oneshots • nctdream x aespa

blind date 🐶💙

Jeno decided his friends sucks. Just because he chooses not to date someone right now doesn't mean he can't get a date.

And really, just because everyone is being paired up does not mean that he needs a significant other too. He's fine being single. Absolutely fine.

Okay, maybe he mentioned once or twice, while slightly tipsy, to Jaemin that it would be nice to have someone. And maybe once or twice had been 4 hours nonstop and slightly tipsy had been shitfaced drunk, and maybe, just maybe there had been some tears, but really none of this justified what his friends had done.

He tucked his white dress shirt into his pants and gave himself a look in the mirror. Well, it wouldn't get better. Renjun had picked out his outfit and left express instructions on how to wear it, how to do his hair, and which cologne to wear.

He looked as good as he was ever going to look. Hopefully his date would not think he was too much of a loser for being set up on a blind date by his friends.

He was so fucked.

He got to the restaurant twenty minutes too early and had to wait in his car like an idiot.

Jeno sighed and leaned his head against the window of his Jeep, staring out into the parking lot. He hoped his date would be nice. He could really do with a good dating experience once. So far, his luck has been abysmal, to say the least.

He had no idea what to expect tonight. Jaemin hadn't told him much, and Jeno had been counting on him being the weak link in this setup. He had only said that Jeno just needed to be himself and that he would be absolutely fine.

He let his eyes wander across the parked cars, and he saw a familiar dark blue SUV ahead. Oh god, he did not need to be stuck in a restaurant on a terrible date while Yu Jimin watched him get humiliated.

At five minutes to seven, he finally entered the restaurant.

"Mr. Lee Jeno?" the attendant immediately asked and led him to a table without waiting for a real confirmation from him. Clearly, Renjun had done some prep work here too.

The table was in the back of the restaurant, barely visible for the rest of the patrons. Jeno immediately relaxed somewhat. At least his fear of running into Jimin and embarrassing himself in front of his colleague was gone.

He took a seat and settled in to wait. He knew nothing about his blind date. He didn't even know if it was a guy or a girl. Damn, Jaemin really should not be able to keep a secret from him that well.

Jeno looked up as someone slid into the booth across from him.

"Hi," said Yu Jimin. The Yu Jimin, who wore a perfectly tailored dark blue dress, left her collarbone exposed. Yu Jimin, who had her hair done in a wavy style that also looked soft at the same time, Yu Jimin, who was giving him a nervous, sweet smile. And fuck, life was unfair.

"Is this a joke?" Jeno asked.

Jimin's face fell. Damn.

"Is it?" Jeno asked again. "Because I don't think I can handle this being a joke?"

"It's not a joke," Jimin said quietly. "But I can leave if you want me to?" She sounded unsure—nothing like Jimin had ever sounded in the entire time Jeno had known her.

"No," he rushed to say. It wasn't a joke. He was on an actual date with Jimin. This is an actual date. Holy shit!

Jimin somehow relaxed, and Jeno noted that she was just as tense about this whole thing as he was.

"Are you nervous? Because I'm nervous." Oh God, why was he talking?

"Yeah, actually," Jimin replies. Oh.

"Uh?" Jeno had no idea what to say. "This is silly, right? This isn't a first date. I mean, yes, it's a first date. But it's also not. I know you. You know me. I don't know how to be on a first date with you."

"Maybe we can just have dinner and see how that goes?"

•

It went well. Amazingly well.  Jeno did end up embarrassing himself in front of Jimin. A lot, actually. But she laughed heartily when he spilled his drink on the table and the tomato sauce all over himself.

They talked until the waiter kept shooting them impatient glances. Then they went for a walk and kept talking.

And by the time they went back to their cars, Jeno had mustered up enough courage to press a quick, dry kiss to Jimin's right cheek.

And she froze.

Oh crap, he had messed it up. Jeno mentally smacked himself.

"If I were you, I'd turn around and leave. Right now," Jimin said softly under her breath.

"Nosy people," Jimin sighed almost fondly, before leaning in and slotting her upper lips between Jeno's parted ones. Jeno was, of course, shocked, to say the least.

"The pack was spying on us, weren't they?" he murmured between kisses.

"Yeah."

"All evening?"

"Yeah," Jimin admitted with an uncomfortable shrug.

"But now they're not?" Jeno asked, wanting to make sure. Some things were private. Even in a pack.

"Now they're not," Jimin agreed.

"Good. Then let's get back to this kissing thing." He pressed his lips back against Jimin's, not even giving her a chance to respond.

They didn't actually get into their cars for a while.