Texting Mr. Wrong | HAOBIN

07: "I've got my eye on you now"

Hanbin sat up on the studio floor, rubbing his temples, trying to figure out what to do next. His phone lay beside him, still buzzing occasionally with more ridiculous texts from Zhang Hao, who now seemed determined to become his "mistress." This was getting way out of hand.

Wait a second, Hanbin thought. Didn't Zhang Hao say he got his number from... Ricky?

That's it! He had to call Ricky and get to the bottom of this madness. Without wasting any time, Hanbin grabbed his phone and quickly dialed Ricky's number, muttering to himself, "This better not be what I think it is."

After a few rings, the phone finally connected, but instead of a proper greeting, he heard a muffled noise on the other end.

"Ricky?" Hanbin raised an eyebrow, confused. "Why are you talking like that?"

There was a weird spitting noise on the other end, followed by Ricky's voice. "Oh! Sorry, hyung, I was brushing my teeth. I just woke up."

Hanbin narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Wait, did you drink last night?"

There was a pause. Ricky's silence was the kind that screamed guilt. Before Hanbin could say anything more, Ricky suddenly exploded into a rapid-fire explanation, practically in one breath.

"I am so sorry, hyung! I swear I didn't mean to give your number to a stranger! Hao-ge just asked for Jiwoong's number, and I must have mixed it up! But Zhang Hao's really a nice guy, hyung! He's a friend from China, and he wouldn't cause any trouble, I promise!"

Hanbin blinked, trying to process Ricky's word vomit. "So you're telling me this guy, Zhang Hao, is your friend... and you accidentally gave him my number instead of Kim Jiwoong's?"

Ricky made a small, guilty sound on the other end. "Yes...?"

Hanbin sighed deeply. "Well, Ricky, this 'nice guy' of yours has been completely out of control. He's been texting me all morning, acting like I'm a real old grandpa, and now-now, Ricky-he says he's ready to be my mistress."

There was a sudden silence on the other end of the line. Then Ricky let out a strange snort, followed by a barely contained laugh.

"Ricky." Hanbin's tone was sharp. "Don't. You. Dare."

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Ricky choked out, but Hanbin could still hear him trying hard not to burst into laughter. "I just-mistress? Hyung, seriously?"

"Yes, seriously!" Hanbin threw his hands up in frustration, even though Ricky couldn't see him. "I was just messing with him, pretending to be an old man, and now he's sending me heart emojis and saying he doesn't care if I have grandkids!"

Ricky wheezed on the other end. "Oh, man, this is... this is too much."

"I'm not joking! He's really not getting the message!" Hanbin sighed again. "Is this Zhang Hao guy... y'know... gay?"

Ricky seemed to pause, considering the question. "Uh, I think he's bi? I'm not entirely sure. He never really said anything specific. Why?"

Hanbin groaned. "Because he's acting like he's really in love with me, and I need to know if I'm about to break some poor guy's heart."

Ricky was silent for a moment, and then finally, in a more serious tone, he said, "Look, hyung, Zhang Hao's not a bad guy. He's just a bit... dramatic sometimes. But he's cool. Just explain it to him properly, say it was a joke, and apologize. I'm sure he'll get it once he realizes what's going on."

Hanbin sighed, rubbing his face with his free hand. "I tried, Ricky. I've already told him a dozen times that I'm not Kim Jiwoong, but he's still going on about it."