Thank You, Stranger. || Namjin ✓

8.

Seokjin dressed up for the meeting. He was wearing white skinny tight jeans with one hole on each knee and a long baby pink V neck shirt. He put crimson colored Puma Plaze sneakers on.

He took a Balenciaga Explorer backpack he got for his birthday as a present from parents and unlocked his apartment's door.

He felt very nervous while he was going to the café. When he came, Namjoon was still not there. He knew he was late because Namjoon's dad probably needed some help even tho Namjoon's shift was over.

Seokjin was looking at the café waiting for him to come. When he saw a familiar face opening the café's door, his heart raced. He gulped when he saw Namjoon approaching him.

Namjoon was wearing black leather pants, black shirt with a large oval shaped neck. Seokjin couldn't control his eye muscles as they widened.

"Hi." - Namjoon said first. He didn't sound very friendly at all.
"Um.. hi." - Seokjin felt embarrassed and put his head down. It was hard for him to look at Namjoon's eyes.

"Um.." Namjoon started talking," I know a nice café near here where we can talk."
Seokjin just nodded still looking at the ground.

Both of them stayed silent as they were walking towards the café. Namjoon put his hands in the pocket. The tension was obvious.

They found a place where they wanted to sit and ordered drinks. Namjoon ordered a beer, while Seokjin took a lemonade. It was a large café with dimmed lights. It was very crowded, so they didn't have to worry if someone could hear their talk.

Seokjin gulped and started talking.

"I'm sorry for my behavior from last night. I drank too much and... it just happened." - Seokjin said while avoiding the eye contact.

"It's not your fault. I also drank too much and went too far." - Namjoon took a sip of his beer.
Seokjin sighed while getting the guts to say his next sentence.

"But I have to be honest with you..." Seokjin felt a drop of sweat falling down his back," I really liked those kisses."

"I liked them, too... Maybe even too much." - Namjoon said immediately, causing Seokjin to look right into his eyes.
"I couldn't control myself. I just wanted to touch you in that moment. I know it's wrong, but I swear I'll never do that again if you don't want me to.

"Namjoon...", Seokjin bit his lip,"I like you."
Namjoon widened his eyes and froze. He thought he was going to be the first one to say that.

"But I'm too afraid to be touched." - Seokjin felt his eyes were already teary.
"I've never thought I'd fall in love this fast until I saw you laughing with your friend that day." This time Namjoon put his head down," Just looking at you while you were sitting there and smiling with her made my heart full."

Namjoon's words hit Seokjin hard. Namjoon left him speechless. They were silent for the next few minutes when Namjoon put his hand on Seokjin's. Seokjin almost jumped from his seat.

"I... I really want you to work at my café. I want to be able to see you everyday." - Namjoon sounded very miserable.

Seokjin suddenly pulled his hand back and put it under the table. Namjoon looked at him in shock.

"Ok..", Seokjin finally gathered courage to say something," I want to work with you, too... But I think I'm not ready for any kind of relationship now."

Namjoon pulled his hands back. His elbows were on the table as he got closer to Seokjin, so he got back in a normal sitting position. Seokjin's statement made him unhappy, but he was happy because he agreed to take a job.

"I know you won't regret working there. My dad is very kind and the job itself is not that hard. Our café is not that big, so we never have that much  work after all."

"I'm actually looking forward to working at your café...", Seokjin said with a smile,"I also want to be able to see you everyday."

Namjoon blushed from those words, but he didn't want Seokjin to notice, so he just put his head down.

They weren't talking much after that. They were just sitting there, drinking what they ordered and when their eyes would meet, they'd just blush a little bit and give one another a smile. Namjoon called the waiter and paid the bill. Seokjin insisted to pay, but Namjoon was just ignoring him.

When they got outside, they started walking in Seokjin's apartment's direction.

"Man, you don't even know what a relief this date was." - Namjoon said and put his hands behind his head.

"A date?!" - Seokjin had a little heart attack.
"Well.. I don't know how I'd call it." - Namjoon raised his eyebrow. He didn't think it was weird calling it a date, tho Seokjin was a lot more surprised.

"Well.. Dates usually have to contain some kind of skinship, right? I don't believe we had anything like that." - Seokjin sounded like an asshole, but it was his way of dealing with the trauma he's experienced.

Namjoon was very confused and disappointed. It looked like Seokjin's confession from just twenty minutes ago was fake.
"But I thought you said you want to see me everyday?"

"I do...", Seokjin's conscience was eating him,"But romance is something I truly don't need."

Namjoon's heart was scattered. He had an urge to kiss and hit Seokjin at the same time, but he just decided to change the topic.

"About your shift..", Namjoon said emotionlessly,"You can start tomorrow at 9 am. I will be helping you. Just come few minutes earlier to change your clothes and put on the uniform.

"Oh, ok.", Seokjin was listening carefully.
When they came to the intersection near Seokjin's apartment, Seokjin stopped walking.

"I live in this street." - Seokjin pointed his index finger at the street across them.
"Oh, I didn't know you were so close to my café?"
"Yeah, I won't be coming late." - Seokjin said with a small smile on his face.

"Yeah.. Ok then, we'll see each other tomorrow." - Namjoon said and waved him.
"Fine, bye." - Seokjin waved him back with a brighter smile, but as he turned around, sadness filled his heart. He knew some of the things he said hurt Namjoon, but since that disturbing day, dealing with people became his biggest fear.

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[Next chapter comes tomorrow. :)]