Namjoon sighed in realisation that Tae was once again right as he checked his watch to realize that he had missed his bus and would have to walk despite his aching legs. You see, Namjoon had a bad tendency to be extremely indecisive, especially when it came to plants and which one he should bring home for the week. It was becoming a slight problem to the point where his mother had claimed his 500 square foot flat was now a conservatory. It really wasn't Namjoon's fault that his flat was now a tropical paradise of green plants, leaving him with hardly any room for other belongings because he'd developed a habit of taking one plant home every week from his Uncle's shop. He had worked there ever since highschool along with his brother Taehyung after his Uncle had retired and he realised that his passion for music would just have to remain just that. A passion.
So that is how Namjoon found himself carrying an increasingly heavy bonsai plant that was just beginning to blossom. Namjoon had already envisioned exactly where he could place this bonsai tree and was excited to watch it grow till it took up all the remaining room in the corner of his living room. Namjoon sighed again and was just about to turn away from the bus stop and start to walk home when a car went screeching past the bus stop and all the water that had gathered in a large puddle was now covering Namjoon from head to toe. "Shit, Shit" Namjoon cursed aloud to what he thought was just himself and the bus stop until he moved the Bonsai tree to the side.
Oh fuck. But this time he wasn't cursing about his sodden state, all thoughts of that had dissipated as he locked eyes with the most beautiful guy he'd ever seen. He was simply ethereal, Namjoon even considered for a moment that the volume of water that had doused him had knocked him out and he was now laying eyes on an angel. He gulped. Namjoon observed how the man managed to stand so regal whilst doused in water , his raven black hair plastered to his forehead over his angular eyebrows. It seemed this man had an ability to just look effortlessly handsome with long suit trousers and a slouchy jumper which on anyone else would look casual, on him he looked ready for the catwalk. His eyes roamed the rest of this guy's angular face, he couldn't help it; he felt an intense desire to just notice every detail of this man who stood before him. He had dark,thick well arched eyebrows that were slightly hidden by his wet hair. He glanced down to the man's eyes only to be startled by a pair of brown doe eyes that were full of warmth and glistened. His wettened state seemed to just enhance his beauty as his skin glowed to reveal the pure beauty this man held, further cementing Namjoons view that this man was indeed an angel. Namjoon watched as a drop of water fell from his bangs to his luscious lips. Oh god, Namjoon felt his throat go dry as he stared at those plump lips that shone. He weirdly thought back to his childhood and his older cousin's obsession with Bratz dolls. He then decided that this man had Bratz doll lips.
How was this man even real? He thought back to his days of studying romantic poetry in highschool and how this man was the epitome of beauty they often went in great deal to describe. Words upon words popped into his mind of how to describe his beauty;radiant,heavenly,divine but none of them did him justice Namjoon thought . For one absurd moment of madness, his brain even thought about reciting some prose but decided against it for the sake of not scaring this man who stood before him looking at Namjoon with intense curiosity in those chocolate brown eyes. He was interrupted from falling in love when the man spoke.
As his brain struggled to comprehend words and thoughts, Namjoon did know one thing, he was fucked.
Jin was unusually happy on a dreary Tuesday night, a light skip in his step along the pavement as the sun set on this successful day for him. He was just returning from a home visit of the twins he had worked tirelessly as a social worker to finally place in a forever home. It was already difficult to place one child in a home but Soobin and Yeonjun being twins and their old age of 14 had everyone else convincing him at the office that he should give up trying. But Jin never gave up on the children in his care, he felt a deep responsibility and he was happy to see them thriving in their new home with the Park couple. Jin thought nothing could ruin his good mood until he arrived at the bus stop and cursed his bad time management. He was resigned to walking home by now but was disappointed he couldn't just lean his head on the window and look at the orange hues as he absorbed the events of the day.
Jin reached into his pocket swiftly to grab his earphones, excited to play the new playlist Yoongi had sent him to listen to. But before he could plug the jack in, he felt an instant chill seep into his skin shocking him instantly. Ugh inconsiderate drivers in Seoul, they were everywhere, couldn't they see this was a bus stop? Jin's mood immediately deflated with the realisation that he would now have to walk home wet and shaking with his clothes stuck to his skin. Jin internally weeped at the sight of his new velvet shoes he'd saved up for ages, now drowning in dirty rain water. Jin was just about to childishly jump in annoyance when a glance to his side made him go numb.
Omg. Omg there stood the cutest guy Jin had ever laid eyes on, carrying a plant on his right hand and staring at Jin with an unreadable expression. Jin had to look away for a second to check this man was very much real and was not just some figment of his imagination that his wet soaked brain had conjured for some kind of comfort. No he was very much real Jin concluded as his eyes landed back at the cute man who was also wet from this inconsiderate driver. Jin gulped at the sight of the man still looking at him with such intensity. This guy was simply adorable, there was no other way to describe him, a small smile settled on Jin's face at the man's outfit. He was wearing blue tie washed dungarees over a grey fluffy jumper. Jin noticed how the man's dungarees clearly accentuated his height, was this man all just legs? Jin reckoned this man must be taller then him, nearly 6ft he guessed as he continued to analyse the man. The green plant in his hand looked tiny compared to the man's own magnificent build. Jin noted how obnoxiously cute this guy was again as he looked at his grey beanie, topping of his hipster look. Jin felt his mouth go dry as he scanned the man's vast body which was adorned in various jewelry. He'd always had a weakness for little hoop earrings on guys, as well as the chunky silver rings that decorated his long slender fingers. This guy was just effortlessly handsome and it seemed he knew how to dress to emphasize it. Jin tore his eyes away from the man to scan his own effort and mentally sighed as he realised how basic he looked. If only he'd decided to wear his skinny jeans and his blue jumper that showed of his pronounced collarbones. He felt so inferior to the man who was still just looking at him.
Jin couldn't help but think this can't be real, as he looked at the man's face before him with high arched eyebrows and a tiny button nose which he had the most sudden urge to go and bop. Luckily for Jin, he had not lost his mind completely and instead continued to admire the man's face and landed on his lips. Hot but also so cute. Jin wondered how this guy was just the biggest juxtaposition he'd ever seen. For once in Jin's life he was speechless, he was usually ready to throw a pick up line and a cheeky wink but now, he stood there flustered and the guy hadn't even spoken yet. Jin cursed his usually confident brain as he struggled to think of anything to say, his usual smooth demeanor when interacting with attractive guys disarmed by a man in dungarees. After a long moment of internal debate he realised he was still standing there gawping at the man, so in his wet induced state he decided to use the best icebreaker he knew- a joke.
"What runs, but never walks?" Jin then paused for dramatic effect before he uttered the punch line "water."
Before Jin could even think, he was already keeling over in laughter, it wasn't his fault okay he was always a sucker for his own dad jokes - no matter how many times Yoongi told him they weren't funny. In retaliation to this, he always brings up how when he met Yoongi for the first time in highschool and introduced him to Hoesok, his husband, he said a dad joke as introduction and he saw Yoongi smirk from the side. Yoongi still adamantly refutes this and claims he was only smiling at Hoesok's laugh because he had already fallen for that heart shaped smile. Cheesy and so untrue.
So that is how Jin found himself bent over laughing at his own joke, his windshield laugh in full effect. As his laugh subsided to a softer laugh, he observed in delight how the man before him was chuckling to himself. Jin vowed then that he would do whatever it takes to hear that hearty chuckle again. The man before him ducked his head to reveal a glorious set of dimples on his squishy cheeks. Jin's heart thumped. God was this guy just designed to kill Jin with his perfectness. He confirmed this theory when in the next moment the man spoke with a deep smooth voice. " Nice joke, funnier laugh though I must say" the man said, eyes twinkling with mirth and his dimples only deepening into his cheeks. Jin parted his lips in surprise. Wth, this guy really was a juxtaposition, here he was looking so cute and hipster but behind this adorable outfit he was hiding a deep, sexy voice. To say Jin was intrigued by this guy would be an understatement, his mind racing with topics to continue the conversation with the man.
He was beaten to it when the man spoke in his delicious deep voice again " You got wet too huh, sometimes I hate living in the center of Seoul for this very reason. Now I'll have to walk home wet" the man ended with an absolutely unnecessary pout on his face. "Btw I'm Namjoon, Kim Namjoon." The man- no Namjoon he corrected himself stepped forward closing the gap between the two to reach out his hand with the one that was not carrying the plant. Jin realised with no shame how eagerly he reached forward to touch the man's hand but he was too distracted by how his hand was engulfed by Namjoon's to feel embarrassed. It felt so nice to know this man's name and although he'd known this man for a short amount of time he couldn't help but think how his name just perfectly suited him. "Hi Namjoon, nice to meet you, I'm Seokjin, Kim Seokjin." He regretfully let go of the man's hand after some serious lingering because he was certain his hand was definitely clammy by now.
"Seokjin" Namjoon repeated."That's pretty" Jin knew for sure then that his ears were bright red. Who was this effortlessly charming guy and where had he been hiding in Seoul?
Jin didn't know why he was so nervous to offer up his preposition to Namjoon but he really wanted to just know everything about him so he spoke again despite the blush spreading across his full body, "Errm",great start Jin thought as he cleared his throat to start again. "I heard you say you're gonna walk home, which way are you heading? Because I'm also going to walk and I thought I could use some company to stop my body from dying of the cold." Jin shivered as he said that as the sun set further into oblivion, making Jin certain he would wake up with a sniffle tomorrow. Jin tried to relax his racing heart as he awaited Namjoons answer, breathing a sigh of relief when he watched as Namjoon's features softened and spoke " Of course I'd love to walk with you Seokjin." Something about the way he said his name had Jin breaking out in a full body blush again. He was about to tell the man to just call him Jin, but the way Seokjin rolled off his tongue felt so intimate he decided to withhold that for now. " I'm heading this way, are you coming?" Jin had never felt so sure about anything as the two men fell into step as they walked along the emptying streets.
"So, what's with the plant, a gift for someone?" Jin found himself stupidly asking to see if Namjoon was single, desperately praying this guy was just a plant enthusiast. He wouldn't be surprised if the man was into plants to go with his hipster look. His suspicions were confirmed when he watched as Namjoon rubbed the back of his head bashfully and stuttered slightly as he said " No it's a gift for myself, I kind of have a plant obsession. It doesn't help how I have to look and care for these plants everyday at my plant shop so I kind of grow attached to them, is that weird?" Jin found himself smiling dumbly in glee at this confession, the word cute appearing in his brain connected to Namjoon again. They were synonymous with each other now. "No," Jin giggled, " I find it endearing. I grow attached to my kids so don't worry I get it. So you work in a plant shop?" " Yh it's called 'The Green Room' on the corner of George street. It's actually my Uncle's shop but he regretfully had to retire due to his health so I spend my days surrounded by greenery which is why my flat is a greenhouse now."
" I'll have to pop in some time"
"I'd like that" Namjoon smiled at Jin, his dimples making a strong appearance again.
Jin felt himself blush again. He was certain that it was unhealthy to blush this much, his ears burning red next to his face.
"So" Namjoon ventured next, " You mentioned your kids, how many do you have?" Jin spluttered in response surprised at the question, did he really look like a dad? Namjoon was starting to look confused, his eyebrows knotting together. "No,no Namjoon you've got this totally wrong. I work in social care, so it's always difficult for me to say goodbye to kids I've watched grow up as I find them their forever home." "Oh right, that sounds cool," Namjoon replied. Jin decided he wanted to tease Namjoon after the amount of blushing he'd endured and to watch him squirm, squirm he did.
"So, you thought I was old enough to be a dad to multiple children, I guess I'm losing my touch then" he said seriously to Namjoon and delighted as he watched him freeze in an instant. He could see the cogs working in Namjoon's brain as he stood before him, stone faced, fighting off the smile he so desperately wanted to show. " you definitely haven't lost your touch I assure you Seokjin. I'm so sorry for assuming, I don't know what I was thinking, god I'm such an idiot." Namjoon blubbered out speaking so fast Jin struggled to hear what he was arms were flailing in all directions like he was delivering a presentation he had not prepared for. Seeing Namjoon's distraught face, Jin couldn't hold it in any longer and broke into the biggest smile he could muster to reassure Namjoon he meant no harm. "Namjoon, don't worry it's fine it's just I'm getting old now and so I was just insecure you thought I looked ancient. I mean compared to you I think I do look old, how old are you?"
"Seokjin, don't mind my idiot brain, you don't look old at all, I thought you may have been a teen dad that's all. Please can I have your skincare routine because if you don't mind me saying your skin is glowing. Oh and I'm 24 by the way to actually answer your question. Sorry I tend to go off on tangents when I speak if you haven't already noticed." 24. Perfect Jin thought, right now he was ticking all the boxes. A niggling part of the back of his brain reminded him that he didn't even know whether Namjoon was even into guys or if he was single but Jin was too entranced at this point to care.
"So how old are you Seokjin?" It seemed Namjoon loved to say his name as much as he could. "What a rude question Namjoon." Jin retorted playfully. " I seem to recall Seokjin" there it was again, " that you asked me that very same question first." He flashed Jin a cheeky grin complete with his pearly whites. "I suppose I did, I'm 27." Jin tutted quietly. "Right so not old at all then Seokjin," god every time he said his name he stressed every letter like his name was a royal title to be admired. " Anyway before I put my foot in my mouth and messed up our flow of conversation, I was going to ask more about your job."
"Ah yes" Jin started, " I've been a social worker for 4 years now, I also help out at the care home with cooking because there's a lot of mouths to feed and they are so fussy." "So what made you get into social care?" Namjoon inquired. It seemed he wanted to know everything about Jin and his genuine expression led to Jin revealing more about his life then he would with a relative stranger. Jin expressed with a heavy heart how his younger cousin went into foster care when his parents died leaving him an orphan. He saw first hand the trauma these children have to face under the messed up care system. Thus he vowed he would enter the profession and help as many vulnerable children as he could.
Jin hesitated as he next spoke because he was not sure how to broach the next topic, worrying that his confession would ruin this flow of conversation he was enjoying with Namjoon. Korea was very conservative after all, he was used to it by now hiding his sexuality, too scared of the danger it poses but for some reason although he'd only known Namjoon for less then half an hour he felt safe in his comfortable aura. "I especially specialise in helping same sex couples adopt because it's personal to me…..." Jin let the sentence tail off as he hoped Namjoon would catch onto the fact that he was confessing his sexuality but from the blank look on Namjoon's face he started to get worried.
Oh god had he just stumbled on a huge homophobe. Okay, Jin it's okay, remember that self defence class you took with Hobi that one time. Of course this insanely perfect guy was too good to be true. He clenched his fists in apprehension. When the man next spoke he was relieved that he was able to release the hands. "Oh,ohhhh, if you are telling me you aren't straight don't worry no judgement from me, I'm bi." Namjoon spoke then gave Jin a broad sincere smile.
"Oh thank God I was thinking of the best way to punch your face" Jin giggled his hand covering his mouth as he looked at Namjoon's eyes which were comically wide. "Well I'm glad I spoke when I did then " flashing Jin a huge smile complete with those beautiful dimples. Jin wanted to be able to cause that smile so many times more.
"So Namjoon, I must sadly admit my knowledge of plants is very limited, can you tell me about this one?" he reached out his hand to point at the plant which was still perched on Namjoon's arm. "So this is a bonsai plant…." Namjoon was talking so quickly that Jin with his very basic knowledge of plants couldn't keep up but he was so bewitched by Namjoon that he leaned in to listen. Seokjin caught onto him mentioning Buddhism and Japanese origins but he realised he could listen to him speak passionately all day. His deep voice becoming effortlessly smooth, his tongue dripping with enthusiasm to educate Jin with all the knowledge he knew (which was a lot.)
"I'm sorry for rambling,I tend to get a bit carried away talking about my plants. I'm sorry if you got bored." Namjoon said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head and avoiding eye contact with Jin. Jin without even thinking because his brain was long past working at this point remarked to Namjoon, "No, No please don't stop I like listening to your voice." Jin immediately slapped his hand over his mouth, cursing his no filter mouth. There was that hearty chuckle again and those dimples.
Jin coughed "I meant I like hearing the passion in your voice when you talk about the bonsai," he quickly corrected, " you can really tell you enjoy your job." "Ah well actually I do enjoy my job don't get me wrong but it's not actually my dream." Jin raised his eyebrow questionably and Namjoon continued. " I actually wanted to pursue a music career out of highschool but I was quite naive about how easy it was to break into the industry." Namjoon sounded regretful as he spoke and it broke Jin's heart. " So when my Uncle had to retire I realised that the more realistic option was to actually get a job rather than continue to sort through rejection emails."
"So you sing?" Jin enquired.
" I wish I had an angelic voice," Namjoon replied, " no I rap" Rap. God. Jin couldn't stop his brain conjuring images of Namjoon on stage surrounded by lights, rapping with the same passion he had when discussing the bonsai plant. All he knew was that it would definitely be very hot. "I actually have a mixtape I just released" Namjoon shyly admitted rubbing the back of his neck again, it must be a nervous habit. " I like to refer to it as a playlist but unfortunately I'm not sure many people will listen to it but I'd be happy if it connected to just one person, to know my voice had reached someone somewhere going through the same thing as me."
"Well I have to listen now," Jin declared.
"Seokjin, you really want to listen?"
"Of course I would Namjoon. I don't even need to listen to it to know it's good. Just the way you described it then tells me enough that it came from your heart."
"Oh, well it's on SoundCloud if you want to listen"
Jin was so busy thinking all about how he could listen to the mixtape tonight whilst nursing a glass of wine and curled up on the sofa, that he didn't notice that Namjoon had actually stopped. Right outside his apartment block.
"Yh this is where I live in this building but I don't mind accompanying you to your apartment as it is getting dark." Of course Jin thought of all the chances they lived in the same building.
"How chivalrous of you Namjoon to offer but coincidentally I also live here. Have you just moved in because I swear I would've remembered you." Jin admitted not ashamed of the implications at this point.
"I moved here last week"
"Oooooh, you're the new person in the ground floor flat. I meant to make you welcome cookies when I saw your van last week but with my busy work schedule I never got round to it. Sorry." Jin ended with a pout on his face annoyed that he could've met Namjoon a week earlier if he hadn't been so lazy.
"Seokjin"god Jin was sure he would never get over how he said his name with such sweetness. "It's fine, I'm glad I met my neighbour now then. After you." He put his arm out, gesturing Jin to enter the building. Jin hesitated, he didn't want this interaction to end, he felt like he could talk to Namjoon for hours, he wanted to just know everything about him. Reluctantly, he forced his legs to move and entered the building, feeling Namjoon follow behind him. Facing Namjoon's door, he turned around, "so this is your humble abode huh, I live 2 floors up." Jin smiled but it felt forced. For some reason he felt incredibly tense with Namjoon now in this enclosed space of the corridor. Namjoon seemed to be fighting an internal battle, what about Jin wasn't sure, but his eyebrows were knotted together in deep thought.
"Seokjin, before you leave you said you don't have any knowledge of plants and so I'm guessing you don't have any in your flat. I have way too many, so I'd like to give you this plant. You don't have to accept it. I just thought it would liven up your apartment." Namjoon stuttered out. Jin felt incredibly fond as he saw Namjoon's shy demeanor, his cheeks tinting red. To put the poor man out of his misery, Jin swiftly reached out to take the plant.
"Thank you Namjoon, I will cherish it." He beamed at Namjoon, a smile he hoped would convey his gratitude. "If you ever need any tips on how to maintain the plant because it's quite a lot of work for a novice, you now know where I am. Bye Seokjin, thanks for distracting me from my soggy state." He finished with a smile that spread across his soft lips, puffing out his cheeks lighting up his eyes. It was the most beautiful smile Jin had ever seen and he wanted to immortalize the image in his brain, commit it to memory. Namjoon turned to leave and so Jin quickly shouted, "wait Namjoon." Jin swallowed all his insecurities for once about whether he had read this situation right and decided to just act. "Yeah?" Namjoon answered quizzically.
Fuck it Jin thought. "I want to give you a gift in return for the plant." Jin fidgeted with his jumper cuff.
" It's really nothing Seokjin I assure you but what is it?"
"With your permission, I wondered whether I could kiss you on the cheek." Jin got gradually quieter as he made his request and immediately looked down, too much of a coward to see Namjoon's reaction. Silence. Jin hesitantly looked up and suppressed a giggle as he observed Namjoon's current condition. Jin had never seen someone so red before, his eyes were wide, his mouth slightly hanging open. Mission accomplished. He had Namjoon completely flustered, it seems Namjoon was not expecting that question at all. He decides to tease Namjoon further by just standing before him,not breaking eye contact, waiting for an answer.
Eventually, Namjoon sputters out " Errm,yes,yes I would be very much willing." Now it's Jin's turn to feel nervous, he just needs to take one step forward and there he is at Namjoon's cheek which he will kiss. Just the image of that has Jin's ears burning red. Biting the bullet before he loses his chance, he steps forward, looks down briefly at his wet velvet shoes before reaching up and placing his lips fleetingly on Namjoon's cheek. His cheek is incredibly soft and he resists the urge to reach forward and kiss him again.
Namjoon retreats still red in the face, "goodnight Seokjin, hope to see you around." Jin bites his lip in happiness as he rides the lift up to his flat. He feels euphoric and for the first time hopeful that he's found something special in Namjoon. He chastises himself, noting how he shouldn't get carried away too quickly, he'd got played by guys in the past. As he entered his flat, he couldn't help but consider how different Namjoon was to the usual guy Jin had all too much experience being hurt by- arrogant, overly flirtatious and no sense of loyalty. When he went to get changed into comfy clothes, he realised with a start that he was still soaking wet. He was so enthralled with conversation with Namjoon that he completely forgot about the clothes that now clung to his body, trapping all the cold to his skin. After a scalding shower to ease his shivering body, Jin settled into his sofa and grabbed his laptop. Deciding to fulfill his earlier imaginations, he poured himself a glass of red wine (he deserved to celebrate this accomplished day of finding the twins their forever home, nothing to do with Namjoon.) Getting up SoundCloud, he searched Kim Namjoon, finding a profile with Namjoon standing tall and proud in front of a tree with a small white dog on a lead. How apt. Jin felt a heaviness in his heart as he clicked the first song, Tokyo, on the mixtape Mono. As the last chimes of forever rain rang out of his laptop, Jin sat back on the sofa. He felt like he'd just been transported to another world, almost not believing he'd just listened to a 20 minute mixtape. He especially resonated with the lyrics to Moonchild, clicking play again and again just to absorb the words. A feeling of dismay settled over him that Namjoon hadn't got his big break when this level of production quality and lyricism was what he created all by himself. He knew at that moment exactly who he needed to consult because it was clear that Namjoon was born to be a musician. More people needed to hear the clever lyricism and conviction with which Namjoon rapped. Before he settled into his covers for the night, he set an alarm in anticipation for his day off tomorrow where he would enact his plan.