Twenty One: Surprise for Her

Kim Nam Joon POV

September 2, 2019.

* pip pip pip

The alarm clock woke me up from sleep. I reluctantly rolled and turned it off. I tried to open my eyes and I was surprised when I saw the clock beside my bed.

"Aigooo ... it's 4 pm ..." I said, opening my eyes a little

I lay down and tried to stare at the ceiling of my room. I still feel very tired. I just arrived at the apartment at 9 am and immediately fell asleep. Nearly two weeks, my family and I vacationed around the big cities in Korea.

This morning I boarded the first plane from Yeosu. My family have also returned to Ilsan. I really enjoyed this holiday. This is the first time I've been able to take a vacation with my family since we debuted. I get out of bed and see my reflection in the mirror. I brushed my fingers into my messy hair. Then I went out of the room to the kitchen. Our residence is very quiet, usually this apartment is noisy because it is inhabited by 8 men, which is 7 members and our manager.

I turned on the stove to cook ramen. I'm starving because I missed lunch. While waiting for the ramen to cook, I sat at the kitchen table while opening my cellphone. There are 3 messages there. One message from my mother saying that they had arrived home safely. One message in the Bangtan chat group, a thank you from Jungkook. Yesterday was his birthday. Usually, we always celebrate birthdays together. But because we are currently on holiday, we can only congratulate him through messages or telephone.

Then last message from Kim Sora, she said she was bored and lazy to do anything. I smiled reading this message. Sometimes I think, we exchange messages like a couple. We sometimes tell each other about trivial things.

"Are you bored? You could try to walk in the park or listening to music ... a good music can make you excited again. Btw, where are you right now? In Minerva?", I write a reply

I haven't told Sora that I've returned to Seoul. I still feel embarrassed and awkward when I have to see her, remembering the incident I almost kissed her when we last met. I called Sora the next day, saying that it was a mistake. But I know that I'm lying to myself.

I like her. Like her so much. Every day my feelings for her are getting bigger. I want to express my feelings and want to make her mine. But every time I think about it, there is always a debate in my heart and mind. I can not. I know I can't do it. Although our management does not forbid if we want to have a girlfriend, but this is very difficult to do. We will have many consequences. When Sora said she missed me I was very happy. I miss her too.

I walked to the stove and poured the cooked ramen into the bowl. And within 5 minutes the ramen was gone.

* tring

"Nee ... I'm listening to MOTS: persona right now. What are you doing, oppa? Are you still in Yeosu? I hear the beaches there are very beautiful ... hope you enjoy your vacation!", the message from Sora

Looks like she was excited again. I want to meet her. I want to look into her shining eyes. I decided to take a shower and rush to Minerva. I sent a message to my driver to come immediately and take me.

At 5.45 I was ready. I stared at my reflection at the mirror. This afternoon I wear black jeans, a white shirt and a black denim jacket. After being satisfied with my appearance, I headed for the car that was waiting for me outside. I greeted my driver and sat in the passenger seat. I opened my cellphone and started writing messages for Kim Sora.

"Are you still in Minerva, Sora?", I wrote

I smiled while looking at the yellow paperbag beside me that said "may you be happy always". I bought Sora souvenirs from several cities that I have visited. I hope she will like them.

* tring

"I just arrived at apartment, oppa. I went home early, because I had to take care of something", she wrote

I told my driver that I was not going to visit Minerva. Then I gave the address of Sora's apartment to him. I was a bit nervous knowing I was going to visit Sora in her apartment. The thought of the last time we met came back to my mind. Nothing will happen today, I promised in my heart.

20 minutes later I arrived at Sora's apartment. My heart is beating really fast. I entered the elevator and headed to the 5th floor. The elevator door opened and I went straight to door 502. I pressed the bell and waited.

"Yes? Omo! Namjoon ssi ?? Oettoke? (how?)", Sora's surprised voice heard from the intercom

"Annyeong Kim Sora ssi", I say while waving to the intercom

"Oppa ?? Oettoke ??", said Sora while opening the door of her apartment

"Ne... how are you?", I asked, smiling at her

Kim Sora standing in front of the door with her mouth gape and wide-eyed. I laughed seeing her. This face. I really missed her. Her face glowed even without makeup. Her hair hung beautifully on her back. Today she is wearing white shorts and a light blue baby doll dress. My crescent moon necklace hung beautifully around her neck.

"You've returned to Seoul, why didn't you tell me ??", she said

"I want to surprise you," I replied, rubbing the back of my neck

"Wow!! Come in oppa", she said again while giving way to me

"Gomawo", I replied

The smell of curry smelled as soon as I stepped into her apartment.

"Are you cooking something?", I asked

"Ne ... I'm cooking dinner. I made chicken curry. Sit down, let's have dinner together, okay?", she answered, smiling

"No..I don't want to bother," I said looking at her

"It's ok... I think I cooked more portions," she answered again as she invited me to sit at the kitchen table

"How was your vacation, oppa?", she asked, stirring the pot of curry

"It's fun. I really enjoyed it", I replied smiling at her

"I'm glad to hear that! So where have you  been around for two weeks?", She asked again

"I spent three days staying at my parents' house in Ilsan. Then we went to Cheongju, Jeonju, Daegu, Gyeongju, Busan and finally Yeosu," I explained, remembering the name of the city I had visited

"Wow ... daebak yaaa!", she said admiringly

"Btw, I bought something for you!" I said, handing over the yellow paperbag I had prepared for her

"Oppa! I've said many times, you don't need to buy me anything", she said, frowning

"I saw these items and immediately thought of you," I answered sincerely

"Gomawo yo," said Sora, accepted my paperbag and opened it. "Wow daebak! Daebak ya!", She said as she took out a small box containing a small figure wearing a hanbok (traditional korean dress).

"Kiyowo (cute)", she said happily

"The figurin really looks like you," I said laughing

"Eh, jinjja?", she said, raising her eyebrows

"Ne...kyeopta (cute)", I replied staring at her

She smile looking at it and shrugged her shoulders. She took a white Buchae with a purple wisteria on it from the papaer bag (buchae : traditional handmade paper fan).

"Woah! Areumdawo yo (beautiful)!", She said admiringly, turning the paper fan

"I'm glad you like it," I say smiling

Then she took out the last box of colorful hangwa (Korean traditional cake made from rice flour, honey and sesame).

"Ah, hangwa! I really like this!", She said while smiling and hugging the black box

"Kim Sora-ah ... you are really adorable," I said, shaking my head and laughing

"Kamsahamnida RM ssi! I really like them", she said again with sparkling eyes

"Ye ... your welcome", I said again

"Okay... let's eat, it looks like it's cooked", said Sora while stirring a pot of curry

"I'll prepare the dining table then," I said I immediately moved from my seat and took the cutlery in the kitchen cupboard. When dinner was ready, we sat facing each other at the dining table.

"Thank you for the dinner, Sora ssi," I said, raising my spoon

"Nee ... have a nice meal", she replied

"Wow, it's delicious! Oh, you said that you have something to do, so you go home early," I said after swallowing my food

"ye. I have to send a document confirming my presence at an event," she said as she wiped her mouth with a napkin

"Do you plan to go somewhere?", I asked again

"Ne. I'm going to Copenhagen next Sunday. My father's best friend will hold an orchestra performance celebrating 25 years of his career. My parent could not attend that event so I will come to represent them ", she explained

"How long will you be in Denmark?", I asked curiously

"I leave on the 8th and return on the 13th," she said

"Who are you going with?", I asked again

"Alone. I'll go alone. I'm very excited. I have made a schedule of my activities while I was there", she said excitedly

"Wow ... it looks like fun," I said, nodding my head

"Yes ... I hope so. By the way, when your vacation ends, oppa? As far as I remember, Bighit only announced that you will be off but did not announce the details of the time," Sora said

"We are off until the middle of this month, then we will film Bon Voyage season 4 before returning with a tour schedule and others", I replied

"Will there be another Bon Voyage?? Woah daebak yaa! Where are you going?", Asked Sora excitedly

"Ssstt that's a secret," I said, winking at her

"Aiisshh...", she said sullenly

"You will find out later on time. Btw, what will you do tomorrow?", I asked as I finished my last bite of my dinner

"I have a monthly meeting with my employees in the morning. After that I have nothing to do", she replied while remembering

"Do you want to cycle along the Han river tomorrow?", I asked nervously

"Cycling?mmm...it seems exciting! What time will we meet tomorrow?", she said excitedly

"How about 4 pm at Yeouido Hangang Park? We can rent a bicycle there," I replied excitedly

"Okay...", she said again. "And now, it's time to eat hangwa !!", she shouted happily

She brought a black box containing hangwa to the dining table and opened it. "Wow, this cake is so beautiful," Sora said admiringly seeing a box filled with colorful snacks

"Ne ... it tastes good too", I replied

"Wow, it's really good ... I haven't eaten this in a long time", she said happily while chewing a pink hangwa in her hand

"It's a relief that you like it," I said as I ate the yellow hangwa

We chatted while continuing to eat this snack. I guess we would be awkward after not seeing each other for a long time. But apparently we really enjoyed the presence of each other. I have only known her for a few months, but it feels like we've been friends for a long time.

At 9 pm I said goodbye. I don't want to disturb her rest time.

"See you tomorrow, oppa", said Sora, waving her hand at me as I walked out of her apartment

"Ne ... see you tomorrow", I said smiling and waving my hand until the elevator door closed in front of me

Arriving in the car, I still smiled happily. I didn't know that someone's presence could really influence me. I put earphones in my ears and played my favorite song. I closed my eyes while imagining tomorrow's activities along at the Han River.