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If someone were to walk in and ask Namjoon what he wanted most in the world, he'd honestly just say a very long and nice nap. He doesn't think, however, he's ever really known the concept of a Nap.
In high school, he was always too busy studying to even get enough sleep let alone find time to take a nap. Instead of his wishful nap, he just gained perpetual bags under his eyes as a reward for all his As and the impressive awards he'd win.
Fortunately, the studying and Not Napping paid off and now Namjoon goes to a prestigious university and works even harder than before and all in all, Namjoon is doing great but is still in a desperate need of a nap.
Technically, he wasn't supposed to work today. He rarely works anyway (Thursdays and Saturdays) opting to focus on his schooling and music, but his mother woke up sick as one can be this morning and after forcing her to go back to sleep, Namjoon tried (and failed) at finding another worker to cover her shift.
So, he's here now, not sleeping and definitely not napping, staring at the fairy lights hanging above the windowsill filled with potted plants.
The bookshop is slow today, which makes sense considering it's a random Tuesday on a random week in late October. The first two weeks of school starting up are always the busiest, students coming in and needing help with finding required books combined with students coming in and trying to find self-help books when it comes to studying and any other particular interests.
But today wasn't one of those days in the first two weeks of school and Namjoon was sleepy and exhausted, grateful that he could just sit here and stare at some plants while he half-heartedly attempted to complete a research project.
He lets out a loud sigh, putting his head on the countertop and yawning, taking off his glasses and setting them aside so they don't uncomfortably press against his face.
I hope, he thinks as he yawns again, that I'll be able to sleep for an entire day all at once after I graduate. Then maybe this will all feel worth it.
🌱🌱
In his dream, a loud tinkering bell suddenly rings. Namjoon smiles at the sky, thinking how similar it sounds to the bell above the door in his mother's bookstore before he returns to wondering how to escape the castle and—
"Hello?"
Namjoon immediately springs up, blinking widely at the startled boy in front of him. He grabs his glasses quickly, flushing with embarrassment at being caught sleeping on the job and to make it even worse, he starts coughing awkwardly.
"I'm so sorry," he suddenly says. He glances at the time, stopping himself from letting out a sigh of relief when he sees he was only asleep for twenty or so minutes. He looks back at the boy who's grinning at him. "Did you need help with something?"
Namjoon almost thinks he'll say something about his unintentional nap by the smile on his face, but instead, he just nods and holds up a list.
"I, uh, I need books. For my classes."
Namjoon frowns. "Really? What class is handing out the syllabus this late?"
The boy flushes. "No, actually I just… didn't buy them earlier. I don't know, usually the books we're required to buy aren't super necessary but… I was wrong apparently."
Namjoon quirks a smile at that, stifling another yawn. The boy is cute and looks around his age. "Are you in high school or university?"
"Oh, I'm a third-year. I'll be going to university next year. Maybe."
He sounds guilty about the last part, but Namjoon doesn't comment. University isn't for everyone and that's okay.
"What are the books you need?"
The boy glances down at the list, reading them out. "I need The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Hwang Sunmi and Demian by Hermann Hesse."
"Oh, I love those books! I had to read Demian my third year as well. It's cool they're still teaching that."
"How old are you?"
Namjoon blushes. "Oh, I'm… I just turned nineteen."
"You said it like you were so old."
Namjoon's going to die of embarrassment. "I mean… I'm older than you."
The boy grins at him. "Yeah, by like a year."
"Anyway," Namjoon says, standing up and walking around the counter, "I'll show you where your books are."
"Cool."
The bookstore isn't very big, but it does hold all the books needed for any self-respecting individual and Namjoon loves it very very much. He remembers being a kid and begging his mom to put plants in the windowsill so he could watch them grow up with him, but she'd always forget so Namjoon made sure he'd grow up anyway so he could do it himself.
"This store is really nice," the boy finally says as they turn into a small aisle.
Namjoon blushes. "Thank you. I'll let my mom know."
"Your mom runs it?"
"Yeah, she started it up after graduating and it's been here for almost thirty years. The plants were my idea."
The boy laughs and Namjoon finds his gaze drawn to him. He's really cute. Especially when he laughs. "They're really adorable. They add to the whole vibe of it, if you know what I mean."
Namjoon does know what he means. He smiles as he pulls out Hwang Sunmi's book from the shelf and hands it to him.
The boy takes it with a shy smile. "Thank you."
Namjoon nods. "Okay, now Demian."
When Namjoon is scouring the shelves for the book, the boy speaks again.
"I like your… uh… glasses."
"Thank you," Namjoon responds, flushing. This boy is way too cute. Maybe Namjoon is still sleeping.
"They look really nice."
Namjoon fights back a smile, opting to focus on the Search instead so he doesn't combust right in front of this cute boy. "Aha! Found it!" he exclaims, grabbing it and handing it to the boy. "Was that all you needed help with?"
The boy nods. "Yeah." He seems a bit sad about it.
They walk back to the counter and as Namjoon scans the two books, he realizes something.
"You're not wearing a uniform," he muses. "I feel like most of the students that come here are always wearing uniforms."
Namjoon doesn't say Not whatever cute, nice outfit you're wearing.
The boy looks down at himself as if remembering and laughs awkwardly. "Yeah, I, uh, I had an audition today. A singing one." Pause. Namjoon rings up the total. The boy hands him cash. "I probably shouldn't… considering how busy I am, but… I don't know. It's what I want to do. I figured I should at least try. It's why I'm not in school today either. One of my first days ever missing school."
Namjoon hands him back his change and makes sure his smile expresses his support. "It seems like it was worth it so it's okay. I hope your audition went well. And look, you're still supporting your studies. You're here, aren't you?"
A deep blush dances across the boy's face and he nods. "Yeah, I am. I have to read these books in the next few days. Not fun."
"If you wanted help, you could ask me. I love talking about books." Namjoon doesn't know why he offers it. He doesn't have the time at all, barely has time to see his friends and make music, but the boy is too endearing to stay quiet. Namjoon sighs at himself internally.
But the boy shakes his head. "No, it's okay. I'll manage. I just need to put the work in."
Namjoon feels a bit disappointed, but he nods and smiles back at him anyway. An awkward silence suddenly overcomes them. Namjoon clears his throat.
"What's your name by the way?"
"Jeongguk. I'm Jeon Jeongguk." He bows slightly when saying it. Cute.
Namjoon smiles. "I'm Namjoon."
The boy smiles at him.
Another awkward silence.
Namjoon feels so silly.
But then, "This might be really weird, but could we hang out again? Are you gay?"
Namjoon blinks.
"What?"
Jeongguk seems absolutely mortified. "Wait, that came out so wrong. It's just, you have your little button. On your shirt. I'm gay. If you aren't gay, that's cool too. I've never asked a boy out before, I'm not sure how to do it. I'm new at this. I'm so sorry."
Namjoon feels like someone just doused him in cold water. He blinks again. His rainbow flag pin. He completely forgot he was wearing that. He blinks one more time. Wait.
Jeongguk is asking him out?
Jeongguk looks like he's about to run out the door. Namjoon responds before that can happen.
"That was so funny," is what he says, still trying to process what just fully happened so not Actually being capable of laughing. "Oh my god, yes I'm gay. Well, I'm bisexual. Both. You're gay?"
Jeongguk lets out a mortified, "Yes."
"That's so cute."
Jeongguk seems conflicted over Namjoon's response.
"You wanted to ask me out on a date?"
"Yeah, but only if you want. We could just… read Demian together or something."
"That honestly sounds pretty perfect."
"I was joking. That was a joke. We are not reading a book together for our first date."
"We could."
"Wait, does this mean you want to?"
This time, it's Namjoon's turn to blush. He nods, looking at the plants in the windowsill, shrugging like five times because he's trying to seem casual. It doesn't seem to work at all though by the loud laugh Jeongguk lets out.
"You're cute too."
Namjoon looks back at him. He pulls out his phone. "What's your number?" he asks.
Jeongguk does the same, smiling down at his phone and then back up at Namjoon when they both hand each other's phones back.
"Thank you," he says.
"For what?"
Jeongguk is blushing. "No, ignore that, I didn't mean to say that. I'm honestly kind of shocked you said yes."
Namjoon has to still be dreaming. "Why?"
"I have no idea. You just seem out of my league."
Namjoon snorts, shaking his head. "You walked in on me just full on snoring at a job I'm supposed to be very much awake for. If anyone is out of my league, it's you."
"Well, it's not like anyone else was in here. You're good. It'd be worse if you just fell asleep while people were browsing or something."
Namjoon would never. "I would never."
"I figured," Jeongguk smiles. He looks at his phone and then back up at Namjoon. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. I have remedial lessons after school today and school ends… very soon."
"No, it's okay. I'm… I'm excited for our date." Namjoon feels awkward saying it, but he feels better when Jeongguk blushes prettily in response, nodding slightly.
"Me too." And then he looks at his phone again and breathes out a cute, "Bye, Namjoon" before rushing out the door.
Namjoon feels giddy for the rest of his shift. And honestly, for the rest of his day.
And right after he gets into bed that night, his phone lights up.
unknown number, 22:32
hi namjoon!! it's me! jeongguk!! :D
sorry for texting so late, I just got back from lessons. anyway, we should get ice-cream together.
do you like ice-cream?
I don't know if I can go on this date with you if you don't.
but it's okay if you don't.
really.
…. please tell me I have the right number.
namjoon, 22:34
yes, you have the right number haha.
and guess what?
I love ice-cream 😆🍦
jeongguk, 22:35
yay!!
tomorrow then?
namjoon, 22:35
tomorrow sounds great :)