Inspired by Songs.......Gongfourz Oneshots (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Mastermind

What if I told you I'm a mastermind?
And now you're mine
It was all my design
'Cause I'm a mastermind

The first meeting was perfect.

It was a gala neither of them wanted to attend, but fate—or so it seemed—brought them together.

Taesan was leaning against the balcony railing, nursing a glass of champagne and looking out at the city lights. He didn't notice Leehan at first, standing a few feet away with a glass of sparkling water.

"Beautiful view," Leehan commented softly, his voice cutting through the stillness.

Taesan glanced over, his lips curving into a small smile. "It is. Not as stuffy out here, either."

Leehan chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Escaping the crowd?"

"You caught me." Taesan turned fully, offering a handshake. "Han Taesan."

Leehan took it, his grip firm but warm. "Kim Leehan."

From that moment, the world seemed to conspire to keep them crossing paths.

The café encounter was nothing short of cinematic.

Taesan had just walked out of the rain, shaking droplets from his coat. The café was crowded, but there was one open seat—directly across from Leehan.

"Mind if I sit here?" Taesan asked, his tone polite but weary.

Leehan looked up from his book, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Not at all."

They exchanged a few words, just enough to establish familiarity, but Taesan's attention was drawn to the title of Leehan's book.

"The Republic? You're into philosophy?"

Leehan shrugged. "Something about it feels timeless. What about you?"

Taesan chuckled. "More into fiction, but I've dabbled. Maybe you can recommend something."

Leehan smiled, but his heart raced. The book hadn't been a casual choice—it was Taesan's favorite, something he'd learned from a mutual acquaintance.

Another day, another coincidence.

This time, it was a shared umbrella during a sudden downpour.

Taesan was caught without one, standing under an awning and checking the weather app on his phone when Leehan appeared, umbrella in hand.

"Taesan?"

Taesan looked up, startled. "Leehan! Fancy meeting you here."

Leehan grinned, holding the umbrella out. "Need a rescue?"

Taesan hesitated for only a moment before stepping under the umbrella. Their shoulders brushed, and the warmth of Leehan's presence chased away the chill of the rain.

"You always seem to show up at the right time," Taesan remarked, half-joking.

Leehan's smile didn't falter. "Maybe it's just fate."

The coincidences piled up like pieces of a puzzle that seemed too perfect to question.

A group project in their shared class, where Taesan discovered Leehan's sharp mind and easy humor.

A charity event where they were seated at the same table, leading to hours of laughter and meaningful conversation.

A late-night run-in at the park, where Taesan found Leehan sketching under a lamppost.

Every encounter felt organic, natural, and undeniable. To Taesan, it was serendipity.

But then came the twist.

Leehan's journal, tucked away in a drawer, told a different story.

The café wasn't a coincidence; Leehan had overheard Taesan's favorite spot from a mutual friend.

The gala? He'd maneuvered his way onto the guest list after learning Taesan would be there.

Even the shared umbrella had been no accident—Leehan had been nearby, waiting for the storm, ready to swoop in.

Leehan's notes were meticulous. He knew Taesan's coffee order, his favorite books, the park he walked his dog in, and even the playlists he listened to on his morning runs.

Every detail, every moment, had been orchestrated with precision.

The reader realizes the truth in a quiet scene: Leehan sitting alone in his apartment, flipping through his journal. Each page reveals the extent of his planning, the lengths he went to ensure their "destiny."

But Leehan isn't regretful. He traces a finger over a Polaroid of Taesan, smiling brightly in the rain.

"Everything was worth it," Leehan murmurs to himself, closing the journal.

In the end, Taesan remains oblivious.

They sit together on a park bench, watching the sunset. Taesan turns to Leehan, his eyes soft.

"You know," he begins, "I used to think fate was just a story people told themselves. But then I met you."

Leehan smiles, his chest tightening. "Fate has a funny way of working, doesn't it?"

Taesan leans in, pressing a kiss to Leehan's temple. "I'm just glad it brought me to you."

Leehan closes his eyes, letting himself bask in the warmth of the moment. He doesn't need Taesan to know the truth.

Because for all his scheming, all his planning, what they had now felt real.

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.