Their first date. Sadly, no smut again. Damn Namjoon wouldn't let me. ?
However, there's a nice amount of fluff.
Appearances: Jackson Wang
[꿈처럼 뛰어들 때]
-Mid September-
"I am so sorry. I feel shitty doing this to you again," Namjoon said on the other end of the phone. He had just told me date night had to be postponed again.
Namjoon and the rest of the guys had packed schedules. Not only were they preparing for their online concert, but there were numerous projects they were working on, such as the AMAs and Jingle Ball performances.
When Namjoon shared the Jingle Ball news, I had been thrilled for them. Their recognition and popularity in the US were expanding and they very much deserved it. However, there was one small drawback to this celebration: our date night kept getting postponed. Not to mention our usual hangouts were almost nonexistent.
However, it wasn't only Namjoon's busy schedule that kept pushing back our date. My schedule was also a contributing factor. Music had made its way back to me like it hadn't in years. I couldn't stop the tunes and harmonies and lyrics from forming in my head. Every day, I was creating music for hours on end. And nothing I was writing felt like I could give away. Every song was meant to be mine.
There were a couple of songs I had become so passionate about, I rented out a studio at HYBE to record them. I knew it wasn't a good idea, seeing that there were spies everywhere in the building. The only time I used a studio at HYBE was when I was working on a company project. But my excitement for my new music made me dismiss my worries. It didn't take too long for the staff to figure out I was in the studio for myself rather than another artist.
Word got to Sihyuk, who called my manager to ask if I was working on another album, who in turn called me with the same question. And because I never lied to Kyung when it came to my music, I admitted to the songs I was working on. This excited Kyung. He started spreading the word to music labels to find me a new home. He was certain he could get me the perfect contract. And for the first time in a long time, I felt the hunger and drive to make an album again.
My days were now full of phone calls from Kyung about who I could work with. And because of the large time difference between Korea and California, my nights consisted of being on the phone—not being able to visit Namjoon. Namjoon might have postponed our date twice, but I had postponed it three times.
If I was being completely honest, I didn't care about missing out on the date. I was mostly saddened at not spending time with my best friend. We typically had lunch together a few times a week, but since our time back from the soop, we were lucky to eat together twice a week. Sure, we talked on the phone and messaged each other throughout the day, but it wasn't the same.
His news of having to postpone the date was disappointing, but I didn't want to make him feel more guilty than he already sounded. "It's ok," I tried to sound sincere. "What came up?"
"More filming of the new merch—some photoshoots as well. And then Sihyuk scheduled a personal meeting with me. But it has nothing to do with Bangtan. The meeting is about another artist," he said. His voice turned serious.
This was concerning. Sihyuk knew Namjoon had his hands full with an endless number of Bangtan projects, why would he be adding to Namjoon's plate? The only reason why Namjoon was ever involved with other artists in the company was for songwriting. "Namjoon, you don't have enough time to write for another artist. You barely have time to eat."
"It's not for songwriting," he assured.
"Then why does he want to meet with you?" I asked, confused.
"Sihyuk really wants to sign an artist to the company. And he thinks I can help persuade this person." He was being very careful with his words, I could tell.
It sank in who he was referring to. Me. I immediately felt concerned. Was Sihyuk reaching out to Namjoon because he was a friend of mine, or had he learned Namjoon was something more? "Does he know about us?"
"No. And I don't think he suspects anything. We're friends, which is why he's come to me. Hoseok said Sihyuk cornered him the other day too. Asked him about your new music."
I let out a groan as I let my body fall onto the couch behind me. I was at home and Namjoon had caught me in the middle of working on another song.
After Sihyuk had reached out to Kyung, I started to avoid going to headquarters. I didn't want to be cornered by him. However, it appeared he had decided to corner my friends.
"I wanted to give you a heads up and wanted to know from you what—if anything—is alright for me to share with him." There was some hesitation in his voice, almost as if he was a little scared of asking the question.
I knew why he felt this way. The topic of me and my music had been a sensitive subject for the last couple of years. But that was when I wasn't sure of my music, things were different now—more certain, even if it had only been a few weeks. "I'm ok with him knowing I'm working on a new album. No specific details, though. I'm talking to labels about possible contracts. Those two things are ok to say. I'd rather him talk to either Ky or myself, though. I don't like that he's bugging you guys."
Sihyuk was a good guy. Sometimes, he stepped over the line when it came to business, but he did it with the best of intentions. He was seeking me out for multiple reasons: I was an international artist, I had a good image—for the most part—free of controversies, I had a good standing reputation with HYBE, I had a devoted fanbase, and most importantly, I had the talent to back up my success. I was going to have to face him sooner rather than later.
"Ok. If it wasn't Sihyuk—if it was anyone else—I would have just dismissed him and not agreed to a meeting. But I think Sihyuk is genuine when he takes an interest in an artist's music and career," Namjoon said with confidence. "I think he came to Hobi and me with sincerity."
I knew this. Sihyuk had made his mistakes in how he handled the guys when they were younger, but the dynamics and relationships had changed in the last few years. The energy of the company was overall a positive one. And if I was being completely honest, a part of me wanted to sign with HYBE—particularly with Big Hit because of Sihyuk. However, I knew that was wishful thinking. Business-wise, an American label made more sense for me to sign with.
"So, still no theme or muse for your music?" he asked, slightly changing the subject.
I was more than willing to change it. "No. I think I want to take each song at a time and try not to overthink it. Maybe that's what was causing my writer's block. Too much thinking. Not enough feeling."
I could practically feel him smiling on the other side of the phone. "I told you it would come to you. There was just no way you were going to continue without making another album. You're too talented to go without making music."
He was sweet, but the compliments still made me uneasy. I was trying my best to not let them affect me. Namjoon had been right that we both had problems we needed to individually work on. And I wanted to try my best. "Thank you," I made myself say. But then my natural instincts came in and changed the topic, "So when are you free next for the date?"
He let out a groan. "Not until after the concert. I'm free for a few hours tomorrow before I meet up with some friends. It's been weeks that we've been planning a guy's night."
I suddenly remembered something. "We can do it tomorrow before you go out."
"You have your weekly call with your parents," he said as if I had forgotten.
"It's getting pushed back. They got back from Mexico earlier this week and are now in LA, so I'm calling them later. And I have nothing planned for the morning after, so I'll be able to sleep in."
"Yeah, but that would still only give us four hours," he said. "The date takes at least half a day. Minimum."
"What could you possibly have planned that would take that long?" I asked with skepticism.
He really didn't want to tell me his plans, but he gave in a little. "Our first activity is done outside which will take a minimum of two hours. Then there's the dinner, which is at least an hour. Then there's doing another outside activity that will take another hour. And then there's us finally spending the entire night together because one of us leaving immediately after sex would feel cheap."
I knew he wanted to make our first date perfect, but we kept pushing it back so many times already. Our availability was only going to get worse. "Namjoon, perfection doesn't exist. I just…." I usually held back voicing my emotions to my partner, a trait I learned from my parents. Or, at least, that's what Dr. Rob analyzed. I needed to start being more honest, however uncomfortable it might make me feel. "I want to see you. I want to hang out, even if it's for an hour. I really could give two shits if we have sex or not." Through my voice, I hoped he could hear my longing—my craving to be close to him. Fuck, I missed him. And it wasn't just sexual.
He was quiet for a moment. "Really? No need for sex?"
I rolled my eyes. Did he think I was some sex fiend or something? "No, I just want to be with you." I could feel my palms feeling a little clammy at admitting this to him. I didn't want to sound desperate. Or pathetic.
His voice turned lighter. "Ok. Tomorrow it is then. Let's meet here at HYBE. I won't be here; I have a personal meeting that's going to last most of the day. But I can meet you a little before 7. Bring a jacket just in case it gets chilly."
My heart fluttered. My palms now sweating for a different reason. "Ok."
"Alright. Well, I gotta go. The guys are waiting. I'll message you once I'm outta here."
"Have fun."
"Bye."
As soon as I hung up, my body automatically did a weird and exciting dance. Whatever. I was alone. I gave in to my dance.
"Shit, what am I going to wear?" The sudden question made me stop and think. And I ran to my closet to figure out my outfit.
The next day when I arrived at HYBE, I knew I was very early. But I was too excited not to be.
I figured out my outfit quickly. I remembered Jimin telling me Namjoon liked me in purple or yellow; it was easier to narrow down the clothes with that information.
I went with my favorite jeans—the ones that tended to wrap hugged my curves just right—a simple top that showed the right amount of cleavage, a purple cardigan that made my warm pigment glow, and some booties that elongated my legs and height more. With Namjoon's height, I needed help.
Making my way through security, I took the elevator to the guys' floor. I was certain Yoongi was in the building—he always was. I could use him as entertainment before my date with Namjoon officially started. Once outside Genius Lab, I knocked. I stared down at the carpet below me, a grumpy cat looked back at me while giving me a middle finger. He'd had this thing for years, he needed a new one. After a few seconds, I knocked again. Still no response. Odd. Had he gone to the restroom?
I got my phone out and called him.
He picked up after a few rings. "Hello."
"Where are you?"
"Huh? Why?" He sounded guarded.
"I'm outside your studio."
"Why?" I heard a crash in the background. Yoongi let out a heavy sigh.
What was up with him? "I'm bored and need something to do for the next hour. And I'm not sure if any of the other guys are here."
"Taehyungi should be there. And Jungkook. Go bug them."
I made a mental note to give him a peck on the cheek the next time I saw him. "Fine. But, seriously, where are you?"
"Ahhh. Why are you so nosy?" I heard a low voice in the background, but I couldn't work out what was said.
"Tell me or I'll kiss you next time I see you," I warned.
He let out another sigh. "I'll tell you later." Click.
I stared down at my phone and contemplated calling him back. However, I knew I wouldn't get anywhere. I decided to dial Taehyung's number.
He answered within three things. "Hi, noona."
"Hey, cutie. Are you at HYBE?"
"Yes, I'm in one of the working studios. Are you here?"
I started walking towards his location; he tended to use the same room whenever he worked. "Yes. Are you busy?"
"Yes, but I can use a small break. Want to get a snack?"
"No, I don't want to ruin my dinner. But you can get a snack while I get coffee," I suggested, getting closer to his room.
"Ok. Are you close?"
"I'm a few doors down." I could see the door from where I was.
"I'll be right out."
He opened the door just as I was about to knock on it. He did a once over on me, a wide smile appearing. "Very nice," he said in English. "Sexy."
I did a small twirl. "Thank you."
The two producers in the room tried to get a peek at who Taehyung was speaking with. I didn't want to be rude, so I stepped forward and we exchanged quick pleasantries with Tae's team before Tae and I headed to the café.
It didn't take longer than a few minutes before we were sitting in a private corner of the café with my coffee and Tae's sandwich.
"Are you nervous about tonight?" he asked in a low voice, looking around to make sure no one was within earshot.
Due to COVID, the number of employees in the building was still limited. And the few people present kept a great amount of distance from one another. "A little," I admitted to him.
He gave me a small smile. "You're going to have fun. He really thought it all the way through," he assured me. I noticed he was omitting Namjoon's name entirely, taking extra precautions.
"He told you his plans?" I asked curiously.
"Yes, but don't ask me what they are because I won't tell." He looked like he meant it.
"Can you at least tell me if I'm dressed ok for it?" I sat all the way back in my chair to give him a look at my outfit just in case he had forgotten.
Of course, I didn't have to. Taehyung had an eye for fashion and remembered what I was wearing. "You look good. But…" He gave me a slight look of uncertainty when he looked down at my shoes. "Did you bring something else, just in case?"
"Oh, I have a skirt and heels in my bag," I assured him. I had backup items in my big purse just in case.
"Let me see," he requested, bending towards the purse.
"I actually took a picture of it. If I take it out, it'll look suspicious," I said as I looked through my phone and searched for the photo I had taken earlier.
Once I found it, I showed it to him. Tae leaned in, took the phone from me, and looked pleased. "Perfect. Put this on right before dinner. This skirt and heels will show off your legs to him. We caught him plenty of times staring at them," he said, giving me back my phone.
What guy wasn't into legs? I had caught him openly gawking at them several times. And if I was being completely honest, it felt good to know he had a physical attraction toward me.
"You know, if he didn't have something else to do tonight, I would have canceled my weekly call with my parents and just stayed over his house all night. Or have him over."
Taehyung shook his head. "He's canceled so many times with his friends. I think Jackson was slightly serious when he said if he didn't make it for this hangout, he was considering breaking up the friendship."
It was funny because I knew Jackson didn't mean it.
For a moment it was quiet. I took another sip of my coffee, trying to cool down my nerves. My eyes turned towards Tae and found him looking at me with an adoring smile. "What?"
"I like that you guys are together," he said sweetly.
I really didn't know how to respond to that. I just smiled, gave a short nod, and took another drink of my coffee.
"After so many years, it's good to see that it has finally happened," he said with a twinkle in his eyes. "Seven is a lucky number."
I was a little thrown back. "I haven't liked him for that long."
"No, I meant the friendship," Taehyung clarified. "But you have liked him for a while."
I shook my head, still shocked how I had gone so long without realizing my feelings for Namjoon had developed deeper without me realizing it. "I don't know why it took so long to figure out I liked him this way. I mean, I've had a small crush on him every now and then but it would always be brief. It always went away when he was in a relationship or if I was."
He nodded. "You both are very loyal, so allowing yourselves to like one another when in another relationship was never going to happen. Plus, you hadn't gotten to know each other the way you do now. It's very…difficult to tear down his walls." He began to lower his voice. "Living with him for as long as we have, it was even hard for some of us. I don't think he does it on purpose, it's just his personality. He's very reserved, takes on many responsibilities, and feels like he has to take on a lot of burdens himself." His eyes looked a little sad as he said this.
I understood the sadness personally. It had taken me years to finally be let into his world. While we had been "friends" for seven years, it wasn't until the last two that I felt we truly were. There didn't seem to be many walls between us.
Right then, my phone went off. I looked down to see Namjoon calling.
Taehyung frowned as he looked at the caller ID. "You still have him under 'Moni'?"
I picked up the phone and answered, ignoring Tae's question.
"How romantic," he muttered sarcastically.
"Who's romantic?" Namjoon asked on the other end of the line.
"Ignore Tae," I said simply as I stuck out my tongue at the young man across the table from me. "Are you here?" I asked, feeling hopeful.
"Yeah. I'm in the parking lot. Are you ready?" His voice sounded upbeat.
"Yups. I'll meet you there." I hung up and gathered my things, Taehyung doing the same.
"You know that he's starting to put that word into his vocabulary?" Tae asked as he got up from his chair.
I got up with him, pushing in my chair. "What word?"
"Yups. It's your word and now he says it," he explained as he waited for me.
"Well, I've picked up a few of his own habits," I countered. "I cycle now."
"Can you at least change the name to 'Babe' or 'BF'. Why keep him as 'Moni'?" Tae changed the subject as we walked together towards the elevator. "I haven't heard you call him that in years."
"Well, I can't exactly save him under his real name or other nicknames," I explained as we waited for the elevator to open. "If the wrong person were to look over my shoulder at the wrong time, they would be able to decipher who he is."
"What do you have me under?" he asked curiously. The doors opened and we both went in, hitting the buttons for our destinations.
"Weirdo," I answer lovingly, giving him a smile.
He didn't look like he believed me. "Really?"
I nodded. I got my phone out, opened Contacts, and showed him.
"You're so mean," he said with a smile. "What about Jimin?"
"Lovely," I responded.
Tae gave me an incredulous look. "And I get 'weirdo'?"
"Well, that was more his own doing. I originally had him under 'dummy' but he found out and managed to get ahold of my phone to change it," I explained.
He extended his hand. "Give."
The elevator dinged and doors opened. We had arrived at Tae's floor. I swatted his hand away. "Next time. Out."
He leaned over to give me a hug. "Have fun. And remember to switch your outfit."
"I will," I said as he stepped out.
We waved goodbye as the doors closed.
A few moments later, I arrived at the parking lot several floors down. I made my way towards where the company cars usually were. Due to his height, I found Namjoon quickly.
As I made my way to him, I allowed myself to savor how good he looked. He was sporting nice, light blue jeans, a black shirt, and a brown jacket. He had on a pair of timberlands and a dark blue baseball cap. I could eat him up, he looked so good. The only thing I disliked about his outfit was his sunglasses and that was only because they were hiding his gorgeous browns.
He gave me a small but deep dimple smile. "Hey," he said in his low, timbre voice.
"Hey, handsome," I greeted as I openly let my eyes rake over him.
An embarrassed chuckle came out of him as he turned and gestured towards the open door of the vehicle. The driver was right next to the door, bowing.
I bowed back and entered the vehicle. If the driver wasn't present, I would have jumped on Namjoon and planted one on him, but I made sure to keep my distance.
We spoke a bit in the car as we drove off, keeping things light.
The car came to a stop about twenty minutes later. I looked around and didn't recognize where we were at first. I was sure we were in Dongdaemun but wasn't sure of the exact location. In the two years I had been living here, it was an area I was unfamiliar with.
We were parked in an off alley away from most of the public. Very few people were around, so I wasn't too worried about being recognized when I stepped out of the car. Namjoon was right behind me with big, empty bags in his hands. We were both sporting masks and thanks to our very casual wear, we easily blended in.
Namjoon turned to the driver and they communicated about where we would meet next. The driver nodded and got back into his car. Namjoon led the way into the streets.
"What's with the bags?" I asked curiously as I eyed them.
"You'll see. Come on, we don't have much time. I promise next time we'll come earlier," he said in a low voice so only I could hear.
I knew he was doing this due to people easily recognizing him off his voice. He already stood out due to his height, if he were to speak, he would be at the center of attention.
I followed him closely but kept at a decent distance.
He looked down at me and gave me one of his eye smiles. "You look great, by the way."
I wanted nothing more than to lean into him, but I restrained myself. "Back at ya. You know, my favorite look on you is anything in a hat—preferably a baseball cap."
"Well, it's going to be easy to please you. I'm not even gonna have to try," he joked.
I sent him a flirtatious smile. He couldn't see it because of the mask, but I was sure he could sense it. "You really don't have to try. You exude self-confidence and I don't think there's a thing in the world sexier than that."
I could see his cheeks glowing red, but he didn't say anything.
We turned a couple of more streets until I finally saw it. Right in front of me was one of the most beautiful sceneries imaginable. It felt as if I had walked into a fantasy—a location I could only dream of.
My feet stopped walking so I could fully capture the sight. I knew where we were. A place I had been wanting to visit for a long time but just never got around to.
Next to me, Namjoon let out a small laugh. "Incredible, isn't it? I remember being taken aback the first time I came here."
In front of us was an endless view of street vendors and small shops with a plethora of books. The stacks of texts were so high and many that it almost felt like the scene from Aladdin in the Cave of Wonders. Except for the abundance of jewels and gold that Aladdin was presented with, I was staring into an abundance of hardcovers and paperbacks. We were in Cheonggyecheon Second Hand Book Street. A place where a plethora of books (used and new) from all over the world were sold at decent prices. Namjoon had spoken a few times about coming to this place, but we had always put it off.
"I could stay here for days," I said breathlessly.
"Unfortunately, we have thirty minutes," Namjoon said regrettably.
"Let's hurry," I said as I rushed over to the first shop closest to me.
The next thirty minutes flew by quickly but were so incredibly satisfying. My eyes and brain could not keep up with all the different treasures surrounding me. I focused mostly on the books that looked the rarest and most interesting. I selected a few that were at least 100 years old and a few that were leather bound and in languages I was not familiar with. My hands carried a heavy bag in each. If I hadn't been as excited as I was, I would have fought Namjoon harder when he paid for all the books. I was far too happy to try and argue.
He bought a couple books for himself, but mostly assisted me in picking for my selection.
Thankfully, we didn't have to travel far to reach the driver. Namjoon had him park fairly close. We dropped off the bags at the vehicle, freeing our backs and arms of the heavy burden. After leaving the books, Namjoon informed me we weren't set to leave yet. We were going to be taking a small stroll before leaving for our next destination. He communicated to the driver the next location to meet us in and the two of us headed over to walk along the Cheonggyecheaon stream.
We walked side by side, but still with distance between us. "Thank you," I said enthusiastically. "I could have looked through those books for hours."
He looked absolutely delighted. "I knew you would like it. Which are you most excited about?"
I thought for a moment. "That very old, rustic hardback about Greek mythology. The small, brown one. It's so old and smells a little funky. That'll be interesting to read through."
"Lucky it was in English," he said.
We walked along the stream, passed the market, and did a little bit of window shopping. It was our first date, but there wasn't too much awkwardness. Tonight didn't feel any different than when we would hang out as friends. Was that a good thing or a bad thing, I wondered? I tried to push the thought away as I noticed we were getting close to our vehicle. It was a good thing it was the middle of a workweek and evening. Not many people were out and about, allowing us to have a pleasant time without disturbance.
We got into the vehicle and started our drive. For the next thirty minutes, we mostly talked about the books we had bought and looked through them. Namjoon had bought another art book that caused him to go into a song he was working on. The conversation then turned to their next album and the songs I was helping them write.
We made a turn on Namjoon's complex. After passing the first set of security, we got out of the vehicle. We each took two book bags.
Namjoon gave a quick thanks to the driver and began to lead the way.
I gave the driver my thanks as well while I noticed Namjoon getting on his phone. It appeared he was sending a text to someone.
"Who are you messaging?" I asked, trying to get a peek at his phone. It was all for fun, though. He was way too damn tall for me to see anything. Even with the booties.
He knew I was teasing but still dodged me. "Stop being nosy," he said with a smile.
As we went through another round of security, we made small talk. I wasn't too worried about the guards noticing us together. I had come here enough to meet Namjoon for our biweekly bike rides or hikes that the security recognized me immediately.
A few minutes later, I was proven right as we arrived at the front of his door.
I let out a dramatic gasp. "What are your neighbors going to think about me coming over?" I asked in a dramatic whisper. There was no one around us.
He let out a smile as he unlocked the door and held it open for me. "We have four bags full of books and we're wearing casual clothing. I doubt they'll think too much into it."
I walked inside. "And here I thought these books were to please me, but in reality, you're just using them as a cover up."
The door closed softly behind him. "It's multi-purpose: I get to spend time with two of my favorite things: books and you. It throws the scent off of us—they'll think we're just working." He set our bags down and took off his shoes, not bothering to set them to the side.
He had said it so casually and swiftly that I wondered if he had realized what he said. But I had caught it: two of my favorite things: books and you. The confession made my heart rate speed up and I could feel a smile forming that I couldn't control.
I placed my shoes neatly next to the door as I tried to control my heart rate. I moved his as well, not wanting any accidents.
When I turned towards him, he had his attention on me, a smile lingering on his face. "What?" I asked, taken aback by the look on his face.
He took a few steps towards me, closing the gap between us.
I felt his hands come to my waist and pull me close. The scent of his smoky leather fragrance filled my senses. He smelled so good, I wanted to bury my nose in him. I looked up at the gorgeous man in front of me.
He leaned down, pressing his lips lightly against mine.
We hadn't seen each other in a couple days, but my lips felt as if it had been an eternity. It felt like I was taking a much-needed breath.
He pulled away slightly, smiling down at me. "I've been wanting to do that since the parking lot," he said in a husky voice.
I clung to his forearms, wanting him to bring his lips to me again. "Why didn't you?"
"I'm an idiot," he mumbled and leaned down again, giving me what I wanted.
I opened my mouth to deepen the kiss, but suddenly a loud and odd sound went off.
We pulled away from each other and looked around, wondering where such noise had come from. The noise was heard again. And at the same time, I felt my stomach move. The sound was coming from something closer than I thought: my stomach.
"You're starving," Namjoon said, his eyes set on my stomach. "Sorry." And then he began to move. "Give me five to ten minutes," he said hurriedly as he fled into the kitchen.
I suppressed a laugh as I walked into the clean and pristine household. Namjoon wasn't incredibly messy, but he wasn't neat either. I could tell he had gotten help to make the house look as spotless as it did now.
As I made my way down the hall, I noticed the dining room had been set up nicely. The last time I had been here, the table had been stacked with books and notes. He usually used it as a working desk. Now, the table looked like I had walked into a restaurant.
I smiled and made my way to the table, admiring the work and thought that was put into the design. The plates selected were gorgeous and assembled nicely across from one another. The glass candles were simple yet elegant. The yellow flower petals placed throughout the table added a romantic touch. And the small and short flower arrangement which contained a couple of sunflowers was incredibly sweet.
It looked as if this was a real restaurant, where a fancy dinner was about to be served.
At the thought of this, I remembered I was dressed too casual. Grabbing my bag, I headed to the restroom. "I'm going to use the restroom," I announced.
"Ok," Namjoon called back to me.
It didn't take long to change. I debated for a while if I wanted to put on my heels or leave them off since we were indoors. But I remembered Taehyung's words about Namjoon loving my legs and opted to put them on. Thankfully, I had cleaned them recently and hadn't worn them since.
After doing a touch-up on my makeup and hair, I made my way to the dining room. Waiting there were two wine glasses and a bottle of Merlot.
I was about to walk over to it when a crashing noise came from the kitchen, followed by a grunt. Acting instinctively, I hurried over. "Is everything ok?"
"Yes," Namjoon assured me just as I stepped inside the kitchen. His back was towards me and was crouching over a couple of plates. The source of the noise was immediately discovered: several utensils were scattered throughout the counter. Namjoon was mumbling something to himself.
Immediately, a whiff of pork and parmesan filled the room. "That smells good."
Namjoon's head snapped toward me. "Why are you in here? Wait at the table."
I didn't listen and took a few steps closer. "What do you expect me to do when I hear a crashing noise?"
"Ignore it. I'm constantly dropping things, so it should be of no surprise," he mumbled as he went back to what he had been working on.
My curiosity kept bringing me closer.
He caught me. "Hey!" He tried to block me from looking.
I ducked and peeked under his arm, noticing what he was working on. It was spaghetti with what looked to be bacon. However, I had a pretty good nose, so I knew the bacon was actually guanciale. It was carbonara—one of my favorite foods! But it didn't look professionally made.
"Did you cook this yourself?" I asked in astonishment.
He let out a sigh and moved aside, allowing me to get a full view. "Yeah. I made it right before getting to you. And I was just reheating it in the pan. I was putting in some cheese to add a finishing touch. How does it look?" he asked timidly.
I looked down at the pasta dish. The sauce was a bit curdled, meaning he had cooked the sauce with too high a heat. The bacon also looked a little too dark than it should have been, but it couldn't have looked more perfect. I turned to him excitedly, "It looks really good!"
His face turned lighter at my reaction and he let out a sigh. "Really?"
I looked back down at the plates and stared at them for a good moment. Namjoon was immensely talented in many areas, but it was no secret that things that tended to be simple for the average person—such as cooking and driving—were a struggle for him. For years, he had tried his hand in the kitchen, only to flop most of the time. So, seeing that he had tried his hand at making something himself for our first date made my heart squeeze.
"What's wrong?" His voice was low and gentle as his eyes roamed over my face.
I didn't understand his concern. "What do you mean?" I asked, turning to him.
He frowned but there was a small smile on his face. "You look—" he stopped himself as if finally realizing something.
"I look like what?" I asked, taken aback. Had he finally noticed I was in a skirt and heels? I looked down at myself, just checking to see if there was something I was missing. Did he not approve of shoes in the house? "Should I take off my shoes?"
"Whoa," he said suddenly as he looked down. He took a step back, getting a better view of me. His eyes were so wide and his mouth was hanging open that it was easy to tell he very much approved of the look. A feeling of satisfaction overwhelmed me, but that didn't stop a blush from creeping its way through my cheeks.
"You look h—great." His eyes roamed around my legs.
I could only handle being ogled by him for so long. I gave him a slight shove on the shoulder, snapping him out of it. "Come on, I'm starving." I made a grab for both dishes.
He immediately reacted. "No, let me."
"You cooked, it's the least I can do," I insisted.
He shook his head as he took the dishes from me. "I have all this planned. Go."
I pouted a little but followed instructions. He got ahead of me the closer I got to the table, however. He put down the plates so he could pull out a chair for me, which I appreciated.
After pouring each of us some wine, Namjoon made his way to his chair. He smiled sweetly and gestured to the dish. "You want me to try it first to see if it's poisonous?"
I rolled my eyes. I picked up my fork and went for it. I wasn't worried at all. Due to the way I grew up, I wasn't a picky eater. While I may have been raised well off, my parents ensured we weren't picky eaters. Only on very seldom occasions did we have fancy meals. I always ate whatever was presented to me and never complained about it. I doubted there was anything Namjoon could make that would make it inedible for me.
Making sure I made full eye contact with Namjoon, I placed the first bite into my mouth and chewed. His face looked a little scared for me. The first thing I tasted was the saltiness of the pasta. It wasn't intolerable, but just a bit too much for my taste. The guanciale tasted a little charred—it had slightly burned. And the sauce felt a little off—pretty sure it was because the egg had curdled. The dish was decent, though. I would even say, near tasty.
I gave him a nod and went for seconds. "It's good."
His eyes popped a little in surprise. "Are you serious?"
I nodded and motioned for him to taste his creation.
He picked up his fork and did so. He made a funny face immediately. "That's salty."
I chuckled and nodded. "Just a bit. But it's still good."
Namjoon didn't look convinced. He reached for his wine and took a sip. His face looked a little more pleased. "The wine downs it pretty good. Try it."
I did and had to admit he was right. "It makes the dish extra tasty."
"It's a fine bottle, it'll make even the worst dish seem edible," he said, bashing himself.
He was doing it a little too much for my liking. "Stop," I said, going in for my third bite. I didn't like him putting himself down too much, even if he was only joking. "So, how was your day?"
He took another sip of wine and let out a sigh. "Alright, I guess."
We weren't around anyone else, so I was able to fully focus on his face. His eyes looked a little heavy and his shoulders were sagging slightly. "Tough day?" I asked, feeling concerned.
"Not really. Just long." He scratched his head and leaned back in his chair, trying to relax. "I was with my financial adviser for most of the day. Dealing with my company shares."
"Did you decide how much you're going to sell?" I asked, remembering he had mentioned this before. He wanted to invest in art so as to open his own exhibit sometime in the near future.
He nodded and went on to explain how much he sold. It was a good amount.
"It should be enough to get you a nice quantity of art pieces," I said enthusiastically.
He gave a small smile, but he seemed to be holding it back.
I had a good guess as to why. "Is it stressing you because it's a lot of money?" Namjoon was very conservative with his spending and savings. This had been a big step for him.
"A little," he admitted. "I don't regret it, but I can't help but worry."
"It's for a great reason, though. Your own collection! How exciting!" I was very pumped for him. "Can you just imagine it—opening up the doors to a display of your own collection?"
A genuine smile came across his face. He was happy again. And then he made a comment that he was going to have to be careful with the rest of his shares, feeling a bit concerned if he sold too many too fast.
I had the instinct of asking him how much his shares were but I didn't want to pry.
It was one of the few topics I never talked to Namjoon about: finances. While we knew much about each other, one of the things that were still a mystery to me was his true net worth and the amount of money he had in the bank. And it was the same about me to him. I never told him in full detail my worth. In fact, I had never told any of my former boyfriends about my money. It was something I never felt comfortable sharing.
For a moment, I wondered if this would become an issue in the future for us. But that was for another time. We hadn't even been together a month. We were supposed to be taking things slow.
"How's the recording coming along?" he asked, reading my mind and changing the topic.
I was grateful. "My vocals are shot. I was trying to hit this one note and I couldn't. It was embarrassing. I'm going to have to go back to vocal lessons," I said, taking a sip of my wine.
"You mean with a vocal coach?" he asked, taking a bite from his food. He made another face after eating it. He must have forgotten he was eating his own food. It was cute.
I laughed at his expressions. "I scheduled a few sessions with my vocal coach. It's going to suck having to do them virtually, but," I shrugged my shoulders in defeat, "What are you going to do?"
We went on to talk about the latest updates I had received from my family. He then told me of his own family and how they were going to be joining him for the concert in the States. Apparently, some of the guys were going to be taking their families so they could have a vacation with them in the States. After two years, they wanted to take advantage of the opportunity.
I managed to finish my carbonara and wine without realizing it. We continued into the night talking and laughing as Namjoon explained the other projects the group was involved in. We finally had the time to share full stories with one another since we hadn't been able to.
He was telling me how one of his favorite shirts had gotten a stain on it due to one of Jimin's pranks gone wrong when his house phone went off. Very few people had his house number and even less called it rather than his cellphone. Whenever the house phone went off at the guys' dorms, it was usually the front desk or security.
Namjoon checked his watch and then his phone. "Shit." He hurried over to the phone and took his cell phone out. "I bet it's Jackson. He called my phone several times, but I have it on silent." He answered the landline.
I could hear the loud male voice on the other end. Namjoon had been right. It was Jackson.
"I'll be right down. Give me 15." He hung up the phone and turned to me, a disappointed look on his face.
I got up and started gathering the dishes. "Well, at least we got a few hours."
Namjoon hurried over to take whatever I hadn't been able to grab.
Together, we walked over to the kitchen and placed the dishes in the dishwasher. Once they were put away, Namjoon turned to me and pulled me close. "I'm sorry this date wasn't longer."
I smiled up at him. "Are you kidding? It was the best. You hit all the right spots. You bought me books, we took a nice walk—"
"A very short walk. I wanted to go on a nice bike ride with you," he said with a slight pout.
"We can save that for another date. Bike riding is more of a morning date anyways. I like rides while the sun is coming up. We can do that on a Sunday. Very few people would be out, and we would both have it off," I suggested.
He placed his large palm around my neck as his thumb rested on my cheek. "You always have solutions for everything, don't you?"
I linked my hands around his large back. "I really enjoyed today. It was perfect."
He leaned down and took my lips into his. For the umpteenth time tonight, I turned to liquid. I wanted nothing more than to continue staying here with him, but a stupid voice that came in form of a Hong Kong male reminded me that Namjoon had friends who were waiting for him.
I forced myself to pull away. "Ok, go. Before Jackson storms into this house."
"Just one more minute," he said, pulling my face to his.
I gave in for a few seconds, giving in to bliss for at least a few seconds. However, just as the kiss began to get a little more heated, the house phone began to ring again.
Namjoon let out a groan but pulled back. "I'll call you a cab," he said as we headed to the front door. He took out his phone and began to make a call, not bothering to answer the house call.
I took off my heels and put on my booties. I didn't want Jackson to catch me in heels. Unlike everyone else we had encountered, Jackson would read into every single detail and figure out what Namjoon and I were really up to.
Once I had my shoes on, I took my personal bag and one of the book bags. "Is it fine if I leave the rest here? They're far too heavy," I said as I stared at the other two bags on the floor.
Namjoon nodded. "Sure. Are you free for lunch tomorrow? I can bring one to you."
I nodded, already feeling excited for tomorrow.
He pushed open the door and allowed me to go first. We made our way down the hall and through security before reaching our very needy friend.
Jackson looked slightly irritated. "Finally," he huffed. But then he eyed me up and down, a suspicious look in his eye.
I put up my defenses. "What?"
"What were you two doing? It's late." Jackson's eyes went to Namjoon next.
"Work," I said in a tone that let him know I thought it was a dumb question. I turned to Namjoon. "Be sure he pees regularly; otherwise, he's gonna have another accident," I sent Jackson a teasing look.
Jackson turned a little flustered. "For the last time, I didn't pee on myself. Jinyoung spilled something on my pa—"
I loved getting him worked up, which was why I brought up a recent incident that involved a drunken him with wet pants and everyone accusing him of wetting himself. I cut him off. "Jinyoung doesn't back up your lame-ass story. No one believes it, sweetie."
Jackson was about to further defend himself, but Namjoon patted his friend on the shoulder. "Come on, let's go. We're already late." He was holding back his laughter.
"Remember to take sips of water in between drinks," I called out as I left.
"I didn't pee on myself!" Jackson called out, but then he noticed he had said that a little too loud. Some of the staff were now looking at him.
Namjoon began to laugh.
I waved at them, Jackson narrowing his eyes at me in a comical way. I made my way to the entrance door of the building. As I was about to walk out, I turned one last time.
Jackson was looking down at his phone as he ranted about something and Namjoon locked eyes with me from across the building. He showed me his deep dimples and gave me a small wave.
I made sure Jackson wasn't looking before I sent him a wink. There were still plenty of people around us. I didn't want to raise suspicion.
He responded with a sweet wink back as I walked out.
