Missing My Joonie - Tumblr Posts

Exploration No. 5

[namjoon x reader] [1k+ strangers to lovers?, fluff] A/N: This is loosely based on Reese Lansangan's Exploration No. 5. Whenever I listen to the song, I think the line "Hey, what's your favorite crustacean?" was written for Namjoon. Or the entire song might as well have been. Also, I just really miss him. I miss BTS.

-

You hated school excursions, but you think you can make an exception for this particular trip if your museum guide is this cute.

-

For most of the tour, you were spacing out. Walking past exhibits, mindlessly taking photos of artifacts you may or may not use as a reference to your sketches. It's not like you didn't like museums, you actually enjoyed them. But on your own time.

"Y/N, look," Jungkook calls for your attention, imitating the posture of a taxidermized creature.

"Cute," you reply dryly. "Ya!" You hear as you walk away, not in the mood for one of his shenanigans.

You were passing by a group gathered under the fossilized crustaceans exhibit when the guide, passionately explaining an in-depth history of crustaceans, caught your eye.

The museum wasn't exactly short of cute guys, but call it fate or whatever you want, but something had you glued to where you stood, a few steps away from him. And it's not like you stayed to gawk at the guy, you were genuinely growing interested and curiouser and curiouser with each discussion.

"So, any questions?" The cute guy asks. Cue crickets and tumbleweeds passing. "Right. Thanks for—"

"Is it true lobsters pair and mate for life?" You dumbly ask. Of all the questions you could ask.

Seeming shocked someone asked a question, Namjoon searches for the source of the voice.

Your eyes meet.

"Ah well, miss…"

"Y/N. Just Y/N"

"Just Y/N," he smirks, "I hate to be the breaker of bad news, but by nature, lobsters are not exactly monogamous. A male lobster would most likely mate with multiple females during encounters lasting days to weeks. So no, lobsters don't pair and mate for life." He clarifies with a smile.

Just when you thought he couldn't be more adorable, you're proven wrong with those dimples.

"Ah, I see," you return with a smile, "Bummer."

"But there are other sea creatures that stick to one when they find their pair; we have angelfishes, sea otters, even some species of seahorses," he ends with a soft laugh.

Fuck, he's really adorable. "Oh, cute," clearing your throat, "I meant the angelfishes, and the uhm..” You let out a half wheeze, half laugh noise.

Now he’s staring with mirthful eyes.

“I was saying it’s cute that there are species that, uhm, that are like, you know, monogamous. Sticks to one; ride-or-die couples, I guess." Great, you're now rambling.

And your group seemed to have moved on to the next exhibit.

Reluctant to leave but unsure how to continue the conversation, he picks it up for you and asks, "Did you get that 'fact' from friends?"

"Huh?"

"The one about the lobster. I presume you watched the series and got it from there."

Now you're embarrassed. "Heh, I did. Kind of embarrassed now to admit that I believed it for years," you titter, "have you watched the show, too?"

He hums in reply. And as he walks further to the fossil aisle, you follow. "My mom bought me all ten DVDs, and from that, I learned to speak English better," he continues. You laugh, thinking it was a joke until you chance another look at him.

"Oh, you're serious." Another smile, then he nods. "So, do you think you're more of a Joey, Chandler, or Ross?"

Now it's his turn to look at you. "Humor me," you continue.

"I guess I'm a bit like Chandler. I see myself relating to his character." You let a beat pass before shamelessly replying, "I bet you don't have much trouble getting girls, though."

At that, he loudly laughs, a few students turning to look in your direction.

Oh, you'd gladly lamely flirt with him in exchange for his amusement.

"That's actually the bit that I relate to. Aside from classes and this internship here at the museum, it's not every day I meet cute girls who would want to talk to me. But today must be my lucky day."

Again, he smirks. He definitely knows how it affects you, too. You blush. And if possible, melt. You don't think you can even look at him, so you turn to face the artifacts. You actually dare to be bashful now when you fired the first flirty remark.

Mouth still stretched to a grin, you turn to face him. "You must think you're charming, huh?"

"Well, I'm assuming if I struck your fancy, at least a little bit." You like the creases by his eyes when he smiles, you think.

"Okay, you did. And you are."

Like a still-frame from a film, you're stood in the middle of the museum, heart eyes staring at each other.

You were the first to break away.

You are about to ask him another question when your professor announces it's time to leave for your next museum destination.

"Ah, I guess you have to go now," he nods towards the corner where students start to gather. You turn to look and agree with a nod, hiding your disappointment.

You try to stall. Just a bit. You gather all the bits of courage you have, "I know this is a bit too direct, but—" You're cut off, "Y/N, come on, we gotta go." Jungkook calls for you.

You huff, "Yea, just a minute. I'm right behind you." You stare him down until he goes ahead without you. And he does, but not before glancing at Namjoon.

You look back at Namjoon to see him expectantly looking at you, "Uhm, so thanks for the fact-check.." You trail off as he nods. Your courage was quick to leave you, and with that, you accept defeat.

But as if your fallen confidence were caught by your feet, you were merely a few steps away when you walk back to him, "Hey, what's your favorite crustacean?"

Startled by the question, Namjoon stutters a reply, "What?" He sees you shift in your feet, "Well, I mean, there are a lot, and I guess there's—"

"Can you tell me through text?" You attempt to steel your nerves once again. You can let embarrassment consume you after you leave the museum, but now, you want to shoot your shot.

He laughs and looks at your leaving party, "I guess I can do that since we're pressed for time." He takes your phone to call his, and long fingers quickly types in his name and number before you hear Jungkook call for you again across the gallery.

"Thanks," you see his saved contact and smile, "Joon."

He smiles back with a nod.

Ah. There's that killer smile. You want to dip your finger in those dimples, you think.

You hold back your intrusive thoughts and rush to your friends.

Unbeknownst to you, Namjoon’s stupefied, in a good way. And as he watches you catch up to your group, you turn around and wave goodbye. He returns the gesture.

-

Sat at the bus and enthused, you send Namjoon a message.

"Hey, tell me again, what's your favorite crustacean?"