Chapter 29

"A plan"

"So, what do you want to drink? Espresso? Americano? Or do you want tea?" asked Namjoon and looked at Jung Hwa who was sitting in front of him at the small round table. All around them, there was a sweet scent of coffee and the soft jazzy melodies were playing in the background from the speakers. Faint chatters and talking filled the café, but it wasn't on a level you would call loud so you could easily have a quiet conversation with whomever you were with.

"Why did we have to meet here?" asked Jung Hwa, completely ignorering Namjoon's question.

"I will go buy two Americano's then," replied Namjoon, ignoring Jung Hwa as well, "I will be right back."

Jung Hwa watched as Namjoon walked to the counter where he went to the end of the line, patiently waiting for his turn. Jun Hwa sometimes admired his patience and calm nature, something that she had never had. He might have some strong opinions about things and he was especially protective about Ha Na, but he would never do something rash, always calculating and thinking things through before doing anything. As a person who spoke before thinking, acted before reflecting on the situation, she always looked up to Namjoon, sometimes she even envied him a bit.

Her look slowly turned into a stare and Namjoon seemed to feel her eyes on him, because he suddenly turned his head and sent her a quick wink as he locked eyes with her, which made her turn her head away immediately.

"There you go," said Namjoon and handed the cup of coffee to Jung Hwa, "I also got you that nutty-chocolatty-tart thing you like." Jung Hwa looked at the plate in front of her which contained her favorite tart and she decided to let Namjoon off the hook for now and instead enjoy the tart.

Namjoon watched in awe as Jung Hwa happily ate the tart with the biggest smile on her lips and he just quietly enjoyed his coffee, hoping that time would go by slower. But time went by just as fast as it always did when Jung Hwa was by his side, and soon the tart was gone and she again looked at Namjoon with those judgmental eyes.

"Now, will you please tell me why I am here?" said she, "because if we are just here to pass time, then I have a lot of studying to do."

"Of course, I wouldn't call you out here if there wasn't a reason," said Namjoon and it seemed to ease Jung Hwa's mind a bit. 

"It is about Hakyeon."

"What about him?" asked Jung Hwa even though she knew exactly where this conversation was going.

"Since that day, things have been way too awkward. They avoid each other and barely speak when they are in the same room. It is making it hard for all of us to hang out."

"So what? We will just be separated for the moment. You and Hakyeon Oppa will hang out, me and Ha Na."

"So you don't think we should do anything?" asked Namjoon.

"I don't think there is anything we can do."

"Why not?"

"Because he is in love with her," Jung Hwa blurted out so loud that the people close to their table, turned their head in utter confusion at her statement. She covered her head and stayed quiet for a while until people seemed to get back to their own business.

"I know he is in love with her," said Namjoon followed by a sigh, "and I hate seeing him like this, I don't want our group to fall apart. We have been together for so long."

"Maybe that is the problem," stated Jung Hwa, which made Namjoon lift his eyebrows in confusion.

"What do you mean?" asked Namjoon.

"I don't know," said Jung Hwa as she looked down at her empty cup, "if we are having this conversation I am going to need another cup of coffee," followed she, and Namjoon immediately got up from his chair.

"Wait right here and I will go get you another one. How about another tart as well?"

"Oppa, are you trying to make me fat?" asked Jung Hwa with a lifted brow and Namjoon just laughed.

"No I am trying to make you happy," said he in between his laughs, "and another tart it is."

"But-" Namjoon had already left the table and Jung Hwa was left alone again as she sighed, "there goes the diet right out the window."

"So, you think it is a bad thing that the four of us are close?" asked Namjoon while Jung Hwa was stuffing her face. She shook her head and waited until she had finished swallowing before speaking.

"I don't think it is a bad thing that we are close, but maybe we have grown to accustomed to each other. We never expected that things would change, don't you think that it is stopping us from growing up."

"Ah," said Namjoon as he seemed to catch on, "so you are saying we are all trying to hold onto our childhood by staying with each other."

"Yes, something like that," said Jung Hwa, "Hakyeon Oppa never confessed to Ha Na even though he saw her almost every day for the last 17 years. Because confessing to her would mean things would change, and change can be scary. We humans hate change more than anything, mostly because we don't know what the outcome will be."

"And Hakyeon has probably been scared of what would happen to our group if he started dating Ha Na and it didn't work out. How would it affect his friendship with me, how would it affect all of us." 

"I am not sure he even thought that far, I think it was all subconscious. He told me it was only after Jimin showed up, he realized that he wanted Ha Na to himself. But then it was too late."

"Woah," said Namjoon and Jung Hwa looked at him with confusion.

"What now?"

"Sometimes I just forget that you are studying psychology, but when we talk like this it really shines through that you know a lot about these things."

"Really?" said Jung Hwa and didn't know if she should take that as a compliment or not.

"Yes it does," said Namjoon, "you know, I just can't believe that neither of us realized his feelings."

"Well," said Jung Hwa as she was ready to pull out another psychological explanation, "you and I have also been tainted by our small group dynamic. Things went on like they always had, we never expected any of us to change. We have known each other since childhood, to think that we would evolve romantic feelings for one another seemed impossible for our subconscious so we simply didn't look for the signs." Jung Hwa looked at Namjoon and waited for an answer, but she was only met by two eyes that stared into hers and a happy smile on his lips.

"What?"

"I just enjoy talking to you like this," replied Namjoon.

"You are being weird today," Jung Hwa brushed him off.

After a lot more talking, mostly from Jung Hwa's side, accompanied by stares and sighs from Namjoon, they left the cafe and began their journey home. It was Saturday and the streets were filled with people, but when you looked around, it was easy to spot that the summer was over as people were dressed in long coats with scarfs wrapped around their necks. The autumn wind was not to be taken lightly, which was also the reason why Namjoon insisted on lending his scarf to Jung Hwa, who had forgotten to bring her own.

"So what is the plan now?" asked Jung Hwa with Namjoon's scarf wrapped around her necks so many times it reached to the tip of her nose.

"We wait for now, until things calm down a bit," said Namjoon, "right now Hakyeon is still too emotional to be with Ha Na. I just hope he will get over her somehow. Maybe you could set him up with someone?"

"No," said Jung Hwa, "I don't think he should get into a relationship while he is still in love with Ha Na."

"Says the girl who dates whoever confesses to her."

"I so do not!" protested Jung Hwa.

"When have you shot down someone who confessed to you?"

"There was... well then... back when..." Jung Hwa kept started sentences she couldn't finish and in the end let out a loud cry. "Fine, I am not the best example, but I still think we shouldn't try to set Hakyeon Oppa up with someone right now."

"Okay, then we just wait and let time do its magic."

As they reached their houses, Namjoon and Jung Hwa parted ways with a quick bow and then waved as they each went to their own house. When Namjoon reached for the doorknob, the entire conversation from earlier flashed through his mind and he sighed.

If I am not careful, I could end up like Hakyeon, thought Namjoon to himself, if I wait too long she will be snatched away like Ha Na was.

After pushing away his worries, Namjoon entered the house and yelled out "hello," with no response. His parents were probably drinking afternoon tea at the Cha family's house. Figuring that Ha Na wouldn't have gone with them, he went to Ha Na's room to check on her and was shocked to find her under her blanket while quietly sobbing.

Namjoon wanted to call out to her, but as her face was covered as well, she wouldn't be able to see his signs, and instead he walked over and carefully sat down on her bed. In the flash of a light, Ha Na pushed away her blanket to see who had discovered her while she was crying alone in hiding. It calmed her down a bit that it was only Namjoon and not her mom.

"What is wrong?" signed Namjoon and the tears started flowing from Ha Na's eyes again and she sat up on the bed and held out her arms, asking for a hug. Namjoon gladly gave it to her and held her tight until she was ready to explain.

"I miss Jimin," signed Ha Na, "he has been so distant lately. Even when we hang out, he seems tired and I feel like a burden to him. We agreed to go out to dinner tomorrow but he just canceled."

"What did you reply to that?" asked Namjoon.

"Nothing," signed Ha Na, "he has been texting me a few times since then, but I haven't looked."

"Can I see?" Ha Na was a little hesitant but then gave her phone for Namjoon to see. He carefully read through the latest texts, making sure not to invade her privacy more than necessary.

"Ha Na, he has been messaging you since an hour ago, asking if you are okay," signed Namjoon, "he is really sorry he had to cancel. It doesn't sound like something he can control."

"I don't care, I am mad that he canceled again!" signed Ha Na and pouted her lips.

"What are you, a baby?" snapped Namjoon, "it is not like he is breaking up with you, he is just busy right now."

"But I miss him," signed Ha Na, "and I miss Hakyeon Oppa as well. I feel lonely."

"Why do you feel lonely, you have the most amazing older brother right by your side." Ha Na couldn't hold back a faint smile, but she still didn't seem to have cheered up.

"I understand that you miss him, but think about it from Jimin's point of view, don't you think he misses you as well?" Ha Na nodded in response, "then are you really going to make him feel bad about canceling when he is already sad he can't be with you?" Ha Na then shook her head, "alright, then what will you do?"

"I will reply to his messages," signed she and quickly unlocked her phone, typing in her message whereafter she showed it to Namjoon.

"There you go," said Namjoon, "now, we can't have you lying here in bed all day feeling lonely. What do you want to do?"

"Nothing," replied Ha Na.

"There must be something you want to do," said Namjoon, "how about I kick your ass in some one-against-one car racing?" Ha Na's lips went up in a smirk and she signed:

"I think you sre overestimating yourself, but if you don't mind that I kick your ass instead, then I sm in!"

After Namjoon and Ha Na went to turn on the PlayStation, quickly getting completely emerged in the game as they were shoving and tickling each other, doing anything to win the game, a message arrived.

From: Park Jimin ❤️🐨

Thank you for being so understanding. I miss you a lot but I can't afford to fall behind right now. Please be patient with me. I'll make it up to you somehow. I promise.

Hello everyone!

I hope you are still enjoying the story. If you are, please let me know in the comments down below! I would love to hear your thoughts!

Remember to stay happy and healthy and take good care of yourself!

Love, Annalise~