𝗕𝗧𝗦' 𝗥𝗠 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀

16) Cozy Date ♡

~ 𝑪𝒐𝒛𝒚 𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒘/ 𝑹𝑴 ~
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BAM.

Namjoon turned his head and there his neighbourʼs daughter grumpily sat on the stair of her backyard. A loud sigh is heard as she tossed bunch of papers beside her. Then she spaced out. She will sit there unmoving until the evening got dark and went inside when itʼs dinner time.

She has always been like that, there at that place ever since last two years. Specifically, every time after exam results were released. He can tell sheʼs not doing well, even in this year.

While Namjoon, he loves loitering at his backyard, either reading or painting the forest scenery laid miles forth behind their house or just spacing out like her. He realised that, whenever she was there, he unconsciously followed what she did.

After the sound of opening door, he will watch her taking a seat at the same place and when she started spacing out, he too would look at the direction she looked at. Trying to find out which tree she is looking at this time, or if she sees squirrels running across tree branches with nut in their tiny hands, or the birds making their nests or feeding their babies.

Then when he heard another door sound. Her place was empty and he too stood and went inside.

Now sheʼs in second year of high school, and it seems she is still struggling. Namjoon felt bad for just watching until now. So he asked, “Not a good day?” as soon as he asked, Namjoon wanted to punch himself. Her dark expression obviously show she does not have a good day.

For the first time too, she is looking his way. Namjoon raised his right hand. But she was only looking for a short time. Then she replied, “Yes. A VERY bad day.” Her face soured.

“Youʼre Namjoon, one of honoured students last year.” Namjoon was proud when she took notice of him getting up on stage to receive award as the best student in Science subject.

“Yes.. I am.” Namjoon suddenly felt nervous. How would she feel watching excellent students receiving award while sheʼs not doing great? “and you are?” he quickly ask for her name. He heard his mother spoke of her name sometimes, but he canʼt recall... Namjoon glanced cautiously to see if her face soured even more or if she was upset. But what he saw surprised him. She was smiling.

“Iʼm glad you donʼt know my name.” she cracked a grin. “Iʼm the worst science student, Sun-young.”

Namjoon chuckled at her introduction.

“Iʼm telling you the truth.” she muttered, almost quietly. Yet, he still heard her, in the quiet evening.

“I can teach you.”

“Thanks. But youʼll give up teaching me.” Sun-young picked up papers beside her and waved at him.

This time Namjoon cracked a grin. “We donʼt know until we try.” He said and opened his palm, demanding for her returned answer booklet. She got up and walked towards their waist-high fence which dividing their backyard. Namjoon too approached her to take the papers in his hands.

There were her answer booklet from schoolʼs midterm and her after school class mock exam as well as her marking science tutorials.

There was a long silence as he assessed all the papers.

“.........”

“I told you.” she sighed, pulling back the papers, while he tugged it to his side.