Pick Up Lines (Taejoon)

9

Brunch turned out to be quite enjoyable. Namjoon had arrived a few minutes early, a bit nervous at the thought he might actually ask the handsome man out. Jin showed up precisely at 10:00 AM, a smile on his face and his arms full of simple English textbooks. The two of them poured over the textbooks while eating, Namjoon pointing out certain details he thought to be important before he closed all the books and put them in the chair next to him. Jin gave him a confused look but said nothing, waiting for what Namjoon was going to do next.

Namjoon clasped his hands on the wooden table they were sitting at, smiling when an overly energetic waitress came and took their finished plates away.

"Instead of working with the textbooks, let's cover what you already know. Let's try and have a conversation in English."

Jin looked doubtful, "I don't know enough...."

Namjoon shook his head, "Don't worry about how much you know. Let's just try and introduce ourselves as if we've never met before." He switched to English and extended his hand across the table with a small grin, "Hello, my name is Namjoon Kim." he spoke slower than he usually would to make sure Jin was following.

The older smiled in understanding, shaking Namjoon's offered hand, "Hello! I am Kim Seokjin!"

Namjoon chuckled, switching back to Korean, "No, you're Seokjin Kim in English. The family name comes last."

Jin hurriedly nodded before correcting himself in English, "I am Seokjin Kim."

Namjoon chuckled again, drawing his hand back, "How are you today, Jin?"

Jin tilted his head, taking in the words as the younger spoke at a slightly slow pace. He smiled again, "I am fine. How are you?"

"I'm good." he switched back to Korean, "See, hyung? You know more than you think. It's very important to be able to introduce yourself in English."

Jin grinned in triumph, clapping his hands lightly, "Can we try more?"

Namjoon nodded. He cleared his throat and took a sip of his ice water before going back into English, "How old are you, Jin?"

"Old?" Jin echoed back. He was tilting his head again, trying to figure out the words.

"Your age." Namjoon clarified.

Jin made an ah sound, "What age am I?"

Namjoon chuckled at his odd way of saying the phrase but it was good enough to begin with so he nodded.

"I am..." he paused, "...two four."

Namjoon scrunched his face up, "Two four?"

Jin nodded, a small smile spreading on his lips as he looked rather pleased with himself.

"Do you mean twenty-four?" the younger asked.

Jin's face dropped a moment. He took a piece of paper and pen they had been using earlier for studying and wrote down the number in bold, black ink. It was indeed twenty-four. Namjoon corrected Jin in Korean and the older apologized for his lack of understanding.

Namjoon laughed, "You don't need to apologize. You're learning."

The two went on for aound another hour, laughing and learning in the gentle ambiance of the café. It was around noon when Jin looked at the time and announced he had to get going. As he was stacking his books and papers back up - along with some "homework" Namjoon had assigned him - Namjoon figured it was now or never. Just as the older stood to leave Namjoon spoke,

"Jin hyung, would you maybe like to have dinner with me?"

"Dinner?" Jin tiled his head, "Ah, as friends," he smiled, placing his handful of books back onto the table top for the moment.

"Umm, not exactly... as a date. Would you go out with me?" Namjoon held his breath as he waited for an answer.

"A date? What?" he shook his head, "You're kidding right? This is some kind of joke. Who put you up to it?" Jin shifted his weight to stand on one leg as he crossed his arms and waited with a quirked eyebrow.

Namjoon face fell, "You think this is a joke?"

"You're straight so yeah, pardon me if I don't believe you."

If Namjoon hadn't been so crushed he would have laughed, "Straight?" all he wanted to do right now was crawl away and die but something kept him still. His natural curiosity was getting the best of him.

"Yes, Namjoon, straight - you like girls and boobs and -"

This time Namjoon laughed. Jin seemed to be under the wrong impression and all he needed was to be straightened out, "I hate to be so forward but I'm sorry. I'm gay as hell and you're hot."

Jin's mouth closed with an audible snap, confusion clouding his features, "But Taehyung said -" Jin stopped himself, "I guess he was wrong?"

Namjoon was confused again, but this time anger was seeping in. What could that stupid punk have done to sabotage Namjoon's chances at love or at least a free meal with a handsome man?

"Taehyung said what?"

"That you were straight. He said he saw you flirting with some pretty girl a little while ago."

Namjoon's cheeks flushed. It was part embarrassment and part anger and none of it was good.

"Taehyung was wrong and I'm going to set him straight at work on Monday," he gritted out. He could feel his teeth gnashing together but he didn't care. How dare that brat? He calmed himself down, counting to ten in English silently to himself before looking back up into Jin's chocolate brown eyes, "So... dinner some time?"

Jin smirked, picking his books back up and winking, "You have my number. Text me what nights you have open."