ASTRONOMY | SEUNGJIN

28 - Unknown number

Sat in the middle of the restaurant, he patiently waits for the blind date his mother forced him to meet.

"Hyunjin??" A familiar voice called him.

"Beomgyu? Gosh, this is embarrassing," who knew that his blind date would end up being a friend from high school? Standing in front of him is the guy whom he toured around the school years ago; that's basically how their friendship started.

They end up chatting anyway, catching up on each other's lives. "I don't know how to say this, but I'm not interested in dating... at all." Hyunjin looked at Beomgyu with pleading eyes, hoping that Beomgyu wouldn't take what he said badly.

"Trust me, I know." Beomgyu laughs. "And I wouldn't want to date you, that would be awkward since we're friends."

Hyunjin was glad! Yet another unsuccessful blind date! "But I do know someone," Hyunjin forms a smile. "Here's his number; I'm sure you guys will get along!" Hyunjin hands the younger a piece of paper with the number and the owner's name written on it.

"I've received an email from a fashion company in Seoul," his manager says, showing it to Hyunjin as the painter reads. "Collaboration...?" he questions. What does fashion have to do with his paintings?

"Yes, they'd like to collaborate with you on their upcoming collection," his manager explains. "Are they asking me to paint for them or what?" Hyunjin was confused- what type of collaboration exactly? Scratching his scalp as he brings his focus back to the canvas.

"Yes, but I'm sure they weren't talking about painting on canvas; more like painting on clothes," Taehyun explains. His manager, his spokesperson, and the only other person except for Hyunjin himself who knew about Hyunjin's job- or business, Taehyun.

They met in art school, and when Hyunjin started selling paintings, he needed someone to help with the business side, so he hired Taehyun, who gladly accepted and is now working with him.

"Is that so? Should I accept it?" Then again, Hyunjin studied art, not business, unlike Taehyun, who did both, so he'd always ask Taehyun regarding things like these.

"Seems like a good opportunity, but we should set it aside first. For now, let's think about your upcoming art exhibit in Seoul, and maybe we could meet up with this company by then," Taehyun uttered, adding more things to his to-do list for this month.

"What's the name of this company anyway?" Hyunjin asked while he finished his painting with his well-known "hj" mark on the bottom left corner.

Taehyun looks back at the email to see who sent it. "It's SMK, a growing brand in Seoul that specializes in both men's and women's apparel." SMK? Hyunjin has never heard of that "Growing? Is it new?" he asks again.

"Apparently, the company used to be a famous brand about five years ago and was just recently rebranded for disclosed reasons," Taehyun says, revealing more things about this company. Hyunjin was glad he had Taehyun; he does so much for him.

"Hello...?" An unknown number called his phone.

"Is this Taehyun?"

Beomgyu mutters, shy but still continuing to talk. If this is a random old man, he was totally going to kill Hyunjin. Though, his voice sounded pretty young.

"Yes, that would be me."

"Oh! Good, uhm... A friend of mine gave me your number, and, uh..."

Palms sweaty, he was running out of words to say. Why was he nervous? He's the one here desperately looking for a date.

"Wanna hang out?"

Beomgyu blurts out. Taehyun, on the other hand, was still figuring out who this friend was that gave his number to a stranger! Who was he kidding? He knew exactly who it was.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" He asks, keeping his attitude as nice as possible.

"No, probably not, but Hyunjin-"

"Hyunjin! I knew it! What did he say?"

"Well, uhm, long story short, I'm looking for a date and he gave me your number so..."

Of course, Hyunjin would give his number to a random person he didn't know. Hyunjin would always tell him to take a break from work and do something else- who knew he meant dating?

Don't get him wrong, he loves the older; he's pretty much a big brother to him, but why does Hyunjin care so much about him drowning himself in work when he'd do the same? Talk about hypocrisy.

Well, if Hyunjin was this desperate, then maybe Taehyun should give it a try...? The guy he was talking to seemed nice, so why not?

"Is that so? Wanna meet up then?"

Beomgyu's lips formed a smile, finally! If this works out, he won't have to do the arranged marriage his family is forcing him to.

"Sure! I'll send the details! Beomgyu, by the way,"

Cute... He's suddenly all jolly now. As soon as the call ended, Taehyun dialed the older.

"I'm literally about to sleep, if this is about the paintin-"

"Who is Beomgyu, and why did you give him my number?"