ENCHANTED, kim namjoon

ii. namjooning in vienna

II. NAMJOONING IN VIENNA

Everybody had that horrible day in their life where the world felt like it had turned its back against them.

Time would go much agonizingly slower and each step you would take would be heavier than the last. Sometimes the universe would make it worse for you and would make the skies reflect your mood — storms that would only add to the senseless noise in your head. You would feel frustrated to the point that your eyes would burn with angry tears. In those bad days, nothing would go your way.

But then someone comes along and offers you a smile, a piece of their kindness, or even just a small acknowledgment that they knew you were having a bad they, and they push a little effort not to worsen it.

After that, everything feels a little lighter. Those people are the ones that would stay in our minds for the whole day.

It was the same with people we accidentally make eye contact with on the street after hearing your favorite song leaking from their headphones. It was the same with people who would kindly open the door for you when you have your hands full. It was the same with people who would give you back your wallet the way it was because you dropped it as you walked down the street.

The moment they moved to the lounge car, sat down, and had a long conversation as if they were childhood friends, Baram knew that Namjoon was going to be one of those people who would remain in her mind. It was going to be difficult to move on from him, even if they only talked for two hours.

She sighed, averting her eyes from his back to keep her mind off of the thought of how much she was going to miss the small amount of time she spent with him.

Suddenly, loud steps approached her and she turned her gaze back to the aisle, eyebrows raising as she saw Namjoon practically jog back to her.

"I have this insane idea, and if I don't share it with you, I feel like it's going to haunt me for the rest of my life," he breathed out as he took his spot across from her on the table. His hopeful eyes made Baram curious. "Will you hear me out?"

She nodded quickly, afraid to keep him for too long, "You have my attention."

He cleared his throat, "I don't know you, but I want to. I want to keep talking to you. I don't know what it is, but I feel like we have this sort of..." he trailed off, struggling to find the words.

"Connection?" she guessed. Namjoon nodded. "I know. It's weird, but I feel it too."

"Okay, what if we got off together here in Vienna?"

She hummed, smiling at the thought, though she didn't look convinced. "What would we do? What if this is just some plot to kill me?"

"I don't know what we could do here, but all I know is that I have to catch my plane back home tomorrow morning, and I have a feeling I'm only going to waste my time and money for a hotel I'm not gonna come out of when there's so much to see in the city. And if I do end up being some kind of psycho, which I'm not, you could always turn your back and get on the next train."

Baram pursed her lips, mulling over his words.

Namjoon bit the inside of his cheek, running his fingers through his hair. "Think far ahead. Maybe thirty to forty years from now. Imagine that you're storytelling to your kids, nieces, nephews, and even grandchildren, and they suddenly ask you about all the experiences you had in your youth. You're going get sentimental while thinking of all the places you've traveled to and all the people you've met."