The door to the room slung open and running came the wavy-haired.
"Did you receive it too?" He asked, huffing as he was out of breath.
Taehyun was near his big window that gave him the view of almost the entire Seoul. He looked over his shoulder at the voice.
Kai Kamal Huening, his best friend, was also the head of his company's IT department. They've been stuck since they were babies.
Now, many people near Taehyun would know that he wasn't the person to do anything out of his way for anyone, but they'd also know that this one particular wavy-haired boy was an exception. From kindergarten to university and now in the workplace, they've seen and been together (sometimes even covered up) during each other's worst.
"Yes." Taehyun bluntly replied but the younger knew his inner turmoil. He watched Taehyun walk towards him with an expressionless face to lean against the table.
Hueningkai cleared his throat, he needed to be careful with his words now. "Apparently, Soobin hyung sent invitations to everyone who was on the students' council team with him."
The silver-haired scoffed at that. What did Soobin want to claim? That he was the best council president? (Well, that he was but let's stay in Taehyun's team for now please!) And he expected the whole team to be present for him in just one invitation? Lol Soobin, lol.
"I mean... how could he do this to me?"
Taehyun was starting to unshed his mask, so Hueningkai felt safe. It could be dangerous if the other kept it all to himself, the office might even need a renovation the next day due to the breakage he'd cause.
"Look, Taehyun. It isn't like you guys were in a relationship or something. He probably thought you've moved on by now." Hueningkai was quickly cut off by a glare.
"Choi Yeonjun??? That flirty ass who acts like a celebrity is the one who wins Soobin??" Taehyun was so frustrated that he could break bones but still his eyes were pleading for a proper answer.
Hueningkai sighed, then put his hands on his friend's shoulders. "Choi Yeonjun is the choreographer of a world-class k-pop group, he's been in the industry even before we all fully completed our studies. Of course, he's a celebrity. Have you seen his followers—"
"Shut it!" Taehyun cut the younger off. "For me, he'll remain as the third person who has always tried to steal my man."
Choi Yeonjun, another character of this scenario, was a senior to them in their high school years. He was mainly an arts student, practical dance to be specific. It'd be a lie if we said he wasn't the apple of everyone's eye. From the teachers asking to participate in both the intra and inter events to the students asking for help with their performances, he was the first and only one called for. Adding in the killer looks and a perfect body, it was safe to say that Choi Yeonjun had always been the campus' it-boy.
Taehyun had no problem with any of that. Dance and singing competitions were the least of his concerns as he knew what he was going to do as an adult. But the ugly feeling coveted his chest when he started to notice the older boy exchanging glances with their student council president. Whenever they'd cross paths, or go to the older's class to announce something important, Taehyun never failed to notice the tension between them as their gazes lingered to each other unnecessarily longer. Soobin would bow hastily and make a quick exit, making Yeonjun smirk slyly.
Back at that time Taehyun knew it was he who was winning. Soobin would never feel attracted to someone so edgy. He was calm, logical, humble and sweet. So he needed Taehyun, not Yeonjun who was, on the contrary, a trouble-maker and a heartbreaker.
But now, look at how the tables have turned.
"Aaaahhh whatever whatever whatever!!!" Taehyun tugged his hair harshly, worrying his friend. Hueningkai was quick to pour some water from the jug at the table into a glass and offer it to Taehyun, a silent request to relax.
Taehyun walked to his desk and plopped on his swivel chair before taking big gulps of the water.
"Hyunnie, let's not go there, yeah?" The wavy-haired had dropped the colleague mode, and switched to best friend mode. "The congratulatory party is actually a heads-up for the wedding. We can just ignore it for the better."
"Ignore it?" The silver-haired lifted his head up in a swift motion, punching his fists on the table with every word. "No way! If I don't do something, it means I'm giving up and I'm accepting my defeat to Choi Yeonjun!!"
"But—"
"You said it's just a congratulatory party, right?" Taehyun cut him off with a scoff. "No problem! Even married couples break, it shouldn't be that serious if an engagement breaks off."
Hueningkai crossed his arms, frowning. "Then what's your plan?"
Taehyun thought deeply for some minutes, the silence scaring the younger. He then smirked.
"I'm going to attend the party and I'm going to show him that I'm better than Yeonjun. So what if they're already engaged? I'm going to prove to him that he deserves me. I'm going to ruin their party and get my love back!"
The words uttered from his mouth with so much resentment and vengeance that Hueningkai internally patted himself for what was yet to come. Seriously though, all these years he just couldn't figure out why and how someone so amazing as Taehyun would lose his mind over such petty matters and act childish. He really needed to ask for a salary raise for tolerating this for years.
To help him come out of his mental conversation, the door knocked and after a while came in Taehyun's secretary, Ms. Park.
"Make it quick and leave." Taehyun used his cold employer tone, making the woman flinch. Hueningkai subtly nodded to her to assure that she wasn't in danger yet, so she visibly relaxed.
"There's this South Korean artist called Belle in France who's never made a media appearance before. Soon they're holding their first private showcase in Korea. Only the chaebols and the elite class are invited." She hesitantly kept another —and much fancier— invitation card in front of Taehyun to see. "Chairman Kang wants you to attend and form a good bond with them, so later it can help in business."
Bowing, she quickly left the office before being rebuked for walking at the wrong time.
"Belle, huh?" Taehyun scoffed. He picked up the fancy card and looked around it before tossing it away on the floor. "Here I'm struggling with my love life all because he never let me have the time to focus on that and now he wants me to meet a woman that nobody even knows how she looks."
"Hey! It's said that they've never even done an interview so don't you think assuming their gender just like that is kinda rude?" Hueningkai went and crouched down to pick up the card, looking at it hesitantly.
"Boya? Are you a fan? Then you can just go and meet them on my behalf." Taehyun shrugged, massaging his temples.
Hueningkai kept the card back on the table under a pen-stand, his eyes fixed on the name Belle. He glanced at Taehyun who wasn't paying attention, muttering all the evil things to both his father and Yeonjun. It seemed like a bulb was connected correctly to a circuit that an amazing idea popped in his head.
"Taehyun-ah," He called, quickly retreating his hand from the card before the silver-haired looked at him. "How about you hire a fake boyfriend?"
"A fake boyfriend?" Taehyun repeated cluelessly.
Hueningkai smiled mischievously as he nodded. "Come to think of it, you might appear all lonely and sad if you just go alone like that. Take a partner with you and make him flirt with everyone, including Yeonjun. Let Soobin hyung see what a flirtass he's getting married to, and how someone is miserably playing with your innocent mind. Maybe then he'll...."
For a few seconds, Taehyun blinked repeatedly as if he were observing the idea. Hueningkai internally screamed, praying the silver-haired doesn't think it too hard.
Suddenly Taehyun clapped his hands in wonder, his eyes sparkling. "Woah... that's actually... a good idea, Hyuka!! I'll ask Ms. Park to look for—"
The wavy-haired was quick to stop Taehyun from dialling up the landline.
"For a person who's never dated, do you think it will be alright if you hire just anyone like that?"
"Yaa! Are you making fun of me?" Taehyun narrowed his eyes.
"In times like this you need a professional's help." Hueningkai smoothly continued, luckily Taehyun didn't mind much. "I know an amazing gigolo who can make everyone's knees shake just by his presence."
"Gigolo? As in, a male escort?" Taehyun's voice was a whisper above which told the younger that he was actually interested.
The younger nodded.
"But why would we need someone so extreme?"
"Simply because they're too charming to resist."
Taehyun bit his lower lip in contemplation, Kai worried that Taehyun might not agree. But he wanted to give it a try and as desperate he looked, Taehyun hesitantly gave his approval.
"I'm trusting you with this."
Hueningkai's big smile widened even more as he spoke with determination, "I'll make sure to not disappoint you, sir."
Taehyun giggled, the stiffness had left his body. He then waved his hands in dismissal. "Alright, now off to work!"
The wavy-haired bowed then walked to the door and out of the room. He made sure to peek at Taehyun to see if he was really stress-free before finally leaving.
After getting quite far away from the room, he took out his phone and picked an international number to dial from his contact list.
"Hyung, I heard you're coming back to Korea soon." He spoke as soon as the person on the other side received the call.
"Do you remember my friend Taehyun?... He needs an itsy bitsy cute pea-sized help... First promise me you'll do it?... Aahh wae~ I'm your baby brother~~... Who knows, your luck might surprise you this time!!?"
He knew this trick would work.
"Hiiihi, thank you. I'll text you the details later."
The conversation ended, so did the call. Hueningkai sighed contently as he skipped through the tiled floors to his own cabin.
"Bless Soobin hyung for choosing the perfect time to send an invitation."