Unexpectedly Regular | Kim Namjoon

26

When they finally went for the noodles they have decided to eat before, the water was long boiled, so they had to start over. As she sat by the kitchen table and watched Namjoon handling the noodles he liked so much, she realized two things. It was late at night and they've spent the whole day doing nothing other than sex. She was starving and she would have no energy to cook at all. She was thankful that he was doing that for her. So, she realized the other thing: he looked as a natural part of that picture she looked at. He was wearing robe with nothing underneath and flip flops. It was cold outside, but here the temperature was reasonable and he felt already adapted to that. He also opened and closed her drawers and cupboards as if he already lived there. She could find that strange but she only felt like it was right. Nara wanted to make Namjoon feel at home and she thought he would take some time to do so. She had filled her kitchen with Korean food she had bought at Liberdade, the neighborhood where asian markets sold some of those hard to find products she knew he would be glad to have around him. She made no mistake at doing that, as at every time he found some of the things he liked, he would make some surprised yet happy noises. Namjoon had talked to her many times as he travelled, and as far as she could notice, he missed his family and friends, but what made him feel at home was the food. She thought of making the walls of that apartment a place where he could find a piece of his own home but not that soon.

It should be just noodles, but Namjoon decided to boost it by cooking some vegetables, but he had never seen some of the varieties she had at home. She had to tell him some peculiarities of those native vegetables. Neither of them knew how to cook properly the food he planned, but they learned together how to make that. As they were both pretty hungry, it tasted delicious, although some of the pieces of vegetables were overcooked.

-I've set aside a part of my wardrobe for you so you can put your stuff there later. – Nara announced, after swallowing a piece of good-tasting yet overcooked manioc. – So it'll be like we are living together for this month.

-It'll be like a test for when you move to Korea, then...

-I never said I would live with you, Joon!

-I don't mean immediately, but, you know... in the long term future.

Nara filled her mouth with soup. He had plans that went far ahead of what she thought about.

-Aren't you planning things in much advance?

Namjoon simply shrugged his shoulders and kept eating. They spent the rest of the meal in silence and as soon as they've finished it, they washed the dishes together. He washed, she dried.

-It's as if we always knew how to be together – Namjoon started. – We even wash the dishes in perfect harmony. And I can't help but think we can do that for a long time.

-We've spent only one day together.

-That's enough for me to know.

-It's too soon for me to know.

-What's the problem? – He kept calmly washing a plate and his voice was serene as he continued – Haven't we figured out some of the things that kept us apart? You can take your time too, off course, and I won't press you, Nara. I just want you to know that if you want something further than just being my girlfriend we could, maybe, someday do that. I mean, I'll be two years in the army again. And then, I wish we could spend less time apart, you know?

He was right. They've discussed before how long-distance relationships would only work for both of them as long as there was a due date so that they could be together. They've also talked about how commitment would work differently for couples in that condition. It was an all or nothing situation, most of the times. The problem is. She had not solved everything she should have during that time. Some of the situations were tied for circumstances much bigger than her. As she still had those problems to deal with, she honestly never thought much further than the time when he would leave the army and they could see each other more often. That was all she wanted to have from him. More time. But not all of his time. At least, not yet. With a weak smile and a soft kiss on his cheek, she left the kitchen and went to the bathroom.

When she returned, her thoughts were not organized yet, but Namjoon's clothes on her wardrobe were.

-Doesn't it look like everything fits perfectly? Just like our lives! – he argued, trying to look cute as he lied on her bed, his head held by one of his hands while the other pulled Nara by her waist.

She didn't resist, lying beside him helplessly, but neither she answered him. As he waited for her words, he pulled the covers over both of them.

-Do you remember when we talked about sticking to the present? – she finally said. – I think I still need to do that. There are things I still need to deal with. After that, I promise you I'll think about your ideas of living together and stuff. But not now.

Nara looked down and her curls covered her face. Namjoon put her hair behind her ear calmly before finally asking:

-Can I help you with those things?

She just nodded negatively. He kissed her cheeks many times.

-We don't need to rush, Nara. We waited for two years, we can wait for more. Let's live one day at a time, just like we did so far, then. And when you figure out the things you need to, we talk about that again.

She loved how he always seemed to comprehend her. She kissed his forehead.

-I have one demand for when that time comes, though.

-What is it?

-I don't think we'll handle having this much sex when we live together, Namjoon. I'm all sore. We must have limits!

They laughed. She was right. It would be enough to sleep together, like they did for the first time in a long time.