Promises

31

Seokjin was wrong. The month did not go by in the blink of an eye. The first few days, he wondered where Namjoon was when he woke up in an empty bed. And then the realisation downed him that Namjoon wasn't there. Though the days went by easily as he was busy with university work and exams, the evenings were usually slower. He would try to eat dinner but because he was so used to Namjoon being there, he couldn't eat much. Namjoon always called him when he could, but the screen couldn't fill Seokjin's emptiness.

The exams were over in two weeks and everyone prepared for the holidays. The teachers were given the papers to take them home for evaluation. Seokjin felt so empty when the university was closed that he evaluated all the papers in a week's time. As time went by, Namjoon's calls got fewer and shorter. He looked at the calendar and sighed. It was still two weeks to pass before Namjoon would come back. He just hoped Namjoon would come back before New Year. He was reading a play in the living room. When his phone rang, he jumped to get the phone from the table and then picked up the call too quickly.

"Hello?"

The screen flashed with Namjoon smiling and waving at him. "Hi hyung. What are you doing?" Namjoon was wearing a three-piece suit with an overcoat on it. It must be too cold there as well.

Seokjin shook his head, "Nothing really. Just reading a book."

"Oh, did I disturb you?" Namjoon shifted to sit on the couch and get comfortable.

"No." Seokjin retorted rather aggressively, "I was just passing the time."

"Oh, are you done with the papers?"

Seokjin nodded, "Yeah. I even submitted them back to the admin."

Namjoon laughed, "Waah! You really are fast with your work."

Seokjin hummed but didn't say anything.

"Hyung?" Namjoon looked a little worried.

Seokjin shook his head, "It's nothing." He chuckled, "Just that, I miss you."

Namjoon smiled at him endearingly, "I miss you too, hyung. So much. It sucks that I have to be here."

Seokjin gulped, "Ummm... When will you come back?"

Namjoon hummed, "Let me see. Maybe two more weeks. I really don't know when this will be over. Also, the boys are spending the New Year here."

And you?

Seokjin wanted to ask him. But he didn't want to look too clingy. So he just smiled and nodded, "Be careful there. Are you eating properly?"

Namjoon nodded, "I am. Are you taking care of yourself?"

Seokjin nodded as well. "I-"

He was interrupted when Namjoon was called by someone in the background. Namjoon nodded to them and looked at Seokjin, "Hyung, I will have to go. They need me. I will call you later, yeah? I love you."

Seokjin smiled as well, "Okay. Take care." He cut the call and looked at his reflection on the phone. He sighed and looked around him. Right. He had given the house help holidays. He got up and started cleaning the house, starting with the living room that was littered with packets of snacks. When the living room was done, he moved to the kitchen. Thinking of making something, he started making himself noodles. After eating he cleaned the kitchen. He sighed as he stood looking at the now clean kitchen.

"What else should I do?" He pouted. He sighed for the nth time and finally decided to deep clean the house while he was at it.

It took Seokjin four days to clean the house entirely. He slumped on the couch munching on seaweed as he stared at the sparkling clean house. It looked at the calendar and gasped. It was Christmas already. Just a day to go. He took out his phone and dialled a number. "Seok-ah... Go Christmas shopping with hyung?"

The next entire day, Seokjin and Hoseok spent decorating the house. They hung fairy lights at every door frame and mistletoe in the middle. There were party balls and leaves around the railing of the stairs and the balconies. A huge tree on the corner near the dining table. After they were done, Hoseok made them a cup of tea and coffee and sat on the couch. Seokjin thanked him and looked at the tree, "Hobi, how are you celebrating Christmas?"

Hoseok sipped his coffee, "I am going home. Probably with Yoongi. But he is still a bit jittery about it. Let's see."

Seokjin hummed, "Lucky you. My family isn't even here. Eomma, appa went to Germany and Namjoon is in the US."

Hoseok put his coffee on the table and hugged Seokjin, "You can always come with me. You know you are always welcomed in my house."

Seokjin snuggled into him and sighed, "No. I want to be alone."

Hoseok nodded, "Okay. But at least get out of the house, yeah?"

~

The day was colder than usual. Of course, it was Christmas eve. As Hoseok had told him, Seokjn went out of the house for a walk and coffee. It felt suffocating in the house anyway. He sighed as the coffee hit his taste buds. The bitterness made him feel a lot better. He was hoping to get Namjoon's call, but Namjoon had already texted him that he would be busy.

It was Christmas eve after all.

As he was walking back home, the huge Christmas tree came again. He saw himself with Namjoon, Namjoon making a promise to come back soon. Seokjin chuckled at himself. He hadn't imagined it would affect him so much. He had realised he liked Namjoon just a month ago and look at him now. All antsy because he wasn't there. Maybe his fondness for Namjoon ran deeper. Or maybe he was just used to Namjoon being there for him whenever he was low.

He finished the coffee and sat on one of the benches there staring at the tree's huge star that blinked every now and then. As he had nothing, in particular, he was looking at the people passing by. He saw a couple babying their son, a group of girls giggling internally.

"Did you know TXT came back to Korea for Christmas?" One of them almost yelled. All of them cheered on the news.

Seokjin's eyes went wide. He ran to the group of girls, "Excuse me, did you just say TXT came back?"

One of them nodded, "Yes, see. I am sure they wanted to celebrate the holidays with their family too."

Seokjin looked at the phone. It had photos of the boys waving at the reporters and bowing. "When did they come back?"

The girl looked at the phone, "About three hours ago."

Seokjin thanked the group and ran as fast as he could to reach home. As he reached the house, he was shivering badly. He took off the gloves and hastily entered the code, getting it wrong the first time. He ran into the house and flung his shoes away to run straight to their room. He opened the door, but no one was there. He checked the bathroom to find it empty as well. He went to the kitchen, but there was no one. When he came out of the kitchen, he sighed. His eyes had tears as he saw Namjoon standing at the doorway of the balcony. He was in a suit and talking on the call with someone.

"Sooyun-shi, I'll call you later." Namjoon cut the call and smiled brightly at Seokjin. Seokjin ran to him and hugged him with full force. "Uff..." Namjoon felt like someone had punched the air out of his chest but he smiled and engulfed him tightly in the hug. He panicked when he felt tears on his neck. "Hyung?" He made Seokjin look at him without breaking the hug, "Hey, what happened?"

Seokjin sniffled, "I missed you."

Namjoon laughed and kissed Soekjin's forehead, engulfing him again, "I missed you too, hyung."

Seokjin snuggled deeper into the hug, still sniffling. After some time, Seokjin broke the hug and cupped Namjoon's cheeks. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted to surprise you." Namjoon tilted his head, "But I got the surprise instead." He looked around, "You decorated the house so beautifully. I have never decorated the house before."

Seokjin chuckled, "It was to pass my time." Seokjin looked at Namjoon as if imprinting every detail in his mind. He sighed, finally connecting their lips. Namjoon smiled in the kiss, responding immediately, pulling Seokjin more towards himself.

Seokjin broke the kiss and looked at Namjoon with huge doe eyes and a bright smile, "I am the happiest right now. Because I am with you."