Chapter Text
“I will, I will, I promise,” Jaebeom said, frustratingly pulling his hair. He just wanted to end this phone call. It has been over twelve minutes already, and he just wasn’t patient enough to handle more.
“Mom. Mom. MOM! Are you listening to me? I said I will. He’ll be there.” He won’t. That’s the only issue.
Jaebeom had woken up this morning to his phone ringing for the nth time. At first, he thought it’s Jinyoung complaining about work, so he didn’t pick up. But, his phone kept ringing. After a while, when the damn phone wouldn’t shut up, he picked it up. It was his mom. Apparently one of his cousins, whom he had never heard of, is getting married in about two weeks from now. His mother wants him there and he couldn’t come up with one excuse as to why he can’t attend the wedding.
His mom played the ‘Jaebeom, I haven’t seen you in so long, I’m afraid I’ll forget what you look like’ card. Jaebeom hates it, he hates it so much- but he loves his mother. He loves her with all his heart. He knows he should visit more. He knows he should drop by often because he’s the only son they have, but it’s hard. He’s trying so hard to live with all the shit that’s happening, that as soon as the weekend comes, he’s dozing off for hours.
He promised her he’d be there, his stupid brain got trapped in her blackmail even though he visited her last month. He kind of wants to go as well, to see his family again, because nowadays he’s feeling homesick. Everything was going smoothly till his mom mentioned that she and his aunties want him to meet few people when he’s there. So, she asked him to come a week in advance.
He needs to talk to Jinyoung. Not ‘talk’ talk to him but more like yell to him as to why this is happening to him.
“Ahh Jinyoung, meet me. It’s urgent.” He grabs his jacket and is already on his way out when he hears a soft knock on his door. He zones out of his conversation with Jinyoung as he walks towards the door. It’s Saturday, it’s a free day. He’s not expecting anyone to be here.
When he opens the door he is face to face with, no mystery, Jinyoung.
“What the hell?” Jaebeom started his speech as he takes his jacket off and Jinyoung enters the apartment with a bag of food in his hand. “Why would you bloody pick up my call when you’re right outside my damn door?”
“Because you’ll keep calling until I pick up,” Jinyoung said while rolling his eyes at him and places the bag on the kitchen table. It’s 8 am and Jinyoung is probably here for breakfast. This is what they generally do. But not at 8 am.
“Before you ask me why I’m here so early, your mom called me.” Jinyoung and Jaebeom have known each other for over ten years now. That’s a decade. That’s a long ass time, Jaebeom had to admit. They know each other’s family well enough for him to know why his mother called Jinyoung before she called him.
“I told her I’ll go to that stupid wedding.” He’s frustrated now. He opens up the food bag to find two handmade sandwiches in it. He gets himself and Jinyoung plates and takes a bite of the sandwich. He didn’t realise just how hungry he was till he took a bite.
“And she believes you. She just wants me to make sure you don’t back out,” Jinyoung said while taking a bite of his sandwich.
Jaebeom feels weird sitting in front of Jinyoung right now. It’s stupid he knows but Jinyoung is wearing pants and a white shirt with a coat over it. Looking all professional, meanwhile, Jaebeom is still in his cat pyjamas and he can’t believe he was so desperate that he was about to walk out of his house like this.
Before Jaebeom could start his rant on how childish his mother acts at times and how he’s not a kid anymore, Jinyoung got a phone call and stopped Jaebeom from speaking by raising his finger.
“What?” It must be one of those boys Jinyoung has hired for his shop. Jinyoung can’t seem to catch a break from them.
“You did what?- No, don’t- yes, I know- Stop- I’m on my way, don’t touch anything.” Jinyoung sighed. Jaebeom doesn’t say anything and just stood up, went straight to his room to grab a pair of jeans. He grabbed his jacket and signalled Jinyoung towards to door. “Let’s fix it.”
Turned out that Bambam, one of Jinyoung’s worker, ‘accidently’ spilled coffee on the book Jinyoung was reading. Jaebeom thought it was intentional because he remembers Bambam complaining about how Jinyoung will not shut up about the book and insisting that the whole world should read it no matter how good they are in Korean. Deep down Jaebeom thought Jinyoung knew that as well but he preferred to stay quiet on the matter, and just went behind the counter to clean the mess Bambam had created to make it look like a genuine story.
Jinyoung owns a coffee-cum-book shop. Has been the proud owner of the shop since the past three years. The shop has never been as successful as he initially planned but he earned enough profit to keep the shop and to even hire a few workers. Jaebeom co-owned it but that’s another story.
Bambam and Yugyeom were two of the said workers. Two very loud college students. They generally cover the evening shift but, because it’s a weekend, they’re doing the morning shift. The first day they joined, Jinyoung told them to work only five days a week and they can pick any five days they want, Yugyeom chose the weekdays but Bambam insisted that he wanted to work throughout the week. He’ll only take five days off during the month and he’ll give at least three days’ notice before taking a leave. Jinyoung agreed without another question.
Looking at all of them work is pleasing. Looking at the calm expression on Jinyoung’s face as he works his way on the counter relaxes Jaebeom as well. Yugyeom looks a bit scared, as if he’ll blurt out the truth any second. His long black hair was covering his eyes so he was saved from Jinyoung’s interrogation, because man oh man is Jinyoung good at reading eyes.
Jaebeom thought this is the moment. This is the right time to say it. He couldn’t push it any further, couldn’t keep it inside him anymore.
“I need a boyfriend.” He closed his eyes as soon as the words left his mouth.
It was silent for a while and Jaebeom started opening his eyes, he looked at the three of them, who have since stopped working and were looking at him with their jaws hanging open. Except for Bambam, who was smirking. That asshole, Jaebeom will deal with him later, he didn’t have time for it now.
“I mean a fake one, nothing real,” Jaebeom clarified.
“Oh, why? I mean, I thought everything is working fine for you.” Jinyoung came out from behind the counter and walks up to Jaebeom to sit beside him on the empty stool.
He gave a look to Bambam and Yugyeom who went back to making coffee and dealing with customers. As if there were any, it’s Saturday morning, people have sleep to catch up on.
“I told my mom I’m dating and that I’d bring him to the wedding,” Jaebeom said and rubbed his face with his hands. He’s frustrated now, he shouldn’t have said that. Should have just said his love life is as dry as a bone.
He expected Jinyoung to be angry, to shout at him for being so stupid, to throw tantrum as if Jaebeom has asked him to be his fake boyfriend. It won’t be that bad of an option, now that he thought of it.
“I understand.” Is all that came out of Jinyoung’s mouth.
“You do?” Jaebeom didn’t know how to take it. It’s a good sign, yeah. But it doesn’t solve the problem.
“She will be there as well and it’s better to look happy and content in front of her than to look like a lonely piece of shit just because you don't know how to act alone.” It has been over three years since Jaebeom’s breakup but Jinyoung refused to call his ex by her name. He always called her “she” and Jaebeom knows that he’ll keep calling her “she” till the end of their days.
“My main intention was so that my mom and aunties will stop trying to set me up with strangers but yeah, if that’s what you wanna run with, I’m on board.”
“What’s the problem then?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend. I haven’t dated in a long ass time and I don’t have anyone to go with me. I would have asked you- hell begged you to come with me as my partner but we both know that would have been a disaster. The whole break-up would have been so pathetic to explain-”
“Jaebeom, it’ll be okay,” Jinyoung said while placing a hand over Jaebeom’s. Jaebeom was losing the plot. He was pissed off, he was angry, but at what? Not finding love? Not being able to find a decent enough human being who would want to spend time with him?
“I know you’re angry-”
“He only knows it because Jaebeom’s chin is out,” Bambam blurted out to Yugyeom and laughed.
“Respect! I am older than you, you asshole, show some goddamn respect,” Jaebeom said and jumped over the counter to grab Bambam, who jumps back and into Yugyeom and they both are laughing hysterically. Jinyoung shook his head and started pulling Jaebeom back.
“Find me someone.” Jaebeom showed his despiration again.
“I don’t know many people. I know people you know and we both know we don’t have time to meet new people. Why don’t you ask someone from your university?” Jinyoung suggested. It’s a good and decent idea except for the fact that everyone in his university are shit, pure shit. He doesn’t even find them decent enough to talk to them. Taking them to a family wedding is not even a question.
He shook his head.
“How about those dating companies, those escort companies?” Jinyoung suggested.
“No, they’re too handsome and confident and everyone will know I’m faking it.”
“What’s wrong with handsome and confident?” Bambam asked.
“Nothing except for the fact that they won’t blush, they won’t act like they like me and instead they’ll be so extreme it’ll look like we’re married.” Bambam only nodded in agreement and resumed working.
There were not many people around the café so he glanced at a few, looking for a potential boyfriend. After a minute of scanning the room he understood that in this century no one is single. Everyone has a partner around even if it’s just a fling or a friends with benefit thing happening. But everyone has someone.
“How about online dating?” Yugyeom suggested.
“Are you guys even working? Jinyoung, don’t pay them for today. Their asses have been in my business for the past hour.” Yugyeom just laughed it off and turned around and went back to making coffee.
They all ran out of ideas in the next half an hour and before they knew it, it was lunch time. Jinyoung ordered Thai food because Bambam has been feeling homesick lately. They all sat in silence to eat when Yugyeom’s phone started ringing.
“Ahh hello, sir!” Yugyeom said with a bright smile on his face.
“No no, not today but tomorrow. You forget things easily. I’ll text you though.” He went on for another few minutes and Jaebeom zoned out of their conversation and started thinking of how to get a boyfriend. It shouldn’t be that hard. He is decent looking, he would say that. He is tall and can be funny, or so he thinks. He is- what else am I? Jaebeom thought to himself and came up with nothing.
“What do you say, Jaebeom?” His train of thoughts broke when Jinyoung said his name.
“Say about what?” He should have been paying attention.
“Jackson?” Yugyeom said.
“Jackson who?” Jaebeom asked.
“My dance instructor,” Yugyeom said.
“This game is stupid. I lost track, fill me in. Who’s this Jackson and why do I care?”
“Jackson is my dance instructor, more like my dance partner, it’s complicated. Anyway, he’s single and he’s really sexy and well-spoken and funny and really talented as well and multilingual-”
“Why don’t you date him?” Jaebeom said with a smirk and grabbed another bite from his plate.
“Wow!” Yugyeom laughed. “He can be your fake date for the wedding.”
Jaebeom is silent for a second. It’s not as bad as he initially intended. It might just work.
“Can you call him here? I don’t want to meet anyone alone.”
“Already done. He’s on his way.” Yugyeom is smiling again. Jinyoung just kept shaking his head as if all of this was a disastrous idea. But Jaebeom knows that Jinyoung is on board because he hasn’t said anything and Jinyoung is not the type to stay quiet.
Jaebeom was supposed to meet Jackson at 8pm at the café. On that particular Saturday, the café was closed at 7:30pm. Now the waiting game began. Jaebeom looked over at Jinyoung who was looking at the clock every five minutes. The time was passing really slowly.
At around 7:50 they heard the little bell over the door ring as someone walked in. Punctual, pros. Jaebeom thought. A man walked in wearing a red hoodie and black jeans. Okay, he was shorter than Jaebeom, he noticed.
“Jacksonnnnn!” Yugyeom said and went ahead to greet Jackson. They shook hand when Jackson pulled him in a hug. Skinship, cons. Jaebeom had already started working on his pros and cons list to make everything easier.
”I want you to meet Jinyoung,” Yugyeom said as he walked over to Jinyoung. Jackson and Jinyoung exchanged a quick smile and shook hands. “And this is the man of the hour, Lim Jaebeom.” Jackson walked towards Jaebeom and extended his hand for a handshake. Jaebeom just stood there and stared at him for a minute before realizing that he should probably just go ahead with the handshake just to be polite.
“Jackson Wang,” Jackson said with a small smile and bowed a little. “Nice to meet you, Jaebeom.”
Jaebeom walked them towards a table where they both sat with Jinyoung. Now Jinyoung had to be there. That’s important. Jaebeom at times just loses his patience and Jinyoung had to be there to keep him in check especially in front of a stranger.
“Yugyeom told me you need someone to act like your boyfriend for a wedding and well I love weddings,” Jackson started speaking but stopped when Jinyoung sighed.
“No, sorry. That was rude of me. How can people love the idea of wedding? It’s all a show off to me. If you want to be with someone you don’t need to spend almost all of your savings to celebrate. Wiser way to celebrate is with the closed ones and save all that money to actually build a future together,” Jinyoung said all that while looking straight a Jackson. Did Jinyoung woke up on the wrong side of the bed today, Jaebeom thought.
“That’s cute babe, we’ll catch up on that on your own time but this is Jackson and Jaebeom time,” Jackson said and winked at Jinyoung.
Jaebeom pressed his lips really hard to stop himself from laughing or worse, smiling. It was almost unbearable to do so when he could hear Bambam and Yugyeom losing it at the other end of the café where they’re acting like they’re working so they could eve’s drop.
What made it worse was Jinyoung’s reaction. Confident, unfazed Jinyoung had gone red. Jinyoung’s eyes is a bit wider than before as he started at Jackson. Jackson is already looking at Jaebeom as if he didn’t just shook Jinyoung’s whole world.
“Well- ahem- yeah” Jaebeom cleared his throat before he resumed talking. “Yeah, that. I need one.”
“Okay, so ask away?” Now Jaebeom don’t know how to start it. How should he go ahead with asking someone to be their fake boyfriend? What are the questions he needed to ask them? Okay, so Jaebeom already knows that Jackson works as a dance instructor. He is originally from China but has been living in Korea from last 10 years. He is good with people, talks a lot and can make any uncomfortable situation comfortable. Shouldn’t that be enough? So, what if Jaebeom didn’t feel any spark when he laid eyes on Jackson? It shouldn’t have happened, it’s not the movies. In real life people don’t fall for each other that easy. And he doesn’t even want to fall for Jackson for him to be his fake boyfriend. That’ll just be stupid.
“Who’s there in your family?” Jaebeom asked. He should know about his family if wanted this to work out between them.
“Mom, dad and me. Lived in China, my mom is a homemaker and my dad was a fencer. He got me into fencing and turned out I was good at that so I took it as a profession. Won small and big but had to quit for some personal reasons. So, I moved to Korea, my parents did too but they couldn’t live here for long. Started missing china, they went back and blah blah blah I am here now. My aunt lives here so I started living with her. I was good with dancing because fencing gave me flexibility, so to get my own place, I started working at an early age. And finally, I have my own place and life is good,” Jackson finished with an assuring smile. He looked around at everyone and as to declare that this is it with his story.
“I don’t even know what else to ask you, if I’m being very honest. I don’t do this often,” Jaebeom is uncomfortable and he don’t know why. Because Jackson is nice, so so nice that he can’t find a flaw. Is being too nice a flaw? Jaebeom looked at Jinyoung to ask for help but Jinyoung is busy looking around, avoiding not only Jaebeom but also Jackson. Jinyoung looked nervous.
“No one does this often. I hope that’s true. It’s okay if you can’t think of anything. Maybe we can hang out a few times-”
“Jackson!?” A boy entered the shop with a confused look, till his eyes landed on Jackson and he smiled.
“Sorry, we’re closed.” Jinyoung stood up and walked towards the boy.
“Oh no no, he’s with me. I called him here,” Jackson said to Jinyoung who just nod and walked towards Yugyeom and Bambam.
Everyone is silent for a few minutes. Jinyoung busy with Bambam and Yugyeom, talking in whispers. Jaebeom is still sitting at his spot and looking at Jackson and the new boy and Jackson is standing a little too close to the boy, whispering something in his ear and the boy laughed. Laughed loudly, pushing his head back and hitting Jackson on his chest. Jackson is laughing as well but not with the same intensity as the boy.
The boy is wearing a grey oversized sweatshirt over black jeans. His black hair ends just above his eyes and the sigh is soothing. Looking at both of them laugh calmed Jaebeom down. Jaebeom doesn’t realize just how much tension he was holding till he relaxed his shoulders over the sight of two boys laughing.
“Youngjae, I want you to meet Jaebeom,” Jackson said as he walked towards Jaebeom. Jaebeom stood up from his spot and bowed slowly. “My boyfriend.”
“He’s not your type.”
“Youngjae, what is wrong with you?” Jackson couldn’t believe what he’s hearing, convincing Youngjae should have been easy. Youngjae believes people.
“He’s not though,” Youngjae said simply and turned towards Jaebeom. “I’m Choi Youngjae, Jackson's friend.”
“Can we get back to where we were?” Jaebeom just wanted all of this to be over with. He wanted Jackson to act like his boyfriend for a week, which means they have spent at least a 4-5 days in advance to actually know each other and be used to each other.
“Yes, sorry. Youngjae, you can sit here or find something to eat,” Jackson said to Youngjae and turned around to see Bambam, Yugyeom and Jinyoung standing just few feet away. “You already know Yugyeom and Bambam, that’s Jinyoung, I don’t know what his deal is right now but I want to believe he’ll help you if you need anything.” With that Youngjae smiled at Jinyoung and Jinyoung took him to where the food was.
A minute later Jaebeom and Jackson was about to start the topic again when Youngjae appeared with a plate full of food and sat just next to Jackson. Watching this Jinyoung stood up from his spot and went to sit next to Jaebeom. Youngjae smiled at Jinyoung before taking another bite. No one said anything for a full minute and Jackson wasn't sure how Youngjae wasn’t feeling uncomfortable, maybe too lost eating.
“Anyway, let me know the date of the wedding. We can meet up every now and then to discuss few details and I can give you my number so that you can call me up to let me know anything that you think I should know,” Jackson said to Jaebeom and Youngjae stopped eating.
“Oh, so he’s the guy who needs a fake-boyfriend,” Youngjae said a bit too loudly. “I’m so sorry, Jackson messaged me this afternoon but I thought he’s playing with me. He has this habit of pranking me and I always fall for stupid stuff and I thought this is one of those times.”
“You think all of this is stupid?” Jaebeom looked a bit angry.
“What? No no no, no. That’s not what I meant.” Youngjae looked at Jackson, as if praying for him to save him from this situation. “I just, I mean, I just think- I think it’s brave.”
This time everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Youngjae.
“Brave?” Jinyoung asked when no one said anything for a long time.
“Yeah, like, it takes a lot to take a stranger to a personal event. I bet your parents will be there and all your relatives and- I don’t think I’m making sense but I could never take a total stranger to a wedding.”
Silence. Again.
“December 29. The wedding.” With that being said Jaebeom turned towards Youngjae, “I don’t think it’s brave. I think it’s cowardly, to take a total stranger to a wedding, not that the wedding is personal to me. I think it’s cowardly that I can’t find a decent person to date me, so, now I have to rely on a total stranger to not mess it up.”
“You don’t leave the house, Jaebeom. No one meets people when they’re always home,” Jinyoung said.
“Shit! Shit shit shit! I can’t do it,” Jackson said with panic in his voice.
“You said you would.” Jaebeom was confused. If this was one of those pranks Youngjae was talking about, Jaebeom was not a fan.
“I’m going home on the 23rd. I don’t get to meet my parents often so we meet during holidays. And Christmas and New Year are near so I thought I’d drop by. I even have my tickets booked and everything. I am really sorry.”
Jackson can see the disappointment on Jaebeom’s face. It was like he let him down, Jackson hated it.
“But I can try and fix you up with few of my friends, see who you would want to go out with? Or just want to go on a wedding with. They’re all nice people.” Jackson tried so hard to fix it.
Jaebeom was looking at his hands, he had no will or power to meet so many people. The thought alone was driving him crazy. It couldn’t be so bad to call his mother and explain to her how single he was, how he doesn’t think it’s happening for him, how he just wants to sleep as soon as he gets home and doesn't have time or emotions to invest in relationships.
“It’s okay, we can figure something out. Thank you for your help,” Jinyoung said with a fake smile plastered on his face. Jinyoung looked sad and a bit upset and it unsettled Jackson.
“I am really sorry.” Jackson looked at Jinyoung.
“Don’t be, it’s not your fault. Honestly, we’ll figure something out, you don’t have to worry. Thank you again for meeting with us on such short notice.” Jinyoung stood up and looking at that everyone started standing up. Youngjae started chewing faster because it was time for all of them to part ways.
“Thank you for the food,” Youngjae shook hands with Jinyoung and bowed to Jaebeom and the kids before making his way towards the door. He stopped at the door and waited for Jackson.
Jackson went towards the counter and took a napkin, asked Yugyeom for a pen and wrote something on the piece of paper.
“Call me if you need anything, I’ll be available,” Jackson handed the paper to Jinyoung and Youngjae couldn’t process what just happened.
Youngjae has known Jackson for a long time and not once has Jackson ever given his number to anyway, no matter how friendly Jackson is with people, Jackson waits. Jackson waits for the person to ask for his number, this way he knows that he has the person’s interest. This, was not one of those times.
Jinyoung just took the paper from Jackson’s hand with a confused expression on his face. Jackson bowed and turned towards the door.
Youngjae and Jackson walked out.
“I’m going to die alone. This wedding is the death of me,” Jaebeom said and rubbed his face with both his hands.
“Jaebeom, we’ll figure something out-”
“How? We don’t have a plan B? What can I do? Take Bambam or Yugyeom? What’s your genius brain saying now? Jinyoung we don’t have a date for me, all I can do now is ask for an escort.”
Bambam and Yugyeom exchanged a look, they love Jaebeom but even with all that love they didn’t want to be a part of this.
"I can't even imagine to think how I'll tell my mom, she was just so happy on the phone. Maybe she didn't believe me either. It was all so sudden, maybe she thinks I am lying as well. Which should work for me because that way at least she won't be hurt," Jaebeom went on a rant. Said out everything that crossed his mind.
"You're overthinking it, we still have few days," Bambam said softly, as to not make the situation worse than it was.
"But is there anything else for me to do? I am a liar and a-" Jaebeom took a deep breath, he realized his voice was rising and it was wrong of him, to take out his anger on the people who're there for him. "My life is falling apart," Jaebeom said and there was sadness in his voice, like it pained him to admit it. "I have absolutely nothing working for me, I have no will to do shit, I have-"
“Jaebeom, we will find someone. Trust me. Or I can give a call to Jackson for you and ask him about his friends. There’s still hope.” Jinyoung wanted Jaebeom to not go there, not have his mind go back to the dark places Jinyoung has pulled him out of.
“My only hop-” Jaebeom was interrupted with the door being opened very loudly.
“I’ll do it, I’ll be your boyfriend,” Youngjae said.