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Namjoon could feel the familiar knot of excitement and nervousness growing in the pit of his stomach when he turned a corner and reached his final destination. He had been there only once before - the white house with floral curtains at the windows didn’t differ from the other houses in the calm neighborhood, yet Namjoon couldn’t help the pleasant feeling of restlessness spreading through his body at the sight of this particular one. With a few strides, he crossed the freshly mowed lawn before he noticed a boy sitting on the porch steps of the house. His hands were playing with a soccer ball while he watched Namjoon fixedly with his big round eyes. He must have been like ten, twelve max.
“Are you here for Seokjin hyung?”
“Yes, is he-”
“You must be Kim Namjoon then?”
The hostility in the boy’s voice took Namjoon aback a little, but he quickly recovered from the cold tone of what felt like statement rather than actual question. “Um, yes, I am. Where-”
“Aren’t you here a bit early though?” The youngster cut him off and stood up, scrutinizing him now openly from head to toe.
“Better early then late, right?” With a little smile, Namjoon scratched the back of his neck awkwardly as he felt like a bug watched under a microscope. He used to fear the day he would meet Seokjin’s parents, which by coincidence had happened right before their first date. Eventually, it had turned out pretty well, since they were as nice as their eldest son. But somehow, it was this little fetus staring daggers at him now that made him nervous once again like he was about to ask for Seokjin’s hand. “Who are you anyway? Are you Seokjin hyung’s brother? Taehyung?”
Before the Frowny Face could answer, Seokjin himself walked out on the porch. “No, that’s Jungkook, my annoyingly overprotective neighbour.” Seokjin ruffled Jungkook’s hair and went around him to Namjoon, greeting the latter with a peck on a cheek and similarly sweet smile.
Namjoon flashed him his pair of dimples in return, while noticing Jungkook grimacing in disgust. “He’s kind of cute.”
“I’m not!”
Seokjin only rolled his eyes. “Anyway, want to come in? I’ll just put in some contact lenses and we’re good to go, I swear.”
Unlike Seokjin, who always felt self-conscious about his thick glasses, Namjoon actually found the older boy very attractive when the nerdy frames were adorning his face. However, all his attempts to convince Seokjin about this usually got brush off with “You’re supposed to say things like that, but thank you,” accompanied by his characteristic smile.
“Okay, take your time,” Namjoon shrugged, taking off his shoes and then following Seokjin into the kitchen with Jungkook in tail.
Before retreating to the bathroom, Seokjin glared at Jungkook for a moment, pointing his finger at the younger boy warningly. “Kookie, be nice! I mean it!”
“I’m always nice, hyung,” Jungkook sing-songed but as soon as the door clicked behind Seokjin, he turned his head swiftly in Namjoon’s direction. “How old are you?”
“Seventeen.”
“So you are younger than Seokjin hyung. Any siblings?”
“I have a younger sister.”
“Hm,” Jungkook nodded as if the information held some significant meaning. His gaze then landed on the elder’s head. “I don’t like your hair. Why is it white?”
Namjoon chuckled at the endless amount of questions the little guy threw at him. Jungkook seemed to be, in some mysterious way, a funny kid, despite that murderous stare or terrible attitude.
“I bleached it.”
“Dying your hair isn’t good to your scalp and it damages it. Seokjin hyung said that, when Taehyung hyung dyed it orange once.”
“Well, he said I’d look cool with pink hair, though.”
“It’s because pink is his favorite color,” Jungkook stated matter-of-factly. “Do you smoke?”
“I won’t lie, I did try it few times. But no, I don’t smoke.”
“Seokjin hyung hates smoking, because it’s unhealthy and makes people smell terrible.”
A teasing smirk flitted across Namjoon’s face as he took a long look at the boy in front of him. “Do you possibly have like some crush on him or-?”
“What? On Seokjin hyung? Ew, no.”
“Then why are you all Seokjin hyung this and that, while interrogating me like a cop?”
“That’s not true!” Jungkook snapped, the tips of his ears reddening at the accusation. “I care about him since he’s like my older brother. I only want the best for him.”
“You are so cute.”
Jungkook frowned at that, which made him only more lovable. “Stop calling me that, because I’m not. Cute, I mean.”
“If you say so.”
Jungkook cleared his throat to regain his composure. “So what are your plans with Seokjin hyung?”
“Um, we’ll just go grab something to eat and see this band playing downtown tonight.”
“No, I mean generally.”
“You mean like…. in the future?” Namjoon couldn’t help but raised his eyebrows at the kid. “How old are you again? Ten?”
“Thirteen! And answer the question!”
“I don’t know, I like him, but this is like our third date.”
“For your good, I really hope that you’re not messing around with him. If you hurt him, I swear I’ll-.”
“Jungkook! What have I said about minding your business?” Seokjin reappeared out of nowhere, and didn’t hesitate to lightly clip the youngest on the ear, which earned him a little whine and betrayed scowl. “We’re not even related for you to go into this parents slash older brother mode. I can take care of myself.”
“But hyuuung-”
“Don’t hyung me, I’m being serious right now.” Seokjin said shortly, while collecting his phone and keys, and then pulled Namjoon towards the door. “Taetae should be back from his music class in like twenty minutes, you can wait for him here.”
“Hyung…”
After tying his red converse, Seokjin stood up and affectionately pinched his neighbour at the cheek, the irritation at the boy’s behaviour already forgotten. “See you later, Kookie?”
“Okay,” replied the boy meekly.
“Okay,” repeated Seokjin before glancing at Namjoon. “Shall we?”
“Whenever you’re ready.”
Seokjin’s eyes crinkled at the corners like it always did when he was happy, and Namjoon really liked the idea that he was the reason behind those bright grins these days. Without a second thought, he intertwined their hands together as they left the house, now walking down the porch stairs.
“I’m really sorry about whatever Jungkook said or asked. I know very well that sometimes he can be-”
“Don’t worry about that. I think he’s adorable.”
“Again, I’m not, you moron!”
“Jungkook!”
“See? A total sweetheart.”