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Kyungsoo wasn’t a luddite, by any stretch of the word, but he didn’t pay much attention to trends. His phone wasn’t remotely the newest model and none of the lights or appliances in his home were smart, save for in appearance.
So when it came to dating, despite the fact online dating wasn’t very new at all, he stuck to what he knew…which to be fair, was very little beyond meeting friends of friends and serendipity. And on the topic of the former, he’d long since dredged the pool of candidates.
He was having a late dinner with Sehun when the younger man decided to give him a suggestion.
“You’re serious. You’re wondering how to meet people and the internet is right there in your pocket?” Sehun quirked a brow, but the expression softened from exasperation to amusement quickly after.
Kyungsoo shrugged. “I remember the ads for that one about farmers and know there’s some for hookups.”
“Well, you’re not living under a rock entirely, then. I guess I’m just wondering why you haven’t tried it. Don’t tell me you’re one of those people who refuses because they want a connection to happen naturally.” Sehun took a sip of his drink.
“No, nothing like that. I guess I just don’t really know how to present myself and the idea of just scrolling or swiping through candidates is…exhausting.” Kyungsoo took another sip of his drink, certain that the other man wasn’t done with the topic yet.
Sehun’s grin grew feral. “You could just leave your profile to the professional, let me sift through the prospects.”
It was his turn to raise a brow. “While I’d trust you with my life, Sehun, my love life is a different story.”
Amusement colored Sehun’s cheeks as he laughed. “Fair enough. I did date a guy on his fourth divorce. Twice.”
“We all have our flaws.” Kyungsoo stopped their waiter, asking for the dessert menu and some refills.
Sehun wasn’t deterred. “Well, I’d say setting up your profile poorly or spectacularly is only half the work. The face and body do a lot of heavy lifting. And as for the task being tedious, I sort of enjoy the thrill of the hunt, the people watching aspect of looking through possible matches…”
Kyungsoo could see that appeal. “I’m not opposed, just…not eager, I guess. I would like to meet someone organically, ideally, but…”
Anticipation caught the light in Sehun’s eyes, his smile widening preemptively. “But?”
“I’ll nose around some sites. If I do end up trying one, I’ll throw my profile your way. How’s that?” Kyungsoo’s non-commitment wasn’t likely unexpected, but he hoped he presented his case enough to satisfy the other man.
“I can work with that.” Sehun snatched the dessert menu up as soon as it hit the table, nosing through it. “All I ask for in return is…the salted caramel cheesecake.”
Kyungsoo chuckled. “Deal.”
-
Honestly, after letting the idea settle over a week, Kyungsoo decided to try a dating site.
He stuck to what he knew, what he felt was important, in his profile. His age (31), his interests (cooking, dogs, movies), a few other attributes (being introverted, filial), and of course, his career in reviewing restaurants.
Finishing his profile, he sent it for executive Oh Sehun approval, and then browsed around a little at possible matches.
He expected a few responses, likely some spam or scammers, but he was surprised when several people began messaging him in just a few hours.
Is this normal? Kyungsoo sent a screenshot of the array of interested parties.
Sehun sent a few laughing emojis first. How many times have I told you how hot you are?
Thanks? But now what do I do?
Sehun’s amusement was present, Kyungsoo could almost hear it. Bask in it? Brag? Get free dinner and dickings for a month?
Kyungsoo shook his head, despite being alone in his apartment, and began the task of sifting through his messages.
The first couple weren’t promising, too vulgar or spam, but there was one or two he found compelling.
The first guy didn’t respond immediately, but the second guy did.
Said man started simply enough. I’m gonna be real, you’re so cute that I noticed the dog in the pic second.
It was a charming opener and the guy, Chanyeol, looked handsome with his stick-out ears, grin toothy above his guitar.
Thank you. You have an incredible smile. A compliment for a compliment seemed appropriate.
Says the guy that forms an actual heart when he smiles. That third pic! But thanks! I’m shocked a guy like you is single.
Chanyeol seemed to enjoy throwing out praise and compliments frequently, but it didn’t feel disingenuous, somehow. Maybe it was all the exclamation points.
Between responses, he threaded his fingers in Ink’s fur; petting her helped with his nerves. Although they weren’t as prevalent as he’d expected. I could say the same. I can be fairly private and I’m pretty new to the online dating scene. Very new, actually.
Oh yeah? I’ve used it off and on again the past couple of years. Chanyeol messaged again soon after. Would you rather move to meeting in person, then, or should we take it slow on here?
Kyungsoo was more comfortable with more traditional ways of getting to know people and the other man had suggested it himself. I wouldn’t mind meeting up. We can chat on here until then?
It’s a date! Chanyeol put several hearts after the message and somehow it continued to feel charming.
-
In the week leading up to the date, Kyungsoo learned a lot about Chanyeol. They both had older siblings, spoiled their dogs a little too much, and while their favorite genres varied, they shared a passion for music as well.
They sent a couple selfies too. Kyungsoo took one at his desk, Ink in his lap, while Chanyeol sent one from the gym. He very much enjoyed the other man’s “gun show,” as cheesy as the accompanying joke about his arms had been.
They’d agreed to meet in the afternoon at a park where they could walk their dogs and grab some coffee, snacks.
Kyungsoo had arrived far too early, nearly forty-five minutes early, and settled on a bench with Ink. He looked over his emails, finding one from a restaurant he was intent on reviewing, confirming his reservation.
He’d just noticed the movement around his feet, the other dog, when he looked up to see Chanyeol himself striding up to meet him, waving and smiling.
“Hey hey, glad to see that being eager is mutual.” He had a nice, deep voice that Kyungsoo instantly appreciated.
“I’m habitually early.” He stood, pocketing his phone and smiling in return. His eyes widened at the height difference. Chanyeol had seemed towering before, but he’d assumed it was because he was sitting. “Oh. I guess while I read the height section of your profile, I didn’t really think about it until now.”
Chanyeol’s laughter was bright, almost braying. Kyungsoo had a feeling he was a laugh slapper too. “I noticed yours instantly. I love a guy I have to lean down to kiss.”
“That won’t be too difficult from up there.” Kyungsoo teased, to which the taller man preened; he must enjoy the play. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
Extending his hand, Chanyeol’s smile continued to be stunning. “Same here. This is such a fun date idea.”
Shaking his hand, Kyungsoo enjoyed the way the date didn’t feel too heavy, looming between them. If he didn’t know any better, he’d assume they were just friends meeting up after an absence.
“We kept talking about our dogs, so it felt only fitting.” Kyungsoo knelt down, meeting Chanyeol’s dog with a smile. “You must be Toben.”
He was greeted with a wave of puppy kisses all along his cheek and nose before he could turn away or stand again.
Chanyeol laughed, but began to mock pout, even if his eyes were still bright with amusement. “Aw, he got to kiss you first.”
Kyungsoo’s ears felt hot. This was the second time the taller man had brought up kissing. His gaze went to Chanyeol’s lips. The idea certainly wasn’t unappealing. “I tried to think of something witty to say in response, but I can tell my ears are betraying me.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll fuck something up soon enough.” Bumping their hips, Chanyeol then leaned down to greet Ink. “Aren’t you a cutie? Is it cool if I flirt with your dad today?”
Ink was a little shyer, a little more polite, only sniffing Chanyeol’s face before giving it a slow, deliberate lick to the cheek. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
Soon enough they were walking the dogs through the park, both of them friendly enough to walk beside one another and not tangle their leashes, although the scenes in 101 Dalmations did briefly flit through Kyungsoo’s mind.
“So what led you to online dating?” Chanyeol, as expected, broke the silence first.
Kyungsoo chuckled. “I just want to say Oh Sehun, but you wouldn’t have context, so I’ll elaborate. One of my best friends knows I’ve kind of worked through all the candidates in our friend circles, so when I mentioned not having been out in a while, or even how to meet people, he all but threw a dating profile together for me himself.”
Chanyeol grinned. “If this works out, I owe him a drink, then. How many guys have you met or talked to so far?”
“I messaged you and one other guy, but he never responded.” Kyungsoo felt a little sheepish at the admission. “So just you.”
“Shit, really?” Chanyeol genuinely looked surprised. “I’m sure you were inundated with messages.”
Kyungsoo knew his ears had gone red again. “Ah, well…a fair few. A few dick pics too, unfortunately.”
Chanyeol groaned. “I have no idea what anyone’s thinking with that. My sister says it’s all about taking advantage of someone, them having to see it. Either way, it’s shit.”
“Sehun said I should just critique them harshly or send a bigger pic back, but I chose to ignore them.” Kyungsoo shrugged, straightening Ink’s leash. “I expected all of that, moving online. I was more surprised by the amount of actual interest.”
“Fishing for compliments? My lake’s fully stocked.” Chanyeol gave a greasy wink that got him laughing.
He stepped around an errant fallen ice cream cone, tugging Ink away from it in kind. “I’m not trying to bask in humility. More that I saw dozens of attractive guys, sweet guys, and wasn’t sure how anyone would find anyone looking through all of that. It was one of the overwhelming aspects of online dating that deterred me in the first place.”
“I get it. I’m a dabbler, as my crazy list of hobbies probably explains, so for me, I just go treasure hunting, or as the kids say “doomscrolling” through the apps to see who I discover. And so far, I think I’ve found quite a gem.” Chanyeol’s smile was softer than the ice cream they just passed, melting on the sidewalk.
Chanyeol certainly knew what to say, how to sweet talk and throw himself out into a conversation. Kyungsoo only hoped he could keep up beyond blushing and very cordial explanations. “Again, my wit escapes me.”
“But you can’t escape the blush.” Chanyeol grinned, keeping the momentum from going too awkward, static. “I think we need snacks. That ice cream has me hungry.”
A couple of cones (and pup cups) later, and they’d stationed on a bench, Kyungsoo continuing his story they’d started in line. “So Sehun says that he’s cold, they’re both alone by the fire, and he’s damn near crawling into Joonmyun’s lap. Before he can really turn on the charm, Joonmyun stands and grabs a ton of firewood to put on, turning the healthy fire into a blaze that, as Sehun puts it, almost left him without eyebrows.”
As suspected, Chanyeol slapped his own knee as he laughed, likely to prevent himself from slapping Kyungsoo’s shoulder. “Oh, that’s good. That’s too good. What happened next?”
“It gets worse before it gets better. Joonmyun asks if that was too much before offering Sehun a blanket.” Kyungsoo shook his head. “Thankfully, Sehun just snapped and says he had wanted to use their body heat and kiss the leftover s’more off of his face.”
Chanyeol clearly loved this story, all of his teeth visible as his laughter died down. “When’s the wedding?”
“Last July, actually.” Kyungsoo grinned, taking a few bites of his ice cream. “They had s’mores stations at all the tables. It was really sweet.”
“That explains it, though. All my married friends are super insistent I meet someone too and I’m like my dudes, I’m trying.” He shook his head.
Kyungsoo hadn’t asked before, although it had crossed his mind, so the question returned appropriately as it was addressed. “You asked me, but what led you online? You’re very open and charismatic, work a much more public job at the radio station…”
“Well, that’s kind of my own fault. Most of the people at the station knew me for my big, huge crush on one of the other broadcasters. You said you haven’t listened to the station yet, but he’s one of the evening DJs, Byun Baekhyun.” It was finally Chanyeol’s turn to look a little sheepish. “He’s married now too, and between what everyone remembers of my crush and his own nudges towards his single friends, I guess I just wanted a little distance.”
“That’s understandable.” Kyungsoo placed a hand on his thigh in comfort, Chanyeol mentioned he really enjoyed touch when they brought up their feelings on affection and PDA. “Are you…still getting over him?”
Chanyeol shook his head, turning to give him a much more gentle smile than before. “Nah, I’ve been over it for a while, although there’s a sting, sometimes. Like bumping into an old bruise. I never pined or anything, once he got engaged. His husband, Minseok, is genuinely such a sweet guy, and they work so well together.”
“I’m glad it didn’t sour your workplace environment or friendships. That’s another reason I wanted to step out of my current dating pool. My last boyfriend, Jongin, and Sehun are best friends too. While our breakup was amicable, I could tell Sehun felt torn on who to support and the stress of it all meant that both of us put off breaking up even though we knew it wasn’t working.” Kyungsoo felt his brows knit, thinking back on that time. “It was a mess, even if we were trying to keep it tidy, contained.”
“It sure doesn’t take long for relationships to get tangled up, yeah?” Chanyeol tossed some of his napkins as he finished his ice cream into the nearby bin, only to look down at the dogs and laugh. “Now isn’t that perfect timing?”
Following his gaze, Kyungsoo observed the leashes of both dogs intertwined and knotted, somehow having occurred while they chatted on the bench. The taller man began to untangle the pair, Kyungsoo moving to help him
“Why couldn’t you have tangled us up in the leashes earlier?” Kyungsoo mused. “Like-”
“101 Dalmatians,” Chanyeol finished the rest of his thought alongside him, grinning from ear to ear. “I had that thought too. I’m the dashing musician Roger and you’re the gorgeous drink of water across the way.”
Kyungsoo was growing used to Chanyeol’s constant flirty compliments, finally feeling some of his wit kick back to life. “Ah, what am I going to do with that mouth of yours?”
“Boy, do I have some ideas.” Chanyeol’s gaze had clearly gone to Kyungsoo’s lips. “If you don’t mind taking suggestions.”
Kyungsoo leaned a little closer. “I don’t mind.”
Chanyeol got his wish, even with them sitting, of getting to lean down the slightest bit to kiss him. It tasted of Chanyeol’s chocolate ice cream and Kyungsoo’s strawberry. Even though it was meant to be brief, be gentle, Chanyeol’s energy was contagious, eager and vibrating. Kyungsoo felt it thrum in him too, as he tilted his head, kissing back.
It was only a loud beeping that pulled them apart. Chanyeol’s smartwatch had started to go off between them. Looking down, his brows kissed in a frown, only to then ease with his laughter.
Turning his wrist towards him, Kyungsoo read the notification. Abnormal Heart Rate Detected.
Kyungsoo’s own heart fluttered in response. He brought Chanyeol’s hand up, placing it over his heart. “I don’t have a smartwatch, so this will have to do.”
“Wow,” Chanyeol gave another one of those warm, honeyed smiles, “your heart is beating so fast right now.”
Kyungsoo chuckled, feeling his lips form his memorable heart-shaped smile. “Any way you can turn those notifications off before I kiss you again?”
Chanyeol took his hand back, fussing with the screen momentarily. “You bet your ass I can.”
Laughing once he finished, Kyungsoo tugged him in for another quick kiss, this time without the interruption.