster than a bullet train, you tap on the link, hoping that he graduated from Seoul University. Though it took forever, the page eventually loads and a piercing scream bursts forth from you the words “Seoul National University” appear in the introduction section. 

And to put the cherry on top, just like you, he lives in Seoul. 

And he’s not a hag (not that you have anything against them). 

And he’s kind of cute too.

Luck was really on your side tonight. Either that, or you secretly have the power to create the ideal man in your head and have him come to life. You’re super happy regardless. 

Swiftly, you log into your LinkedIn account, brainstorming ideas on how to reach out to him. You definitely don’t want to tell him that you’re looking for a fake boyfriend because you lied to your mom about having an actual one. One of your colleagues, Park Hanbin, happens to be a mutual connection, but you quickly reject the idea because he’s almost as “curious” as your mom when it comes to your love life (minus the constant blind date set-up’s). 

Eventually, you settle on a more viable approach. You craft a message inviting him to meet for coffee chat under the guise of professional interest:

Hi Taerae, I hope this message finds you well. My name is [y/n] and I recently came across your profile while exploring professionals in the field of automotive engineering. I am currently contemplating a career transition and have developed a keen interest in designing cars. Your impressive background and experience in this field have caught my eye. I saw that you have two patents under MotorOne and are part of a team that’s working on the development of self-driving cars.  It would be a wonderful opportunity to be able to connect and learn with someone as knowledgeable and talented as yourself. If possible, would you like to meet for a 30-minute coffee chat this week? I completely understand if this timing doesn't align with your schedule, and I'm more than willing to find a time that suits you better. Whether it's an in-person meeting or a virtual discussion, I'm flexible and open to accommodating your availability and preferred mode of communication. I’m aware that you’re busy but any assistance or guidance you could provide would be tremendously appreciated. I am looking forward to getting to know you better. Best regards, [l/n] [y/n]

You feel a mixture of hope and worry just before sending the message, and then regret once you sent it. After a quick review, it seems too scripted or automated. Unfortunately, there isn’t an “undo” button and you aren’t sure if you have the power to go back in time. 

Well, you suppose it’s time to start executing Plan B: find a fake boyfriend service and hope someone is willing to play the role of Kim Taerae, an engineer from Seoul, that you are heads over heels for.

part two

The blaring sound of your morning alarm coming from your phone jolted you awake the next morning. With a quick tap, you silence the persistent noise and as usual, begin looking through your missed notifications. Amidst the mix, there were two that caught your eye. 

Kim Taerae sent you a connection invite.

Kim Taerae replied to your message.

With a mix of excitement and nervousness, you eagerly tap on the notification to see his response.

It’s the best possible one you could have gotten.

Well, almost.

Hi [y/n], Thank you for reaching out to me and for your kind words. I’d be more than happy to assist you and answer any questions. I’m a bit busy this week, but I’m available this Friday evening. Could we meet at a restaurant instead? I can’t have caffeinated drinks at night. I’m really sorry about that. Otherwise, I can check my morning and afternoon availability in the following weeks. All the best, Kim Taerae 

A restaurant is a bit out of your budget for an initial meeting, but you quickly decide it was worth it as he was pretty much your only option outside of the boyfriend service you found last night – and according to the email you received this morning, they weren't sure if they had someone who could accommodate your request, at least not without selling your family heirloom and your kidney. Buying dinner (or dinners) for this man was a much cheaper option. Hopefully. 

Hi Taerae, Thank you so much for your quick response. I am more than happy to accommodate your schedule and preference. Please let me know the time of the meeting as well as the name and address of the restaurant.  I’m looking forward to meeting you this Friday evening. Thank you again! Best regards, [l/n] [y/n]

To your surprise, you get a reply as soon as you put your phone back on your nightstand. 

I’m thinking of Umani Heights at 6PM on 123 Teheran Road, but let me know if you prefer another time.

A quick search on the Internet reveals that the restaurant is a whooping four won sign and is conveniently located a 10-minute walk from your workplace. You can usually get off no later than 5:30PM on Fridays, so it’ll give you a bit of time to freshen up before work.

6PM is perfect! Let me know if anything changes. Thank you again and I'm really looking forward to meeting you!

----

In exactly 10 minutes and 18 seconds, you are about to meet your potential fake boyfriend. As soon as the meeting was set, you brainstormed a list of good questions to ask and tried to learn more about MotorOne and automotive engineering as well as practiced potential topics to transition the conversation from professional to casual. 

You got a much-needed haircut, made sure your nails were trimmed and cleaned, and even got a facial. Hours were spent curating the perfect outfit: you needed something that was professional but looked still good for a “date.” After work, you made sure to freshen yourself, fixing your hair and doing a quick touch-up, before the meeting, and just to be on the safe side, you even had a mint. 

Standing in front of the restaurant, you are about to open the camera app on your phone to double-check your appearance, but before you have the opportunity to, a voice calls for your name. You turn to the direction of the sound and you see the man you invented standing in front of you. 

And somehow he’s even more gorgeous in person.

His honey brown hair is impeccably styled, almost as if he's meeting someone for a date, not a chat about transiting a career to automotive engineering. He’s wearing a bright blue sweater layered over a pristine white collar shirt, paired elegantly with black trousers and clean white sneakers. A sleek black leather backpack and smart watch completes his ensemble. 

When he makes eye contact with you, his shoulders relax slightly, and a dimpled smile forms on his lips, causing you to almost fall in love with him instantly.

“I’m Taerae,” he greets you warmly, extending his hand for a handshake.

You don’t respond immediately, causing a flicker of concern to cross his face.

“Sorry, maybe I got –”

“No, you have the right person,” you quickly interject, accepting his handshake. “You’re looking for [y/n], right?”

A small smile returns to his face. “Yes, that’s right. Thank you so much for coming and I hope I didn’t keep you waiting. I was about to message you that I just arrived.”

“Oh, no, I just arrived too,” you assure. 

He gives you a nod and the two of you head to the host stand. 

“Hi there, I have a reservation for two under Kim Taerae at around 6PM,” he says. 

The hostess swiftly checks for the reservation list on her tablet. “Ah, yes, Mr. Kim. Follow me right this way, please.” 

As you step into the restaurant, a serene ambiance instantly envelops you. The decor is a seamless fusion of modern elegance and traditional Japanese aesthetics: dark wooden accents, carefully crafted screens, and bamboo motifs. Delicate art pieces, thoughtfully placed, enhance the overall elegance. 

You pass by a mesmerizing sushi bar with fresh seafood on display and chefs crafting delectable dishes with elegance, their nimble hands expertly creating masterpieces. The sounds of conversation and occasional clink of porcelain diminishes as soon as you arrive at a small private room. 

The two of you take your seats and the hostess hands you your menus before returning with two cups of hot Gyokuro green tea. She lets you know to press the button on the side of the table when you are ready to order or if you need anything else.

“Oh, wow, I didn’t know that restaurants have private rooms for two – and this one has buttons to request service,” you remark with a hint of amazement after the hostess leaves the room. “I thought you’d need a party of six at least.” 

“Unami Heights doesn't usually offer private rooms for two,” he explains, “but the company I work for frequently hosts client meetings here and because of the money spent, the restaurant graciously allows us to use the private rooms, even for just two people.” 

“Ah, right, you work at MotorOne,” you acknowledge. “Makes sense since they’re number one in the automotive industry in Asia. Why’d you choose them? Is it fun working for such a prestigious company?” 

He chuckles softly, raising an eyebrow playfully. “Already asking me questions and I haven’t even taken a sip of my tea?” 

His comment causes a brief panic, thinking you might have been too eager, but he quickly flashes a reassuring smile. 

“I was just teasing. Ask away. That’s why you came to meet me, right?” 

“Um, yeah,” you stammer nervously, “but, I'd like to know to get you more personally. Building genuine relationships is important to me.” Thank goodness he can't see your legs shaking.

"You're right," he replies, a subtle smile on now his lips. He takes a sip of his tea before answering your questions.

“Well, I got a few job offers abroad, but wanted to stay in the country to be close to my family. Of all local options, I thought MotorOne would be the best one since they’re pretty much known everywhere in the automotive industry. The management kind of sucks and they have a tendency to overwork you, but the compensation, bonuses, and benefits are good. Does that answer your questions personally and professionally?” 

“Yeah, it does,” you respond, stifling a soft snicker, “and I appreciate your honesty.”

He grins. “What about you?” he then asks. “Why’d you move to Seoul?” 

“It was the furthest city I could be away from my parents,” you reply, half-joking. “I mean I love them for sure, but sometimes they’re – uh – a little much.” 

“Yeah?”

“I guess it could be worse, but my mom loves arranging blind dates for me,” you admit. There’s a bit of weariness in your voice.  

“Blind dates set up by parents are the worst,” he comments.

“Well, she stopped doing that approximately 4 days, 19 hours, and 50 minutes ago,” you smile, your tone is now more lively. 

He does his best to suppress a laugh, but fails miserably. “It’s so bad that you kept track of the minute?” 

“I've been going on one blind date every week ever since I settled into my full-time job,” you sigh loudly. “If I miss a week and wasn’t seen anybody, I have to make it up later.” Your shoulders slump. “And I paid at least a quarter of them to lie to my mom that we went for the full hour.”

“Oh, wow,” he sympathizes, “and I thought I had it bad. I have to go to one every month. How’d you get her to stop?”

“Easy, I told her I have a boyfriend.” 

“You have a boyfriend?” His tone is filled with surprise.

“Yeah, his name is Taerae.” 

“Taerae?”

“Yes, Tae –”

You abruptly stop as the realization of what you just said sinks in. It’s quiet for a few moments before you make a horrible effort to salvage the conversation. 

“Okay, so I might have lie to her,” you reveal, “but it’s not a lie if it becomes the truth.” Your fist gently slams the table. “I will have a boyfriend! Or at least a fake one!”

The last bit slips out by accident. His eyebrows furrow, growing confused. He opens his mouth for a second, but no words come out. 

With all the courage you had left in your lifetime, you get up from your seat and walk towards him. You let out a loud exhale before lowering your knees to the ground and clasping your hands.

“Kim Taerae. A brilliant engineer from Seoul University, you are my only hope in escaping thy hell my mother calls blind dates. Can you please please play along and pretend to be my boyfriend for a bit?” you beg. Your voice is laced with desperation and you put on your best puppy eyes. 

Unfortunately, you only hear lingering silence. He blinks a few times, making sure he isn’t hallucinating or misunderstanding the situation. Just when you’re about to speak, he quickly interjects.

“Was this meeting a guise to ask me to be your...fake..boyfriend? You’re not really interested in becoming an automotive engineer?”

You shake your head, feeling a pang of guilt for misleading him. 

“Well, I didn’t plan to be this direct and bring this up so early on in our conversation,” you confess as you scratch your head, gaze on the ground. “But you’re right. It was awful of me to do and I’m sorry for deceiving you. Really.” 

The despair in your voice becomes increasingly evident. “Honestly, I wasn’t thinking at all. Actually, my brain doesn’t even really work half the time so if you could just forget everything I did and give me five minutes to crawl out of this room –” 

“How long do you need a boyfriend for?” he interrupts. “...fake boyfriend.”

“Wait? You’re going to do it?” 

He nods, accepting your request as if you just offered him a cup of coffee or tea. “I’m not a fan of blind dates either.”

“Oh, um, okay,” you say, feeling surprised, as you get up. “That..that was easier than I thought.”

“So, how’d you want to go on about this?”

“Um, I think the typical protocol of fake dating is setting some ground rules,” you state. “At least that’s what I’ve seen in movies.” 

“Do you have a paper and a pen on hand?” he then asks. 

"Right, let me grab my notebook and pen first." You walk back to your seat and reach into your bag to retrieve the said items, ready to jot down the rules you were about to discuss as Taerae brings his chair next to you. “Uh, I think in the movies, there’s always a rule to not fall in love with each other.” 

“But don’t they always end up dating for real?” 

“Should I not write that down then?” 

“Let’s just put it in for fun. I think it’s just a fiction thing.”

“Okay, noted,” you say as you write the goal and the first rule with an asterisk at the end. “Anything else?” 

“We probably should set some time and go on dates to get to know each other so it’s more believable,” he suggests.

“What days work best for you?” 

“I prefer Fridays or weekends, but I’m flexible.” 

“I think that works for me too,” you nod. “Should we exchange numbers to coordinate?” 

Taerae’s eyes widen, not speaking for at least full 20 seconds.

“Ah, sorry, I didn’t mean to cross the line, we can just use Linkedin to communicate,” you apologize, panic seizing your words. 

His gaze averts away, a faint blush dusting his cheeks, as he hands you his phone. “It’d kind of weird if we’re supposedly dating and not have each other’s number.”

"You sure?"

"I'm sure."

You nod as your fingers gently brush against his to take his phone. His hands are quite warm and soft. Quickly, you enter your number before returning his device. A notification pops up on your phone no more than a minute later.

+02-XXX-XXXX: It’s Taerae :)

“Got it,” you announce with a hint of a smile. “And sorry again for earlier. If I ever overstep your boundaries, please let me know.”

He mirrors your expression. “Likewise. And speaking of boundaries, is there anything you’re uncomfortable with?”

“What do you mean by that?” 

“Well, some people don’t like some petnames or might be uncomfortable with certain types of PDA," he answers.

Half a minute passes before you respond. “Nothing comes to mind for petnames, but as for PDA…” 

You trail off, fingers fidgeting nervously as you hesitate to continue. Your voice lowers as you feel your palms begin to swear. “I’m not sure what I’m uncomfortable with for PDA because, um..”

“It’s okay,” he assures. “Take you time.”

“...I’ve only held hands and hugged someone at the end of a date,” you manage to utter, “but..but I’ve never kissed someone like..romantically?” 

The room suddenly feels hot. You brace yourself for at least a slight judgment response, or at least look, from him, but he appears nonchalant.

“Let’s just stick to hand-holding for now.” 

Your fist meets the table once more. “No! No’s one going to take us dating seriously if we don’t kiss!” you protest. 

He gives you the same look he did a couple minutes ago. At this rate, he’s going to ask to break up with you before you even start fake dating.

“..but, uh, if you don’t want to kiss me…” you begin to mutter, eyes looking away.

“I don't mind,” he interrupts. How is he saying that so casually? “But if you’re ever uncomfortable, just let me know.”

“Thanks,” you express quietly. “When do you want this to end? My mom said she wants to meet you whenever you’re free, so I don’t have a specific date yet.” 

“I don’t have a particular date on my end either."

“Do you want me to meet your family too?” you then ask.

“Oh, uh, sure, if you’re comfortable?” He shifts slightly, his eyes briefly dart away. 

“Well, it’s only fair. Plus, I’m more than happy to get you out of blind dates," you casually say as you write the last “rule” in your notebook. You then hand it to him to make sure you’re on the same page.

[y/n] and Taerae’s Fake Dating Contract Goal: No more blind dates for [y/n] and Taerae!!! WE WANT FREEDOM!!!! End Date: TBD Rules: - Don’t fall in love.* - Spend time together when possible. - Go on dates. - Hold hands. - Call each other cute petnames. - Practice PDA. - Meet each other’s family at some point.

Almost immediately, he covers his mouth, attempting to muffle a laugh, when he reads the goal. As he reads through the rules, he tries to maintain a calm facade, but the brightness of his eyes fail him and he struggles to stifle his growing smile.

“Did you have a particular petname in mind?” he inquires, his eyes now softly meeting yours.

“Um, I actually don’t know,” you answer, scratching your head. “Maybe not ‘dear’ or 'kiddo' because that’s what my parents call me.” 

“What about ‘darling’ or ‘love’?” he suggests. The way he says those words alone sparks a gentle tug in your heart. 

“I like both.” 

“I’ll call you both then. What do you want to call me?” 

Your mind draws a blank at his question,. “Um, I’m not sure...," you stammer. "Sorry."

“It’s okay, we only started dating,” he responds in a lighthearted manner, a playful glint in his eye. “We’ll figure something out as we spend more time together.” 

He goes back to reading the rest of the page.

“Thanks again for writing the last rule.” 

“No worries,” you reply. “When we ‘break’ up, we’d be off the hook for blind dates..at least for a bit.”  

He bites his cheek, a subtle wince crossing his face, before quickly forcing a smile. Worried that you said something wrong again, you hastily interject, "Is there anything else you’d like to add?”

“Just a couple more things,” he states as he scribbles down two more rules. “Are these okay?” he queries as he shows it to you.

- Matching outfits on planned dates. - If both parties agree, rules can be added, removed, or changed :)

“Yeah, I’m okay with that,” you agree as you sign below the rules before handing the notebook and pen, allowing him to finalize the contract. 

The moment he hands your notebook back, you hear a light knock on the door before the server enters the room. “Sorry to interrupt, but I just wanted to check if you were ready to order or had any questions.”

“Ah, sorry about that,” he apologizes. “We were just finalizing the details of our contract. We’ll be taking a look at the menu now.” 

----

The two of you easily engage in conversation while relishing on some delectable dishes. He feels more like an old friend, rather than a stranger you deceived on Linkedin. 

“What are your favorite foods?” you ask.

“Mm, probably meat. I like steak the best personally,” he answers as he picks up a piece of bluefin tuna sashimi from his plate. The way he holds his chopsticks catches your attention momentarily – it’s as endearing as a puppy struggling to hold a new toy. It should be illegal for a man his age to be this cute.

Eventually, the conversation transits to your backgrounds and upbringings. He grew up in Cheonan and developed an interest in cars when he was young, which is why he decided to become an automotive engineer. Though at some point, he was contemplating on becoming an idol since he really enjoyed being part of the band and won a lot of singing competitions when he was in high school. He stills sings, mostly when he goes karoking with his friends, and plays the guitar from time to time.

“Oh, that’s why your voice is so nice,” you comment. 

A genuine smile forms on his face before he lets out a soft snicker. “Thank you.” 

He then gives you a warm look.

“I could see you picking the last name ‘Kim’ for your, um, “boyfriend” since it’s so common, but why Taerae?” he asks. “It’s such a rare name.” 

“My mind blanked out when my mom asked for my boyfriend’s name,” you answer with a sheepish smile, “and for some reason the poster of TEMPEST’s Kim Taerae in my room was the first thing I saw when I was trying to think of names.”

He covers his mouth, trying to suppress his laughter, but the heartwarming sound still reaches your ear. 

Minus the initial mishap and having to give him a more in-depth explanation of how you got into this situation, a fantastic first date so far. Correction: a fantastic fake first date so far.

----

“Thank you for tonight..and for paying for both of us,” you express as the two of you make your way to the subway station. “Though I think I should have paid for dinner tonight. I’m the one who initiated the meeting and coerced you into being my fake boyfriend.” 

“I was the one who picked the restaurant, so I thought it made more sense that I paid,” he replies, “and I wouldn’t say that you coerced me to be your fake boyfriend. I’m pretty sure I was a willing participant.” 

“…And you don’t have to walk me to the station. It’s late and isn’t the MotorOne headquarters parking lot the other direction?”

“It’s part of my boyfriend's duties to make sure you get home safely. Plus, it makes it more convincing, no?” 

He does have a point. 

“Okay, well, at least let me pay for our next date,” you declare loudly as you feel your cheeks getting warm, betraying your attempt at nonchalance. 

“Whatever you want,” he readily agrees. “Does next Friday at 6PM work for you as well?” 

You turn to face him, about to confirm verbally, but as you do, the sight of a Lego man wearing a shark suit dangling from his backpack distracts you.

“You alright?” he inquires, a bit concern by your sudden silence. 

“Oh, yeah,” you respond. “I was just staring at your keychain a little too intently. It's cute. Might have seen someone else have on their backpack a few years ago.” 

A slight smirk forms on his face. “Well, looks like we’ve arrived at the station. Text me when you get home safely.” 

You nod. “I will. Thank you again. I had a really good time tonight.” 

“Me too," he says, looking at you softly for a few seconds. There's a certain depth in his look, an affectionate warmth that leaves you wondering if there might be something more behind it. “Have a good night, darling.” 

Despite the endearment term being discussed earlier, you found yourself momentarily speechless. 

“Good night.” you manage to stammer back, waving at him before you enter the station. 

When you’re inside, you can’t help but let out the largest grin on your face. A few confused and concerned looks pass by your way. Though your dignity has taken a huge hit (not that you had much), at least you got a fake boyfriend so you’ll be off the hook for blind dates for a while.

Overall, mission failed successfully. 

part three

A bouquet of pink roses and baby’s breath, elegantly wrapped in light pink wrapping and a white silk ribbon, sits at your desk this Friday morning. There’s a small note that catches your eye: 

Can’t wait for our date tonight at six. A vase should be delivered this afternoon :)

Reading those words, a flutter of excitement bubbles within you. You wonder what kind of a date you’ll have tonight, but a sudden familiar voice interrupts you before you even had a chance to think.

“Are they cute?” 

You turn to see Hanbin, who happens to be your desk mate, cheekily grinning at you as he reads the note over your shoulder. He’s a little nosy, but still somehow lovable. 

“Who?” you ask, pretending to be clueless.

“The one who gave you flowers.”

“I think he’s pretty cute.” 

His grin grows larger. “Oh? You got a boyfriend? How long have you been dating?” 

“Just recently.” 

“Cool. How is he?” 

You take a moment to think as you login to your desktop. “He’s nice.”

“Just nice?” he presses further. “What can he work on?” 

“Are you my boyfriend’s wingman or something?” 

“I can be. What’s his name?” 

You dodge his question. “It’s 9:04 – shouldn’t you be at a meeting now?”

“Ah shit, you’re right,” he says a little too loud as he hastily grabs his laptop. 

Before pulling out your phone to message Taerae, your eyes quickly scan your surroundings to ensure your noisy colleague was out of sight.

you: [image attachment of bouquet] you: thank u for the flowers. they’re so pretty 🥰 you: baby’s breath’s are my favourite 😊 you: really excited for our date btw  i wish he was real 💔: no problem  i wish he was real 💔: u said ur grandpa used to give u baby’s breath on ur birthday every year since u were 5 i wish he was real 💔: it started when the two of u walked by a shop selling flowers in a subway station and u mention it caught ur eye because it looked like clouds.  you: aww, u remembered 🥹 i wish he was real 💔: ofc i do 😚 i wish he was real 💔: i need to head to a meeting now 😢 i wish he was real 💔: ill see u soon 💕

“Aww, you guys are adorable,” an unexpected voice coos in from behind. 

Instinctively, you shut off your phone and turn your right to see Hanbin reaching for his laptop charger.

“My laptop’s battery was low,” he smirks. “Talk to you soon.”

Luckily, your colleague wasn’t able to get more information about your love life. There was barely a minute or two where the two of you would be at your desks at the same time (and you’d ignored his questions unless they were work-related) and you ran off during lunch. When it was close to the end of the work day, your manager was at his desk, asking him some questions which granted an opportunity for you to escape.

You gear up to head to your designated meeting spot: the front of Serendipity Sips, a quaint cafe conveniently nestled between your workplace and his. Occasionally, during your coffee break, you'd go there with your work best friend, Dayeon, who often accompanied you to get a drink or a treat, sometimes both. 

As you step out of the Jelly Insurances building, also known as your personal hell where you exchange your services for currency, a wave of surprise washes over at the sight of your fake boyfriend standing there. Just as planned from before, the two of you are wearing an argyle brown cardigan, a white t-shirt (though Taerae’s had some red graphic design on his), black bottoms, and black shoes. 

He flashes the exact same charming smile he gave you the first time you met and waves with both hands in your direction, calling for your name a little more sweetly this time. You quickly make your way towards him, waving back at him.

“Hey,” you smile. “You’re quite early – it’s still around an hour before we’re supposed to meet up.” 

“I could do the same thing for you,” he grins, checking his watch briefly. “Work wrapped up a lot earlier than expected so I figured I might as well pick you up.” 

“I appreciate your thoughtfulness,” you chuckle. “Shall we head out now?” 

He nods as the two of you begin walking to your destination. 

“So, where are we going today, Mr. Kim?” you ask in a teasing manner. “Another restaurant that might make my wallet cry?”

He softly snickers. “It’s a pojangmacha I frequently ate when I was in university and first started working. Though I still come there at least once a week.” 

“It must be really good then,” you comment. “And thank you for being considerate to my wallet.”

He lets out a nervous laugh. “Sorry about that.”

“I’m just kidding,” you tease. “What’s your favorite thing to get there?”

“Everything there is good,” he answers, “but you definitely need to get the holy trinity: tteokbokki, gimbap, and fishcakes!” 

His enthusiasm is infectious, and your smile transforms into a grin. The two of you continue to converse, and before you knew it, the two of you arrived at your destination. Immediately, you're greeted by a friendly old lady.

“Oh, hi Taerae! It’s so nice to see you again!” she exclaims with an enthusiastic tone.

He nods and smiles. “It’s lovely to see you too, Mrs. Sung.” 

Turning to you, she then asks, “I don’t think I’ve seen you before. What’s your name, dear?”

“My name’s [y/n],” you reply, offering a polite smile. “Nice to meet –”

“Ah [y/n]!” she interjects abruptly. “Is it that same [y/n] that our Taerae –?”

He clears his throat, which draws both your attention. There’s a faint reddish tint on his cheeks, but you’re not sure if it’s because of the warm, amber-hued lighting coming from the tent. The elderly lady seems to grasp an unspoken thought. “Sorry, I'm getting old. Getting mixed up with too many things.” 

“Don’t be sorry – everyone forgets from time to time,” you reassure.

She smiles. “Anyways, what can I get for both of you?”

----

As soon as you finish placing your orders, you find a vacant spot to sit. Though it doesn’t take long before your plates of steaming tteokbokki, neatly rolled kimbap, and skewered fish cakes as well as your drinks arrive. The fragment aroma easily fills the air around, making your stomach growl. 

“This looks amazing!” you exclaim, your eyes lighting up at the sight of the delicious spread. 

He grins as he hands you a pair of disposable chopsticks and napkins. “It’s better than it looks. Help yourself.” 

You happily grab some tteokbokki onto your plate and just when you were about to do the same for Taerae’s plate, you saw him effortlessly flicking the tab of his soda can in a swift, clean motion with one hand. Your jaw drops in astonishment at his skilled maneuver, which makes him chuckle. 

“Want me to do yours?” he offers, noticing your amazed expression.

You nod, still somewhat impressed by his dexterity. “Sure, if you don’t mind.” 

He leans over slightly and takes your unopened soda can. With the same deftness as before, he smoothly flips the tab open and gives it back to you with a smile. “Opened by yours truly.” 

“Thank you,” you stifle a laugh. “You should show me how to do that sometime.” 

“Maybe next date?”

----

After a satisfying meal, the two of you venture to a nearby coin karaoke place. Taerae’s eyes light up when he comes across a familiar song as you look through the song selection on the screen. 

“Oh, this is one of my favorite songs!” he exclaims, pointing to the words ‘10 Reasons to Love You’ by Lee Seok Hoon. “May I sing it to you?” he then asks, his smile carrying an irresistible charm. 

You smile and nod, unable to decline. A couple moments after he selects the song on the screen, instrumental music begins to play and he quickly settles into the moment. He starts to sing and his voice easily fills the booth, perhaps the entire establishment.

Each note carries a warmth that lingers in the air, his tone soft yet resonant. Each word seems to be sung from his heart, filled with sincerity. Each time he looks at you, his eyes are filled with adoration as if you were the only one in his eyes. 

The song finishes too soon for your liking but you still cheer loudly and burst into applause, clapping and shouting a little too loudly and enthusiastically that anyone within a 100-meter distance can hear you. Taerae’s expression morphs into a bashful yet pleased one. A soft pink tinge paints his cheeks, visible by the light coming from the screen. His gaze lowers to the ground and his hand instinctively moves to the back of his head.

“Taerae..that was seriously amazing!” you compliment, hands covering your mouth from shock. “I can listen to you all day! If you were a singer, I’d buy all your albums and collect all all your photocards, seriously!”

The blush on his cheeks turns a deeper hue of pink when he hears your words. “Would you like me to sing more for you?” His words come out shyly.

“It’d be an honor,” you reply just before looking at the list of songs once more.

–--

It was quite fun singing with your fake boyfriend. Correction: it was fun admiring and listening to your fake boyfriend sing. You did join him for duets and tried to sing a solo, which you almost didn’t finish, but the sheer happiness on Taerae’s face was worth having your dignity reached the negatives. The evening breeze fails to cool your hot cheeks as the two make your way out. 

“I really like your voice and smile,” he compliments.

“Haha, you're so fun–” you begin to snicker, embarrassment going away, but an object from a nearby crane machine captures your attention. Inside, there was a yellow duck stuffed toy with a small beak and large pink cheeks adorned with a white ribbon around its neck that reminds you of the person standing next to you. Just like him, you’re unable to resist its adorable charm. 

“Did something from the machine catch your eye?” he inquires with a casual grin. “Is it the duck?” 

“Yeah, but maybe another time.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get it in one try,” he states with confidence. Maybe a little too much.

One try becomes two and two tries easily becomes four. You try not to laugh as he repeatedly tries and fails, occasionally swearing between each attempt. He sighs exasperatedly.

Seeing him mope, you can’t help but reach out and gently take his hand in yours. You begin to rub his hand to try to comfort him. The touch easily brightens his mood, causing him to flash a dimpled smile and to squeeze your hand.

“Can I try one more time?” he softly asks.

“Of course,” you reply.

Taerae reluctantly lets go of your hand and he turns his attention back to the crane machine. Once again, he inserts three 1,000 won bills into the machine. His back straightens up a bit and his gaze fixates on the toy. Using his fingers, he carefully moves the joystick to hover over the toy and scans the side and front of the glass enclosure, adjusting the position of the claw. When he feels satisfied with the alignment, he presses the red button. 

Watching the claw descend, you feel a pang of nervousness, knowing that your fake boyfriend always managed to grab the toy but it always fell within a few seconds. The claw manages to keep its grip and you let out a loud cheer when the duck drops to the chute.

Your eyes light up as you turn to look at him, and caught up in the exhilaration, your arms envelope around him in celebration of success. Though you quickly realize your action and let go of him.

“Sorry about that!” you immediately apologize, taking a few steps back. Your eyes fall to the ground. “Just got a little too excited for you,” you admit, nervously laughing.

“It’s okay,” he reassures with a warm smile. “I would have done the same.”

He retrieves the prize from the machine and hands it to you with a gentle expression. “From yours truly.” 

A grin forms on your lips as you gratefully accept the toy. You take a few moments to look at it and then him before raising the stuffie so they’re both in the same sight vision. Anyone can see they’re identical. 

“Duckie,” you let out, finding the perfect nickname for your fake boyfriend. “Can I call you duckie?” 

He nods, letting out a billion-dollar smile. 

part four

The midweek fatigue settles in, and with a giant pile of work to be done before the end of the week, you need a quick pick-me up. As usual, Dayeon accompanies you during your coffee breaks and the two of you find yourselves waiting in line at Serendipity Sips. You take a quick peek at the display case, but a familiar figure catches your eye.

It’s your fake boyfriend.

Unlike the two previous times you’ve met up, he’s wearing glasses. Today, his attire consists of a white collar shirt adorned and a sleek black tie with gray trousers. He has a cream-color cable-knit vest with a distinctive black and blue striped neckline over the shirt and sneakers that matched the same shade of blue as the detailing on his vest, pulling the outfit together nicely.

At the moment, he’s engrossed in his phone, vigorously replying to some messages. His brows are furrowed and his lips are slightly pursed. You should call the police: a man his age cannot be this adorable and endearing, at least not while being productive. 

“Excuse me, sir,” your friend says as she pokes him on the shoulder. He turns and looks at your friend briefly before his gaze effortlessly finds you. A warm smile forms on his lips as soon as your eyes meet. “Oh, I guess you like my friend too. I was about to set the two of you up on a date.” 

He softly snickers. “That’s good to hear,” he remarks as he looks at Dayeon. “We’re dating.” He then puts his hand out for a handshake. “My name’s Taerae by the way.”

Her jaw drops slightly, and her eyes widen in surprise. For a minute, she stands there speechless before returning the handshake. She then turns to you with a confused look. “He’s your boyfriend? Why didn’t you say ‘hi’ to him? Did you not recognize him?”

It takes a few moments before you to think of a mediocre response. “I, uh, it’s work hours and I need to remain professional,” you stammer, “a..and he looked busy!” 

“Never too busy for you, love,” he quips.

“Yeah, [y/n], he’s never too busy for you,” she says in a mock tone as the three of you move to the front of the line. 

“Hi there, what can I get for you today?” the employee asks. 

“Just a large iced latte to go and whatever the two of them want,” he states, motioning towards you and your friend. 

You’re about to politely decline, but before you can, Dayeon eagerly responds, “I’ll have a regular iced americano to go.” 

A disapproving glance is directed at your friend, but she ignores you. Taerae then looks to you, awaiting for your order. “Just regular green tea to go,” you hesitantly reply. 

“Did you want a pastry as well?” he asks you. “I saw you were eyeing some as well.” 

“No, it’s –”

“Could we get a slice of strawberry shortcake as well in a box?” he requests. 

The cafe worker nods. “So, one large iced latte, one regular iced americano, one regular green tea, and a slice of strawberry shortcake to go,” they repeat the order. “Is that everything?” 

He nods to confirm as he pulls his card to pay for the items. The orders were made quickly, and soon, you found yourself outside the cafe with Taerae while waiting for Dayeon who went to the washroom. 

“Thanks again for treating us, Taerae,” you express with gratitude. “I’ll make sure to treat you next time.” 

He shrugs casually. “It’s okay, don’t worry about it.” 

“And thanks for picking out the strawberry shortcake,” you add. “It’s usually what I get when I come here.” 

“I know.”

“You know?” you reply, slightly puzzled.

“I know that…” he begins, pausing for a moment before continuing. “I know that strawberries are your favorite – you mentioned it on the first date,” he explains, a touch of nervousness lacing his words. “So I thought you’d like it.” 

“Well, I’m sure I’ll even enjoy it even more since it’s from you.” Your eyes soften and a smile graces your lips. A subtle warmth tingles on your skin. 

Taerae mirrors your expression, matching the sincerity of your smile, but it then transforms to more of a bashful grin when he momentarily looks away. 

Unfortunately, your intimate moment does not last long. Dayeon’s voice cuts through the atmosphere. “Sorry to interrupt, but [y/n] and I need to head back to work!”

You groan quietly at the interruption, exchanging a quick apologetic look with your fake boyfriend.

“I’ll take my leave then,” he says, still smiling warmly. “I’ll see you on Friday night then, darling.” 

“Bye, duckie!” you playfully call out as you wave at him.

He can’t help but let out a wide, pleased grin once more. His eyes crinkle at the corner as he raises his free hand, waving in response to your call before you and Dayeon make your way back to your office.

“So much for remaining ‘professional,’” she remarks, a mischievous glint in her eye. “And duckie?” A soft snicker escapes her lips. 

Feeling heat rush to your cheeks, your eyes instinctively drop to the ground. “Sorry, I, uh –” you stammer.

“It’s okay,” she immediately reassures. “You two are so cute together. I’ll give it a pass.” 

Happiness wells up in your chest, prompting you to meet your friend’s eyes with a hopeful expression. “You really think so?” 

part five

As your relationship continues to evolve in the following weeks, the amount of time you spent with Taerae surged. You went on at least one planned date per week and would often meet up after work or on the weekends. Visiting cafes or restaurants and strolls in different neighborhoods are your go-to’s especially on the weekdays though sometimes you like to go to the movies in the cinema. From time to time, you’d even bring the duckie stuffie your “boyfriend” won for you on your cafe dates. 

On the weekends, you often explore areas a bit outside of the city to places like Suwon, Nami Island, and Everland, spending most of the day together. Admittedly, your favorite part of your weekend dates are car rides with Taerae. He always makes sure that your journey is enjoyable. There’s always a stash of snacks and drinks in his car and he always lets you play your music, often singing along to the lyrics.

At the end of each date, the two of you would share a hug and as soon as you felt comfortable, he started giving you kisses on the forehead or the cheek (sometimes both) before saying goodbye for the night. It was crazy to think you dreaded going on weekly dates before. Now, they were the highlight of your week.

While you cherish the dates, it was the small things that brought you the most joy. Your little duckie always sends you good morning and good night texts, accompanied by sweet voice recordings that never fail to make your heart flutter. In addition, he regularly shares glimpses of his day through pictures. Your favorite one so far was a selfie of him shoving Pringles in his mouth in the middle of the work day.

Occasionally, when you couldn’t meet up outside of your weekly date, you’d video-call each other for an hour or two at some point in the day, often multi-tasking. Though there was a time a call lasted almost five hours and another where you found yourselves unintentionally staying up till two thirty in the morning.

It was in these moments you’d forget that you were in a fake relationship.

Saturday, which became your dedicated weekend date day with Taerae, took a different turn this week. Instead of your usual outing, you were having a movie night with Dayeon at your place. Though unfortunately, while shopping at Lotte Mart for some snacks and drinks., you get a text from your friend that a last-minute family emergency came up and she wouldn’t be able to go.

the best person in jelly insurances: IM SOOO SORRY but my parents just called and said my grandma had to be rushed to the hospital and im literally running there the best person in jelly insurances: ok not running. just booked a train back home last minute and am trying to pack you: hey dont apologize :( family always comes 1st you: hope ur grandma will be ok. take as much time as u need you: we just can reschedule another time if u want  😀 the best person in jelly insurances: ask ur boyfie to join u instead!!!

You start typing your reply with one hand, about to text her not to worry about you, but accidentally bump into someone while in the midst of doing so. 

“Oh my god, I’m so sor–” you begin to apologize, but stop when you realize who it was. 

“Oh, hello darling,” Taerae greets. He looks away from you, scratching his head with a touch of embarrassment. “I didn’t expect to see you here. Otherwise, I would.. — never mind.” 

“You look cute,” you blurt out as your eyes scan his outfit. He’s wearing his glasses today along with a pink cap, a cozy gray hoodie, white and black two-toned sweats, and the most vibrant red sneakers your eyes ever laid on. For a moment, you ponder how you did not see him considering how eye catching his outfit is. 

“And we’re kind of matching today too,” you then add, pointing to the almost identical shade of gray hoodie you're wearing. “I should get matching sweatpants with you soon.” 

Your "boyfriend," no longer feeling embarrassed, looks at you warmly. “When’s your movie night with Dayeon supposed to start?” he gently asks.

“Oh, uh,” you falter. “Dayeon had to attend a last family minute emergency, so I think I’ll be alone tonight.” 

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he responds, genuine concern in his eyes and voice. “I hope everything will be okay.” 

“I’m sure it will be,” you nod. “Anyways, do you have any plans tonight?” 

“Going to play video games by myself at home after I stock up on ramen — it’s on sale,” he states. Besides a large bottle of diet coke, the red shopping basket he’s holding is filled with packets of Shin Ramyun. “D-did you want some? I think I just got the last packs.” 

You laugh. “It’s okay, they’re yours – but thank you for the offer.” 

A brief silence hangs in the air, and then, sensing Taerae's hesitation, you wait for him to speak. His expression now shifts to a shy smile. “Um, would it be okay if I keep you company while you shop?” 

“Of course, duckie,” you reply affectionately, “and if you want, you can join me for movie night too.” The invitation slips out without much thought. 

“I’d love to!” he beams, his eyes reflecting a spark of excitement at the unexpected offer. “Let me get a shopping cart first, then. I won't be long.” 

Before you get a chance to say anything, he’s already making his way, his eagerness evident in his swift and purposeful movements. Witnessing the sight of his enthusiasm and thought of doing domestic tasks with him stirs a unique sensation within you.

----

“Thanks so much for helping with the groceries,” you express as you both enter your place, “and for paying as well. You know, you didn’t have to.” 

“I know, I wanted to,” he replies with a gentle smile.

You mirror his expression. How does he always know the right thing to say? But then your smile disappears when you unlock your door. Your apartment doesn’t look like a tornado ran over it twice, but it’s not exactly guest-ready either. 

“I’m so sorry for the mess – I was going to clean it after I went shopping,” you immediately apologize.

“It’s alright,” he reassures as he removes his cap and slips on the extra pair of slippers you reserve for guests. “Do you want me to help you?” 

“It’s okay, you don’t have to.”

“I know. I want to.”

“But –” 

“Please?” he pleads, pouting in a way that’s cuter than any puppy in the world. This is even more powerful than the time he asked if he could sing to you. 

“Okay,” you concede, unable to resist, “but you can change your mind anytime.”

He nods before the two of you begin to work together to put away groceries. Following that, Taerae takes charge in the kitchen, boiling the water for ramen and frying some dumplings and marinated bulgogi. On the other hand, you focus on tidying up the living room, rearranging a few things to create a cozy space for your impromptu dinner and movie night at home before joining him in the kitchen. 

While washing your hands, you realize how perfectly Taerae fits in your space. It’s as if he belongs here and you get the same sensation you felt while shopping. Except this time, it’s a little stronger. 

At this point, there isn’t much left to do since the dumplings and meat are almost cooked and the water is boiling. Deciding to at least contribute, you wash and cut the spring onions.

“Spring onions are ready,” you say.

“Thank you,” he expresses. “You’re just in time to see something cool.” 

“Oh?” 

“Watch this,” he says with a mischievous glint. He proceeds to grab two eggs from the carton and somehow cracks both eggs simultaneously with one hand, and to add to your amazement, not a single shell found its way into the pot.

“Woah, where’d you learn that?” you inquire, surprise your voice.

“I learned it on TikTok,” he replies, playfully winking at you. “I can show you later if you want.” 

“Sure,” you nod, trying to ignore the heat in your cheeks and the increased pace of your heart. “Let me get the side dishes then,” you add trying to steady your nerves.

After finishing cooking and plating, the two of you work together to set up the food on the coffee table. 

“It’s not half as good as the theaters we've been to, but it’ll make do,” you comment when both of you are sitting on the floor.

“What do you mean?” he counters just before you press play on your laptop. “It’s with you, so it’s perfect.” 

----

Around halfway through the first movie, after the two of you finished eating, you notice that Taerae keeps glancing at your shoulder. Knowing what he wanted, you lightly pat your shoulder twice, silently inviting him. He’s hesitant at first, but then slowly leans in and gently rests his head on your shoulder before a content sigh escapes his lips. The warmth of the moment envelops you into a delightful sensation that you don’t want to end.

Time seems to pass by in the blur as the two of you find yourselves seamlessly transitioning to a cozy cuddling session on the couch during the second movie. Your back comfortably rests against his chest, feeling the rhythmic rise and fall as he breathes, while your head finds a soft spot on one of his arms. His free arm gently wraps your waist and one of his legs carefully drapes over yours. The delight you've been feeling throughout the night in your chest continues to grow.

Soon, the ending credits roll, and you turn your head to face him, about to ask him if he’d like to watch another movie. Perhaps another romantic one, maybe a fake dating story where the two leads end up together. They always do, no? 

However, your words catch in your throat when you realize just how close your face is to his. It's a moment of revelation as you notice the fullness of his lips, a detail you hadn't properly appreciated before. Now, you can't help but wonder what they feel like pressed against yours.

The two of you exchange a lingering gaze, a silent yearning reflecting in your eyes. You decide to take initiative. 

“D..did you…want to ki-” you begin, but before you could finish your sentence, the sound of the doorbell interrupts you. Startled, you push yourself away from Taerae, causing you to fall off the couch. 

His eyes are filled with panic and worry and he immediately asks if you’re okay, to which you nod. Begrudgingly, you answer the door, only to find out that the delivery driver confused your place with one of your neighbors as your “boyfriend” gets a gel ice pack from your freezer.

You slam the door and make your way to the kitchen. A caring boyfriend stands there, holding a gel ice pack wrapped in a clean towel for you. Taking the ice pack from him, you make an effort not to let your frustration show and instead quietly appreciate his actions as you place the ice pack on your head. 

“Thanks,” you manage to mutter after a few minutes of silence. 

“Does it hurt anywhere?” he asks, concern in his face. 

“My head just hurts a bit,” you reply. “Nothing too serious.” 

He takes a moment, his expression wavering between hesitation and a gentle smile. After a brief pause, he walks towards you. “May I kiss it better?” There’s a hint of playfulness in his voice. 

“Can you?” you quip, placing the ice pack on the counter. 

He nods before leaning in to press a tender kiss on your forehead. You swear a bit of happiness surges in your body each time he kisses you. 

“Anywhere else?” he asks. 

“My lips,” you slip out without thinking. 

He looks at you for a few seconds. “I can do that. Only if you want me to.” 

“Please?” There’s a hint of desperation in your voice. You lock your eyes into his, silently begging for the touch of his lips on yours. It was impossible for Taerae to refuse, not that he didn’t want to kiss you. He does. He does very much want to kiss you. For a while now. 

He stops moving closer when his lips just hover yours, silently asks for your consent again. You decide to grant permission by closing your eyes and lightly pressing your lips against him. Just like his smiles, his lips are warm and soft. A tingling sensation runs through you, making you fuzzy inside. 

The kiss feels nice, amazing in fact, but it’s obvious that both of you are holding back, as if you’re afraid to cross an invisible line. 

But it’s too late for you: you’ve fallen in love with Kim Taerae.

part six

Four days, 15 hours, and 41 minutes have passed since the unexpected kiss with your “fake” boyfriend. And that's all you've been thinking ever since. 

Most of your time was spent analyzing the gigabytes of messages from him on your phone as well as every word he’s spoken and every action he’s done. Some of it had to be real, no? 

Unfortunately, the consequences of your fixation included accidentally leaving him on read multiple times and rejecting his video calls three times. 

At this point, there's an entire PhD thesis dedicated to your interactions with Kim Taerae. You’ve concluded that the man, at the very least, must find you attractive; otherwise, there wasn’t a reason he’d kiss you privately. But then again, your contract technically states that you should be practicing PDA. 

No, he definitely likes you -- nobody under the age of 21 kisses someone they think they're ugly, probably. Now, the only issue for you was finding the right time, place, and most importantly, the confidence to do so.

You’re giving your five brain cells a break today, hoping that an idea might come to you out of the blue. However, as you enter a Korean barbeque restaurant near your work with Dayeon and Hanbin, it seems like the world is saying Taerae must stay in your mind at all times. Your eyes immediately spot a man with million-dollar dimples. You open your mouth, about to ask your colleagues if you could eat somewhere else, but you’re too slow. 

“Ah, Taeraevision!” Hanbin exclaims, his voice cutting through the conversations of other patrons, somehow reducing them to mere whispers. “I didn’t expect to see you here.” He is already on his way to the table where your fake boyfriend is sitting, with Dayeon closely behind. You hesitantly follow suit.

Taerae casually waves to the three of you, looking too adorable in his pink collar shirt. Seeing him makes you feel guilty for avoiding him and regretful for declining previous opportunities to see pixels of his beautiful face. 

“Hi Hanbin!” a blonde-haired man who looks like a walking vitamin greets as the two of them proceed to fist bump each other. “Haven’t seen you in a while, man.” 

“Hey Matthew, long no see,” Hanbin enthusiastically greets back.

“These are my colleagues Dayeon and [y/n],” he introduces, gesturing to Dayeon and you as he says your respective names. 

“Oh, yeah, we know Taerae,” Dayeon casually remarks. “Well, I just met him once. [y/n] knows him pretty well.” 

A mischievous glint lights up Hanbin's eyes. "Oh, you two are acquainted?" he asks, referring to you and Taerae.

“We’re dating, actually,” you clarify. The words just slip out. 

“Ah, I see,” he smirks before looking at the other two men sitting on the table. “Did you guys order yet? We’d like to join if that’s okay.” 

“Of course!” Matthew answers with enthusiasm. “This is great. I really wanted to get Combination C, but it’s meant for four to six people.”

“Wonderful!” Hanbin cheers as he takes a seat next to the human vitamin. “It’s like it was meant to be.” 

Dayeon slides in next to your other colleague, leaving your only option to sit next to your fake boyfriend. You feel a mix of conflicting emotions. Part of you is genuinely happy to see him; in fact, you feel a bit of relief being in his presence already. On the other hand, the guilt felt earlier heightens and it’s even worse that he’s not showing a hint of anger towads you. 

Sensing your unease, he subtly reaches under the table to hold your hand, offering a reassuring squeeze. You immediately feel much better, but there’s a lingering feeling of shame that comes with it.

After the server takes your order, your heart begins to beat faster every minute and the only reason you’re not shaking is because your “boyfriend” is still holding your hand. The two of you have spent a lot of time together and even practiced some potential questions you might be asked about your relationship, but you’re scared you’re going to mess up so bad that the time you begged him to pretend to date you would pale in comparison. 

“What are you planning to do for Taerae’s birthday next week?” Hanbin casually asks. 

It’s Taerae’s birthday next week? You remember that he mentioned that his birthday was in July, but he never specified the exact day.

“You don’t know Taerae’s birthday?” your deskmate gasps, surprise evident in his voice. 

Oh shit. Did you accidently say that thought aloud? 

You’re curious about the other two’s reactions, but before you could take a look, your “fake” boyfriend steps in. 

“I didn’t mention it before,” he responds, “...and there must have been a lot in my darling’s mind recently.” His voice falters slightly, a hint of worry in his tone.

“Aww, you two are cute,” Hanbin coos, a wide grin on his face. “If you need help with anything, [y/n], just let me know.” He gives a friendly wink to you before steering the conversation to another topic. 

Luckily, everything after the initial hiccup goes smoothly. The five of you just finish settling the bill and the other three excuse themselves to the washrooms, leaving you and Taerae alone for a bit. 

“Thank you for earlier,” you say quietly, your voice laced with genuine gratitude, “and I’m sorry for avoiding you the past few days. I know it’s not an excuse, but there’s just been a lot of things on my mind.”

“It’s okay,” he immediately reassures. “People in relationships do forget important dates sometimes.” There’s a brief pause. “Would you like to skip our date this week? I’ll give you some space too.” 

You nod. “That would be nice. Thank you.” The conversation pauses for a bit. “Let me make it up to you on your birthday then. What’s a good day for you next week to celebrate?”

“Well, I’m leaving on Thursday afternoon to see my parents, but I'm probably coming back to Seoul around Sunday afternoon.” 

“Does Sunday evening work or do you prefer something earlier in the week?” you begin to ask. “Did you want to invite everyone today and a few of your other friends as well to celebrate?” 

“Sunday evening works for me,” he replies. His gaze momentarily drops before he nervously clears his throat. There’s a faint blush that tinges his cheeks before he leans to your ear. “I don’t mind celebrating with others as long as you’re there, but I’d much prefer it if it was just the two of us.” 

A brilliant idea suddenly pops in your head. Perhaps, you could not only celebrate his birthday, but make him your real boyfriend as well. You try to contain your excitement.

 “Just the two of us sounds perfect.”

----

Later that evening, you find yourself laying on your couch, wishing your potential real boyfriend was cuddling you. You’re scrolling through Pinterest, trying to gather ideas for a cute date that would make him want to be with you for real. It takes a while, but eventually you come up with an idea using inspiration you found online and from the conversations of future dates the two of you talked about before. 

It was perfect. Except, it would probably require a car and two people. Looking through your contacts, you try to find someone that was (1) not your fake boyfriend, (2) owns a car, and (3) would likely be willing to help you. 

Unfortunately, there was only one person in Seoul you knew that met these requirements. 

Friday, 9:00PM

you: hey hanbin, r you free next Sunday evening?  barely tolerable ig: OFC! ANyTHING FOR OUR TAERAEVISION!!! barely tolerable ig: wat r u planning? who’s coming? you: oh…ummm… you: it’s just going to two of us, but maybe we can all do something together later :)  you: im planning to confess to taerae and i kinda need ur help barely tolerable ig: okiee ;( u guys have fun w/o me barely tolerable ig: confess? u aren’t together?? you: like confess that I LOVE HIM!  you: THAT I WANT TO BE SERIOUSLY BE WITH HIM

Shit. That was a close call.

barely tolerable ig: OHHH I SEE NOW barely tolerable ig: i can help then :) barely tolerable ig: wats ur plan and wat do u need? you: ok, so i was thinking [a bunch of redacted statements to prevent spoilers]....so i’ll need ur car and ur strength.  you: do u think taerae would like it? barely tolerable ig: R U KIDDING??!!! barely tolerable ig: THAT’S SO FREAKING ADORABLE !!! 🥰 barely tolerable ig: can i be ur ring boy when u get married ??? PLZZ??? 

Saturday, 2:00AM

barely tolerable ig: actually, i think i wanna be the flower girl.

----

Taerae’s birthday comes too quickly. After finalizing your plans with Hanbin’s help, you sent your “boyfriend” a text a few days before the surprise, inviting him to Eurwangni Beach at 7:00PM, just around an hour and a half before the sunset.  

This particular beach, typically serene and secluded, is transformed into the perfect place for your confession. The weather, cooperating beautifully, set the stage for a hopefully enchanting evening. 

Now, with only around 25 minutes before the agreed-upon time, you and Hanbin took a couple minutes to admire the picturesque setup you had crafted for the special occasion.

A few large rugs in various shades of brown and white are arranged to create a canvas for the perfect set-up. On the side, there’s a sheer teepee tent adorned with fairy lights and pictures of you and Taerae or just him. Inside the tent, there’s various pillows in different light neutral colors and textures, along with a snug throw – an ideal space for comfort and relaxation.

However, the highlight is the cozy dining space you’ve created. Near the tent is a small, low birch picnic table with two pillows for seating. The table has a charming little setup that would hold two types of fondue: cheese and chocolate. Accompanying the cheese fondue are cubes of artisan breads, pretzels, apples, pears, and blanched cauliflower and broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and a few different types of sliced meat. As for the chocolate fondue, there are fresh strawberries, bananas, pineapple chunks, mini heart-shaped waffles, soft marshmallows, and cubes of moist vanilla pound cake. For drinks, you opted for apple juice and herbal tea.

Amidst the delight spread, plates, napkins, fondue forks, and other utensils are carefully arranged for easy indulgence. And to add a touch of romance, pink dried roses are scattered throughout. 

“Taerae’s going to love this – though I think he’d like anything you plan,” Hanbin comments, his tone carrying a surprising level of seriousness. 

Your eyes betray a subtle gleam. “You really think so?” 

“I know so,” he affirms. “I’ve never seen his eyes so bright even when he won a year supply of ramen when he was in university.” 

“Don’t they always sparkle?” 

“Maybe just when he’s with you.” 

“How do you know?” 

“Just trust me,” he declares, a smirk on his face. “And depending on your rizz level tonight, he might even get on one knee when he sees this..and you, of course.” 

You laugh, trying not to imagine the idea of Taerae proposing to you. “Well, thank you for your kind words and enthusiasm...and also for helping me out.”

“Of course, anything for our Taeraevision.”

You laugh. “I’ll go get ready now and then let you go.” 

“Aww, I can’t watch you two tonight?” he pouts slightly. 

“I’d rather not,” you tease, “but I’ll let you know how it goes.”

----

Your heart’s pounding like crazy as you wait for who you hope to be your boyfriend before the end of the night. Nervously, your fingers trace around the edges of your present. Would he like your surprise? Is it too much? Will he think you’re madly in love with him (you’re pretty sure you are) and run away?

However, these doubts disappear when you hear his voice calling for your name. You turn to the direction of the sound and see Taerae wearing all white, just like the two of you agreed upon earlier, walking towards you. For a color of pop, he has an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt in various shades of blue. His hair is styled nicely, almost like when the two of you first met, adding an extra touch of charm to this moment.

The wind gently tousles his hair and the soft light from the sun casts a warm, flattering glow on him, enhancing his already captivating presence. Even though there’s a bit of distance between the two of you, his smile alone outshines the sun itself. 

“Who’s this for?” he teasingly asks upon arrival, grinning so widely that both his dimples are prominently on display. 

“It’s for you, silly,” you laugh. “Is it alright?” 

“More than alright,” he murmurs. “It’s perfect.”

He takes a step closer and gently envelops you. The only space between you is the gift in your hand. “I’ve missed you so much,” he whispers softly.

The unexpected gesture and words catches you off guard, causing your heart to beat faster and for you to involuntary step back. A hint of worry flashes on Taerae’s face, but it swiftly fades as soon as you wrap your arms, his present on one hand, around him. 

“Sorry, I was just surprised,” you utter quietly. “You usually ask me if you could hug me beforehand.”

“Sorry, I was just too excited to see you,” he apologizes. “I’ll be more mindful next time.”

“It’s okay,” you reassure. “I don’t mind.” You can’t see his face, but you’re pretty sure he’s grinning widely. 

After a few moments that felt too short, you slowly let go and take a few steps back. Now, switching to a playful tone and expression, you suggest, “Speaking of surprises, would you like to open this first?” 

He nods before he happily takes your present and opens the box. “You know, you didn’t have to – just being with you is more than enough.”

“I hope it doesn’t look like a squashed chicken nugget,” you softly snicker. 

“It doesn’t. Even if it did, it’s the cutest nugget I’ve seen,” he beams as he takes a closer look at it. “Where’d you get this?” 

“Oh, I, uh, made it,” you reply, scratching your neck. “I know it’s not –”

“Thank you,” he gently interjects. “I love it.”

Taerae looks at you with a soft gaze, a bright sparkle that puts even the brightest stars to shame. His smile, accompanied by the crinkle of his eyes is even more radiant and infectious than the one he gave you earlier, or ever. This snapshot of him, set against the backdrop of the stunning scene, looks like one of the final scenes of a billion-dollar romance movie, sending an intense flutter to your heart. 

Trying to keep your mind focused, you suggest moving on to the next activity. “Let's eat. You must be hungry from your trip.”

"Sure, sounds good."

“So, how was your trip back home?” you ask as you warm up the fondue.

"It was good. I got to see a few relatives I haven’t seen in a while and met up with some old friends and high school classmates," he replies warmly. "I wish you were there.”

“I’ll come next time then," you smile warmly.

There’s a hint of longing in his eyes. "I’m really looking forward to it."

There's a pause, as if he wants to say something more, but he stops for now. Sensing his hesitation, you redirect the conversation. 

“I think everything's ready now,” you announce. “Did you want to watch a movie while we eat?” 

He nods before you grab your phone. A particular movie called “Instant Love” catches both your eyes. According to the synopsis on Netflix, the plot revolves around a person who lies about a fake boyfriend to deceive their mother. Luckily, despite the statistical odds, they find someone who fits the exact description on Instagram. The man surprisingly agrees, a little too easy, and now the two must navigate the journey of fake dating and not catching feelings. 

Well, that sounds a little too familiar. You just hope it ends well.

Hesitantly, you press play. 

As the movie plays on screen, you and Taerae find yourself engrossed even though the movie wasn’t great, sharing bites of the food you prepared before. You pick up a strawberry and dip in chocolate before extending it playfully towards him. He meets your gaze with a sly smile, slowly leaning in to take the offer. Wanting to reciprocate your action, he grabs a piece of pineapple and extends it towards you to which you happily accept. The sweet exchange continues for a bit. 

Between the shared bites, he notices a bit of chocolate lingering on the corner of your lips. A mischievous glint forms in his eye as he leans towards you and wipes away the smidge of chocolate. Your heart skips a beat or two. 

“T..thanks,” you mutter shyly. 

His eyes transform into a more affectionate gaze, taking a few seconds to savor the moment. A subtle smile graces his lips before he returns his focus to the movie, his fingers eventually intertwining with yours. 

As the night grows colder, you decide to settle under the blanket underneath the tent, pausing the movie just before the two leads likely get together. The gentle glow from the stars above combined with the soft radiance of fairy lights, creates an intimate atmosphere. Carefully, you place your head on his arm while he puts his other arm around your waist. 

Except for your to-be-boyfriend rizzing you a little too much tonight, your plan is going a little too well so far.

“Thank you for tonight, darling,” he whispers. “This is probably the best date anyone’s ever planned.”

You turn around to face him. “Of course, it’s your birthday after all.” A brief pause lingers in the air. “There’s been something on my mind, something I’ve been wanting to share with you for a bit…after the movie though.”

He nods eagerly, a spark of excitement lighting up his eyes and a wide, genuine smile spreading across his face.

The two of you once again find yourselves absorbed in the movie and it's now likely the final scene based on how much time was left. The leads were having the most luscious picnic at a beautiful garden by themselves. Maybe you can plan something half as grand as that for Taerae if he agrees to be your boyfriend for real.

When both characters finish their meal, the main lead approaches the male lead with a bouquet of his favorite flowers. Their gaze looks at him with a mixture of sincerity and affection. 

“I know our relationship was supposed to be pretend, but somewhere along, I’ve developed actual feelings for you. All the moments we’ve shared, the up’s and down’s, the laughter and even the quiet moments – it just feels undeniably real.” 

For a moment, they look down and take a deep breath, clearly about to express something profound. When their gaze meets the male lead’s, even a blind person could see the intensity of unspoken thoughts and emotions.  

They take a pause, words slightly quivering with vulnerability. “Would…would you like to be together…for real?” 

Oh wow, you were going to say the exact same line at the end of your confession.

As expected, his eyes widen and his jaw drops slightly. There’s a variety of emotions in his eyes and it looks like he’s about to confess, admitting that he feels the same and wants to be with them for real; however, to your surprise, he utters something else. 

“I’m sorry, but I cannot return your feelings,” he answers, a hint of guilt in his eyes. “You’re a nice person, but fake dating you made me realize I’m actually in love with my best friend.”  

Shock paints over the main lead’s face, followed by a whirlwind of emotions: disappointment, hurt, and embarrassment. Somber music plays as the male leads walk away. 

Is..is this some type of cruel joke? He and his best friend were only seen on screen together for seven minutes and 32 seconds, eating lunch and playing Go. There’s still eleven minutes left! Maybe, it’s just a prank or a stunt to shock viewers. 

Unfortunately, the ending credits begin rolling.

…

Someone, please call the international police because whoever directed the movie should go to jail. Confusion is a mild way of describing how you’re feeling now. Your eyes stare blankly at the screen and your jaws drop in synchronized disbelief. The final scene delivered a horrible plot twist to the story that makes any one star movie look good. 

“Well, that was…quite..something,” Taerae comments, breaking the silence after a few minutes.

“Yeah,” you mumble, barely audible. 

Internally, you’re frantically replaying as many interactions between the leads. The male lead typically paid for their dates, followed the sidewalk rule, remembered every detail about the other main lead, and kissed them – multiple times. He even performed the typical Kdrama male lead duties: saving the person from a burning building, paying their mother’s hospital bills, and donating one of his kidneys to the father.

Plus, it was supposed to be a romantic movie: they should always get together at the end. The unexpected ending in the movie shatters your confidence in confessing your feelings tonight and makes you rethink your interactions with Taerae. Was there a chance you might have misunderstood his intention?

“Darling, are you okay?” he calls out, a note of worry in his voice. 

It takes you a few moments to respond as your mind is distracted by the million thoughts running through your head. “Sorry? Did you say something?” 

“Are you okay?” he repeats.

“..Yeah, I’m okay,” you try to force a smile. 

Taerae, sensing your unease, frowns slightly, but doesn’t want to pressure you if you aren't comfortable sharing. Instead, he gently pulls you closer, his chest pressed against your back, and places a soft kiss on the top of your head.

part seven

“That sucks,” Hanbin says, picking up a piece of salmon sushi, after you shared the unsuccessful outcome the night before. 

“I know,” you groan, frustration evident in your voice. “Now, I don’t know if I can say it again.” 

“Why not?” 

You release a heavy sigh. “Well, now I have to think of another cute romantic date, no?”

He takes a thoughtful pause. “As Taerae’s self-appointed best friend, even if you told him that you love him wearing the rattiest red sweatpants you own in front of the dumpster of MotorOne building while it’s burning, I’m sure he’d think it was the most romantic thing ever,” he states confidently. “Though I wouldn’t personally recommend the dumpster as a place to confess unless you have the strong urge to, but I’m sure our Taeraevision will be happy with whatever you plan – so don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”  

A comforting silence settles between the two of you before you express your gratitude for his encouragement and assistance. 

“Thank you, Hanbin,” you state. “I’ll give it a shot again this week.” 

----

Due to the lack of time, you weren’t able to plan something as grand as before; however, you hope it’s still sentimental enough. For tonight’s date, which happens to fall on a Friday, you decide to go to Unami Heights, where the two of you first met. 

You’re not sure how tonight will exactly go, but at some point, you’ll try to naturally bring up your dating contract and say you want to make some changes. Before you hand him the contract, you’ll scratch the word “Fake” off at the top and ask him to sign it if he agrees. Hopefully, he does. 

Just like the first time, Taerae calls for you. It’s a little different this time though: his voice is a lot warmer, more honey-like. You’re not strangers anymore, you’re his “darling” and he’s your “duckie.” 

Immediately, you turn, ready to greet him back, but words catch your throat. He stands before you, looking more handsome than you’ve seen him before. His hair is somehow styled even better than the unsuccessful beach confession date last week. Unlike his usual self, he’s dressed entirely in black – a neat collar shirt with the first two buttons unbuttoned, sleek black trousers, and polished dress shoes. This is beyond a hot date look: he should be on the front cover of Daze Magazine. 

“You, uh, look really handsome today, Tae – duckie,” you stammer. The words don’t come out smooth and you’re barely able to hold eye contact with him. A chuckle escapes your not-yet boyfriend’s lips. Let’s hope he thinks you’re at least cute (he does!).

“Just today?” he teases. 

“Mmm..okay, you look handsome everyday,” you say affectionately, looking at him with adoration in your eyes, “but today, you’re extra handsome.” 

Your eyes might be deceiving you, but the tips of his ears turn slightly red. Taerae looks away, biting his cheek in an attempt to suppress a broad grin, and takes a moment to compose himself. 

“Shall we head in?” he then suggests.

“Oh, yes,” you nod. “I made a reservation under my name. No private room though, but it’s one of the seats where there’s a divider so there’s a bit of privacy between each table.”

He laughs, understanding your intention of recreating the first date. “Thank you, darling. I appreciate it.”

After checking in at the host stand, the two of you are guided inside. Sadly, after waiting for a bit, you are informed that the restaurant accidentally overbooked the tables with private screens between. 

“I am so sorry about this,” the host profusely apologizes. “If it’s alright with you, we still have other seats available. 

You feel a bit disappointed, but reluctantly agree. Maybe the two of you can go for a walk somewhere nice after dinner, like the Han River, and find a private place to talk. That’s not a bad last-minute idea – he did walk with you to the subway station so it’s still like your first date. 

Hopefully, this would only be the hiccup of your night. The two of you are seated next to an older couple who seem to be on a date as well. That’s kind of cute.

Until you recognize it was your parents. 

You pray that they wouldn’t notice you, but it seems it was too late as your dad makes brief eye contact with you. 

“I didn’t expect to see you here, kiddo,” he chuckles. You’re pretty sure you hear a gulp coming from Taerae. 

“That’s my line,” you reply, trying to sound casual. “What are you and mom doing here?” 

“We’re visiting some friends in the city for the weekend, dear,” your mom explains. She then turns to look at your “boyfriend” with a smile. The top two buttons on his shirt are now secured. “Is your name Taerae by chance?” 

He nods. “Yes, I’m [y/n]’s boyfriend. Pleasure to meet both of you.” 

“Oh, wow, he’s even more handsome in-person!” your mom exclaims, putting a hand on her mouth. “Your Linkedin picture doesn’t do justice.”

“Thank you,” he responds, trying not to laugh. “I’m sorry I didn’t bring a gift. I didn’t know I was going to meet the two of you today.” 

She chuckles. “Oh, don’t worry about that! Your presence is already a gift. Just come over when you’re free. I found a really good kimbap recipe.”

“I’d love that,” he agrees with a smile worth more than the restaurant itself.

“So, Taerae, what do you do for a living and where’d you go to school?” your dad chimes in. 

“I’m working as an automobile engineer at MotorOnes and I graduated from Seoul University – top 10% of my class,” he states. It sounds rehearsed, yet it still comes across naturally.

“An automobile engineer, huh?” your dad comments. “One of my friends is a professor at Seoul university, and he once told me that he really wanted a student name Taerae as one of his master students, but that said student turned down the offer, much to the his disappointment.” 

“Oh, is it Dr. Park?” Taerae clarifies. “I was in his ‘Automotive Design and Manufacturing’ class in my third year.” 

“Ah, yes,” your dad nods happily for a moment before your mom scolds him.

“Tch, you knew about him and you didn’t tell me?” she scowls at her husband. “Do you know the amount of work I need to do to get these blind dates?” 

Sensing the playful tension in the room, your boyfriend smiles. “Well, we’re together now, so everything worked out in the end.”

“You’re right,” your mom nods happily. “So, what made you what to ask our [y/n] out?” she inquires, looking genuinely interested. 

A subtle nervousness creeps in. The two of you only discussed vaguely about your back story: you bumped into Taerae multiple times at Serendipity Sips before deciding to talk to him and eventually asking for his number. While the detailed narrative of how you both met and got together would be barely believable if told by you, it’s better than having him feel pressured. 

“[y/n] actually asked me out,” he answers, and as the words leave his lips, his eyes sparkle a bit. 

Your mom’s eyes widen. “Oh, really?” 

“Yes, and I’m quite lucky,” he continues. “I’m not sure if [y/n] remembers, but we actually stumbled upon each other briefly before meeting again at Serendipity Sips — it’s a cafe between our workplaces.” 

Oh, you suppose he’s going off-script a bit. 

“I was really happy when we met again, but I felt too nervous to start a conversation. In fact, I’ve tried a few times, but always fumbled. At some point, I figured someone amazing like my darling was definitely with someone else so I was pleasantly surprised when I got asked out. I’m just happy that we’re together now.” 

Almost instinctively, you look around the restaurant, expecting a camera crew to suddenly appear in front of you. Taerae’s “impromptu” story of how you met seems too authentic that you find yourself believing it momentarily. You’re not sure how the Oscars nominations work, but you’d definitely nominate his performance for one. 

“Aw, that’s so cute,” your mom coos. “It reminds me of those cute-meet’s that young people talk about these days.” She softly snickers, “Maybe they’re actually real and not just on Tumblr.”

“Mom, you have a Tumblr?!” 

----

The rest of the time with your parents goes smoothly. Conversation flows seamlessly and the table is filled with genuine smiles and laughter. The four of you engage in various topics, delving into discussions about work, hobbies, and even sharing a few personal stories. Anyone would be convinced your relationship was real.

Well, everything except the embellished story of how you met and that you were technically in a “fake dating contact” is true and genuine. But hopefully, things can change tonight.

“Would you like a ride home?” Taerae asks after the two of you exchanged goodbyes to your parents. “I drove to work today.” 

Oh, does he not want to spend more time with you tonight? Usually, he’d ask if you wanted to do anything else before the night ended. He’s probably just feeling tired after meeting your parents – that must be it. Considering the situation, you’ll have to save your confession for another day…

“That’d be nice,” you comment before the two of you begin to walk to the MotorOne Parking Lot. “Thank you..for today and everything. I promise I didn't set up a meeting with my parents without telling you beforehand. It must have been a lot of pressure, but you were…incredible and my parents love you for sure.”

Taerae’s cheeks begin to warm up as his gaze falls on the ground. “It’s no problem,” he mutters quietly, scratching the back of his neck. “Though I think I could have made a better impression.”

“Oh, duckie, you don’t have to worry about it,” you assure with a warm smile. “Like I said before, they love you and I honestly couldn’t ask for a better boyfriend.” The last little bit accidentally slips out of your mind: it's the first time you refer to him to his supposed title in private.

He abruptly stops walking with you following suit and uneasiness creeps up. This was kind of an indirect confession: a horrible one might you add. Well, at least it didn't take place in front of a dumpster -- just the front of the MotorOne Building (and it’s not on fire). You turn to face him, about to say that you forgot to add the “fake” part, though you find yourself surprised by his reaction. 

You’re pleasantly surprised, actually. 

His eyes crinkle at the corner, his gaze filled with warmth that melts your heart. A wide, bright smile adorns his face. Though admittedly his smiles were always pretty, this was probably the most radiant. Knowing that you're the reason fills your body with a warmth that you can’t quite explain. 

He gently reaches to pull you a bit closer, just enough space to allow him to place a reassuring kiss on your forehead. 

“Thank you.” 

part eight

For your third attempt at confessing your feelings, you decide to do a romantic dinner at home with all Taerae’s favorite foods and just like what you planned before, you’d try to naturally bring up the fake dating contract, saying you want some changes and scratch off the word “fake” before handing it to him to sign if he agrees. 

The only hard thing was trying to get him to come over, much to your surprise. It might have been a coincidence, but the day after meeting your parents, he has been taking a lot longer to reply and you haven’t videocalled all week. You hate to admit it, but it hurt a lot more than expected. He mentioned that he’s been busy with a big project, that must be it.

Luckily, your worries disappear when you get the text at lunch today from Taerae asking if you could come over. 

boyfie 💕: im finishing the big project i've been working on today.  boyfie 💕: i should be home at 7PM by the latest. i was thinking we can have a little dinner and movie night at my place. wanna come over? 

An idea suddenly pops up in your mind: you can cook dinner at his place instead. You’ve never been to Taerae’s place before and you already struggle to cook in your kitchen. Maybe you can ask him for his passcode? No, that’s pushing boundaries. Maybe you can make it beforehand? It won’t be as good, but it’ll have to make do.

you: i can bring over dinner 🙂 boyfie 💕: thank u, darling ☺️ boyfie 💕: here’s my address: 1400-70 Nohyeondong  boyfie 💕: passcode is 0317 if you do happen to come a little earlier

If you could, you would kiss your “boyfriend” on the lips right now, but you probably will tonight. This was perfect: you could come an hour earlier to familiarize yourself with the kitchen. With this newfound excitement, you decide to leave work earlier so you can head home to grab your fake dating contract, make yourself look hot, and stop by the grocery store.

--

Hands filled with bags of groceries, you make your way to your future boyfriend’s place. It’s around 6PM when you punch in the passcode, and with a soft beep, the door unlocks. Silently entering, you remove your shoes and place your bag on a nearby hook; however, before you’re about to step further into the apartment, two familiar figures catch your eye. 

Taerae and Hanbin are sitting on a white blanket surrounded by pink throw pillows, rose petals, little candle lights, and heart balloons, talking to each other. For a moment, you debate on turning back, feeling like you’re interrupting a romantic moment between them. 

You wish you did. 

Your “boyfriend” lets out a loud sigh. “I can’t wait to get out of this fake relationship. It’s been really hard lately.”

“Isn’t it pretty much your fault for agreeing to it?” Hanbin chuckles. “You should have known better.” 

Taerae shrugs. “Let’s just hope it ends today.” 

“I hope so too — for you and for me.” 

As the words reach your ear, a heavy weight settles in your chest. The air in the room suddenly feels suffocating and it takes you a few seconds to realize you’ve dropped your bags. You think you hear footsteps, but your body already decides to make its way out. 

----

Sitting on a swing at an unfamiliar park, you take some time to collect your thoughts. Part of you wants to be angry at your fake (ex?-)boyfriend at the words he said; however, after some time, you realize that there must have been a reason. From the time you spent with him and all the things he's done for you, you knew he was a patient and kind person and even the most compassionate people have their breaking points. 

Perhaps, the unexpected meeting with your parents pushed him to the edge and he was trying to figure out a way to gently let you down and needed Hanbin’s help in doing so. He’s a good actor on top of it too. 

And, though you’ve never experienced it personally, it’s probably challenging to pretend to have romantic feelings for someone when your heart is somewhere else. Specifically, your best friend.

Was the movie trying to tell you something?

An audible groan escapes your lips. Thankfully, it was Saturday tomorrow, so you can take some time on how to tackle the situation. Your hand instinctively reaches for your phone, only to realize you likely left it your bag, which was still at his place. In fact, besides yourself, you have nothing on you. 

No phone. No wallet. No keys. It’s dark out and you’re not 100% sure where you are. You might be hallucinating, but you think you feel a raindrop fall on your skin. 

Wonderful. 

You decide to seek shelter as it begins to drizzle. When you get up from the swing, you spot a familiar dimpled man walking towards you, an umbrella in one hand and your bag in the other. His hair is slightly disheveled and his white collar shirt isn’t as neatly tucked when you briefly looked at him earlier. How long was he looking for you? And why? 

“Hey,” Taerae greets, a hint of awkwardness in his voice. “You forgot this,” he adds, extending his bag towards you, “and thank you for remembering that steak is my favorite.”

You politely take the bag from him. “Thanks,” you quietly mutter, your gaze looking down. A heavy silence settles between the two of you.

“Do you have a minute to spare?” he asks after hesitating for a bit. 

“I owe you at least five considering you bought back my stuff," you respond.

“Thanks,” he says with a small smile before clearing his throat. “I made a mistake.”

“Yeah, I wish you told me you had feelings for Hanbin.” 

“I should have confessed to you when we kissed,” he reveals at the same time. 

You look at him with shock written all over your face. “What? I overheard you saying you wanted to get out of this fake relationship and that it’s been hard for you.”

"You're right," he nods. "...because I want to be a real one with you, and it's been hard to hide my feelings for you even though I miserably fail every time.” 

There’s only sincerity in his eyes and voice. 

“B-but what did Hanbin mean when he said it was your fault for getting into this relationship in the first place?” you clarify, confusion still clouding your mind.

“Well, uh, he knew about my crush on you before you even messaged me on Linkedin, and urm, I accidently revealed we were pretending to date when I asked him to help me with my ‘big’ project last week,” Taerae admits as he looks down for a moment and scratches his head. “I’m eight months late, but congratulations on your promotion by the way.”

He then lets out a nervous smile as he looks at you again. “..And, umm, I knew by agreeing to the fake relationship despite having feelings for you would put me in a difficult position, but I wanted to help you.” 

You blink several times, not sure what to say. “Why?”

“It’s a long story,” he confesses with a sheepish smile. The drizzle quickly intensifies into a downpour. He opens the umbrella in his hand, ensuring that you are protected. You pull him slightly closer so that you are both covered. 

“Thanks,” he utters, just loud enough that you could hear. 

The two of you exchange lingering looks, the audible sound is the pattering of the rain.

“I’m sorry,” you apologize, breaking the silence. “I should have not assumed…and I should have at least texted you that I was coming to your place.” 

“It’s okay,” he replies, his voice calm and warm. “I should have thought about that possibility while planning when I gave you my passcode. I would have kicked Hanbin out earlier.” 

He shifts slightly, cheeks tinted with a pink hue. “The big project I was working on…was figuring how to confess to you,” he admits. “I was hoping to surprise you when you walked in and it was supposed to be a cute indoor picnic with all your favorite foods and drinks. At the end, I was going to sing to you while playing the guitar and ask if we could end the contract..and date for real.”  

You laugh softly at the coincidence. “I was planning to try to confess to you again tonight too,” you reveal. “I came an hour earlier to familiarize myself with your kitchen so I can make you dinner and I was planning to ask the same thing: if we could remove the “fake” part of our dating contract.” 

A soft sigh escapes his lips.

“But now that I think about it,” you whisper. “No contract is better, duckie.”

“That sounds perfect, darling,” he replies, a subtle smile on his face. “Fake dating contract ends today.”

You feel a wave of relief and happiness wash over you. Taerae’s eyes are sparkling with joy as his smile grows wider. He feels like the happiest person in this world, at least at this very moment. 

“How long did you like me for?” you murmur. 

“Um, probably at least six months at this point?” he admits, his blush becoming more prominent. 

Your jaw drops slightly. 

“The story I told your parents…it’s true. We actually bumped into each other before meeting again at the cafe again,” he continues, his gaze softens slightly. “Do you remember returning a bag with the lego shark keychain to a nerdy loser at a subway station three years ago?”  

“Oh, that’s why it was familiar,” you express, a sudden realization hitting you. A slight frown tugs at the corners of your mouth. “And you’re not a nerdy loser.”

Taerae softly snickers before speaking again. “I was running late for work because I was up all night trying to finish a presentation for an important project. I nearly missed my stop and left my bag behind. Luckily, you were my miracle of the year.” His eyes light up. “I can still remember the soft smile on your face and the warmth I felt that day when you gave me back my bag. I’m not sure if I remember correctly, but I think I did manage to say a thank you before walking away.” 

“You did say thank you,” you confirm. 

“I’m glad that you at least remember that,” he grins. “Anyways, besides forgetting my bag and having to chug two and a half redbulls to survive that day, everything else went well. The project was a huge success and actually earned my first patent. I really owe you one and was hoping to bump into you one day again so I can thank you properly.” 

He then frowns slightly for moment. “I lost a bit of hope after not finding you for nearly two years, but then I saw you at Serendipity Sips with Dayeon. Unfortunately, I blanked out though I managed to catch your name when the barista called it out. So that same night I searched your name on Linkedin, hoping it was your real one, and to my pleasant surprise, you shared a mutual connection with me.”

“Our lovely Hanbin,” you comment in a teasing manner.

He nods, trying not to giggle.

“I thought about asking him to set up a meeting with you, not a date, just to return the favor and maybe become friends,” he continues, “but then I remembered you were complaining about your sucky blind dates to Dayeon that day and didn't want to risk a misunderstanding. So, instead, I brainstormed scenarios on how we might naturally talk and practiced what to say when you were alone without coming off the wrong way.”

He then lets out a heavy sigh. “Though six months ago, I saw you happily holding hands with someone else, and for whatever reason, my heart sank. That’s when I realized maybe I did have a mild crush on you and thought it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to approach you.” 

A smile begins to form and a sparkle lights up his eyes once more. “Then, four months ago, you messaged me on Linkedin and I saw it as an opportunity to pay you back, but treating you just to coffee and a few words of advice didn’t feel like enough for me. That’s why I suggested sushi..and if I felt brave enough, I was going to ask you at the end if you wanted to get to know each other..as friends, of course.” 

“We’re more than friends now,” you cheekily respond. “We’re officially dating, right?”

“We are,” he smirks, mirroring your tone. There's a brief pause. “That means I can kiss you, right?”

Your gaze falls to the ground for a moment before you nod, granting him permission.

Already, you feel your heart fluttering as he slowly leans in and lightly presses his lips on yours, placing his free hand just above your hips. Your bag hits the ground with a soft thud as one of your arms instinctively wraps around his waist while the other rests on the back of his neck before gently pulling him closer and deepening the kiss. A warm, tight knot forms on your stomach as you close your eyes. This kiss, unlike the first one, feels more satisfying. You’re not sure why. 

Maybe it’s the magic of the Pikachu chapstick he recently bought – his lips now noticeably smoother and softer. Or maybe, the absence of his glasses makes it easier to kiss you. Or maybe, it’s clear where both of you stand.

You are heads over heels in love with Kim Taerae, and Kim Taerae is heads over heels in love with you.

special credits:

@partiallyderived for the idea of putting an asterisk for the fake dating contract (lol)

@happypanda01 for betareading

permanent taglist: @starrzhao @dimplewonie @keiwook @partiallyderived @leejeongz @happypanda01, @enhadazed

fic taglist: @haesunflower

want to read more? main masterlist | zb1 masterlist

gunil has always loved christmas. however, he found that his love for christmas grew even more when he met you. getting to celebrate christmas with someone he loves so dearly made the holiday extra special. he loved everything about spending christmas with you, it was so much fun to him; from decorating your shared apartment together, to wearing matching pj’s while sitting in front of the fireplace, he loved it all.

this year, gunil had a sneaky little idea for the decorations. he knew he would have to put this special decoration up sometime after the two of you had completed putting up the initial decorations, because if he did it before, you would notice immediately. he decided to set his plan into motion the day right after, because he knew you had to work that day, and he wouldn't get caught in the act.

when the day came for him to get all of the christmas items out of your storage closet, he was feeling giddy as ever. he walked into the living room with the final box of decorations and gave you a warm smile. “are you ready to get started?”

“of course,” you nodded and smiled back at him before turning your attention to the box closest to you. the next couple of hours were spent rearranging the furniture and setting everything up until both of you were satisfied with what you had accomplished.

it was tradition for the two of you to spend the rest of the evening on the couch snuggled up together, admiring your work while a christmas movie played in the background. you were seated on the couch, clothed in one of gunil’s shirts, as well as a pair of his sweatpants–only because you hadn't had the chance to pick out matching pajamas yet.

gunil made his way back into the living room 5 minutes later, 2 mugs of hot chocolate in his hands. he sat beside you and handed you your cup. “be careful,” he cautioned, knowing you burnt your tongue almost every time you had a hot drink. “maybe i should blow on it for you.”

you laughed and rolled your eyes before snuggling up into his side, your head laying against his shoulder. “no, no,” you wrapped both of your hands around the mug, trying to gauge the temperature through the glass. “i'll be careful. by the way, you seem especially happy today. is it a special occasion? i mean, besides setting up for the holidays.”

it wasn't unusual for gunil to be all smiles while being around you, but you felt that there was something more exciting your boyfriend. his eyes had been sparkling all night, and his dancing to the music that had played throughout the evening had gotten increasingly sillier. you were sure he was up to something, although you weren't sure what.

“no,” he wrapped his arm tighter around you. “i'm just happy to be with you, like always.” you raised a skeptical eyebrow at him, causing him to laugh and kiss your temple gently. you had no idea what he had planned, but you were determined to find out.

the next morning, gunil sent you off to work eagerly with a lunch he had packed for you. he kissed you softly before basically pushing you out the door.

as your day at work progressed, you started to forget about gunil’s weird antics. that was, until you walked through the door of your apartment, and gunil rushed to meet you. he was usually quick to greet you upon your return, but never with such urgency. before you could get a word out to greet him, he had cupped your cheeks in his hands and was pressing his lips against yours. despite your shock, you fell into a rhythm with him quickly.

“what was that for?” you asked quietly, pulling away from him with a shy smile on your face. gunil chuckled softly to himself and pointed upwards. your eyes followed his finger and saw mistletoe hanging just inside the entryway. “when did that get there?”

“i put it up today.” he grinned widely at you, moving to wrap his arms around your waist. “we've never put up mistletoe before, and i don't think we've ever kissed under the mistletoe either.”

you thought about it for a second. you and gunil had spent plenty of christmases together, but never once had you shared a kiss underneath the mistletoe. it hadn't ever been something that really crossed your mind, but you were certainly glad it had crossed your boyfriend’s. “i think you're right,”

he pressed one last light kiss against your lips and pulled away, tugging gently on your wrist. he slipped his slightly larger fingers between yours. “i made us dinner,” he told you sheepishly, beginning to guide you to the kitchen. “i'm not sure if it's really all that good, so we can order takeout if it tastes bad.”

you followed him toward the kitchen, but ran into his back when he suddenly halted his steps. “what are you doing now?” he simply looked up, which caused you to do the same. you couldn't help the laugh that escaped you when you saw another mistletoe decoration hanging just inside the kitchen, starting to catch onto what he was doing. “how many of those did you buy?”

“enough.” he replied with a proud smile. “we have to make up for all the christmases we didn't kiss under the mistletoe.”

“i can't argue with that.” you smiled broadly back at him and wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him down for another kiss.

jiwoong

your boyfriend comes home from one of his schedules late as always. you’d made dinner for him, reheated it twice and eventually gave up on waiting, falling asleep in the living room with some reality show droning in the background. jiwoong finds you in your shared apartment looking peacefully asleep, he would’ve thought the sight was adorable if not for how his shirt swallowed your frame and rode up your plush thighs in your slumber. your pink underwear peaked out from the hem and jiwoong reminded himself that you’d visited him at music bank just yesterday, both of you disappearing right after his performance and coming back disheveled, but he was already getting worked up. he groaned as you stirred and his shirt rode up revealing your tummy, he wanted nothing more than to press kisses to it trailing them up your body until-

no he had to let you rest, he’d eat the dinner you made and then carry you to bed, you deserved some rest after waiting up for him. jiwoong dutifully changed his clothes into his sleepwear, just a pair of boxers, and then ate the food you made. although he’d been quiet you woke up from the sound of the microwave beeping, you grumbled as you opened your eyes to see your boyfriend sitting at the dinner table. lazily, you made your way over to him, jiwoong pushing back in his chair as you wordlessly sat on his lap. you sat sideways, graciously allowing him to reach his plate still. he pressed a kiss to the crown of your head as you squinted and adjusted to the dim light of the kitchen. “my pretty girl’s cooking is the best.” jiwoong must have been hungrier than he realized because he was finishing the meal in record time. now he could give you all his attention.

“hmm you like it?” you rested your head against the hard plane of his chest, you’d only realized then that he was shirtless.

“so good baby, sorry i made you wait.” he pressed another kiss to your head, breathing in your strawberry shampoo and the smell that was just so deliciously you.

“it’s okay, i don’t mind, makes me feel like a housewife.” you giggled at your own words, not thinking too deeply before saying them but god did they affect jiwoong. images of you with his kids running around all day flashed in front of his eyes and he sighed out in agony, he was really trying to compose himself, but you made it so hard. you felt him harden underneath you, making a small noise of confusion as you sat up in his lap. jiwoong winced at the movement, you weren’t helping in the slightest. you were looking at him, he could feel your pretty wide eyes staring at him expectantly.

“you need rest.” he said sighing as he finally met your gaze, forever a brat you shook your head no and you noticed his lips twitch as if he was holding back a laugh.

“i need you.” jiwoong was patient, his members said he was so mature and calm but not when it came to you, his resolve crumbled just from a look. he pulled you up with him as he got off the chair, your legs going around his hips as he sat down on the sofa where you’d slept.

“show me.” he leaned back, eyeing you up and down on his lap and you flushed at his gaze, you knew what he wanted and your fingers shook as they dipped underneath the edge of his shirt and pulled your underwear down and then off your legs. jiwoong watched your every move like a predator, even if he was letting you use him he was still the one in control and the thought alone made your blood rush south. he crossed his arms, intent on just watching and you pouted as you pulled his hard length free from his boxers. it was red and throbbing in your hand, always so thick and heavy in your hold and you gulped down as you leaned up on your knees to fit him in. the only time he did move was so he could lift his shirt up and see your pretty little cunt swallow his length. you breathed out slowly, your cheeks puffing out and you scrunched your nose in concentration as you slowly lowered down. “relax doll, you’re clenching me so hard i won’t last long.” you nodded as you finally bottomed out, letting yourself adjust and easing up your grip as you did so. you put your hands on jiwoong’s broad shoulders as you began to rise up and down and take his length as well as you could. it never felt as good as when he fucked you, he knew just how to make you come again and again and the feeling of building pleasure was never like how he made you feel. you needed him, not his stupid perfect dick. and jiwoong could tell, from how pouty your lips had gotten and how you didn’t bounce with as much fervor as when he touched you. he was just waiting for you to admit it. “jiwoongggg” you whined out his name, lighting hitting his chest and he huffed out a laugh, gripping your waist before he pounded up into you. you moaned at the feeling, he was relentless bouncing you on his length so hard and fast you were squirming in his hold. your slick combined with his was coating your thighs and no doubt his balls, you whined his name insisting that you were close and he held you close as he angled himself to fuck you deeper, hitting the spot that made your toes curl and your eyes roll back in your head. you cried out his name as your orgasm hit you like a truck, your legs shaking as jiwoong continued to use your cunt. he came soon after, the way you clenched around him making him see stars as he filled you up. “my pretty little cunt, always so perfect for me.” he murmured into your shoulder, his hot come leaking out of you making you whine and jiwoong laughed at your actions promising you he’d fill you up properly tomorrow.

zhang hao

his pretty baby, he’d do anything to run to you right now but instead he was stuck in a meeting at the company. just one more hour and he’d be free. the trouble was you had sent a picture of your outfit this morning and all hao could see when he closed his eyes, when his mind drifted or when he didn’t try his damn best to focus on something else was your bare thighs in a mini skirt and knee high socks. the small glimpse of skin was enough to drive him crazy. it had been days since he last saw you in person so it was safe to say he was feeling desperate to be near you. the manager droned on about the upcoming week’s schedule, yes it was important but it wasn’t anything he didn’t already know. all he could think about was being between your legs, heat traveling south and he sighed out in relief that he chose to wear an oversized shirt today. hanbin looked over at him suspiciously, noticing his pink ears and glazed eyes, god hao was so obvious sometimes it was a wonder the company hadn’t found out about you.

“alright that’s it.” finally after what felt like years the meeting had come to end and zhang hao didn’t even try to hide how quickly left the room, saying he needed to call his family privately. of course the members knew what really was happening since they’d greeted his parents on the phone just this morning but they withheld their remarks as they watched their hyung hightail it out of the room. he made it to your place pretty quickly, he’d made sure you were close to the company, just like their dorm, when you moved to a new place and of course one pout from your boyfriend was enough to convince you to move closer.

he’d shot you a text before the meeting, and you’d been waiting for him at your place. you usually worked from home and always made time for him when he popped by during his busy days. sure enough when you heard the front door open you quickly closed your work computer and practically skipped to the door to greet your boyfriend. hao grinned at you as he looked you up and down, watching you outstretch your arms to him, your crop top rode up and another sliver of your skin drove him crazy. yeah the real thing was much more maddening then that picture, hao decided. he embraced you pressing kisses to every inch of skin he could reach as you burrowed your face into his shoulder. he loved how much shorter you were than him, loved being able to cover you completely and especially the way he could feel your smile press into his skin.

“missed you so much today baby. you look so pretty,” you whispered a thanks to his skin, flushing as you met his adoring gaze.

“i missed you too hao, always do.” you kissed him, losing yourself in his soft lips and how he deepened the kiss so naturally, drawing your sweet breath as a gasp as he teasingly bit your lip. he pulled back after he was satisfied in getting you riled up, your small hands now scrunching his shirt material. hao watched as a string of saliva connected his lips to yours and it didn’t do anything to help his growing problem. your flushed cheeks and swollen lips made him dizzy.

“baby can i eat you out?” you flinched in shock and looked away from his gaze, feeling hot already and hao’s innocent seeming eyes were burning you up. you nodded shyly and he grinned like he hadn’t just asked something obscene, kissing you again and lifting you over his shoulder in a swift motion. hao laid you down carefully on your bed, making sure you were comfortable on the bed, prop your head up on a couple pillows like you liked so you could watch him, or at least struggle to watch him.

he laid down on the bed the plush of your thighs bulging out the top of your socks, his fingers tracing the skin and his cock throbbing in his pants just from how you shivered at the feather light touch. hao huffed out a laugh as he lightly shifted your skirt up, being pleasantly surprised at the lack of underwear. “sweetheart, were you waiting for me to find you like this?”

“n-no hao, it’s just comfier.” you weren’t very convincing you were sure, you had sent that picture to him with one objective and one only.

“hmm, is that right? even when you’re practically dripping?” he pried your legs open wider, watching the light catch on your slick cunt. you whined, covering your face with your hands and he laughed before pressing a kiss to the inside of your thigh. he continued teasing you like that making you whine as his strong arms kept you spread open for him. your heady scent and sweet noises were making him lose control slowly and so finally he let you win, pressing a prompt kiss to your clit and earning a hiss.

“so sweet,” he hummed mostly to himself as he pressed another kiss to your slick hole and you squirmed. the sweetness leaving him the next second as he pulled by the hips closer to his face, looping one leg over his shoulder as he licked a stripe down to your leaking hole. you followed his silent instruction your shaky leg moving to his shoulder as he dipped his tongue into you and drank you up. you cried out his name, already feeling on the edge of an orgasm. his sharp nose ground against your clit as he pulled more ichor from you and swallowed it down in one go, withdrawing when you felt close and moving to suck your clit as his pretty fingers circled your hole. without warning he dipped two fingers into you and you arched your back as he masterfully found the fleshy spot that made you shake. in seconds you were coming undone from his fingers, your wetness would no doubt stain your white skirt if not for zhang hao making sure to clean you up. you whined as he overstimulated you but he didn’t see like he would stop any time soon, you begged for him to stop.

“h-hao s’too much.”

“taste too good baby, just one more come on.” and with such pretty words hao was able to pull not one but two more orgasms from you. every time he made to clean you up, insisting that you were the sweetest taste in the world.

hanbin

you’d been at the dorm with hanbin, getting there before the other members came back from a schedule without him. he’d done a solo shoot for a magazine and you couldn’t keep your hands or desperate eyes off of him when you saw him all dolled up. now you were whining for him to hurry up with his shower, pawing at the bathroom door like a puppy. hanbin laughed at your desperation, he’d only left you for a few minutes and you were already whining for him. he was no better really but the makeup on his skin had began to bug him and although he liked staining your lips with his, he’d rather not see the reaction on his member’s faces at what you’d been doing. they’d be back pretty soon, he was doing his damn best to keep things tame between you two. when he heard his name leave your lips in a soft whine, his resolve shattered.

“baby the door’s been open, come join me.” you had no intention to join him in showering, instead just opening the door and propping yourself up on the sink counter. you could see his frame through the frosted shower screen, it did nothing to hide how unbelievably perfect your boyfriend was. you could make out his tattoos, his dripping wet hair, his strong arms and muscular build and worse of all his annoyingly pretty cock. despite the warmth rising to your cheeks and quickly moving south, you kept staring.

“i’m started to get creeped out baby.” hanbin ducked his head out, a smirk on his face at how unabashedly you’d been admiring him. you just pouted.

“not my fault you’re so hot.” he laughed before finishing up his shower, turning the water off and reaching for a towel. you made yourself useful, bringing it to him and motioning for him to lean down so you could towel his hair dry. he had to lean down quite a bit due to your height difference and now all he could see was your bare legs under your skirt, god you made it so difficult for him to be a good hyung. you dried his hair gently, not any bit as rough or careless as hanbin usually was and when you felt satisfied you handed him the towel and tilted his chin up, combing your fingers through it and styling it as you pleaded. hanbin watched your lips pout in concentration and your eyelashes bat as you worked under his scrutiny. he found you so adorable and more and more irresistible the closer he got to you. “there, my handsome binnie.” you loved his natural bare face and hair and hanbin’s eyes glazed over at the compliment and the way you said his nickname. standing up tall, he couldn’t help himself as he wrapped the towel around his waist and brought his hands up to cup your face and bring your lips to his. you gasped into the kiss, spreading your soft warm hands on his still damp broad chest, standing on your tiptoes to deepen the kiss and hanbin sighed contently into your lips. you were always so sweet and so soft and warm under his touch. anything he gave you you’d react so well he couldn’t help but tease you. you swung your arms around his neck pulling his hard chest against you and hanbin was still very aware that the only thing keeping him decent was a wryly bound towel. despite that he couldn’t help but mold your lips to his, sucking and biting at the plush of them as he grew hard against your stomach. he pulled back, finding the common sense to end this early but your pretty lips followed him pressing kisses to his bare face, neck and collarbones.

“my girl is so needy huh? the boys will be back soon.” he warned, cupping your face and swiping your warmed cheek with his thumb. you nuzzled into his hand playing with the drying hair at his nape.

“please binnie? i’ll be good.” you were begging, eyes glazed over and wide and watery from how badly you wanted him. hanbin would hold you to that promise. he didn’t waste any time then, he wasn’t sure how much there was left anyways and he needed to capitalize on that. lifting you up by the back of your thighs he placed you on the sink counter, making you finally his head level and you gasped as he practically tore your underwear off under your skirt. you grasped his shoulders as he pulled you towards the edge of the counter. he pressed two of his long fingers against your lips, and ever pliant you opened up and sucked them down to the knuckle swirling your tongue over them until hanbin was satisfied. although you’d never admit it you were sure you were already dripping onto the cool counter. he watched you with a smile the type that took over his entire face, if anyone saw him they’d think he was looking at a cute animal and not the love of his life prepping his fingers to finger them. with a pop he pulled his fingers from your plush lips and snuck them under your skirt, brushing your clit before collecting all your slick and diving into you. he was met with resistance, you clenching on his thick fingers as you whined out his name. “shhh baby, don’t want anyone to hear us do you?” you shook your head, opting to burrow your face into his neck instead to silence your moans. “so wet, so tight, so perfect for me, my good girl.” you clenched on him harder, his fingers grazing the fleshy spot inside and making it impossible for you to keep quiet. “look at me baby,” if there was one thing that drove hanbin crazy it was seeing your fucked out expression when he plunged into you. you did your best to maintain eye contact, your pretty face bobbing from the pace he set with his fingers before he pulled them and licked them clean, humming at how sweet you were, eyes still on you and a sob caught in your throat. you were so so close, he was making your blood boil, your legs shake, and your mind cloud over. all you wanted was hanbin, the room smelled like his shampoo and was filled with the sounds of your embarrassingly wet cunt getting fucked by his fingers. you watched him step back, hanging his towel instead in the drying rack as he lined up his hard cock at your entrance, he watched your expression as he collected your arousal, coating his own dick with it and sliding in. hanbin gave you time to adjust, the tip of his stupid long cock bullying your cervix and you breathed out slowly with a nod to get him to move. he was a man on a mission, you both had to come quickly and look fairly normal when you left the bathroom. as if sensing the worst possible time to come home, hanbin heard the front door open and he clasped a hand over your mouth as he pulled out and plunged back in. you whined against his hand, eyes rolling to the back of your head as your boyfriend filled you up.

“stay quiet.” he whispered into you ear and caged your neck with the hand that had been on your mouth. you bucked with his thrusts, the sheer force he was fucking you with making you knock things down as you got shoved up the surface. he hissed at the sound, it wasn’t like it was pin drop silence in the bathroom anyways, the sound of your wet cunt swallowing him and the slap of his balls against your ass filled the room. the apartment was too quiet, he turned the sink on behind you with his free hand, the sound of rushing water disguising the obscene clapping of skin against wet skin. he felt close, you were still clenching around him, his hand on your neck applying pressure as he felt you leak down onto the counter. when he finally plunged into you, coming inside he choked you to keep you quiet as he flicked your clit and made you come along with him. you squirmed in his hold, clenching and milking him for everything he had, feeling dizzy from the pressure on your neck and the mind-numbing orgasm he brought you to. hanbin pulled out slowly, looking down and seeing his come slip out of you onto the counter and he pouted at the sight, shoving it back in you and putting your underwear on swiftly so it would stay there. he couldn’t have his pretty baby have his come spilling down their thighs, it was bad enough you looked ruined. “binnie-“

“hanbin hyung you home?” you heard gunwook yell out from the living room, the sound of the tv being on made him breathe out in relief. at least with the members distracted he had some chance of sneaking you out.

“yeah just showering up!” he yelled back, tucking your hair behind your ear as you looked up at him, standing on shaky legs. you closed your eyes from his touch, it felt so soft and gentle on your skin compared to moments prior when he used like a fuck toy, he was so hot and cold. you loved him more for it.

Jacob always radiated warmth, whether you liked it or not. He encompassed you in heat, even during the hottest summer days of the year. And if you complained, he would apologize but still snake his arms around you when he thought you weren’t paying attention.

You always paid attention.

But, he was busy. Work and whatnot. So there you were, stuck in your bed, scrolling through social media and deeply wishing for your boyfriend’s work to finish itself.

At some point, while you were trying to take your mind off how warm his chest would be like at the moment, instead of the cold pillow that had started to cause your neck to hurt, you came across a post. When you pressed on the comments, you almost burst out laughing.

it’s not enough to just cuddle him, i need to climb into his skin (-1, +295)

The more you thought about it, the more it was true. Sure, Jacob was warm. But just his arms and broad chest weren’t enough. You simply had to combine with him. Simply.

Still giggling, you were about to scroll on to the next post until another shiver came over you. Was it really always this cold?

With a sigh, you texted him. 

im cold

You bit your lip, waiting for a response–any sort of response, disappointing or not. Ultimately, you knew that he was going to respond with a dry “im at work” topped with an adorable emoji heart because you had once told him that his texts sounded menacing. But when the beep of a notification startled you and you looked at the screen, you sat up in alarm.

on my way

And right on cue, you heard footsteps down the hallway and the door unlocking. You were ready to grab something and throw it at the intruder, but when you noticed the familiar tuft of warm brown hair and his kind, kind eyes, you relaxed. And then you straightened again.

“You were home this whole time?” You gawked at him.

“Baby,” He groaned. “I told you in the morning that I was working from home. But of course you didn’t hear me.” He approached you, sitting next to you on the bed.

You huffed, shoving him shyly.

“It’s not my fault you kissed me senseless at the break of dawn. I can’t focus.”

“Why, because I’m such an amazing kisser?”

“Yes.” You scowled. “You are an amazing kisser and that annoys me.”

“You love it, don’t lie.” He smirked. Before you could even come up with some dumb response, he was pulling back the covers and climbing into bed with you. You watched with wide eyes but a shy smile as he maneuvered his way around your body to pull you in close to his chest.

“Shouldn’t you be working from home?”

“My manager can wait. He has cats.”

“What does that–”

“He adores them. So I gave him time to be a cat dad.”

“Ah, how considerate,” You sarcastically replied.

“Admit it, you love cuddling me,” He whispered, letting his hands wander all over your lower back, spreading warmth all throughout.

“Hm,” You hummed, wiggling ever so closer to his body. “It’s not enough,” You simply stated.

He raised an eyebrow with a slightly amused smile.

“Then what more?”

“I have to climb into your skin,” You bluntly replied, though your voice wavered at the end as you tried not to burst out laughing.

He blinked, shifting back slightly to stare at you with narrowed eyes.

“What.”

You frowned and looked at him with a pleading look in your eyes. “Why, is it such a bad idea?”

He only stared at you incredulously. And then he chuckled softly.

“You can’t be serious,” He muttered.

“I am so serious,” You grumbled.

“Mhm,” He teased as he pulled you closer. “And no, I can’t let you do that. That has to be some sort of horror movie concept. Climbing into my skin?”

Instead of humoring him, you sighed and sulked even more. He watched you silently with a fond smile, noticing the way you so frequently leaned into his touch even when you were “mad.”

And then he breathed out a small “fine.” When your eyes lit up, he immediately refuted with a shake of his head.

“Not climbing into my skin. Under my hoodie,” He replied.

“Perfect.” You grinned, lifting up his hoodie so that you could maneuver your way under. It was dark for a moment until your head popped out from the top so that your lips were right in front of his. You smiled giddily, finding this whole situation hilarious.

“You’re too warm,” He complained, leaning his head back when you tucked your face into the crook of his neck.

“Now you know how I feel in the summer.” You scowled.

“Alright, alright,” He laughed. “It’s comfy. Happy?”

“Do you really mean it?” You narrowed your eyes skeptically.

“One-hundred percent,” He whispered, smiling as he wrapped his arms around himself—or more accurately—the both of you.

You smiled. “And thank you.”

“For what?”

“For dealing with me.” You grinned. “Admit it, I’m annoying.”

“You know, if it were possible, I would let you climb into my skin,” He replied. 

“That’s disgusting.” You grimaced.

“So now you realize?” 

“Shut up,” You groaned. “I’m going to sleep.”

“Then sleep,” He chuckled, pulling the covers closer even though his body warmth and hoodie were clear enough. He then leaned in to kiss the top of your head, putting that funny feeling in your heart.

“If I were a worm, would you still love me?” You mumbled. But before you could even hear his answer, you had fallen into a deep sleep.

He smiled fondly without a word, watching you sleep for a while. But then he widened his eyes slightly.

“My work,” He whispered in panic. But when his eyes met your peaceful, sleeping face, he relaxed. “It’s fine. Juyeon’s a cat dad.”

-

The next morning, when you woke up, you were inherently disappointed to see that you were no longer under Jacob’s hoodie. Sitting up, you were met with the sight of a freshly showered boyfriend, his hair attractively wet and his skin oddly glowing.

Yawning, you walked over to where he was sitting at the desk, working from home again, you presumed.

“Can we combine again?” You blurted out.

He looked up at you with a wince. “Don’t say it like that ever again,” He whined. “Plus,” He continued, standing up and rubbing his hands over your arms lovingly. “I don’t have a hoodie on anymore.”

You simply blinked at him, trying to mind-control him somehow.

He raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “And I’m working. Few more minutes, promise.”

You frowned but still went to sit back down on the bed. You waited on the sheets, watching him from behind as he typed on the computer. You would never admit it but you were particularly fond of staring at the way his shoulders moved and the way his back muscles showed through his shirt.

Slowly, you began to doze off while still sitting up. Your eyes had grown heavy up until he abruptly turned around with a squeak of his chair.

He smiled softly at you, leaning forward to tuck a finger under your chin to observe your features admiringly.

“Someone’s sleepy,” He sang, getting up and sitting beside you.

“You took too long.” You rolled your eyes.

“Turns out, Juyeon’s cats don’t even like him,” He sighed. “Now he’s on my back for missing work.”

“Sorry.” You frowned.

“Nothing to worry about,” He laughed. “I woke up early to finish it.”

“How early?” You watched him curiously.

“Five in the morning.”

You gasped, slapping him in disbelief. “What do you mean five? Why would you–”

“So I can spend more time with you when you wake up,” Jacob replied, his hand briefly coming up to your hair to smooth it down gently. “So what do you want?”

You slowly relaxed under your touch, in fact, practically turned into jelly when you looked into his deep, brown eyes. Your eyes trailed down to where his other hand was holding yours.

“All of you,” You proudly answered.

“Then…” He grinned before tackling you back into bed. Swiftly, he pulled the blankets over the two of you as he pressed a soft kiss to your lips. “You have all of me.” You laughed loudly as you allowed him to press you down gently and kiss you all over, the press of your lips decorating your face like stars in the sky. 

“I love the cold weather,” You sighed, speaking up once he was done with his impromptu kissing session. Your cheeks were flushed and your lips were slightly swollen.

“I thought you hated it,” He whispered, pulling you flush into his warmth.

“It’s a good excuse to cuddle you,” You mumbled.

Haknyeon pulled off his earphones once he recognized your voice in another room. He knew that you had just come back from shopping but for some odd reason, you refused to show him what you bought.

With a huff, he silently sulked over how you were showing your best friend first. He walked over to the room, creaking the door open. And just like that, his face melted into something fond.

“What do you think?” You grinned, twirling in your new outfit as you faced the video call on your phone.

“Beautiful,” He whispered under his breath. Then he froze, realizing that he had just said that to himself. He grumbled and ignored the embarrassment that flooded him as he watched you reach into the bag.

“And!” You exclaimed. “I got something for the love of my life.”

He had to try his best not to burst out laughing at the nickname. He had never once heard you call him that.

You pulled out a sweater, holding it up to show your friend.

“Basic gift,” She remarked.

“No!” You whined. “I have a plan. He smells so good and so… warm. I’m going to make him wear it, it’s going to smell like him. And then it’s mine.” You also added in a mischievous laugh.

Your friend stayed quiet for a moment. And then she hung up after saying a small, “You’re absolutely crazy.” 

Haknyeon stifled a laugh when he saw you, standing there, mouth agape. With a huff, you looked down at the sweater in your hands.

“It was a good plan,” You muttered to yourself.

Finally, he pushed the door open and approached you. You turned to him in surprise, rushing to hide the sweater behind you.

“A very good plan,” He teased.

“Haknyeon?” You nervously whispered.

“And don’t you look pretty?” He murmured, stepping closer as he looked you over with soft eyes. “I enjoyed your little rant.”

You grumbled, cheeks flaming red. Filled with embarrassment, you shoved the sweater into his hands. “At least put it on…”

“Will do.” He grinned, taking it and putting it over his t-shirt. You looked at him in wonder. 

“It looks good.” You smiled in relief. “I was worried that I got the wrong size and it wouldn’t fit yo–”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’re going to steal it from me anyway.” 

You paused. And then you nodded, grinning smugly. “I certainly am. Have I mentioned that you smell really good?”

He smiled before hooking an arm around your waist and pulling you into a quick kiss. 

“You have,” He whispered. “And you can have it after I make it smell like me. Anything for you.”

You scrunched your nose. “So cheesy.”

sunwoo

Sunwoo took in a deep breath, rocking on his feet nervously as he grasped the bag in his hand. He was always nervous when he visited you at work. Even though you reassured him that your coworkers loved him, he was still conscious about their watchful gazes.

But still, he insisted on bringing you a proper lunch.

As he walked down the corridor, he stopped at one of the meeting rooms. Immediately, he could recognize your sweet, sweet voice–the one he adored so much. You were talking to your fellow workers and so he stood outside the door, listening.

“Sunwoo takes care of me so well you know?” You crooned. “He always tries to act tough but he’s such a softie. I just want to kiss him all over. Yet I’m here. Working nine to five.”

“Oh my god,” One of your coworkers spoke up. “You’re so whipped.”

You didn’t deny it. Instead, Sunwoo practically melted at your shy laugh. You were giggling. Over him.

“You just don’t understand.”

“I perfectly understand. I also have a boyf–”

“Bye!” You giggled. “I think he’s coming in a few minutes. And I’m going to kiss him. All. Over.”

Throwing the door open, you walked out, only for you to jump at the sight of him standing there. Instantly, you took note of his reddening cheeks and shy pout.

“Oh,” You breathed, tilting your head. “Why are you here so early?”

He only stayed silent, refusing to make any eye contact with you. You narrowed your eyes, smiling endeared.

“...what happened?” You teased.

He sighed, shaking his head. “I came early because I missed you,” He finally muttered.

You felt your heart practically explode. “Did you really?” You hummed. 

“And I–” He paused, wincing. “I heard you.”

That was what made you start laughing nervously. “You weren’t meant to hear tha– Sunwoo?” Your breath hitched once you felt his arms wrap around you, pulling you into a tight hug. Though, you quickly melted into his embrace, smiling when you felt a small kiss on the top of your head.

“What’s this for?” You murmured fondly.

“I missed you.”

“You said that already,” You laughed.

He only hummed in response, tightening his hold on you.

“You know…” You pulled away before pinching his cheek. “My coworkers can see the silhouette of us hugging right now.”

“Do you think I care?” He lifted an eyebrow. “Let them see.” You felt a hand close around your waist once again.

And they soon happened to witness the silhouette of the two of you… kissing.

eric

Eric sighed, fumbling with his keys to open the door, his eyes drooping too much to even focus on where he was walking as he stumbled over the entrance. He hated how work had to end so late, leaving him exhausted and worst of all–keeping you waiting.

He had expected you to be fast asleep, but he noticed that there was a light under your bed sheets, the figure of your body visible as well. You seemed to be talking to someone on the phone.

“Eric’s too energetic?” You spoke. 

He immediately froze, nervous over what you would say.

“No!” You refuted after, causing him to let out a low sigh of relief. “I mean he is energetic. But that’s why I love him.” You sighed dreamily.

“His hugs are the best and–” You cut yourself off with another fond smile. “His smile.”

He leaned against the doorway, completely enamored by the way you kicked your feet around in the blankets giggling. He struggled to hold back a smile, feeling like he had fallen in love all over again.

Once he was sure that the phone call was done, he walked over to the bed.

“Didn’t you say that you were sleepy?” He whispered before laughing at the way the bundle of blankets jumped in startlement. He reached down, pulling the blankets off gently, revealing a very flustered person. 

“Eric, I–” You flushed, trying to yank the blankets over you to cover your face. But he shook his head, instead climbing in with you now that he was changed into more comfortable clothes. Then, since it was so natural, he pulled you in, cuddling close to your body.

“I love you too,” He mumbled, pressing a kiss to your neck.

Shyly, you gave him a weak slap on his arm.

“I didn’t even say I love you on that call,” You whined.

“But you described your love.” He smiled up at you lazily. “So why don’t you say it now?”

You could only laugh before pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “Fine,” You muttered. “I love you.” And you made sure to emphasize every word to satisfy him.

“That’s right,” He smugly grinned. “I love your smile too.”

“Stop,” You groaned. “Forget what I said.”