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Namjoon had always hated airports. They were boring, expensive, and exhasting if you spent enough time there. He had been travelling a lot recently with work, speaking at conferences across the world and meeting with lots of important people.The worst part was that there was barely any free time scheduled for Namjoon between the conferences, and it felt like Namjoon saw the inside of a terminal longer than he had seen the outside world for the past month. Most of the time that Namjoon was in an airport, rather than relaxing or trying to catch up on sleep, he would end up working. As much as Namjoon hated airports, he loved his job. It got exhaustive at times, especially at this time of year with all of the travelling and conferences, but in the end, he knew it was all worth it.
Luckily, this time around, he was going home. He thought he'd treat himself to a drink at the bar, this kind of thing covered by the company, but he never had the energy or time to do it, so he'd make the most of it on his trip back. He took a seat on a barstool, waiting patiently for the bartender and playing on his phone until he noticed him approaching Namjoon. The person sitting next to him perked up upon seeing the arrival of the bartender, too. When Namjoon went to order, he heard a voice to the right of him beginning to speak as soon as Namjoon opened his mouth. He must've thought that the bartender was taking his order instead. Namjoon smiled and apologised, gesturing his hand to let the other person order first, turning his attention back to his phone screen until it was his turn to order.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you." The man next to him whispered, embarrassed. He ordered, as the bartender turned away to begin making his drink, he turned to Namjoon.
"Again, I'm really sorry."
Namjoon turned his head to see that the man that was sitting next to him, was more of a boy. He had a youthful face, huge glistening eyes and long fluffy hair that seemed to sit perfectly, the strands in all the right places. Both of his ears were pierced, at least 4 or 5 piercings in each of his ears, with rings and all types of hanging jewelry laced between each of the holes. As well as his ear piercings, he had a small nose ring that hugged his nostril, his nose bigger than average, but fit his face perfectly. His jawline was sharp and defined, but as he opened his mouth in an amused smile as he noticed Namjoon staring blankly at him, he noticed the bunny teeth between his lips.
"I...er, yeah. Sorry. You're fine." Namjoon felt his face burning up, he had definitely just spent what had felt like a lifetime examining almost every detail of the boy's face. If he was honest, he wanted to look for a little longer, to explore his beauty a little more. He also didn't want to scare him away. So, instead, he pretended to be scrolling through the article he had open on his phone, scrolling so fast that it was not at a pace that anyone could read, but he needed to act cool. And not creepy.
"Whoa, fast reader."
Namjoon chuckled awkwardly, "Uh, I'm just trying to find something, actually. Just scanning. I picked up this skill at uni. Too many books, not enough time, you know?"
The boy laughed. "Yeah, you're right. I'm just about to finish my PhD. Skimming is most definitely not my friend. I end up missing too much information, so I'm swamped in books at all times. I think you're lucky enough to see me not drowning in journals for once."
Namjoon thought that he was lucky for a completely different reason, but his gawking at the boy's face was creepy enough.
"What are you studying, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I study Philosophy. My PhD focuses on the political costs of scientific dissent." He fidgeted, seemingly embarrassed and uncomfortable.
"Wow." Namjoon whispered, "That's brilliant. I'd love to pick your brain."
"I'm not good."
"I doubt that."
The boy was about to reply when the bartender returns with his drink, him promptly paying and Namjoon ordering his own drink. Namjoon felt awkward, like their conversation had been stopped and he didn't feel he had the right to try and revive it.
"Sorry, what's your name? If you don't mind me asking."
"I'm Namjoon," he smiled, the boy returning the smile.
"I'm Jungkook."
"Nice to meet you, Jungkook. How come you're flying?"
"You too. I'm flying home from uni. You?"
"I'm flying home from the longest month of travelling for work of my life."
"Glad we're both on our way home, then. I can't wait."
"Me neither. I just want to sit by the river."
"Seoul? Me too."
The bartender returned with Namjoon's drink, and after the second interruption, they both fell into a comfortable silence; Namjoon too scared to look at Jungkook in case he lost himself in admiring his beauty, so he returned his focus to his phone, and saw Jungkook open his laptop to what looked to be work.
What he did not expect, was, when he reached his seat on the plane, to be asking Jungkook to move so he could fit in and take his seat by the window. Namjoon was unsure whether it was fate or a sick joke, that he'd be placed beside the most interestingly ethereal person he might've ever met. However, he wasn't complaining, because he was met with a huge smile when Jungkook sat back down and turned to face him.
"Are you stalking me?" He joked, his face filled with enthusiasm.
"I could say the same to you, waiting for me here," Namjoon joked back. Fuck. Was he flirting? In his head, Namjoon did want to flirt with Jungkook. Namjoon was also aware that he sucked at flirting and didn't want to scare Jungkook away. However, the smile on Jungkook's face hadn't faltered, and if anything, Namjoon thought he might look a little flustered.
"You have a point."
"It's nice to have a neighbour on a flight that I don't despise for once."
"I wouldn't speak so quick," Jungkook's face stiffened, his smile faltering, "I'm terribly annoying, specifically on planes."
Namjoon raised his eyebrow, "Only on planes?"
"Only on planes." Jungkook replied, trying to keep a straight face, but ended up laughing at himself. "Okay. I suck at lying."
"Are you trying to make me dislike you or something? Because I won't do that."
Namjoon instantly regretted the words leaving his mouth, Jungkook's smile disappearing and his face turning a little more serious. It felt like Jungkook was searching Namjoon's face for something, something he wasn't finding. This time, the silence between them was awkward, Namjoon thought. They stayed silent, doing their own thing up until the plane had taken off.
"I'd like to warn you, in all seriousness, that I snore quite loudly. So if I fall asleep, I'm really sorry. I hope your headphones are noise cancelling." Namjoon winced, feeling embarrassed.
He definitely just made himself look super uncool, and maybe he was overthinking the entirety of his and Jungkook's encounters since they'd met about three hours ago, but he wasn't even sure if Jungkook hadn't been freaked out by his last comment before they fell into silence.
Jungkook turned to him and smiled, "It's fine. My headphones are noise cancelling. And I have a nice shoulder to lean on if you need somewhere to rest your head." The confidence Jungkook emitted intimidated Namjoon. Namjoon also struggled to decipher whether Jungkook was being friendly or trying to flirt, or maybe both? Probably friendly. Jungkook seemed like a very friendly person. A very pretty, intelligent, strong, muscular, interesting...friendly person.
Ripping himself away from his wandering thoughts, he muttered a shy thank you, hoping that he didn't actually fall asleep on Jungkook's shoulder. Lowkey wishing he'd wake up with his head on Jungkook's shoulder. It's fine. Everything is fine.
What ended up happening, however, was Jungkook's head on Namjoon's shoulder. Namjoon and Jungkook were making small talk, discussing Seoul, their homes and their favourite places to go and eat. Jungkook told Namjoon that he was feeling a little tired and urged Namjoon to try sleeping, too. Both of them put their headphones on, and Namjoon settled down listening to the sounds of the rain on his phone to ease him to sleep. As Namjoon was about to drift off, his head leaning on a pillow against the window, he felt a weight drop onto his shoulder. He regained full consciousness and looked down to see that Jungkook had, in fact, fallen asleep on Namjoon's shoulder. Namjoon chuckled and smiled so hard that he felt his cheeks aching, and placed his head back against the pillow.
When he woke up, there was no weight on his shoulder, and he was still leaning against the window, the pillow nowhere to be seen. He noticed that Jungkook was awake, and was now sat cross-legged in his seat, drawing on a tablet. Noticing Namjoon's movement, Jungkook turned and looked at Namjoon with an embarrassed smile on his face. He took off his headphones and Namjoon followed, smiling at Jungkook.
"Did you sleep well?" Namjoon joked.
"I'm sorry. I'm so embarrassing."
"You're not. Was my shoulder as comfortable as you said yours would be?"
"Hmmmm," Jungkook smirked, "I guess it wasn't so bad." Namjoon raised his eyebrow at the boy and they both laughed quietly.
"You're drawing?"
"Yeah," Jungkook picked up his tablet so Namjoon could see the screen, "I'm drawing my family dog, Gureum. He lives back in Busan with my parents and I miss him a lot."
"Ah, you're good."
"Thanks." Jungkook smiled, placing his tablet back down and continuing to draw.
Namjoon and Jungkook ended up trailing alongside each other getting off the plane, walking through passport control and customs. No words were uttered, yet they kept waiting for one another when the other was lagging a little behind. Jungkook waited with Namjoon even though his suitcase was one of the last ones to come out on the luggage claim belt. When they reached the arrivals gate, Namjoon finally built up the courage. This may be the last time he sees Jungkook if he doesn't say something now, it was his only chance.
"May I get your number?" Namjoon blurted, stopping dead in his tracks clumsily. Jungkook was a step ahead, also stopping to turn to Namjoon.
"Of course." He shrugged calmly. Namjoon wanted to scream. He wanted to poseess an ounce of the nonchalance that Jungkook had.
Instead, he breathed a sigh of relief and moved towards Jungkook, letting go of his suitcase and retrieving his phone.
"Are you okay?" Jungkook asked, his brow furrowed as he took Namjoon's phone from him to type in his number.
"I'm fine." Namjoon huffed, "In all honesty I just think that you're really great and attractive. I probably don't have a chance, but I want to take you on a date." He felt his entire body heating to temperatures that are probably dangerous for a man to be experiencing over his feelings for a boy he's just met.
"The only way I'll say yes is if you promise that it's a date by the river." Jungkook smiled shyly, biting his lip slightly before bowing his head before Namjoon could see a blush form on his cheeks. Namjoon felt the butterflies in his stomach erupt, dancing in reaction to Jungkook's answer.
"Done."
Jungkook wanted to make sure that he and Namjoon were at the airport early enough to take a little unconventional detour. Jungkook had just handed in his final draft of his PhD and Namjoon had been promoted a couple of months prior and they both planned a getaway to celebrate. So, when Jungkook steered Namjoon towards the arrivals gate, Namjoon seemed a little confused.
"What.." Namjoon asked as Jungkook stopped in front of the arrival gate.
"This is the exact place you asked me for my number 7 months ago." Jungkook smiled brightly at Namjoon, "The best thing that's ever happened to me."
Namjoon felt his heart jump in his chest, "The best thing I've ever had the courage to do in my life. You were so confident. I thought that if you wanted me you would've asked me already, so I was just kinda desperate to shoot my shot."
"You know, I don't know why you thought I was confident. I just really liked you. Usually I shut down and suck at communication completely, but I had been working a lot to try and show people that I was interested in them, you know? Because if I had shut down, well... you know I am when I get like that. You wouldn't have even asked me. You would've stayed far away. I wasn't confident, I was desperate, too, you know."
"I love you so much. Maybe you're not the confident Jungkook I met, but everything I thought about you then, I thought about you now."
"Wait, what? What did you think of me?" Jungkook's eyes glistened, lightly tugging on the end of Namjoon's sleeve in anticipation.
"You know what I think of you, baby. Now, come on. Let's start our getaway together. Can't wait to show you my favourite spots to eat."
Jungkook nodded and quickly pecked Namjoon's nose before he took Namjoon's hand and grabbed his suitcase with his other hand as they walked towards departures.
"I think I forgot..." Jungkook mumbled cutely.
"What did you forget babe? I have our passports."
"No..." Jungkook whispered, "I forgot what you think of me."
Namjoon chuckled, shaking his head slightly and smiling fondly at Jungkook. Seeing the boy he thought once was this confident, intelligent and muscley guy that was completely out of his league acting cute and sweet so Namjoon would reaffirm him made him want to melt into a puddle.
"Well.. Clearly I'm not good at reminding you?"
"No. I'm just forgetful." Jungkook's pout was so prominent the entire airport would be able to notice it.
"Okay, baby. Well, I'll start now, hm?"
And that's how they made their way to the departures lounge, hand in hand, as Namjoon listed off what he loves about his boyfriend to a blushing Jungkook.