You Are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine | Namseok

03

Namjoon paid for the wedding doll, with Hoseok glowing like a ray of sunshine. Afterwards, they went to Namjoon's home.

While walking back, Namjoon felt quite happy. Hoseok asked him about himself (to get to know each other since they'll be together for a while) and Namjoon wasn't being judged this time.

Hoseok kept 'ooh'ing and 'ahh'ing whenever Namjoon told him stories of his dolls. He found it cute.

Hoseok wasn't judging him in any way, which was a surprise. He thought Hoseok would be the exact opposite—a moody, judgemental pretty boy who only thought of himself—but he was an absolute angel.

Wait...Did I just call Hoseok a pretty boy? he thought. He mentally slapped himself. Stop that.

When they arrived home, Namjoon immediately checked the doll's inventory. If the doll shop was the actual problem, then there must be a clue somewhere on it.

He sat on the sofa with a plop.

He kind of thought there will be another note saying: Martha Sotolma; but instead it had a clue.

"Here!" Namjoon said excitedly as he found the note in its dress. "Let's see." He opened it quickly when Hoseok leaned in behind him. Namjoon felt his warmth from his back, and his breath tickled the crook of his neck.

Wow. That's nice, isn't it? his heart said.

No, it isn't. Shut up, Namjoon retorted.

Inside, there was nothing except a few words written in shiny blue cursive:

The red shall bow down to grief,

"Red?" he wondered out loud. "Great, a prophecy," he said sarcastically. How is that going to help them? Is that even a clue? More like a stupid excuse to lead the both of them in circles.

Hoseok leaned in closer, his cheek almost touching Namjoon's, and read the words under his breath. "Its incomplete," he muttered as he stood straight. "It ends with a comma, so there has to be another line. But why the red?"

Namjoon wanted to kiss Hoseok's brain. "That makes sense, but what does it mean by red?"

Hoseok sighed. He circled around from the back of the couch and sat beside Namjoon. "I think...Well, back home, people wear an accessory with a specific color to show their status."

"Status?"

Hoseok nodded. "Like if you're married, in school, successful in society's standards, or just a common person."

Namjoon remembered the Other Namjoon was wearing a red necklace. "What's red?"

"A common person," he answered blandly. "Just someone who lives without standing out like an actress or a singer."

That sounded a bit harsh. The Other Namjoon was wearing red. He understood, he was just a call center agent, but it still felt a bit straight forward. "The Other Namjoon was wearing a red necklace."

Hoseok looked at him wide-eyed, then it dawned on him.

He was said to bow down to grief, but he's been doing that for years. The names he's been called; the amount of times he's been doused in a variety of drinks; and the bullying he's been through just because he liked dolls. He's been through so much, grief couldn't even describe it.

Isn't that already enough for one person?

Hoseok seemed to think the same thing. With his eyebrows furrowed and a frown on his face, Namjoon couldn't help but feel the need to sooth him.

Namjoon took out his phone. "Let's talk over food, okay? What do you want to eat?"

Hoseok tilted his head. "Uhm, anything's fine."