A chance meeting 8 years after you had first fallen in love with him, had he changed? Was he the same Namjoon that had captured your heart all those years ago, or had his idol lifestyle altered the nerdy boy you once knew?
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First published June 2...
Three weeks later, you were feeling let down again as he hadn't shown up. Was this all a cruel dream?
You knew that they had been in Japan performing. According to Naver News, they were there for two weeks. However, three weeks passed by without him making an appearance so you started doubting yourself.
Did he really say he was coming back?
You had booked five days holiday for the upcoming week and you were reluctant to go.
What if he came in when I wasn't there?
You shook your head at yourself. It was typical of you to get your hopes up. Inside, your conscience told you to stop hyping him up: he wasn't coming over for a date or to romanticise you - it was probably to explain why he had left. Closure.
It was Friday night at 11.30pm. The shop was super busy with students and young people partying. Sounds of loud chattering and refrigerator doors slamming were grating on you. There would be no way Kim Namjoon would come in at this rate. He'd be spotted in seconds and that wouldn't be good.
BTS's RM SPOTTED TALKING TO WEIRD FOREIGN TROLL WHO WORKS A DEAD END JOB IN A SHOP. ALSO SHE HAS A SPOT ON HER CHIN. BECAUSE SHE EATS TOO MUCH ICE CREAM AS SHE IS MISERABLE AND LONELY.
Clearly the headlines wouldn't go into that much detail but you never knew what Dispatch had in mind.
At 2am, when your co-worker was about to change shift with you, he walked through the door. His eyes were warmer than before, almost as if they lit up when he walked in. Tonight, he was wearing a dark black coat and a dark jumper. Wisps of longish blonde hair peeped out of the bottom of his black hat and he looked refreshed compared to last time. You also noticed that he smelt heavily of Aqua Celestial. It was unusual of him to have ever worn a fragrance so you presumed he had probably come from some idol party filled with beautiful women and expensive wine. And here you were; the shop-troll with a spot on your chin.
Immediately, you pulled your sweater up to hide the pimple, pretending that you were cold.
Similar to last time, he stood at the counter and grabbed a pack of Honey Almonds.
"These, please," he softly said in a rather raspy voice, hand still on the packet of almonds. You noticed he had lots of silvery rings on his fingers that glistened like stars in the bright shop lights.
"What's wrong with your voice?" you asked in a nonchalant tone, as if you were speaking informally.
"I've been at work," he quickly replied.
"Ahh." You raised your eyebrows sarcastically. "Work..."
There was a pause. He wasn't going to discuss anything in such a public sphere, especially about his work.
"That's 3,000 won," you said in a flat manner, not looking him in the eye.
After rustling around in his coat pocket, he handed over an 10,000 won note, hand brushing it across the counter. His rings made a clattering noise as they came into contact with the plastic counter surface. As you picked it up, you noticed a business card underneath it.
How ridiculous.
"I would have come to buy these sooner but it was so busy in here."
"So you've been watching the store like a weirdo?" you sarcastically said as you eyed up the business card.
He laughed behind his mask. You guessed that it was refreshing for someone to talk so bluntly to him. He was probably used to people sucking up to him 24/7. If he was anything like the old boy you knew, he was humble and hated sycophantic behaviour.
"No. It's just I..," he stumbled on.
Namjoon was clearly not as confident as he had appeared when he walked in.
You tutted and read the card.
RKive - 902070 Hannam-gu, Seoul. 12th @ 2300.
As you read the card, you sighed.
Stupid. Does he not realise I work late shifts?
However, you looked again at the date. It was the 12th - next week; the week you were off work. How did he know that?
You began to get nervous. This was all just a made up scenario in your head. You hadn't actually thought this would happen. And now it was materialising, you felt sick and anxious. What would you even say to him? Would you be honest and tell him how, for the last 8 years, you had tried to get over him but failed? Would it be weird for him that you knew everything about his life and he knew nothing about yours? What if he didn't want anything else to do with you and this really was the end.
You felt very confused.
"What's this?" you asked with raised eyebrows as you flipped the card over and over, as if you expected it to do something magical.
Namjoon shiftily looked around to see if anyone was watching. The coast was clear so he began to speak in a very quiet and low voice.
"Ask for Rohito. Do as he says."
Rohito? Do as he says?
It sounded like some covert drugs smuggling operation. You pouted at Namjoon and rolled your eyes.
"Just do it," he almost snapped as he stared at you.
You drew back and frowned at him. In the past, when he was trying to be patient and calm in complex situations, he would start to get frustrated and raise his voice. It wasn't because he was angry, it was because he was getting anxious. This made you feel sorry for him. You knew you should hear him out. However, before you were about to respond, the door chimed open and a group of rowdy students came ambling in. You could hear your co-worker loudly chastising them from behind. He had come to take over your shift.
Maybe I could walk with Namjoon?
But as soon as that thought had presented itself in your head, you saw that he had turned and was heading out of the door with his head aimed towards the floor so he wasn't noticed.
The drunk students hadn't caught a glimpse of him and nor had your co-worker, who was now heading to the cash desk with a frown on his face.
"Has it been as busy as this tonight?" he asked grumpily as he unzipped his coat with vigour.
You nodded as you opened the door to the office for him.
"And that's why I'm glad it's my week off!" You sweetly called as he hung up his coat in the back office.
"Any plans?"
You smiled to yourself.
"You could say that," you replied trying to hide your smirk.
When you finally got home, you collapsed on your bed and for the first time in a long while, you let the soothing sounds of the Seoul highway lul you to sleep: the low drone of the cars twinned with the rushing of the wind in the trees. You fell into a delicious slumber, dreaming about him.
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He is so lovely <3 I've got my RM dope broadcast card coming in the post this week and im soooo excited for him to join my collection!
Does anyone else have a collection of photo cards and merchandise? - I spend far too much on card *clown face*.
