Love Beyond Expectations

Chapter 12: A Shiny Smile

The rhythmic clatter of the subway car blended with the low hum of conversations as it made its way through the underground veins of the city. Suho, his mind still echoing with his mother's skeptical questions about his "fake girlfriend," spotted Zuri entering the train. She met his eyes with a small smile and chose a seat at the other end of the car, a "Justice for Palestine" T-shirt adorning her frame, and a Nike duffel bag slung over her shoulder.

Suho pocketed his phone, pausing the Daily Show episode with Trevor Noah he had been watching. This, he knew, was more important. He made his way to Zuri, taking the seat next to her. A faint, pleasant aroma wafted from her hair, a blend of coconut and flowers that seemed to weave a subtle spell of calm around her.

"Hey," Suho greeted her with a tentative smile, aware of the unconventional nature of their alliance.

"Hi," Zuri responded, her smile widening a bit, easing the awkwardness of the situation.

Suho took a deep breath, diving straight into the matter at hand. "So, neither of our families believed our... arrangement," he said, a hint of wry humor in his voice.

Zuri chuckled. "Yeah, my mom's already planning the wedding," she joked, though her eyes reflected the absurdity of their predicament.

Suho nodded, understanding all too well. "Well, speaking of parents, my mom wants to invite you over for dinner tomorrow night. I think we should probably get to know each other a bit more before that. To make it more... believable."

"Agreed," Zuri said, her brows arching in amusement. "So, we meet back here at the station after work?"

"That works," Suho replied. "We could find a place to go afterward, talk more."

They exchanged phone numbers, a digital handshake sealing their temporary partnership. "I guess this is what undercover agents feel like," Zuri mused, a playful note in her voice.

Suho laughed, the sound mingling with the ambient noise of the train. "Yeah, if undercover agents dealt with matchmaking mothers and family dinners."

The train slowed to a stop, and Zuri stood up, her duffel bag in hand. "This is me," she said, nodding towards the opening doors.

"See you tomorrow, then. Zuri Davis," Suho said, emphasizing her name, a symbol of their newfound acquaintance.

"See you, Suho Kim," Zuri replied, stepping out into the station.

As the doors closed and the train pulled away, Suho leaned back in his seat, his mind a whirl of thoughts. What had started as a desperate ploy to appease his family was evolving into something far more interesting. He couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity about Zuri, this stranger who was now his accomplice in a harmless deception. The journey ahead promised to be anything but dull.

Suho walked into the office, the buzz of conversation and the aroma of assorted dishes filling the air. Today was the work potluck at XenoLogic Tech, an event that blended the flavors of diverse culinary talents – and in some cases, a lack thereof. Suho realized with a sinking feeling that he had forgotten to bring a homemade meal, a social faux pas in the making.

Brett, known for his awkward charm, had brought chicken wings. It was common knowledge that Brett's culinary skills were... questionable, at best. Hence, no one expected a gourmet dish from him, and he was given a pass. He was currently deep in conversation with three of the receptionists, trying his best to appear smooth and knowledgeable. "Yeah, I'm very particular about where I get my meat. I have to make sure it's free-range chicken, I know where the meat comes from—"

"You know the name of the cow," Briley interjected with a grin, not missing the opportunity to poke fun at Brett.

The receptionists, including Gale, who recently came out as non-binary, burst into laughter at Briley's comment. Suho approached the group just in time to catch the tail end of the conversation.