Chapter Text
Cambridge, 2012
You were excited to attend the Welcome Party that is being thrown for all the new students. An opportunity to mix and mingle, get to know your fellow co-students as well as your professors.
Even though you were not as extroverted as you liked to be, you still knew that this was a chance to meet one or two people. Perhaps even friends you would have for life. Or at least someone who you could spend your seminars with or form a study group.
As you walked through the old campus, you took in the sights. Even though the modern campus had a lot to offer and even had an AC, you immediately knew that you preferred the old campus.
The buildings were a sight to see - mediaeval architecture with ivy delicately wrapping around each nook and windows. It reminded you of Hogwarts or at least how you would have imagined it.
You didn’t have to look that long for the Welcome Party - even from a distance you made out a few silhouettes making their way towards a building that was decorated with fairy lights.
As you crept closer you could make out the faint music that was played in the building, overtaken by occasional laughter. This is it - time to make some memories! your thoughts were racing with excitement.
You wrapped your denim jacket a little bit tighter around you - even though September was quite mild this year, the first chills of the night came whispering - tugging at the fabric, trying to be coaxed in by anyone who was reckless enough to not wear a jacket or cardigan.
As soon as you stepped into the decorated room, a Welcome New Students garland, even more fairy lights, a snack and drinks bar - you tried to take in all the details. How the dimmed light gave an soft and ambient mood, people talking and laughing, some of them even dancing to the sounds of some hip hop song.
You looked around, unsure if you should just approach someone or just hang around the bar and wait to be approached. It sucked not to know anyone. You made up your mind and thought it was best to get something to drink, so you at least will have something that would occupy your hands.
As you made your way to the bar, you felt splashes of something cold and wet against your bare legs - “Oh God, I’m so sorry! Did I spill it all over you?,” a frantic voice next to you called.
You turned to look at the owner of the voice - only to meet with beautiful dark brown eyes behind thick horn glasses. Eyes who at the same time looked concerned and embarrassed.
He looked at you expectantly, waiting for a response, his mouth only formed silent Oh.
You blinked, unable to say something. “Oh my, I’m so sorry! I am always a little bit clumsy. Let me get some paper towels!,” he rambled as he started to make his way to get those damn paper towels.
“No, wait! It’s just a little bit, I’ll be fine! But I don’t think the same applies to your drink,” you finally got out of your freeze and called after him.
He stopped and looked at you. Your remark about his drink made him chuckle. The man in front of you was simply handsome. Not in the usual way - or at least how most girls of your age would say. He was tall - ridiculously tall. But his face was like poetry that not everyone was able to catch.
Slightly longer dark hair framed his face and his glasses - glasses that emphasised his beautiful eyes which were heavily hooded. They reminded you somehow of dragon eyes - full of wisdom, captivating, watchful. They bore into your soul. It made them even more beautiful.
But as soon as he chuckled - you noticed - his face was adorned with the deepest dimples you ever saw. They gave him something boyish, something mischievous. You would admire them the whole night if you could.
“Well, I guess you’re right! I’m sorry I couldn’t get completely out of your way - Someone bumped into me and I wasn’t able to react as fast as I wanted to,” he explained while a little smirk showed up on his face.
“Don’t worry, it’s fine! It was just a couple of splashes. Do you need help with cleaning the crime scene?” you asked not wanting to stop talking to him.
“Help would be great - thanks,” he said. He shook his head in the direction of the toilets.
“I’m getting some paper towels - please make sure nobody passes the crime scene,” he remarked with a little smile on his face.
“Will do!” you saluted and waited for the stranger to come back.
The mess was cleaned quickly - he was on the floor wiping the liquid up. You suggested doing that but he would have none of that. So you simply stood there and watched him cleaning the floor.
“Soo… are you a new student, as well?” you asked, trying to start a conversation.
“Uh, yes. I will be attending the translation program this semester.” he answered. He got up and looked you right into your eyes. “What about you?”.
The intense eye contact startled you a little bit.
“Did- did you say translation program? I’m also attending that!” you replied, feeling a spark of excitement forming in your chest.
Not only did you run into this beautiful stranger - you knew now that you would be spending the whole semester with him. Or at least in the same rooms, thanks to the set course program.
And just the thought alone made your heart dance a little bit. He chuckled again.
“It’s nice to have at least one familiar face that I can look for,” he said, scanning your face hopefully for the same reaction.
You smiled and nodded. “Yes! It’s my first year - I don’t know anyone. It would be nice to know someone, even if it’s just to study together or go to classes.” you replied.
He looked at you as if he were contemplating something. It made you a little bit nervous. “Uh… I know that the translation program has a set timetable for classes, but wouldn’t it be better that us criminals know each other's names.” you stammered a bit. Nervousness gnawed at your edges.
“Wouldn’t that be counter-intuitive? To know the real name of your fellow buddy in crime?,” he asked quietly as he leaned closer to you.
“Well, I think us criminals should stick together - I mean we even got rid of the crime scene together. It’s the law,” you tried to make up a sassy remark to his question.
At this point you both couldn’t stop staring at each other - neither of you was willing to take their eyes off the other.
“Well, in that case… My name is Namjoon Kim. But you can call me Joon if you like”, he said whilst holding his hand out for a handshake. “Nice to meet you!”
You and Namjoon ended up talking all night at the party. You found out that he was an exchange student from Seoul, Korea, spending his undergraduate years in England.
He wanted to improve his English as he wanted to become a correspondent for the government. Just like you, he took interest in literature and art.
He confessed to you that he even started writing poetry but wouldn’t show you any of his attempted verses. “It’s too embarrassing! Maybe someday!,” he tried to laugh it off.
You made yourself a promise that you would see those verses someday. As the night went on and the first rays of sunlight crawled across your faces you hesitantly said goodbye to each other.
You lived in the dorms of the old campus, Namjoon shared a flat with another exchange student 10 minutes away from uni. He walked you to your building and waved goodbye.
As he smiled, his dimples showed again. You couldn’t get enough of them. He made you promise to meet him at your first class together on Monday - he would even bring coffee in exchange for the best seats in class.
As you went to bed you were excited to see Namjoon again. The thought of spending this semester with him made you excited - even though you knew him only for a couple of hours. Even though you only met him a few hours ago it felt as if you knew him your whole life.
On Monday you basically ran to class - you got there early to get the best seats as you promised. You couldn’t wait to see Namjoon again. As you watched more and more students started to pour in and you started to become nervous - where was he? He didn’t strike you as someone who would be late.. You kept looking for that one familiar face with the dimples.
But that face never showed up.