𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙯𝙤𝙣𝙚 / 𝙠𝙣𝙟

𝙫𝙞

Namjoon watched Y/N's smile bloom again, feeling both relief and an ache he couldn't quite name. Their bond was strong, rooted in friendship, but every moment they shared seemed to tug at something deeper inside him. The words he wanted to say lingered on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them, knowing now wasn't the time.

Instead, he focused on the peacefulness of the scene before them—the sun slowly sinking behind the mountains, the sky ablaze with hues of orange and pink. Y/N leaned into him slightly, their shoulder brushing against his. It was a simple touch, yet it sent a ripple of warmth through Namjoon, grounding him in the present.

"Thank you for always being here for me," Y/N said quietly, eyes still fixed on the horizon. "I don't think I tell you that enough."

Namjoon's chest tightened. "You don't have to. I know," he replied softly. His fingers itched to reach for theirs, to close the small gap between them, but he forced himself to stay still, content with the moment.

Y/N sighed, their gaze distant for a second before they turned back to him with a teasing smile. "So, when are you going to teach me how to skip rocks like you do? I swear you've got some magic technique."

Namjoon chuckled, happy to follow their lead into lighter territory. "It's all in the wrist, but I think you're just scared to lose again."

"Ha! Me, scared?" Y/N raised an eyebrow. "You're on. Next time we find a decent riverbank, I'm taking you down."

"I'm looking forward to it," Namjoon teased, his smile wide and genuine. But beneath the banter, his mind was racing. How much longer could he pretend these feelings weren't slowly taking over every thought, every glance, every heartbeat?

As the final rays of the sun dipped below the mountains, casting a cool shade over the park, Namjoon felt Y/N shiver slightly beside him. Without thinking, he pulled off his jacket and draped it over their shoulders. Y/N looked at him, their eyes softening.

"You didn't have to do that, but thanks." Y/N adjusted the jacket around them, nestling into its warmth.

Namjoon shrugged, trying to play it off casually. "You looked cold."

"I guess chivalry isn't dead," Y/N teased, nudging him gently.

"Not as long as I'm around," Namjoon quipped, his heart thudding at how easy it felt to be close to them like this.

They sat there for a while longer, the sounds of the river and the distant rustling of trees the only things filling the silence between them. Namjoon felt the weight of unsaid words hanging in the air, but he wasn't ready yet—not today.

As the sky darkened, Y/N yawned and stretched, looking around. "I guess we should head back before it gets too late, huh?"

Namjoon nodded, pushing himself to his feet and offering Y/N a hand to help them up. "Yeah, let's go. It's been a long day."

They walked side by side in comfortable silence, the tension that had briefly hung between them dissolving into the night. Namjoon knew he wasn't ready to confess just yet. Maybe someday soon. For now, he was happy being close to them, being their friend, and savoring the moments they shared—each one a small reminder of how much they meant to him.

The words could wait. After all, some things were too precious to rush.