Archive of Our Own

"Would you like anything else, sir?"

That must've been the sixth time or so that the waiter had come by his table with the same question. The previous times, Hoseok had responded either positively, requesting a snack once and juice twice, or negatively, replying with a smile that he was just waiting for someone who was on their way. He had come to the restaurant early, his anxiety not letting him rest until the appointed time.

It wasn't like Hoseok to do these things, have these dates. He wasn't the type of person who went to fancy restaurants and courted potential partners; usually, he didn't even drink wine! But it had been a long time since Hoseok had last broken up with someone, and Jin thought that something should be done about it. And so, charming as he was, his friend got him a date with an acquaintance, someone Jin thought was exactly Hoseok's type. Hoseok was not particularly seeking a relationship at he moment, but then he had seen the pictures, and really, one didn't see a face like that very often.

Now, however, it was 8:42 p.m., forty-two minutes past beyond their set time, and Hoseok had no excuses left for the waiter. Usually, he was a very chill and tolerating person, because he believed that a smile got you further in life than a frown. He could understand traffic jams, nerves, unforeseen events... However, there hadn't been a word from Jin since he last inquired about his mysterious partner, nor a ghost of the handsome guy to be seen passing through the doors or walking by the small slot of the parking lot Hoseok could see through the windows. Each minute that went by made it more obvious that Hoseok had been stood up.

His cellphone suddenly vibrated on the table, and, hopeful, he unlocked the screen.

With a sigh, Hoseok adjusted himself in the chair that grew more uncomfortable by the second. He had been feeling his smile steadily dimming during the past hour, and now he was sure that his dejection was clear in his expression. He lifted his eyes, by habit, towards the door and the windows, almost hopelessly now; he avoided, purposefully, looking around, to the other patrons seated at the tables and on the benches around the bar in the center of the restaurant. That wasn't the most expensive joint in the city, but it was a famous dating venue for couples as well as a hot spot for singles discreetly looking for a partner for the night.

Hoseok imagined that everyone there was looking at him pitifully, feeling very lucky to be with somebody or even alone by choice. The truth was that not even someone as optmistic as he was could endure such mockery for long; still, he ate the last mandu (now cold), finished his second cup of juice (now lukewarm) and fiddled with his phone again to check the time. Eight fifty-two in the evening. He resigned himself to failure, knowing that his friend would be trying his hardest to compensate him even having no fault at this, and that tomorrow they'd be laughing at this disaster.

Hoseok ran a hand through his hair, abruptly feeling well-dressed for nothing, but he pushed the sentiment of inadequacy to the back of his mind. He turned around in search of the waiter so that he could set the bill, and it was then that he was surprised with the man in question arriving at his table bringing a colorful cocktail on his tray:

"For you, sir. With the compliments of the gentleman at the bar." And he left, before Hoseok could say anything.

"Wh-?"

Immediately, Hoseok wanted to get up to look for the sender, but realized that, if he did that, he would draw even more attention to himself, and then the man might not even want to speak with him. Not that Hoseok was being very discreet with the way he kept turning around in his chair, trying to spy the clients at the bar in his peripheral vision. Did somebody really felt so much pity for him that they sent him a little pick-me-up? Could it be that (ha ha), even with such a pathetic display, he had attracted a guy?

Hoseok turned his attention back to the drink. It was a transluscent, pink liquid, with the bottom showing a darker color than the rest, and sprinkles of lemon zest floating at the top. There was a little straw delicately resting on the edge of the cup, but aside from that, there wasn't any note identifying what the drink was, who sent it, a phone number. Nothing.

When Hoseok realized he had been just staring at the cup for some time, he blinked and promptly drank from it, mentally apologizing for being rude. He had expected the strong taste of distilled alcohol, but was also surprised by a much sweeter flavor, so he deduced that the darker band at the end of the cup must've been some sort of syrup. He liked the combination, and took the straw back to his lips for the second sip.

"I'm glad you like it", said a deep voice coming from his left.

Hoseok immediately choked. The voice laughed, and the sound came along with the vision of a tall young man, sporting a genuine smile on the world's most beautiful face.

"I'm sorry, I should have chosen a better time to speak up. Are you alright?"

Hoseok, by divine luck, wasn't dying; he was, however, feeling his cheeks burning, and he had tears on his eyes. 'What is HAPPENING here???', he thought, a little histerically. He got up to welcome the newcomer.

"I-I'm fine, haha, I'm great!" Hoseok managed to answer with a voice just a little higher than usual. Cough, cough.

The man smiled even wider, looking relieved.

"Oh, good to know. I really wanted to make a good first impression, but I think it didn't work all that well..." He chuckled lightly, with an air of self-reproach. "May I sit here?"

Hoseok saw that he was poiting to the opposite chair, where his blind date should've been. He felt a little sorry for himself in this situation, but at the moment, he saw no reason to deny the request. "Of course, be my guest!"

"Thank you", replied the stranger, and sat down. Hoseok did the same. "My name is Kim Taehyung. And yours?"

"Jung Hoseok."

"Hoseok..." Taehyung spoke as if he was trying the taste of the name in his mouth. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise", returned Hoseok, already a little weak in the knees.

Taehyung was still grinning at Hoseok. Both his body language and his expression showed that he was enjoying the moment, even though Hoseok couldn't fathom how he could be entertaining such a man.

"So, if I may ask, what's someone as lovely as yourself doing here all alone?"

Hoseok already expected this question; the compliment, however, he did not. He chuckled awkwardly, yet answered in all honesty: "Ah, you see, I had a date tonight... But he didn't show up..."

"That's too bad", said Taehyung, with his eyebrows denoting sympathy.

"Yeah, I know, looks like I'm not really lucky in love!" Hoseok managed to say it with a smile, despite his cheeks being pink with shame.

"No, I meant, too bad for him." Taehyung replied with no hesitation. Hoseok's breath got stuck in his chest. "I apologize if I'm being too bold, I can stop-"

"N-no no, go on!", interrupted Hoseok, feeling his face flushing even more once he noticed how attention-seeking his reply made him sound like.

Taehyung finished his thought, seemingly thinking that Hoseok's line wasn't bad at all: "... you are much more handsome up close."

Hoseok tried his hardest not to choke again. "Ah, hah, thank you... I, I mean, coming from a guy like you, that, it's, well-" Hoseok stopped himself, cleared his throat, and tried again. Being thrown completely off-center was no excuse for not trying his best, after all, you didn't see a face like that anywhere else. "And you must be the most charming individual in all of Korea."

Taehyung let out a sound of surprise, tilting his head theatrically. "Ha! Thank you very much, Jung Hoseok." His eyes sparkled, and they didn't stray from Hoseok even for a second.

Taehyung drummed the fingers of one hand on the table, while Hoseok finally got back to his drink. For a while, both stayed quiet, staring at each other, studying one another. Far from being an intimidating look, Hoseok felt as if the heat from the alcohol was running through all of his body, from head to toes, stretching over the table until it shone on the eyes of his companion. He felt electric, as if he was standing on the edge of a cliff or in a stage wing, about to make an irrevogable movement, somehow.

He finished his drink. Put the cup back on the table. Taehyung followed the movements of his hand, and didn't seem to be in any hurry. Hoseok may have been a little rusty in his flirting game, but he was no virgin boy, and he made the decision to grab this opportunity that had come to him, literally, on a silver platter.

"Hey uh, I know that we just met, but could I confess something to you?" Hoseok broke the silence.

"Go ahead."

"I'm not really in the habit of having dates. And, up until tem minutes ago, my night was shit." Hoseok admitted with frank laughter. He leaned a little to the front then, like one does when telling a secret, and he saw the other instinctively following his movement. "But now, I think... I'm starting to enjoy myself."

His companion gave a little snort at that, so Hoseok let his look lower deliberately to Taehyung's smiling and perfect mouth while he leaned back again. He proceeded with the question he really wanted to make:

"So, can we get to know each other better, Taehyung-ssi?"

And Taehyung licked his lips at that, as if he had ordered food and finally saw it coming from afar. "What are your plans for tonight?"

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