stressed part 2
/// mentions of food

two days passed, both filled with NaRi consistently rewatching their first Given-Taken Japanese Ver debut performance. her eyes caught her minor mistake every time, more and more resentment towards herself also building up with every rewatch.

the group split up into their two groups, getting in the vans to go home from schedules.

the girl had her airpods in, spaced out as she stared through the window. her thoughts' battle was enough to make her ignore the lingering stare Ni-Ki had on her the entire time.

the boys'd been aware of what'd been bothering NaRi recently, though they hadn't been able to do as much as they'd like because of her constant spacing out.

they were left with no choice but to watch her crumble from a distance.

the youngests' eyes turned sad watching her tune out of reality for what felt like the hundredth time that week— he knew he had to do something to at least try and help her.

he reached for her hand, having noticed she was playing with her charm bracelet. his hand slowly moved closer to her own, the girl subconsciously allowing his touch. this made his heart feel only the tiniest bit relieved.

what can i do to make her feel better?

the van parked in it's usual place, NaRi's focus finally leaving the moving road. she let out a quiet breath of relief, gathering her stuff to go inside.

Ni-Ki followed her inside as always, watching as she'd immediately gone to the room.

it was now his turn to sigh, the others quickly catching on.

"i wish it wouldn't affect her this badly, i hate seeing her like this,"
"for real, hyung,"
"yeah.."

"i just wish there was something we could do to distract her from it all.. Samuel-hyung doesn't seem as stressed about it anymore,"
"yeah, and besides, he's told her so many times to not worry about the entire thing but we know how she is.."
the boys' gazes trailed towards the closed bedroom door after SungHoon's voice faded away, saddened smiles appearing on their faces as they thought of their girl.

oh how they missed the radiating energy that'd run through the room the second she showed her adorable smile they all so dearly loved— how badly they all wished to see it again.

even Sunoo.

Ni-Ki became slightly frustrated after a few seconds, somewhat harshly standing up from his spot.

"Nik? what're you doing?"

"i'm taking Na out on a date. i hate seeing her like this and plus i haven't spent time with her in a while. she deserves a break. we deserve a break. it's the least i can do for her,"

"he's right. she's always here for us and we're out here, letting her rot away in our beds in her own sadness,"

Ni-Ki nodded, taking JungWon's words as a sign of approval for his date with NaRi.

he knocked on the bedroom door, placing his ear to the wood to hear inside. he heard a small 'yeah?' sound from the inside, "can i come in?"
"yeah,"

the boy stepped inside the room, eyes falling on the girl's balled figure in his bed. he could feel the sadness radiating off her body— another pang hitting his heart.

"baby?" he called out, slowly walking towards her.
"mhm?"
he said nothing, holding his hands out beside her to see if she wanted to be touched or not. seeing as she didn't receive a response, she lifted her head only to see Ni-Ki's outstretched arms. she slightly smiled, nodding her head as she moved over.

Ni-Ki sighed out of relief internally, making himself comfortable beside NaRi on his bed. he held her in his arms, a soft, secure grasp on her body.

the two laid together for a few minutes, enjoying eachothers company.

Ni-Ki finally remembered why he'd come in in the first place. "baby?"

"yes?" she mumbled out, face buried in the crook of his neck.
"wanna go on a date with me?"
she chuckled, slowly lifting her head to look at the boy. "why so suddenly?"
his eyes shifted from their stare on the ceiling, now looking into the girl's. "you need it, Na. i don't want you to just keep laying here for another second. okay? let me help you, please,"

NaRi kept her gaze on him, breath slightly hitching at the seemingly plead that'd just left his lips.
she nodded after another few seconds, Ni-Ki immediately smiling. "great. get ready," he told her, placing a chaste kiss on her forehead before getting up.

since it was the middle of summer and hot in Korea— she decided on wearing a pink and white checkered pencil skirt, a corset-like laced white top and a sage green cropped cardigan on top. she still wasn't sure where Ni-Ki was planning on taking her, the girl just hoped she'd be able to function with her choice of clothing.

as she sat in front of a mirror finishing her makeup, Ni-Ki walked into the room— sage green cargo pants with a white oversized shirt and various silver accessories decorating his neck and hands. NaRi looked at him through the reflective surface, a smile appearing on her face because of their unplanned cohesiveness.

"you look nice," she complimented the boy, a smile now appearing on his face.
"thank you, jagi, you look beautiful as always,"

he sat in the chair next to hers, applying light makeup as well. he couldn't seem to take his eyes off her reflection, though, as he still felt as allured by her visuals as the first day in I-Land.

a few minutes passed and NaRi finally finished her makeup. "okay, i think i'm ready now," she mumbled out, eyes scanning the vanity to see if she'd missed anything.

"okay, i'll go get your bag," Ni-Ki told her, walking towards the living room. he picked up her mini white bag, opening the top to see if it had her daily essentials. once he was assured it did, he closed it and went towards their shoe rack to choose his shoes.

NaRi walked out at this time, also walking towards the shoe rack to decided which ones she'd wear.

"we'll be back!" Ni-Ki called out to the remaining members, the two hearing a stampede of footsteps coming closer towards them just as they were to step out the door.
"you're not taking my baby before she says bye to me,"
"he thinks he's grown,"
"not before i say bye to Moon,"

the two maknaes laughed as the boys tackled NaRi into a hug, all taking turns to kiss her forehead goodbye.
"stay safe you two, be back soon,"
"we will, hyungs, don't worry,"

the two were finally able to leave the house, now walking hand in hand to the nearby café. the group frequently came here, this being where everyone purchased NaRi's favourite boba.

they walked in a comfortable silence, eyes wandering all over the place as they took in their surroundings.

the bell chimed as the pair stepped into the small shop, the girl's eyes immediately turning to crescents as the smell went through her mask. "it smells so good in here," she said, already looking through the menu for the millionth time.

Ni-Ki followed suit, quickly deciding what he wanted to order. still holding NaRi's hand, the two walked up to the counter to place their order.

"hello, welcome to café coffee, how may i help you today?" the usual cashier was quick to recognize the idols, returning NaRi's bright smile.

"could we have a large coconut milk tea, tapioca pearls, 100% sugar and ice, and a large taro milk tea, tapioca pearls, 75% sugar and 100% ice? and.. what'd you want to eat, Na?"
"nothing from here,"
"and that'll be it for today," the boy told the cashier, waiting for their final total to appear on the small screen. he soon payed for their drinks, the two opting to sit at a table to wait for the beverages.

"where'd you wanna get some food, love?"
"the bakery," she replied, Ni-Ki immediately knowing she was talking about her favourite one in Seoul. he simply nodded, head whipping towards the counter once their order number was said.
"thank you," he told the worker, soon walking towards NaRi with their drinks.
she smiled as she saw the light-coloured drink in his hand. she took it from him, lacing her hand with one of his own afterwards. "thank you, jagi,"

the two walked out after bidding the café employee goodbye, now beginning to make their way towards the bakery NaRi oh so dearly loved.

they were in and out of the small business in no time, leaving with two bags of their favourite treats from the shop. NaRi held a small smile under her mask, though her happiness showed by the way she swung her and Ni-Ki's hands back and forth.
the boy chuckled at her actions, "someone's excited?"
NaRi moved her gaze from the decorative trees lining the sidewalk to the boy beside her, "that someone is me. i haven't felt this happy in a while," she admitted, sadly sighing afterwards. Ni-Ki could only nod in understanding, bringing her hand to his covered mouth. he turned it over, 'kissing' the backside of her hand. he'd held it there for a while, wanting her to feel the care he held towards her. she smiled as he brought her hand back down, rolling her eyes. "so cheesy,"

it only took a few more minutes of walking before the pair arrived where Ni-Ki'd wanted to go, Han River Park. she smiled at the semi cliché date spot, but she didn't mind.

they picked a part away from everyone, though they'd luckily been able to get a great view of the river.

Ni-Ki placed the bag he carried down, then taking the one NaRi'd carried. they both sat down, finally being able to take off their masks.

she grabbed the straw she'd placed in her skirt pocket, immediately unwrapping it and stabbing it through the boba lid. Ni-Ki laughed at her eagerness, soon doing the same with his own cup. she made a sound of happiness after taking her first sip, Ni-Ki grinning at her cuteness.

NaRi soon grabbed at the bakery bags, even more excited to delve into the sweet treats she loved so much.

she opened the macaroons first, the eight small delicacies assorted in their small groups of flavours. Ni-Ki opened the cookie box, smiling at the sight of them.

they'd also ordered NaRi's favourite Dulce de Leche cheesecake, it being her favourite because it always held the authentic Mexican taste she could very rarely find outside of Mexico.

their final, slightly bigger box held the pair's six favourite cupcakes— chocolate caramel, toffee cake, red velvet, cookies and cream, mocha, and strawberry.

NaRi looked at Ni-Ki in disgust, "i still can't believe the only reason you like that cupcake is because you like warm strawberries,"
the boy simply stuck his tongue out at her, placing the box on the blanket.

wait, blanket?
"where'd you get that?"
"where'd i get what?"
"this,"
"the ground?"
"no bit- no. the blanket,"
"oh.. i brought it from home,"

NaRi had apparently ignored the baby pink blanket Ni-Ki brought, though she decided to not question it any further.

"i don't know about you~ but i'm hungry."
NaRi turned her head towards the boy once more, "okay,"
and they began to eat.

the two sat in a comfortable silence for the next little while, both feeding eachother bites of whatever they were having if the other asked for it.

the girl felt free— she'd been carrying loads of weight on her shoulders the past few weeks, even though she truly had no idea why.

Samuel had been even more attentive recently, having been told by HeeSeung that NaRi'd been down because of the entire situation. he'd made sure to tell the girl to calm down and not worry, that he had everything under control.

but she didn't listen.

she'd been aware of the way she so suddenly shut the group out, the neverending urge to run out into one of the boys' arms and be happy again was eating through her insides— though she never complied.

she'd space out a lot of the time,

like now.

because of the scramble of thoughts going through her mind overpowered all other senses, the girl failed to notice the maknae's eyes on her being.

he knew she'd spaced out— trapped inside her own mind, unable to escape the heavy burdens she'd placed on herself.

he still felt sad for her and for not being able to help her— but he also felt happy. happy he'd been successful in getting her out of the house outside of schedules. happy she was eating her favorite foods. happy to be able to look at the most beautiful girl in the world.

his mind suddenly went back to a few months prior, just barely being able to recall the conversation they had. she's been wanting a Japanese name

his head tilted to the side as he continued looking at the girl. jumbles of adjectives appeared in his mind, though two were the ones to stick out the most. beautiful, moon.

a smile appeared on his face, snapping out of the daze NaRi'd put him in. he sat up from the leaned position he'd been in, leaning over towards NaRi.

he rubbed his hand over her hand, waiting for the girl to snap out of her own daze.

she suddenly turned her head towards him, expectant eyes, "yes?"
"Mitsuki,"
her eyebrows furrowed, "you've obviously got me mixed up with some other bit-"
Ni-Ki laughed, covering her mouth with his hand, "no, jagi. remember when you said you wanted a Japanese name?"
she paused for a second, "..yeah?"
"that's it. Mitsuki. beautiful moon,"
her lips curled into a smile, slightly nodding. "i love it. thank you, Riki."

🦇 ... 끝!