THE BLIND DATE MIX-UP||L.HS X P.SH

F I V E

CHAPTER FIVE: PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK

Sunghoon had never been more paranoid in his life. For the past few days, he’d done everything he could to avoid Heeseung. It was like playing a never-ending game of hide and seek—except Heeseung didn’t know he was supposed to be looking for him. Sunghoon had taken to ducking behind corners, slipping into meeting rooms, and taking the long way around just to avoid even a chance encounter with his new boss.

If I just keep a low profile, he’ll eventually forget about me… right?

Unfortunately, fate—or rather, corporate responsibilities—was not on his side.

“Park Sunghoon! Meeting with Mr. Lee in ten minutes!” a voice rang through the office.

Sunghoon nearly fell out of his chair. He glanced around frantically, searching for an escape route, but there was none. His meeting with Heeseung had been scheduled, and there was no avoiding it. He was screwed.

Minji appeared at his desk, crossing her arms with an amused smirk. “You look like you just saw a ghost. What’s the problem now?”

“I… I can’t go,” Sunghoon stammered, eyes wide with panic.

“You can’t skip a meeting with the VP. Are you insane?” Minji scolded, giving him a light smack on the arm. “Just go in there, do your job, and stop acting like a weirdo. He doesn’t remember you. You’re safe.”

Sunghoon opened his mouth to protest, but Minji had already started walking away, shaking her head in exasperation.

🖇📌

Heeseung glanced at his watch. The meeting was about to begin, but there was no sign of Sunghoon. He smirked to himself. Late again?

His new secretary was an enigma. On one hand, Sunghoon was diligent and organized—everything you’d expect from someone in his position. But on the other hand, the guy was also an absolute mess when it came to being around Heeseung. Heeseung could sense the anxiety in every interaction, the nervous stammering, the awkward pauses. It was as if Sunghoon was terrified of him.

It’s not like I’m that scary, am I? Heeseung thought, chuckling softly.

But underneath that, there was something else—a weird sense of recognition that Heeseung still couldn’t shake. He knew Sunghoon from somewhere, but the memory eluded him, slipping through his fingers every time he tried to grasp it. It was frustrating.

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door.

“Come in,” Heeseung called, his voice calm and composed.

The door opened, and Sunghoon stepped inside, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else but there. He clutched his tablet as if it were a life preserver, eyes darting around the room as if he were searching for an escape route.

“You’re late,” Heeseung said mildly, though there was a hint of amusement in his tone.

“S-Sorry about that,” Sunghoon mumbled, quickly taking a seat in front of the desk. “It won’t happen again.”

Heeseung smiled, watching as Sunghoon fumbled with his tablet, trying to pull up the necessary documents. “You seem nervous. Relax, Sunghoon. It’s just a meeting.”

Easy for you to say, Sunghoon thought, his stomach in knots. “I’m fine,” he lied, forcing a smile. “Just… a little busy today.”

Heeseung leaned back in his chair, eyeing Sunghoon curiously. “You’ve been avoiding me, haven’t you?”

Sunghoon’s head snapped up, eyes wide in panic. “W-What? No! Of course not. Why would I—”

“You’ve been running around the office like you’re afraid I’m going to bite,” Heeseung continued, smirking slightly. “Do I make you nervous?”

Sunghoon’s mind went blank. He wasn’t sure what was worse: admitting that he was terrified of Heeseung because of their awkward blind date, or lying and making things worse. Either way, he was cornered.

“I-I’m just… adjusting to the new role,” Sunghoon stammered, hoping that excuse would suffice. “Lots of responsibilities, you know?”

Heeseung raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced, but he let it go. “Right. Well, about those responsibilities…”

As Heeseung launched into a discussion about the upcoming corporate restructuring, Sunghoon tried his best to focus. He scribbled down notes on his tablet, nodding along as if he understood every word. But his mind kept wandering.

I just need to survive this meeting. Just get through this, and everything will be fine.

But of course, Sunghoon’s luck had other plans.

🖇📌

Heeseung noticed the distracted look in Sunghoon’s eyes and decided to test the waters. He slid a document across the table.

“Here. You’ll need to handle this personally.”

Sunghoon glanced at the document, then back at Heeseung. “What is it?”

“It’s a proposal for a new partnership we’re working on. You’ll be dealing with the client directly.”

Sunghoon swallowed hard. “Me? Personally?”

Heeseung smirked, leaning forward slightly. “Yes, you. Is that a problem?”

Yes, it’s a huge problem! Sunghoon thought, but he quickly shook his head. “No, no problem at all. I’ll… I’ll take care of it.”

“Good.” Heeseung’s gaze lingered on Sunghoon for a moment longer, and Sunghoon could feel the weight of it. It was like Heeseung was studying him, trying to figure him out. And it was making Sunghoon’s skin crawl.

“I’ll expect an update by the end of the week,” Heeseung added, leaning back in his chair once again.

Sunghoon nodded, eager to get out of there as quickly as possible. “Of course. I’ll get right on it.”

He quickly gathered his things and stood up, ready to make his escape. But just as he turned to leave, Heeseung’s voice stopped him in his tracks.

“Sunghoon.”

Sunghoon froze, his hand on the doorknob. “Yes?”

Heeseung’s gaze was unreadable, but there was a glint of something in his eyes—amusement, curiosity, or maybe something else entirely. “I’m still trying to figure out where I know you from.”

Sunghoon’s heart skipped a beat. Oh no, not this again.

“I told you,” Sunghoon said, forcing a laugh. “We’ve never met before.”

Heeseung tilted his head slightly, studying him for a long moment before nodding. “Right. You can go.”

Sunghoon didn’t need to be told twice. He bolted out of the office, his heart pounding in his chest. He barely made it back to his desk before collapsing into his chair, letting out a long, shaky breath.

He’s going to figure it out. It’s only a matter of time.

Minji wandered over, her eyebrow raised at Sunghoon’s pale face. “What happened this time?”

“He knows,” Sunghoon whispered, his voice barely audible. “I’m sure of it.”

Minji rolled her eyes. “You’re being ridiculous. He doesn’t know anything.”

But Sunghoon wasn’t so sure. The way Heeseung looked at him, the way he kept bringing up the blind date—it was all too much. He could feel the walls closing in around him, and there was no way out.

I just have to keep pretending. As long as I keep my head down, I’ll be fine… right?

But deep down, Sunghoon knew that his luck was running out.