Please Take Care of Me, Fake Boyfriend
A sleek black car sped down the road. Inside, a mother dressed to the nines was deep in conversation.
"Son, you have to do well there."
"I don't even know how many times I've heard that one."
"It's your first blind date."
Im Yeonghyeon, a 27-year-old young man, had been half-forced into attending this blind date his mother had arranged. She absolutely refused to let him end up like his older brother.
"I don't even know what kind of person she is..."
That was when it happened. A disaster warning blared from his smartphone. He checked it—a rift.
It was happening right there, practically next door. Nearby people scattered in panic, but his mother remained utterly calm.
"Yeonghyeon."
"Take care of the car for me."
Yeonghyeon hopped out of the driver's seat and summoned a sword with magic. Soon after, the rift tore open, unleashing a flood of countless monsters.
"Ugh, it's cold."
Complaining about the February chill, he wrapped magic around his blade and swung. A few strikes later, the monsters crumpled pathetically, and the rift sealed shut.
Yeonghyeon dismissed his sword and slid back into the car.
"W-what the hell was that guy?"
The onlookers who had witnessed the scene doubted their own eyes. Even S-rank hunters struggled against an S-rank rift.
Yeonghyeon, an archmage from another world, wielded power beyond measure.
"It's freezing out there."
"You took care of them all?"
"Yeah. Something like that could've been left to the hunters."
It was an S-rank rift that even hunters dreaded. Thanks to him, no one got hurt, and Yeonghyeon resumed driving.
"Son, I was going to tell you earlier—your blind date is someone you know."
"Someone I know?"
"Yeah. You remember Yuha? You used to play with her all the time in elementary school."
Yeonghyeon's face lit up in surprise as he glanced at his mother.
"Yuha... as in Seo Yuha?"
"That's right. It's been ages since I've seen that look on your face."
His mother smiled and continued.
"Nervous since it's someone you know?"
"Nah, nothing like that."
He played it cool, but to Yeonghyeon, she was his first love. He'd truly fallen for her back in middle school but never confessed. Afraid of rejection, he'd kept it buried in his heart. Then they went to different high schools, contact faded, and it naturally ended.
No pounding heart or butterflies now, but a lingering regret and what-if gnawed at him deep down. Even if she'd turned him down, at least he wouldn't have this unresolved ache.
"I saw her picture, and Yuha's a real beauty."
"That's just in your eyes, Mom."
"Go see for yourself. Am I ever wrong?"
They arrived at the luxurious Cafe (Blind Date). The upscale atmosphere enveloped them as Yeonghyeon walked in with his mother.
Knock knock.
His mother rapped on the door and opened it. Inside sat Seo Yuha and her mother.
"Come on in~"
The mothers, unlike their kids, had stayed in touch and greeted them warmly. Yuha's mother beamed at Yeonghyeon.
"Yeonghyeon! It's been forever— you've grown so tall!"
"Hello."
"Look, our Yuha's here too. Say hi."
Their reunion after ten years. She'd once smiled like pure sunshine, but now she was like cool moonlight.
"Hi."
"Hey. Long time no see."
They took their seats. Yeonghyeon stole glances at Yuha, wondering if this was really the same Seo Yuha he knew.
They say three years change a mountain...
Her features had shifted, but there was a new kind of beauty. The coldness gave her a different allure.
"Yeonghyeon can't take his eyes off Yuha?"
"She's just so pretty."
He blurted out his inner thought and flushed. But it didn't ruin the mood—Yuha's mother smiled.
"My daughter is pretty, isn't she?"
"Ahaha."
"What do you think of Yeonghyeon, Yuha? He looks so handsome to me."
The mothers were far more enthusiastic than the protagonists themselves. Yuha's expression barely changed.
"He's gotten cooler."
"Right? That's what I think too."
The vibe was good, but Yeonghyeon wanted alone time with Yuha. After some coffee, he broached it carefully.
"Sorry to ask, but could we talk one-on-one?"
"Oh, sure? You two are the stars here, after all."
"Do your best, son."
The mothers obliged and left the room. Now it was just the two of them.
"It's suddenly so quiet now that they're gone."
"Yeah."
Yeonghyeon went with the classic: catching up.
"What've you been up to?"
"Just eating and sleeping."
"Work? You always loved drawing."
For a split second, Yuha's eyes darkened deeply.
"I quit drawing. Just taking it easy now."
"Ah..."
He wondered if he'd overstepped, but her curt reply shut down further prying. As Yeonghyeon pondered his next words, Yuha asked.
"Why'd you come here?"
"Me? Mom basically dragged me for the blind date. You?"
"Same. No interest in dating right now, though."
Their situations differed, though. Yuha was burned out, unemployed for two years straight. Her mom hoped a guy might snap her out of it and dragged her here.
"If we split now, it'll just be more nagging."
"You too?"
"She won't shut up about me not dating."
Yeonghyeon had plenty of money saved and played the dutiful son to a T. Life wasn't thrilling, but he lacked for nothing and was content. His mother, however...
"You're so handsome—why no girlfriend?"
Her worry about him turning out like his brother mixed with grandchild fever, fueling the nagging. Even an archmage couldn't escape a mother's scolding.
"Nagging's never fun, no matter when."
Yuha got it—especially as an unemployed slacker, hers was tenfold.
"...Hey. What if we pretend to date? That might shut the moms up."
"What?"
Yeonghyeon met her eyes.
"Wanna fake it?"
The mothers just wanted them together. Fake dating would ease things for both.
"Still got that clever head of yours, huh?"
"That's an old nickname."
He smiled nostalgically, and Yuha cracked a grin too. It felt different from before, but I fell for that smile back then. It was beautiful, and staring made him like her more. No sparks now, but seeing it after so long was striking.
"Not a bad idea. As long as we sync our stories, it'll be easy."
"Right?"
Her reaction was positive too—freedom from nagging was a win-win.
"Let's finish our coffee before we go."
Rushing out would raise suspicions, so they lingered appropriately before heading to the mothers' room. The chatter stopped as they entered.
"Everything okay, son?"
"Heading out?"
Yuha's mother eyed Yeonghyeon subtly. Her daughter was pretty, but unemployed— she worried it might hold her back.
"We wanted to tell you before we go."
"Oh? What?"
"We'll get to know each other from here on out."
The mothers lit up. It was exactly the picture they'd painted.
"We'll head out first then."
"Sure, sure. Don't mind us—go on ahead, you two."
Final goodbyes exchanged, they stepped into the parking lot.
"Freedom from nagging secured?"
"As long as we keep our stories straight."
"I'll cooperate, don't worry."
"Let's head back."
Yeonghyeon guided her to his car.
"This is a fancy ride."
"Not that fancy."
They buckled in. Yeonghyeon pulled out his smartphone, mounted it, and opened the map app.
"Give me your address. I'll drop you off."
"Just enter it here?"
Yuha inputted it—her place wasn't far from his.
"You live around here?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Two neighborhoods over."
They chatted idly until Yuha asked.
"Come to think of it, I never asked what you do. Did you become a teacher like you dreamed?"
Yeonghyeon's childhood dream: teacher. Yuha figured he'd achieved it, but his reaction said otherwise.
"I'm a freelancer now."
"What?!"
Her biggest reaction yet—genuine shock.
"You wanted that so bad. Why the sudden change?"
"Just... circumstances."
Yeonghyeon's teacher dream was his own, but Yuha had influenced it. As kids, she'd lean on him for homework.
"Do it like this. Give it a try."
Instead of answers, he'd guide her to understanding. Even young, he taught well, leaving her impressed.
"You explain it so I get it!"
"Really? I just did what felt right."
"Like a real teacher."
"Teacher?"
It felt good, somehow. From then on, his fuzzy future hopes sharpened.
"I wanna be a teacher when I grow up."
Yuha had heard it growing up, so hearing otherwise hit harder. But seeing his bitter expression, she dropped it.
Silence followed until they reached her place.
"Thanks for the ride."
"Wait."
Yeonghyeon checked his contacts and showed her a number.
"This still yours?"
"Yeah. You still have it saved?"
"You too."
She checked—yep. Useful for emergencies. Deal sealed, she extended her hand.
"Take care of me, fake boyfriend."
"You too."
They shook on it. Yeonghyeon drove home, tossed his jacket, and sank onto the sofa. Emotions swirled in confusion.
How long since he'd felt this chaos?
Is this old crush blooming again?
Meeting her sparked interest, but calling it love like before was a stretch.
Not weird if it happens again.
Circumstances and perspectives had changed. No one saw middle school the same as adulthood.
So Yeonghyeon wanted to keep meeting, to figure it out—was this lingering puppy love, or just a past fancy?