The rhythmic clatter of the subway car blended with the low hum of conversations as it made its way through the underground veins of the city. Suho, his mind still echoing with his mother's skeptical questions about his "fake girlfriend," spotted Zuri entering the train. She met his eyes with a small smile and chose a seat at the other end of the car, a "Justice for Palestine" T-shirt adorning her frame, and a Nike duffel bag slung over her shoulder.

Suho pocketed his phone, pausing the Daily Show episode with Trevor Noah he had been watching. This, he knew, was more important. He made his way to Zuri, taking the seat next to her. A faint, pleasant aroma wafted from her hair, a blend of coconut and flowers that seemed to weave a subtle spell of calm around her.

"Hey," Suho greeted her with a tentative smile, aware of the unconventional nature of their alliance.

"Hi," Zuri responded, her smile widening a bit, easing the awkwardness of the situation.

Suho took a deep breath, diving straight into the matter at hand. "So, neither of our families believed our... arrangement," he said, a hint of wry humor in his voice.

Zuri chuckled. "Yeah, my mom's already planning the wedding," she joked, though her eyes reflected the absurdity of their predicament.

Suho nodded, understanding all too well. "Well, speaking of parents, my mom wants to invite you over for dinner tomorrow night. I think we should probably get to know each other a bit more before that. To make it more... believable."

"Agreed," Zuri said, her brows arching in amusement. "So, we meet back here at the station after work?"

"That works," Suho replied. "We could find a place to go afterward, talk more."

They exchanged phone numbers, a digital handshake sealing their temporary partnership. "I guess this is what undercover agents feel like," Zuri mused, a playful note in her voice.

Suho laughed, the sound mingling with the ambient noise of the train. "Yeah, if undercover agents dealt with matchmaking mothers and family dinners."

The train slowed to a stop, and Zuri stood up, her duffel bag in hand. "This is me," she said, nodding towards the opening doors.

"See you tomorrow, then. Zuri Davis," Suho said, emphasizing her name, a symbol of their newfound acquaintance.

"See you, Suho Kim," Zuri replied, stepping out into the station.

As the doors closed and the train pulled away, Suho leaned back in his seat, his mind a whirl of thoughts. What had started as a desperate ploy to appease his family was evolving into something far more interesting. He couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity about Zuri, this stranger who was now his accomplice in a harmless deception. The journey ahead promised to be anything but dull.

Suho walked into the office, the buzz of conversation and the aroma of assorted dishes filling the air. Today was the work potluck at XenoLogic Tech, an event that blended the flavors of diverse culinary talents – and in some cases, a lack thereof. Suho realized with a sinking feeling that he had forgotten to bring a homemade meal, a social faux pas in the making.

Brett, known for his awkward charm, had brought chicken wings. It was common knowledge that Brett's culinary skills were... questionable, at best. Hence, no one expected a gourmet dish from him, and he was given a pass. He was currently deep in conversation with three of the receptionists, trying his best to appear smooth and knowledgeable. "Yeah, I'm very particular about where I get my meat. I have to make sure it's free-range chicken, I know where the meat comes from—"

"You know the name of the cow," Briley interjected with a grin, not missing the opportunity to poke fun at Brett.

The receptionists, including Gale, who recently came out as non-binary, burst into laughter at Briley's comment. Suho approached the group just in time to catch the tail end of the conversation.

"Hey buddy," Briley greeted Suho with a slap on the back.

"Hey," Suho responded, about to join in the conversation when Briley, never one to miss a beat, cut in.

"Yo everyone, Suho has a girlfriend," Briley announced loudly, the twinkle in his eye indicating he was clearly enjoying the moment. Suho knew that Briley was aware of the whole 'fake girlfriend' situation, and this was just his way of stirring the pot.

The group turned their attention to Suho, a mix of surprise and curiosity in their expressions. Gale, leaning against the table with a plate of teriyaki beef skewers that Briley had brought, raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you, a girlfriend? I thought you were married to this job?" they said, their tone playfully incredulous.

Suho felt a flush of embarrassment tinged with amusement. "Well, even I need a break from the job sometimes," he replied, trying to play along with the light-hearted ribbing.

Briley nudged him with a smirk. "Tell us more, Mr. Mystery. Who's the lucky lady?"

Suho hesitated, not quite prepared to delve into the fabricated details of his new 'relationship' with Zuri. "It's... complicated," he said, offering a vague response.

Brett, now turning his attention away from his failed attempt at impressing the receptionists, chimed in with a chuckle. "Complicated, huh? Sounds like a real soap opera. Can't wait for the next episode."

The group shared a laugh, the moment easing into the usual camaraderie of office banter. Suho felt a sense of relief, grateful for the diversion from the deeper complexities of his personal life. As he mingled with his coworkers, enjoying the variety of dishes spread out on the tables, Suho's thoughts drifted to Zuri and the unusual pact they had formed. He wondered how their first 'date' would unfold and whether they could pull off this charade convincingly.

The potluck continued, a medley of conversations and laughter filling the office space, a temporary escape from the usual routines and deadlines. For Suho, it was a much-needed respite, a moment to breathe and gather his thoughts before facing the challenges that lay ahead.

The laughter and chatter around the potluck table momentarily lulled as Briley, with a mischievous glint in his eye, leaned in closer to the group. "Guess what Joon posted on his Facebook?" he said, barely containing his laughter.

Suho felt a sudden drop in his stomach, a sense of dread mixed with curiosity. He knew his brother's sense of humor all too well – it often came at his own expense. Reluctantly, he leaned over to look at Briley's phone.

On the screen was a meme Joon had shared, one that mercilessly mocked Suho's current predicament. The image showed a cartoon figure sitting alone at a romantic dinner table, with a broom propped up in the chair opposite, adorned with a dress and a wig. The caption, unmistakably Joon's brand of humor, read: "When your brother says he has a girlfriend but you know she's just a sweep off his feet."

Suho's cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and irritation. Joon's jab was typical – always finding humor in his younger brother's challenges. The table erupted into laughter, some trying to stifle it out of politeness, others more openly amused.

Briley, still chuckling, clapped Suho on the back. "Don't worry, man, brothers will be brothers. You've got to admit, it's kind of funny."

Brett, trying to lighten the mood, added, "Hey, at least she's low maintenance, right?"

Suho forced a tight smile, trying to join in the banter despite the sting of Joon's public mockery. "Yeah, and she's great at cleaning up," he quipped, playing along while internally cringing at the thought of his family's and colleagues' reactions to his unusual situation.

Gale, picking up on Suho's discomfort, tactfully changed the subject, drawing the group's attention to the more successful culinary contributions of the potluck.

As the conversation shifted, Suho's mind was still stuck on Joon's post. It was a stark reminder of the pressure he was under, not just from his parents but now publicly from his brother. He found himself increasingly grateful for Zuri's willingness to help him navigate this complicated charade. The fake relationship, initially a desperate measure, was quickly becoming a crucial part of his strategy to manage his family's expectations.

The rest of the potluck passed in a blur for Suho. He participated in the conversations and laughed at the right moments, but his thoughts were elsewhere, planning his next steps and bracing himself for the dinner with his family – and Zuri.