Unique Friend

~2~

~2~

During the next couple of weeks, Karina is more stressed than she can ever remember being, even during preparation for her college entrance exams. She had been posting ads everywhere she could think of in search of roommates, and she is convinced that all her professors held a meeting and agreed to all load their students up with papers at the same time. The only responses she had gotten to her ads were some rejects who read it as a dating ad and had done nothing but hit on her when she met with them at the cafe. They only let up when Namjoon appeared from the back office wearing a fitted tee that showed off his impressive physique, and he threw them a dark look when he overheard their comments.

Time is ticking, and Karina is no further ahead.

Late one night when finishing up an assignment due the next day, Karina is surprised to hear a text notification on her phone. Being so focused on her studies and her job, she had not put much effort into her social life since moving here; very few people have her number.

A spark of hope ignites at the thought it could be someone responding to her ad, but when she reads that it is from Namjoon, Karina is almost disappointed.

Bossman: Hi Karina, sorry to message you so late, I have some good news I think you'll wanna hear. Gimme a call when you can please.

Me: No worries Joonie, you know I'm always up at this time, working on assignments. Gimme a few minutes to finish up.

Karina types out the last few paragraphs of her paper, sends it to print, before getting up from her desk and stretching. Grabbing her phone, she heads to the small kitchen area for a snack as she dials Namjoon.

"Hey," he says by way of hello when he answers on the second ring.

"What's up, Joonie? Did you finally book the next art event for the cafe?" Karina inquires, unable to think of any other reason her boss would need to speak with her rather than just send a text.

"Huh, uh, well actually, I have," Namjoon seems a little unsure in speaking with her, which is not like him. "But, that's not what I wanted to talk with you about. You still haven't had any luck with finding a new roommate, have you?" This last is more of a statement than a question. He had been keeping up to date with her progress these past few weeks, even suggesting some new places she could post ads.

"Joonie, you know I haven't, unfortunately," she replies glumly. "What makes you bring it up at this hour?"

"Well, I was just recently talking with a friend from back home," Namjoon's answer surprises Karina. She quite often forgets that he did not grow up here either, he seems so familiar with the city, knows so many people, and rarely mentions his birthplace of South Korea. Curiosity now fully aroused, Karina silently waits for him to continue with his explanation. "Turns out he's planning on coming here for an extended work project, and asked me for some help finding a place to stay." Karina gives a little gasp at this, but Namjoon presses on. "So, the first thing I thought of is that he could stay with you, if you're comfortable with it that is," he finishes.

Caught entirely off guard, she takes a minute to reply, "Um..."

"I know," he laughs, "it's a lot to take in, especially this late. I just wanted to mention it right away because I know how stressed you have been over the situation. Why don't you pop by the cafe after your morning class tomorrow and I can fill you in on all the details?"

Her brain finally catching up with her, Karina agrees, "That's so great of you to think of me, Joonie. I do have a lot of questions, but now is not the time," and right on cue, she yawns, causing Namjoon to chuckle at her. "I only have one class in the morning, so I'll see you around eleven."

"Thanks Karina. This is not just a way to help you, you know. This friend, he's....unique, and I'm honestly not too sure how he will do here on his own.... Anyway, nevermind. See you tomorrow."

And before she can even think to question just what he means by 'unique', Namjoon has already ended the call.

His news both excites and puzzles her, though. She is grateful for possibly having found a solution to her rent problem, but the situation sounds odd. She trusts Namjoon completely, but she's not too sure what to think about having a 'unique' Korean man, who is a friend of her boss, as her roommate.