Love Beyond Expectations

Chapter 4: Digital Dating Dilemma

The fluorescent lights of XenoLogic Tech buzzed overhead, casting a clinical glow over the sea of cubicles. Suho's gaze was fixed on his computer screen, the colorful interface of a dating app painting his face in hues of hope and skepticism. The app's algorithms promised compatibility and connection, yet Suho felt like he was searching for a signal in static.

Brett, his coworker and office gaming enthusiast, was regaling him with tales from his latest virtual adventure. "So there I was, facing the Lich King himself, ready to claim the Frostmourne," Brett said with a grin, his hands animating the epic battle.

"And then my cat jumped on the keyboard and cast the wrong spell!" he finished, laughing at the absurdity of his midnight raid gone awry.

Brett's gaze shifted from his screen to Suho's, his expression turning quizzical. "What are you doing?" he inquired, peering over the partition with unabashed curiosity.

"I'm looking for a girlfriend," Suho confessed, a mixture of resignation and defiance in his voice.

Brett leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "Why? I've been single my whole life and look how fine I turned out," he proclaimed, sweeping a hand down his attire with a flourish.

Suho's eyes traveled over Brett's ensemble, taking in the half-tucked shirt, the glaring SpongeBob SquarePants socks, and the hint of underwear peeking out—a wardrobe that defied time and trend. The relic of glasses completed the image, giving Brett the air of a character straight out of a 90s sitcom.

"Yeah, perfectly fine," Suho replied, the dryness in his tone rivaling the arid Sahara.

Unperturbed, Brett straightened up, an idea lighting up his eyes. "Well, my sister is single. You should take her out."

Suho paused, considering the proposition. The threat of losing his inheritance loomed over him, a shadow cast by his family's expectations. "Well, if that's what it takes," he said, the words heavy with the weight of his situation.

As he clicked through profiles, the code he usually manipulated with such ease now seemed like an enigma when applied to the human heart. In the world of data and analytics, where patterns and predictions were his forte, the unpredictable nature of love was the one variable Suho couldn't quantify.

And so, amid the buzz of servers and the soft clatter of keyboards, Suho set out on his quest, not for legendary weapons or epic loot, but for something far more elusive—a connection that could stand the test of reality and the scrutiny of a mother's expectations.

The hum of productivity at XenoLogic Tech was suddenly shattered by a boisterous clap that landed simultaneously on Suho and Brett's shoulders. Both men yelped, jolted from their screens by the unexpected intrusion.

Briley, the office 'meathead' as affectionately termed by some, loomed over them. His presence was as polished as his demeanor, towering and slender, embodying the kind of clean-cut, prep school aesthetic that was meticulously maintained. His dark brown hair, each strand seemingly combed into submission, complimented the tailored lines of his business casual attire. His well-defined features, strong jawline, and piercing blue eyes gave him an air of conventional success.

With a grin that bordered on smug, Briley was the picture of self-assuredness. He leaned back, his hands in his pockets, as if the world and everyone in it were part of his curated stage.

"You don't want to date 'his' sister," Briley said, nodding towards Brett with a chuckle. "If you have kids, they're going to come out looking like SpongeBob SquarePants."

"Hey!" Brett interjected, a flush creeping up his neck, his sense of humor failing to extend to family.

Ignoring the retort, Briley turned his attention back to Suho, a conspiratorial gleam in his eye. "What you need, my man, is a date with one of the chicks from my Greek life circle back in college."

He pulled out his phone with the swiftness of a magician revealing a trick and started scrolling. "Here, her name is Bexy," he announced, flipping his screen to display a gallery of photos that left little to the imagination. "She's a party girl. How about I set you up for next Thursday?"

Brett, who'd been watching the exchange with a mix of amusement and envy, chimed in. "Damn. You have anyone for me?"

The look Briley shot him was dry, an arid desert to Brett's hopeful oasis. "Not anyone that would be interested in you, Viscount Vex," he quipped, a nickname born from Brett's online gaming handle and a nod to his less than mainstream appeal.

"But I—" Suho tried to interject, his reservations about this setup growing by the second.

However, Briley was already on the move, his attention snatched away by another coworker, a redhead whose desk he approached with the same confident swagger.

Left in the wake of Briley's departure, Suho and Brett exchanged a glance. Brett's was resigned, a silent acknowledgment of his place in the social hierarchy. Suho's was filled with a complex mix of apprehension and curiosity, his mind racing with the implications of a blind date orchestrated by the likes of Briley.

The fluorescent lights above flickered momentarily, casting a stroboscopic light over the scene, illuminating the contrast between the world of data algorithms and the unpredictable nature of human connections. In the end, Suho realized, no amount of coding could anticipate the outcome of hearts colliding, whether in the digital realm or the real one.

In the wake of Briley's departure, the silence returned to Suho and Brett's corner of the office—a silence that seemed louder after the interruption. Suho stared at the vacant space where Briley had just stood, the afterimage of Bexy's Instagram profile still burned into his retinas.

Brett leaned over, "Man, a setup with Bexy," he whistled, a mix of admiration and jest in his tone. "She's so out of your league, Suho."

Suho blinked, his attention snapping back to Brett. "I don't know about leagues," he mumbled, "but this isn't really my style."

Brett shrugged, turning back to his monitor where the World of Warcraft login screen awaited his return. "You never know, dude. She could be the one to make your mom lay off the marriage pressure."

The idea seemed as far-fetched to Suho as finding the Holy Grail in a cereal box. "Or she could be the reason I end up disowned," he replied, half-joking, half-serious.

The two men fell into a rhythm of comfortable silence, each lost in their thoughts. Suho's mind wandered back to the mysterious woman on the subway, her presence a stark contrast to the party girl Briley was peddling. He couldn't quite pinpoint why the thought of her was so grounding amidst this talk of setups and dates.

Brett's voice broke through his reverie. "If it's any consolation, my sister's not that bad," he said, a grin creeping back onto his face.

Suho managed a small smile. "Thanks, Brett. But I think I'll take my chances with the algorithms for now."

The click-clack of keyboards filled the space between them as they settled back into their work. Suho's gaze drifted to the lines of code on his screen, a language he understood, a world he could control. Unlike the messy unpredictability of human relationships, these strings of characters did exactly what he asked of them.

As the day wore on, the office buzzed with the sound of productivity. Suho couldn't shake the feeling of being a square peg being shoved into a round hole by Briley's well-meaning yet misguided matchmaking attempt.

"Hey, Suho," Brett said, breaking the silence once more. "Whatever happens, just be yourself, man. That's the guy any girl would be lucky to date."

Suho nodded, Brett's words a buoy in a sea of doubt. As the clock ticked towards the end of the workday, Suho made a decision. He would meet Bexy, but on his terms. He would be the Suho that enjoyed quiet evenings, that loved hacking and solving complex problems—not the one Briley thought should exist.

With a newfound resolve, Suho powered down his computer and grabbed his jacket. He would face tomorrow when it came, with all its uncertainties and potential. For now, he had an algorithm to crack, and perhaps, in time, a heart to win over—his own.