Eternally Yours

18) Namjoon - New Friends

"Alright, Jackson. What is it?" Namjoon huffed as he closed his book, looking to where his best friend was almost visibly vibrating on the couch next to him.

"What do you mean dear friend?" Jackson asked, fighting back a smile.

"You have a secret you're just dying to spill. I know you do." Namjoon hummed.

"How'd you know that Joon? I was totally being subtle," Jackson questioned as he threw an arm across the back of the couch.

"You are literally the least subtle person I know. Your 'I have a secret' vibe," Namjoon made air quotes with his fingers. "-is visible from the fucking moon," he crossed his arms over his chest as he stared at his friend.

"Ugh, fine! I'll tell you!" Dramatically cried and threw himself into the couch, his head purposely landing in Namjoon's lap.

"You're so dramatic-"

"Yet you're still my best friend," Jackson cut the taller man off with a smirk. "ANYWAY!" He yelled, making Namjoon jump slightly. "I met someone," dreamily sighing Jackson looked at the ceiling with a fond smile curling his lips.

"You say this every week. I swear to Satan if you're kicking me out of the dorm for another one night stand-" Namjoon started his rant about how he was going to sue his best friend like he did every other time.

"No no no no! I mean it this time! And it's been the same guy all those times I've said it before!" Jackson cried.

"Really?" Namjoon pulled what Jackson called his 'I don't believe you but I'm intrigued' face.

"Yes really!! And I want you to meet him finally! Ya know, get the best friend seal of approval!! We've been together for the past five months anyway." Jackson grinned at his friend, still laying on the couch with his head in Namjoon's lap.

"I don't know Jackson," Namjoon sighed, looking away from the man lying in his lap. "You know how I am around new people."

"Yet, you're low-key crushing on that cute guy in the library that you still don't know the name of," Jackson deadpanned.

"Shut up, that's different," Namjoon grumbled, his cheeks a slight pink as he remembered those doe eyes and bright bunny-like smile he desperately wanted to see again.

"Whatever. But I want you to meet him!! It's important!" Jackson whined this time, still being as dramatic as ever.

"Ok, fine." Namjoon sighed, throwing his head into the back of the couch.

"YAY!!" Jackson squealed like a little girl who was just given a new princess bike.

"You're lucky I love you, idiot." Namjoon hummed.

"I know." Jackson grinned as he got off his best friend. Namjoon rolled his eyes fondly as the shorter man walked away from him.

☽ ✶ ✶ ✶ ☾

A few days later, Namjoon found himself sitting in a cafe with his hyperactive best friend bouncing in his seat next to him. Namjoon had a book in his hands, he was too nervous for what was about to happen. He was meeting Jackson's boyfriend and a friend of the said boyfriend. He wasn't ready for this, he was scared. Namjoon's leg bounced as he read the same paragraph for the third time, he couldn't focus. His mind was filled with all of the worst-case scenarios and outcomes.

Namjoon was so lost in thought that he didn't see Jackson stand from his seat next to him and embrace a male that was the same height as him. He also didn't see the taller male with the broadest shoulders ever next to them either. Namjoon was brought out of imagining the fourth-worst possible outcome with a hand coming down onto his shoulder, making him nearly jump out of his skin.

"O-oh, sorry," Namjoon mumbled quietly and quickly stuffed a bookmark between the pages of his book and stood up. "I'm Kim Namjoon." He muttered and stuck his hand out. The shorter of the two new people grabbed his hand first.

"Mark Tuan. It's nice to finally meet the man my boyfriend talks so highly of." The shorter one smiled brightly up at Namjoon.

"Nice to meet the person who finally got this dummy to settle down," Namjoon chuckled softly and pulled his hand back once Mark also pulled away.

"Hey, rude." Jackson huffed next to him.

"Kim Seokjin, but call me Jin. Nice to meet you." The taller of the two finally greeted with a blinding smile curling his lips. Namjoon smiled faintly at him and accepted his handshake.

"Nice to meet you too." Namjoon hummed. The four boys then sat down at the table, the atmosphere around them kinda awkward for a moment. Namjoon found himself fiddling with the tassel of his bookmark to keep himself somewhat calm.

"I've never met a fellow vampire who has Heterochromia before," Jin spoke up, catching Namjoon's attention.

"Ah, yeah," Namjoon chuckled kinda awkwardly.

"I think his eyes look cool though." Mark smiled at Namjoon while addressing the taller male next to him.

"I can definitely agree. It is pretty neat." Jin grinned.

"Thank you," Namjoon mumbled out quietly, a faint blush spreading across his cheeks. "No one's ever said that about my eyes before. Well, besides this knucklehead of course."

"You know I'd worship your eyes if I could bro." Jackson teased with a small snicker.

"Shut up you idiot." Namjoon playfully glared at him.

"You see how nice this giant is to me?" Jackson playfully huffed, looking at Jin and Mark with an exasperated expression. Namjoon just playfully rolled his eyes.

Mark giggled softly at his boyfriend and new friend. Jin just found the two in front of him comedic and hoped to see more of their dynamic.

The four then launched into a conversation that just carried from topic to topic. Namjoon warmed up to the two across from him rather nicely and he was glad he could find some other friends other than Jackson. It felt nice and actually very comforting to know that not all humans were as bad as they were when Namjoon was just a boy. He found comfort in Mark's open mind and caring aura. Namjoon couldn't believe that Mark was only 26, he was much wiser than he let on and Namjoon found that oddly comforting.

While talking with Jin, Namjoon found that the man was 280 and he's been away studying abroad the past year. He moved back home because the term was over and his mother was getting remarried. Namjoon was also glad to meet someone besides Jackson that shared some of the same experiences. He found it comforting that he wasn't alone with some of his struggles.

By the time the four were done with their little meetup, Namjoon fully approved of Mark and he was glad to call him and Jin his friends. Jackson skipped the whole way back to their shared dorm as the best friends walked home after bidding goodbye to Jin and Mark.

Namjoon had finally made some new friends.