Forget Me Not✔️

Hands in the Sand

"Heyyyyy...?" You and Namjoon both jumped a little as your best friend's voice piped up next to you. Neither of you had even noticed that she had approached. "Everything okay over here? Who's your new friend, Y/N?" She questioned, eyeing the strange man in front of you skeptically as she took a stance in between you two and off to the side. Sand covered her legs from crouching on the beach to take what you expected to be the perfect shot of the horizon.

"Yeah! I was just admiring this crab here with...Namjoon?" You said with a bit of hesitation as you said his name, unsure if you were pronouncing it correctly, but he offered you a soft nod implying you did just fine.

"Crab?" Your friend questioned, looking into the guy's palm. "Oh, cute!" She said in awe that the man was holding something that could pinch him.

"Wanna touch?" Namjoon asked as he held the crab out to your friend, his smile never fading. His fascination with crustaceans made you grin.

"Oh. No no no. I'm good." She said waving her hands back and forth, a clear sense of discomfort on her face. She was more of a distant admirer than an up close and personal one when it came to things that had more than four legs.

You snickered a bit at her fear, but saw it as an opportunity to reach out and touch the creature again.

Namjoon seemed taken aback by your friend's apprehension but quickly looked at you in satisfaction as you took up the offer instead.

"I think we should find a nice spot to put him so that he doesn't almost get stepped on, again." You suggest, looking up at Namjoon who stood a good half a foot taller than you. "Since I did almost step on him, I want to help." You added as you offered a smile of your own toward Namjoon.

He fell silent for a moment in thought. Pursing his lips, he nodded. "Alright. Well you guys do that. I'm going to go snap some more shots. I'll be over there." Your friend said pointing to a location not too far off. Silently, she seemed to get the hint that you may want to spend just a little more time with the man you met on the beach.

You offered her a nod and looked at Namjoon as she scurried away, but not before she gave you a wink and a knowing smirk. "What about over there? It looks like there are some cool rocks that lead to the water. No one should really be able to step on him there." You suggested.

Namjoon chuckled at your suggestion, surprised that the spot you picked wasn't half bad.

"Alright." He said as you two began to casually walk in that direction, taking your time. Mostly because you wanted to be near him a bit longer, and he wanted to hold the crab a little longer.

"So, you speak English? I have to say I didn't expect my first conversation in Korea to be in my native tongue." You said with a nervous laugh to imply you meant no offense.

"Oh yeah? It's your first time here?" Namjoon questioned as he glanced over at you but still kept alot of focus on the creature in his palms to ensure it didn't fall.

"Yeah. First time out of the country actually."

"Really? Why did you pick Korea of all places to go?" He asked curiously.

"My friend has an intense love for Asian culture. We've been learning the Korean language together and we figured it would be good study practice to spend some time in the country."

"Oh really? Are you fluent yet?" Namjoon asked with a smug smile. Something about the teasing gleam in his eyes made your face heat.

"Can't confidently say that I am, but I think I understand enough to have a conversation, or at least enough to survive for the next two weeks." You admitted with a bashful grin in return.