Invisible (Namjoonff)

Chapter 3 - What's in a Name

"Why are you awake so early?" Ki's mother shuffled into the kitchen to find her daughter busy preparing a meal.

"You made breakfast yesterday. I thought I would return the favor."

Ki's mother walked up to her and placed the back of her hand on her forehead.

"Are you ill? Have you been body snatched? What have you done with my daughter?"

"Omma! I make breakfast all of the time!"

"Eating cold rice as you rush out the door doesn't count."

Her mother began to set the table for two and help with the last minute preparations. Mothers were annoying like that. Helping out even when they weren't asked.

"Going to the park again today?"

"Mm."

"It's going to be hot. Make sure you wear a hat."

"Mm."

"Are you really going to the park? Something seems fishy."

"I swear. I literally just sit there and read my book."

Her mother didn't look convinced.

"Tell me more about your brave Knight."

Ki nearly spat out her food. "That was just a joke. There is no Prince Charming. No mystery suitor. I don't even know his name."

"So he exists!"

"No!. I mean, yes. But no. No, there's just a guy I like to stare at," she paused to contemplate her choice of words, "Wow. I sound so creepy. I don't even stare at him. We just both exist in the same space."

"You are so weird. This is why boys don't date you."

"One of many reasons."

Ki's mom gave a playful slap on the shoulder.

"You are perfect. Don't talk about yourself like that!"

She feigned a hurt shoulder and they both laughed.

"I'm going to go get ready."

She headed to the bedroom to get dressed for the day. Normally, she didn't care too much about what she wore, especially on a day off from work, but today a strange excitement made her fret over her choices. She ended up trying on 6 different outfits before going back the first choice. And at the last minute decided on some lip gloss and mascara too. She headed back to the kitchen to see her mother had packed her an afternoon meal.

"Don't come home unless you find out his name. If he decides to murder you, I need to have a name for the police officers."

"I love you too."

She headed for the door,

"What will you give me if I ask him his name?"

"Mochi."

"Deal!"

Ki set out with a new determination. She was going to find out his name and come home to mochi. Today was going to be a good day.

Ki couldn't keep still on the bus. She felt like a secret spy with a very important mission.

Find out book guy's name. She imagined she was living in her own story as she moved towards her destination. It was like a storyline from a book unfolding in real life. She imagined herself as the main character, under cover, trying to find out the identify of a master criminal.

Despite the bus ride being quite short, it felt like eternity when she finally arrived at the park. She had to calm herself down so she didn't start running to her table. She looked down at her phone. In all her excitement, she had arrived nearly 40 minutes early. She pouted in disappointment and with her head down headed to her spot.