Kim Namjoon

It’s hot. Too hot for this time of year. You puff as you shake off your jacket and drape it over the first available chair you see. The room is buzzing with chatter and clattering of glasses and plates, filled with wine and appetizers respectively. A faint aircon breeze touches your cheeks and wraps around your now bare arms, and you crane your neck to scan the crowd for Namjoon.

The youth house you both volunteer at is having its annual Appreciation Party and as much as you love spending time there, you’re in a bit of hurry today. You plan on hanging around Namjoon for a while, who’s your rock when it comes to event planning, and sneak out as soon as the opportunity arises.

He spots you before you can. You hear your name and smile as you watch Namjoon push himself through the crowd. He’s holding a glass of no doubt cheap champagne and he smiles apologetically when he hands it over. “You missed the cake,” he says, brushing his lips to your cheek as a hello.

“Oh shoot, I’m sure it was to die for,” you feign disappointment, eyeing your glass before cautiously taking a sip.

“I saved you a piece,” Namjoon grins, “it’s stashed away in my coat.” You arch an eyebrow. “What? It was the only way to save it from Hungry Henry,” he shrugs, adding a smile.

“Sounds appetizing, you can feed me later.”

Namjoon’s cheeks rise, the dimples in them sinking deeper as he chuckles at your comment. A warmth spreads through your chest and up your neck, and you wonder how the alcohol has affected you this quick.

Time flies too fast, and two hours have passed when the clock catches your eye. You curse, startling Namjoon in the middle of his story about how his uncle once got lost after a family gathering and one too many drinks. “What’s wrong?” he asks, worry colouring his voice.

“Nothing, I just wasn’t planning on staying this late,” you say as you place your glass on the nearest table. “There’s this new regulation at work,” you explain when you see the unspoken question in his eyes. “and it means I have to get an extra, official certificate to be able to do my job. Which also means having to take an exam tomorrow and I was planning on going over my notes one final time before bed.”

“Sounds dreadful,” Namjoon offers, following in your footsteps as you leave to find your coat. “Not as dreadful as spending the rest of the evening here without you, though.”

His words leave you blushing, and again you blame it on the alcohol. You look away as he holds up your coat, trying to hide your flushed cheeks while you push your arms through the sleeves. “Thanks,” you mumble, and he nods.

“Let me walk you home,” he says, and you look up. His tone is casual but his eyes are questioning, gently tracing the boundaries set between the both of you. Playful, as if he’s testing how far he’s allowed to push them. Or maybe you’re just reading into it too much.

“Uh, sure,” you blink, your eyes still locked on his. “If you don’t have other plans.”

The night is still warm, in a sultry way that leaves you breathless as you near your doorstep. Somewhere along the way, silence has fallen, and you find yourself not minding the quiet as Namjoon’s footsteps fall in next to yours. It’s a comfortable silence, a welcome one. You smile at the ground at the realisation, right when one of Namjoon’s fingers brushes yours.

You suck in a breath, eyes growing in size. “I, uh,-” you start, glad to see your house looming in the distance. You were being ridiculous- Namjoon was your closest co-worker, a friend in every sense of the word. You shouldn’t have gotten that third glass of wine, it’s making you see things, feel things. You still, a hand gesturing to your front door. “This is me.”

Namjoon smiles. “I know.”

Of course, he knows. You mentally facepalm yourself remembering all the times he’s been at your house for meetings. He could probably find his way to the bathroom blindfolded by now.

“It’s late,” you add, pushing up the sleeve of your jacket to reveal your watch. There’s a pause. You cough. “Thanks for the company. It was nice.”

“It was.”

You smile and turn to walk to your door, and you swear you can hear Namjoon’s breathing stop for a second.

“W-wait-”

He takes a step forward, big enough for you to nearly bump into his chest when you turn back around. “I-,” but his words disappear into thin air as he realises your hand is now on his chest, bracing yourself and startled by his sudden closeness. Your eyes are wide in surprise and he notices how small you look next to him for the first time. Small, and cute, and so damn beautiful. He inhales deeply.

“Can I kiss you?”

The question hits you like a tidal wave and suddenly you feel dizzy, but you’re nodding, and he’s kissing you, and you’re enjoying it.

Your mind is racing but blank at the same time, emotions and thoughts tripping over each other in chaos, the noise too loud to pick out just one. You’re kissing Namjoon- or rather, he is kissing you, and his lips are soft and tender and you lose yourself in the intensity of it all.

He pulls away and your mouth follows him, not ready to end this yet. Your eyes flutter open as you lick your lips. There’s another pause and then, “I have to.. go over my notes,” you say, not really sure what just happened. Namjoon nods again, leaning in to press another kiss to your lips.

You melt into his touch, and you’re definitely liking this- until you whimper and break the kiss. “Namjoon-,”

“I know,” he says, running his hand along your arm to stop at your hand. He presses his lips against the back of your hand and intertwines your fingers. Pulling you towards the door gently, he gestures for you to get your keys. “C'mon, I’ll help you study. I have a great reward system.”

You raise an eyebrow. “You can come in,” you say as you regain some of your wits and fumble to turn the lock. “but only because my cake is still in your pocket.”

Namjoon laughs, and it’s like your hearing it for the first time. Really hearing it, and it’s beautiful.

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