A Muse

18: Namjoon

Hello beautiful readers;

This is a chapter to introduce some of the interactions between the other characters since the Namjin ship has only been briefly touched on in the background of the storyline.

I'm sorry for the divergence in this chapter, but it'll be relevant, I promise!

With love,

Kae

***

   I sip my smoothie as I flip to a random page in my book, and Italo Calvino's city "Despina" catches my eye. I set my glass down to read, and I am intrigued by the way the viewer sees the city as something different depending on which way they come upon the city: ocean or desert. I am reminded a bit of some lyrics I wrote awhile ago: Jin sings the song so beautifully, and he named it 'Sea'.

   I read aloud from the text, "He knows it is a city, but he thinks of it as a camel from whose pack hang wineskins and bags of candied fruit—" I pause to skim ahead where the viewer fantasizes that the camel "city" would take him to tiled courts, "where girls are dancing barefoot," I finish.

   I take another drink from my smoothie when my phone rings. I set Calvino's Invisible Cities on my lap, and I check the caller ID; it's Hoseok.

   I accept the call, "Hello?"

   "Joon, I'm worried about Yoongi," he says without preamble.

   "Why are you worried?" I ask.

   "Because he is being more distant than usual! He is acting strange, and I know he is hiding something!"

   I sigh and rub my forehead with my hand, "Hobi, you do know who you are talking about right? This is Yoongi. He will talk about it when he is ready."

   There is a moment of silence on the other end when I hear Hoseok sigh, "I know you're right."

   I nod along although he can't see me, "Good. Just give him the space he needs, and you know he will talk to you. He cares about you, hyung."

   "I know, how could he not," he grumbles, and I hear the line go dead.

   I squint at my phone, and I set it down on the table; I go to pick up the book on my lap when it rings again. I close my eyes, take in a breath, and I check the caller ID. I answer it without hesitation.

   "I hope you're ready. I'm five minutes away. We are getting a pedicure, and then we have a reservation for an early dinner at 5:00," Jin says to me.

   I am already standing as I down the last of my smoothie; I set my book lovingly back onto the shelf, and I say, "Yes, love, I have to change into something a bit nicer, but I am ready."

   "Perfect," he says, and he cuts the line.

   What is up with everyone and their abrupt hang-ups? I shake my head as I walk out of my small library, and I turn the corner to stride into the bedroom that Jin and I share. I open our closet, and I glance at his side which features his clothes in a color-coordinated fashion. I smile because he is meticulous with his clothes and self-pampering.

   I take a black button-down off a hanger, and I undress in our walk in closet. I shrug the shirt over my shoulders and start to button them up when Jin clears his throat from behind me. I jump out of surprise, and I hit my arm on the shelf in the closet. Jin is already in the middle of his goofy laugh, but I glare at him as I rub my forearm.

   "You could have warned me," I mumble.

   "What do you think that was?" He asks after he catches his breath, and he is grinning at me.

   "Well, you still startled me! What are you grinning at?"

   He shrugs, and he comes into the closet with me, "I will never get over the fact that you put your shirt on before your pants."

   I suppress a smile, "It's just how I do things."

   He nears me, and he pats my bum, "Are these new?"

   He has me glancing down because I can't remember what boxer briefs I am wearing, and I burst out in laughter. Different images from Sailor Moon are plastered all over the briefs, but I am laughing because the Moon Stick is right over my crotch. Jin is laughing as well, and we stand there in our shared closet together. I am reminded that this is what our love is: shared moments of happiness in the simple things.

   "You know how much I like Sailor Moon; the messages that are presented are good ones," I tell him. I smile at the man I love, and he is still laughing as I lean in to kiss him. It is soft and quick, and I reach to run a hand through his hair when he swats at me.

   "Don't mess up my hair, we're about to go on a date!" He scolds me.

   I chuckle and cup his neck instead, "Yes, love. Why did you choose a pedicure anyways?"

   "You know that I am on my feet a lot: I work very hard," he tells me, and he seems to be pouting.

   "Yes yes, love, but you work in an office," I tease him, smiling.

   "But my new shoes aren't broken in yet, so they pinch!"

   "Oh, no. We can't have that," I say, definitely enabling.

   "Exactly, so I figured I'd have us go together," he says to me.

   "Okay, okay. Then I'll treat us to dinner," I tell him, and I start heading out of the closet.

   "Honey," Jin says, and I hear the smile in his voice.

   "Yes?"

   "You're forgetting something."

   "What?"

   He points, and I look down. I am greeted again by the Moon Stick, and I chuckle. I walk back into the closet, and Jin is already picking a pair for me.

   "Right, pants."

   "No one else gets to see you in those man-slayers," Jin laughs, nodding to my briefs.

   "Of course," I nod, and I plant a kiss on his neck, whispering in English, "I love you."

   "Saranghae," he says with a chuckle as he passes me the pants he wants me to wear, "Hurry, or we'll miss the appointment!"

   "I'm ready! Unlike you, I'm quick with clothing," I say, smiling.

   He looks me up and down, and he takes my hand; he practically drags me out of the closet, "We need to get out of here now!"

   "What? Why are you going crazy?"

   "You just look so good! If we don't leave now, I'll have to cancel everything just to undress you."

   My face heats, and I stumble after Jin; I'm just happy to do anything he wants. We near the car, and I briefly press him against it, caging him. I run my fingers over the short hair on the nape of his neck, and I kiss him again before reaching around him and pulling the door open.

   "Sit," I say with a smirk, "I'm driving."

   He smiles up at me as he slides into the passenger seat, and I walk around to start the car. I may not be able to cut onions, but I can drive. Jin rests his hand on my thigh as our house gets smaller in the rearview mirror.