Parallel Universe [NaMon Fanfic]

Chapter 8

Chimon's POV

"Does your plan involve being late for our photoshoot today?" I asked with a snide. Here I am, in Nanon's car running at a dangerously-close-to-the-limit speed, because he talked about his plan for too long.

"Will you stop being so rude?" he stingly replied. That was frank of him. He's at the edge of his temper, huh?

I decided to text Pluem instead of replying to Chimon.

Let's eat out later.

He's been warming up to me again after I explained about the accident, but I could tell that he's still bothered, specifically about when things will finally be cleared. It frustrates me as well, especially because I feel like I have to pace with Nanon in this matter, and he doesn't seem too bothered by it. Nanon and his girlfriend are doing fine and his YouTube channel is doing well. I'm the one only who's eager to straighten things out.

"We're here," he replied. Then, he slowed down the car into a full stop. I got out of the car because I don't want to be in such close proximity from him any longer. He's too much of a go-with-the-flow attitude.

"We have an agreement, right?" I asked him, pertaining to the contract I made him sign a while ago. That took a little too much of our time, but I wanted to be sure that he won't back down.

"Yeah, whatever. We're late," he responded and left me behind.

"They're here!" The director yelled when he saw us, annoyance evident on his face. We apologized for being late and rushed to get our makeup done for the photoshoot. Then after that, we'll attend a workshop.

I guess I'll be seeing more of Nanon from now on.

Nanon's POV

I'm running late.

It reminded me of the time I met Janhae for the first time. We're supposed to have an orientation for Senior Secret Love. I was also running late back then, having finished a homework at 2 am in the morning. Aside from that, I was also lost. I can't remember how to get to the meeting room from the parking lot.

Then, she got out of the elevator and I thought, "She was too beautiful."

"Nong, help me out, will you?" The only thought in my mind at that time was to help her out. Everything else just got thrown away into nothingness. I nodded and followed her. She then went to a food delivery guy and talked to him for a while. I felt small, like a child waiting for their mother to turn their attention back to me.

"You can carry one of the bags. I'll just get something from my friend." Then, she sauntered towards her friend who was waiting in a car. She even walks beautifully, even though she does it so away from me.

"Let's go," she said with a smile. My heart fluttered, like a butterfly flying for the first time, weak but hopeful. Then, the delivery guy extended a bag to me and I lost my mind for a moment, not knowing what to do with it. Still, I grabbed it, and only then did I remember that I was supposed to carry it. I did not know her name then, so I rushed beside her and stuttered on my words, despite asking a very simple question, "P', may I know your name?"

She laughed then, "Are you shy?" Was I that obvious? She doesn't seem to dislike it though, so I think it's fine. I slowly nodded.

"It's Janhae, and you don't have to call me P'. I don't think I'm way older than you."

"Kub," I replied with a nod.

"What about you? What's your name?" She was staring at me intently as we waited for the elevator to ascend to the 8th floor.

"Nanon kub," I said. She whispered it to herself, "Nanon", and I could be just thinking it but I really loved the way my name sounded when spoken by her.

Was it love at first sight? I don't think so. I didn't love her then, but I did feel something at that moment. Like a butterfly flying for the first time, weak but hopeful. And that small feeling certainly grew into something else, something deeper. Janhae is one of the best things that happened to me. Being late at that time was such a blessing in disguise.

Unlike right now.

I held hands with Chimon even before we could know each other's name, quarreled before we could have a serious conversation. We already knew each other's house before we got to know each other, and now being together with him at such a bad time as being late. Not to mention that the world thinks we're together but not as a couple. We're not friends either. I won't dare call him an enemy since we have a contract that binds us together. I don't know what he is to me. And I don't care.

But something else deeply bothered me.

"They're here!" The director yelled when he saw us, annoyance evident on his face. We apologized for being late and rushed to get our makeup done for the photoshoot. Then, in the clothing room, he sauntered towards me.

"Sorry if I was terrible this past month. And thank you for understanding me. It meant a lot to me." I understood where the sorry came from, but not the thank you. I did not know that those words were in his vocabulary, but setting that aside, I also did not know when I became understanding towards him.

"What's the thank you for exactly?" I asked. "I did not do anything."

"You went to me when I suddenly left. You agreed with the 50-50 partition even though you should've gotten more. You went to my house with a plan on the very next day that I complained to you about it. You even asked me to ride with you this morning." He's surprisingly sincere.

"I know I'm not easy to deal with, but I do appreciate someone's effort to put up with me," he remarked with a smile that made my mind go blank. I never thought that he'd ever smile at me.

"If we did not meet this way, maybe we would've been.." Been what? He looked down, as if contemplating what to say next. I stared at him, waiting for his next words. But then he shook his head and stood straight before me.

"I look forward to working with you." He walked away, but the way he smiled at me was already etched in my mind.