Chapter Text
Namjoon rolls into the office at nine am, dusting off the last of sleep that was still lingering behind his lids, he almost fell asleep on his commute again after spending his late nights reading. He gets into the packed elevator pressing his floor mutely and holding his backpack to his chest trying not to take up too much room.
When he gets to his floor, a few people get out with him into the bustling office floor. He slings his rucksack over his shoulder, heading to his desk to put his stuff down and fire up his computer.
Namjoon makes a note of the sticky note he had left for himself yesterday of what he had to do today, but first coffee, he could start nothing without his coffee.
He heads to the little kitchenette to make himself a mug, choosing his favourite one which had a cute painted plant with a smiley face on it. He hums to himself as he sets about his task barely listening to the conversation that two of his colleagues are having behind him.
As he’s strolling back to his desk, carefully taking a sip of his now made coffee, he notices a patch of blonde hair bobbing about suspiciously behind his cubicle.
He finds Taehyung stretching over from his side to poke around at Namjoon’s desk, which unfortunately for Namjoon meant he knew he was here and would make a spectacle of embarrassing Namjoon in ways only Taehyung could do.
He could not prepare himself any faster for when Taehyung locks eyes with him and smiles so sweetly it’s almost blinding first thing in the morning. “Morning hyung, how are you?”
“Oh morning, I’m fine how are you?”
“Tired and slightly hungover.” Taehyung sighs, slithering all his limbs back into his chair, he swipes a hand through his mullet, his bangs falling into his eyes again. His shirt is a few buttons undone, paired with chic pants and a fancy boot that Namjoon couldn’t imagine owning.
For someone who worked in HR, Taehyung rolled in as if the short corridors were his runway. He could be a model if he wanted to, although Namjoon isn’t that close to him to tell him that or anything more than his professional manner that Taehyung ignores in favour of being informal.
He often invited Namjoon for after work drinks, well more like ambushed so that Namjoon had no choice but to accept. He talked about his life animatedly, literally Namjoon knew he had a dog named Yeontan, a fuck buddy named Hoseok who and he quotes ‘is the best sex of my life and like I don’t say that lightly’, loves art, food, fashion and vlogs on Tiktok.
Namjoon on the other hand wasn’t so forthcoming, easily embarrassed at the prospect of talking about himself when he wasn’t entirely red in the face hearing steamy details of Taehyung’s very active sex life.
“Hoseok hyung and I went wine tasting last night, totally recommend it by the way, lots of yummy alcohol.” Taehyung makes a point to say, crossing his legs demurely. “But uh we got a little tipsy and decided to get dinner. They let us take some wine home so we decided to have more and well, Hoseok hyung just stayed over.”
“Sounds…eventful.” Namjoon flushes slightly sitting in his seat and puts his mug down. He quickly logs into his computer and sets about starting work for the day but Taehyung insists on going on.
“Oh yeah, this is the last time I do this on a work day. I cannot sustain this lifestyle” This will in fact not be the last time according to Taehyung’s track record of seeing Hoseok. Namjoon tries not to think about it too much as he goes through his emails, he sighs heavily at the caseload on his desk that he has to get through but hopefully with some peace he’ll be able to do it.
Taehyung rambles on about something to do with their manager being annoying, all Namjoon wants is a quiet morning so he can get on with his adult job to afford his adult home. Namjoon takes a sip of his coffee and puts his glasses on.
The first couple of hours go by fairly quickly, he’s on his second coffee tackling through another load of work when a magazine is dumped on his keyboard, he looks up at the culprit and finds Taehyung with a frozen yogurt spoon in his mouth smirking.
“Time to take a break hyung, come with me to lunch I know a great gimbap place.” Taehyung leans over Namjoon’s cubicle, scooping another spoonful.
“I’ve already brought my lunch but thanks.”
“Tragic, no worries you can keep the magazine for company until I get back.” Taehyung says slipping into his leather jacket stylishly. He blows Namjoon a kiss and disappears off leaving him alone.
Namjoon takes his lunch and gets up, begrudgingly looking at the magazine, it’s not something he would usually read but he has seen it before. Fashion magazines with blown up pictures of models, tips in hair, make up, clothes and more. He sighs feeling easily persuaded today, picking up the magazine last minute.
He finds a place to sit down and open up his lunch, pulling out chopsticks and a spoon. Namjoon begins eating, chewing aimlessly as he listens to the conversations around him. Chaeyong was laughing a little too hard at a joke Minho made while they shared food. According to Taehyung, they've been hooking up in the stationary cupboard on the third floor. Namjoon asked how even knew this and Taehyung just shrugged that it was common knowledge, plus he had a sense for when people were having sex, it was like some freakish power.
It never seems to happen around Namjoon though which is a true reflection of his sex life, he was single which isn’t a bad thing. But Namjoon literally spoke to no one, he’s been on dates here and there but they always ended up in some awkward way. People always assumed things about him based on how he looked, it was much worse when dating, he’d remember posting a post gym selca on his instagram and gotten messages saying he was hot and they wanted to be railed by him.
It’s crude yes, but Namjoon wouldn’t mind topping if he absolutely had to but he mostly liked to bottom, which was a fun fact if anyone did want to find out.
He tucks that pocket of thought away, taking another bite of rice and meat. His eyes wander over to the magazine and he purses his lips. He figures it wouldn’t hurt to just peruse through the pages while he eats.
Namjoon picks up the magazine and puts it on his knees, he flicks through the pages, perfume ads and make up samples which Taehyung might probably like. He stops once in a while to read the little articles, actually picking up a thing or two on how to properly roll your straight cut jeans and what colour is in this season.
He’s just about through with his carrots when he sees it, it’s an article on tips on how to be more bolder in your everyday life. Namjoon doesn’t think much of it at first but he can’t help but continue to read since he had nothing else to do.
Do you want to be seductive like Marilyn Monroe and powerful like Cleopatra tapped into your inner goddess? Here are five tips to be more bold that will definitely leave you feeling more empowered and feeling that it girl energy you’ve been reaching to strive for this year.
1) Be more confident and ask for things, don’t be shy to get what you want, whether that be a raise at work, accomplishing a personal goal or getting your dating life in order. Don’t be shy to say what it is you want, you’ll never truly feel any satisfaction by going by other people’s standards. So stop by them and start going by you.
2) Wear something leather. It could be a jacket, pants or a skirt. Leather is a classic and timeless, it can elevate any outfit you have to a ten in just a few simple pieces.
3)Buy lingerie, you may think this is an odd tip to have here but actually feeling sexier starts with you. Stop by a lingerie store and get yourself something lacey and pretty, something to make you feel sultry and tapped into your dark feminine.
4) Ask someone out, this is specifically for my singles, a confident woman knows what she wants and the next time you meet someone you like, ask them out for drinks or dinner or if you really in a pinch lunch.
5) Be spontaneous, do something you wouldn’t usually do and step out of your comfort zone. It might feel strange at first but we promise it will be a fun experience where you could say you’ve done and feel accomplished by it.
Namjoon bites his lip reading through the the tips again, for some reason something about this article strikes him and he feels the need to pocket the thought to come back to it.
When he finishes eating lunch, he opens his bottle of orange juice and walks back over to his desk to find Taehyung eating, he’s slurping up noodles feet crossed without a care in the world. Namjoon almost feels bad for interrupting him but he’s already smiling when he catches sight of him and Namjoon gulps.
“You read it, not exactly Cho Nam Ju but it’s fun right?”
“Yeah I guess.” Namjoon says rubbing the back of his neck. “The tips are cool for fashion and stuff.”
“I don’t follow all of it personally but I loved to be in the know.” Taehyung says slurping up more noodles. “Did you see Chaeyoung and Mihno sunbae slithering up to the third floor again, this has been going on for like five weeks now.”
“How do you even know all this.”
Taehyung pouts. “I’m always chatting with Ms Choi, she may be older but she’s wise.” Namjoon doesn’t know how Taehyung managed to befriend Ms Choi, she was the grumpy ahjumma who worked two cubicles down from Namjoon, it seemed like just the sight of him would earn him a death glare, he was terrified of her, so whatever special powers Taehyung has must be truly mystical.
“Why are you so interested in our office sex life anyway?”
“Someone has to, a lot of young people work here there’s always something happening at the work dinners and christmas parties.”
“That’s a curious way to get through work.”
Taehyung shrugs. “Beats actually doing the work, if I have to file another complaint I’ll actually lose my mind.”
Namjoon just about smiles, he turns back to his desk determine to get back to work and forget about the ridiculous magazine.
When he’s done for the day he doesn’t notice the magazine is still on his desk until Taehyung is already gone, he sighs figuring he’ll just give it back tomorrow. He neatly packs it in his bag and shuts down his computer for the day.
The commute home is rainy which is just what Namjoon needs right now, he didn’t bring an umbrella so he’s soaked by the time he reaches his apartment. He shucks himself inside and presses the lift to the second floor.
The first thing he notices is a bunch of boxes outside the apartment right next to Namjoon’s, it seems someone is finally living there. It’s been months since it’s been vacant. Namjoon barely saw the last neighbour, she was a nursing student who barely spent time at home because of her residency.
Namjoon presses his code and the door beeps letting him in. He immediately takes off his coat and shoes, placing them to one side. He got some jajamyeon for dinner as he heads towards the kitchen taking out bowls. He sets about fixing his dinner setting up in his living room. Usually he’d get changed first but he’s starved today and decides to eat first.
He turns on his TV and gets straight into eating. It’s been a long day at work and he wants nothing more than to wine down. Perhaps some wine is in order, he’s got some stashed away in the cupboard and wouldn’t mind having a glass.
When he’s done eating he goes up to his room to get changed into more comfortable clothes and sets about trying to find the right book to relax with for the evening, but as he’s looking his mind keeps going back to the magazine he stole from Taehyung.
It’s silly really, it’s not like Namjoon was going to really follow what it says, what’s some stupid magazine know about being bold anyway. Namjoon wouldn’t know, he’s never done anything bold in his life, likes to play safe and stay by what he knows.
A part of him definitely believes that he’s being ridiculous but the other, the more quieter side was curious about the magazine article and wanted to find out more. He bites his lip, walking over to where he dropped his bag earlier to retrieve the magazine from inside.
He flips through the pages until he lands on the article again and reads through it. Would it really hurt to follow this advice? He definitely thinks he could be bolder in his life and try out new things, maybe a change in his wardrobe or a new haircut, something that’s stylish and chic. He doesn’t have the courage to do something as bold as ask someone out so maybe he won’t do everything on the list just yet.
He could start by wearing something leather, he’s got an old leather jacket that he hasn’t worn in a while stashed in the back of his closet. Yes, that’s a start, he hums to himself feeling particularly accomplished, he doubts anyone will notice ,but he will, knowing he’s wearing something different.
Namjoon gets up to go looking for the jacket, finding it stashed on top of his winter coats, he puts it on a hook so that it’s ready for tomorrow. Tonight he’s picking Little Deaths by Emma flint to read, getting thrown into the summer of New York in the nineteen sixties.
Namjoon takes a sip of his wine and gets lost in the pages, the TV is on in the background for white noise and he’s finally comfortable to freely be himself. He reads for what feels like hours until it’s dark outside, Namjoon gets hungry and goes looking for a snack.
He sticks to a fruit bowl, doing the job of getting out the chopping board and all the fruit he’ll chop. He washes it under colder water and uses a sharp knife to peel and chop. Suddenly there’s a thump next door and Namjoon looks towards the space of the living room where the sound came from.
There’s another thump and Namjoon has to remember he doesn’t live alone anymore, the walls are much thinner than he thought. So as he’s chopping away there are more things being dragged and thudding against walls. At some point his new neighbour starts playing music as they work clearly setting things up in there. Namjoon gets rid of all the peeled fruit skin and washes the knife and chopping board, taking his bowl of fruit back to his bedroom.
That night, Namjoon is in the middle of doing his skin care routine, squirting on a moisturiser and working it into his skin, he sits at his dresser with his hair pulled back by a fluffy headband even though he’s got a buzz cut, it’s still a cute habit of his. He puts on the serum next leaving his skin with a glistening glow.
When he’s done he brushes his teeth and puts on his pyjamas. He has to be up early for work so he’s going to go to sleep soon. Namjoon gets into bed and takes out his phone to watch a video on youtube. He lay snug in bed covers watching videos until he starts to feel sleepy. He puts his phone on charge and snuggles back into closing his eyes as he drifts blissfully away snoozing until he falls asleep dreaming of wizards and magic.
;;;
Taehyung immediately attacks Namjoon when he gets into work the next day, popping up behind him and making him jump three feet in the air, knocking the wooden toys he had on his desk over. Taehyung only clicks his tongue at his clumsiness.
“The company’s dinner is tonight, are you coming?” It wasn’t exactly an invitation Namjoon could miss unless he had a very good reason, which unfortunately for him he doesn’t.
“Uh yeah.”
“Perfect you can sit next to me, first drinks are on me.”
“Oh thanks.” Namjoon says flushing a little, Taehyung has a really intimidating aura so whenever he so much as stares at Namjoon he panics internally.
“Incoming Sohee.”
“Namjoon sunbae.” Sohee smiles behind dark bangs, she's been working here for four months, transferred over from Sales. Namjoon helped train her up when she first started and he quite likes her.
“Hey Sohee how can I help?”
“Do you have the list of the new hirers we have coming into the marketing department?”
“Yes, they’re right here.”
“Thanks, I’ll bring this back when I’m done.” Sohee bows walking away. Taehyung barely waits for her to be out of earshot before he starts again.
“Sohee’s cute, I wonder if she’s dating anyone.” He says poking his head as he watches her walk away.
“Are you interested in her?”
“Nah, not that I wouldn’t though I’m just too preoccupied.”
“You mean with Hoseok?”
“Well not really.” Taehyung pouts playing with his nails. “What Hoseok hyung and I have is totally casual, we can see other people if we want to.”
“Then there’s no reason why you can’t pursue Sohee.” Namjoon says, tapping away at his computer.
“I guess.” Taehyung mumbles. “What about you?”
“What about me?” Namjoon asks not looking away from his computer.
“Are you dating anyone?” He can’t help but flush a little at the question.
“Uh no, I’m not seeing anyone.” He answers mutely.
“That’s a shame, you’re like super hot, I know so many people who are into that art nerd sort of thing.”
“I don’t need you setting me up, I’m not that desperate.” Namjoon hisses at Taehyung, swatting him away from playing with his sticky notes.
“Why not? It’ll be fun, my world is full of opportunities I’m sure we’ll find someone for you, or at least get you laid.”
“I’m fine thank you very much.” Namjoon says with flamed cheeks.
Just then their manager passes through to see how they’re getting on with work and Taehyung is all pretence of a hard worker suddenly, Namjoon is clicking at his screen as Mr Kim walks by ,asking questions to some of the staff.
“Don’t forget everyone to be ready by six for the company dinner, it’s a short walking distance from the company so there won’t be any trouble getting there.” Mr Kim says.
A chorus of ‘yes sajangnim’ parrots across the room.
For hours Namjoon is answering the phone, filling out forms and handling paperwork until he starts to notice people putting their coats on, remembering belatedly that it was time to head to the company dinner.
He finishes up and quickly logs out, writing down what he had to do tomorrow on a sticky note, pressing it onto the side of his computer screen. He gets up and slips his leather jacker on hearing a whistle from beside him.
“Wahh, you look hot hyung did you want to show out for the company dinner?”
“No way, it was just a coincidence that I wore this today.” Namjoon feels the need to justify himself, feeling a little silly in his leather jacket now. Still he doesn’t let it get to him and slings his backpack over his shoulder. Taehyung slides a slender arm around him.
“Come on.”
When they get to the restaurant they are seated at one of their largest table, there is already alcohol flowing around the table and conversation is rife in the air. Namjoon has been politely answering questions and fake laughing behind his hand when he needs to. Taehyung is sat beside him, going on about how much he’s starving and ready to eat.
Namjoon notices Chaeyong and Mihno are seated next to each other and tries not to remember the sordid details of what they do at work.
As soon as his shot glass of soju is finished another is replenished for him and Namjoon is starting to feel his cheeks go pink.
Taehyung’s phone buzzes on the table between them and he picks it up to look at the messages, he doesn’t seem to notice that he smiles to himself at whoever texts him, Namjoon has a pretty good guess at who it was.
“Hoseok hyung is going to pick me up after the company dinner, we’re going to a late art show.”
“You’re not going to sleep and digest all this alcohol?”
“No way, the night is still young hyung, there is lots to do.”
Finally the food comes and the grills on the table are turned on. Seojoon, one of the juniors offers to grill the meat. Now that there is food everyone seems even louder, people are sharing food out filling their plates and each others. Namjoon’s plate is so full at the end that he has to start refusing. He takes into the delicious juicy grilled meat, the taste bursting on his tongue, it taste even better because he’s drinking so he eats another.
He eats until he’s so full that he can’t move, plus he’s a little tipsy. He’s only half listening to Sana going on about the thievery that’s going on between the finance and marketing departments, something about stolen pens and staplers.
“So, now that everyone is here, is anyone here your type?” Taehyung asks suspiciously, wiggling his eyebrows, he's been awfully quiet and Namjoon is too tipsy to fight him off.
“I’m not hooking up with anyone from work. Not to mention it would be super awkward seeing each other when it inevitably ends”
“Gosh you’re so pessimistic hyung you’re already ending things before they begin.” Taehyung finishes his drink in one clean sweep and leans in, coaxing Namjoon in too. “Come on just take a look, who do you think is cute in the office?”
Namjoon presses his mouth together and looks about the faces of his colleague, he notices Woosung, the office hottie chatting with a bunch of women around giggling at everything he says.
“I guess Woosung sunbae is kind of cute.”
“Wonderful, you should go talk to him this is prime planting time.”
“What no way, he may be cute but I would never ask him out, not to mention I don’t even know if he swings that way.”
“Boys that pretty usually do, trust me I’m usually not wrong about that sort of thing.”
“Well you don’t have to worry about me, in fact I was planning to ask somebody out soon.” Namjoon slips drunkenly, being bolder than he usually would thanks to the alcohol, this seems to get Taehyung’s attention.
“Oh yeah? Someone caught your eye?”
“Not yet I’m just scoping the scene.”
“Well what’s your type?” Namjoon still manages to flush despite how drunk he is.
“I guess I don’t mind, as long as they’re attractive with good qualities like nice hands or great shoulders. I’m a big guy myself but I like when it’s not a thing and that I can still enjoyed being cared for by partner.” Namjoon will surely regret this in the morning but drunk Namjoon has a mind of his own, too sluggish to pay attention to his words.
“A subby bottom, you’re just like me.”
“I- well I don’t know.”
“You like to feel small, big guys deserve to get railed too and feel pretty.”
“Mm pretty.” Namjoon slurs, Taehyung giggles.
“You know you’re much cuter than I expected from how you’re always busy tapping away at your desk, I like this side of you.”
“Does anyone have the time?” Sunhee calls out to the table.
“It’s eight fifty six.” Someone answers back, Namjoon looks down at his own watch.
“It’s getting late, I have to go soon.”
“I should text Hoseok hyung to start coming.” Taehyung says flipping out his phone to text. “Can you wait with me until he gets here Namjoon hyung?”
“Sure.” Namjoon answers lids droopy, he drinks a glass of water to help sober up a little, his stomach still uncomfortably full with food.
It takes about fifteen minutes for Hoseok to appear, Taehyung gives him a wave and heads out the door and Namjoon heads in the other direction towards the subway. He’s a lot more clumsier in his drunk state easily dropping things and tripping over his own feet. He looks at his reflection through the window and what greats him back is pink against tanned skin, there’s a thin sheen of sweat across his skin and his tie is slightly lopsided.
By the time he reaches his complex he’s ready to crash in for the night, dragging himself towards the lift to take it up. When he reaches his floor he steps out into the corridors and walks towards his door. Just when he’s about to put his keycode in the door next door opens and out steps out a man.
He's got dark hair, sides tapered with an undercut on the sides. He’s wearing a biker jacket over a tank top with baggy pants and some thick platformed boots. He’s covered in silver jewellery, from the lip ring in his mouth to the chains around his neck and the rings on his fingers.
Namjoon doesn’t realise that he’s staring, too absorbed by literally the hottest guy he’s ever seen.
The guy turns to look at him and then he smiles pleasantly. “Hi, you must be my neighbour, 54a?”
“Uh yes, that’s me.” Namjoon nods, trying to sober up. “You’re new here right?”
“Yeah, I just moved in yesterday.” Which definitely explains all the noise last night. Namjoon notices the tattoos on his fingers. “I’m Jungkook by the way, Jeon Jungkook.”
“Jungkook.” Namjoon parrots.
“Yes.” Jungkook chuckles and waits patiently for Namjoon to speak. “And you are?”
“Oh right I’m Namjoon, Kim Namjoon that’s…me.” He points to himself with a dimpled smile that’s a little dopey.
“Well it’s nice to meet you Namjoon-ssi, hopefully I see more of you.” Jungkook smiles, Namjoon only realises then that he’s holding a motorcycle helmet, in which he doesn’t want to think of his hot neighbour riding his bike.
“Nice to meet you too.” Namjoon waves as Jungkook walks by him towards the lift. He presses the code into his door and lets himself in.
When he’s in the safety of his house he can finally sink into the heaviness that’s been weighing him down but his thoughts stay on Jungkook.
He didn’t know what he expected his new neighbour to be like but he wasn’t expecting a tattooed, pierced stud to be it. Namjoon can’t even begin to unravel what he’s feeling the rush of seeing a very cute guy swaying over him. He giggles, still feeling the soju in his system.
At least he didn’t embarrass himself and he had the liquid courage to not fuck up his sentences. He takes it as a win. Tonight was a semi success, he wore his leather jacket and well only Taehyung noticed but he did feel like a boss walking around today, plus he found out his new neighbour is hot.
Namjoon goes to sleep with heavy limbs and lids, falling easily into slumber.
;;;
He wakes up hung over the next day, feeling a throbbing headache behind his eyes. The first thing Namjoon does is drink some water and takes some pills, he opens his draw to find a hangover drink which he drains equally as fast.
Namjoon gets up to shower and start his day, once he gets to the office everyone is in and it doesn’t seem like anyone is regretting how much they drank last night except Namjoon. They’re all chatting with each other instead of getting started for work and Namjoon narrowly misses them as he says a rushed good morning past.
He walks towards his cubicle and slithers out of his leather jacket and slips into his seat, Taehyung is nowhere in sight which is weird but nonetheless a peaceful start to the morning. His head still aches but he makes his morning coffee and starts his day anyway, he’ll just have to work through the hangover.
After about an hour Taehyung comes back and gives his usual spiel about the manager wanting to see him about the reports. Taehyung is surprisingly spry, despite whatever he got up to last night, he looks like he slept a full eight hours and had breakfast while Namjoon is fighting off eye bags.
But instead of working, he goes to bother Ms Choi and she uncharacteristically smiles at him, who knew that woman knew how to be warm. Namjoon is looking for a pencil when he goes into his bag to find the pencil case, but instead his hand finds a glossy magazine and Namjoon pulls it out remembering he hasn’t given it back to Taehyung yet.
He hopes Taehyung won’t miss it for a couple more days, he’s been harbouring it now that he’s going through this silly notion of actually trying out those tips. He discreetly flicks back to the page and reads it through again, the only thing he’s done is the leather and he’s too scared to do anything.
The lingerie is embarrassing but he supposes he could get some, it might be weird to be seen in a lingerie store and they’ll assume it’s for his girlfriend. He won’t get anything too fancy, something functional and pretty. Namjoon doesn’t know the first thing about shopping for lingerie but he figures it can’t be that hard.
On his break he slips past Taehyung’s slippery fingers with the excuse of needing to go to the pharmacy but actually he heads to the city centre, filled with boutiques and shops. Namjoon walks around a bit trying to find what looked like a lingerie store. He finds it near the escalators to the upper floor and grabs his backpack more firmly.
When he steps into the store there is upbeat music playing, rows and rows of lacey mesh material surrounds him; the bras, to panties, thongs, suspenders, nighties. He’s spoilt for choice. He takes careful steps in awe almost afraid to touch anything and ruin the soft lace.
He’s perusing when a sales assistant comes up to him with a smile “Hi there sir, is there anything I can help you with today?”
“Oh um, I’m just looking.” Namjoon turns beet red having been found near some sparkly fake gemstone thongs.
“Well if you need anything please free feel to ask.” She bows with a smile and walks away, Namjoon takes a breath, the sooner he picks something the faster he’ll be out of here. He decides to go to the safest bet and looks through the bin of frenchies and g strings, the material feels so dainty in his hand barely weighing anything. He goes through several, trying to find one that might be his size. He falls on a pale blue pair of panties, the rims are made from lace and it has a tiny bow in the front and a comfortable thong in the back.
Namjoon has never worn anything like this and is embarrassed, getting redder in the face the more he looks at it, but it’s also pretty and he thinks he could maybe pull of something like that. Not that anyone would see, God he’d never show his face out again if they did.
Making a decision he picks it up and walks up to one of the tills, the same sales assistant from earlier is the one who serves him, she’s a bright little thing chatting animatedly about what a great purchase Namjoon just made. Namjoon is also thankful she didn’t ask if it was for a girlfriend because he has a sneaking feeling she probably thinks it’s for him judging by the funny look she gives him.
When he’s handed a bag, he quickly stuffs it into his backpack, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. He stops by the canteen to get something that he could eat on his way back to the office, feeling yet again as if he’s accomplished something.
The lingerie burns a hole into his backpack, Namjoon is spooked whenever someone so much as walks by, he hopes his face doesn’t betray the anxiety he feels. But the last thing he needs is to be office gossip for being a pervert who buys women’s underwear.
Namjoon is in the bathroom, fixing himself in the mirror when Taehyung walks in.
“I know something that you don’t ~” Taehyung sings as he walks into one of the cubicles, Namjoon freezes panicked, no surely Taehyung couldn’t have rifled through his bag and found the unmentionables, not only is that wildly inappropriate but he truly thinks Taehyung would do it.
“W-what are you talking about?”
“According to Ms Choi, Woosung hyung is currently single, sure he flirts with Mina sometimes but they don’t have anything going on.” Taehyung yells from over the door, Namjoon feels himself fill with relief and then confusion.
“Okay? What does that have to do with me?”
“Means you can ask him out silly, don’t you remember you have a huge crush on him.” Taehyung says stepping out of the cubicle, Namjoon is backed into a corner there’s no way he said anything like that to Taehyung. But then he remembers the company dinner and him being so drunk that he accidentally let it slip that he thought he was cute.
“Taehyung I don’t have a crush on him.”
“Oo sure you do, you’re just shy which is sweet. But Woosung hyung won’t mind, he’s totally into cuties like you.” Namjoon finds himself stammering to respond, this couldn’t be good.
“What have you said?”
“Oh nothing.” Taehyung expects his nails before turning on the tap to wash his hands, he turns to Namjoon with a smirk. “Just that he has a secret admirer in the office.”
“Taehyung-ah, I wish you wouldn't. I told you I’m not interested in anyone.”
“That’s not what you said last night.” Taehyung fixes his hair in the mirror and pouts like he’s posing.
“What did I say?”
“That you were going to ask someone out soon, I’m holding you to that you know.” There it was, Namjoon’s huge fuck up, he forgot that he would be stupid enough to say something like that and Taehyung would be someone who would hold him up to it.
“I…I’m still working on it, but it’s not going to be anyone from work.” Namjoon quickly adds, although it’s too late because Taehyung has definitely gotten himself mixed up in Namjoon’s dating life.
“Whatever you say, but just know I’m holding out on you Namjoonie hyung, you should date it’s good for you.” Taehyung turns him to and says.
“Yeah I guess.” Somebody else walks in and that’s the end of that conversation.
When Namjoon gets home he just stares at the lingerie bag on his bed, he doesn’t quite know what to do with it and thinks about how embarrassing it was to purchase it. But if that magazine said it would make him bolder he was willing to try. He takes it out of the bag and puts it in his boxer drawer out of sight.
There’s more banging coming from next door and Namjoon figures it’s his new neighbour, what was his name again, Junghoon? Ah yes Jungkook. Namjoon remembers meeting him drunk as hell on his way in. He hopes he didn’t act embarrassing or said anything that was inappropriate. Through his foggy thoughts he remembers him being attractive and young with huge doe eyes which wasn’t exactly a problem, it’s not like Namjoon would see him much.
The last thing he needs is to be caught up with his fairly hot neighbour, for now they were strangers and if he was anything like the last neighbour he will keep to himself.
Dinner is on the stove when he gets into the kitchen and all Namjoon can hear is drilling coming from next door, Jungkook never worked until too late in the evening which was great but it meant that Namjoon would hear him all throughout the day.
Namjoon stirs the stew in the pot and takes a swipe to taste, he adds a bit more salt to the stew and taps the wooden spoon on the rim. He hums as he boils the rice cakes, moving about them with chopsticks. Namjoon wasn’t a chef by any means but he did alright for himself when it came to cooking, that's if he wasn’t accidentally breaking things or setting stuff on fire.
He moves about the kitchen preparing dinner and eats to the sound of drilling until about nine pm. That’s when it stops for good and Jungkook seems to pack in the construction for the day. Namjoon is thankful, he needs a full night’s sleep to be able to get up for work tomorrow.
When he’s done cooking, he plates up his food and goes into the living room to set the room up. He puts on a mood light and turns on the TV, flicking through the channels until he lands on something worth watching.
Namjoon is in the middle of putting some socks away when his eyes catch a glimpse of the little bag of lingerie he left on his table that he forgot to throw. He looks at it for a long time debating, the thought of wearing anything so delicate makes him a little queasy but something about the idea of lingerie still made him buy it.
He likes the feeling of being soft and dainty despite his size, which is something he’s never gotten to experiment much. He thinks about it carefully, they were daring but cute, besides no one will see them and he will just go about his day as normal, yes that’s right.
;;;
Namjoon feels uncomfortable as he walks into the office building, he’s flushed to his ears and keep his backpack low on his back. He stands at the back of the elevator hoping no one can see through his pants as to what he has on underneath.
It was a stupid decision he made on a whim to put these panties on and now he feels ridiculous, he’s waiting for the moment someone will obviously see what he’s wearing and call him a pervert but so far no one seems to say anything.
He decided today that he was going to put on the panties after a shower, that it was just for today and Namjoon could take the flimsy thing off. He’s supposed to feel sexy and bold and empowered but so far he’s nothing but flushed cheeks and panic.
He’s especially jumpy around Taehyung who merely gives him a strange look for walking so stiffly but says nothing except to rattle off more office gossip that’s been going on. Namjoon takes a seat at his desk feeling the panties move along with him. They’re surprisingly comfortable despite the mishap of today, they’re soft and the thong doesn’t dig in too deep the way he thought. If he wasn’t so caught up in how he was feeling he would appreciate just how nice it feels to wear such a nice piece of lace.
Throughout the day he’s nervous; whenever he goes for coffee, when he’s standing in line for lunch, even when he’s just walking across to the printer. He feels like there’s a big sign on his head that says ‘look at me I’m wearing panties’ and everyone is going to know.
But it was all for nothing because no one ever said anything and he didn’t put himself in a compromising position to be found out, so once it reaches the end of his shift, he lets out a sigh he didn’t know he was holding.
He walks past Sohee and Mina who are whispering to each other in a conspiring way and bows at his manager when he sees him on the way out.
The commute home isn’t so bad today and Namjoon takes a detour to the convenience store before coming home. After wearing panties all day, his honest opinion is that they weren’t so bad, sure he was thankful for the cubicles in the work bathroom but overall the magazine didn’t lie. He felt much more vivacious and dare he say a little sexy for wearing something so skimpy.
He wonders if he could find someone who would be into that sort of thing, would they find it weird? It’s really a piece of cloth much like most things that shouldn’t have a gender but people can be weird about things. Plus he was kidding himself, he had no one and wasn’t going to anytime soon to be wearing such things for anyway.
Once he gets out of the lift to his floor, he notices a few packages outside of his door. Namjoon looks confused, trying to remember what he ordered. He squats down to the floor making sure the packages are in his name and tries to feel around for what maybe inside.
“Um.”
Namjoon's head swivels round so fast he almost loses his balance. He finds his neighbour Jungkook standing there holding what looks like takeout dressed in comfortable home clothes. He stands rather stock still, already large eyes as wide as dinner plates, not looking away from where they’re zeroed in on Namjoon’s lower back.
Namjoon gives him a funny look, trying to look down at what Jungkook was looking at until he realises– there’s a cool breeze drifting up his back. His shirt has untucked from his pants and while he’s been bent, his lacey thong has been exposed to the air like a tattoo stamped to his skin.
There is silence for a few seconds too long and Namjoon is immediately scrambling to his feet, red to his neck. He tries to pull his jacket down to hide what Jungkook has already seen and avoids his gaze.
Choosing not to say anything he quickly picks up his packages and barrels into his apartment slamming the door behind him.
“Fuck.” He curses, closing his eyes, how embarrassing. His fucking hot neighbour that he’s met a total of two times has just seen him wear panties. There’s no way he could live this down,he’s going to have to move, dye his hair and change his name. It was so stupid of him to be so foolish, did he really think he could make himself feel sexier by wearing a dumb pair of panties which felt like a brand against his skin.
He rushes to his bedroom, tearing through his boxer drawer to get out briefs to change into. There’s no way he could be caught dead in those again, they’ll have to stay at the bottom of his drawer and never see the light of day again.
Namjoon throws himself onto the bed and groans into his pillow, the humiliation just won’t leave him no matter how hard he tries. He’s replaying Jungkook’s wide eyed expression, pink lips slightly agape. If that didn’t show the horror in his eyes, Namjoon doesn’t know what will.
Now his neighbour probably thinks he’s perverted, next time he won’t be so stupid following equally stupid tips from a stupid magazine. It seemed like such a good idea but now he wants to be done with it and never look back.
Namjoon pours himself a large glass of wine, he’s still feeling sorry for himself hours after the incident. He knows there’s nothing he can do now except pretend this didn’t happen and avoid his neighbour like the plague until he was able to show his face again.
With a sigh he takes a large gulp, he should give the magazine back to Taehyung since he no longer needs it. But every time he thinks about giving it back, he feels himself dwindle in courage because one thing he hated was leaving something unfinished.
For some odd reason, he couldn’t quite shake the article off yet, even though he’s just shown his unmentionables to his neighbour. He wanted to give a true effort and try everything out at least once but working through the embarrassment is going to put a slight pause on doing anything else.
Namjoon nurses his drink all the way through two episodes of his favourite series, he’s a little more relaxed now that he’s had some wine. He’s back in the comforts of his boxers and doesn’t have to wear those panties again. Besides no one had noticed, it only came to someone’s attention because he was bent over like an idiot. But he’s willing to put this day behind him, no longer wanting to sink in the embarrassment.
;;;
“Namjoon-ssi right?” Woosung says, he’s leaning against Namjoon’s cubicle the following week with a pen behind his ear. He’s handsome in that obvious way with a sharp jawline and angular features.
Namjoon looks up from where he was typing, he peers at over his glasses at Woosung. “Uh yeah hello sunbae.”
“I was just wondering if you wanted to get a drink after work, I know a cool bbq place that does soju.” He says with all the sauve in the world, it does make Namjoon flush a little, pink in the cheeks.
“Um-.”
“He’d love to.” Taehyung pipes in, draping over the other side of Namjoon’s cubicle, he’s got a cheshire cat grin on his face and winks at Namjoon.
“Sweet, I’ll meet you around the front when work is done, see you around.” He says with a signature smirk that dazzles everyone in sight, Namjoon can see why half of the office is swooning for him and he almost does to, except he doesn’t date from work.
Well this wasn’t technically a date, it was just drinks and food with a semi respectable work colleague, he probably isn’t the first Woosung has asked for drinks and certainly isn’t the last but it makes Namjoon’s stomach tighten nonetheless.
He thinks about it all through work, Mr Kim called everyone for a meeting in the afternoon and Namjoon was only half listening drone on about getting started on applicants that were coming in for interviews and the monthly report.
Namjoon checks the time on his watch, he's currently in the stationary cupboard getting out more sticky notes and highlighters from storage. It's almost time to head home and he's still got two menial tasks to finish.
Taehyung has disappeared for over an hour after complaining about his workload and needing some retail therapy.
Namjoon makes his way back to his desk and wraps up for the rest of the day.
He finds Woosung outside smoking a cigarette leaning against the railing, he looks picturesque in his white button up shirt and slacks the wind blowing in his hair.
When he notices Namjoon he blows a cloud of smoke and smiles.
“Ready to go?”
The BBQ place is about ten minutes from the office, they get seated near the back and Woosung orders a round of soju and meat.
He's charming when he speaks and Namjoon often finds himself speechless or a stuttering mess between sentences.
“So Namjoon-ssi tell me about yourself what do you like to do outside of work?” Woosung asks, taking a shot of soju.
“Oh well I like to read, go by the library and ride my…bike.” Namjoon feels kind of pathetic telling him about himself after Woosung just named about ten things he does in his spare time. He's never felt so boring in comparison.
“Homebody that's cool, don't you like to go out you know to like bars and stuff?”
“Sometimes.” Namjoon shies behind his drink and takes a sip. “I like a glass of wine from time to time and maybe a beer.”
“Then how comes you don't come to the group drinks, we just went yesterday.”
“I was busy.” Namjoon answers lamely, he messes with the meat on his plate, conscious of having Woosung opposite him. He rubs at the back of his head feeling awkward.
“Well I'd like to see you more so maybe you can make time.” Woosung leans forward, Namjoon sucks in a breath. Was this flirting? He couldn't tell. He still couldn't be sure that Woosung was into guys, not without any proper clarification except from Taehyung's overenthusiastic tale. “Your hair’s cute, I don't see a lot of guys rock it short like that that are our age.”
“Oh.” Namjoon blushes, he feels the need to touch his head again. He notices Woosung gazing over his chest and gulps. “I prefer my hair short, it's easier to style.”
“I bet, you're a big guy too.” Woosung offers a squeeze of his bicep and Namjoon has to stop himself from frazzling at the seams. “You work out?”
“I try to work out when I can.” Namjoon tries to make himself smaller in his seat but he knows from the way his shirt buttons struggle to stay together that he's doing a bad job. The material stretching over his chest. “D-do you work out sunbae?”
“Yeah at least twice a week, I go running whenever I can too, gotta keep this body in shape.” Woosung says tapping his own stomach, Namjoon tries to stop himself from imagining Woosung’s body. If it's anything like his face then it's just as perfectly chiselled.
He takes another sip of soju.
Woosung keeps asking Namjoon questions and Namjoon forces himself to answer, he tries not to drink too much so as to avoid embarrassing himself. Woosung might naturally be a flirt because he compliments Namjoon until he's red in the face and looking down at his thighs to avoid eye contact.
When the bill comes, Woosung easily takes it up and deviously winks at Namjoon when he catches him staring.
They walk together to the subway and Namjoon turns to him when they reach the station.
“Thank you for dinner sunbae, I had a good time.” He bows clutching at his backpack with both hands in front of him.
“I did too, why don't we exchange numbers. It will gives us a chance to get to know each other well. We work in the same company but I feel like I know nothing about you.” Woosung says, he's standing awfully close and for some absurd reason Namjoon thinks he might be leaning in for a kiss.
That's probably how it usually ends for him. But seeing as it was open street and they were both men he wasn't about to take that risk.
Not that Namjoon wanted him to kiss him, he hadn't prepared for that. In fact he hadn't prepared for this date at all and he doesn't know what that means for him and Woosung now.
“Well I'm going this way so I'll see you around at work Namjoon-ah, can I call you that now?” Woosung drawls at his name like it's something dirty and it makes Namjoon's ears hot.
“Uh sure sunbae.”
“Hyung, come on we’re friends.” Woosung smirks and Namjoon gulps. He nods and slings his backpack over his shoulder.
“See you tomorrow hyung.”
Namjoon sits between a sleeping student and an old woman on the commute home, he gazes out of the window as the city turns into a blur on the ride home.
He clutches his backpack to his chest sighing heavily, music plays through his headphones and he taps his foot along rhythmically.
When he gets back to his complex, he greets Mrs Lee’s daughter, a fifteen year old with a lollipop in her mouth and long dark hair. She says her mother has sent her on an errand to the convenience store, clearly bored out of her mind.
While heading to the lift he notices the doors closing and immediately starts running, yelling “Hold the door!”
Suddenly a tattooed hand curls around the door stopping from closing and the doors open again. Namjoon comes barrelling in, coat hanging off his shoulder on one side and sweat on his upper lip.
“Thank you.” He pants, bending over to catch his breath.
“No problem.” Namjoon freezes slowly looking up from where he was bent over slightly. He finds Jungkook standing there in all his glory wearing another biker jacket with baggy ripped pants.
He's leaning against the wall with a helmet under his arm, lip ring gleaming in the light. This close Namjoon can see the roundest of the cheeks which seems to contrast with the sharpness of his jaw.
He's got a big nose and small pouty lips that shine from a thin sheen of lip balm. He smells good too, like something clean and masculine and it makes Namjoon's head feel dizzy.
Suddenly all the memories of the panty incident floods his brain. He hasn't seen Jungkook since then and that was on purpose, he's been actively trying to avoid him, looking from left to right and quietly listening for when he could hear Jungkook moving about his apartment.
Namjoon immediately flushes and looks away, the short ride up to their floor feels like an eternity. It's awkward and cramped and the silence is filled with the whur of the elevator.
When the doors open Namjoon steps out first, power walking to his door without a glance behind him.
When he's safely inside he sighs, he hadn't expected to see Jungkook which was ridiculous because they lived next door to each other. He feels a little guilty for running, he was being a particularly good neighbour right now but what he could do when Jungkook thought he was a pervert.
He hears Jungkook’s door click shut and feels relief that he's finally safe from him. He knows long term that this isn't sustainable but for the mean time this will have to do.
He strips out of his jacket and hangs it up, shoes following. Namjoon pads into the kitchen to get a drink of water, he ate at the restaurant so he doubts he’ll eat anytime soon and instead goes to his bedroom to get changed.
He notices his laundry basket is piling up and decides to take the bag to his washing machine to put a load in.
Namjoon thinks about drinks with Woosung, he wonders if he’ll speak to him more at the office now they've gone out. There was a strange smirk on his face all through our dinner and Namjoon is afraid of just how much Taehyung told him.
He's a little out of practice on how to talk to people one on one and isn't sure if he was making good conversation, how he looked or if his cheeks were too flushed. He’s not one to go on many dates and often spent his nights solo, it was a little lonely and he often wished he had somewhere to share it with.
He looks to the side at his bedroom dresser and finds the magazine sitting on his desk, he bites his lip before reaching out for it. He flicks back to the page the article is on and reads it again.
He skips to the last one about doing some spontaneous, he thinks about it and now that it’s come to his attention he hasn’t been out for a while. He can’t remember the last time he just rode his bike or went on a hike. Work has been keeping him busy and the early mornings means he’s shattered by the end of the day.
But he decides that will stop today, he will start making time to go out again. Perhaps he could go to an exhibit- that’s right, he quickly grabs his phone. Opening naver, he taps in some local exhibitions that are around his area and a few options come up. He chooses one about sculpting and ceramics reading about the history of the artist.
He’ll go after work tomorrow as something to look forward to. He smiles, feeling particularly proud of himself, no matter how many embarrassing situations he’s been in since this started, he’s still been silently following the tips, feeling little pockets of accomplishment.
Once the laundry is done, Namjoon goes about folding the clothes and putting them away. Before bed Namjoon rubs in some cream on his face while climbing into bed. He’s deciding to go to bed early to prepare for tomorrow, he plugs in his phone and snuggles into bed.