It was 8:00 when Haruto arrived at Junkyu's house. He came early because he was quite nervous. Frankly, Haruto contemplated the whole night if he should go through with this. He's actually afraid that Junkyu will become estranged with him because of this. He knows it's a weird request, but surely Junkyu would understand right?
Knowing Junkyu, there is a big possibility that he slept in and thus Haruto decided to give him a call just in case.
After the fifth ring, Junkyu finally answered with a drowsy voice "Hello?"
"I just knew you were still asleep," Haruto chuckled. "Wake up and get ready, I'm outside your house."
Junkyu who was still drowsily laying on his bed half a moment ago suddenly stood up, "What?"
Junkyu looked at the clock and realised it's already 8:02, "Sorry, I'll be out in 15 minutes."
True to his words, Junkyu was out 15 minutes later.
"So what do you want to talk about?" Junkyu asked as he buckled up.
"Let's get you breakfast first," Haruto responded. "What do you want?"
"I'm not hungry. Just tell me what's up. You're making me nervous."
"Are you okay with McDonalds?" Haruto kept trying to change the subject. He really doesn't know how to even begin.
"Yes," Junkyu gave up with a sigh. "I want nuggets and a frappe."
Haruto drove through McDonalds to get Junkyu some breakfast.
"Want some?" Junkyu offered a nugget to Haruto who was still driving.
"No thanks, I already had breakfast."
Haruto glanced at Junkyu who was happily muching on his nugget. Now is probably a good time to ask. So Haruto took a deep breath before asking, "Hey Junkyu, can you pretend to be my boyfriend?"
Hearing Haruto's words, Junkyu almost choked on his nuggets. He had a violent coughing fit. Haruto pulled the car over to the side of the road to pat his back.
"You okay?" Haruto asked as he gave Junkyu a bottle of water to drink.
After Junkyu settled his coughing fit, he looked at Haruto. "What did you say earlier?"
Haruto looked away in embarrassment. "Oh, uh. I asked if you could pretend to be my boyfriend," he mumbled.
"What?" Junkyu was questioning his hearing earlier, but it seems like he didn't make a mistake. Haruto did say those absurd things.
"You saw the forums. The female population of Seoul university currently see me as their number one target. You also saw how they tried to get all touchy with me. I'm seriously losing my mind. I even told them that i'm gay but they won't belieave me," Haruto explained himself. "So...."
"So you want me to pretend to be your boyfriend so that they believe you and back off?" Junkyu assumed.
"Yeah," Haruto awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. An unconscious habit he developed when he's anxious. "I wouldn't ask this of you if I wasn't desperate. The girls are seriously driving me crazy."
Junkyu silently stared at Haruto as he tried to process what just happened. He doesn't even know how to react or what to feel. He's stuck in between feeling happy that Haruto chose him to be his pretend boyfriend yet depressed that he's only using him as a shield.
"I know I'm asking for a lot. I know it will be inconvenient for you. So if you don't want to, I won't hold it against you." Haruto was worried that Junkyu might feel pressured by his request. "But if you do agree, I promise I'll be nice to you. I'll do anything you want."
Junkyu's heart started beating like crazy. That last sentence of Haruto almost drove him mad. Why does it sound like he's actually asking me to be his boyfriend instead of a pretend one?
"I can even pay you if you want," Haruto added.
Junkyu glared at Haruto. What's with rich guys thinking everyone can be bought with money. Do they not understand that some people find this insulting? Junkyu noticed the rest of the Japanese boys tend to do this too, offering money for almost anything. "I was about to agree until you offered to pay me."
"I'm sorry," Haruto mumbled dejectedly.
"I know you're rich and all, but you don't have to keep offering to pay me for favours. We're friends, and friends help each other out without expecting a return. Especially not money."
Haruto's head was bowed down in shame. He looked like a kid being schooled by his parents.
"If I'm doing this, I want to be driven to and from uni," Junkyu demanded.
Haruto looked up and smiled as he realised that Junkyu agreed. "Deal."