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Choi Soobin had never been lucky with money. As a broke marketing student, he spent most of his time scraping together enough funds for rent, food, and the occasional overpriced iced tea he couldn’t resist.
His best friend, Choi Beomgyu, found this very amusing.
"Soobin, just admit it," Beomgyu said one evening, sprawled across Soobin’s bed while Soobin attempted (and failed) to budget his expenses. "You're one unexpected expense away from financial ruin."
"Shut up," Soobin muttered, glaring at the calculator on his phone. "At least I’m responsible. Unlike someone who spends half his allowance on limited-edition Hueningkai merch."
"Hey, hey. Concept photocards are an investment," Beomgyu defended, sitting up.
Soobin scoffed, shaking his head. "Investment my ass. You don’t even resell them, you just stare at them like they’ll start talking to you."
"That’s called appreciating value, you uncultured swine," Beomgyu huffed, reaching over to steal a piece of gummy from Soobin’s desk. "Besides, I gotta support my favorite, right? You wouldn’t get it."
Soobin did get it. Just… in a different way.
Because if he had a favorite, it wasn’t some celebrity on a photocard. It was the boy currently making himself at home in his bed, eating his food, and acting like he owned the place.
Beomgyu had always been like this. Unapologetically loud, effortlessly comfortable, the kind of person who made himself a permanent fixture in people’s lives whether they invited him or not. He didn’t just enter rooms, he filled them.
And Soobin? Soobin was the one who let him.
He didn’t know when it started. Maybe back in freshman year, when Beomgyu had sat next to him in class and immediately declared, You look like someone who needs a friend. Maybe the first time Beomgyu had dragged him to a late-night convenience store run, or when he’d shown up unannounced at Soobin’s dorm with 10 different varieties of gummies just because you looked kinda dead in class today.
Or maybe it had been this way from the start.
Whatever it was, Soobin had accepted long ago that his life would always have Beomgyu in it. What he hadn’t expected was for his feelings to turn into something else—something heavier, something that sat in his chest like a secret.
And maybe, if he weren’t so painfully aware of it, he wouldn’t notice the way his heart always reacted to the smallest things.
Like now.
Like how Beomgyu, still chewing on a stolen gummy, had flopped back onto Soobin’s bed, hands behind his head, shirt riding up just slightly. How his eyes flickered over to Soobin, soft and lazy, like he belonged there.
Like how he did belong there.
Soobin forced himself to look away, back at his phone screen, even though his brain was very much not focused on his budgeting app anymore.
"I still don’t get how you’re this careless with money," he mumbled, more to distract himself than anything.
Beomgyu hummed. "I’m not careless. I just don’t stress over it like you do. Money comes and goes, you know?"
"Yeah, well, mostly goes for me," Soobin muttered.
Beomgyu turned on his side, propping his head up with his hand. "That’s ‘cause you’re too nice. You keep covering for Yeonjun-hyung’s coffee even though you know he has more money than all of us combined."
"It’s not that much," Soobin mumbled, ears burning.
Beomgyu snorted. "And then there’s you buying snacks for Taehyun whenever he forgets his wallet. Which, by the way, is suspiciously often."
"He gets hungry!"
"You’re an enabler."
"Oh, shut up."
Beomgyu grinned, like he’d won. "See? You care too much. You’d probably give your last dollar to some random kid on the street if they asked nicely enough."
Soobin rolled his eyes, leaning back in his chair. "Not true."
"Whatever you say."
There was a beat of silence, the comfortable kind, where neither of them needed to fill it with words. The only sounds in the room were the soft whir of the fan and the distant honking from outside.
Then, Beomgyu spoke again, quieter this time. "You know, you could stand to be a little selfish sometimes."
Soobin frowned at that, turning to look at him. "What do you mean?"
Beomgyu was still watching him, but there was something unreadable in his gaze now. "You always take care of everyone else. But who takes care of you?"
The words settled heavily in Soobin’s chest, pressing against something he wasn’t ready to acknowledge. Who takes care of you?
He almost laughed. You do, Beomgyu.
But he didn’t say that. He just shrugged, forcing a grin. "I’m fine. I don’t need taking care of."
Beomgyu studied him for a second longer, then sighed dramatically. "Well, if you ever do, just know that I, Choi Beomgyu, am available for hire."
Soobin snorted. "Yeah? How much?"
"For you?" Beomgyu smirked. "Free."
Soobin rolled his eyes, heart betraying him with how it stumbled at Beomgyu’s words. He needed to steer this conversation back into familiar, less dangerous territory before his feelings did something reckless.
"Wow," he deadpanned. "Lucky me. A best friend who’s available for free labor."
"Not labor," Beomgyu corrected. "Companionship. Emotional support. Premium best friend services."
"Sounds suspiciously like labor."
"You’re just mad because I’m a good friend and you can’t admit it."
"You're a menace, is what you are."
"And yet, you love me." Beomgyu grinned, smug and self-satisfied.
Soobin made a show of groaning dramatically. "Unfortunately."
Beomgyu cackled at that, throwing himself back onto the bed. Soobin shook his head, pretending to be exasperated, but if he let himself think about it too much, about how easy this was, about how much of his life revolved around Beomgyu without him even realizing, it would drive him insane.
Beomgyu stretched, letting out a yawn. "Alright, I should head back. Early class tomorrow."
Soobin just hummed, watching as Beomgyu lazily got up from his bed, grabbed his phone, and stretched again like he owned the place. Soobin walked him to the door, leaning against the frame as Beomgyu slipped on his shoes. "Don’t miss me too much," Beomgyu teased.
"I’ll try to contain my grief," Soobin deadpanned.
Beomgyu shot him a finger heart before disappearing down the hallway.
And just like that, Soobin was alone again. He lingered by the door for a moment, staring at the empty hallway where Beomgyu had just been.
It was stupid. The way the air felt heavier the second Beomgyu left, like his absence was a physical thing. The way Soobin had to actively tell himself to turn around, to move on with his night, to stop standing there like some lovesick idiot waiting for his best friend to turn around and say he's staying.
He shut the door with a sigh and trudged back to his desk, where his abandoned attempt at budgeting still glared at him from his phone screen. His mind drifted back to what Beomgyu had said earlier.
"You always take care of everyone else. But who takes care of you?"
Soobin shook his head, pushing the thought away. Nope. Not thinking about that.
Instead, his brain latched onto something else Beomgyu had said.
"If you ever do, just know that I, Choi Beomgyu, am available for hire."
For hire.
The phrase stuck in his head like a particularly annoying song lyric.
For hire.
Soobin stared at the light of his phone, then, without fully thinking it through, he opened Twitter.
Posted by @page.soobin • 3 seconds ago
Valentine’s Day Boyfriend for Hire.
Cheap rates! Limited slots!
DM for inquiries.
He hit post before he could talk himself out of it.
A second passed. Then another.
…What the hell did he just do?
He let out a strangled laugh, dropping his phone onto his desk and flopping onto his bed, covering his face with a pillow. It was obviously a joke—no one would actually take it seriously.
Right?
ఌ︎.
He actually expected nothing. Maybe a few laughs from his friends. Perhaps a snarky reply from Yeonjun, who always found amusement in Soobin’s tragic financial state. But what he didn’t expect and what he absolutely wasn’t prepared for, was a message from Choi Beomgyu.
His best friend. His secret, hopeless, pathetic crush.
ㄱbeomgyu: this still available?
Soobin nearly choked on his ramen.
His heart slammed against his ribs as he reread the message. There had to be a catch. Was Beomgyu messing with him?
uhhh
you're serious?
ㄱbeomgyu: come on man
ㄱbeomgyu: 14th's gonna be boring anyway. might as well have fun with my bestfriend
you can just say you pity me gyu
ㄱbeomgyu: no i genuinely want to see u act like a perfect valentine's day boyfriend
ㄱbeomgyu: you think you can pull it off?
watch me
ఌ︎.
Eventually, February 14th arrived.
Soobin had done his research. He wasn’t about to go into this blindly. If he was going to be Beomgyu’s “boyfriend” for the day, he was going to do it right.
Which was why, when he arrived at Beomgyu’s apartment that morning, he was holding a bouquet of flowers.
His heart was already pounding, but he forced himself to stand tall, taking a deep breath before knocking. He needs to reassure himself that this is all just a playful thing between them. Nothing serious, nothing real.
A few seconds later, the door creaked open and Soobin almost dropped on his knees, revealing Beomgyu—hair a mess, eyes still heavy with sleep, and wrapped in an oversized hoodie. He blinked at Soobin, then at the flowers, then back at Soobin again.
"Oh my God," Beomgyu snorted, rubbing his eyes as if he had to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating. "You actually bought flowers?"
Soobin forced a smirk, even though his pulse was racing. "Of course. I'm a professional."
"Professional at what? Being homosexual at seven in the morning?"
"Shut up," Soobin huffed, shoving the bouquet into Beomgyu’s hands before he could make another snarky comment. "Just take them."
Beomgyu caught them easily, still grinning. "You really went all out, huh?"
Soobin shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant while Beomgyu twirled the bouquet in his hands, inspecting the flowers like he actually cared about them.
Then, with an exaggerated sigh, Beomgyu dramatically pressed a hand to his chest. "Wow. No one's ever given me flowers before. I feel so special."
Soobin rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Bask in the moment while you can."
"You should’ve put more effort into your outfit if you’re taking me on a date, though," Beomgyu teased, poking at Soobin’s sweater. "What is this? Where’s the tuxedo? The three-piece suit? The effort?"
"Excuse you," Soobin said, crossing his arms. "This is the peak boyfriend experience. Do you think real boyfriends wake up in the morning and put on tuxedos for dates?"
"If they loved their significant other, they would."
"Oh, so that’s the standard?" Soobin deadpanned. "No wonder you’re single."
Beomgyu gasped in mock offense. "You are literally my boyfriend for the day, loser. Which means you are dating me right now." He smirked. "And you're already calling me single? Wow, what a great customer service."
Soobin groaned. "Do you want breakfast or not?"
Beomgyu grinned, stepping aside to grab his jacket. "Alright, Mr. Valentine’s Date-for-Hire. Where are you taking me?"
Soobin had planned everything out, but he pretended to think. "Well, my dear client," he said dramatically, "first, a very romantic brunch at the cheapest café I could find. Then, a stroll through the park where I will dramatically declare my undying love for you—"
Beomgyu rolled his eyes, but there was a small, pleased smile playing on his lips. "Wow. Sounds sooo romantic."
"You paid for this experience," Soobin reminded him, grinning. "Now let’s go before I charge you extra."
Beomgyu chuckled, shaking his head as he locked the door behind him. "Alright, alright. Lead the way, oh great Valentine-for-hire."
And with that, the day officially began.
ఌ︎.
Brunch was easy. Too easy.
They talked like they always did, throwing insults and teasing each other over pancakes and overpriced coffee. But something felt different. Maybe it was the fact that Soobin had to remind himself—every few seconds—that this wasn’t real. That this was pretend.
But then there were moments where Beomgyu’s laughter lingered a little too long, or his gaze softened in a way Soobin wasn’t used to.
And then came the park.
"So," Beomgyu said, kicking a stray pebble as they walked along the pathway. "When’s the part where you dramatically declare your love for me?"
Soobin huffed. "Give me a second. Gotta find the perfect dramatic spot."
Beomgyu snickered. "I can’t believe you’re committing to this bit."
A bench under a cherry blossom tree caught Soobin’s attention. Perfect. He grabbed Beomgyu’s wrist, pulling him toward it.
"Alright," Soobin said, clearing his throat as he dramatically dropped to one knee.
Beomgyu groaned. "Oh my God—"
"Choi Beomgyu," Soobin began, ignoring the way his heart pounded. "From the moment I met you, I knew you were special. You light up my darkest days, make my worst moments bearable, and somehow, even when you’re annoying, I can’t help but—"
He stopped.
Because Beomgyu was staring at him. Not laughing. Not teasing. Just watching him with an unreadable expression.
For a moment, Soobin forgot how to breathe.
"You can’t help but what?" Beomgyu asked softly.
The words were right there. I can’t help but love you.
But he couldn’t say it.
Because this wasn’t real.
Because Beomgyu didn’t mean it the way Soobin wished he did.
So instead, Soobin forced a grin, standing up and brushing imaginary dust off his pants. "Can’t help but think you’re the worst client I’ve ever had," he joked.
Beomgyu smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Yeah," he said. "Figures."
ఌ︎.
After brunch, they wandered into a small shopping district, browsing through random stores. Soobin was busy inspecting a ridiculously expensive matching maltese keychain when he noticed Beomgyu had stopped walking.
"What’s up?" Soobin asked, following his gaze.
Beomgyu was staring at something across the street. No—someone. A guy, about their age, holding hands with another guy as they laughed together near a flower stall. Beomgyu tilted his head, watching them with an unreadable expression.
Soobin felt something sour curl in his stomach. "Ex or something?" The words came out before he could stop them.
Beomgyu blinked and turned to him, startled. Then, to Soobin’s surprise, he smirked. "Why? You jealous?"
Soobin scoffed. "Pfft, as if. You just looked kinda... I don’t know, nostalgic or whatever."
Beomgyu snorted. "Relax, loverboy. I don’t even know them. I was just thinking."
"Thinking what?"
"How nice it must be to hold hands with someone you actually like," Beomgyu said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "You know, without needing a dumb excuse like a fake Valentine’s date."
Soobin’s heart stumbled. He was so sure Beomgyu was messing with him. But there was something in his voice, something real.
Trying to keep his cool, Soobin forced a smirk. "Well, you hired the best in the business, didn’t you?"
"Oh yeah?" Beomgyu grinned, eyes playful yet challenging. "Then prove it."
Before Soobin could react, Beomgyu grabbed his hand. Just like that. Casually. Like it was nothing.
Soobin’s brain short-circuited.
This was fine. Totally fine. Except Beomgyu’s fingers were warm, his grip was firm but comfortable, and Soobin could feel his own pulse going insane.
Beomgyu turned back to the street, their hands still linked. "Hmm. Yeah, this is nice," he mused. Then, with an infuriating smirk, he added, "You’re not blushing, are you?"
Soobin yanked his hand away so fast it made Beomgyu laugh. "Shut up," he muttered, storming ahead.
Beomgyu caught up easily, still chuckling. "Don’t worry, Soobin. You’re doing great as my fake boyfriend. Almost too great."
Soobin ignored him, but his ears were burning.
And somewhere deep down, that jealous knot in his stomach had untangled—only to be replaced by something even worse.
Hope.
ఌ︎.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Soobin kept up the act. Buying Beomgyu a stuffed bear at an arcade, giving him his hoodie when it got cold, even walking him home like a proper date would.
And yet, something was off.
Beomgyu was quieter. Less playful. Like something was weighing on his mind. Soobin felt it too. That strange tension, thick in the air between them. It wasn’t awkward, not exactly. It was charged, expectant, like they were both waiting for something. But neither of them were saying it. Neither of them were brave enough to.
By the time they reached Beomgyu’s apartment, the silence between them felt deafening.
Soobin stuffed his hands into his pockets, trying to keep his voice light. "Well. That concludes your Valentine’s Day experience," he said, forcing a grin. "Hope I was worth your money."
Beomgyu hesitated, gripping the straps of his bag. His mouth parted like he was about to say something, but nothing came out.
"Soobin—"
"Hm?"
A pause. His fingers tightened around the bunny Soobin had won him at the arcade. He wanted to get it badly because it reminded him of Soobin. It was small, plushy, kind of ridiculous actually. But he hadn’t let go of it all day.
He took a breath. "Never mind." His voice was quiet. "Thanks for today."
Soobin’s stomach twisted. He forced a smile. "Yeah. Anytime, dude."
And then, just like that, the door closed.
Soobin let out a breath, pressing a hand to his chest. His heart was pounding, his skin still tingling where Beomgyu had leaned against him earlier. He felt strung out, like something had built up inside him all day and had nowhere to go. He wanted to laugh. He wanted to scream. He wanted to bang his head against Beomgyu’s stupid apartment door because what the hell was that?
He turned, ready to leave—
But then, the door suddenly swung open again.
"Soobin, wait!"
And then before he could even react, Beomgyu grabbed him by the hoodie, yanking him forward with just enough force to send Soobin stumbling into his chest.
And then—soft lips against his.
Soobin’s brain shut down.
The kiss was quick. Hesitant. Like Beomgyu was testing the waters, like he wasn’t sure if this was something he was allowed to want. His fingers were still clenched around the fabric of Soobin’s hoodie, holding on so tightly that Soobin could feel the tremble in them.
When Beomgyu pulled away, his face was flushed, lips slightly parted like he was still processing what he just did. But he didn’t let go and he didn’t step back. Instead, he looked up at Soobin, and for once, his expression wasn’t unreadable. It was open and bare in a way that made Soobin’s chest ache.
"I think I want to hire you permanently," Beomgyu murmured, voice barely above a whisper. "No more February 14th business. Just… be mine?"
Soobin opened his mouth—then closed it—then opened it again. "I—"
Beomgyu smirked, although he can still hear the nervous tone of his voice. "Is that a yes?"
Soobin let out a breathless laugh, something helpless and overwhelmed spilling out of him all at once. His hands moved before his brain could catch up, curling around Beomgyu’s waist, pulling him closer.
"You’re gonna regret this," Soobin muttered, shaking his head as his heart was racing.
Beomgyu huffed out a small laugh, voice softer now. "I doubt it."
And then he kissed him again.
And this time, Soobin kissed him back.
ఌ︎.
Dating Beomgyu was both exactly what Soobin expected and absolutely nothing like he expected at all.
On one hand, nothing really changed. They still spent most of their time together, still bickered over the dumbest things, still stole each other’s food like they had a right to it.
But then there were the other things. The way Beomgyu reached for his hand without hesitation now, interlacing their fingers like it was the most natural thing in the world.
But perhaps the most ridiculous shift came a week after Valentine’s, when Soobin—half-asleep, curled up on Beomgyu’s couch while they watched a movie—was startled awake by a notification on his phone.
He squinted at the screen, still groggy, and then nearly choked when he saw what it was.
A new reply to that tweet.
The one that started this entire thing.
Replying to @page.soobin
@bamgyuuuu: ★★★★★ service. would recommend. too bad i can’t hire anymore since we’re dating now lol
Beomgyu who was lying next to him simply grinned, phone still in hand. "What? Just leaving an honest review."
"Please delete it," Soobin begged, already feeling the secondhand embarrassment melt his brain. This isn't how he planned to announce his relationship to his friends.
"Nope." Beomgyu stretched, smug as ever. "You should be thanking me, actually. Great marketing. Very on brand for a marketing student, don’t you think?"
"I will break up with you."
"No, you won’t." Beomgyu smirked. "You like me too much."
Soobin groaned, covering his face with his hands. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
Beomgyu tilted his head, smiling. "Love you too, by the way."
Soobin froze. His breath hitched slightly, but Beomgyu caught it, his smile turning softer.
After a long pause, Soobin grumbled under his breath, "...yeah. Love you too, idiot."
Beomgyu beamed. "See? That wasn’t so hard."
Soobin flicked his forehead. "Shut up."
Beomgyu laughed, stealing his blanket again. Soobin just sighed, resigned. Yeah. Maybe he does like Beomgyu too much.
But if it meant getting to keep this—getting to keep him—then Soobin was okay with that.
And maybe he's still broke. Maybe his wallet would never recover. But looking at Beomgyu, grinning while curled up against him like he belonged there.
Soobin figured he'd won where it really mattered.