ENCHANTED, kim namjoon

ix. we keep this love in a photograph

IX. WE KEEP THIS LOVE IN A PHOTOGRAPH

"The sunlight clasps the earth, and moonbeams kiss the sea. What are all these kissings worth, if thou not kiss me?"

Namjoon suddenly recited the last lines of Percy Shelley's Love's Philosophy as he gazed back at Baram who was still staring at the seemingly glittering water with dreamy eyes. He didn't know why he said what he said, but either way, it didn't affect his companion's daydream.

After leaving Java Nice Day, they walked around and talked about every insignificant thing until Namjoon's stomach suddenly growled in hunger. It was convenient that they happened to pass by an interesting venue. It was a large docked boat that acted as a restaurant. The prices of the food were a bit too expensive for their budget, but the mouth-watering aroma that they managed to whiff from the outside urged them to reconsider.

If they were going to be in Vienna, they were going to enjoy at least one full meal at a famed restaurant that had their food smelling like paradise even if it meant possibly risking their chances of getting a room in a hotel.

They were sitting outdoors at the bow of the boat. From where they were sitting, they had a perfect view of the full moon and the way the moonlight reflected against the water, making it seem like it was glittering.

Baram turned to Namjoon as he quoted the poem, her whole facade looking relaxed and at ease, but her insides were an entirely different story. It was cryptic. She knew him well enough to assume that it was. She had no idea if that was his unique way of telling her that he wanted to kiss her or if it was a gentle spur of the moment granted by the beautiful view right before their eyes.

"Reciting poems all of the sudden?"

Namjoon smiled enigmatically, "Seemed fitting. A romantic poem for a romantic view, I thought it would set a romantic mood."

She returned his smile, leaning her elbows on the table, "Are you saying that you're trying to romance me?" He drew in a sharp breath and nodded. "Well, it's working."

He sighed in relief but didn't say anything else. The boy turned to the moon hanging up in the sky, "The moon is beautiful, isn't it? It's a poem on its own. Although every phase is just as beautiful as any other phase, I'm particularly fond of half moons."

"Why half moons?"

"It's pretty cheesy, but imagine having someone so significant in your life that they feel like your other half. It doesn't necessarily need to be beyond platonic relationships. Moons are still full even though all we see is half of it. The way I see it, we're always complete with just the thought of them even though they're not around," he explained, his eyes never leaving the celestial body.

Baram looked back down at her dirty dishes as he turned back to her. His silence while staring at her told her that he was waiting for her to tell him his favorite moon phase in return.

She cleared her throat, "I never thought much of it. I've thought about it once, but the reasoning is pretty silly. You just said some pretty poetic shit and I'm thinking of something stupid."

Her hesitance shined in her eyes. Namjoon smiled and patiently waited for her to gather her thoughts. He placed his elbow on the table, leaning his cheek on his palm and staring at her with such starry eyes that one would think that he was looking at the moon.

Hell, not even the moon compared to her. Not even every celestial body can hold a candle to how bewitching she was in his eyes.

"Well, as a child, I thought that the moon always smiles down on me when it's a crescent. Now that I think about it, I don't think any other phase could be my favorite."