Ocean Eyes • Kim Namjoon

Chapter 6: Not So Subtle

You were about an hour into your hike and as expected, you were substantially slower than all your other friends. What you weren't expecting (but you shouldn't be surprised) was that Namjoon was walking with you the entire time. Every time you'd stop to take a picture, he'd stop with you. You weren't complaining (come on, you get to spend more time alone with Namjoon - who'd complain?) but you were feeling bad that you were slowing him down.

"You don't have to wait for me Joon." You casually mentioned as you snapped a picture of a lake that was visible between the trees.

"Why? Do you not want me here?"

"No, that's not it! I just feel bad that I'm keeping you from enjoying your hike." You looked at the picture you just captured and fiddled with the camera to keep yourself distracted from Namjoon's intense gaze.

You saw his massive hand go on top of yours and he pushed the camera down and with his other hand, he tilted your chin up so you were looking right at him.

"I'm enjoying my hike perfectly fine, thank you very much." His eyes flicked down to glance at your lips and he quickly looked back into your eyes. "I could be watching paint dry with you and I'd have fun." He slowly leant in to your lips, before you heard:

"Hey, are you two slow pokes coming or are we going to have to call search and rescue?" You pulled away from Namjoon quickly before he could kiss you.

"Yeah, we're coming!" You shouted back. Your voice was a little shaky and Namjoon smirked when he heard the obvious effect he had on you. You cursed yourself at being so dang obvious all the stinkin' time.

"Yeah, Y/n just needs to get one more picture and we'll catch up with you guys!" Namjoon shouted back, his eyes never leaving yours.

"I don't need to get one more pic-" You started to speak but Namjoon put his pointer finger on your lips - completing his mission of successfully shutting you up.

"You talk too much sometimes." He spoke, his voice low right before he kissed you. Hard - so hard that you almost dropped your camera. Luckily, Namjoon grabbed it and as your lips moved together, he lifted the camera and snapped a quick picture of the two of you.

When he pulled away, you were completely breathless and all you could mutter was a simple "Wow."

He smiled and went to the gallery on the camera, and showed you the picture of you two. Both of your eyes were closed, and you could see a red flush on your cheeks as you both locked lips and there was a killer view of the trees and a hint of the lake in the background. He looked at your expression and gently kissed your lips again.

"Now this picture is a masterpiece."

———

The rest of the hike followed the same pattern - you'd catch up with your friends, get distracted by a really nice landscape (and if you're honest, also by Joon), you'd take a couple of pictures and rush to catch up.

While you and Namjoon were behind everyone else, he'd hold your hand and you would talk about anything and everything. It was a bittersweet feeling because you started to feel like you and Namjoon could actually be a couple. Unfortunately, you always were left with a heavy feeling in your chest, knowing that this was probably temporary and he never had any actual feelings for you.

This had happened to you previously. You had met a guy and instantly were attracted to him, and it seemed that the feeling was mutual. He'd be really sweet around you, and kiss you when no one else was around. You told him all your secrets and he told you his. You thought that this could really lead somewhere and were really starting to like him. However, all your hopes about a future with him were crushed when you asked him what your relationship was to him after him giving you a bunch of mixed signals and you needing the clarification for your sanity.

He had said that he thought you two were on the same page in knowing that this was just for fun. He proceeded to step more on your feelings when he had said that he wasn't ready for a relationship - only to introduce you to his girlfriend 2 months later.

You were determined to not let this happen with Namjoon so any time a thought came rushing in your head about being a couple with him, you had to tell yourself that he was out of your league and nothing would ever happen. It was a bit depressing, but you weren't willing to compromise your sanity and your heart again.

Near the end of the hike, you and Namjoon found yourselves near a ledge that gave you the perfect view of the blue water of the lake. You got your camera out and started capturing a few pictures.

"Imagine how beautiful the sunrise would be here." You casually mentioned.

"You know, I've always wanted to watch a sunrise with someone I really care about." Namjoon remarked as he admired the landscape. You laughed.

"I could imagine you saying something super poetic if you were here at sunrise with someone you cared about." He laughed as you took another picture.

"What do you mean?" You gave him an incredulous look, as if he doesn't know.

"Oh please, I can definitely see you saying something like 'even the skies blush for you' or something like that." Namjoon laughed loudly.

"You give me a lot of credit, you realize that right?"

"Well, you are ridiculously philosophical, you know? It just seemed like something you'd say." He kissed your temple gently.

"I guess the person would have to be pretty special for me to say something like that to them." Your heart broke, knowing that you would never be the person who got to see the romantic, poetic side to Namjoon. No, that was reserved for the person who would come into his life after he already got bored of you.

You all got back to the AirB&B at about 5pm and needless to say, everyone was bagged. You were downright glad you jumped the gun and made breakfast, because that meant that you could run off to the showers before everyone else while they decided who was going to make dinner.

You ran off to your room and grabbed your toiletries, a towel and a spare change of clothes and rushed to the bathroom. You were excited to get the smell of fire out of your hair from the previous night, and you absolutely drenched yourself in bug spray before the hike, so you were ecstatic to smell normal.

After 15 minutes of thorough cleansing, you got out and applied moisturizer to your face, and threw on your change of clothes.

You opened the door to the bathroom, and were surprised to see one of your friends (actually the one who confronted you about Namjoon at the diner) leaning on the door frame. Once she saw you, she grabbed your hand and said a quick 'we need to talk' before pulling you towards your room.

Once you got inside, she closed the door and sat you on your bed while she stayed in front of you with her arms crossed.

"Am I in trouble or something?" You questioned her, honestly feeling a little intimidated by her gaze.

"I don't know, when were you going to tell me about you and Namjoon?" She replied harshly. Her sudden accusation took you by complete surprise, and you tried to deny it but could only stutter instead. "Oh save it. I knew you liked him!"

"How the heck did you find out?" "Great, you finally can speak and you don't even deny it. Nicely done."

"Please, he's not good at keeping a secret. I mean, insisting on you driving with him, waiting around with you while you take pictures during the hike. It's pretty obvious."

"Please don't tell anyone." You were super close to a panic attack. No one was supposed to know, there wasn't supposed to be any pressure and now you felt the world fall onto your shoulders.

"Why wouldn't I tell anyone? You and Namjoon are dating! This is great news!" Your eyes went wide and the heavy feeling in your chest got worse. No, no, no, no, no!

"We aren't dating. That's why you can't tell anyone!" She heard the panicked tone in your voice and instantly grew worried. She sat beside you and started rubbing soothing circles on your back. "I don't want anyone to know so when he tells me he's through with me, it will hurt less."