Chapter Text
“…In the blue evening under warm string lights, the city drones on below. A melody unheard except to you, cutting the noisy silence and finding its way back…”
Kim Namjoon has had a long and incredibly tiring day. He opens the door to his cozy apartment and without much thought drops his coat on the floor by the couch and leaving his phone on the coffee table in front of it, while walking towards the attached terrace. Turning the wall length window’s handle and taking a quick look at the corner he’s decorated with his favourite posters and a bookshelf on the opposite one, he steps out. The 6o’clock sunset soaks the bustling Seoul skyline in a clementine hue and peach stained rays filter through the several leaves of his beloved plants and climbers that adorn the sides of the short balcony. One look at the picturesque view and he finds his worries easing away and the burdens of today’s past shrugging off his shoulders as he continues gazing upwards into the infinite honey orange sky. He takes a glance at the view one last time before heading back into the apartment and continuing his evening tasks. A good few minutes pass as the sky turns to a purple streaked, ultramarine blue and Namjoon finds himself feeling existentially precious, the cool evening breeze brushing aside few stray hair strands and a deep breath finally relaxing the last of his strained body.
For the most part he is satisfied with his current situation, he thinks as he walks, picks up his discarded coat and hangs it on the doorpost whilst making his way to the kitchen. For the most part he doesn’t have much to complain about; fresh out of a philosophy course and some work experience later he’s doing rather well as a university professor with occasional consultation hours for research students too. He’s doing something he’s always wanted and is sustaining comfortably as well yet there’s a soft ache in his heart whenever he returns home for the day.
Perhaps similar to several other 26 year olds or maybe unlike them, Kim Namjoon is a lonely soul. His circle is rich in friends from various fields and of incredibly close proximity both emotionally and physically too but he is still alone. While until now it never seemed to be too much of concern since he was far too distracted by learning and powering through essay after essay all while still having fun in between, it wasn’t until now that he gave his own feelings a single moment’s thought. Slowly and steadily, the desire to share his joys and sorrows with someone willing to do the same in return had begun plaguing his mind and he found himself wanting to be in love. But with it came past traumas of exposed vulnerabilities and shattered self esteem. Now he pushes aside all romantic desire and hopes to make room for important questions regarding tonight’s dinner and choice of drama or anime to accompany him as he grades this week’s reading responses from the class.
The sky outside settles to an inky blue dotted with stars. He looks through the glass doors and realises the single table and chair against the myriad plants, looks a little lonely under the now shining yellow string lights.
Trudging into the kitchen, he starts preparing his dinner in an almost robotic manner and when it’s ready he opts to sit outside. Setting his plate of rice and a can of beer on the lone table and once again he takes a longing look at the stars then looks down to his watch and takes one yearning look across to his neighbour’s balcony as the post lights turn on, illuminating the space like a warm light against the dark blue night. As he unlocks his phone to clear past notifications, like clockwork a soft violin melody wafts through the late evening air.
Gentle, silver notes now decorating Time as it passes and Namjoon can’t help but feel his heart sway to the melody. The seemingly melancholic tune stirring his wavering emotions as the song draws to a close. Few seconds after the tune fades out he returns to reality as the ambient city drone fills his ears once again. It’s become a strangely intimate routine; every evening for the past month Namjoon makes time to sit and drown himself in his neighbour’s nightly pieces, for those few precious minutes he feels himself loose every ounce of emotional restraint and sets himself free. He doesn’t know who is responsible for this song he’s grown to find so much comfort in but he’s grateful and someday (he’s promised himself) he’ll have the courage to thank them in person. But right now he quietly eats his dinner and winds down for the day.
A few hours later he’s sitting in bed poring over the next day’s lecture notes and slides and as he finishes up and pulls his blanket over him, he thinks he hears a soft singular knock at the door. There’s no second knock and Namjoon’s too tired so he chalks it up to his ears ringing and calls it a day. Whatever the consequences; future Namjoon will have to deal with it, he thinks as sleep overcomes him and he’s lost in a haze of dreams.
The next morning, he wakes up to his alarm ringing and the gentle patter of rain. Namjoon loves the rain and with this morning welcome his day is off to a great start irrespective of him having to actually commute in such weather. He admires how lush his plants look against the grey skies and oh how he wished he could cancel class and just stay home on his couch and admire the storm. However, he’s an adult with adult responsibilities and he does enjoy teaching his students as he watches them open up new portals of discussion in academia. Running one last check of his backpack and keys he heads out. As he bends down to tighten his laces he notices a small box attached with a note left by the door. Namjoon checks his watch to see if he’s got time to unpack it and decides against it. He places the box in his backpack (it’s luckily empty save for his laptop, notes folder and few minuscule items) while rushing to the bus stop below his apartment.
He reaches in time to catch the 8 AM bus, luckily the rain has subsided enough that his pants aren’t drenched and his cute light blue Ryan print umbrella keeps him dry until he makes it to his staff office. Once inside he hangs his coat up to dry, opens the window overlooking the campus lawns and decides to play his favourite vinyls playlist until classes start; the persistent rain sound coupled with slow jazz from the speakers setting a relaxed ambience for the day. Once he’s a bit settled he starts his laptop and removes the mysterious package from the morning. It’s a simple white box with a small pink and golden sticker bow placed in the centre, below which a brown envelope is held in place. Namjoon carefully plucks it out and upon turning it finds it sealed with a Toad sticker. It’s an endearing sight, everything about this mystery box clearly shows the care that’s gone into it’s making and he feels his heart flutter at the thought of it really being left for him. It’s a hopelessly romantic idea but once in a while he’s allowed to entertain it, even if it’s for a fleeting moment.
The sky outside turns a lighter grey but the constant patter of rain resonates with the demon of self-doubt and pessimism that sits in the lonely corner of his mind rattling and chanting “guilt!guilt!guilt,” just as the faintest hope blooms in his heart.
Unfortunately for him before he can read through the letter his reminder for class rings through the white noise of the office. Picking up the iPad, file and notebook he slips the letter in between them with hopes of reading it after his first lecture ends, as he walks towards the designated hall.
By the time Namjoon’s day draws to a close it’s late evening and the stormy evening sky today soaks the city in a deep blue tinge, in spite of the incessant rain, the city around moves on without anyone stopping for a moment to even notice the pretty shade that paints the skyline. With the drizzle once again starting as he steps into the building lobby and makes his way home Namjoon thanks his stars that he didn't get caught in any more showers than he already had. He’s fully exhausted after almost getting drenched in the rain on his commute back home and to his disappointment the back to back lectures and busy office hours due to midterms soon approaching, made it impossible for him to read and open the morning mystery package.
It’s childish he thinks, to be upset over not being able to satisfy his curiosity but the plague of hope has spread through his heart and mind too deeply for him to rationalise with. He hangs his coat by the door post and returns to the backpack after changing into a pair of dry tracks and a loose black tank top; comfortable and ready to read the letter and open the box. Strange how receiving a simple gift seemed to make his heart stutter like hummingbirds around flowers; oh it’s truly been a long time since he’s indulged in his own romance.
Deciding to read the letter first Namjoon tries his best to pry it open as carefully, if it’s addressed to him he plans to keep it as a memento. There’s a neat scrawl written in a shade of pink that Namjoon now decides is his favourite; it’s content isn’t much but it’s enough to grow his heart fond of the sender.
~
Dear Neighbour in 601,
Greetings and my sincerest apologies for being so elusive about my identity and lack of a proper introduction. Please accept this small gift as a token and hopefully I can soon make up for my social awkwardness and properly introduce myself.
Regards,
Kim Seokjin, 602
P.S: I’m really sorry if my music practice may have interrupted your peace and quiet, I am working on getting my studio sound proofed ASAP and this is a temporary situation. Apologies once again
~
It’s the prettiest handwriting he’s seen and the little doodles along with the heart dotted I’s fill Namjoon’s heart with endearment. “What a sweet man,” he says out loud to no one and opens the little box flap. It reveals a palm-sized glass orb with a cutout that allows the plants within to peek out ever so slightly. He loves plants, his myriad bonsai out on the balcony garden proof enough of it, and he’s very very weak for such kinds of gifts too. The terrarium consists of jade plants and small echeveria along with some filler decorative moss arranged with a combination of blue coloured sea glass and a tiny figurine of a fairy sat on a toadstool to complete the look. It’s the sweetest gift he’s received all year and unfortunately even his long term, best-friend and fellow colleague Min Yoongi’s custom gifted vinyl player pales in comparison to this little fairy terrarium from his mysterious neighbour.
He looks outside the glass doors to see the rain still falling and decides to keep the terrarium inside on the coffee table instead. Everything about this interaction makes a somewhat manic energy flow through him and he brings his notepad and favourite blue ink pen to write back. No matter how many texts he receives, Namjoon is still the biggest fan of handwritten letters and he won’t miss a chance to write one back.