21

"No way, she really did that?"

"You'd be surprised."

The sound of laughter from the kitchen greets you as you emerge from your bedroom, hair tucked in a bun and a sweatshirt loosely draped over your cotton leggings. It's not something you'd wear around your boss, but given the progress you've made in less than a week, it's safe to say you and Namjoon have a little more than an employee-boss relationship.

Or so you thought.

Once you see the sight in front of you, Sooya and Namjoon face each other with their backs to you. Sooya is casually resting her elbows on the kitchen counter, laughing and giggling at what Namjoon was saying. They appeared to be more acquainted than they had been at the family dinner the night before. They couldn't talk as much because everyone was talking over each other, but it seemed like they were getting to know each other better now.

You don't know what has Namjoon smiling so wide, because the last time you remembered, Sooya isn't the best at telling jokes. At least not with her mom jokes.

Yaji and Inso are nowhere to be found, so you can only assume Sooya has put them to bed in the other guest room. It was getting darker outside, as seen through your glass windows, which overlooked the unimpressive view of the small apartment building across the street. The faint sound coming from the television, displaying some random news channel, drowns out your footsteps as you near them.

Clearing your throat, Sooya is the first one to snap her head with a jolt. It was as if she had been caught doing something she shouldn't have been doing, which was not the case, so you were skeptical of her sudden shock. It was difficult to understand her; one minute she was pushing you toward him, and the next she was completely contradicting herself.

"Hey, sis. Took you long enough," she mumbles looking everywhere but you, before scurrying off into the dining room.

You follow her movements, completely ignoring Namjoon's stare.

"Had to make myself look decent," you say, walking around the island and grabbing a glass of water from the fridge. "What were you guys talking about?" You ask, lowering your tone.

Namjoon opens his mouth to answer, but Sooya cuts him off. "Come, let's have dinner together. Namjoon brought some food," she informs you, and instantly, your eyes land on the said man. His gaze never leaves you as he perches himself off the counter and makes his way to you.

"I'm starving," Sooya grumbles. "He refused to eat without you."

Smiling, Namjoon leans down to your level, and though you weren't that short, he still made sure you were eye-to-eye. You bite back a grin, returning his hooded gaze. "You brought food?"

He hums, "I promised I would after work." You notice his eyes moving lower and lower and then stopping on your rosy lips. It's not lipstick or tint, he thinks. You've always pressed down on it with your teeth when you were deep in thought about something.

And the whole time you were away and busying yourself in the walls of your room, the thought of Namjoon slowly filled your mind.

"You came straight from work?" your forehead creases, wondering if he rushed to get here when you'd prefer for him to get more rest.

"No, I went home, showered, and got food from that place you like."

He's talking about Cabane. Immediately, your face scrunches at the thought of that place, and that rude waitress. It wasn't your favorite place in the world, but it's where you and Namjoon mostly went to dine. He liked it, and so you did eventually.

Noticing your reaction, he asks, "You don't like it?"

"Oh, no. It's fine," you say. "The food is great, but the service could be better."

His brows shoot up. "Oh? But we've always gone there and so far we've had no issues."

Sighing, you decide to drop the topic itself because, one, if you were in charge, you'd never go back there again, and two, you don't feel like arguing or making a big deal out of it. This, however, has reached Namjoon's mind, and he is fucking confused.

You wish he would just let it go.

You give him a small smile before making your way to the dining table, where a cluster of dishes is arranged in the center. Sooya has removed them from the take-out boxes. And indeed, Namjoon got most of your go-to dishes, ones you'd often order when you dined together. The thoughtful gesture makes your heart flutter.

Not long after Namjoon joins and surprisingly takes the seat next to you before Sooya could.

"I apologize it's not much," Namjoon turns to face you. "I didn't know you'd have guests over."

You merely shake your head, unable to express yourself because Sooya is staring at you with strange expressions as if she is teasing you. "No, this is perfect. Thank you, you didn't have to do all this."

"She's right, this is better than a cup of ramen," Sooya added, and you glare at her with laser eyes. You barely had anything in your fridge that could be used for a decent meal; except for the nearly expired box of milk and Raspberry juice.

Namjoon looks back to see you staring at him. He chuckles under his breath. You've been caught staring way too long, and it causes you to shift awkwardly in your seat.

As if he knows you'd rather remain silent for the duration of the meal, Namjoon speaks in thought. "So, Sooya, how long are you guys staying in Seoul?" He turns to face your older sister as he takes a bite of the spicy chicken.

Of course, they're already on a first-name basis, whereas you had to wait this long to call him by his first name. No, no, you're not jealous.

Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Sooya answers, "Today is our last day, unfortunately."

"How come?"

"As much as I'd love to stay, the kids need to go back to school, and I have work."

"Ah, I understand," Namjoon says, taking a peek beside him to find you silently twirling Pasta around your chopsticks. He turns his attention back to Sooya and offers a warm smile.

"Well, you know..." Namjoon trails off as if he was deep in thought, "next time you visit, I'd be happy to let you guys stay at one of our hotels for as long as you want."

Your gaze automatically snaps up to Namjoon, and Sooya can't seem to hide her excitement.

"Oh! Wow..." Sooya lets out, sounding hesitant about the offer when you know she'd ask for discounts at thrift stores every chance she gets, "that sounds great and all, but we wouldn't be able to pay for one night without going bro—"

"No, no. It would be free of charge of course," Namjoon says, his left arm resting on the back of your chair. "Y/N had done a lot for me, so I wouldn't treat her visitors any differently," he says, and your chest warms with an unfamiliar sensation.

Sooya looks between you and Namjoon, trying to figure out what she can't put her finger on. "That would be great," she finally says.

"Sir—" you interrupt, remembering to address him formally in front of others, "you don't have to do that."

"Why not?" Namjoon frowns as he hears your words. "Don't you think it'd be more comfortable for the kids?" His gaze is drawn to Sooya across the table. But she's looking at you as if she's pleading with you not to misinterpret his words, though it's difficult not to.

Growing up in a large family with mostly cousins around, you were accustomed to sharing the bed and spreading mats on the hardwood floor, and it didn't bother you in the least. You understand that Namjoon means no harm and only wants to help, but you were both raised differently, and you don't want to take advantage of his kindness.

You try to relax in your seat and flash Sooya a pleading look, seeing that she already finished with her meal. As if she knew exactly what you meant, she clears her throat and leaves her seat. "Um, excuse me, I'll go check on the kids," she excuses herself politely.

Namjoon wipes the side of his lips as he says, "Already?"

"Yes, sorry. The kids might cry when they wake up and see that I'm not there," Sooya's face softens when she mentions her kids. "Thank you for the delicious meal, Namjoon. I hope to see more of you in the future," she tells him but not before she flashes a wink in his direction.

It leaves your mouth agape in disbelief, and instead of her feeling embarrassed, you're the one with a flushed face. To your surprise, Namjoon doesn't seem affected and he only laughs.

When he sees that you haven't said a thing, he drops his utensils and gives you his full attention. "Okay, what's wrong? You've been awfully quiet."

You let out a breath you've been keeping for a while, and you return his sincere gaze. "There's nothing wrong."

Namjoon leans back against his seat, crossing his legs beneath the table. "Hm, but your face says otherwise."

Letting out a sigh, you drop your gaze to his face. "It's just..."

"...something I said?"

You shake your head, "Not necessarily."

"Y/N, I'm not a mind reader, but if this is about what I said about having them stay at the hotel-" Something in your eyes flashes and it's enough to answer for Namjoon. He nods slowly, the cogs in his mind turning.

"So, I am right," he lets out. "I'm sorry if that upset you, I didn't mean to offend you in any way."

At his words, your face softens and your shoulders finally relax. "No, don't be," you tell him. You're being overly sensitive, and this is something you should work on. Taking people's generosity and interpreting it negatively, does more harm than good.

"I know you only wanted to help, and for that, I'm grateful," you offer him a genuine smile, to which he responds with a much better one, revealing his dimples. "But I don't want you to feel obligated to help me just because I served you for a long time. It's my job—"

"I know it is," he says. "But that's not the only reason," his tone softens as he leans closer to your face. Then just as you were about to start gathering the empty dishes to bring them to the sink, he grabs your chin so that you are forced to look at him in the eyes.

As he skims your bare face with the back of his palm, the thumping in your chest grows stronger, similar to when the both of you finally had your first kiss.

"Namjoon..." you murmured, the thought of being caught by your sister exacerbating your nerves. It's like you are always put in the same situation.

"You're important to me, Y/N," Namjoon admits. "And whoever is important to you, is also important to me."

"But you don't have to do these things... for me."

"But I want to...so please, let me."

You shut your eyes momentarily before finally saying, "Okay."

If ever, you don't know how to explain all of this, much less why Namjoon is touching you intimately. Sooya has been suspicious of you two ever since you brought him up and suddenly broke out the news about you quitting your job, but there were no other solid evidence she could find to possibly link you two, or confirm her assumptions.

"Is this the right time to talk about last night?" he finally brings up the elephant in the room, and immediately the pleasurable sensation swarms your body.

"I'm not sure," you murmured against his lips, which were only a few inches away. He would only need to lean down for them to touch. "But as grown adults, I think we should start somewhere..."

"Fair enough," Namjoon tongues his inner cheek, moving his long, muscular legs under the table and resting them in such a way that your legs are pressed against his. "I'll start then... since I was supposed to tell you something important."

You nod your head, silently watching him as he bounces his legs. Seeing this habit he does when he's nervous or unsure about something, you put a hand on his knee and squeeze in comfort.

Namjoon smiles lazily and places his hands on top of yours. "Okay. I, uh, first-" he utters, biting his bottom lip in the process of explaining. "I just want to say that I didn't regret the kiss," he starts, gazing at you. "I...don't know about you, but I-"

"I feel the same way," you mumble quietly as if you were cautious of your dear sister, who could be eavesdropping in the next room.

Namjoon's apprehension vanishes as soon as you say the words and is replaced with a smirk. "Okay, good," he lets out a relieved sigh. You arch your brows.

"Good?"

He brings your hand to his lips and presses a gentle kiss, taking you by surprise. "I mean, good. Good that I'm not the only one feeling like a damn teenager," he chuckles.

You can't help but mimic him. "So... what now?" The question has been bothering you all day, and you know you wouldn't be able to sleep without knowing what happens next for the both of you. Does anything change between you two? What the hell do you even tell your parents? How serious is this?

Namjoon's hold on your small hand tightens, but not enough to inflict pain. The topic has gotten serious now, he thinks.

Deciding to break the ice, you shrug your shoulders. "I mean, no pressure or anything. I'm just curious about what this means for us."

Us. That's a word you're unfamiliar with, and it feels sacred as if it shouldn't come out of your mouth. However, you're both adults, almost in your thirties, and you need to start acting like one. This isn't your first relationship, so you're not completely unaware of what this could mean for the both of you.

There are only two possible outcomes: stop before things get serious, or see how things go.

"If it isn't obvious already, I'd want to try this out. You know...see how things go."

"You do?"

He hums, a deep vibration from within his chest. "As long as I'm not alone on this," he says, running his hand through his hair. You notice his subtle features and the sharp flex of his jawline when he talks. The way his skin glows in your home's lighting, even if it's a little hazy through your tired eyes, the natural oils on his face, and the tiny hairs growing out around his chin makes him look even more attractive.

"If that's the case then you're not alone," you finally respond, pushing out of your seat to embrace him. You can tell his surprise when he tenses slightly under your touch, but once you've wrapped your arms around his neck and he can smell your shower gel, he smiles and snakes one arm around your waist while the other rests on the small of your back.

"Mhm... that's not entirely true," he murmurs against your hair. "You're still leaving me," you don't even have to see his face to know that he's pouting childishly.

"You can't let me go, can you?" You tease, running your hand through his hair, and god was it the softest feeling ever. Namjoon sighs contentedly as he feels your fingers on his scalp, and a low groan escapes him without shame.

"If it was my choice, then no. I don't want you to go anywhere."

"Good thing it isn't," you let out a sarcastic laugh. Namjoon pulls away from the hug and glares at you. "I'm just kidding, stop being a grandpa."

"We're the same age," Namjoon deadpanned.

"We are not. You're turning thirty in a few months," you smirk, satisfied with his annoyed reaction.

"I hate you."

✧ ✦ ✧

By the time the clock strikes midnight, you accompany Namjoon back to his car when he abruptly stops, causing you to almost bump against his back. "Y/N, I'll be fine. My car is just across the street. Go back inside," he mutters, and since you insisted to walk him to his car, he was still too hesitant about it and only let you reach the narrow hall outside of your apartment.

"Are you sure you don't want me to go down with you? It's getting late—"

"Exactly. That's why I don't want you to go outside this late. It's too dark and the street lamps are barely working around here," Namjoon sighs, gently caressing your hair. If you were in a different situation, your eyes would be rolling to the back of your head. His touches are enough to make you go crazy.

Shaking your head stubbornly, you only let out a stern, "I know this place better than you-"

"I don't care, Y/N. Bad people don't pick and choose. They're everywhere."

You reach for his forearm, the urge to pull him as you walk towards the stairs too strong for you to ignore. You know he's right, but still, you feel the need to be with him for a little longer.

"Just let me walk you until the last step..." you try to convince him as you pull him in the direction of the stairs, to no avail. It's almost impossible to get him to move with his body mass.

A sheepish grin appears on Namjoon's face when you furrow your brows and clench your jaw with determination. He thinks it's fucking adorable, and he can't seem to stop the butterflies in his stomach as he stares down at your small fingers wrapped around his bicep.

"Y/N," Namjoon drops his head down, taking your right hand with his as he twirls your body in the direction of your apartment. His left hand is on the small of your back. "You need to go back and lock the door."

You finally give up, frowning, and let your arms fall to the side. "Alright, fine," you muttered quietly, mindful of the others on the same floor as you, including the elderly couple who magically knows who comes and goes from your place.

You hope they don't bring it up again the next time you see them. It would be awkward to try to explain your 'relationship' with Namjoon. A business relationship does not necessitate him visiting you in the middle of the night, which you do not mind. However, you can't prevent others from misunderstanding.

You slowly take a few steps backward, but Namjoon doesn't allow you to escape from his hold. Instead, he pulls you in gently. You instantly flush under his masculine build, the chills on your spine getting harder to keep from spreading your whole body.

You don't know what to do with your arms, should you be reciprocating his touch? You don't know where to draw the line- the same line you both were able to cross that night at his parent's house. You remember wrapping your arms around his neck, him pulling you close with his hands on the back of your head, your hair, your neck—

"I'll text you when I get home, okay?"

You nod your head. "Drive safely."

"I will, babe."