ihwa | hyunchan

07, lunch dates

It is a lovely Saturday morning. Although the crisp autumn breeze makes the temperature cool, the sun is shining brightly. It's the perfect day to hang out with friends or spend time with family.

Hyunjin was already awake, though the time was only half past nine. He has a lunch appointment at 12 with none other than Mr. Kim. Yes, this is wrong on so many levels, but somehow, he has to keep his customers. He sometimes goes on lunch or dinner dates, shopping trips, and even small travels with his guests. This is quite dangerous, as one of the most important rules of his bar is that meeting guests outside is prohibited. Though many boys ignore this rule, it could still get him in trouble if someone recognized him and ratted him out to the manager; it might even cost him his job. Losing this job would literally mean the end, as this is already Hyunjin's last option to provide for himself.

The boy started to get ready to meet Mr. Kim. First, he had to remove yesterday's makeup since he was so tired after last night with Bang Chan. For the last couple of weeks, he had no energy to do anything. Taking care of himself and his environment became so overwhelming. His face, hair, and his whole apartment were a huge mess. Unwashed dishes towered up in the sink; his fridge was mostly empty, with only a few expired items remaining. Dirty clothes were scattered all over the floor, while the clean laundry was now just a big pile of clothes resting on the couch, waiting to be folded and put in the wardrobe. It made him sad how he finally had this beautiful apartment but couldn't keep it organized. All he wanted was a neat place, but how could he keep it tidy if his mind and whole life were a mess?

As he was getting dressed, the boy kept thinking of Bang Chan. While he put on his makeup and good-looking outfit, he wished he could be meeting Bang Chan instead of his actual lunch date. Though he felt uncomfortable knowing who he was going to meet, he had to admit he was excited about the restaurant itself. It had been a while since Hyunjin had a normal meal. He'd been living off cheap fast food, instant noodles, and frozen pizzas. When he occasionally visited the grocery store, he tried to look for cheap items or discounted food about to reach its expiry date, but the outcome was usually that it eventually expired in Hyunjin's home as he had no energy to prepare any dish. The only thing Hyunjin was consuming regularly was alcohol, and it started to take a toll on both his physical and mental health. His nutrient deficiencies became more obvious as the days went on, as did his developing depression.

Mr. Kim came to pick up Hyunjin. This wasn't the first time he had seen the man's car, but he was still fascinated by the beautiful vehicle. It was a beige Mercedes S-Class with a white interior, one of the newest models. This car cost more than all the money his parents had spent on him during his whole life—something Hyunjin could only dream of having. The boy opened the door and took his seat. The old man welcomed Hyunjin with a kiss, which caught the boy totally off guard. Uneasy, he kissed back but shortly after pulled away. No fancy lunch or luxury car ride comes without a price. To make sure his suffering had some benefit, he took a few selfies at an angle that showcased the interior well, so he'd at least have some proof of sitting in such an expensive car.

In the restaurant, the two talked about family, work, and relationships. Hyunjin felt compelled to use his higher-pitched, more seductive voice, though he feared others at nearby tables could hear him. He didn't want to be seen eating with a man who was about double his age, especially not acting cute in front of him. The other customers in the restaurant might even think Hyunjin was spending time with his dad. He always felt self-conscious, thinking everyone was staring at him while he was with his older customer, though in reality, nobody really cared. Soon, the restaurant started to get full as it was peak lunch hour.

The boy's eyes widened to double their size when he noticed two very familiar faces entering. One of them was Bang Chan, and his companion—Hyunjin's best friend—Jeongin. His head filled with questions. How do the two even know each other? What's the purpose of them coming here? Are they dating? If yes, then why has his friend never mentioned anything about his possible crush? Why does Bang Chan visit a host bar all the time if he has someone? Is he cheating on Jeongin? How long has this been going on? More and more questions began to storm his mind, and he just wanted to leave before the two could notice him. He felt angry and disappointed, both at his friend and at Bang Chan.