Ch.47
It took ten minutes for Hoseok and you to agree on a brown. Whenever you chose one that you thought would look nice, he said it wouldn't compliment her skin tone. He shot down most of the ones you chose. Sometimes he wouldn't even tell you why and just gave you a look. It made you feel embarrassed for even looking at caramel brown as an option. Finally, he accepted the color you grabbed randomly because you were tired. Not only were you sleepy but you also ran here with all you had in you. Hoseok smiled widely as he took the dye and left with the purchased item with you.
He's a joy, but right now you were drained of energy. Since it was night and hard to see past twenty feet, Hoseok refused to let you walk home alone. It was too dark and scary for a girl to walk alone. That's what he said in hopes to convince you to follow him over to Namjoon's house. At this point, you might just ask Namjoon if you can stay over again. You got too lazy to decline his request and Namjoon's house was just a few blocks away. Maybe you could just rest up a little bit there and then one of the boys can take you home later. That sounded nice.
Hoseok opened Namjoon's front door without a care. He made sure to loudly announce his presence. Namjoon was sitting at the kitchen table, looking at his phone with a bored gaze. He ran a hand through his hair, about to tell his friends something until he saw your small form taking off your shoes. Hoseok didn't say a thing about you. He walked down the hall, calling Ms. Kim to let her know that he got the hair dye. He raised the box high as you began following him, but Namjoon quickly stumbled out of his chair. It toppled over as he reached his hand out towards you.
"(F/n), what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at home by now?" Namjoon glanced at a clock.
"Yep, but Hoseok said it's not safe to go by myself." You yawned. "I'm gonna wait until he finishes with your mom's hair."
"You're actually gonna do that?" Namjoon raised a brow.
"Why not? I want to say hi to your mom anyway." You walked over to the bathroom that immediately grew cramped with your presence.
Hoseok had gloves on as he squeezed the life out of a tube into a bottle. He looked like an expert with how quick he was doing it. The directions were tossed aside as if they were nothing. Once Ms. Kim saw you at the doorway, she immediately grew excited. She squealed, waving her hands around which made Hoseok jump around. You wanted to jump with them. The mood was exciting, but you still felt like crashing down on your bed. Normally, you didn't get this tired. Bowing your head to Ms. Kim, she hummed happily as Hoseok shook the bottle of dye. He did this for a while until it was ready.
"I'm so happy to see you, (F/n)! Has Namjoon seen you?" She asked. "NAMJOON! GET OVER HERE!"
"Eomma, really?" Namjoon poked his head into the tiny space.
"I want to see you appreciating your future wife." Ms. Kim smiled, but it almost looked like a smirk.
Hoseok laughed at her comment. He agreed with her completely and told Namjoon to embrace you. What the actual heck? Ms. Kim nodded and told Namjoon to just take you into his arms. Now you didn't feel as tired. It was hard to remain sleepy when your face was on fire and the boy next to you was the same. He sighed heavily, shaking his head at his mother's words. You were utterly speechless to hear that. 'Marry her' and 'I'd like you to date' was typical. Not 'take her in your arms and runaway with her!' What kind of drama is this? Namjoon made sure to send a quick glare in Hoseok's path for making his mom say such embarrassing things.
"We're still friends," Namjoon said, crossing his arms. He now fully stood in the doorway with you.
"You say that like it won't change." Ms. Kim frowned.
"Ms. Kim gets it!" Hoseok grinned.
"You two are being very problematic in my friendship with (F/n)." Namjoon ran a hand through his hair as if the situation were causing him stress.
It would be stressing you out too if you weren't sleep deprived. Running did a number on you. Wait a minute. Did Hoseok purposely lure you over here just to see you with Namjoon? That's wanting two people together on another level. It also made you wonder if Ms. Kim was in on that idea. That's something you wouldn't put beneath her. She already is very honest about liking you with her son. It's still interesting to know you're approved of even though you're just his friend. She refuses to accept that concept though.
"Hoseok, focus on her hair." You told the red head who playfully rolled his eyes.
"I can multitask." He parted her hair in pieces. He ran a brush, stroking the hair and getting it completely covered in whatever was inside the bottle he shook. Hoseok made a sassy expression and knew he had to show you how good he was at multitasking.
Namjoon and you glanced at each other with tired expressions. This was a lot for...what time is it? Who cares anymore? The two of you were getting used to being paired up together. It's one thing having his best friend be for it and then his own mother openly approving it. Hoseok and Ms. Kim smiled just to see Namjoon standing next to you in the bathroom. The place has never felt more cramped. Each room in this house was small, but especially now with Namjoon so close to you. It only made them smile more. Let them be delusional together since they won't listen when you guys say that you're just friends. You watched Hoseok continue his work while resting against the door frame. It felt like he's done this a million times from how natural his movement were. Nothing he did looked out of place. Namjoon smiled softly to see his mom enjoying this treatment. Hoseok seemed to be in his element.
Even when Hoseok started his multitasking with talking, his focus never faltered. He grabbed the shower head off the wall and told Ms. Kim to sit back. Well, dang. Namjoon's bathroom has been turned into a hair salon now. Ms. Kim gushed about how nice her hair came out whenever Hoseok did it. She didn't hesitate to drag the past salon's she went to. Hoseok listened to her complaints as Namjoon and you decided to sit down in the hallway while still peering into the bathroom. He sat down to the right of you with his long legs stretched out. You brought your legs close to your chest. Resting your chin on your legs, it felt nice to be sitting down.
"I swear! You should become a hair dresser." Ms. Kim insisted. Hoseok grinned, drying her hair with a towel. "That's the only really good thing about Namjoon and his friends dying their hair. They have an expert like you to do it."
"Aw, thanks. Yoongi helps too, but my technique is better," Hoseok said. Namjoon rolled his eyes at his mother's complaint about his hair again. He muttered under his breath that he liked the color pink. You giggled softly, remembering how you told his mom that it looked good on him. And it still does. It makes him look really charming and those dimples of his complete the look. You also learned some new things about the mysterious Min Yoongi. So he knows how to dye hair too? What else is he capable of that isn't illegal? You're too tired to have a filter.
"Y'know, one of my old friends is a hairdresser. She has this cute little salon at the very edge of town, but I could give her a call if you're interested." Ms. Kim wiggled her brows at the tempting offer. Hoseok was speechless, pausing his movements. Namjoon raised his head up and straightened his posture as he eyed his best friend. "You'll have a job once you graduate high school. I can bet you that."
"...I'll think about it. Thank you, Ms. Kim." Hoseok avoided Namjoon's stare.
"Joonie sweetie, you have yet to tell me what you're going to do." Ms. Kim reminded.
"Business college...I don't know." Namjoon shrugged. Ms. Kim sat up as Hoseok played around with her new brown hair. It did look really good on her.
"Don't throw away that good brain of yours." Ms. Kim stared him down.
Her voice was stern instead of its usual playful teasing. It made you almost stop breathing. She never seemed to pressure Namjoon on his grades or talked about how smart he is. This was a first. Namjoon hesitated to reply, Hoseok glancing at him with a worried gaze. Awards hung in the hallway as well as pictures of Namjoon receiving them, but they all ended by the time first year started for him. Why did it suddenly stop? It made you wonder if that's around the time the gang started. How were the boys back then? Namjoon licked his lips, not brave enough to keep eye contact with his mother any longer. Like he didn't want to disappoint her. They had a very close relationship that sometimes made even you jealous.
"Yes, Eomma." Namjoon's eyes fell down to his legs. It became quiet for a second.
Ms. Kim stopped intimidating her son and Hoseok silently finished up. The house was getting darker the more night it became. Only the bathroom light was on and spilled slightly into the hallway. It was dim enough for you to sleep and it was cozy here. Yawning, you kept closing your eyes and forcing yourself to wake up abruptly. The urge to just drift off was becoming too strong to avoid anymore. You didn't even remember closing your eyes. You rested against something to keep you from falling. It felt comfortable and you were slowly dreaming of things. That ended as soon as your heard quiet squeals and Namjoon awkwardly laughing.
Opening your eyes, you instantly saw Ms. Kim with her phone out. Did she take a picture of you sleeping? Hoseok was giving a thumbs up, but not at you. That's when you realized you were leaning against something. Pulling your head away, you noticed Namjoon with colored cheeks. He cleared his throat and you felt slightly embarrassed for just leaning on him. Then again, you were dying to just go to bed already. Namjoon stood up and held his hand out for you to grab. Tilting your head at him, you ignored the crazy people in the bathroom who were jumping to see this.
"Let me take you home already." Namjoon nudged his head towards the front door. You nodded and took his hand to pick up your weight off the floor. At this point, you were more useless than unsticky tape.
Namjoon took out his bike and kicked his leg over it. He told you to hold onto him tight. Lazily sitting on the back, you wrapped your arms around his waist. Once you had firm hold, Namjoon began peddling quickly to your apartment. The two of you didn't talk. He focused on which roads to take and oncoming traffic while you pressed the side of your face on his back. His jacket was warm. It made a contrast with the cold air from the night. Soon, Namjoon slowed down as he arrived at your place. He looked over his shoulder to see you close to falling asleep. The pink hair chuckled and shook his head, removing your hands around his waist.
"You still gotta go up the stairs." He lifted you off the bike.
"I could've gotten off by myself..." You mumbled as he took your hand.
"You looked ready to fall off," Namjoon retorted. He came up the stairs with you, making sure you didn't trip over any steps. He did stumble on one step but was fine for the rest. The two of you stood in front of your door, but he was still holding your hand in his. "Take care, okay (F/n)?"
"I will. Tell your Mom her hair looks good," You said and he nodded his head. Those dimples appeared and you couldn't help but poke your finger on the right one. God, you need to go to bed.
"Having fun there?" He lightly pushed your hand back.
"Yes, Namjoon. I'm having the time of my life." You tried poking his dimple again, but he held both of your hands to prevent you.
"Call me Namjoon oppa again." He smirked, making you widen your eyes.
That woke you up a bit enough to tell him no way. The last time you called him that was when you found out his mom was sick. You made sure to tell him that he should drop it back then. Of course he hasn't. He kept a smug expression on his face. Did he think you were actually going to call him oppa again? When you did the for the first time, he said that he liked it. Like coming from you? The thought made your face feel very warm. That's so frustrating! He may be older and you respect Namjoon a lot, but these boys take it in a very different direction.
"What? I told you to drop that. No." You shook your head. "Your Mom already thinks we're super close because I don't call you that."
"Eomma wants me to marry you." Namjoon chuckled.
"Where's the ring?" You raised a brow.
"I unfortunately don't have it. Can I give you a hug and call it a night?" Namjoon said as you opened your arms wide. He gave you a tight squeeze, making sure to make up for not having the ring. It better be a pretty ring.
"I'm trying to keep all my relationships with you boys platonic. Flirting should be kept at a minimum," You stated as he pulled away, but still had his arms wrapped around you.
"Are we all flirting with you?" Namjoon questioned, thinking you were joking.
"Jungkook kissed me out of no where, Jimin beat him up over me, Seokjin asked me out on a date and we almost kissed and that was a mess, and then Yoongi told me to call him oppa just like you did. He wasn't being serious though." You sighed heavily. "It's draining."
"Oh..." Namjoon's expression was stunned. He didn't expect to hear all that. He only knew of the first two incidents, but you didn't mind telling him the last two. It doesn't matter, you're too tired to care. "Wait, Seokjin and you almost kissed? And Yoongi told you to call him oppa as a joke?"
"Don't worry, you're in the flirt with (F/n) club too." You giggled tiredly.
It seems like everday is another strange moment with one of the boys. Lately, they've been flirting with you or revealing their true feelings. Technically, Yoongi was joking but you still counted it. Plus all the other times he pretended to start something inappropriate. That boy had no manners. Jungkook wouldn't stop apologizing for the kiss and then Jimin apologizes for everything. He's kind and sensitive like that. If Jimin feels that something he said or did bothered you in anyway, he would say sorry. Pride was thrown out the window all the time when it came to him. Then Seokjin tried to make it up to you in a strange way. Luckily, that crush ended and no more crap like that is going to happen between the two of you. That's the plan anyway and you hope at least this one thing goes accordingly. Just one thing in your life and that's all you ask for.
"Good to know." Namjoon ran a hand through his hair before connecting his eyes with yours again. "...maybe in a year we'll see if Mom's predictions come true."
"...only time will tell." Your cheeks burned. These boys make you feel so strange at times. "Thanks for bringing me home...friend." You lightly hit his shoulder.
"No problem." Namjoon pursed his lips, the dimples showing up. "Goodnight, (F/n)."
"Night, Dimples." You opened the front door. Namjoon scoffed at the nickname and went down to his bike.
Giving him one last wave, he road off back to his house. You came inside the apartment and shut the door. Time to collapse on your bed! That's when the lights in the apartment turned on. Hyosung was secretly sitting on the living room couch. Was she hiding here all this time? Waiting for you is one thing but having her hide in the dark is just creepy. Unnie needs help. She may be protective, but she's starting to cross a line again. The boys are your friends and you know what you're doing. Yoongi helped you get it together and that failed date gave you your first heart break. Nothing to chase after.
"You scared me!" You brought your hand over chest. She could have given you a heart attack! What kind of animal does this to their little sister!? You are beyond innocent at the moment! No boys have kissed you today!
"Who's that guy?" She crossed her arms. She tried sounding authoritative, but it wasn't working. You never liked that role for her. Hyosung unnie is just your sister.
"Kim Namjoon." You sighed and started walking over to your room. "If it makes you feel better, he's just a second year. We're also just friends! All my friends are boys, unnie! I'm fine!"
"He's an oppa too!? WAIT. All your friends are boys!? No, that doesn't make me feel better!" She shouted, jumping up from the couch but you already shut your door. Sleep is screaming your name. Hyosung put her hands on her hips in a huff. "She's getting more d*ck than I was at her age and even now. This is so unfair."