He opened the door and stepped through it, softly closing the door behind him before quickly walking down the hall and away from me, leaving me and his daughter behind as he chased a love that he had only known for a couple of months but was willing...
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Chapter 10 - Neophobia
The fear of new things and new experiences
3 months later, approximately 2 months later than the date Namjoon had told me he would come back from his tour around Japan, Namjoon reached out through Hana, wondering if he could get to see Dawon again.
Lots had changed since he'd last seen her but I had been keeping him up to date whilst pretending to be Hana, supplying endless videos of her trying to sit up and her attempt at crawling.
Namjoon: Hey, I know that it's been a while but I was wondering if I could get to see Dawon soon? The videos and pictures have made me even more eager to see her! Is Minerva free anytime this week?
Hana: I'll have to check with Minnie but i'm sure anytime this week would be fine! Dawon has grown so much since you last saw her, a completely different child!
Namjoon: Ah, I have realised this. Please let me know as soon as possible please as I want to see her as soon as I can!
Hana: That's so cute! And Minnie said that she isn't free tomorrow as she has an interview but the day after she is totally free! She also said to wear old clothing as Dawon has a reputation for throwing food everywhere!
Namjoon: I'll definitely remember Thank you Hana and thank Minerva for me.
"Did you have fun on tour?" I asked politely as I handed Dawon over to Namjoon as soon as he entered the apartment, ignoring the way that his eyes lingered on me for a fraction of a second longer than I would have preferred.
As I had made plans that night, I was halfway through the process of putting my makeup and hair together but leaving my outfit until last as I didn't want anything to spilled on it.
"Uh yeah, it was everything i've ever dreamed of actually. Being on stage was always something that I wanted to do and it was better than i'd ever imagined it was going to be. You don't really understand the love people can have for music until you're stood there, listening as everyone simultaneously sings. It's heart-warming." Namjoon explained with a small smile as he looked down at Dawon who was peering up at him with a confused look on her face as if to say 'who are you and why are you holding me'
I nodded and smiled, awkwardly holding my hands together in front of me as Namjoon smiled down at Dawon. There were so many questions that I wanted to ask but I didn't, not believing that I had the right to interrogate him.
Lucky for me, Namjoon must have been having the same thoughts as he soon began to explain himself to me.
"I've been spending a lot of time on my music recently," Was the words he chose to begin with, treading cautiously as he knew that this could cause an earth-shattering disagreement. "The tour has generated more fans for me and i've been producing music that i'm proud of. I shouldn't have let it get in the way of me and my daughter, i'm sorry."
"It isn't me you should be apologising to." I replied after thinking carefully, wanting to respond with a blunt but soft sentence that would make it sound better than it was.
There was already enough drama in or lives, no need to create more.
Namjoon hummed in acknowledgement of my words but said nothing else, simply looking down at Dawon who was burbling and gurgling at him, attempting to talk. The atmosphere between us quickly grew awkward and I found myself counting down the minutes until Hana came home so that I could leave.
I had been extremely hesitant to leave Dawon with Hana whilst I went out but had quickly been reassured as I realised just how good Hana actually as with her.
In a way, Hana is like a second mum to Dawon as she's always around and caring for her as if she were her own. I'm always extremely grateful for the help when Dawon decides to be extra difficult. As if she could hear me telepathically begging her to come home as soon as she could, Hana suddenly burst through the front door with an exaggerated groan, proceeding to throw herself on the couch face first.
"You would not believe the day I have had Minnie! My boss must think I am some sort of intern because she insists on me getting her a coffee every time she so much as hears my voice. Life is so unfair!" Hana whined, flailing her arms around as she dramatically complained about everything in her life.
In order to save my life, I stopped myself from giggling at her and walked closer to her so that I could run my hands through her hair.
"Poor honey, you sure you're still up for babysitting Dawon? I could always call Stella and make plans for another day if not, I don't mind at all." I asked, honestly not an once of bitterness in my entire body.
The way that Hana's head shot up off of the couch cushions as miraculous, the tiredness that had been previously on her face seeming to have evaporated in to thin air. I was all too aware of the way that Namjoon had been listening intently the entire time we had been talking and it made me nervous, a betraying heat rushing to my cheeks which cased my entire face to turn red.
"Of course I am! Look, I don't care how tired I am, you're going out tonight and me and Dawon are staying at home and eating ju- I mean lots of healthy fruits and vegetables!" Hana corrected herself sheepishly, grinning cheekily when I shook my head at her.
There was no way that I could ever leave Dawon with Hana when Hana was overworked and not feeling great whilst I went out and had fun, it just would not have been fair.
"I-I could always do it, look after Dawon I mean. It wold be nice to have some alone time with her." Namjoon stuttered from the corner of the room where he was still standing with Dawon in his arms, looking like a deer caught in the headlights when both mine and Hana's heads both snapped to look at him, mouths wide open in shock.