G E N I U S | k.nj

Twenty | 스물

You couldn't help but leave your mouth agape, staring at the man who sat tall next to you, even after such a strange request. "And how did you think I'd be more equipped than any of the six out there?" You probed, genuinely baffled by the demand Namjoon had just blurted out, mind exploding under the suspense.

"Well, Taehyung is just incompetent; Yoongi is depressing; Hobi is too happy all the time; Jimin will start making stuff up; Jungkook would panic whenever we do work together; and, well, Jin is just Jin..."
"Jin is just Jin, how is that a problem?"
"Do I have to say it?"
"Considering you've just asked me to basically lodge at your house, I'd go for a solid yes." Namjoon scrunched his nose up slightly, and you could see by the disgusted glint in his eye it wouldn't be very pleasant, "He'll... Bring girls home..."

You dismissed it immediately, not wanting to have that conversation with Namjoon, shaking an embarrassed hand at him, "Okay, okay, I get you."
"So... That means you'll do it?" He was quick to redirect your train of thought, hailing you back to the subject matter that suited him most. You shook your head in dismay, unsure of how to address the clearly desperate man in front of you.

You bounced against the mattress, stalling as you released a breath you didn't know you were holding, "Why me though?"
"I... Trust you..." Namjoon muttered, looking down at his feet, which were planted flat against the floor.

"Do I really have any choice?" You put your hands behind you and leant against them on the bed; this was definitely an original predicament.

Namjoon cast his eyes about, now tapping his foot rhythmically against the polished tiles, "You know, you always have a choice, but just know I'd be very upset if you didn't,"
"I wouldn't be able to tell, anyway," you mocked, sticking your tongue out as he raised a suspicious brow at you.

"Relax, I mean who else are your options? Who were you going to ask, your assignment partner?" You giggled to yourself, facing Namjoon who looked utterly amazed, "How did you kn-"
"Stop right there." You didn't want to know how he was considering someone who was essentially a complete stranger to him, bar the question she had to prepare for him.

You screamed internally, Namjoon just didn't understand the concept of the barriers he was supposed to set up, and you assumed that may have been another aspect his friends settled for him. His efforts trying to persuade you made you feel a faint warmth simmer in your chest, and little did you know you'd been pouring your own blinded emotions out into an assignment, and had yet to realise who exactly was 'concealing his excitation'. Despite knowing exactly who it regarded.

He rocked a bit, thinking of the right thing to say to get you on his side, and in his house, for lack of a better expression. You pursed your lips, watching his face as it twitched at every rationalisation passing his mind, "Look, I'll do it, okay?" At this his features grew soft and warm, relief palpable as he sighed out, "It means a lot, really."

A set of unconcealed, uncensored chatter erupted from behind the curtain as several bodies were accidentally shoved about and arrived in front of you and Namjoon, as you ducked away from their eyes in mild mortification. "So, what's happening?" Hoseok chimed as if you didn't realise he was eavesdropping into your conversation, "Yeah, tell us," Jimin piped.

There wasn't a group of people more contrasting to Namjoon than his friends, and as you studied every exuberant movement on their faces, you couldn't help but chuckle lightly and ignore that fact they'd just heard such a memorable exchange, that they would not let you forget.

The brazen smirks humoured you, turning to see Namjoon squirming, unable to run away due to the pipe fed through his wrist and into his caramel skin. Jungkook pushed through his friends, rubbing his forearm in calming motions as he coughed to get your attention, and upon realising who of the group was doing this, you weren't sure of what to say.