Unexpectedly Regular | Kim Namjoon

21

Hearing from Namjoon that he loved her didn't change the fact she still had to write, study Korean, recall vocabulary and practice the language after class. It didn't mean he could throw away all the things he had to do either.

The only thing it meant was that someday they would try to be together again. So, in the weeks Nara had left in Korea she kept doing the things she was supposed to do and whenever she had free time, she would bond with her new friends. Gabi and Angie would tour Nara around the small towns around Suncheon and it was fun sightseeing with the girls. They gathered a large group of students on the other weekend and they went hiking. The views of that country were unique, something quite different from the dry hills she was brought up in, yet, walking amid nature made her feel as both her land and that were somehow connected.

Namjoon was far from her during that time, but he was always present. They kept texting along the days. Sometimes, she was so involved in other activities that she didn't even remember him, but there he was, giving her signs he was thinking of her, so with a smile, she shared a picture or a video so that he would be acquainted with her life as well. He had shown her the book he was reading, parts of the music video he was recording, some rehearsals and even some views from the stage during a sound check and then during concerts and none of that impress her at all. What was truly remarkable was the fact that there wasn't a day in which he would forget her or be bored by her ordinariness, things that she thought that could happen at any time. Beyond the attraction they could feel for each other's opposite lives, what brought them together was how enjoyable their conversations were. How deep their connection was, even though they were so different. They had spent some of their nights apart talking on the phone about life and things they liked. The way they expressed themselves seemed to be attractive to both of them.

Maybe that's what had changed as they said they loved each other and decided to have plans together: now, the feeling that attracted them and made them feel good without any explanation had a name.

It was Nara's last weekend in Korea and she had finished the first part of her story. She was quite satisfied with Professor's Moon feedback, so she decided Namjoon's offer to spend the afternoon in Seoul. He had just arrived from concerts on countries near Korea and he was, as usual, running out of time.

Nara wanted to tour around the town during daytime, so she agreed to have lunch with Namjoon, having a little of his time and after that, she could go sightseeing. It was the last time they would see each other. Maybe, the last time ever. So even though they were just going to spend a few hours together, neither of them wanted to let go of the opportunity.

They have agreed to have lunch at a hotel, where there would be more privacy for both. Nara thought that would mean more freedom for both of them, but she was wrong.

Namjoon sat in front of her, and although he had a smile on his face since the moment he saw she was waiting for him, he didn't make any moves to greet her as she wish he would. He would never be as touchy as her but that coldness was new. Even his gestures were contained and she looked around wondering why. There was a pair of foreigners with photographic equipment on their table, entertained by their own conversation, they didn't look like they have seen or recognized Namjoon, who was seating back to back with them. Even so, from time to time he looked at them and Nara suspected they were journalists, but instead of alarming her and making Nara uncomfortable, he had chosen to spare her from this anxiety and keep it to himself. They have talked on the phone, in one of their long conversations, about how annoying their previous experience was with that sasaeng and they discussed how Nara would not feel comfortable if she was ever as exposed as his life was. He had mentioned how most of his fears were just paranoid thoughts. His company kept paparazzi under control, they had a list of stalkers and bodyguards to keep them away from the boys. However, she didn't want him to carry the weight of being uncomfortable all alone. If that was the problem, they would have solutions other than just having lunch there while looking over his shoulders all the time.