Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Unexpected Moments

The morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Y/N was already up, her bag packed and ready for another day of school. She glanced at the clock—just enough time to grab a quick breakfast before she left.

But as she stepped outside onto the front porch, the unexpected happened.

Namjoon was standing by the gate, casually leaning against the metal fence as though he had been waiting for her. His presence seemed to fill the space, though he wasn't trying to make a scene. He simply stood there, looking as composed as always, but there was something different today—a warmth in his eyes that she hadn't seen before.

Y/N froze for a moment, unsure of what to make of his sudden appearance. She was used to his visits to the convenience store, but this—this was different.

"Good morning, Y/N," Namjoon greeted her with a slight smile, his voice smooth but tinged with something more personal.

"Morning, Namjoon," she replied, still a bit taken aback. She didn't expect him to be here this early, especially not on her front yard. "What are you doing here?"

Namjoon straightened up from the gate and took a step closer, his gaze soft but steady. "I was hoping to catch you before you left for school," he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Y/N blinked, confused. "Catch me?" She couldn't hide the curiosity in her tone. "For what?"

Namjoon smiled again, this time with a bit more of a playful edge. "I thought I could take you to school today. It's on my way, and I figured it would be better than you walking alone."

For a moment, Y/N was speechless. She had never imagined someone like Namjoon—someone so poised, so powerful—offering to take her to school. Sure, they had shared casual conversations, but this felt different. There was no reason for him to go out of his way like this.

But he was already stepping closer, his hand resting casually by the car door, waiting for her response.

"You don't have to," Y/N said quickly, feeling a little flustered. "I'm fine on my own. It's just a short walk."

Namjoon's smile didn't falter. "It's no trouble at all," he insisted. "Let me do this for you. You're already busy enough with school. Consider it a small favor."

She could feel his sincerity in the way he spoke, his calm yet unwavering presence making her hesitant to refuse. After a brief pause, she sighed, giving in. "Alright, fine. Thanks, Namjoon."

Without missing a beat, he opened the passenger door for her, and Y/N climbed into the car, still unsure about the whole situation. Namjoon seemed perfectly at ease, as though he did this kind of thing all the time, and yet it felt so unusual to her.

The drive to school was quiet, but not uncomfortable. Namjoon occasionally glanced over at her, his expression thoughtful, as though he was taking in more than just the road ahead.

Once they arrived at the school gates, Namjoon stopped the car but didn't immediately let her get out. He turned to her, his gaze soft but filled with intent.

"I was thinking," he started, his voice almost casual but with an undertone of something more, "how about we grab lunch after your morning classes? Just the two of us."

Y/N blinked, surprised by the suggestion. "Lunch?" she repeated. "With you?"

Namjoon nodded, his smile warm but not overly eager. "Yeah. I'm sure your morning classes will be exhausting, and I thought we could take a break together. A little time to unwind."

Y/N hesitated, her mind racing. It wasn't like she had other plans, but the idea of spending more time with Namjoon felt... different. In a way, it felt like the beginning of something she wasn't sure she was ready for, but also something she couldn't quite resist.

After a long pause, she finally nodded. "Alright. I guess that sounds nice."

Namjoon's expression softened, and for a brief moment, she could see something like contentment in his eyes—like he was genuinely happy with her answer.

"Great," he said, his voice light but with a subtle edge of anticipation. "I'll pick you up after your last class."

Y/N watched as he drove away, her heart still racing. The offer of lunch, the way he seemed to genuinely care about her—she didn't know what to think. Part of her still questioned his motives, but another part of her couldn't ignore the way his presence had begun to feel... comforting.

As she walked into school, she found herself replaying the moment over and over in her mind. Why had Namjoon done that? Why had he made such an effort to take her to school and invite her to lunch? It felt like something more than just a friendly gesture, but she couldn't figure out what it meant yet.

All she knew was that things between them were starting to shift, and she wasn't sure whether she was ready for it or not.