Just Maybe
Prompt:
18) You have a blind date planned with a member of your bias group. When that member is running late, your bias steps in.
Pairing: Stray Kids Bang Chan x Reader
Genre: Fluff
Song rec as you read: That's Okay - D.O
.
You arrived fifteen minutes early because you always do.
Something could be said for the small comfort of not having to rush into what would be an unknown situation.
You had picked the Italian restaurant you were currently sitting in for much of the same reason. Sure, the food wasn't exactly fantastic, but you had been there before, and it was casual enough to make it seem like you weren't trying too hard (while being nice enough to show you were taking this date seriously.)
When you arrived, the waiter had led you to a quaint table near the window, clearly meant for a couple who intended to talk past dinner and into dessert. Fifteen minutes ago, you had thought it could be that kind of night as well.
Hyunjin had agreed to meet you at 7PM. By his reasoning, he didn't have much of a schedule that day, so he should have no issue making it work. Admittedly, you didn't know what exactly his schedule entailed, seeing as how your best friend, Min had set most of this up. Hyunjin was a mystery to you, just a name attached to a phone number.
At 7:03, you smoothed your napkin against your thigh and tried to remind yourself: It's only three minutes. People are late. It's not personal.
By 7:12, you had read the menu three times without actually digesting a single word of it.
By 7:23, you got the first text.
Hyunjin: running late. parking is a nightmare! 10 min out
Ten minutes was nothing. You had waited twenty already.
The waiter came by yet again, always polite, not pushy. "Can I get you something other than water?"
You looked down at the glass that already had condensation rings staining the table, a silent signal of how long you had sat. Trying to keep your emotions in check, you blinked up before addressing him.
Pasting on a smile that you knew would not appear natural you managed. "I'm alright for now. Thank you."
By 7:41, you were all but crushed. The quiet sting of embarrassment threatened to cause your tear ducts to mutiny. You couldn't even be angry, you were just...deflated.
For a moment, you found yourself cursing your own optimism. You hadn't really minded the idea of a blind date. After all, how were you expected to randomly stumble upon your soul mate in the wild? Something about this all had its appeal and to see it blow up in your face...
It's not like you felt either way about Hyunjin. You'd never met him. Min had set you up, swearing the two of you would click instantly.
The first step to that, of course, was to have him actually show up.
Tapping your phone on the table, you contemplated whether you actually wanted to engage in texting him again or just call it a night.
"Excuse me," a voice broke through the spiral of your thoughts. "Is this seat taken?"
Your breath caught before your mind could actually register the person in front of you. It wasn't Hyunjin.
Quickly flipping through your mental filing cabinet of people you had met, you landed on an answer.
His name was Chan.
You had only met once or twice before. He was another of Min's friends. While Hyunjin had generally remained elusive, Chan often showed up for any housewarming or party your friend put together. He seemed kind, reliable, someone she probably should have thought of before sidling you with a "free spirit."
And now he was here?
Tilting your head, words failed you as you took him in. He was dressed relatively casually, in a t-shirt with long sleeves underneath. He wore light washed jeans and sneakers. His outfit was low effort and casual, giving his handsome features the ability to really shine through.
You blinked. "I-I'm waiting for someone?"
You hadn't meant for the end of that sentence to tilt up at the end into a question, but you supposed it was still valid. You didn't really know if you were waiting for someone anymore.
"Hyunjin?" he smiled knowingly, sliding into the seat before you.
"How did you know?" you asked, trying to swallow down the embarrassment even further.
Chan held up his phone, his smile growing into a grimace. "Min texted me. She said you were here...and I quote..." He glanced to his phone screen. ""They're being too polite to leave, but they sound like they want to throw themselves into traffic.""
Your eyes grew wide as you looked from his phone to your own. Min had definitely sent you several texts to check in, but you hadn't expected for her to call in back up.
You couldn't help it as a rasp of a laugh escaped from your lips. "She's not wrong. I was actually about to leave, and rage order some delivery to get to my apartment before I did."
Chan lifted his brows. "I completely understand if you'd like to go home to just decompress and be alone...however, I do have another offer."
Narrowing your eyes, you waited for him to continue.
"You can eat your feelings in the comfort of your own home OR join me for something that is not this place."
Looking around you, you loosened a sigh. You found it amusing that Chan had been sitting here less than five minutes and could already pick up just how badly you wanted to leave. A simple restaurant that had been your go to for specific situations was now tainted. Even if it wasn't a terribly big deal, you wouldn't help but think of it as "that place you got stood up at" going forward.
"What did you have in mind?"
Chan's grin filled his face again. "7/11, sidewalk seating, and if you play your cards right, I may even spring for banana milk."
You considered him, then the cold breadbasket in front of you, and lastly your phone.
Ding.
Hyunjin: ugh. something came up. mind if we reschedule? i'm soooo sorry
You stared at the message for a moment, your mind blank with irritation. Tapping the lock button, you slipped your phone into your bag.
Standing, you nodded. "Lead the way."
.
The summer air wrapped around you like a warm scarf as you walked side-by-side with Chan, the glow of storefronts and late-night coffee shops painting his face in a rainbow of color. The city was buzzing with activity as people spilled out of restaurants and laughter floated above the hum of traffic. The sights and sounds were oddly comforting, making you feel like you were a small part of a living thing.
Side eying you without saying a word, Chan reached down. Intertwining your fingers, he smiled to himself before looking up again.
It was now your turn to look at the hand that now encapsulated yours.
Well...alright.
You tried to remind yourself to remain cool. He wasn't as much of a stranger as Hyunjin would have been, and you wouldn't have been surprised for him to hold your hand had he been here. What about this was so different?
"So did Min dial you in as my back up date?"
"Like she has a litany of men on speed dial just for the occasion?"
You felt your cheeks grow hot.
"She was complaining to me about how Hyunjin flaked," Chan smiled, still not looking at you directly. "And I happened to be in the area."
"You decided to show up all on your own?"
The resulting squeeze to your hand was enough of an answer.
A comfortable silence descended on the two of you, but it wasn't long until you reached your destination.
"After you," Chan hummed, holding the convenience store door open.
Inside, the store was fluorescent and familiar. Bright packaging, pastel drinks, and a small, refrigerated section with perfectly symmetrical food trays stacked and ready for the taking. Unsure of where to start, you idled toward the cooler, hovering in front of your choices.
Chan reached in immediately, grabbing two sets of sushi without hesitation.
"You've done this before," you smirked.
"Oh, absolutely," he nodded. "This is date number...seven, I think?"
You opened your mouth before closing it and trying again. "Seven?"
It was now his turn to smile. "With myself."
You laughed, throwing caution to the wind and grabbing a tray at random. You followed Chan to the register where he added two cans of peach sparkling water and a pack of peanut snacks "for dessert."
Trailing him outside, Chan led you to a quiet side street tucked beside a bakery that had closed for the night. There was a little patch of grass, a low concrete step, and a view of the bustling street adjacent to you. Chan sat first, offering his hand to help lower you down. Plopping unceremoniously beside him, you watched as he carefully spread out the food as if on a picnic.
He cracked open your drink and passed it over. "Sorry, I know it's not necessarily what you had planned for the night."
You tapped your drink lightly against his. "I should be the one apologizing to you."
"For what?" he asked. "Coming with me to do exactly what I was planning to do anyhow?"
You rolled your eyes. "For making you feel bad enough to include me."
"No," he smiled softly, his eyes lingering on you before he finally looked down to his sushi. "I'm happy you gave me the chance"
The first bite was better than it had any right to be. The rice was somehow still slightly warm, the salmon buttery, and the soy sauce packets not overly salty. You both ate in silence for a moment, heads bent like kids in a cafeteria until Chan glanced back up at you.
"You don't have to answer this," he started. "But were you actually excited about the date with Hyunjin? Or was this a "sure, why not" situation?"
You chewed slowly, considering. "Honestly? Somewhere in between. I wasn't expecting any immediate fireworks, but I thought...maybe it'd be nice."
Chan nodded. "I've agreed to dates for the promise of less."
"Yeah?" you asked, furrowing your brows.
"You see," he said quietly. "The problem with having low self-esteem is that you agree to almost anyone who propositions you. I once agreed to a date where the person showed up to the cafe with their mom. They were in their late 20's."
"I'm sorry, what?" you gasped, trying not to choke on your food.
He shook his head. "I panic ate an entire croissant just to avoid eye contact."
"No, no, no, not that," you chuckled. "But yes, that does suck. What do you mean you have low self-esteem? You're gorgeous."
Lifting a brow he gave you an incredulous look. "Self-esteem isn't always measured by your outward appearance."
You chewed on your lip, unsure if your comment was shallow or not.
Chan heaved a sigh. "Not to get existential or self-deprecating, but I have a lot of thoughts on myself, how I interact with others, and the way I generally conduct my life. It's a lot to reconcile when facing something that seems as easy as dating."
You nodded, beginning to understand. "You're scared to show your true self to someone, just to be turned away."
"Ding, ding, ding," he chuckled. "We have a winner."
Taking a deep breath to bolster your confidence, you reached over and set your hand on his knee. Giving a small squeeze, you chanced direct eye contact. "Winner in more ways than one."
Chan's smile was slow, but it eventually took over before he looked away, back at his food.
There was a pause, but just like any before, still pleasant.
Chan set his tray aside and leaned back on his hands, straightening his legs. "If I continue being honest, will I scare you away?"
You huffed a laugh before setting your food aside as well. Something in his tone had shifted, so you weren't exactly sure what was coming.
"I take silence as a yes," he nodded before it turned into a head shake. "But only in this one situation. Silence is never consent-"
"Chan!" you blurted. "While appreciated that you recognize that, please continue."
He glanced up to the sky, seeming to search the stars for the words he hadn't yet said.
"I've kind of been hoping I would run into you again," he said quietly. "After Min's housewarming...I couldn't get you out of my head. You were wearing this green sweater and making silly little jokes to calm her down about her lack of a turn out."
"You remembered what I had on?" you asked, mouth quirking into a half smile.
Chan shrugged. "It was a nice sweater."
The world seemed to narrow a little, not in a claustrophobic way, but in that soft, quiet tunnel you get when something real is about to start. You reached out, stealing a piece of sushi from his tray mostly to ground yourself.
"You know," you said, chewing. "This could have been a really crappy night."
Chan nodded, turning his attentions from the sky back to you. "Could've been for both of us."
"But now..." you trailed off.
He tilted his head. "Now?"
You met his gaze and smiled slowly. "Now it feels like a real date."
Chan watched you for a beat before leaning forward just enough so that you could meet him halfway if you wanted to.
Oh, and you wanted to.
The kiss was gentle, unhurried. It wasn't showy or dramatic, just a moment of warmth pressed into your mouth, like something shared in a secret. His hand grazed your knee, tentative but not unsure, and when he pulled back, he stayed close enough that you could feel his breath against your cheek.
"Okay," he whispered. "Maybe I owe Hyunjin a thank you."
You laughed against his shoulder. "Maybe I owe him one too."
The night stretched out before you, wide and open and impossibly full. Somewhere between being stood up and a convenience store picnic, something wonderful had happened. It wasn't what you expected, but maybe, it was what you'd been waiting for all along.