thank u, next ❂ namgi

9. WHY'D YOU LEAVE?

Namjoon went to work with Chaewon's sudden grab of his shoulders and the dropping of his phone. Namjoon looked down nonchalantly, bending down to pick up his phone and sip his coffee.

"I can't believe out of all people, you'd ditch a date!" Chaewon exclaims. "You could've just joined the others and I if you were uncomfortable, Namjoon."

"... I don't know what you're talking about?" Namjoon replied with a frown. "... He ditched me."

"No," Chaewon says slowly, "You ditched him. He went to the bathroom, and when he came back apparently you left."

Namjoon let out a small sarcastic laugh before shaking his head. Looking at Chaewon for another retort, but only got a serious look back. "... Oh. I did?"

"Yes you did!" Chaewon cried. "Jackson thought you found him boring. You weren't socializing with him!"

Namjoon pursed his lips before shrugging. "I-I don't know," he says, "He nice and all, but..."

His gaze drifted away and he sighed. "He's not the one. I honestly don't know. I just don't... I don't see me with him."

"You can't fool me, Namjoon," Chaewon's suddenly formed a giant grin on his face, "Don't lie to me! I saw you walk out with a new man!"

Namjoon's face eased. "... Why'd you pretend!" He cried back. "Don't make me look like a fool!"

Chaewon bursted into laughter, shaking his head. "No, no. I'll tell Jackson you just got an emergency call and had to leave immediately," he says, "... But you have to tell me who he was.."

"... I'm not telling you..."

"What?!" Chaewon groaned, "Why not? Tell me, tell me~"

"Because!" Namjoon huffed and puffed his cheeks, looking at anything but his eyes. "... You don't know him."

"That's what makes me more curious! For the love of god, child, speak your truths!" Chaewon shook his shoulders once more.

"Just some guy..." Namjoon muttered, "... A really nice, funny... sweet, sweet guy. We um, we walked across the bridge and ate some cake. He took me home and gave me his number. Most of all, he didn't murder me so..."

"I've directed enough plays to know that this is love at first sight," Chaewon cried, instead of shaking thr man's shoulders once more he bouncing slightly in excitement. "The look in your eyes, the way you talk about him. This is exactly! Exactly how cliche love stories are suppose to be written!"

"Okay, okay stop being more excited than me!" Namjoon grabbed onto Chaewon's wrists and pulled them away before he could get dizzy. "... Slow down too, will you? I still need to get to know him."

"People envy stuff like that, you know?" Chaewon says, "... Having someone have that look, the shine, in other peoples eyes when they talk about them. The find smile when they look at their face. The adoration from someone. People envy that. Zealously, practically."

"Appreciate him," Namjoon's eyes darted back to Chaewon's as his voice began to calm from excitement and the bounce of his feet stopped. "... Even if you don't know him now and later, appreciate him. That's a part of love, and you're finally getting it-"

"Stop... Stop," Namjoon shakes his head and steps away just a bit from Chaewon's softened voice, "... I want to go at a good pace, I want to take my time. Going too fast scares me, Chae. You know that. The only love you know of is the ones in scripts and plays, but I know the other side of it."

Chaewon sighed and nodded.

"... Fine. Take your time."

[unedited]