🎶

Namjoon loved the Botanical Gardens in  Claremont for obvious reasons. So on days like this when the weather was nice and he wasn't bogged down by homework or exhausted from practice, he would stop by Barnes & Noble for a journal he'd been eying and sneak away to the suburban area.

Among his peers, Taehyung aside, Namjoon was always praised for his eclectic tastes and hobbies. Besides his vast interest in science and plants, Namjoon excelled athletically because of his broad frame and stature that allowed him to move with strength and agility on the courts. He excelled academically, his strengths outside of science being in written literature and poetry. He loved music of all kinds. Rap, Hip Hop, Jazz, R&B. He even kept an impressive vinyl collection in his off-campus apartment that Yoongi loved thumbing through on the nights he'd come over .

He dabbled in poetry as well and often wrote some of his own when no one was around. There was a tattered shoebox full of journals hidden in the darkest corner of his closet that was filled from to cover by his endless drabbles. Some of them were so old and worn through, the binding was barely holding the book together. When he was younger he entertained the idea of being a rapper or a spoken word poet but was always too shy to recite anything he expressed in ink for others to hear.

That was a part of him he kept to himself.

There was a slight breeze that blew through the trees that made the leaves fall in the most artistic way. They set ripples off over the water and they spread slowly, altering the rhythm of the leaves dance as the stream carried them away. Namjoon stared mindlessly at the sparkling pond from his seat at the table surrounded by others that were empty. He had his orange scone and half drunken herbal lemonade from Starbucks set aside and his hand rested against the first blank page of the journal.

He'd been sitting there for half an hour, grateful for the silence since it was early on a weekday and he fully intended to mellow out so that he could write down some of the things he'd been feeling throughout the week. Sometimes his life was overwhelming and any slice of silence he could find was essential in order for him to decompress. Normally this was the perfect environment for him to do so.

But for some reason, he just felt.......hindered. Uninspired.

Lost.

Namjoon sighs heavily, taking off the glasses he only wore for writing to set them down on the table. After staring at it for several seconds, he closes the journal with the pen tucked in between the pages.

He removes his beanie to run a hand through his recently low-cut coal-black hair and decides to use the remainder of his time at the garden to finish his drink and scone. He had some time before his next class anyway. After finishing off his drink and clearing the space he occupied at the table, Namjoon stands with is a backpack in tow to head for the patch of grass at the edge the pond.

He stands there, watching the tadpoles wiggle on the shore with mild interest as every other part of his brain swam with pestering thoughts. What he had to do when he got back on campus. What he needed for his plants at home. What he'd eat after practice. What to get his sister for her birthday. Lab notes. Study guides. Random song lyrics.

Everything and nothing all at once.

A minnow swims onto the shallows, making the idling tadpoles and tiny bugs scatter and he smiles softly at the pleasant distraction for the noise in his mind if for only a moment. He squints up at the climbing sun before glancing down at his watch. He should get going if he didn't want to get caught up in any traffic on his way back into the city. The strap of his backpack slips from his shoulder a bit as he turns away from the water and he's distracted again from what was going on around him.

"Jael!! Stop! Jael!!"

The sudden sound of a woman's voice has Namjoon lifting his head but he sees no one around him at first, only a few ducks and geese fluttering happily in the pond a few feet away. But a flash of movement in his peripheral pulls him back into awareness and in an act of pure reflex, Namjoon reaches out to catch a small child by the shirt right before he goes feet first into the water.

"Whoa!!" Namjoon exclaims, dropping his backpack to the ground so he could scoop up the scrambling little boy. The child giggles in his hold, not even phased by being snatched by a total stranger and Namjoon looks down at him with wide eyes. He doesn't see his face from his vantage point but notes his sunkissed caramel skin and wild curly mane that bounced with every movement.

"Water! Water!" he squeals and Namjoon glances around dubiously in search of an adult he may belong to, but he spots no one that seems concerned.

"Um.." Namjoon frowns, looking down at the thrashing child again.

"Wanna go tooduh water! Water!" the toddler slurs again, sounding more desperate than before and Namjoon's anxiety rises.

Thankfully, he soon hears the sound of hurried footsteps and labored breathing grow in volume as a woman approaches. Namjoon does a double-take between the child and her, blinking a few times in surprise at what he sees.

He didn't have to know what the child looked like to know she was related to him. Her bronze skin tone and huge curly hair gave her away immediately. It was all pulled up to the top of her head and wrapped around the back with a patterned headwrap that was tied off in a knot at the front. She wore a long thin and flowy cardigan that covered most of the fitted white spaghetti strap top with jeans, paired with subtle gold jewelry that dangled from her neck and ears. Not that the details of her attire mattered.

It was her face that catches Namjoon completely off guard. He barely notices the whining little boy in his arms anymore and his lips part slightly in astonishment.

"Oh my god! I am so sorry! He saw the water and just took off." she says when she reached them The weight of the boy is lifted from his arms as she collects him from Namjoons hold.

"Oh umm... it's cool. Glad I was here.." Namjoon mutters, but who could hear anything above that boy's yelling?

"Well thank you still... seriously," she says distractedly as she tried to assess the boy's condition in case he harmed himself in the split second he was out of her sight. The maternal concern etched in her brow faded for a moment in relief, allowing Namjoon a second to appreciate her attractively soft features. Her almond-shaped eyes, rounded nose, and full lips.

Damn, she was pretty. Even with a scowl forming on her face from securing the little boy.

"No! No Mommy! Wanna go!!.. Down!! Down!" the toddler whines, trying his best to clamber down from his mother's hip and she huffs with frustration. Namjoon watches as she gives in to his tempered request, kneeling down to set him on his little feet. As expected, he tries to run away but his plan is quickly thwarted by his mother's grip on his wrist.

"No, you don't! Look at me...That's not okay do you understand? Never run off like that. Never ever do that!" she scolds her son shamelessly and Namjoon lingers where he stands awkwardly, now watching the exchange in awe. It was more than obvious that she was his mother and the maturity and authority in her tone told him she was natural in her role. But she also seemed so young.

He couldn't help but glance at the hand holding onto the boy in search of a ring.

After repeating herself with a harsher tone, the boy eventually takes heed and pouts guiltily before nodding. Namjoons looked down at the two and his eyes lit up slightly when he sees the resemblance in their faces. Even their side profiles were nearly identical, the boy being a miniature version of her.

He was definitely her son.

"Ok Mommy" his tiny voice squeaks and Namjoon feels as if he was kicked in the chest. But in a good way. He'd never felt something like that before and it concerned him mildly.

The young mother finally takes a moment to catch her breath after fussing over her antsy two-year-old. A few seconds pass and she subtly remembers the towering 6-foot tall male standing beside them and looks up. Namjoon is untensed when he finds her eyes on him again and he takes a short step away awkwardly, making her smile.

Whoa...that smile.

Her eyes travel up and down Namjoon unsubtly as she stood, actually seeing him in all of his effortlessly handsome glory since her son was no longer distracting her, and another shy smile parts her plumped lips as she looks at her feet.

A warm blush runs over Namjoons body but he couldn't look away from her.

And then came the words.

The lyrics.

The endless flood of drabble and inspiration he thought escaped him several moments ago all come crashing into him.

But ironically, as loud as his overactive mind was in this moment...

Namjoon found himself speechless.

The endless chatter of rambunctious children and their guardians grew louder as Jordan approached them with her son's tiny hand clasped in her larger one. They were separated from the group for only a few minutes since she had to take a trip to the restroom with her potty training tot and she only expected to be away from the Botanical Gardens festivities for a few minutes.

That was until Jael caught a glimpse of the sparkling pond near the seating area, his love for ducks and splashing taking over him as he dashed towards it.

Jordan's heart still raced from the sprint she had to do across the dirt in her sandals and she was grateful for her prior track and field experience. It took every bit of speed and agility to keep up with her child and on most days she felt as if the world was always moving so fast around her.

Then she spotted the man by the water holding him up and away from the edge of the pond protectively.

That man...

"There you two are!"

Jordan blinks herself back into reality as she and Jael hustled towards the small crowd gathered outside of the gated portion of the garden. A few people from local news stations lingered nearest to the front of the crowd just below a small platform with a podium.

An elated and slightly embarrassed smile crosses her face when she spots her friend up ahead.

Demi is leaned up against one of the many trees lining the path, wearing her sorority jacket and white crop top beneath with jeans. She held her phone to her ear with her head up and eyes searching the crowd for the curly-headed mother and son duo. The moment she spots them approaching, she rolls her eyes in relief.

"I'm sorry!!! Jaél said he had to pee." Jordan exhales when the two finally reach Demi, who chuckles dismissively.

"Don't apologize Jor, I was just about to send a St. Bernard after you if you didn't show up in the next 30 seconds. Did yall make it?"Demi asks as she glanced down Jaél, who was stomping playfully on something in the grass. Jordan nods.

"Barely. We were on the way back and then this boy got the zoomies out of nowhere. Apparently, I gave birth to Usain Bolt." she remarks bitterly and the comparison makes Demi laugh because she'd experienced her friend's son's quick feet first hand.

Through her volunteer work and just being out in the city, Demi and Jordan became close friends and was very familiar with little Jaéls antics in the times she volunteered to babysit.

"More like Sonic the Hedgehog..." Demi adds, ruffling Jael's wild curly hair affectionately. The two adults watched the toddler pay them no mind as a trail of ants catch his eye and he crouches down to investigate.

"Jael don't play in that dirt. You still have to take pictures when we get inside Bud." Jordan warns her son and he blows her off completely as he leaned his face closer to see the bugs scrambling at his feet.

"I'm surprised he's made it this far without a stain," Demi smirks and Jordan rolls her eyes as she looks away, tutting her chin towards the people ahead.

"Right. But anyway...Did I miss anything?"  she sighs and Demi turns back towards the crowd.

"Nope. you're just in time." she shakes her head, crossing her arms over her chest.

As if on cue, a tall slender woman in a brightly patterned dress approaches the small platform holding the podium and everyone in the audience turned towards the gates. The buzz of their conversations fall dull as she tapped the mic and smiled brightly with excitement.

"Hello Hello everyone! Good Morning! Thank you so much for being here everyone!"

At the sound of her familiar voice, Jaél jumps to his feet and immediately reaches for his mother to pick him up so he could see.

" I see some familiar faces here and many unfamiliar so allow me to introduce myself. My name is Evelyn King, even coordinator here at Claremont Botanical Garden."

"TT! Mommy look it's TT!" he squeals excitedly, waving his arm while the other wrapped around Jordan's neck. She grimaces at the tiny strangle but readjusts her son her hip as she agrees.

"Yep. That's TT.. let's listen." she shushes him and he remains quiet to her surprise as his great aunt addressed the crowd.

"Thank you so much for being here so early on a weekday for this and for your patience with waiting for our little ones to emerge. But the day is finally here and we are so happy to announce that every chrysalis has broken and your butterfly is ready to be released into Claremont's brand new Butterfly Garden! I know you're all as excited as I am!" Auntie Eve announces and earns some applause from the excited parents and children in attendance. Jordan for sure was excited, perhaps more than her son was.

It was a nightly ritual for her and Jael to read their bedtime story with T.Rex The Caterpillar (Don't ask..) sitting in his temporary terrarium. Munching away at the edible ground and inching around busily. Jaél loved Rex and would spend countless moments just watching the little guy go about his caterpillar business. So the day Rex started getting fatter and moving slower, Jordan knew it would be time for her to explain the change their beloved little friend would soon be going through.

Jaél was saddened and confused at first when he couldn't find Rex in his usual state, now replaced by the bright green cacoon dangling from the lid of the terrarium. But after reading some brightly illustrated books that came within the box that Rex was delivered in, and watching a few videos on Youtube, Jaél was now ecstatic to see his friend in his new and final form.

"Rex!!! Rex!!! Mommy..wanna go see Rex! " Jaél bounces excitedly, pointing up ahead with pleading eyes on his mother. Jordan beams down at her son and nods, placing a finger to her lips to shush him as Auntie Eve still spoke.

".....our work with the Monarch Conservation Project is something near and dear to all of us here at the gardens. As you know, the issue of climate change and deforestation due to wildfires and other factors has led to a massive decrease in the Monarch butterflies population. Such a beautiful species that might be on the edge of extinction if we don't step in. So with the help of our sponsors at Bayfield University and your families...We will be doing our part in hopefully saving these beautiful insects. Because what's a garden without butterflies right?"

Auntie Eve pauses to allow a short spell of applause before she closes her welcoming speech and everyone moves in preparation to enter the gated-off portion of the garden.

Demi pokes Jaél in the rib and he giggles immediately as the three of them fall in one to walk through the gates.

"You ready to see Rex?" she asks him and Jaél nods happily before holding onto his mother tighter when the path ahead becomes crowded and more narrow.

The Monarch conservatory was beautiful and unlike anything Jordan had ever seen. The tall gates did an amazing job in keeping the massive glass dome concealed from the public and the scent and sounds of streams and waterfalls draw everyone deeper into the man-made utopia. the beige bricked path split out curved in a few directions to guide the visitors to different areas in the garden where lush green plants and beautiful flowers bloomed and flourished, adding to the effervescent atmosphere.

"Woooooooooooooow amaaaaaaazing.." Jaél whispers loudly as his little head whips in every direction it could go. So many colors and sounds and scents. So much to take in. It was most definitely giving...expensive.

"Damn D, how many bottle caps and soda cans did the Zeta's collect to pull this off?" Jordan jokes as she basked in the extravagance of the butterfly garden and Demi snorts with amusement.

"Too damn many...but it wasn't all on the Theta's. Other organizations contributed too, along with private donations," she responds, also looking around with a genuinely impressed look on her face. Jordan looks over at her and smirks.

"Other organizations, you say?"  she asks, leaning over to nudge Demi as the walked and earning a hilarious scowl and eye roll.

"Don't," she warns and Jordan laughs.

"Don't do what?" she asks in an unnaturally high pitch, feigning innocence. Demi doesn't laugh though.

"You know exactly what," she responds lowly as they paused at a nearby glass railing that encircled a waterfall. Jael's eyes light up immediately and is already clambering down from Jordan's hip so he could press his hands against the barrier to watch the koi fish blow bubbles to the surface. Demi watched as Jaél imitates the fish's lips with fondness before sighing.

Dammit. Leave it to Jordan to bring him up without even saying his name, sparking memories of her summer that she was desperate to forget.

Even if they were the best months she'd had in a while.

Jordan watched thoughtfully as Demi turned away to lean gently against the glass. She shakes her head as she does the same and follows her friend's gaze that scaled the dome's ceiling.

"So.......have you called him back?" Jordan begins and Demi rolls her eyes.

"Why would I call him back Jor?" Demi huffs.

"Because you like him Dems. Stop being like that just because of something so silly.."

"It's not silly Jordan. Not to me. I take my sorority seriously and It doesn't matter how much I like him or how much I enjoyed our time together in Costa Rica..."

"You enjoyed him alright." Jordan stifles her grin but Demi could feel the smugness rolling from her.

She wasn't lying though.

The three months Demi spent in Costa Rica with her volunteer group were just supposed to be about helping the environment, tutoring children at the orphanage, and enjoying the sights before knocking out her final year of undergrad. She'd participated in these trips since her freshman year and developed relationships with the kids she worked with. Being with them made her smile, how they could be so happy with so little.

It puts a lot in perspective.

On the weekends the other volunteers often linked up and hit the streets, which were always lit.

Crowded streets.
Loud music.
Amazing food.
Cheap alcohol.
Dancing.

A college student's paradise.

In the summers before that one, Demi jumped at every chance to kick it with her peers. But this summer she opted to spend her free days exploring the city and soaking up the rich culture.

Among other things.

One Saturday she woke up early set out to San Jose and found her way around to the infamous Museo del Jade, a place she always wanted to visit but couldn't get anyone to come with her. Since it was her last trip here, she took matters into her own hands.

Demi found herself lost in the art and histories told in the inscriptions outside of the glass displays in a quiet corner in the maze that was the museum. The artifacts drew her in and she had been carefully studying the beautiful pottery and statues tucked away behind the thick paned glass.

One of the detail cards had small font, forcing Demi to lean forward with narrowed eyes to read it.

The reflection of a figure shows in the glass inches from her face and Demi's eyes widened slightly when a shadow darkened her view of the inscription card.

"Ya know.....they say jade is known for the good luck it brings...good fortunes....long last relationships and all that jazz.." a familiar male voice says from above her and Demi resents the way her body reacts to the sound.

She sighs knowingly as she straightened up, turning away from the dated artifacts to look up at the man gazing down at her.

Costa Rican sunkissed Seokjin was a sight to behold and there was something so alluring in the way his normally cut hair fell in fluffy waves over his forehead. He has a slight mustache and stubble that makes him appear more mature than the obnoxious frat Demi grew to hate or the years.

And love.

Demi smirks up at him, her eyes scanning his tall frame in appreciation of his open short-sleeved blue button-up and t-shirt and cut-off shorts just above his knees.

"So I've heard," she says and Seokjin smiles.

"So....it must be a good sign that we just so happen to be here at the same time. Don't you think?" he tilts his head cutely and Demi can't help but roll her eyes at his cheesiness.

"Maybe...or it's just a coincidence that you're here. Or maybe you followed me. We stay in the same accommodations." she suggests cheekily as she turned her back on him to stroll towards the next display.

Seokjin lingers behind to watch her go. He admires the shape of her body in the short flowy red romper she wore and the way the material complimented her smooth brown skin so well.

She wore her hair in long box braids that flowed down her back and swayed as she walked, golden cuff adorning the intertwined strands randomly.

"Maybe." Seokjin smirks and Demi spares him a flirty glance over her shoulder.

"Maybe?" she repeats.

"Would it be so bad if I did? Not like you acknowledge me otherwise." he steps up to follow her to the next display and Demi scoffs softly at his response. She turns to him.

"Oh poor you. Maybe you should just quit while you're ahead? Since I treat you that way.." she pokes her lip out playfully and Seokjin wants nothing more than to lean down to take it between his teeth like he'd done countless times before.

But he knew Demi wouldn't allow it. Even if they were in a different country and none of her sorrors or his frats were around to see them.

Even in a museum full of strangers.

Only when they were alone.

Demi caught the darkness in his eyes as they fell on her lips and she's filled with excitement at the look of hunger in his expression.

The excitement in the power she had between them and the amount of restraint he showed despite him knowing how much she was actually his when no one was around.

This was their game.

And as much as he hated how limited their time was and as much as he wish Demi didn't care about the silly rivalry between her sorority and his fraternity...

He would have her any way he could.

The 1000 year jade statue encased by glass is long forgotten by Demi as Seokjin steps forward to close the gap between them. He boldly reaches up to run his knuckle along the line of her jaw, trailing it down until he was tipping her chin.

Demi's eyes remained on Seokjins and desire bloomed in her chest the moment he touched her.

"Why would I stop? You love it just as much as I do," he says softly.

"Yeah?" Demi exhales as she breaks their eye contact to watch the way Seokjins lips part slightly, merely inches away from her face.

Seokjin leans down to plant a feather-light kiss on the tip of her nose, ignoring the luscious lips just below on purpose to leave her wanting and he takes a short step back.

"Yep. Plus...I've had this museum on my to-do list for a while. Might as well enjoy both right?"

The warmth of his proximity fades as he stepped away from her, that small mischievous glint in his eye that Demi used to find annoying now making her want him.

But in due time, which they had enough left of.

Seokjin steps back to move around her slowly, tucking his hands in his pockets and strolling casually as if he wasn't waiting for her to follow him.

To make her move in the game they loved to play.

Demi rolls her eyes but is stifling her smile of infatuation as she followed behind him.

Ugh.

Why did have to be so attractive?

Why did he have to be so amazing?

Why did he have to be a Gamma?

"You're thinking about him now arent you?"

Jordan's voice and the trickling waters of the stream behind them drag Demi out of her tiny flashback.

She and Seokjin hadn't spoken since the semester started, both of them falling back into the facade they both created to protect their reputation among their peers.

Moreso Demi. Seokjin could care less about the feud that started before either of them crossed. He wanted her for more than just the summers they shared.

But he respected her wishes.

Begrudgingly of course.

Demi sucks her teeth at the question, knowing Jordan knew its answer.

She knew exactly what she was doing and Demi was not about to go there. With her  OR him.

"It doesn't matter. He's a Gamma. And I'm a Theta. It'll never work. The end." Demi states matter of factly and Jordan lifts her hands in surrender with the same condescending smirk on her lips.

"Whatever you say..."

Jordan's words stuck with Demi as Auntie Eve called everyone's attention to the butterfly nursery, where dozens of cylindrical netted canopies held brightly colored butterflies. Each canopy was labeled with a name and adorably drawn picture drawn by the child who watched over the butterflies before their transformation.  It took some searching but the three eventually found Jaél's drawing and the canopy labeled 'T. Rex'.

He dashes ahead but this time with his mother in tow, tugging her forward by the hand and Jordan laughs as she let her son lead them to their, Leaving Demi behind to watch in amusement. She hangs back for a moment to admire the pure bond between her friend and her child, vaguely wondering what it felt like.

Demi was too career-oriented and had goals for herself that didn't include settling down, but it was kind of nice to get a glimpse into motherhood through Jordan's eyes.

"Rex? That you?" Jaél gasps with wide-eyes when they reached the canopy and Jordan crouches down to match Jaél's height as she too observed the butterfly in its final form.

She wasn't sure if Jaél understood fully that the wriggling worm that sat encased in the round plastic container in their kitchen was now the butterfly flapping around in the netted canopy and it pained her a bit to have to tell him that he wouldn't be coming home with them.

"Hey buddy..." Jordan summons Jaél's attention and he turns to her obediently as she spoke.

"You remember how mommy told you that Rex was only going to be with us for a little while and that when his new home was ready that we would come to see him?"

Jaél nods.

"Well, today is that day bud. Rex isn't coming home with us because this is where he lives now. With the other butterflies. Do you understand?"

"Rex stay here?" Jaél asks, a bit sadly but Jordan smiles assuringly. She nods as she tipped up her son's little chin.

"Rex stay here. He'll be ok, I promise," she says. Just then, it is announced that all of the children should begin gathering their canopies to gather in the middle of the dome for the final release. Jordan keeps her eyes on Jael's torn expression as his eyes welled with tears. But much to her surprise, he understands.

"Ok. Rex stay here."  Jaél states and along with the others, Jaél and Jordan work together in carefully taking Rex and following the crowd.

It was like a dream, watching dozens of orange and yellow monarchs fluttering up and around together. They seemed to move in sync with each other in a primal dance of freedom that hit Demi directly in the feels as she watched from the distance.

Freedom to be and exist. That was what all of this was about. That was what Demi wished her life could be, as free and flighty as the wings of a butterfly. To enjoy things and to love without fear of disappointment.

Disappointing her family.

Disappointing her peers.

Disappointing herself....

Disappointing...him.

She couldn't say that the boy she spent most of her summer with was something worth exploring but a part of her wished she wasn't so afraid to try.

If only she could let go too.....