“wow…” she said, clinging to your arm, as you walked into the club. there was an open dance floor, bordered by tables, a staircase leading up to a balcony on one side of the entrance and a bar on the other. in front of the dance floor was a stage just big enough to fit a 6 member band and a singer, currently a woman was at the mic singing a ballad that was as beautiful as she was, accompanied by a skilled saxophonist.

the two of you stopped at the bar to order drinks and headed up to the balcony to gawk at more of the club, neither of you had ever seen such an elegant building so the mix of the sight and the sound made it feel as if this was a dream.

The woman’s song finishes and a beat that you can feel in your gut starts playing, it fills your whole body with warmth as the gentle, smooth beat dances around your ears. a man’s voice mixes beautifully with the music and you find yourself staring in awe at him on stage, his dyed silver hair glittering under the lights and time seems to slow as his eyes find yours.

your friend watches as you and the singer stare at each other throughout the song, not at all trying to hold back a mocking smile as she nudges your arm to pull your attention away from him “you good, babe?” laughter evident in her voice “still with us?”

“i...yeah, i'm fine, why?” your face flushes with embarrassment as she just giggles and shakes her head, pulling you toward the bathroom

“listen” she stands you aso your back is to the mirror “if you're gonna be making goo goo eyes at some jazz singer we need to set a couple rules”

“i wasn't making /goo goo eyes/ at him…” you try to defend yourself but who are you kidding, you were so lost in his stare you could've drooled and not even noticed, she rolls her eyes at you and points out your obvious blush

“anyway, ground rules…” she puts on a serious face and grabs your shoulders “no taking any open drinks from him, no going anywhere with him without taking me with you or atleast telling me where you're going…” She lists off the usual rules you both have for when you meet cute guys while out and about, not like this is a regular thing but it's always good just to be safe.

after smoothing down your velvet dress, it was an ”off shoulder” style and came just above your knees, both in and out of your comfort zone gorgeous nonetheless, you both head out of the bathroom to find the singer was now doing a cover of “when i fall in love” by nat king cole. a beautiful melody that, admittedly, didn't exactly fit his voice but he made it his own. it was a slower ballad so you and your friend decided to dance a little, waltzing together across the floor and enjoying the sweet melody. Other couples joined you on the dance floor and by the end of the song the floor was full of people falling in love with either the music, eachother, or both. you both giggled at some comments from people saying you made a cute couple and went to sit at the bar, your eyes wandering over to the stage to watch as the singer stepped down and walked into a back room, his eyes never leaving you for a second.

“should we follow him?” your friend teases

“what? no, that'd be creepy”

“Oh come onnn I wanna see more of this place anyway~” she laughs as you scowl at her. you sit at the bar and enjoy the music for a couple more drinks before you settle on the thought he isn't coming back out for you, which was a silly thought to begin with i mean, all you did was look at eachother…

“we should probably head back home” the sadness in your voice evident

“honey… i'm sure he just got caught up in something, you're a total catch” she rubs your back reassuringly “we can totally stay for a while longer, there's still more bands lined up” she tries but both of you are really thinking the same thing ‘there's a back exit’.

you grab your purse off the bar counter and start heading toward the door when a hand suddenly grabs your wrist, turning you toward the handsome, silver haired jazz singer

“sorry… i…” the nerves in his voice make your heart flutter, he swallows and takes a deep breath, bowing to place a gentle kiss on your hand “will you dance with me?” he looks up at you, waiting mere seconds before you silently nod yes and hand you purse over to your friend, who cheers you on in excited whispers.

the two of you move together as if you’ve been dance partners for years, your feet in perfect rhythm with the song as well as each other. his one hand in yours and the other in the middle of your back feel so warm and gentle, his gaze and smile full of a love you never expected to find here. everything about this very moment was so inviting and felt as if you were meant to meet this wonderful stranger.

“my names kim namjoon… by the way” he spoke just above a whisper, as if afraid to ruin the moment

“i'm y/n” your voice matching his volume

“you’re beautiful”

“so are you” he looks slightly surprised but his smile only grows.

the dance lasts for another song before you finally part ways, exchanging phone numbers at the entrance

“text me when you get home?” he says, wanting to make sure you got home safe but not wanting to overstep any boundaries

When you arrived at the park, it took you a few minutes to find Namjoon. He was sprawled out on a hill overlooking the Han River, his long legs stretched out comfortably as he stared up at the starry sky. He was lost in thought and didn’t notice your presence until you leaned over him.

“You made it.” He craned his neck back and frowned thoughtfully at your full arms. “What’s all this?

You shrugged, careful not to jostle the drinks in your hands. “It’s a little cold tonight, so I brought some hot chocolate. And I figured a blanket would be nicer to sit on than the grass.”

“Ah, you’re always so thoughtful,” Namjoon said with a smile. “Here, let me help.” He got up and took the blanket, spreading it out with a flourish before he sat down. You took a seat next to him and handed over his drink.

The hot chocolate kept your hands warm and stopped your teeth from chattering. Namjoon did most of the talking as he pointed out the different constellations and explained their use in navigation, as well as any myths tied to the stars. His deep voice sounded so soothing and would have lulled you to sleep if not for the cool breeze that shocked you awake each times it danced through your hair.

“Isn’t it fascinating that we’re looking up at constellations used by nomadic people thousands of years ago?” Namjoon mused. “They were able to know so much about the world around them just by looking up at the stars.” He turned to look at you, his face serious but his eyes shining brightly.

“Sometimes I wonder if you’re a fallen star,” he said softly. “You came out of nowhere, a guiding light to show us our way through life when we were lost without a map. I’ll always be grateful for your guidance.”

He flashed his dimples at you, and you hoped it was dark enough for him not to notice the blush that crept along your cheeks. Namjoon seemed hellbent on giving you a heart attack, as he also reached out to cover your hand with his.

“Ah, your skin is like ice! Should we head back to the dorms?”

You shook your head. “No! I mean, it’s been a while since we’ve had time to just sit and talk. I don’t want it to end yet.”

Namjoon considered your words for a few moments, his eyes sharp and serious. He eventually nodded, shrugging off his jacket and draping it over your shoulders. “Just a few more minutes, then,” he compromised, “but after that, we’ll head back and get you warmed up.” He wrapped his arm around you, pulling you closer to share his warmth. You rested your head against his chest as the two of you now sat in silence, savoring the moment.

A/N: Joonie just makes me soft, alright? ;-;

“You wanna eat ramyeon before you go?”

There it was, the dreaded innuendo of his generation. The question sounded innocent enough to any passersby might have overheard the exchange. But there was a cultural subtext to your words: do you want to sleep with me?

The gears in Namjoon’s head worked double time, but he couldn’t think of a single excuse to turn you down. He'd just walked you back to your apartment after a casual date in the park. It had been a month since your first date together, which meant the 30-day rule had taken effect and it was appropriate - no, expected - for Namjoon to initiate the next step in the relationship.

So he nodded, flashing his dimples in the hope that it would distract you from his tight-lipped smile.

His smile grew a bit more genuine when he noticed the tips of your ears turn red as you fumbled with the keypad to your front door. It was cute how eager you were to invite him in. Maybe after a few more weeks of dating, he would have been just as excited to get you into bed. But right now he just hoped to get it over with before he choked on all his swallowed anxiety.

The second Namjoon stepped foot into your apartment, your hands were already pulling off his coat. He searched for your lips in the dark as he hurried to kick off his shoes.

This was the part that he enjoyed the most. Nothing felt more intimate than the way your body pressed against his as you seek to deepen the kiss. He loved when your fingers danced up to tangle in his hair and the way you would shudder in his arms each time he did that trick with his tongue.

It was too bad he couldn’t linger in this stage of the relationship.

Namjoon let you guide him into your apartment as his lips traveled down to kiss along your neck. The two of you stumbled into your kitchen when he lost the nerve to take even a step further. He knew your bedroom couldn't be more than a few feet away and crossing that threshold felt like too daunting of a task for him.

To distract you from his hesitance, Namjoon tightened his grip on your waist and lifted you onto the kitchen counter. His stomach flipped when you parted your legs without a second thought to pull him between your thighs. Everything was moving quicker than he could register it all, but he felt pressured to go one step further and prove to you that he could keep up.

His hands brushed up the curve of your hips to slip beneath the hem of your shirt. The skin beneath his palms felt flushed as his fingers ghosted over your stomach. Namjoon pulled back for a moment to look at you for reassurance but frowned when he caught a glimpse of your face.

The light was dim, but it was enough for him to recognize the apprehension etched into your features. For just a moment your eyes reflected the same anxiety that had transformed Namjoon's legs to jelly. But then it was gone, replaced by a strained smile when you noticed him watching you.

The realization that you were also nervous helped give Namjoon the courage to say what needed to be said. Even if it meant that he left your apartment as a single man.

“I don’t think I can do this.” Namjoon blurted the words out before he could second guess them. He pulled his hands out from under your shirt to brace himself against the counter. There was a flash of hurt and confusion in your eyes, but he refused to let that stop him from being honest.

“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you this past month. And I know there’s this, expectation that we have to take the next step after dating for a set amount of time. But I like where we are right now.” He could feel his face heat up and he fought the urge to shift his gaze. “I don’t mean that I never want to take that next step with you. It's just that I don’t feel ready yet.”

The room fell impossibly quiet as he held his breath in preparation of your response. You let out a deep sigh and slumped forward to rest your head against Namjoon’s chest. “Thank fuck. I don’t even know what I was thinking with that whole ramyeon thing.”

Namjoon broke out in his first real smile since you invited him in. He pulled you tighter against his chest and buried his face into your hair to muffle his laughter. “It was a good suggestion,” he chuckled. “You wouldn’t happen to have instant noodles, would you?”

“I think so,” you hummed in response. You wiggled out of Namjoon’s arms to smile up at him. “How about you go find a good documentary on Netflix while I make us something to eat?”

Namjoon felt his heart swell. He felt so thankful that he had spoken up when he did and shifted the mood for the night. It made him feel so much closer to you. “That sounds perfect,” he murmured before he pressed a quick kiss to your cheek.

A/N: I love soft Joonie; he's the perfect start to easing out of the yandere content that's been dominating my blog this past month.

Your eyes wandered across the page unseeingly, nothing registering except for the intoxicating aroma you were bombarded with. When you slammed the book shut, rosy sparks flittered out like dust, carrying more of that magical smell around the room.

You knew what it was, and you wished you didn’t. Every time you smelt that familiar aged paper paired with the rich scent of cardamom, wide dimpled smiles flashed in your memories, along with the sensation of soft cloaks crafted from the finest of witch’s twine, as rosy sparks danced along your lips with every delicious kiss you two shared.

It was an addiction, you realized one night when you were curled in your blankets with your spellbook open before you. You could never resist the book, and even though it was your greatest nemesis in your school years, over time it became your necessity.

Holding it in your hands was like holding him in your arms again. Holding on gave you the satisfaction of reliving your time with him—like all those times spent beneath the wise willow as nervous scholars in a world brimming with magical unease, or the times you two crafted giant doves with your wands and went on a magical joyride throughout the sky.

Sprisk, you cursed, frowning when a breeze swept through and knocked over some papers. You missed him so much, you missed holding his warm hands, feeling his soft hair, bathing in his warm hoodies.

Above all, you missed the cardamom scent that lingered on his skin, the rosy sparks that brought out your own.

Bibliosmia, the book read, is an enchantment placed on spellbooks to preserve the magical energy of its owner, even after they have left the world by…

Namjoon’s scribbles made the text nearly illegible, sprawling over any empty space and making the book his own. Even without the spell, you were sure you would always remember him. You remembered those whimsical red sparks that would circle his head like a halo whenever he was very focused, or that crease in his brows whenever he was frustrated…

Your heart lurched when you remembered that he was only in your memories, and that he wasn’t there with you. This was simply an ersatz, a lame substitution for the real thing in which you craved.

Perhaps that was why you were so obsessed with smelling books. Because to you, it was not a book, but an experience, a memory, a holder of everything that meant something to you before it was taken away.

You closed your eyes to prevent tears from spilling down your cheeks, and as you wiped them away, you missed the words that messily scrawled themselves on the only bit of available space on the page:

My love, please help! I’m trapped in here!