The dim light of the bar casts a warm glow over the worn wooden tables and leather seats, filling the room with a familiar, comforting ambiance. Haneul shifts slightly on his barstool, his gaze drifting over the assortment of mismatched paintings on the walls as he takes a sip of his drink. It's a quiet night, for a bar—soft music plays in the background, low enough to allow conversation, and a few scattered groups of friends laugh and talk at nearby tables.
Beside him sits Xinyou, his best friend, and really, his only friend in Korea. Xinyou's laugh rings out loud and easy as he gestures to the bartender for another round. If it weren't for Xinyou, Haneul wouldn't even be here. Nights out and bars aren't exactly Haneul's scene, but every now and then, Xinyou manages to drag him out under the pretense of getting Haneul "more involved in life" or some other excuse that Haneul always pretends to consider.
"Here's your drink, can I get anything for you handsome?" The bartender asks, turning his attention to Haneul.
"No, thank you" Haneul says briefly, barely acknowledging the man.
"Oh my god, he was flirting," Xinyou kicks Haneul's chair immediately after the man leaves their side.
"Yeah, right," Haneul replies, kicking Xinyou's chair in return.
"Honestly, Haneul, you're like a recluse." Xinyou nudges him, smirking as he sips his beer. "Do you even talk to anyone outside of classes?"
"Of course I do," Haneul replies, rolling his eyes. "I talk to my students, don't I?"
Xinyou laughs, shaking his head. "Right, so apart from tutoring high school kids and reading a stack of books taller than you, is there anyone catching your interest these days?"
Haneul huffs, leaning back in his chair. "You ask me this every time we go out, and every time, my answer is the same. I don't have time for that kind of distraction."
"Uh-huh," Xinyou says, looking at him with a raised brow, clearly unconvinced. "Come on, Haneul. You can't tell me no one's caught your eye at all? You're too pretty to sit around pretending no one notices you."
Haneul scrunches his nose at the teasing tone, his friend's words sending an uncomfortable warmth creeping up his neck. But as much as he'd like to brush it off entirely, his mind drifts, unbidden, to a face he'd seen just a few days ago. A face framed by dark hair, with a lazy smirk that held a strange confidence Haneul couldn't ignore.
Hanbin. He's met plenty of people since he moved to Korea, but there's something about Park Hanbin's demeanor, he can't explain it. He'd come across as someone who was used to getting what he wanted, his gaze lingering just a bit too long, his smile holding that hint of mischief that Haneul normally found irksome. But apart from irking him, Hanbin's attitude had left him... intrigued.
"Wait." Xinyou's eyes light up, clearly sensing a shift in Haneul's expression. "You're actually thinking of someone, aren't you? Spill it."
Haneul sighs, rolling his eyes at Xinyou's uncanny ability to read him. "Fine. There's this guy, but it's nothing."
"Oh, now I'm very interested," Xinyou says, leaning forward, his grin wide. "So what's the story? Come on, don't leave me hanging."
Haneul hesitates, staring down into his glass for a moment before speaking. "He's… my student's older brother. I met him when I went over to sign the paperwork for tutoring."
Xinyou's grin widens. "Okay, okay, not what I was expecting, but go on. He's cute?"
"More like… insistent," Haneul replies, a hint of exasperation slipping into his tone. He takes another sip, hoping it might dull the embarrassment creeping into his cheeks. "He's one of those types. The ones who think their smile can get them anything they want."
Xinyou snorts, leaning back in his chair with a grin. "So, the guy's into you?"
Haneul gives him a look, his lips pressing into a line. "I suppose. He kept flirting with me when we met, and he tried to act all casual, like he was just 'dropping by to say hi.'"
"Let me guess," Xinyou says, holding up his hand, "tall, dark hair, thinks he's God's gift to the world?"
Haneul can't help but laugh, shaking his head. "You could say that. But he's also… I don't know, there's something about him. He's different from other guys who've tried the same thing."
Xinyou's eyes gleam with amusement. "So you do like him. You're curious. That's a step up from your usual 'No thanks, not interested' routine."
"Curious is a stretch," Haneul says, rolling his eyes. "More like mildly intrigued. And even if I were interested, which I'm not, it wouldn't matter. Hanbin's… well, he's exactly the type you think he is. The guy who flirts with everyone but doesn't actually care about any of them."
Xinyou grins, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "So what you're saying is, you're interested in a fuckboy."
Haneul scrunches his nose at his best friend's comment. "No. Absolutely not. I'm just… surprised he's this persistent. Usually, they give up after a while, but Hanbin seems determined to get my attention."
Xinyou laughs, clapping him on the shoulder. "Well, why not let him? I mean, he's got to be attractive if he's got you thinking about him days later. Just fuck him once, have a little fun."
Haneul stares at him, unimpressed. "And what, end up on his list of conquered pursuits? No thanks."
"Oh, come on, nobody keeps a list, what is this? A Netflix romcom?" Xinyou teases, nudging him. "So what if he's a little bit of a playboy? It doesn't have to be serious. Just… go with it. You're always so careful. It might be nice to let loose for once."
Haneul makes a disgusted face, the thought of being one of Hanbin's flings leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. He takes another sip, trying to brush off the idea. But Xinyou, ever persistent, leans over, his expression gleeful.
"Alright, alright," he says, waving a hand, "if you're so against it, then what's his name? I'm curious now."
Haneul hesitates, but he knows Xinyou well enough to realize he won't stop asking. He sighs, giving in. "It's Hanbin. Park Hanbin."
Xinyou immediately pulls out his phone, fingers tapping across the screen as he mutters, "Park Hanbin… let's see what we're working with here."
"He goes to your school right?" Xinyou says and Haneul rolls his eyes. It's Xinyou's school as well — or was his school, he graduated and is now working with a team of traditional dancers.
"Xinyou!" Haneul protests seeing Xinyou already on the school's website, he can feel his cheeks heat up. "Seriously?"
"Oh, come on, I need to see what's got you all flustered." Xinyou scrolls through his phone, quickly finding Hanbin's instagram. how did he even do that? Haneul thought, glancing at Xinyou's phone in awe of his detective skills. Xinyou zooms in on a pic and then pauses, his eyes widening as a grin spreads across his face. "Oh, he's handsome."
Haneul shrugs, exasperated. "Don't get any ideas."
Ignoring him, Xinyou tilts his phone toward Haneul, showing him the profile picture he's found. It's a photo of Hanbin at some party, laughing with a drink in hand, his dark hair slightly tousled and his usual smirk in place. He looks effortlessly confident, every inch the charmer Haneul remembers.
"Look at him," Xinyou says, grinning. "He's practically the definition of 'heartbreaker.' And judging by the comments on his photos, he's probably got half the campus wrapped around his finger."
Haneul sighs, pushing the phone away. "Exactly. The last thing I need is to get mixed up with someone like him."
"You're right," Xinyou nods meaningfully. "He'll probably give up soon anyway."
Haneul hums, looking away. He doesn't want to admit it, but there's a small part of him that finds Hanbin's persistence… flattering. Who doesn't like a little chase? Most people hit on him a few times then give up after getting close to him, it's always the same routine but not Hanbin, that guy is bent on chasing him to the end of the world. But at the same time, he can't shake the feeling that it's a game for Hanbin—a way to pass the time, a challenge to see if he can crack Haneul's composure.
"You know," Xinyou says thoughtfully, "sometimes the people who seem the most unserious have the most surprising sides. Maybe Hanbin's not just a player. He might be actually interested."
Haneul scoffs, shaking his head. "I doubt it. I'm not about to find out, either."
"Sure." Xinyou says teasingly.
Haneul opens his mouth to protest, but Xinyou cuts him off with a knowing grin.
"You can deny it all you want, but the fact that you're here talking to me about him says it all." He raises his glass, giving Haneul a wink. "Here's to the possibility that you might actually go out and do something reckless for once."
Haneul huffs, clinking his glass reluctantly against Xinyou's. Their conversation fades away to Xinyou's dance team's drama which Haneul is forced to listen to.