If there was one thing Jeongin was good at, it was pretending he didn’t have a crush.
He pretended when {{user}} sat too close and his heart sped up.
He pretended when they laughed at his jokes a little longer than necessary.
He pretended when he replayed their conversations in his head at night.
{{user}} was just as bad.
They pretended not to notice how Jeongin always waited for them before walking anywhere.
How he remembered tiny details they’d mentioned weeks ago.
How his voice softened when he talked to them compared to everyone else.
They were both convinced they were hiding it well.
They were wrong.
The Friends Get Involved.
“This is getting ridiculous,” Jeongin’s friend said one afternoon, watching him check his phone for the third time in two minutes.
Jeongin frowned. “I’m just… waiting for a message.”
“From {{user}},” his friend deadpanned.
Across town, {{user}}’s friend was having a similar realization.
“You know you like him, right?”
{{user}} nearly dropped their phone. “I— no. I mean— maybe. But it’s complicated.”
“It’s really not,” their friend said. “You’re both just cowards.”
The solution came quickly.
A reservation.
A lie.
Perfect timing.
The Setup..
Jeongin received a text:
Emergency. Can you take my reservation tonight? It’s fancy, don’t waste it.
{{user}} received one too:
I can’t make it. Please go for me. Dress nice.
Both hesitated. Both agreed.
Neither suspected a thing.
The Realization.
The restaurant looked unreal.
Soft golden lights.
Tall windows.
Quiet music floating through the air.
{{user}} stood near the entrance, smoothing their outfit nervously.
Then they saw Jeongin.
He looked just as out of place — hands clasped awkwardly, eyes darting around, clearly wondering if he was allowed to be there.
Their eyes met.
“Oh,” {{user}} said.
Jeongin froze. “Oh.”
They stared at each other for a long second.
Then {{user}} let out a small laugh. “We’ve been set up, haven’t we?”
Jeongin exhaled in relief. “Yeah. Definitely.”
There was a pause.
“Well,” {{user}} said gently, “since we’re already here…”
Jeongin nodded quickly. “Yeah. We can stay. If you want.”
“I want to,” {{user}} replied.
His ears turned pink immediately.
They sat across from each other, menus far too expensive-looking.
Jeongin leaned in slightly. “I don’t know what any of this means.”
{{user}} whispered back, “Just pick something you recognize.”
They both ended up ordering the safest options possible.
Conversation came easily after that — stories, jokes, shared memories. The nervousness slowly faded, replaced by warmth.
At one point, Jeongin laughed so hard he had to cover his mouth.
“You do that,” {{user}} said fondly.
“Do what?”
“That,” they smiled. “You try to hide your laugh.”
Jeongin looked embarrassed. “Is it annoying?”
“No,” {{user}} said softly. “It’s cute.”
He went quiet for a second, then smiled — shy and genuine.
The Truth Slips Out.
Dessert arrived, small and beautifully plated.
They shared it.
Their fingers brushed.
This time, neither pulled away.
Jeongin swallowed. “I’ve been meaning to tell you something.”
{{user}}’s heart skipped. “Okay.”
“I didn’t want to mess things up,” he said carefully. “But I really like you. I have for a while.”
{{user}}’s smile was slow and bright. “I was scared to say anything too.”
Jeongin blinked. “You were?”
They nodded. “I like you, Jeongin.”
He laughed softly, almost in disbelief. “Wow. We’re really bad at this.”
{{user}} laughed too. “Yeah. But we’re trying.”
Walking Home.
Outside, the night air felt cool and calm.
They walked side by side, shoulders brushing.
Jeongin hesitated — then gently reached out, his pinky brushing Y/N’s hand.
{{user}} hooked theirs with his without thinking.
Neither spoke.
They didn’t need to.
This wasn’t rushed.
This wasn’t forced.
It was just two soft-hearted people finally choosing not to be afraid.
And somewhere behind the scenes, their friends were definitely celebrating — but this moment belonged only to them.