Over the next half hour, many people would wander through the park to notice the young couple clinging to each other. Namjoon didn’t want to ever let her go, but he recognized that wasn’t practical. Even had he been a normal guy, he would have had to release her at some point. But he put it off for as long as possible.
He nuzzled the top of her head, sliding his nose through her soft hair. Watching as the sunlight bounced off the many shades contained therein. He could catch some auburn and chestnut strands running alongside the golden honey and flaxen ones.
He inhaled. She smelled of cherries and almonds. A most delightful scent that he would carry with him wherever he went. The memory of today would long be emblazoned upon his heart. The crisp, blue sky, the gentle breeze (no pun intended, Jin!), the soft sunlight filtering through the waves of her hair. The feel of her pressed up against the length of his body. Her soft curves fitting him perfectly. Her loving arms embracing him. Her beautiful face pressed against his heart. Her lovely lips releasing her precious breath into the folds of his shirt. He would never forget these priceless moments in her arms. And so he lingered still.
Breeze held her breath. If this was a dream, it was lasting a long time. She sniffed, inhaling the aroma that was Namjoon. It awakened a memory within her. She had walked through a forest once right after a tree had been harvested. The scent of freshly sawn wood had filled the air. She had passed by the pile of sawdust, and it had released its fresh scent to her. It was a welcome fragrance, somehow promising warmth and the beginning of something new. She could have sworn she smelled it now entangled with some exotic spice. She breathed in again. And was once more transported to that foreign forest engulfed in musk and something undefinable. Cinnamon? Nutmeg? Ginger?
Unable to pinpoint it, she shifted her attention to the hard chest underlying the thin layer of flesh that covered his whole torso. He was so strong, even more so than she had imagined. In her dreams, she had rested her head over his heart a thousand times. But it had never felt this solid, as though vowing a faithfulness the world had yet to experience. A rock-hard inflexibility. A refusal to break his word. A promise of eternal security. And undying fidelity. Oh, brave heart! That he would vow such things to her!
She felt tears filling her eyes again. She squeezed them tightly shut, willing the water works to remain behind her eyelids. But those rebellious teardrops defied her every wish and broke out of their prison despite the doors being firmly shut. They wedged themselves between her eyelids and pried their way out. Only to deposit themselves onto Namjoon’s shirt. Breeze sniffed again as she felt tears filling her sinuses too. Now she was going to need another Kleenex!
Namjoon heard her sniffling. He pulled slightly away from her to glance down at her face, his arms still encircling her. He saw the tears on her cheeks and the damp spot on his shirt, and he knew she’d need another Kleenex in a moment. He looked around. There was no bathroom in sight. He should have just bought a box of Kleenex!
Ah! Then he remembered. An hour ago, they had passed a little stall. The lady had been selling some beautiful silk scarves. He had picked out a lovely one especially for his eomma. Its bag was on the ground at his feet, resting on top of the book of Breeze’s letters.
He released Breeze and bent to pull the scarf from its bag. She watched him. He stood up to his full height, half a foot taller than she was, and held the scarf out to her.
Her eyes widened as she guessed his intent, and she shook her head.
“No, Joonie! That’s a present for your mother! I can’t take it!”
“But you need it.”
“No! I don’t. I’m fine. See?” She wiped the tears off her face with the pads of her palms, but then her nose began to run down her face.
Namjoon smiled sweetly at her. “See? You need it.”
But she was stubbornly shaking her head back and forth as a little rivulet of tears ran down to her lip. Namjoon would brook no argument. He reached out and swiped at her upper lip, wiping away everything that had been offending her face.
Her eyes wide as saucers, she rebuked him. “Joonie! Look what you’ve done! You’ve ruined your mother’s beautiful scarf!”
“I don’t care, Breeze.” His eyes held hers with an intensity that was slightly terrifying to her. “I would give anything for you.”
What had he just said? Did this make any sense? They’d known each other for only a few hours. Would he really? How could he possibly feel this way already?
“Would you really, Joonie? Truly?”
He held his breath. He sure felt like he would. This girl held a remarkable power over him. She had the ability to move his heart in directions that no one else ever had. What was it about her that made him want to be an even better person? She made him want to be a bona fide hero. A superhero, like he’d desired to be as a child.
She had reached down into his heart with her words. She had found places in him that he hadn’t even known existed. And she’d kindled a fire deep down in his soul with her honesty and passion. He wanted her. He longed to pursue a real relationship with her. He just wasn’t quite sure how to make it work.
The echo of her question returned to him, and he nodded his head.
“I’m not sure how we’re supposed to make this work,” she mumbled, sighing.
“One day at a time, Breeze. Let’s just take it one day at a time.”
She looked at him. “That leaves us today then. Let’s enjoy it while it lasts. At least, we’re together today.”
Indeed, they were.