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“Baby, meet me at our balcony,” the text reads and Namjoon can’t hold back a smile. In a few minutes, he’ll be home with his lover, in the arms of the one who knows him best.
***
Knitting comes easy with Seokjin. The way the fibers intertwine is some kind of metaphor for the tangles in life slowly being woven together by some cosmic power to make sense in the end. Other than that, it is a hobby he picked up over the years of observing his mom and grandmother put smiles on the faces of people they love as they finish making knitted pieces. Even in his current vacation spot, he continues knitting on the balcony, the ocean waves waving at him from a distance.
At the edge of his vision, Seokjin sees a half-naked man emerging from the other balcony. Slowly, he adjusts the way he’s sitting, tilting his body slightly towards the other balcony, trying to get a better glimpse at the person there. For the record, Seokjin is a shy person, but he sure knows not to deprive himself some good sighting.
Said balcony neighbor brings along a book and proceeds to sitting on his balcony too, Seokjin’s staring seemingly unnoticed. The first thing Seokjin notices is the other’s almond eyes, all focused and intent on the reading material. As Seokjin’s eyes wander downward, he notices the good physique the other man has, and he feels his ears having a darker shade of red. He quickly snaps his head away, turning his attention back to his knitting.
But the fast motion does not go unnoticed. The balcony neighbor raises his head from reading, finally acknowledges Seokjin’s existence across him, and shouts out a “hello there”.
Seokjin, being an introvert and being embarrassed from getting caught staring, fights the urge to just ignore the voice and avoid the stranger at all cost. By some unknown force, he decides to stay and respond his own “hi there”.
“I’m Namjoon. How you been here for long?”
“I’m Seokjin. I just got here yesterday, taking a vacation from the busy city life.”
“Tell me about it. I’m also here for a break. Are you knitting? That’s so awesome. I couldn’t knit to save my life.” Namjoon laughs shyly at his confession.
“Yeah, I’ve been doing this for quite some time. An influence from the women of the life, my mother and grandmother.”
“Oh really? My mom likes knitting too.” As if imagining his mother knitting, Namjoon flashes a dimpled smile, making Seokjin more endeared than ever.
“Is she the type to knit sweaters for you, then?”
“Definitely. I go home after the holidays already expecting a box of sweater for me.”
“That’s so sweet of her. I could only do small pieces of knitted stuff. Anyway, what city life chaos are you escaping from?”
“The dreadful life of being a postgraduate student.”
“Oh, really? Can you believe that I just graduated from being a postgraduate student last week?” Seokjin lets out a heavy sigh as some of the hectic days from postgraduate days coming back at him.
“Wow, congratulations to you, Seokjin hyung. Oh wait, is it okay for me to call you hyung?”
Seokjin thinks he could get used to hearing Namjoon call him hyung. The freshness of this feeling captures Seokjin by surprise, and he tries so hard not to smile too hard and probably creep out the younger. He smiles timidly and mutters, “Sure, I’m not particular with formalities, anyway.”
Namjoon sighs in relief, seemingly afraid of crossing the imaginary line of first impressions and conversations. There is a palpable shift in the air between the two as a sudden gust of wind also comes across them, making Namjoon, who is not wearing any shirt on, shiver.
“Maybe you should put on some shirt or a sweater, Namjoon-ah,” Seokjin says after seeing the younger shiver.
Namjoon chuckles, his voice a tone deeper, “All right. Be right back, hyung.”
***
Namjoon and Seokjin stayed up all night talking about this and that, mostly dreadful memories from postgraduate studies. In the middle, Seokjin realizes how much pent-up emotions he tried to suppress to get things done and it is the first time he’s found the courage to let his feelings out.
Namjoon, being new to the postgraduate stress, is grateful to hear that he’s not alone with the anxiety he feels about all of it. And it sure does help getting advice from a handsome graduate. He finds himself not taking his eyes off Seokjin throughout the night.
That morning, Seokjin wakes up while still feeling sleepy. A random flash of gorgeous smile with dimples he wants to poke comes to his mind. He smiles too.
After some minutes of zoning out, he gathers his strength to greet the sun outside, stepping out to the balcony. At the edge of his vision, he notices Namjoon at the other balcony.
Unlike him, the younger seems to be awake for hours now, wet hair and new clothes like he just stepped out of the shower.
“Good morning, hyung. Enjoying the holiday breeze?”
“Good morning, Namjoon-ah. Actually had to force myself to go out and get some morning sunshine before I get the urge to coop myself inside for the whole day.” Seokjin laughs at his confession. And soon, Namjoon is laughing with him.
Namjoon walks closer to Seokjin’s balcony edge and stares at him. “Hyung, I have some emergency back at the city and I need to go back today. I don’t want to be too forward, but I really hope that we could get together some time when we get back to the city. I hope to get to know you better.”
Seokjin looks back at Namjoon’s eyes, drowns in the warmth they give off. “Of course, Namjoon. I’d love that too. Lunch is on me the next time we meet at the city.” This time, Seokjin does not hold back the widest smile he has.
***
The rest, as they say, is history.
Namjoon opens the door to their now shared apartment. Scent of recently cooked food drifts across the room. Up ahead, there is a silhouette of a man standing at the balcony.
Namjoon walks faster. By the time he crosses the door to the balcony, Seokjin has meet him halfway, arms open for the hug he’s been waiting since leaving home that morning.
“Welcome home, baby.”