The verandah was lit with fairy lights. The decor was simple but beautiful and the entire space had been booked by Jaeyoon for dinner. Taemin noticed it when the door to the outer dining area had a reserved sign hung on the handle instead of being placed on just one of the many tables. Taemin walked to the balustrade, peeking at the gardens and pools he could see below. They were at a hotel a bit far away from home. Jaeyoon had been invited for a party and Taemin was his date...but instead of walking into a party, they had walked into a crowdless, serene space and Taemin couldn’t help but wonder why.

Jaeyoon asked Taemin to choose a table before he walked out for a bit and Taemin chose the one closest to the view. He was watching people enjoy below, their sounds only faintly reaching his ears. His daze broke when he heard a little shuffle and Jaeyoon was standing before him, holding a bouquet of roses.

Taemin stared at them for a while, at how they were a deep red.

“For you,” He whispered with a smile and though Taemin was a little disappointed that Jaeyoon didn’t remember his favorite flowers correctly, he didn’t have the heart to say it. It was the thought and effort that counted, after all.

“Thank you,” Taemin finally smiled, accepting the bouquet of roses and setting them gently on the chair beside him.

Jaeyoon took the opposite chair and at his gesture, their drinks and meal were served.

“I thought we were going to a party.”

“We are,” Jaeyoon replied, “I just wanted to have dinner before we do.”

Taemin’s brows knitted in amusement, “Aren’t they serving food there?”

“They are. A lot, actually.” Jaeyoon smiled, “But I wanted to eat with you. Only you. Not with a hundred people who would interfere every other minute.”

Taemin smiled a little to himself, but he couldn’t help but remark, “Sounds like you have really nosey friends.”

“Very,” Jaeyoon laughed, “And not one of them are as charming as my current company.”

Taemin raised his gaze, both taken and embarrassed at the smooth remark. He laughed a little, “That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”

“Believe me,” Jaeyoon took a sip of his wine, his smile slightly playful, “It wouldn’t be the last.”

The party was near one of the pools Taemin had been gazing down at. When they arrived downstairs after their meal and entered into the poolside bar where the exact venue was, Taemin’s view filled with people dressed way too casually or minimally. And colorfully. Dressed in his entire black outfit– a striped shirt over well-fitted black pants– he almost felt like he was dressed too formally for the occasion but then he only had to take one glance to his side to let go of that feeling. Jaeyoon was dressed far more formally than him. He had a lavish suit on...and looking at how he was such a contrast to the surroundings, made Taemin chuckle to himself.

They sat at the bar and Jaeyoon ordered the drinks. Taemin glanced around before turning back, wanting to start a conversation but someone had infiltrated their space. A young woman was standing in the space between their stools. She had short, dark pin-straight hair, and she had a round face but sharp features. She was wearing a shimmery-translucent dress over her sequined bikini. It was pretty gaudy and did nothing to tone down her edgy features. Despite it all, she was quite pretty, but the way she glanced at Taemin before turning to Jaeyoon was not.

“I didn’t think you’d turn up!” She said, her serious face doing a 180 when she leaned down and hugged Jaeyoon tight. Taemin almost thought her smile was forced. She let go of Jaeyoon and her eyes returned to Taemin who was looking at her a little skeptically.

“Yejin,” Jaeyoon began, “Meet Taemin. My fiance.”

Yejin’s eyes shifted slightly as she checked Taemin out head to toe.

“Fiance?” She extended her hand, smiling, “Quite an upgrade.”

Taemin shook it goodnaturedly. Her gaze seemed to have toned down a bit after their brief interaction.

“So is the hostess alone tonight?” Jaeyoon asked and Yejin whispered, “Of course not!” before she turned and waved at someone to come over.

Though Taemin was distracted by who she was waving at, when he turned back, he caught it. A slight fade in Jaeyoon’s expression. But it was gone before he could make anything of it.

A handsome, well-built guy with a buzz cut joined them the next moment, grinning as he wrapped his arm around Yejin. She looked so small in his embrace and Taemin smiled at how he leaned down and kissed her cheek. They were quite cute together.

“Sewon,” Yejin giggled, “This is Jaeyoon… and his fiance, Taemin.”

Sewon’s face lost a bit of cheer but he fixed it as he greeted Jaeyoon. His smile was softer when he greeted Taemin and Taemin was now confused about why both of them had such a difference in the way they greeted Jaeyoon and him.

“I know this is a party but it’s all about spending time with your date. This was the reason why we put “couples only” on the invite. It was Sewon’s idea to celebrate our 100th day. To let everyone else also get some special time with their date.” Yejin explained, “So...you can just hop in the pool or just grab a spot–” She pointed to the little curtained areas that surrounded the pool and Taemin finally realized that they were all jacuzzis that were curtained to provide privacy. “Enjoy yourselves!”

They were off after that and Taemin turned to Jaeyoon who had quite an unreadable expression on his face, as he fidgeted with the rings on his fingers. He was watching the bartender queue up shots of vodka for them. When he was done, Jaeyoon pushed one towards Taemin with a little smile before he downed one of his own and grabbed the other one right after.

Taemin shifted close, not wanting him to get hammered. “Hey–”

“You know what, Taemin.” Jaeyoon snickered. He still looked stable but his voice was giving him away, “Your first impression was quite terrible. The thick glasses, the untidy hair, the loose clothes. I was gonna just be nice for the day and then reject you later through my father. But then when you came down later...I thought...wow.” He blinked, it seemed like he had broken from a daze and he cleared his throat as he continued, “I’m glad you changed because just imagine what I would have been losing out on.” He clinked his next shot with Taemin’s untouched one before downing it right away.

Taemin didn’t know what to say. He was a bit offended because his usual look had just been criticized but Jaeyoon’s last sentence was overwhelming him a bit, wiping away the offense.

“Okay, no more.” Taemin just whispered, giving a look to the bartender who understood and removed all alcohol within their reach and shifted to other guests.

Jaeyoon watched the bartender leave and he laughed, “I have a high tolerance.”

“I know,” Taemin answered, “Because you put a ing ring on me.”

Jaeyoon was a little taken aback, “Wow, you curse.”

“You don’t know how hard it was not to. I didn’t want to scare you off.”

“It’s hot,” Jaeyoon said, laughing, “Such dirty words coming out of a pretty mouth.” He leaned closer, catching Taemin off guard, “So ing hot.”

He was so close, he was getting closer and Taemin