Wild For You

5. These Magic Changes

Ever since Dal had hired Namjoon to help him run the bookshop, business really had started to boom. More and more clients were coming into the shop to peruse the odd selection and to ogle at Namjoon from between the book stacks. Namjoon was humble and tried to play it off, but Dal knew the truth. Now that Namjoon had worked at the shop for the last month or so, he had gotten used to Dal's eccentric pet. It became Dal and Namjoon's well kept secret. They engineered a funnel like system between discarded book boxes from the living quarters out back to under the counter up front so that Taehyung could have a bit of range into the bookshop even when it was open. The funnel like system they had constructed helped to hide Taehyung from view so they wouldn't end up being reported for having an exotic animal. Most times, Taehyung slept under the front counter behind the blue curtain there. Taehyung was ultimately bored of life, and sleep was the best way to make time pass.

As the rain poured against the window that mid-April day, Dal looked over at Namjoon who stood near the register talking to a female customer that was asking for his recommendation for a romance novel. Taehyung was currently in his usual spot under the counter behind the curtain, asleep.

"I'm going to make a quick run to the store," said Dal. "I think that you have this handled. I'll be back as soon as I can be."

Namjoon looked away from the customer he was talking to, nodding his head. He wasn't an idiot. These 'quick runs to the store' that Dal was talking about usually ended up being overnight stays.

"I've got things handled while you're gone," Namjoon said. "No worries."

Dal smiled, flicking his eyes from Namjoon to the counter and back again. Namjoon understood what was being communicated to him, nodding his head.

"I've got everything under control," Namjoon stated again, causing Dal to relax.

Dal nodded, grabbing his rain coat off the chair behind the counter. He slung it on before leaving the bookshop. Namjoon turned to finish helping the customer that was still leaning across the counter (obviously waiting for his number) before grabbing up a chair and settling behind the register. There were several customers in the shop, but none of them were in the immediate vicinity. He looked down at the curtain, pulling it back for a second to see the tiger was still curled up fast asleep.

"He probably doesn't even notice that Dal is gone," said Namjoon to himself as he let the curtain drop again to conceal it.

Namjoon's eyes scanned the shop. More and more lately, Dal seemed to be talking as if he were handing the reins off soon. Though Namjoon didn't have a PHD, he could tell that Dal's health was declining. In every conversation they had about the future of the bookshop, Ember was always in the conversation. It was obvious to Namjoon that Dal cared about this tiger a lot. It was quite an odd pet, but even Namjoon had to admit that he was taking a liking to the thing.

A bell above the front door to the shop jingled, causing his eyes to turn towards it. Out of the rain stepped a man with charcoal black hair and four young ladies. The man held up an umbrella above the four ladies heads to protect them, fighting to shut it as he closed the door behind them. Namjoon noticed one of the ladies that was dressed in a yellow tank-top and shorts (despite the weather outside) lean over and whisper something into the ear of the lady standing fairly close to the man. Her cheeks colored in a blush.

"Hello there," said Namjoon, raising a friendly hand in greeting. "Welcome! Do you need any help, or are you just looking around?"