The Fake Date x Goo Kim

10

You get out of the shower and put on Goo's clothes. Tying the waistband of the sweatpants as far as they can go so they won't fall off of you, and trying to sit the shirt across your shoulders but to no avail as it keeps slipping down your left shoulder.

You sigh and realize that there is no hairbrush for you to comb your hair and that there also isn't a toothbrush for you. Although thinking any of these thoughts isn't exactly helping your case, considering you did show up at his house unannounced.

You tidy the bathroom as best you can before leaving and going to find Goo to ask if he has a spare toothbrush and hairbrush that you could use while you're here. However, once you leave the bathroom the house seems oddly quiet.

You shout out to Goo to ask him the questions, but no response. You wonder if this is the part of your earlier thoughts where your father comes through the door and takes you home. But again you say to yourself that he doesn't know you're here, he thinks you're at a friend's house. Either way, you don't have a choice but to wait and see what happens. So you sit on his sofa and go on your phone.

Another 15 minutes goes by and then Goo comes through the door, almost tripping on himself, until you see he's holding some bags. Goo looks up and sees that you're out of the shower. Meanwhile, you're looking at him trying to not laugh as he did almost fall over. Then you take in his appearance, only for a few seconds. His hair is still wet but neat enough and he's in regular no name brand clothes with his glasses on.

Trying to ignore that he almost fell, he nonchalantly takes off his shoes and hands you one of the two bags. With a gesture of his head, you know that this is somehow his way of saying 'open it' and so you do just that.

Inside the bag is everything you might need to stay at his place for a night, or by the looks of things, maybe more. There's a hairbrush, toothbrush, some makeup wipes, hair ties, deodorant, everything that you might need and more. You're left speechless.

But it doesn't end there, Goo motions for another bag, the bag he almost tripped on. You pick it up and see that it's another regular black bag, as if he also got it from the convenience store. In this bag though is clothes. Some luxury brands sit in the bag like Dior and Saint Laurent and then some regular clothes like a plain black hoodie and ripped blue jeans.

You look at Goo in shock, complete and utter shock. Clearly it was evident on your face and he realized that because he spoke, in a calm yet unconcerned tone.

"I know you said you needed a place to stay for tonight, but I figured it couldn't hurt to buy a few things in case you're in this...predicament again". He then stopped speaking for a few seconds and added onto the initial sentence.

"Also I'll be invoicing you for the clothes. They were expensive after all". You pause for a second to look at him and he's entirely serious. By this point you can't help but laugh uncontrollably, he does the same after seeing you practically doubled over. But he also reiterates that he's in fact entirely serious about invoicing you.

You don't fight him, instead you transfer the money that he asks for because you didn't want to hear him complain if it came to that. Once all was said and done, you both sat down, not saying a word, rather you both soaked up the silence. The odd thing was, the silence wasn't eerie, rather it was tranquil and you both could feel it. You sat like that for a good few minutes before Goo finally asked the question that you would rather not answer, at least for tonight.

"So why are you here?"

"Well, I needed time away and given everything that happened today I think it's only fitting that I come and stay at my 'boyfriends' house, don't you think?" You say jokingly, trying to avoid the question, while also answering it and trying to sound lighthearted.

"True, very true. I mean what type of 'boyfriend' would let their 'girlfriend' spend a night out on the streets, especially when there's a downpour, even if they might have wanted them to"

You look at Goo after he speaks, registering the last part of his sentence. Then he laughs and you join him. You both continue to talk, not about your father, not about what happened today, but just talk. It started with the weather, then how you got here and about why Goo went out and bought you clothes and such. Then the conversation turned to your feelings, more specifically about Gun.

"Listen, I get that you have this weird fascination with Gun. But of all people to choose from to date, HIM!?" Goo says in a confused and mocking way.

Feeling a sense of deja vu, you try to steer away from the topic but he keeps coming back round to it. Eventually you think Goo is done when he gets up, but instead he comes back with a bottle of wine and two glasses.

You look at him with a disappointed look on your face given you're both underage, but you feel like you need it and you figure that your father would be fine with it even if he did find out, since he does give you drinks at home. So once the bottle is open and there's a half full glass that's being handed to you, you oblige and take it from Goo.

You swirl the glass around a few times before taking a drink, it's not as bitter as other red wines you've had and so you pick up the bottle. Black raspberry. Huh, at least Goo has good taste.

You put the bottle back down and take another sip, then your mind slips back to the earlier conversation about Gun. You take one last sip and then you start to speak.

"I guess the fascination comes from the fact that Gun understands me. I don't know how to explain it, but he does. I don't like that he does, but then again he has been with me for so long that I can't exactly deny the obvious. There's also him being, well...mysterious I guess. You've both been with me and my father for so long that I can't help but wonder about him, about what he was like in Japan. I mean I know some bits and pieces but nothing substantial. I don't think anyone knows about Gun's past fully apart from my father and some people that came to Korea to kill him for what he's done to them. I think that's why, but who knows really" You say this and turn to Goo, he's leaning forward, attentively listening to every word you're saying and you appreciate it.

"Again, true, but what about me?" Goo asks.

"Huh?" You say confused about what he's asking.

"I mean much like you said, ME and Gun have been with you and your father for so long now, so aren't you curious about me, or is it just Gun?" Goo asks, as if trying to pry some of your feelings out on what you think about him.

For some reason with that question, you feel your heart start to race slightly. You ignore it and start to think. You think about what you're going to say, if you're going to tell him what you're thinking right now, if you're going to stretch the truth a little, or, if you're going to lie to him. You have another sip of your wine, sigh, and then settle on telling him the truth.

"Sure, I've been curious about you as well, but not as much as Gun. It's also not like I could have asked you this and that about yourself though. I mean we hated each other and I think partially we still do. We have this whole bargain, fake dating thing going on obviously. Which we each get benefits out of. You piss off Gun, I get his attention and also see if he might have at least some feelings for me. But it's not like we actually care about each other. I mean we never have really. From the time that we first met each other, we've just never..clicked. At least I don't think we have. I also honestly think that in the past 2 days, we've spoken more to each other than in the past 2 almost 3 years that we've known each other. It's funny though. I mean thinking back, I don't think there was ever a time when we were in the same proximity and didn't argue. Yet right now, we're sitting down, having a drink, while also holding a regular open and honest conversation with one another. It's a miracle if you really think about it".

After saying everything you think about Goo and your relationship with him, you feel some sort of weight lift from your shoulders. As if this has been burdening you for a while and you're glad it's out now. You look up from the wine glass to see that Goo is still looking at you and listening to you so attentively. Then he speaks.

"What if this entire time, I've never hated you?"