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The golden rays of sunshine streamed in through the shut window panes, bringing hope and prosperity to the dawn of a new Sunday morning. The steady thuds of footsteps rumbled through the slumbering house as Lindsay, still dressed in her yellow duckling pajamas, stepped from one stair to the next, her face buried deep within the pages of one of her Biology textbooks. Given that the major Biology exam would take place the next day, Lindsay knew she didn't have even a few hours to spare.
She was about to turn the page of her book when she felt a warm yet sturdy hand suddenly grip her forearm. She finally pulled her face away from the pages to stare with a look of bewilderment at none other than Namjoon who had just grabbed her.
"Good morning, Clumsytoes." he greeted, his voice sounding deep and husky. "For someone of your nature, you really shouldn't be trying to go down the stairs while letting your eyes be simultaneously covered by a book." He looked away for a moment with his brows clenched in thought before adding. "Actually, I don't think anyone should take the risk to do something like that."
Seeing how much Namjoon had grown to care so tenderly for her safety and well-being made Lindsay's heart nearly melt into a gooey pool of pure love. She smiled softly with a chuckle before gently stepping down from the last stair onto the steady floor, all the while Namjoon holding on to her arm.
"Ha, thanks Namjoon." she blushed before pushing her messy chocolate bangs out of her face. "I was just doing some last-minute revision for tomorrow's exam and all." Her eyes briskly skimmed across Namjoon from head to toe and noticed that unlike her, Namjoon was not in his pajamas, rather he was wearing a blue polo shirt paired with some cream trousers.
His golden bangs were swept neatly to the side. Lindsay speculated that either Namjoon had just got back from somewhere that he had rushed off to early morning or he had got dressed to go somewhere. But where? she wondered.
She didn't find herself swimming in doubts for a moment longer before she found that Namjoon had smoothly taken the textbook that was held between her hands before tucking it under his arms. "You won't be needing this for the rest of the day." he curtly explained, making the girl appear even more lost. "We have plans for the day."
Lindsay's caramel eyes whizzed from side to side as swirls of thoughts rushed within her mind. She had an important exam tomorrow which she needed to study for. Yes, it was a bit last minute- Fine! It was majorly last minute! Also, what did Namjoon mean by plans? What kind of plans?
"Erm- Actually, Namjoon," she started to explain but she found that Namjoon had already strut over to the coffee table and had carefully placed her textbook on top of it, dismissing its duties for the day. "I have an exam, tomorrow."
Namjoon grinned smugly before approaching her figure steadily with his hands placed on his hips. "Well, it's not advised to study a day before an exam, Lindsay. An entirely incompetent method, believe me. You would only get your notes crammed inside your head."
Lindsay didn't miss that look of disapproval that formed on Namjoon's features as he found the process of last-minute studying so unfathomably preposterous.
Lindsay smirked and rolled her eyes. Sure, Mr. Smarty Pants here may have started studying for this exam a full six months ago. Perhaps, he may have even started studying before the exam was announced because he maybe had a sixth sense when it comes to sensing exams. Yet, he simply can't expect everyone to be like him.
"Now, as I was saying," Namjoon said with a pompous tone. "It's time for you to get dressed. We mustn't be late. Seo-Jun is already in the car and once we have dropped him off at his Botany classes, we're off to our affairs. Chop-chop! Time is ticking!"
Letting out an exasperated groan, Lindsay let her shoulders slump forward in defeat as she watched Namjoon buzz around the room, grabbing his coat from the hanger before stepping outside to wait for her.
Lindsay knew better than to argue with Namjoon once he had his huge blonde head set on something. It would be foolish to argue with a man like him who's always used to getting his way in life.
With a grimace on her face, she let her bare feet tread on the polished wooden floor to slip herself out of her pajamas and brush her coffee locks to make them appear more tamable.
***
After dropping an ever-so-cheery Seo-Jun off at his usual Botany classes, Namjoon shifted the gears into place before driving off to their mystery destination, leaving Lindsay in the passenger seat having nothing to do but to keep guessing.
After a couple of minutes of seamlessly driving, the car seemed to slow down as it pulled over to the park itself behind a stream of vehicles bordering the walls of the city's national park, Maplewood Park.
Lindsay obviously couldn't help but feel delighted to see that Namjoon had intended to bring her along to enjoy the view of one of the most breathtaking nature parks in the whole city, yet her rising questions were not satisfied as to what they could exactly be doing here.
Turning off the ignition, Namjoon swung the door open and stepped out before coming around to open the passenger seat's door for Lindsay, playing the part of a stunning gentleman.
"Go ahead and wait for me under the big oak tree in the middle of the park," Namjoon instructed. "I have some stuff that I need to bring and I'll meet you there in a couple of minutes."
"Oh, are you sure you don't need any help with that?" Lindsay kindly offered to which Namjoon only gave a soft yet confident smile.
"No, it's all good," he assured her. "Besides, it's something that I don't want you to see quite yet. You'll know with due time." With that, he gave the girl a mischievous wink.
Lindsay was taken aback by how Namjoon had been behaving since the day had started. Was it the International Day of Being Mysterious that she hadn't had a clue about? Nevertheless, she nodded and decided to play along with Namjoon's instructions before entering the park and walking through the grass clad meadows.
As she leisurely strolled through the meadows, a gentle breeze swept past her engulfing her in a cool wisp of bliss.
She made sure to enjoy the serene atmosphere of the park what with all the children playing and sliding down the slides at the children's play area and she watched the many cyclists swarm past her in groups on the many cycling tracks that slithered across the grounds of the park.
Before long, she found the giant oak tree that stood majestically amidst the bustle. She found many empty benches and small tables with stools under the protective shade of its gigantic widespread branches. Therefore, she decided to sit down at one of the tables as she waited for Namjoon.
Pretty soon, she caught sight of a silhouette as it trotted towards her from the faraway distance. Seeing his sturdy figure and the distinct pattern on how his golden hair sways in the breeze almost every day, it didn't take Lindsay a second guess to know exactly who it was.
Lindsay stood up from her seat to welcome a huffing and panting Namjoon who had approached with a warm smile. Her smile transformed into a confused expression when she looked down to see him clutching a heavy-looking duffle bag in his hands. She wondered what the element of surprise could be.
"Thanks for waiting for me, Clumsytoes." Namjoon panted breathlessly as he moved over to one of the tables to dump his loaded duffle bag. "Now that I've got the goods, we can officially start." He started to rummage through the depths of the bag in search of his stuff.
"Start what?" Lindsay asked, coming closer to peek over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of the contents inside.
"This," Namjoon simply answered matter-of-factly, as he reached in and fished out two miniature-sized wooden easels with a couple of blank canvases to match. He also didn't forget to place a handful of paintbrushes in all shapes and sizes.
Lindsay let out a soft gasp of surprise as she recognized the aesthetics of the world she would get lost in for hours on end every day. Namjoon enjoyed seeing that expression of pure happiness on her face as he knew that art was the world that Lindsay knew best.
"Lindsay," he whispered, stepping forward before taking her hands in his making the girl's heart palpitate like the beatings of butterfly wings. "Do you think you could teach me how to paint, today? Because frankly, I'd love to know your world so that I could get to know you better."
At the last few words that slipped out from his chiseled lips, Lindsay almost froze feeling an electric shock run down her spine. Her big soft caramel eyes gazed at his almond ones, expectantly waiting for her reply.
"You'd like to get to know me better?" she asked under her breath, completely taken aback by the request."
Namjoon grinned and Lindsay saw nothing but sincerity and the truth behind those hazel eyes.
"Yes, I'd love to get to know you better."
And that was all it took for Lindsay's heart to flutter out of control. No one had confessed to her so honestly that she was someone worthy of being known better.
Almost everyone in her life, merely disregarded her as the awkward girl who messed things up, and getting to know her would result in an even longer constellation of disasters.
Yet, here was Namjoon, the perfect man she had ever seen, an aptitude of levels above her, who had brought easels and canvases and was asking her to teach him how to paint. He was asking to be a part of her intricate inner world.
He was the artist, highlighting the beautiful colors within her that others often tend to overlook.
She gazed deeply into his eyes, hoping he couldn't hear how hard her heart was beating against her chest.
"I would love to teach you how to paint, Namjoon." she whispered with a tender smile at him.
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