Work Text:
[1]
April 5, 2013
At the age of 19, Namjoon still thinks that his mind is older. Why? Beyond his IQ of 148, his academics show that he can handle being a student away from his parents and hagwons.
He has managed to complete his first month of university at the Korea National University of Arts while majoring in Music Composition. Although he had originally intended to study business (and his CSAT score was surely enough to get him into one of the SKY universities), he had met fellow underground rapper Gloss who had inspired him to pursue music to the dismay of his parents.
His parents were not exactly supportive of his decision but they agreed that it was his life and he would deal with the consequences. But he has a great scholarship and is making it work in his two-person dorm.
Yes, sometimes he manages to fuck things up (e.g. losing his student ID card and multiple pairs of earbuds) but he still manages to feed himself everyday and go to all his classes while doing academically well. All-in-all, he thinks his university life has been smooth sailing.
Which brings him to the first week of April when he realizes he actually has to do his laundry.
“Namjoonie,” his roommate, current only friend, and Choreography major Jung Hoseok called. “I didn’t want to say anything, but quite frankly you stink.” His face is scrunched up in an expression that can only be called disgust.
Bringing his shirt up to his nose, Namjoon’s face also morphs into a similar one.
Hoseok is definitely the cleaner of the pair, but he is 200% not wrong. Namjoon has managed to escape the hell of laundry this entire time by hand-washing underwear and socks every night but he has finally run out of clothes. Normally he wouldn’t dare put off laundry for so long (he actually did his own when living at home), but he got lost on the way of life and there was always another item to wear.
So yeah, a month had passed.
“Sorry, hyung. I’ll definitely do it today.” Hoseok's mouth makes a familiar heart shape, and Namjoon is relieved that he hasn’t pissed off one of the brightest people to exist.
Piling all his dirty clothes in his laundry hamper (and several trash bags from the sheer quantity), he drags himself to the basement and begins his descent into hell.
✷
In the basement, Namjoon finds the laundry card dispenser as well as the washing machine and dryer.
Quickly realizing he needs to pay with a laundry card, he loads 25,000 won onto the card and buys some detergent from the vending machine. (He should really buy some of his own at the convenience store next time he makes a ramyeon trip--who spends 500 won per detergent pack?)
Since he has a whole month’s worth of clothes, he loads his clothes into four different washers and hopes that other students don’t do their laundry on Friday nights.
Namjoon must have done something right in a previous life because no one else seems to be bothered by his use of the machines and subsequent forgetting to transfer them to the dryers when he gets lost in beats.
It’s only as he is folding piles of clothes that he remembers why he hates doing laundry so much. Namjoon spends way too much time on the task, but Hoseok’s sunny smile encourages him throughout. And with that, Namjoon is convinced that university is not as bad as everyone thinks it is.
That was the end of Namjoon’s smooth university life.
April 20, 2013
Following Hoseok’s lead, Namjoon manages to do his laundry every week which he finds much better for both his social and physical health even if he hates folding it.
“Wasn’t that bag of clothes there last week too?” Hoseok points out when he spies a large garbage bag of clothes sitting underneath the ‘Lost and Found’ table in the basement.
Namjoon’s memory is pretty good (or “damn near perfect” in the words of Hoseok though he humbly disagrees) so he nods along. “What kind of idiot loses a whole bag of clothes?”
The elder shrugs. “Hey, want to go see if the dining hall has jjajangmyeon today?”
“Sure!” and the two head off though Namjoon can’t help but wonder why some of the clothes in the bag had seemed eerily familiar.
April 28, 2013
“Hyung, have you seen my white hoodie?” Namjoon calls out as he tears apart his small closet searching for the item.
Hoseok looks up from his phone and scans their small dorm from his perch on his bed. “Nope.”
Looking underneath his desk and bed, Namjoon finds nothing. The younger whines, “It’s my favorite one,” while the last syllable stretches out into a nasally screech.
His face contorting at the loud and uncomfortable sound, Hoseok then moves off his bed to help in the search for the missing hoodie. After a couple minutes of looking and coming up with some old papers and maybe Namjoon’s porn stash, Hoseok asks, “Well when did you last see it?”
Namjoon frantically runs through all his memories. “Maybe a month ago?”
Hoseok inhales a long breath before replying, “Maybe we should go check the Lost and Found.”
And so the pair find themself at a table with a couple of water bottles and earbuds. His eyes flit over the items before stating the obvious. “It’s not here.” Feeling Hoseok’s glare, the younger quickly replies, “But hey, I think these are the earbuds that I lost two days ago!” His laughs are awkward as they slowly die out.
The glaring doesn’t stop.
Hoseok seems to take a minute to compose himself while taking in the scene. “Wait, isn’t that bag of clothes gone?”
Suddenly it clicks.
“Shit, I knew that bag was familiar!” bringing the side of his fist to meet the palm of his other hand.
Hoseok deadpans. “IQ of 148 my ass. It’s you--you’re the idiot.”
Namjoon turns and his mouth opens to refute, but nothing comes out.
“Let’s just ask the front desk,” Hoseok sighs while bringing his hands to his face. He mutters under his breath but Namjoon can only make out, “What did I do to deserve this?”
✷
“Well, we waited two weeks for the owner to claim it, but they never showed up so we threw it away,” the student front desk worker chirps in an oddly cheery tone.
Namjoon hears Hoseok thank the student (because Namjoon was too antisocial/prideful to ask for help) from across the lobby. Soft footsteps make their way toward him before Namjoon looks up.
“It’s long gone,” Hoseok says grimly. “I can’t believe that you didn’t notice that much of your clothes were missing.”
Namjoon flinches. “At least I noticed that my favorite hoodie wasn’t around!”
“A whole three weeks later.”
Shit, Hoseok really doesn’t hold back when Namjoon fucks up. “Sorry, hyung. Thank you for your help.”
The roommates go up the elevator back to their dorm room in silence.
After calling his parents and a bit of whining (to which Hoseok covers his ears with his large sound-cancelling headphones while working on his general education coursework), Namjoon emerges from underneath his covers.
“I have no need for material possessions,” he proclaims with confidence.
Hoseok looks at him blankly from across the room. “That’s nice,” is the only response Namjoon gets before the other turns back to his laptop.
Namjoon thinks, “Yes, I am definitely mentally older than 19,” as he nods along to his thoughts. Meanwhile, Hoseok wonders if his roommate is insane or a genius.
[2]
September 3, 2014
Life is funny sometimes.
Namjoon is 20 years old and in his second year of university when he is searching for a winter internship at a company. He’s had some luck getting interviews but he never imagined he would run into Gloss again.
After exiting his interview at Big Hit Labels, Namjoon steps out of the elevator and is on his way to exit the building when he bumps into a shorter man with blonde hair and cat-like eyes. The other blinks sleepily at him and starts to move towards the elevator before Namjoon calls out, “Gloss-ssi, is that you?”
Namjoon is pretty good at remembering faces, so while the blonde hair and face mask had thrown him off, he had quickly realized that the other was his favorite underground rapper and sole reason for actually pursuing music as a career.
The blonde tilts his head for a moment before lowering his mask with a long, pretty finger. “Runch Randa-ssi?” His voice is quiet and the last syllable drifts into nothingness.
Namjoon holds back a squeal before bowing enthusiastically. “I’m so glad you remember me. You are my biggest music inspiration, Gloss-ssi.”
Flustered, Gloss glances down while blushing. “Thank you for your kind words. My name is Min Yoongi though. What are you doing here?”
“Ah, my name is Kim Namjoon.” Shit, Namjoon realizes that he should have started with that. “I am trying to get an internship here, Yoongi-sii!”
Thankfully, Yoongi does not notice the other dying from embarrassment. “Ah, I’m an intern here. I can put in a word for you--though I don’t know how much it would help. Kim Namjoon, right?” He brings his fingers to his lips which makes Namjoon realize that the intern speaks with an adorable pout.
“Yes, I’m Kim Namjoon! If you could, that would be amazing.” Namjoon is suddenly energized as his hope for humanity is renewed because a man like Min Yoongi exists.
His smile forces his eyes to close in a heartbreaking manner. “Ah, s’not a problem at all. Want to exchange KakaoTalk IDs?”
Namjoon jumps at the opportunity and thanks his odds that he is born in a time where he can pursue his dreams, have access to technology, and meet Min Yoongi.
With Yoongi having to go work, the two quickly exchange their IDs (and Namjoon is so happy that before starting university he had reset his account so the ID was no longer ‘RapMonster’). “It was nice seeing you again, Namjoon-ssi. Feel free to message me.”
“T-thank you so much Yoongi-ssi!” the younger manages to sputter out.
Yoongi bows and enters the elevator, but as the elevator doors close he calls, “You can call me hyung.”
Lost for words, Namjoon is just thankful that the doors had closed before he had thrown a fist into the air in victory.
October 1, 2014
Namjoon could not help but message him that same night. Hoseok had shaken his head, but Namjoon defended himself. “He’s my idol in the underground rapping scene! The reason I’m here.”
And if Hoseok muttered that he too had been an underground rapper, the younger did not hear it.
As it turns out, Yoongi is a student at Seoul National University (“Wow hyung. You’re really smart!) and he is studying psychology though he wants to do music on the side, hence his internship at Big Hit.
Despite being 22 years old, Yoongi is only in his second year as he had enlisted in the military after his first year of university. Now, he lives in an apartment that he shares with someone he had met in his platoon that is conveniently between their two universities.
Namjoon and Yoongi message consistently and it only increases when he receives the internship offer at Big Hit Label (he had almost immediately accepted).
Yoongi offers for them to go to a noraebang to celebrate and they both invite their roommates. Namjoon is simply excited to speak to his idol in person again, and Hoseok just enjoys the atmosphere of drunk university students belting their lungs out to trot and ballad songs.
Unsurprisingly enough, none of them can really sing except for Yoongi’s roommate Kim Seokjin. Namjoon feels like he should be surprised that Seokjin is freakishly beautiful with his symmetrical face, full lips, and broad shoulders, but maybe the alcohol is getting to him.
As it turns out, Seokjin (“Call me Jin-hyung!”) is also in his second year at Korea National University of Arts but he studies acting which is why they have never met before. Namjoon is confident in this fact since his facial memory is top-notch and it would be way too difficult not to notice one Kim Seokjin.
Somewhere between Hoseok and Yoongi bonding over their duet of Homme’s ‘I Was Able to Eat Well’ (Namjoon is amazed that the duo sound exactly like his uncles) and Seokjin’s beautiful cover of Ra.D.’s ‘Mom’ (Hoseok swears he wasn’t crying), everyone comes to the realization that Namjoon cannot drive.
“It’s been two years,” Seokjin looks shocked. “How could you not get your license?” Hoseok and Yoongi bob bob their heads from their seats on the couch as they sip their soju because apparently it was literally only him that doesn’t have one.
He shrugs. “I never really needed one. I just got around with public transportation and then suddenly I was in university…” his voice trails off.
And maybe it’s because he is a little drunk, but Seokjin vows, “I will teach my adorable dongsaeng!”
While Namjoon is weirded out that he’s a dongsaeng to someone he met 3 hours ago, he figures that the amount of shit shared between them in the walls of this noraebang constitutes more than he had ever shared with his relatives. He smiles with dimples full on display, “Okay.”
October 29, 2014
Seokjin regrets it.
He curses his drunken oath and pleads for help from Yoongi.
“Please Yoongi-yah, I can’t do this anymore. You don’t know what I have been through. I have seen hell and more.” His eyes water perfectly and Namjoon internally wonders if he’s just using his acting abilities to gain sympathy. “I don’t understand how someone so smart can destroy so much,” he pleads. At any moment, it seems like he will fully kowtow to the younger for his assistance.
Hoseok is munching on some shrimp chips on the couch of the elders’ shared apartment. “I really don’t understand how this man has an IQ of 148.”
Head spinning so fast it is almost frightening, Yoongi screeches, “148?” At least Namjoon has the decency to appear ashamed.
The eldest inhales a deep breath and looks at the youngest. “This is how I know that God is fair.”
“Hey, I’m still here!” Namjoon yelps with narrowed eyes.
“Yes, we’re all aware,” Yoongi heaves. “But fine, Seokjin and I will both help teach you.”
Seokjin whimpers while Namjoon buries his face in his hands and wonders why he is like this.
December 12, 2014
Namjoon is… tired.
After about two months and help from both Yoongi and Seokjin (which to their credit are both excellent drivers and decent teachers, though Seokjin cursing at him is reminiscent of his favorite rappers and slightly frightening), Namjoon is about to take his driving test.
He has already aced the written examination having spent the past two hours reading the Korean law and traffic guidelines, but now he must take the driving course and road test.
Having practiced with Seokjin enough, at his prime he could probably pass the driving course.
But Namjoon had an exam today and being the procrastinator he is, he spent the entirety of the night before studying for it and has only three hours of sleep underneath his belt. While he thinks he did alright on his academic exam, he is skeptical about his ability to pass this one. Why did his past self believe that he could take two exams in one day and not fuck things up?
So Namjoon is sitting in the car and following the instructions from the GPS until he gets to the Rear Parking portion of the exam. As he is listening to the instructions, he hears the beep that indicates he should stop but his body doesn’t move as fast as his mind processes it due to his exhaustion. He crosses a line. “Shit, there goes ten points,” he whispers. He tries to go slow but it happens again. And again.
And just like that, Namjoon fails an exam for the first time in his life.
As he exits the testing center, he meets Seokjin, Yoongi and Hoseok who are all waiting for him. He opens his mouth and states, “I failed.”
Seokjin looks at him knowingly. “Yeah, we saw from the window.” Namjoon shoots him an icy glare which the elder avoids.
“You can always try again!” Hoseok yips and tries to comfort him. At least he tried.
But sweet, sweet Yoongi gives the best advice. “Failure is not always a bad thing. At least you had the courage to try. If you want to give up, it’s fine. You are doing just fine with public transportation and you have wonderful hyungs who can help you out.” Namjoon thinks he melts a little as his chest warms at the kind words.
“Or when you’re rich from music production, you can just pay for a chauffeur!” Seokjin offers.
A dimpled smile breaks across Namjoon’s face. “I think it was because I only slept for three hours last night. I could probably pass if I tried again.”
“That’s the spirit.” Hoseok pats his back.
But Namjoon knows a little bit better. “For the sake of world peace, I don’t think I should drive.”
Seokjin nods in agreement and Namjoon wonders about the prospects of a chauffeur.
[3]
May 15, 2015
They have finally completed more than two months of their third year of university and all of them are begging to just graduate already. Having bonded over the previous year, the four friends had moved into a shared apartment together in the same building as the eldests’ previous one.
The atmosphere of Apartment 613 is comfortable and Namjoon wonders if this is what home feels like. All of his hyungs take the time to understand him and Namjoon tries his best to reciprocate.
Surprisingly enough, Kim Seokjin is actually relatively introverted and he was only brazen the first night they had met due to copious amounts of alcohol. Regardless, after getting to know each other and teaching the younger to drive he is more open about his feelings than before. Still, Namjoon does his best to always compliment the eldest in his times of insecurity.
After only two months of living together, Namjoon concludes that Yoongi is a man for all seasons. He is extremely organized and always prepared. Plus, they always talk about music and psychology together and have drunken rambles about deeper philosophical topics than the others.
Hoseok is the same as he always is. A breath of fresh air who adds sunshine to his life when Namjoon is feeling a little down. But Namjoon wishes that the elder would talk about his feelings more instead of wearing a smile on his face when he doesn’t want to. Also, Namjoon really wishes that Hoseok would just sit down and have a beer with him but the choreography student always has “things going on”. Namjoon is not salty at all.
It’s certainly an adventure to have four different personalities living together but they make it work in their small space.
For example, while all four men spend an oddly large amount of time walking around in boxers or briefs, they find time to talk about anything and everything (fishing, philosophy, and music are popular topics) and the others begin to realize that if they start talking to Namjoon past 1 am, they will not be going to bed before 4 am. (One time Hoseok left their shared living room shaking his head wondering what the hell they had spent three hours talking about but accepted his subsequent exhaustion).
With classes starting up again, they were once again busy but they always made time for small parties which either featured lots of food and alcohol or noraebang (and sometimes all of the above). However, Namjoon had never considered the possibility of more chaos in his life. He could hardly imagine having made three friends in university (one of them being from a different university and also his idol), but suddenly two more were thrown his way.
What first began as a monologue as to why Namjoon was ‘normal’ by his own standards quickly turned into something else, as it often does when conversing with him.
“And that is why I think I am mentally older than I really am,” Namjoon concludes.
Seokjin stares at him blankly. “Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night.” And he hopes it does since it is 3 am and he is dying for his beauty sleep.
Suddenly the door to their apartment bursts open and Hoseok barges in with two people trailing after him.
“What the hell are you doing? It’s 3 in the morning and there are people sleeping!” Seokjin screams at the trio. Namjoon suppresses the urge to tell Seokjin that he is, in fact, a hypocrite. Thankfully he has learned better over the past year. “Now kindly introduce your guests.”
A tall, lean boy who could quite candidly be a model bows to them, “Hello, my name is Kim Taehyung. Thank you for letting me into your home.” His voice is deep and richer than Namjoon had expected.
The smaller of the pair who moves with a grace Namjoon will never be able to attain bows next. “I am Park Jimin. Sorry for intruding!” And even his voice is beautiful in the way wind chimes are in autumn.
The residents of Apartment 613 go quiet at the intrusion. Namjoon is uncomfortable with new people, Seokjin is introverted, and Yoongi doesn’t like dealing with unnecessary stress when others can. Thankfully Hoseok breaks the silence, “Jiminie is a dance major that I have been working with and Taehyungie is also an acting major! They are roommates and second years.”
Seokjin perks up. “You’re studying acting too?”
The youngest nods his head modestly. “I’ve seen you in the theater plays and you’re amazing!” he gushes. The two immediately strike up conversation while Namjoon just stares at Yoongi with an odd expression as they both wonder what they should do.
“Are you Gloss and Runch Randa?”
Namjoon and Yoongi both look down as their cheeks flush. Like many other times in his life, Namjoon takes a moment to silently loathe his dark past and wish he had picked cooler names. What was he thinking?
Yoongi is the one who replies, “Yes. Are you a fan?”
“I saw you both perform live once. Life. Changing. I loved it so much,” Taehyung squeals.
Pausing from his conversation with Hoseok, Jimin chirps, “Oh, are these the rappers that you always play on your phone?” Namjoon suddenly sees how the other resembles a baby chick as he takes in his chubby cheeks and yellow hoodie.
Taehyung nods like a bobble head.
With that, all the ice is broken and Namjoon’s life only gets more chaotic.
March 25, 2016
Although Apartment 613 houses four people, there are almost always six people present.
Over the past year, Jimin and Taehyung have become frequent visitors and have also fallen prey to Namjoon’s late night conversations which he thinks that they really enjoy. Typically Namjoon and Taehyung will get into deep conversations about art from books that Namjoon has read and he has never been more thankful for becoming roommates with the epitome of the sun his first year.
Namjoon had taken his time analyzing the two new members before adding them to his chosen family. Now the six of them are almost inseparable (almost to the point of insanity) but Namjoon thinks it’s nice to be around people who know you and want to know you more.
It’s the start of their fourth year of university and tonight is one of those nights when Namjoon is ruminating on how similar he is to a character in the book he had read. He is chaotic neutral and doesn’t understand why the reviewers on reddit believe that the main character was a sociopath.
“And that is when I realized that I could be a sociopath,” he finally concludes to Hoseok who has long become accustomed to this kind of conversation when the door bangs open in a way that can only signify the presence of one Kim Taehyung.
“Good evening, everyone,” he greets. “Today I present to you Jeon Jeongguk. He is a first year filmmaking major and also my partner for a joint project between our classes.” Taehyung makes jazz hands throughout the introduction.
Hoseok claps his hands with excitement. “Welcome to our humble abode!”
The first year enters the apartment dressed in all black and Namjoon gulps. Jeongguk stares at them blankly and his doe eyes rove over Namjoon’s body. Namjoon ponders why on earth the filmmaking major is fitter than a dance major. Who the hell did Taehyung invite to their home ?
That is the moment when Namjoon realized he was in boxers (his usual state). “Thighs,” is all Jeongguk says in a melodic voice.
“Err, sorry. I’ll go put on pants,” Namjoon announces in order to ease the tension in the room when suddenly that melodic voice screams.
“I love it here! Are all sunbae like this?”
Namjoon is positive that his life is going to become more chaotic from now on.
July 20, 2016
Following the end of the first semester, Seokjin decides he wants to throw a party to celebrate everyone’s hard work. Unfortunately, he has a shift at the cafe today (he is a barista and while his good looks get him pretty good tips, he still hates his job).
Thus, Seokjin assigns Namjoon the task of ensuring the meat is defrosted and ready for Seokjin to cook once he gets back home.
So, he spends a grueling 4 hours at his job with a meager lunch break when he suddenly feels his phone buzz. Puzzled, he pulls it out wondering who could be texting him (it’s usually Jimin but he knows that the younger is busy tutoring some high school students today).
A quick glance identifies it as Namjoon and dread fills him immediately. Namjoon only ever texts him when he breaks something or he’s done something terribly wrong in the kitchen. Or both.
To: Kim Seokjin
Hey, Jinnie-hyung... I have a weird question
Do you mind if I use your hair dryer?
Received at 1:42 pm
The sigh that Seokjin lets out is enough for his coworker to side-eye him. It’s just Namjoon taking an interest in styling his hair beyond wax for once. Seokjin eagerly texts the younger back while adding in the location of the hair dryer to prevent the younger from destroying his room.
From: Kim Seokjin
weird… but go for it ig
its in the third drawer in my room
Sent at 1:45 pm
To: Kim Seokjin
Thanks, hyung!
Received at 1:46 pm
Satisfied with the results, Seokjin tucks his phone back into his back pocket and continues making coffees and shakes, flashing smiles at whoever glances at him in hopes of getting tips (or at least a compliment).
But then he feels a second buzz.
To: Kim Seokjin
Don’t yell at me
Received at 2:00 pm
Shit, what did Namjoon do this time? Should he leave early?
From: Kim Seokjin
why
WHAT DID YOU DO?
Sent at 2:02 pm
Nibbling his nails, he glares at his phone in hopes that it would make the younger reply faster. Why now?
To: Kim Seokjin
I accidentally flooded the kitchen
Received at 2:03 pm
From: Kim Seokjin
WHATTTTT?
Sent at 2:03 pm
Seokjin lets out a screech that causes everyone in a three meter radius to stare at him. He also pushes a hot coffee at a customer way too quickly. He immediately bows from his position behind the counter, “Sorry, sorry.” The female before him flinches back but accepts the apology when she sees his face.
To: Kim Seokjin
Don’t worry, I fixed it!
Everything is drying now
And the meat is all defrosted!
Received at 2:05 pm
Fuck, he knew that he shouldn’t have trusted Namjoon with the task. Is this his fault? What did he do in a previous life to deserve this? Never again.
From: Kim Seokjin
wut
HOW EVEN????
Sent at 2:05 pm
To: Kim Seokjin
I’m never going water to defrost again
Ever.
I’m done with that
Received at 2:06 pm
Seokjin stares at his phone, bewildered. What the hell did he do with the water?
To: Kim Seokjin
You should have seen me scrambling
The drawers were full of water
It was a disaster
Received at 2:06 pm
From: Kim Seokjin
is everything okay?
r we going to have to pay property damages?
Sent at 2:07 pm
To: Kim Seokjin
I think everything is fine
There’s just the drawer
Received at 2:07 pm
His mind is instantly filled with terrible images of what happened to the drawer. He sees moldy wood and holes that would no doubt be costly. Will he have to pick up more shifts at this shithole of a job?
From: Kim Seokjin
WHAT ABOUT THE DRAWER?
Sent at 2:07 pm
To: Kim Seokjin
Well… the wood is peeling a bit
Received at 2:08 pm
That’s not helpful at all.
From: Kim Seokjin
send me a pic!!!
Sent at 2:08 pm
To: Kim Seokjin
Attached: [318.png]
Received at 2:10 pm
Seokjin slouches against the coffee machine in relief. “I think I lost years off my life.”
His poor coworker just sends him more looks as she takes another order.
From: Kim Seokjin
oh… thats not so bad
i think yoongi can fix it with glue
Sent at 2:11 pm
To: Kim Seokjin
Oh, thank god
Received at 2:12 pm
From: Kim Seokjin
just… how did you not notice sooner?
wtf were you doing?
Sent at 2:13 pm
To: Kim Seokjin
I noticed it in 30 min
And it had only been 30 min!
Water is dangerous
Received at 2:14 pm
Seokjin wonders if he can slap someone through the phone. Someone should really invent that.
✷
“And this is what I have to deal with on a daily basis!” Seokjin screams at the group before him. Yoongi is curled up in a ball on the couch next to Jimin while Jeongguk’s head is nuzzled into Hoseok’s shoulder. Taehyung is in his usual position on the floor between Jeongguk’s legs.
Everyone allows him to vent since they have also been in this situation before.
“Can you believe the things I had imagined throughout this?”
Yoongi and Hoseok try to reason with the eldest but somehow it just brings out more of Namjoon’s dark checkered past.
It’s basically a roasting session while the maknae-line listen intently and clap their hands as they gather new blackmail material.
“Is this ‘Roast-Namjoon Day or something? I’m still here!”
“We know,” six voices chime at Namjoon.
Namjoon stomps his feet and whines, “Well let me explain my side of the story at least!”
Start of Namjoon’s Unreliable Narration of July 20, 2016
“Okay, I bought a shitload of meat two weeks ago and froze it in a blue plastic bag. Just make sure you defrost it by 5 pm!” Seokjin instructs that morning at 8 before he heads off to his job as a barista.
Namjoon is lying in his bed as the eldest has woken him from his short sleep, but he nods nonetheless. Seems easy enough.
Confident in Namjoon’s ability to follow simple instructions, Seokjin exits the apartment in stride.
Burrowing back into his duvet, Namjoon loses himself in dreams.
He wakes at 12 pm.
Dragging his koala slippers to the kitchen, he yawns and searches for food to eat. Settling for ramyeon, he eats with bleary eyes as something nags at his brain.
“Was I supposed to do something?”
At 1 pm he realizes.
“Shit, I need to defrost the meat!” Namjoon sprints from his room as Hoseok eyes him from his seat on the couch where he was messaging someone.
Pulling the meat from the freezer, Namjoon almost drops the frozen brick from how cold it is. It’s also huge. How will it defrost in 4 hours?
His mind spins as he quickly places the bag in the sink and runs hot water over it. “This will ensure the highest amount of heat transfer,” he declares.
Hoseok shakes his head and stands. “I’m just going to go to a park or something…”
Namjoon waves him off as he observes the meat. Seeing the frozen block, he decides to leave the water running while he works on some music in his room. “I’m such a genius.”
✷
With his large headphones on (because he lost one too many pairs of earbuds and the group had pitched in to gift him with the pair that he couldn’t possibly lose for his most recent birthday), he jams out to his song when he remembers he is thirsty. Koala slippers on once again, he meanders to the kitchen.
Getting a water bottle from the fridge and sipping lightly, Namjoon glances around the apartment when he realizes something is terribly wrong. There’s a huge puddle of water on the floor that almost reaches the living room.
The sink is overflowing!
“Fuck.”
How the hell did he not notice the sound of water overflowing? Namjoon begins to blame those headphones (even though they are really nice).
Namjoon goes to the sink and turns off the faucet. What could have caused this? But then he sees the blue bag (the contents now completely defrosted) blocking the drain.
Curse his brilliance. He didn’t know the meat could defrost that quickly!
Moving the bag to the side, Namjoon drains the sink. “How do I clean up all this water?” he ponders aloud.
He runs to his room and grabs all of his towels and linens before draping them all over the puddles of water. Thankfully he has enough to soak up the water and he doesn’t need to use any clothes (his wardrobe had never really recovered from his Mistake of 2013™).
At that moment, Hoseok returns from his adventure and walks straight to his room. Did he not notice the problem or did he just not want to deal with it? Namjoon likes to think it was the prior but deep down he knows it was the latter considering he heard, “This doesn’t suit my aura.” The door slams shut.
Once the water had been absorbed and the linens wringed out as best as possible, he surveys the kitchen when his ears pick up on the sound of dripping water. “Where the hell is that coming from?”
His eyes then fall to the cupboards and drawers. “Shit.”
Opening the cupboards, he finds there is minimal water there and makes quick work to wipe them dry with a dishrag.
But of course there are the drawers. The moment he opens a drawer, he finds that the wooden spatulas are floating. “Fuck.”
He empties the contents of each drawer and dumps the water into the sink muttering, “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” under his breath. Finally done, he leans his back against the fridge.
“How do I clean this so no one realizes?”
Hair dryer.
Namjoon pulls at his hair as he thinks about who has a hair dryer in the apartment who wouldn’t question him about it.
Kim Seokjin .
Pulling out his phone, he frantically messages Seokjin.
Thankfully the eldest doesn’t question his intentions and even gives him directions. So Namjoon pulls the hair dryer out and brings it to the kitchen where he almost short circuits the outlet but eventually figures it out.
Sp with the help of Seokjin’s hair dryer, Namjoon dries each drawer while reading a novel on his phone. “I’m such a genius.”
Having cleaned the kitchen to the best of his ability, Namjoon accepts that he now must inform the group about the incident. But he doesn’t want to upset Yoongi and he’s sure Hoseok already knows so it’s Seokjin once again.
He musters up all of his courage before drafting the message. It takes him a full 5 minutes but it’s worth it. “You can do this, Namjoon,” he encourages himself throughout the conversation.
Following the conversation with Seokjin, he heaves a huge sigh of relief. Thank goodness the elder hadn’t actually been present or his scary rap-scream would have made a reappearance. Namjoon scrutinizes the drawers one last time and announces, “There’s no possible way anyone could notice this!”
Suddenly a lean, pale hand is reaching out and picking up one of the drawers.
A strange sound escapes him as Namjoon whips his head around only to find the man for all seasons: Min Yoongi. With lips in a pout, Yoongi glues the loose wood back into place on the drawer. “Hyung, is that industrial glue?”
Yoongi glances at him with sleepy eyes. “Yes, I always have some for emergencies.”
Namjoon can’t really think of anything to say. He really wants to boop that nose. “Thanks, hyung.”
He receives a full smile with teeth and gums on display.
If only his previous fanboying self could see him now.
At 5 pm on the dot, Seokjin flings the door open and inspects the damage.
“It’s not as bad as I thought it would be.”
Chuckling awkwardly with a hand behind his head, Namjoon replies, “See, I told you it’s fine. Plus, Yoongi already glued the drawer back together. Just don’t go into the bathroom.”
Immediately he regrets his loose lips.
Seokjin stomps over to the bathroom to find no less than four linens hanging from the shower rod sopping wet. “You need to wring them out!”
He holds his hands out in defense. “I tried!”
“Well try harder!”
And with that Seokjin exits (most likely to take a beauty nap in his room).
After 15 minutes of struggling, Namjoon emerges from the bathroom with sore forearms and finds Seokjin surrounded by the rest of the group in the living room.
End of Namjoon’s Unreliable Narration of July 20, 2016
“And that’s what happened!” Namjoon concludes. “See, everything is fine. I cleaned everything up and Yoongi fixed the drawer. I bet you all didn’t even notice!”
Hoseok looks at him. “You are so lucky that there were no actual damages. Also, the bathroom speaks for itself.”
Namjoon opens his mouth to retort but he’s interrupted by Seokjin’s rap-like tone.
“Look at what he texted me! What the hell was I supposed to do with this? In the midst of my shift I was freaking out,” Seokjin complains as he scrolls through his texts and forces each person to read the conversation. “I almost spilled hot coffee over a customer.”
Jimin scrolls through enthusiastically. “Namjoon-hyung, you need to learn not to break things.”
Staring at his koala slippers, Namjoon cannot come up with anything. “I’m just not going to say anything because it would all be an excuse.”
Jeongguk whistles as he reads the conversation. “There’s no reasonable excuse.”
So the group spends a solid thirty minutes shaming Namjoon before Seokjin decides he needs to cook.
Namjoon sulks in his room for ten minutes before he decides that he will never let this mistake happen again. He will 100% just leave the meat to defrost in the refrigerator or on the counter. No more water.
He can’t go through this again.
Ever.
✷
A usual sight greets him when he sees Seokjin standing before piles of meat and vegetables. The other five are chilling in the living room and playing Mario Kart.
“Hey guys, why don’t you help Jin-hyung with the food?” Namjoon calls them out. He shouldn’t be the only one suffering today.
Taehyung retorts from between Jeongguk’s legs, “Why don’t you?”
Namjoon deadpans and points at himself in an obvious manner. Taehyung’s eyes widen comically large before he remembers the previous Disaster of 2015™. “Oh yeah…”
Shaking his head, Jimin asks, “Yoongi-hyung, why don’t you help?”
Everyone looks at Jimin for a couple of seconds before Hoseok is the brave one. “Yoongi-hyung cooks?”
“Yea, he always makes me tonkatsu when I ask!” Jimin chirps as his eyes close into crescents.
Namjoon always had a gut feeling about Yoongi’s gaze towards the younger but this is the biggest confirmation he has ever gotten. He is tempted to give Yoongi a thumbs-up.
“I lived with you for three and a half years and I didn’t know this! The betrayal,” Seokjin hisses.
Yoongi quickly moves to the kitchen to help. Jimin can’t help but add on, “Yea, he texts to invite me over for food!”
Seokjin glares scathingly, “I don’t even get a text ! What the hell is this friendship.”
“You’re my one and only Jin-hyung. The person I go to for comfort,” Yoongi tries to appease the eldest. Namjoon doesn’t know why but it kind of works because Seokjin’s eyes soften.
Trying to break the tension, Taehyung points out, “Jeonggukie isn’t a bad chef either! He makes really good glazed sweet potatoes!”
Jeongguk pauses from playing the game which causes his Rosalina to crash into a chain chomp. “What?” he asks innocently with wide doe eyes.
Everyone eyes the youngest. It’s not like no one suspects his feelings for Taehyung but he should really try to hide it better (even if Taehyung is oblivious).
Seokjin’s glare is enough to have the youngest moving out of his seat, kicking Taehyung in his haste. (There’s a hiss and a “Sorry, Taehyungie-hyung!”)
Jimin decides to help with the vegetables and Hoseok cheers from the sides for moral support.
Taehyung and Namjoon glance at each other at the same time and evidently reach the same conclusion. “Yea… better not.”
Namjoon wishes that he was gifted in the kitchen. At least the group agrees.
[4]
December 17, 2016
It’s the start of the last winter vacation he will ever have at university. And Namjoon has a secret.
Or rather, Namjoon has a secret weakness. Documentaries.
Now, he does indeed like reading and between his hard-copy books and the epubs he keeps on his phone for on-the-go reading, he probably reads more than any university student should. But with books he can just stop after a chapter. Yes, sometimes he gets lost and it becomes more and more chapters but he can at least stop (he thinks).
But documentaries though.
With documentaries, Namjoon gets lost in the rabbit hole that is YouTube’s related videos. Not to mention the Autoplay button is dangerous.
He has learned so much from them though. Namjoon devours anything he can get his hands on in documentaries. What first started as a dive into Korean sexism (Namjoon feels very inadequate and vows to do more research) turns into an adventure of learning about the transgender community.
The documentaries continue until 6 in the morning when Namjoon realizes he really needs to sleep in order to function the next day. Seokjin has announced a party at an actual restaurant that night (Namjoon wonders the reason but chooses not to question it for the sake of good food).
So Namjoon finds himself sitting in a strangely nice gogigui restaurant that makes him wonder if he should have worn trousers instead of jeans but it’s too late now. The table has piles of meat surrounding the grill and Namjoon sits back and lets Seokjin and Yoongi take the lead for grilling.
“Thank you all for joining me this fine evening,” Seokjin starts. “Today we celebrate the fact that I, Kim Seokjin also known as Worldwide Handsome,” he winks, “have finally been casted as a character in a drama!”
Namjoon’s mouth drops open while the others also take a moment to process the information. Then Seokjin is covering his red ears from all the compliments and congratulations he is receiving.
“Yah, it’s not that surprising! I’m a great actor,” he proclaims though his ears are still a glowing red at the tips.
Jeongguk stands from his seat. “Jin-hyung, you are amazing. Let’s toast!”
And because Jeongguk “forgot his ID”, he is forced to toast with banana milk since they are at a restaurant. He pouts but everyone is well aware that he likes the banana milk more.
As they continue grilling the meat and eating with lettuce and perilla leaves, Taehyung is the one who asks, “So why did you get the part now if you were an extra before?”
Seokjin clicks his tongue. “Let’s just say the original actor is having a gender reveal party soon.” He looks at them with knowing eyes.
Everyone else oohs at that gossip but Namjoon is confused by what that means.
“But you’re replacing a female?” Hoseok voices aloud.
Seokjin chuckles. “They were always rather androgenous to begin with. And the director and producer are fine with me filling the role.”
Then it clicks in Namjoon’s head. His mind flashes to the gender reveal party of a transgender person he had seen in a documentary that morning. “A gender reveal party? In Korea? That’s amazing!”
Most of the group wear confused expressions but Yoongi looks at him calmly. “It certainly is more common in the west.”
Nodding in agreement, Namjoon continues, “I wonder where they are from. And how is their family coping with it?” More awkward glances.
Seokjin pauses and thinks for a moment. “Well I don’t think they are particularly happy about it given the circumstances.”
Namjoon nods with understanding. Having a transgender child really is hard to accept in South Korea. “Must be difficult,” he hums.
The topic comes to a close while the group continue their celebration with soju (and banana mlk) as they consume lots of meat. Their bill is ridiculously high but Seokjin pays since he had offered the day before. (“I am a man of my word!”)
December 19, 2016
“It’s so cool that someone is having a gender reveal party here in South Korea!” Namjoon exclaims to Taehyung at 1 in the morning, his hands moving emphatically.
The rest of the group are asleep (Jimin and Jeongguk are passed out on the couch) so Namjoon thinks he can bring up the topic comfortably. Namjoon is 92% confident that Taehyung is gay (the boy is always humming MIKA’s ‘Good Guys’) and he knows for a fact that he has done drag and liked it so Namjoon figures that Taehyung must have an opinion on the subject.
But Taehyung just stares at him. “I mean it’s not that weird. I think lots of people are having them these days with social media and everything.”
Namjoon is even more bewildered. “That’s amazing! What is the community like here? Are they being supported?”
“Supported? I guess… If they’re married, I think most people are fine with it.”
“Married?” Namjoon can’t help that his forehead wrinkles when he is confused. Taehyung gapes at him like he’s from outer space.
“Namjoon, what is so weird about pregnant women announcing the gender of their child?”
He stops. “Pregnant women?”
Taehyung continues gawking at him with wide eyes. “What did you think we’ve been talking about?”
Namjoon taps his index fingers together. “A transgender reveal party…”
“Why in the hell would we be talking about that?”
Trying to defend himself, Namjoon reveals his dark secret. “I was watching a documentary last night about it and they had a gender reveal party. I thought it was super cool and progressive.”
“So the entire time we were having the conversation and you were asking questions, you didn’t realize it was for a baby?” Taehyung stares at Namjoon like he thinks the elder is crazy. And maybe he is.
“But if it’s about a baby, why would they have a gender reveal party? Why does the gender of a baby even matter? Boys and girls are equal,” Namjoon argues as his voice escalates.
Taehyung bobs his head with more energy than he should this late into the night. “You’re not wrong.”
Namjoon hates litotes. Why won’t the other just affirm him? “I hate how people restrict children because of gender,” he makes air quotes around gender. “Not to mention people might change their genders in the future!”
“There’s also non-binary!” Yoongi screams in agreement from his room. He was awake?
Somehow the three of them end up talking late into the night. Namjoon is amazed that the other two are actually agreeing with each other for once.
“Do you guys watch 60 Minutes Australia on YouTube?” Namjoon asks around 5 in the morning.
Yoongi's signature cat-like eyes blink at him heavily with sleep. “You spent the night watching documentaries.”
Namjoon can’t hide much from his idol so he hangs his head down.
“You’re lucky we love you.”
And Namjoon is so thankful for it.
[+1]
February 2, 2017
It’s the end of their final year of university and Namjoon can’t wait to just graduate. He just has the comprehensive exam standing in the way of his Bachelor’s degree.
And then there’s Seokjin.
“Eomma, you can’t come. I have a shooting for my drama that day so I won’t be able to go to my graduation,” Seokjin tells his mother on the phone. His voice is calm and steady but Namjoon can see the gleam of unshed tears gathering in his eyes.
“It’s fine, Eomma! I’m fine.” He pulls his phone away from his ear as his mother is evidently screaming. Namjoon winces for him. “My drama is going great and it’s getting pretty good reviews.”
From his spot on the loveseat, Namjoon nods. He secretly records every episode and watches them with the others when Seokjin is out.
Seokjin continues speaking with his mother and Namjoon watches as his hands move in large gestures. How does he avoid breaking things? Namjoon sighs with envy.
After Seokjin hangs up, Namjoon points out the elephant in the room. “So you’re not coming to our graduation. Your own graduation?”
His head moves from side to side slowly. “No, I’m scheduled to film that day and I’m far too embarrassed to ask the director.”
Namjoon tries to comfort the elder. “I thought you said that if we all bring our embarrassment together, it will become confidence?”
“Not this time,” Seokjin murmurs so low that Namjoon can hardly hear it. And with that, Namjoon knows that the conversation is over.
Or not.
Which is why Namjoon finds himself at Seokjin’s filming set accompanied by the sunshines of his family. Namjoon is fairly confident in his ability to make a compelling argument but he is too socially awkward to start the conversation.
Enter Kim Taehyung and Jung Hoseok.
Taehyung exudes confidence and Hoseok is so bright it hurts to look at him for too long. They will break down the director first before Namjoon enters the fray. Also, Namjoon has firsthand knowledge that there is nothing more frightening than these two when provoked enough. Plus, Hoseok claims that his eyes are weapons. Namjoon doesn’t think he’s lying.
So the trio somehow sashay into the building, meet the director and crew, and convince them to switch Seokjin’s scenes to the following day (respectfully).
To be honest, Namjoon doesn’t really know how they did it.
He just remembers an excess of puppy dog eyes and the promise that Taehyung (and his wonderful model-like features) will be an extra free-of-charge in some scenes. Hoseok’s sunny disposition didn’t hurt either. Namjoon had hardly said two sentences before the director was agreeing.
He considers it a win.
Thus, Namjoon orchestrates a huge plan for Seokjin to attend their graduation and keeps it a secret from the eldest.
“Yoongi-hyung, call Jin-hyung’s parents and tell his family to come to the graduation ceremony.” The elder blinks in acknowledgment before pulling out his phone and entering his room.
“Jimin, order a cake!” The cake fairy stands with purpose and moves to do so. He’s in the midst of pulling on his shoes when Namjoon recalls critical information. “Wait, remember it has to be chocolate. Jin-hyung said ‘it’s either chocolate or nothing’!”
And if Jimin’s mouth falls open into a way that resembles a chick, Namjoon doesn’t mention it. Yoongi on the other hand, who has returned to the room having efficiently completed his task, stares with a similar expression while swallowing nothing.
It’s really obvious when Jimin catches his mistake (he was probably going to get a fruit cake) because he immediately smirks while pointing at them before running out the door to their favorite bakery.
“Jeongguk!”
“Huh?” spills from the youngest’s mouth as he looks up from his photography session of sleeping Taehyung. “Errr… you’re in charge of buying alcohol since you’re finally of age.”
Jeongguk stands up before doing a small happy dance, nose scrunched up from happiness. “I won’t let you down, hyung,” is all he gets before the youngest is removing his bunny slippers and pulling on his large stompers and running out the door.
Namjoon surveys the room with his hands at his hips. “I’m so good at surprising people.”
He saunters into his bedroom, speaking to himself unconsciously. “Jin-hyung is going to be so happy. I can’t wait.”
Hoseok is on his way to get his daily Sprite from the kitchen when he hears Namjoon muttering to himself again. He gasps (thinking it was a ghost) and brings a hand to his chest before he realizes, “Oh, it’s just Namjoonie again.”
February 12, 2017
The day of graduation is finally here and the entire friend group is dressed in suits to attend the graduation ceremony (or a ‘scene’ in Seokjin’s case).
It doesn’t seem real to Namjoon.
Namjoon has spent the better part of the past four years begging to graduate already. It’s been utter chaos and not smooth sailing at all but he’s made so many memories and learned so much. Yet suddenly graduating is terrifying.
At 23 years old, Namjoon is finally ending his academic life which is all he’s known since the age of 6. Can he only ever be successful as a student? Will he be able to live his dream as a music producer?
Sure, Yoongi always reassures him that dreams aren’t all that important but Namjoon wants it. He craves it with his very being and fears for who he is without it.
Big Hit Labels (the location of his first internship) has offered him a position as a producer but is that enough? Will he be enough?
And the clock is already ticking for him to enlist in the military. Shit, he doesn’t think he can do that either.
But he tries not to focus on any of the negative thoughts running through his head on what should be one of the greatest days of his life.
His chosen family all stare at each other with varying degrees of excitement. Jimin has openly flowing tears as all four of his hyungs are graduating at once. Meanwhile, Yoongi is quietly staring at the ceiling to prevent any spillage even though they had all attended his graduation ceremony the day before (there were many tears from all parties).
Hoseok is of course the one who has his shit together. “Come on guys. We all have to get going if we’re going to be on time!”
Namjoon and Yoongi share a knowing look before the elder offers, “Jin-hyung, why don’t we drop you off at the studio?”
Seokjin pretends to consider his options (he doesn’t really have many) before he agrees.
The seven of them pile into Yoongi’s seven-seater Toyota van (“No, I didn’t buy this specially for you guys. I bought it because it was cheap!”) and immediately start speaking with Seokjin to distract him from noticing their surroundings.
Conversations move between jokes, fishing, and even some rapping until they finally arrive at their destination: their graduation ceremony. They efficiently exit from the car when Seokjin seems to realize that they are not at his usual studio.
“Wait, where the hell are we?”
The other six don’t meet his eyes and instead look at the floor or sky.
“Shit, I’m really getting kidnapped, huh? I always knew that being handsome would be my downfall.”
Silence.
“That’s it. Friendship. Revoked. No wonder I don’t have any real friends,” the eldest spits out.
Jimin is the one that breaks. “Hey!”
“What do you mean, ‘hey’? This is fucking illegal. You ungrateful dongsaengs!” Seokjin roared.
So they are no longer friends but are still dongsaengs? Maybe Namjoon should find it weird that his chest is filled with the warmth of a fireplace in winter but he doesn’t care. He really feels the love.
“Yah, I’m supposed to be in a scene in 30 minutes,” Seokjin screams with flailing arms.
“Actually, you’re not,” Jimin says cheekily.
“What do you mean? What the hell did you do this time?”
Namjoon can’t meet his eyes but thankfully Taehyung takes the lead. “We talked to your director and your scene has been shifted to tomorrow! Surprise!” He claps his hands with his forearms pressed together.
And Worldwide Handsome’s gaping mouth doesn’t deter much from his beauty. “You guys did that? For me?” Now the tears are really falling. “I have such wonderful dongsaengs.”
Namjoon smiles. He knew he was great at giving gifts and surprises.
“Who organized all this?” His grin disappears.
Suddenly five index fingers are pointing at him and Namjoon immediately zones in on a fossil that is embedded within the cement of the sidewalk. He’s shy, okay!
He releases a whoosh of air before he answers. “I know you said that you were fine with missing graduation but we are not. So we did all this so you could be here and your family could see their second son graduating.”
The others bob their heads in agreement.
Tears swell in Seokjin’s eyes again and Namjoon starts to panic because he really can’t handle seeing the eldest cry because of him. “Hyung-”
“You guys are the best brothers I have ever had,” Seokjin wails. He takes the handkerchief offered by Yoongi (who is prepared as always) and dabs at his tears without disturbing the makeup on his face.
Everyone dopily grins at each other before Hoseok gets their shit together. “Guys, if we actually want to graduate we should probably check in and line up!”
And with that the four elders are rushing to the check-in while the others wander into the stands looking for familiar faces to sit with.
Namjoon never knew that he could smile so wide until he is posing for a photo with his family (both blood and chosen) and his degree in hand.
✷
After the celebratory dinner with all their respective families, the group find themself once again gathered in Apartment 613 which has been Namjoon’s home for two years.
They stand around their apartment living room and give toasts to each other in congratulations.
“You all are leaving me with this pair of troublemakers,” Jimin jokes while pointing at Taehyung and Jeongguk with his glass. “I’m so jealous that you’re going to go and work, while I’m stuck here with that . Don’t forget me when you’re famous.”
Jeongguk obviously takes offense. “What do you mean? You and Taehyung-hyung are literally soulmates. Hyungs, you’re leaving me to be a third wheel for a whole year by myself. Plus, I’ll be alone in my final two years!”
“I think we’re going to be fine!” Taehyung says optimistically with a boxy grin, wrapping his arms around Jimin and Jeongguk’s shoulders.
“Taehyung-ah, Jin-hyung and Yoongi-hyung are the ones who always feed us,” Jimin says in monotone.
The younger immediately changes his mind. Dropping his arms and bringing his palms together, he pleads. “Please don’t leave us! I can’t do it alone. Who will help me with my acting? Who is going to talk to me at 2 in the morning when I’m stressed? Who will give me cuddles?”
Jeongguk’s face reveals his obvious annoyance at Taehyung’s comments.
Seokjin stares at the young ones, fully suspecting that Jimin will actually be the third wheel in their shared apartment but decides not to comment. “Actually, I have an audition for a drama with a famous director coming up. Wish me luck!”
He is received with lots of “fighting!” before he continues. “I know I joke a lot about how we’re not friends, but they really are just jokes. You guys are the brothers that I raised on my back.” They all look at him doubtfully. “Thank you for appearing in my life.” He gives them two thumbs-up.
Yoongi is next and he keeps it short and to the point in his usual style. “Sometimes I think that it was fate or something that brought us all together. I’m so grateful that I got to know you all.”
Trying to calm his tears, Hoseok manages to sputter out, “I love you guys. I love us. Let’s be friends forever,” before he falls apart into a series of sobs that burst out of his chest.
Namjoon gestures his arms for a group hug and as they huddle he starts, “I know that we have only known each other for three years.” He flinches when Jeongguk pinches his side. “And some of us even less.”
“But I just want you to know that I consider you my family. I’ve never been more grateful to have met you all. Thanks for putting up with my bullshit all this time. I’ll do my best to do better in the future.” Namjoon tastes the saltiness of tears he hadn’t known he was crying. “Thank you for giving me the home I never had.”
Someone sobs (Namjoon thinks it is Yoongi who is adamant that he will not cry).
The seven of them drink late into the night while singing karaoke and laughing at nothing. In the back of his mind, Namjoon knows that he will soon start his job as an official producer. And he will have to enlist soon. He used to be scared, but now that he knows he has a home to come back to, he thinks that he’s ready.
Look out world, here comes Namjoon.
✷
In Yoongi’s bedroom, Yoongi and Jimin are sitting on the elder’s bed with their hands lightly touching. Yoongi inspects the way his larger pale hands seem to engulf the younger’s smaller chubby ones. “Are you okay with being alone for the next year?”
Jimin gazes at him with hooded lids. “I won’t be alone! I have Taehyungie and Ggukkie.” His eyes disappear into the crescents that seem to always be present when he sees Yoongi.
Yoongi looks at him with furrowed eyebrows while pouting adorably. “I don’t mean that.” He intertwines their fingers.
“You know.”
Nodding sleepily, Jimin lays his head against Yoongi’s shoulder in a cuddle.
“I know.”
✷
Taehyung and Jeongguk are huddled on the couch where Taehyung rests his head on the younger’s stomach as they fall asleep in a cuddle. Namjoon debates whether he wants to groan in disgust or coo at their blatant affection.
Hoseok is sitting on the loveseat and ignores the scene. Evidently, he is more interested in messaging someone on his phone.
His mouth is morphed into a heart as he crafts his message, and Namjoon can’t help but wonder when Hoseok will tell them about his partner. He’s been texting them since their first year, but Namjoon is patiently waiting for the elder to be comfortable enough to tell them.
Namjoon gazes at his ex-roommate and first university friend until the other finally looks at him. “What’s up, Namjoonie?”
“Hyung, I just wanted to let you know that I’m always here for you. No matter what.”
Hoseok’s sunny smile shines on him.
“Okay, Namjoon.”
✷
When everyone else is asleep, Namjoon is sharing soju with Seokjin in the kitchen.
“And that is why I am mentally older than I really am,” Namjoon concludes in partial english. He has not yet realized, but the foreign language has a tendency to appear when he is under the influence of alcohol. “It’s also why I would be a fantastic protagonist of a story.”
Seokjin sips his soju before he chuckles. “You definitely are.”