thank u, next ❂ namgi

2. SWIPE LEFT

His ribcage turned into a bird cage with a beating heart; meant to protect, but nothing hums within. He sheathed it with a collared shirt, hoping to hide the screams of his empty stomach. The viscous growls, and loud thumping.

"... How could you bring another woman in our bed?" Namjoon held himself in his own arms, his hands trembling. "How- How could you present it as an achievement?!"

His nose was as red as his eyes that bared too many tears. "Am I just some trophy wife to you, Daeun?" His lips were as shaky as those palms of his.

The man tried to engulf Namjoon with a hand, but rejection came in a slap. "Please-"

"Do not try to talk your way back into my heart," Namjoon snaps, "You held pride in becoming one with a whore! A married man sins with an affair while his wife is away? Pride in infidelity is no way a man's success."

"I need you to just listen! I did it to keep you safe! I'm sacrificing my own name for you!" The man, Daeun, shouted with raised hands.

He held his hands close to his chest and stepped back. "I see it on your lips," he says. "You leeched on the fame, thirsting for more. You're not the same man I remember kissing on our wedding day, you are not the man I shared wedding vows with. You taste of tar!"

"I've already sacrificed mine when I walked down that aisle," Namjoon hissed, "Your excuse is as weak as your morals..."

A count of tears began to color his cheeks pink from ache. "... I don't know who you are," he pursed his lips before turning, and opening the door wide. "You don't deserve love if you feed off of the ideals of it, you vulture." There was a knife sharpening his tongue in his voice.

"You are not mine, and I am not yours. You never were."

"Cut!"

The door closed, and Namjoon turned back around to wipe his tears on his sleeves. A script in his pocket, and shy fist softly clenched. He bowed with a shy smile.

"You know if I didn't know any better, I think you'd be auditioning." The play Director, Chaewon, chuckled as he stop the camera beside him recording. "Are you sure you just want to be the help?"

Namjoon took the script out of his pocket and held it with both hands. "I'm not meant for the stage," he shakes his head softly before smiling with those deep dimples of his. "You, Eunjun, you did amazing."

Eunjun held his hand out to give Namjoon a handshake. "It would be wonderful to work with you," He says with friendly smile. "The script is something I've been wanting to change my acting direction in. It's taking adultery and fighting it for a person's happiness, rebellion."

Chaewon grinned, cupping his hands over the table. "Eunjun, we'll be making call backs for those who get in. I wish you the best."

Eunjun smiled before bidding his goodbye, and leaving the audition room with the rest of his friendly vibe. Namjoon walked over and placed the script beside the director. "... Chaewon."

"I told you, you're fit for a role!" Chaewon exclaims with a smile. "I think I might call him back, he's got the perfect chemistry-"

"I'm not an actor," Namjoon shakes his head, "... I'll just help you review the last Chaeyoung auditions."

"Namjoon, Chaeyoung is a woman who had her heart set on a man she knew nothing about, but saw the stars in his eyes she claimed him as hers. She fell into the arms of an unfaithful man," Chaewon says, resting his chin on his palm, and looks at Namjoon with a slight pout. "She knew the consequences, but was desperate to belong to someone."

"You, you give her life," Chaewon says, "I'm willing to completely change the script and character for Chaeyoung, hear me out-"

"Please, not this again," Namjoon sighs softly, "I appreciate it, but I'm better off being backstage."

Chaewon sighed along and nodded in defeat, taking the script off the table and putting it into the suitcase. Namjoon decided to pack up the recording camera. "... Can we discuss it over dinner?"

Namjoon looked over skeptically. "... No?"

"Not like that!" Chaewon exclaimed, shaking his head, standing up. "I meant like- like crew dinner! The whole team is going, you should come. You are apart of the team."

Namjoon laughed quietly before grabbing his bag under the table, a baby pink angel-wing keychain dangled from the front zipper. "Not tonight, I'm not hungry."

"Ah, please?" Chaewon says, "I haven't seen you eat all day. It's my treat to all of you. Soju? Pork belly? I'll pay for all of it."

Namjoon shakes his head again. "It's very kind of you, but I'm just going to stay home tonight. I gotta catch up on some shows."

"Alright fine, but come with us next time?" Chaewon says, heading out the door with Namjoon in pursuit. He grabs the keys from his pocket and locks up the room. "Who knows, someone in the team might secretly like you and might talk to you the whole night."

"Nice try, don't pick on my weak points, Chaewon," Namjoon crosses his arms.

Chaewon looked at Namjoon before shrugging. "You never know," he waves, "Stay safe, Namjoon. Remember if you end up deciding to go, it's at eight and at Kim's Barbecue."

Namjoon waves back as Chaewon heads out. "Stay safe." He took a deep breathe and stepped out of the studio and onto the sidewalk pavement. He slumped his shoulders, and his stomach roared again demanding for care.

Minho 🔓? : You in the mood for dinner?

Namjoon took his phone out his back after hearing it's little notification ring. He smiled softly after seeing the familiar man's name on his lockscreen. He swiped it off his lockscreen to see his background just for a bit.

You don't deserve it.

Minho 🔓?

Not tonight.
I'm really busy with work,
I'm sorry...

Minho 🔓?
It's okay! Don't sweat it,
don't overwork.
I just haven't seen
you in a while.

That's a good thing .|
That's a good|
Tha|
Thank you.
[Delivered]