Taemin didn’t remember much when he woke up. Just that he had a weird position in bed and that his phone’s battery died overnight. So, while he struggled to get out of the blanket and while his face contorted from the way he smelled, everything slowly slipped back to him.

He knew he went on a date with Jongin, came home and got a package – he should really check it out, maybe it was the books he ordered a month ago and still hadn’t arrived. The rumble in his stomach told him to grab something to eat, but he had no food in the apartment. He forgot to go grocery shopping the other day and he felt there wasn’t any energy left in him to fill the fridge with goods. Either way, sitting in the middle of the bed with his legs crossed and the phone not wanting to start, his temper flared faster than usual. He was close to throwing the phone on the other side of the room if he hadn’t so much use for it.

Finally, after a minute or so, the screen lit. Any other sane person would have grabbed the charging cord and, since the battery wouldn’t have been at 1% anymore, would have got a much faster response from their phone. Taemin, on the other hand, had only a couple of seconds to notice the missed calls and one message that popped on the screen: “Are we still going out?”. Then, the screen switched to the manufacturer’s logo and faded to black. He hadn’t caught the name, so he thought hard what they meant about going out.

His eyes widened. The corners of his lips stretched until it gave his mouth a ridiculous shape, enough to scare anyone that would have caught a glimpse of his face in that moment. He tossed the phone on the bed and dashed out.

The blanket thought it’d be a nice gesture to catch his foot and make Taemin do some morning (well, noon) exercise. He fell with his hands forward on the floor. With his nose almost scratching the carpet, he pulled his leg as strongly as he could until he rolled on the side with the blanket on top. He groaned when he tugged it off and gathered his limbs. Taemin stood up and dashed across the hallway to the bathroom.

He couldn’t believe he had been dumb enough to waste his phone’s battery on music. He was sure that the one who left the message was Jongin, after probably calling him to see if he hadn’t changed his mind or something. He discarded his shirt, separated the braided strands and removed the beads holding his brother’s craft together.

Heechul had wonderful aesthetics when it came to taking care of Taemin’s hair (and Taemin in general), but he couldn’t do the same, no matter how much he tried. He was the type that threw his locks in a ponytail and be done with it, or he’d let them loose until it annoyed him too much while writing and he had to get his hair out of the way. Thus, when he asked his brother if he could make him look like he popped out of the cover of a fashion magazine, results were astounding. It had been enough for Taemin to say he could date himself, so he had no need for a boyfriend in the first place. Heechul hadn’t really tasted the joke with the same sweetness at Taemin from the way he furrowed his eyebrows often.

He sighed.

Taemin felt his body sore when he entered the shower and turned it on, as if, the headache throbbing across his frontal lobe wasn’t enough.

Jongin probably didn’t want anything to do with him for avoiding his calls. He hoped the automatic response told him that he wasn’t available or something, the one where you’d know the phone was either closed or had no signal. Ah, he should really remember that there are people out there who had been trying their best to reach him and he always had some kind of problem with his phone – battery, software, hardware – and ended up losing a lot of friendships and opportunities throughout his life.

“,” he exclaimed as he stepped out.

Water droplets covered his skin. He made his way back to the bedroom, the droplets leaving a trail behind. He grabbed the charging cable and finally fed his phone. After, he returned to the shower.

Never once, not even while scrubbing yesterday’s shame off of him, had he thought that, maybe, he should have also removed his makeup before washing. Mostly because he was surprised to see water transformed him into a sad clown when he wiped the steam off the mirror and saw his brother’s hard work smudged all over his face.

---

Jongin lowered the proposition.

He could swear he saw something odd run right in front of his eyes, but he hadn’t been paying attention to his surroundings. He was also wearing eye contacts that day because he rarely attended any job meeting without them. Maybe he hadn’t fixed them well or he had to clean them, else, what could have possibly disrupted his line of sight so suddenly? He shrugged and returned to reading.

Thirty seconds later, he glanced up again.

There it was.

He could swear a shadow, like a big fly, passed right under his nose. He leaned to the side in his chair and peeked beyond the office. His assistant was still there, so it couldn’t have been her. Maybe he was just imagining things. Back to the proposition, it only took him fifty more seconds before he saw the thing again. This time, it headed straight to him.

Chanyeol dropped a pile of papers and sat opposite of Jongin, panting like he had been running a marathon.

“What’s up with you?”

Jongin figured out that the one disappearing and appearing like a ghost had been Chanyeol going between rooms, the same Chanyeol who did his best impression of a kicked puppy’s whine while sorting the papers.

“I’m so scared. What if we screw this up?”

“Screw what up?”

“The meeting,” Chanyeol faced his boss. “I looked at the numbers again and I’m still not sure if we should present them or not.”

“We have to present them,” Jongin stated matter-of-factly. No numbers meant no meeting, Chanyeol should be aware of it too. “Is there something wrong with the numbers?”

“No, there’s nothing wrong with the numbers. I double and triple and quadruple checked them from morning until now.” He sounded and looked desperate. However, Jongin didn’t flinch. Chanyeol had those moments often before anything of greater importance, so he grew accustomed to his insecurities. “I’m so nervous, I need this deal. I was going to take Seulgi out tonight to that fancy restaurant I told you about. But if this goes to Hell, I might as well jump off a bridge instead.”

“Wait,” Jongin got up and went around the desk until he was next to Chanyeol. “You’ve been checking everything since morning?” He gripped on Chanyeol’s arm and stopped him from moving any more papers around.

“Yeah and I personally supervised the beverages and seat arrangements.”

“When did you eat?”

“I didn’t.”

Jongin saw Chanyeol had been shaking his knee to calm down and that his hands were trembling. He didn’t need any other confirmation to understand that the other had been going overboard with the meeting, despite not being as huge as he made it seem. Jongin casually walked to the hanger, grabbed his coat and searched his pockets for his wallet.

“I’ll go buy lunch, you stay here and,” he paused. What was that word? Chanyeol used it often a period, then he switched to another. “Chill?”

“What? No!”

“Chill.” Jongin pointed at him before he’d jump from his chair.

“But I always buy lunch!”

“From across the street, right?” They rarely went out for lunch. Too much work meant no real break and Chanyeol always made sure they wouldn’t starve. It was high time he returned the favor. “Chill.”

Chanyeol cringed.

“Please stop using that word.”

The assistant perked her ears at the two men’s conversation, only to hear silence. After what seemed like an eternity, in which Jongin and Chanyeol exchanged intense gazes, Jongin gave up and pointed at Chanyeol. He nodded.

“Agreed.”

---

Wonshik checked his watch.

Taemin was late. As usual. He shouldn’t be surprised at this point, but he sometimes wished his friend had a bit more decency when it came to respecting other deadlines that those imposed by his editor. It wasn’t even that far away to say he had trouble in traffic or something, yet, Wonshik had patience. He grew accustomed to Taemin’s quirks and mishaps, to the point that he could predict everything about him. Right then, as he was inspecting what other tables were having for lunch, he thought how Taemin must have overslept and completely forgot about him.

When Taemin burst through the door with sunglasses, his hair tangled by the wind and his grey coat covering what seemed like jogger pants, finished with boots – he thanked the weather for not allowing Taemin to wear hideous shoes – Wonshik thought he should go buy a lottery ticket while his psychic powers were still working.

“Yo,” Taemin didn’t even bother to bow and just pulled a chair and dropped on it. “Dreamt anything wet?”

“Yeah,” Taemin took his sunglasses off. “You drooling over my y body.”

“Snap, you’re on fire today.”

“And you’re loud.” Taemin massaged his temples. “Keep your voice down.”

“How much did you drink?”

“I don’t remember.”

“Do you remember your imaginary boyfriend’s face then?”

“Oh God, yes.”

“Woah there, don’t come in your pants. We’re in public, you know.”

Taemin placed his forehead on the table and groaned.

After he finished cleaning, Taemin checked all notifications. To his surprise, there was nothing from Jongin. The missed calls were from his editor, brother and Wonshik. The message was from his friend, too.

He thought that Jongin would at least ask how he had slept or something – it was definitely a scene he’d include in his sappy novels about love and what not. Instead, he had to hear his editor grumbling about not answering, again, when it was urgent. His brother merely said that he was practicing with the band and had no time to talk, while Wonshik made his intentions clear with the message. All Taemin had to do was dress up and meet him before lunch break would be over. Unfortunately, he spent a copious amount of time in the bathroom, so when he checked the hour, Taemin freaked out again.

He put on the first clothes he found and ran to the meeting spot.

“I’m dying.”

“Want something heavier then? We can go get hotpot.”

“No,” Taemin lifted his head and placed it instead between his hands. “I’m so hungry and exhausted too, I can’t move anymore.”

They ordered their food and while Taemin was recalibrating his brain to reality, Wonshik spoke about his own problems.

In truth, Taemin didn’t care that much, mostly because his friend complained a lot on the spot and then fixed everything by himself. It was actually a new side to him, as Wonshik kept quiet for most years until they got closer after an incident they fleetingly mentioned in all of their conversations.

It wasn’t the only thing that suddenly changed in Wonshik, but that hadn’t pushed Taemin away. They were bound, like it or not, because of their past. Then again, he stared blankly past Wonshik and made a sound, from time to time, that meant he was listening.

He’d be fine, Taemin was sure about it. He’d get over that phase soon.

“Want to know about my date now?”

“I still think you’re bluffing.”

Taemin straightened his back – chin up, smug smile on.

“He’s tall.”

“Yes?”

“He has black hair.”

“Yes?”

“He was wearing a suit and an expensive watch, so he’s probably loaded.”

“Carry on.”

“His voice’s deep and smooth and he has this way of looking at you that makes you get goosebumps.”

“Okay, now we’re in your . That guy can’t be real.”

Taemin scoffed. He wrapped his arms over his chest and slouched on the chair, glaring at Wonshik.

“He is! I couldn’t believe it either. He even joked around. I’m telling you, the guy’s great.”

“How do you know he’s not a psychopath?”

“Psychopaths don’t stutter or fix their glasses often because they’re nervous.”

“Well,” Wonshik got up from the table. “You got a point there. Let me go and grab more drinks to celebrate the end of your solitude.”

“What end? We barely had one date.” Wonshik was already walking to the counter and Taemin couldn’t help but sulk some more in his chair.

He dated before. He hadn’t been hiding in a cave for the past years, but there was something off about everybody. Or, he had been the one acting weird when talking about his work, including when he recited a graphic encounter of some sorts between a guy and another guy, specifically, the way the other guy inserted his appendage in a rather tight spot. It gave his date the creeps. For good reasons too, reasons Taemin couldn’t understand.

He cannot just ignore his work in favor of building up a new relationship where there’s an entire universe worth exploring with another mind. He hadn’t found that other person, yet.

And just as he turned his head to search for his friend, his eyes stopped on the figure of none other than Kim Jongin, who was cheerfully chatting with Wonshik, even touching arms and shoulders, all grins and winks. He could swear he heard him laugh all the way to their table.

Taemin regretted he hadn’t wakened up earlier, hadn’t taken care of himself better and hadn’t at least brushed his hair. He slipped off the chair and hid under the table, praying silently that Jongin would disappear.

---

“I haven’t seen you since we’ve worked together on that CGER contract.”

Wonshik couldn’t believe it. He had a senior in University that he looked up to and that senior took notice. He helped him out ever since, gave him his notes, some advice, had done little things here and there and even offered him a job after he’d be over since he had a few connections that might give him a good beginning (even though, there was no need, giving Wonshik’s family history). Jongin was that senior and while they had worked on several occasions after Wonshik finished University, they went their separate ways after Wonshik transferred to his father’s company and switched to completely different projects. He hadn’t met him ever since, at least, not physically. They hadn’t cut contact entirely, just slowed down as time passed.

“Yeah, it’s been like, what, two years now?”

“Two years. Man, time flies.”

Jongin, too, was surprised to see him there. Pleasantly, so, and couldn’t help shake his hand and pat his back as a friendly gesture. He hadn’t had many people to care for in his lifetime. Wonshik was definitely on the positive spectrum.

“How have you been?”

“Good. I’m actually with my best friend, right over,” Wonshik pointed at the tables. His finger lowered when he couldn’t see Taemin. “I could swear he was there.”

“Well,” Jongin stretched and tried to see above the many heads. “Maybe he went to the bathroom?”

“I should have seen him. The bathroom is on this side.”

“Oh, you’ve been here before?”

“I come here often, I admit. My office is right around the corner.”

“I’m across the street.”

“Really?”

While the two chit-chatted away, some people spotted something odd crawling between the tables. One employee followed the elusive creature, unaware of its intentions. One could almost hear the National Geographic man, somberly narrating, ‘the Taemin is carefully threading the valley of hungry beasts, unaware of the danger it is facing while out in the open.’

“Sir?” The creature stopped. “Is everything fine? Are you not feeling well?” It stood up in all its might, with its grey fur and a proud mane. “Should we call an ambulance?”

Taemin turned to the woman and didn’t know how to tell her he was planning on escaping their facility in order to avoid the gaze of his last night’s date. He also thought that it was best to do it incognito, thus, him on all fours. From the looks he was getting, it backfired spectacularly.

“I’m good.” He replied shortly and hurried back to the table. He hid within his coat like a snail, still praying that Jongin hadn’t seen him. He should have just gone out like any normal human being. Instead, he had to act in the weirdest way possible. At least, he should have gone out instead of returning to the table. Typical Lee Taemin.

“Oh, there he is.”

Taemin yelped. Wonshik brought Jongin to their table, drinks ready on the tray, and he didn’t know what to do first: run the Hell out of there or say hi. Instead, he shut up and stared, mostly because the other two were scrutinizing his every gesture. He should really have stayed home. Going out after drinking – never a good idea.

“Hello,” Jongin, on the other hand, couldn’t contain his feelings. Destiny had a way of rewarding him in the strangest of manners. Surely, that meant there was something more at work. “Fancy meeting you here, Mr. Lee.”

He was also delighted to see Taemin’s shock melt into confusion, then into amusement as he stood up from the chair and faced him.

“Fancy meeting you too, Mr. Kim. Are you following me?”

“Not at all, Mr. Lee. But I must say.” There it was. Panic installed in Taemin again. He’d say he had no future plans for them because there was no ‘them’, or that he had seen his little escape attempt mere seconds before and he couldn’t remark how dumb he was for someone his age. Instead, what came further baffled him. “You look better with less makeup on. Natural fits you.”

There was also no filter between his brain and mouth to stop him from uttering, “And glasses suit you.”

A lightbulb lit on top of Wonshik’s head as he looked between the two and his mouth formed an ‘o’ shape. It then morphed into a thin line as his smile reached his ears.

“You’re the handsome dark fella,” and Taemin wished he could wipe that smile off his face with his fist.

“I see news of me spread as fast as wildfire, Mr. Lee.”

“Well, what can I say,” he’d have to play it cool, though, unless he felt like embarrassing himself some more. “One can only boast of meeting you, Mr. Kim.”

“I see, Mr. Lee. I planned on waiting for our next date, but since you seem so eager to return in my presence, shall we say,” Jongin pondered. Taemin had no idea that he was scrambling his brains on what to do next without seeming like a loser. Fortunately, he had no glasses to fix and his hands were busy with two bags of food. “Tonight, in front of this delightful establishment?”

“Are you asking me out, Mr. Kim?”

“I sure am, Mr. Lee.”

“It’s a date then. At what hour shall we meet?”

Wonshik had so many questions. He’d have to wait until they finished their absurd dialogue. He was trying his best not to laugh. It really was funny.