Rewrite the Rules

We have company: Part 46

A jarring, insistent pounding on the door ripped me from my dreams. Disoriented, I blinked at Namjoon, who was still peacefully asleep beside me. "Seriously?" I mumbled, frustration lacing my voice. "Does the entire city think a polite knock is beneath them?"

Stumbling out of bed, I peeked through the peephole. Panic surged through me as I recognized Daisy and Samina's faces.

"Oh crap," I hissed, darting back to the bed. "We have company, and early apparently."

Namjoon stirred at the commotion, his eyes fluttering open. Before he could fully register the situation, I was practically shoving a shirt at him. "Get dressed, my friends are here!"

A muffled groan escaped his lips as he fumbled for the discarded clothing. Just as he managed to pull on a shirt, the doorknob rattled. "Em, you coming?" Daisy's voice called out, laced with amusement.

"One sec!" I hollered back, scrambling to throw on a T-shirt over my pajama shorts. This was not how I'd envisioned introducing them to Namjoon.

The door swung open, revealing Daisy and Samina, both with wide eyes taking in the scene. Daisy's gaze flickered from me, rumpled and pj-dressed, to Namjoon, still slightly flustered. A slow grin spread across her face.

"Well, well, well," she drawled, her voice dripping with playful teasing. "What do we have here?"

Heat flooded my cheeks, a mixture of embarrassment and something more – a thrill at the unexpected turn of events. "Uh, hi guys," I stammered, gesturing awkwardly. "This is... Namjoon. And you guys are... my friends, Daisy and Samina."

"What time is it?" I blurted out, desperate to change the subject. "Why are you here so early?"

Samina raised an eyebrow at my flustered state. "That's all you have to say, Em?" She exchanged a knowing look with Daisy.

"What do you want me to say?" I countered, my voice rising a touch in defense.

"Maybe something about the, ahem, lack of hanky-panky we discussed?" Samina chimed in, a mischievous look in her eyes.

I let out a nervous laugh. "Hanky-panky? Really?"

"We just caught an earlier flight," Samina explained, her smile softening slightly.

Namjoon, now fully dressed but still radiating a hint of sleep-mussed charm, cleared his throat. "Hi, I'm Namjoon," he offered, extending a hand towards Daisy.

Daisy gave him a cursory wave, her earlier amusement morphing into a more guarded expression. Samina, on the other hand, offered him a long, appraising look.

"Nice to meet you," Namjoon continued, a hint of unease creeping into his voice.

The atmosphere in the room hung thick with tension. This unexpected introduction wasn't exactly going according to plan, but one thing was clear: things were about to get interesting.

The air crackled with a tension I hadn't anticipated. This unexpected encounter was certainly throwing a wrench into my morning plans, but a spark of defiance ignited within me. Maybe, I thought, a little chaos wouldn't be such a bad thing.

"Actually," he interjected. "Em just mentioned a fantastic breakfast place in Henderson. How about we all head down there? My treat."

To my surprise, both Daisy and Samina responded with a simultaneous, enthusiastic, "We'd love that!"

A relieved smile spread across my face. Turning to Namjoon, I gave him a quick wink. "Looks like we're having company for breakfast," he announced.

Namjoon grinned, the tension melting away from his features. "Sounds like a plan," he agreed. "I'll just make a call and get a car and driver for us. Meet you all in the sub-basement in an hour?"

With a quick peck on my forehead, he grabbed his phone and headed out the door.

As soon as he was gone, Daisy and Samina bombarded me with questions, their initial amusement replaced with a mix of curiosity and concern. I launched into a detailed explanation of the evening's events, punctuated by playful banter and nervous laughter.

The insistent chatter of Daisy and Samina as they unpacked filled the room, their voices bouncing off the walls and creating a whirlwind of sound.

I glanced at the clock – 9:15 am. They'd gotten an early flight, clearly.

"I should go jump in the shower," I announced, my voice barely audible over the din. Truthfully, I craved more than just washing away the sleep; a few moments of solitude to process the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me would be a godsend.

"Can you not put away any of the clothing I had sent to you?" Daisy's voice, laced with a hint of disapproval, cut through my thoughts.

I peeked into the walk-in closet to find her already knee-deep in suitcases, yanking out clothes and flinging them onto hangers with practiced efficiency. The normally pristine space was now a warzone of fabric and travel bags.

"Sorry, Daisy," I mumbled, feeling a pang of guilt. "I haven't had a chance yet."

She sighed dramatically. "This closet is a mess," she declared, already sorting clothing by color.

My cheeks flushed a little. I knew she was just trying to be helpful, but right now, her take-charge attitude felt more like an attack on my already frazzled state. With a mumbled excuse about needing to grab something from the bathroom, I practically bolted for the shower.

The cool water cascaded down my skin, instantly washing away the remnants of sleep. But the steam couldn't erase the lingering warmth of Namjoon's touch, or the memory of his playful smile as we'd snuggled under the covers. A giddy feeling bubbled in my chest, a stark contrast to the nervous knot that had formed in my stomach at the sight of Daisy and Samina.

This wasn't how I'd envisioned introducing them – half-dressed, my room a disaster zone, and the remnants of a surprise sleepover hanging heavy in the air. But then again, life rarely goes according to plan.

Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself. Whatever chaos this unexpected morning might bring, I would face it head-on, one giggle and awkward explanation at a time.