FRAT LINE-KNJ✔️

+SUMMER'S EPILOGUE+

Namjoon stands out of breath and panting. With his hands on his hips and sweat running down his chest, he wipes his forehead.

"Bet you regret saying you'd help me, huh son?"

Mr. Ward claps him on the shoulder as he holds out an ice cold glass of water. Namjoon chugs it down and thanks him as he chews ice cubes.

"Nah. I don't mind. It's just hot."

"Mhm. But you 19. You got this in the bag, young blood." Mr. Ward playfully boxes his arms. Namjoon laughs as he starts squaring up with him.

Malia watches from the window of the kitchen as her father laughs with him. She said she wouldn't get this close to him. It's a break that she asked for. She requested.

This one, she is determined to stick to. It's only been two weeks since summer vacation officially started but she hasn't seem very much of him for almost two months.

The last few weeks of classes rolled by quick after the championship game. Everybody got swept up with studying for finals and then the exams themselves. Malia was cooped up in her room most of the time. And when she wasn't, she was in the library with one of the girls or Xavier. She has to have some sort of backbone.

But it's hard.

Especially when he looks this damn good shirtless in those 5 inch shorts. He's been in the gym a lot lately. In exchange for working on the garden with her father, Mr. Ward gives Namjoon boxing lessons. Her father won't tell her what he requested them for but she knows that he's taking them.

And he's doing a damned good job.

His biceps flex as he holds his hands up. His smile is beaming as the sun beats against his toned chest.

"Aye." Her mother smacks her butt with the oven mitt. Malia snaps out of it.

"Stop drooling and go give them the ice tea before they fall out out there."

Malia screws her face up. "I am not drooling." She picks up the tall glasses and walks to the screen door.

"Mhm. Wipe the corner of your lip. You got a little something."

Malia sticks her tongue out at the woman and she laughs, teasing her daughter. The screen door closes behind her and both men look in her direction.

Namjoon's eyes trail up her body and focus on her thighs, then her chest. Her father walks past him to her and that's what snaps him out of it.

"Thank you, suga. Your momma still in the kitchen?"

"Yeah but I think she's about to sit on the front porch where it's breezy at. You know she don't like the heat too much."

"Yeah, I know. Imma go find that fan for her. I'll see you tomorrow, Joonbug. We done for the day."

Namjoon smiles at the nickname and Malia rolls her eyes. Her father has been calling him that consistently since they got back home. He finds a nickname for everybody. He just can't help himself.

Malia hold the glass out to Namjoon and he takes it from her. He makes a point to stare at her as he drinks and she looks away shyly.. He chugs the team and licks his lips.

"You look good, Lia." He looks her up and down again. Let him tell it, the summer triggers something in her. How has she managed to fill out more than she was before? He hasn't seen a whole of her lately due to work and working out. That could be why it feels like a dramatic change to him.

"Thank you.... You do too."

He smiles at how easily flustered she is as she quickly turns away. She walks back into the house and Namjoon shakes his head, mumbling to himself.