Chapter Text
If there’s anyone that would be the representation of stress—the ambassador, if you will, maybe even stress personified—it would be Kim Namjoon.
“I’m not stress personified,” Namjoon says weakly, feeling attacked. “It’s not that bad.”
Taehyung sends him a withering look from behind the counter of the café he works at, and Namjoon shrinks.
He had decided to use his small slot of free time today to visit Taehyung, and get free coffee while he’s at it, but he’s beginning to regret his decision. He just came here for a chat and coffee with a frankly irresponsible amount of sugar, not a direct attack on his character. How did they even get to this topic?
“It’s that bad,” Taehyung says, continuing to mix Namjoon’s drink without looking at what he’s doing. It’s vaguely concerning, considering five seconds ago he almost missed the cup while pouring hot caramel, nearly covering his hands and the entire register with scalding syrup.
“Can you please watch what you’re doing.” Namjoon eyes him warily.
“Case in point,” Taehyung says, somehow almost flipping the entire cup upside down as he tops it with whipped cream. “You’re stressed about your drink, and you’re not even the one making it.”
“I’m stressed because the quality of my drink is at stake,” Namjoon objects flatly.
“That still means you’re stressed,” Taehyung points out, and Namjoon sighs. “Here’s your coffee.” He emphatically slides the cup across the table, and his aim is so bad Namjoon has to dive to keep it from flying right off the counter.
“Thanks,” Namjoon grumbles, taking a sip and letting the sugar melt on his tongue.
Okay, so maybe Namjoon gets a little stressed sometimes. It’s not like he can help it. He’s a busy person, what with having to balance teaching English at Seoul National University along with his freelance translating gigs. It doesn’t help that he’s also never actively enjoyed working with people. Sure, he’s an extrovert, but he’d much rather spend his free time reading a book or visiting the newest art museum. So when he ends up having to spend it arguing with editors through thinly veiled niceties or replying to the endless emails from his (often terribly confused) students, it can get to him sometimes.
Not to mention that Namjoon is a chronic overthinker. He just gets too into his head sometimes, analyzing everything he’s said or done in the past day, week, year. Just last week his coworker had teased him for thinking too deeply into everything, and then Namjoon had overthought that.
It carries over to his work a lot, making him wonder if his lectures even make sense, if his students understand a word of what he’s saying. Or when he’s translating a new book, if he’s completely botching it and butchering the culture in the process.
He just wants to do his jobs well, wants to be a good person overall. But that train of thought quickly ends up spiraling and before he knows it, he’s debating morality every day. He’s constantly contemplating the weight of his actions and how they can affect others and how others perceive his intentions and how that changes how they perceive him and—
“Hyung.” Taehyung’s voice breaks through his inner monologue. He’s waving a hand in front of Namjoon’s face. “You okay in there?”
“Huh?” Namjoon blinks. “Yeah, yeah, sorry, I just—got lost in my thoughts for a second.”
“You’re definitely too stressed out,” Taehyung says. He’s cleaning up an oddly even swirl of whipped cream on the counter, as if a cup was supposed to be underneath but just wasn’t. “Are you sure you’re still free for dinner with me and Jimin tomorrow?”
“Of course. Finished my work early to make sure I was,” Namjoon says. “I can’t wait to meet that dance instructor at Jimin’s studio. Jimin has been talking about him for so long, I’d be concerned for the state of your relationship if you weren’t the one enabling him in the first place.”
“Hey, we both just—objectively, platonically—appreciate the fact that he’s hot, okay?” Taehyung says, waving a coffee stirrer around. “Like, his face is already pretty, but then you see his arms, his abs… not to mention his toned legs, thick thighs—”
“Wow,” Namjoon says. “I don’t recall asking for this much detail, but. Okay.”
“And we’re not savages,” Taehyung continues, completely ignoring Namjoon. “His personality’s nice, too.”
“You say that like that’s just a bonus.”
“It’s not!” Taehyung exclaims. “He is nice. And really funny. We’re just not disregarding that he also has Legs, capital L.”
“Right,” Namjoon scoffs, laughing a little. “Checking out other guys together, what a delightful couple activity.”
“We enjoy ourselves,” Taehyung sniffs.
Namjoon’s phone buzzes, and he sighs as he notices the time on his screen.
“Well, I have to get going.” Namjoon says. “My class starts in an hour and I don’t want my students to roast me for being late. Again.”
“Jot down some of the things they say about you,” Taehyung calls out as Namjoon starts to get up from seat. “I need more ammunition against you.”
“Why the hell would I do that,” Namjoon says, affronted.
“Y’know if you don’t do it, Jimin will find a way to sneak into your class one day to find out.”
“What I’m gonna do,” Namjoon huffs, “is report him to campus police if I ever see his ass anywhere near my classroom.”
“Jimin knows how to get out of handcuffs,” Taehyung argues.
“Wh—how—” Namjoon pinches the space between his eyebrows. “You know what, I don’t even want to know. Please don’t tell me.”
“You’ll find out,” Taehyung says ominously. “Sooner or later.”
Namjoon stands there for a couple seconds, at a loss, then decides that the best course of action is to just leave and get to his class. Sometimes when you hear your closest friend vaguely threaten you with his boyfriend’s police-evading tactics, all you can do is back away and hope it doesn’t come back to bite you.
//
The next day finds Namjoon sitting alone in a small ramen shop, waiting for everyone to arrive for dinner. He’s been there for a couple of hours already since he doesn’t have any classes to teach today, so he spent his time translating a new book for an author he’s worked with before. Taehyung arrives soon after 7PM, draping himself over Namjoon’s shoulders and pouting when Namjoon doesn’t pay attention to him.
“C’mon, look at me. Am I really less interesting than,” Taehyung leans forward, squinting at Namjoon’s laptop screen. “‘Utilitarianism versus human rights’?”
“Are you paying my bills,” Namjoon deadpans, eyes still fixed on his screen and typing rapidly. “No, you’re not. Utilitarianism is.”
“I could be,” Taehyung says nonchalantly. At this, Namjoon’s fingers pause above his keyboard and he turns to look at him.
“I—” Namjoon is at a loss for words. “What are you suggesting.”
He ends up never finding out whether Taehyung just casually propositioned himself to be his sugar daddy because they both catch sight of Jimin walking in. Taehyung makes a delighted sound, throwing up a hand to get his attention. Walking next to Jimin is who Namjoon assumes to be the hot instructor. The guy has his head angled to the side as he talks to Jimin though, so Namjoon can’t see him that well.
Jimin finally notices them and he bursts into a smile, waving back and picking up his pace. Hot instructor turns his head, and Namjoon’s eyes go so wide they nearly bulge out of his head. Holy fuck, is that—
“Hoseok-ah?” he yells, barely believing who he’s seeing. He nearly pushes Taehyung over as they both scramble out of their seats.
Hoseok blinks a couple times before his jaw drops almost comically.
“Namjoon-ah!” Hoseok exclaims, running towards him with open arms. Namjoon almost gets choked with how hard Hoseok hugs him before they separate and Hoseok just stares at him. “Holy shit, you’re Jimin’s friend?”
“And you’re the hot instructor Taehyung’s been ranting about?” Namjoon blurts.
Hoseok gasps, placing a hand over his heart as he turns to Taehyung.
“Oh my god, you think I’m hot, too?” Hoseok asks, looking very touched, which is immediately followed by Namjoon saying, “Wait, you already know Jimin thinks you’re hot?”
“You guys know each other?” Jimin says, surprised. Taehyung looks equally in shock.
“Okay, okay, hold on,” Namjoon says. “Back up. There was—so much that happened in the past two seconds.”
“Me first,” Hoseok interjects, arm shooting out to clutch Taehyung’s shoulder. “I’m so honored that you think I’m hot. This is the greatest achievement of my life.”
Taehyung smiles widely, placing a hand on Hoseok’s opposite shoulder so they’re both just standing there grinning and gripping each other’s shoulders.
“…Alright,” Namjoon says, choosing not to dissect what’s going on there. “Me next. Why is Hoseok's hotness such a casual topic of conversation? I didn’t realize each other’s hotness level was something regularly discussed between friends?”
“Of course it is,” Jimin says, as if it’s common sense. He throws an arm around Taehyung and gives him a quick peck on the cheek. “And plus, I think we can all collectively agree that Hoseok-hyung is hot. Have you seen his thighs?” Taehyung nods sagely.
“You guys are ridiculous,” Hoseok chuckles, though Namjoon notices with amusement that he doesn’t deny it.
“You do look good though, Hoseok-ah,” Namjoon notes. He still looks the same more or less, but there’s a kind of glow around him that only time and confidence can give someone.
“You look great too!” Hoseok says, looking Namjoon up and down. “My God, how long has it been since we last saw each other?”
“Five years? Maybe six,” Namjoon says, dazed. God, has it really been that long?
“Okay, my turn,” Jimin says, pointing an accusatory finger at the two of them. “How do you two know each other? Because I sure as hell know you don’t know each other from the dance studio.”
“Was that an insult?” Namjoon mumbles. “I feel like that was an insult.”
“From college!” Hoseok says, grinning brightly. “We were each other’s ride or die back then.”
“We were,” Namjoon agrees. “We lost contact after I moved to America for my work-study program, but back then we were inseparable.”
“That’s crazy,” Taehyung says, in awe. “Such a small world.”
“It really is,” Hoseok murmurs, still staring at Namjoon like he can’t believe he’s here. Namjoon knows the feeling, and he laughs a little at the sheer comedy of this situation. What are the chances that the one person his friends have been raving about for the past few months is his old friend?
“I can’t believe it’s been this long since we’ve seen each other,” Namjoon says as he and Hoseok take the one side of the booth, Jimin and Taehyung on the other.
“I know,” Hoseok says, smiling. “Have you been in contact with Yoongi-hyung at all?”
Namjoon stills, time seeming to slow for a second.
Yoongi.
He hasn’t thought about him in—months. Maybe even years.
“I—” Namjoon’s brain attempts to kick-start. “No, I haven’t. Not since I moved to America, really.”
“Wow,” Hoseok says. “Time seriously got away from all of us, huh?”
“Yeah,” Namjoon agrees quietly.
What happened was: Namjoon, Hoseok, and Yoongi were the closest of friends in college. Shortly after the three of them graduated, Yoongi had gotten a job offer in Tokyo. Everything was fine even up until then; there wasn’t a time difference between Korea and Japan so the three of them kept in close contact for the first couple months. Namjoon and Hoseok were still able to meet up so they’d just video call Yoongi, eating dinner at the same time and talking about their days like always—it was fine.
Then, Namjoon got accepted into his work-study program in the States. The initial celebratory feelings faded quickly once he realized he was going to be separated from his best friends even further, a whole ocean between them.
But it was alright. Namjoon was determined to stay connected to them, absolutely sure that nothing would be able to come between his bond with the two. He was particularly determined with Yoongi, mostly because… well. That’s not important right now. But, spoiler alert, school and work quickly added up—not to mention the thirteen-hour time difference—and it became harder and harder to keep up with them. Soon, their texts and calls dwindled down to nothing, they all got swept up with their respective jobs, and well. It’s like Hoseok said. Time got away from them.
Namjoon summarizes all of this to Jimin and Taehyung, the two reacting like it’s the latest soap opera. Namjoon sees Hoseok’s eyes narrow slightly when he gets to the part about Yoongi, but he ignores him.
“Thinking back, we honestly should’ve tried harder to stay in contact. We were just so career-oriented,” Namjoon says. “We still are, but I feel like we make a lot more time for friends now.”
“It’s because of the existential dread that hits you in your mid-to-late-twenties when you see half your friends getting married and the other half enlisting,” Jimin says, waving his hand around. “Because then it’s like, ‘What the hell am I doing? Where is my life going?’”
“Makes you wanna reconnect with people,” Taehyung mumbles as he looks over the menu, and they all nod with vague hums of agreement.
Their food comes out soon after they order, warm and steamy and filling. The night air gets decorated with their chatter and laughter, Namjoon and Hoseok in particular since they have an entire five years to catch up on. Hoseok details how he worked a corporate job for all but five months before quitting to pursue his childhood dream of being a choreographer. He jumped from dance studio to dance studio until, finally, he saved up enough to open one with Jimin.
Then, Namjoon talks about the time he met Taehyung. Knowing him is what ultimately made this reunion happen, after all. It’s a story that everyone but Hoseok knows, but he recounts it in such theatrics that everyone flings themselves onto the nearest surface with full-bodied laughter.
(He had accidentally spilled his coffee all over Taehyung the first time he went to his café. Namjoon, who’d just finished teaching his English course, was so flustered that he mixed up his languages and apologized profusely in English. Taehyung, shirt soaked and hands dripping with coffee, just stared at him in amazement and said, “You speak English? Oh my god, I’ve been looking for a translator for my writing for ages! I can’t believe my horoscope app was talking about coffee when it said to ‘fully absorb whatever fate befalls you’. Also I have no idea what you just said.”
Namjoon had simply stared back at him, barely processing what just happened, and Taehyung had apparently taken that as his green light to befriend him.)
They keep talking, and the glow around Hoseok only seems to grow brighter as the night goes on. He’s definitely changed a lot since back then, but all in ways that show he’s happier. There’s passion in his voice when he talks about dance, rather than the apathy Namjoon was so used to hearing when Hoseok complained about his business administration classes. It makes him happy, seeing Hoseok thriving. Namjoon had always thought that if anyone deserved good karma for all the positivity they put into the world, it should be Hoseok.
They finish up dinner and stay in the booth for another couple of hours to keep talking. They soon have to move outside though, the ramen shop closing up for the night, and the evening begins winding down. Taehyung cites an early shift at the café tomorrow, groaning dramatically and cursing the universe for not letting him “just vibe with his friends for once in his life”. Jimin pushes his shoulder with a laugh as he waves down a taxi for the both of them.
Taehyung and Jimin duck into the car, blowing kisses with promises to see them again soon, and then Namjoon and Hoseok are left alone on the sidewalk. Namjoon’s about to ask which train line he takes to get home when Hoseok suddenly turns to him with a serious expression.
“Hey.” Hoseok catches his arm. “You and Yoongi-hyung are good, right?”
Namjoon blinks, completely caught off guard. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be? I just haven’t thought about him in a while, that’s all.”
“The way you were talking about him earlier…” Hoseok murmurs. “I know you had—that thing with him back in college, and I know that was a long time ago and it didn’t go anywhere, but—”
“Hoseok-ah,” Namjoon says, cutting him off. “It’s fine. It was fine then, and it’s fine now.”
Hoseok gives him a look that makes Namjoon want to kick him, but he spares him since they haven’t seen each other in years.
“I got over it so long ago, Hoseok-ah. It’s been five years,” Namjoon says instead. “And besides, it was literally like you said. Just a college thing.”
“Alright, alright,” Hoseok says, dropping it. “You know I’m just worried about you.”
“I know,” Namjoon murmurs.
“Well,” Hoseok says, kicking a pebble down the sidewalk. “I was able to keep in contact with him since we never had a time difference, and he moved back to Korea about a year ago. I know you’re busy with teaching and translating and all of that, but if you’re free sometime—”
“Oh my god, I didn’t even know he was back, are you kidding me?” Namjoon exclaims. “That’s not even a question. Of course we all have to meet up again!”
Hoseok grins brightly at that.
They part at the train station, hugging after Hoseok tells him he’ll follow up on plans for next time. Namjoon finds a seat on his subway, and he sways gently with its movement as it takes him back home. He feels content at his core from seeing Hoseok again, and even more so at the prospect of seeing Yoongi after so long.
//
Hoseok holds true to his promise, trustworthy as always. Namjoon gets added to a new group chat the very next day, and he wakes up to a notification from an unknown number reading long time no talk, stranger.
Namjoon smiles.
He and Yoongi catch up a bit with the basics, hope you’ve been well, how’s work, how was the move, before all three of them decide on a time and place to meet again next week.
Namjoon ends up running a little late that day, his 6PM class on Wednesday going over because some of his students had extensive questions on their projects. But no matter, Namjoon already messaged the two of them saying he’ll get there as soon as possible.
He makes it to the tent bar fifteen minutes late, which isn’t terribly bad. It’s already pretty crowded even though it’s not that late in the evening yet. Namjoon scans the tops of everyone’s heads, looking for two familiar faces. At the corner of his vision he sees a hand go up, and he turns to see Hoseok’s cheerful face popping up between the crowd of people. Namjoon grins back, waving, and the person next to Hoseok lifts his head. It takes Namjoon’s brain one, two, three seconds to fully register, and—
There he is.
Min Yoongi.
Namjoon races over as fast as he can, weaving between people to make it to their table. He already sees the smile bursting on Yoongi’s face, hearing something like a scream coming from him, from the both of them. Namjoon nearly throws himself at him in a tight hug, and they rock back and forth in their embrace for a while.
“Hey stranger,” Yoongi laughs breathily.
“Hey,” Namjoon says, arms wrapped around him. “Hi. Oh my god.”
Seeing Yoongi brings a flood of emotions so intense it almost feels surreal, an out-of-body experience. The feeling overcomes him, washing over him in waves because. Well.
The last time he’d seen Yoongi in person, Namjoon had been in love with him.
And maybe that’s Namjoon’s over-emotional brain being dramatic because back then he was, what? Twenty-one with only a couple casual relationships to make up his love life—how could he have known what love was? But… he knows what he’d felt at the time. Namjoon has had strong feelings for everyone he’s dated, but he doesn’t think anything was like how he felt towards Yoongi, even in retrospect.
But he’s over it. He’s been beyond over it for years. What was that saying, distance makes the heart grow fonder? Well, that’s not how it happened for Namjoon. He moved to America, got lost in the hustle of school assignments and work projects and meeting new people and—he got over it.
So when they hug hello, both of them screeching with excitement at seeing each other after so long, all Namjoon feels is a deep-seated warmth within him. When they sit down and Yoongi details how his life has been in the past few years, Namjoon listens attentively, laughing and yelling at all the right parts.
And when Yoongi mentions his boyfriend, showing Namjoon a picture of them on his phone’s lock screen, Namjoon smiles so widely that his cheeks hurt.
“Oh my god, congrats, hyung!” Namjoon exclaims. “Tell me everything, what’s his name, what’s he like?”
“Relax,” Yoongi laughs, though Namjoon can tell he’s beaming at the talk of his boyfriend. “His name’s Junseo, and he’s—good. He’s great.”
“They’re so disgustingly cute together,” Hoseok cuts in. “I’ve had to witness more cheek kisses and quiet giggling than any man should ever have to witness.”
“Fuck off,” Yoongi says, shoving Hoseok’s shoulder as he laughs.
“Wow, Yoongi-hyung being all sappy. Haven’t seen that in ages.” Namjoon chuckles. “Have you guys dated for long?”
“Not too long,” Yoongi says. “Next month’s gonna be our three month anniversary.”
“Getting more serious, then.”
“Ah, not really,” Yoongi says lightly, though there’s a dusting of pink on his cheeks. “We’re just, y’know. Taking things as they come.”
“Well, I’m happy for you either way,” Namjoon says, and he means it.
At one point, Yoongi starts showing them pictures of Japan—food, architecture, and sights with a story attached to each one of them. He’s clearly lived a busy life in the past several years. He scrolls to a picture of some art displays, and Namjoon perks up.
“Wait, is that the Mori Art Museum?” Namjoon says, tilting Yoongi’s phone so he can see the image more clearly. “I’ve always wanted to go there! How was it?”
“Incredible. It’s something you’d definitely love, Namjoon,” Yoongi says. “I went there with some friends I met through work—Seokjin and Jungkook? I think I mentioned them to you before, Hoseok.”
“I don’t think you have? Wait a minute.” Hoseok turns towards Yoongi. “‘Jungkook’? As in Jeon Jungkook?”
“Yeah.” Yoongi nods, eyebrows creased slightly in confusion. “How did you—”
“Holy fuck, this feels like something straight out of a movie,” Hoseok laughs loudly. “Hyung, Jungkook dances at the studio sometimes. Not often, but enough for me and Jimin to recognize him.”
“No way,” Namjoon says as Yoongi’s jaw drops, dumbfounded. “How on earth is it possible that all of us are somehow connected to each other?”
“Shit, now that you mention it, that makes so much sense,” Yoongi says, realization dawning on his face. “He talks about how he dances as a hobby, but he’s only said it in passing so I never knew which studio it was. God, I can’t believe I didn’t make the connection.”
“Y’know, the funny thing is Jimin and I wanted to befriend him, too,” Hoseok says. “He seems like a chill person and he’s crazy good at dancing, but he’s so quiet. He’d come in, kill the choreography, then just quietly dip when class is over and everyone starts socializing.”
“That definitely sounds like Jungkook,” Yoongi chuckles.
“This is insane how we all know each other,” Hoseok marvels. “How did you meet Jungkook, again?”
“He just reached out to me on social media a couple years ago,” Yoongi says, shaking his head in amazement. “He was doing a video project and was looking for some music to go with it. Somehow, he found my SoundCloud and liked my style, so he messaged me to see if I was interested in working with him. I obviously accepted, then he invited me to come to one of the filming locations if I wanted to see everything come together. So I go out that day and lo and behold, the main actor in his video is his friend Seokjin. I knew I was doomed to be friends with them when he told the worst dad joke ever and Jungkook and I actually laughed.”
Namjoon lets out an amused huff. “Wow, you’ve changed, hyung. Laughing over what you used to consider the lowest form of humor? I barely even recognize you.”
“Look, I admit dad jokes have their merits,” Yoongi says, lifting his hands in surrender. “Besides, you haven’t met Seokjin. There’s just an air to him that makes anything that comes out of his mouth hilarious.”
They continue talking the night away, and Namjoon’s stomach hurts by the end of the evening from how much he’s laughed. They start finishing it up once the patrons around them are more drunk than sober, and they decide to take a walk in the late September air before calling it a night.
Walking together with them on the sidewalk makes nostalgia hit Namjoon like a ton of bricks. It makes him feel like he’s back in college. He hasn’t heard their voices—specifically Hoseok and Yoongi’s together, at the same time—in so long. It’s jarring to have them so close to him again.
Namjoon realizes he’d subconsciously assumed he would never see them again. The three of them had graduated with promises to stay in touch and to not grow apart, just like every friend group, but… it was inevitable. It’s already hard to maintain friendships within the same city, what with the pressures of work, relationships, personal goals. Throw on a thirteen-hour time difference and graduate school—no wonder they had grown apart despite their best efforts.
“Y’know, I really thought I’d never see you guys again,” Namjoon says quietly. “At least—like this. Like how we were back in college.”
They both hum in agreement.
“Brings back memories, huh?” Hoseok says, and Yoongi nods wistfully. Hoseok aims his gaze at the sky, and Yoongi turns his head to look at Namjoon. His mouth curls upwards as their eyes meet, and Namjoon returns the smile. Namjoon doesn’t say it, but he knows the other two are thinking the same thing.
This—catching up, laughing, being together—feels like finding something he didn’t even realize was missing.
//
At the beginning of the following week, Namjoon decides he needs a pick-me-up in the form of sweet, creamy coffee. Taehyung’s been telling him that he needs to get a grip on his supposed sugar addiction, which is a dramatic overstatement. It was just one time that Namjoon had gotten caught eating a full spoonful of sugar, one time! But this is precisely why Namjoon is going to the café on a Tuesday when he knows Taehyung isn’t working; life is too short for him to avoid indulging in what little joys there are.
As he waits in line, he people-watches for a bit: a young couple sitting at the corner of the shop, probably on a first date if the blush on the guy’s face is anything to go by. A group of friends laughing loudly to his side, a mom and her sullen daughter next to them, and a man working on his laptop in the middle of the room.
Wait—Namjoon does a double take when he sees the man. Oh, he realizes, that’s Yoongi-hyung! He looks busy, but Namjoon’s been known to bother and distract him while he’s doing his work, and Yoongi to him as well. He probably won’t mind if Namjoon pays him a little visit.
Namjoon places his order and his drink comes out relatively quickly, then he makes his way over to Yoongi.
“Fancy seeing you here,” he says, knocking gently on the table to get his attention. “Didn’t know you frequented this place.” Yoongi looks up, surprised, slipping his headphones off.
“Namjoon-ah,” he says, a smile growing on his face. “Yeah, I usually just get my coffee and go, but I guess I wanted a change of scenery for once. It can get stuffy being in the studio all day.”
“I bet,” Namjoon says. “That’s probably why I haven’t seen you before now, because I come here literally all the time.”
“You’ve always been such a nature and cafés kind of guy,” Yoongi laughs. “This is exactly the type of place I’d expect to find you.”
“Not much has changed,” Namjoon agrees. “Though I specifically chose to go to this place because my friend actually works here—Taehyung, I forgot if I’ve talked about him before, but I can introduce you two sometime.”
“Of course,” Yoongi says. “You should meet Seokjin and Jungkook when you’re all free, too. I think you’d get along with them.”
“Any friend of yours is a friend of mine,” Namjoon says he takes a sip from his drink. “Anyway, I mostly started coming here to take advantage of Taehyung’s employee discount to get drinks, but he’s been trying to curb my sugar intake recently so my plan now is to come only when he’s not working.”
“The extra thousand won or so is worth that obscene amount of sugar?” Yoongi raises his eyebrows in amusement.
“There’s gotta be something that gets me through hours-long lectures and meetings all day.”
Yoongi lets out a laugh. “Come sit, Joon-ah,” he says, patting the seat next to him.
Over the next several weeks, coincidence turns into habit as Namjoon keeps running into Yoongi at the café on Tuesday afternoons. Usually one of them is in a rush so they can only exchange greetings, genuine but hurried. But there are other days where time loosens its hold on their schedules, and they can find a place to sit and chat until the colors of the sky deepen.
Those times are Namjoon’s favorite. They can, a little unexpectedly, still hold conversations for hours, the topics switching seamlessly from life to politics to philosophy. Just a couple months ago, Namjoon hadn’t thought about Yoongi in years; it’s surprising how easily they fall back into a rhythm with each other.
But then again—maybe not.
It’s always been you and me, Yoongi used to say all the time. As in: they’ve always been able to read each other, to connect and just know each other on another level. And to have an understanding of someone to that extent—Namjoon supposes a few years in between wouldn’t change that at all, contact or no contact.
Namjoon gets lost in it, that revival of their back-and-forth banter. Having that old dynamic back is refreshing, which is a little ironic. But even though everything is essentially the same, Yoongi’s almost… funnier than Namjoon remembers. His humor is quick as always, but sharpened even more with the experience of life. It catches Namjoon off-guard, makes him burst into laughter at the most unexpected times.
It seems to work in reverse too: he’s still able to make Yoongi laugh so hard he can’t breathe, gums on full display. It almost makes him feel proud that he can do that. It’s proof of how well they fit together.
And seeing Yoongi talk about his work, his music—God, Namjoon loves seeing him happy. It was the same feeling he felt with Hoseok when he caught up with him over ramen, but with Yoongi it feels like there’s an edge to it, more prominent. It must be because I’ve talked to him even less than Hoseok after I moved, Namjoon thinks. It’s really been so long.
It’s so nice, talking with Yoongi and rebuilding what they used to have. There’s a lightness to Namjoon’s chest that he hasn’t felt in years.
//
Namjoon lifts his face to feel the sunshine, wind blowing through his hair as he cycles around Yeouido. The weather is gorgeous today—sunny with a strong breeze, Namjoon’s favorite. He takes in the beautiful autumn foliage, stopping to snap pictures occasionally as he rides. It’s peaceful, healing, and exactly what he needs.
This morning had been hectic: student meetings, department meetings, editor meetings—endless discussions of future projects and plans. He’d felt like he had done a whole week’s worth of work in just six hours, so he decided to take it easy in the afternoon and treat himself to a bike ride after he finished his last task.
He crosses Mapo Bridge and makes it to the north bank of the Han River, before circling back around to Hangang Park. It’s pretty crowded there; apparently every person in Seoul had the same plans for today. No matter, he can usually find an empty spot on a bench somewhere.
He slows his bicycle to a stop, wiping the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand and readjusting his hat. His hunger makes itself apparent, reminding him that he hasn’t even had lunch yet. A mental menu is running through his mind as he considers what to order for delivery, when—
“Namjoon-ah?”
He whirls around and is met with the sight of Yoongi, eyes lit up. The light feeling in Namjoon’s chest immediately returns—probably happiness at the fact that he’s been seeing him everywhere recently. It reminds him of how they used to run into each other all the time on campus. So much nostalgia, with him being here.
“Yoongi-hyung! What are you doing here?” Namjoon beams. Maybe if he’s free, they can sit together and just talk. It’d be nice to take his mind off of the chaos from today for a while. They haven’t seen each other at the café for a couple of weeks either, Namjoon not able to come last time due to a work presentation, so relaxing and aimlessly chatting with Yoongi now would be really—
A guy from behind Yoongi calls after him, wait for me. Yoongi turns around and waves him over. So much for that plan, Namjoon thinks, though he’s not too hung up over it. He cranes his neck a little and pinpoints who Yoongi waved to.
He’s—handsome, Namjoon notes. Casually attractive, with his tousled hair and modest outfit of a loose t-shirt and black jeans. From the way he jogs, Namjoon can tell he works out—a morning run each day, at least. Namjoon’s only just starting to wonder why he’s trying to analyze this random guy’s exercise routine when he finally catches up. He stands a couple inches taller than Yoongi, lips curving upwards as they look at each other, then he gently slips an arm around Yoongi’s waist.
“Oh,” Namjoon says, puzzle pieces falling into place. “This must be…”
“Junseo.” He offers his hand with a warm smile. “Yoongi’s boyfriend.”
Ah.
The lightness in Namjoon’s chest twists, drops a little, which is weird. Is it disappointment because he’d assumed Yoongi was alone, and had already been looking forward to chatting with him? Or maybe apprehension, because this guy has the power to hurt Yoongi? That would make sense—after all, Namjoon has witnessed a heartbroken Yoongi crying on his shoulder far too many times to trust anyone new in his life easily.
Either way, he ignores it as he takes Junseo’s hand, shaking it cordially. This is who's made Yoongi incredibly happy for the past few months, and Namjoon has to believe he’s a good person because of that.
“Namjoon,” he says, smiling back with a small bow. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Oh that’s right, Yoongi’s mentioned you before!” Junseo says, snapping his fingers. “College friends, right?”
“Right,” he says. Junseo continues talking, but Namjoon’s thoughts catch, stick to Yoongi’s mentioned you before. He has to shake himself out of it.
“We were just on a date near the river, though it was nearly impossible to find a place to sit with all these people out here,” Junseo is saying.
“Oh, I’m sure. There’s always bound to be a huge crowd in places like this, especially with how nice today is.” Namjoon pats the handles of his bicycle. “That’s why I stick to my bike. Most couples and families opt for a more convenient picnic than to rent bikes.”
“We can attest to that, being one of those couples,” Junseo says, and Yoongi chuckles. “I honestly wouldn’t mind biking, but Yoongi threatened me with my life if I made him exert physical effort on a date.”
Yoongi’s jaw drops. “You can’t prove I said that. You have no evidence,” he shoots at Junseo.
“I don’t, but I think it’d be easier to prove that you did than didn’t,” Junseo nudges him playfully. Yoongi rolls his eyes, though a smile curls at his lips.
Yoongi turns his attention back to Namjoon. “Were you biking on the trail?”
“Yeah, I biked to the north bank before coming back around. Gotta take advantage of this weather somehow, right?” Namjoon says. “I just decided to stop here for a short break.”
“Oh!” Junseo exclaims. “If you’re taking a rest, you can feel free to join us if you—”
“No, no, please go back to enjoying your date.” Namjoon rubs the back of his neck, chuckling sheepishly. That’s nice of him, really, but—“I wouldn’t want to third wheel.”
“You wouldn’t be, Joon-ah.” Yoongi shrugs. “All three of us could just hang out for a little.”
“Honestly, it’s fine,” Namjoon says, discomfort tugging at his subconsciousness. He’s suddenly eager to leave for some reason. “I was… actually about to head back up soon.”
Yoongi looks at him for a beat before sighing in resignation. “Okay, okay, if you insist. I’ll see you sometime soon, then?” He slips his hand into Junseo’s, smooth and natural.
“Yeah, of course.” Namjoon says, voice suddenly sounding too loud, bouncing in his head. “It was nice to meet you, Junseo-ssi.”
“You too, Namjoon-ssi.” Junseo smiles kindly.
Namjoon’s eyes linger a bit on the way their hands are tightly intertwined, then he pulls away.
The bike jostles against the ground as he wheels it back to the trail. He feels deeply unsettled, all buzzing electricity and exposed wires. He scrubs a hand down his face as his thoughts race: What the hell was that, why does it feel like this, why am I—
Then, suddenly, he hears a laugh that’s unmistakably Yoongi’s, ringing through the air loud and pure. Namjoon falters in his tracks.
Oh.
He’s never heard Yoongi laugh like that before.
He blinks at the grass beneath his feet, heart hammering. He glances behind him and sees Yoongi’s and Junseo’s retreating figures, tilted into each other’s orbit, grinning at one another. It’s so intimate, too intimate. Uneasiness spreads under Namjoon’s skin, feeling like he’s intruding on something special. Just for the two of them.
There’s an odd twinge in his ribcage that follows him all the way back home.