Rewrite the Rules

Mr. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed: Part 40

The insistent rapping at my door pulled me from the depths of a restless sleep. Glancing at the clock, I groaned. It was barely past sunrise, an ungodly hour for anyone but the most enthusiastic birdwatcher.

Squinting through the peephole, my heart did a little flip-flop. There, standing on the other side, was Namjoon, looking surprisingly chipper for someone who probably hadn't slept much either.

"Holy moly," I blurted, flinging the door open with a jolt of nervous energy. "You're up early. Like, ridiculously early."

A playful smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Good morning to you too, sleepyhead." He held up a brown paper bag, the aroma of freshly baked pastries tickling my nose. "Breakfast delivery."

My grin was immediate. "Really?" I teased, batting my eyelashes in mock innocence. "Can you serve it to me in bed?"

He chuckled, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. "Are those Baby Yoda pajamas you're sporting, Emma?" He raised an eyebrow in mock surprise.

I swatted his arm playfully. "They're Groot, you uncultured swine!" The playful banter felt oddly normal, a comforting counterpoint to the whirlwind of news swirling in my head.

"Those are cute," he conceded with a wink. "But I think you need to get out of those cozy covers. If you stay there any longer, well..." He leaned in conspiratorially, his voice dropping to a husky murmur. "Let's just say your safety might be compromised. I wouldn't want to be held responsible for my actions."

With a dramatic sigh, I threw back the covers and padded back to the living room. "Okay, okay," I conceded, sinking onto the plush couch. "How about lounging here? Breakfast bribery seems to be working."

"Absolutely," he agreed, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Prepare yourself for a feast."

The air crackled with unspoken tension as we settled in, the silence thick with the weight of the news. Finally, unable to hold it in any longer, I blurted out the question that had been gnawing at me since dawn.

"So," I began, my voice tight with nervous anticipation, "are we going to talk about it?"

He glanced at me, a flicker of confusion crossing his features. "Talk about what?" His voice was genuine, his eyes searching mine for a clue.

"The..." My voice trailed off. "The notice from Big Hit. Seriously, Namjoon, you haven't seen it?"

He frowned, his brow furrowed in genuine bewilderment. "The notice? What notice are you talking about?"

Frustration bubbled up inside me, but I forced it down. "The new dating policy! Don't tell me you haven't heard about it?"

Instead of the nonchalant answer I expected, a wave of surprise washed over him. "Dating policy? I... I completely missed that. Wow, that's... incredible." He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes wide with disbelief. "I never thought I'd see the day."

He hesitated for an instant, then shifted the conversation. "Hoon ..." he began, his voice trailing off. "Do you think... maybe because of our talk last night...?"

"Do you think what?" I pressed, my own curiosity piqued.

"I haven't heard from Hoon this morning," he admitted, a hint of hope lingering in his voice. "He didn't say anything about..."

"Nothing has ever come out about you guys dating. I guess V with Jenni, but that's all," I mentioned.

"Oh, that? That was nothing," he waved off. "But did you see the pictures in the news article?"

"No," I replied.

"Take a look on your tablet. There are a lot of pictures of you and Jungkook. People are speculating that you're dating someone in BTS, and you're making a comeback, I guess," he shared with a smirk.