"Were we too busy or just scared, that others acknowledged the 'us' even before we did?"

Namjoon, tired from working himself too hard in the lyrics he wanted to put in a special track for the new album, felt wrung out and lacked inspiration.

He, like old times, decided to pay a visit to the nature- his best friend at times like this. It never failed to give him a broader mind to move his pen writing the words that he believed should reach everyone listening.

Also like old times, he wanted a camera to capture his moments with the nature that he could post later for Armys.

With that being the reason, he went to the agency to search for the right person to tag along with him who could catch the moments for him.

The camera staff who would do so in the past had already quit his job for personal reasons and so Namjoon was troubled to find his replacement.

He talked out his worry to his Manager and asked if he knew anyone from the existing staff members who could potentially go with him.

MANAGER : Let me think. Everyone is busy with TXT shoots and all the editing stuff going on. (-sudden realization-) Oh, right! Why don't you take that girl you threw a fit to get the job for?

NJ : (-chokes on his iced Americano-) Hyung! I didn't throw a fit. Don't be serious, I just normally asked.

MANAGER : (-force laugh-) Yeah, right. Anyways, why don't you take her? We aren't giving the rookies much work and she has pretty good skills with the cameras.

NJ : (-nodding while giving it a thought-) Alright, I will ask her then.

MANAGER : Shall I call her here?

NJ : No, it's fine. I will go myself. (-gets up to leave-) See you!

MANAGER : Onh, be careful! (-gets back to his work-)

While on his way out, Namjoon kept mumbling the word 'rookie' figuring out the way where he would find her.

On arrival, he found a bunch of capsule like cabins lined up on either side of the corridor where all the rookies did their assigned works.

He, looking around, started walking through the dark lane till the dead end where he finally found her nest on his right.

NJ : (-reading the tile in the door-) Yong Serah, is it?

He nodded to himself as an answer and knocked twice on the door.
Having no response, he slowly opened the door rotating the knob.

NJ : (-hesitantly sticks his head in-) Serah-ssi?

Finding no one inside, he carefully went in looking around the small room when his eyes fell on the computer screen.

It flashed editing softwares open in different panels with a few video clips snapped out on the side which she was probably editing.

He sat on the revolving chair with his hand automatically landing over the mouse and curious eyes fascinated as he realized the clips were from the trip.

NJ : Yaahh~ when did she get these? (-watching the clips-)

He was having the best times watching the funny interactions they had in the trip which he didn't know existed until then.

Laughing amusingly, making weird noises occasionally while binge watching all the clips she had on the computer, he re-opened a minimized folder which made his big smile drop and shrinked eyes shot open.

He was never this astounded to scroll through his own photos. The entire folder was filled with his candid photographs that he had no idea been taken.

His skilled fingers minimized it back in a flash second when he heard the door open with Serah coming in with a coffee in her hands.

He awkwardly stood scratching his neck not meeting her eyes.

NJ : Onh, you're here. (-referring to the clips-) These are really good.

SERAH : Ah, deh. These are for the special episode of Bon Voyage.

NJ : No wonder. Well, you did a good job on these.

SERAH : (-with a slight blush-) Thank you... (-awkward-) Want some coffee? (-offering the only coffee she had bought for herself-)

NJ : (-looking at her-) No, thanks. I just had one. (-awdward silence-) Okay then, enjoy your coffee! (-attempts to leave-)

SERAH : Uh, were you here to look for me, perhaps?

NJ : (-stops and looks at her-) Oh well, Yes. I am thinking to do some traveling for inspiration.

Serah was absolutely flustered at his words which didn't feel like a question neither something that she had any says to. So, she just asked a question herself figuring maybe he was expecting that.

SERAH : Okay so, when are you going?

NJ : How about tomorrow? (-realizing and talking to himself-) Oh wait, it should be a statement. (-to her-) I am going tomorrow. So, I was just here to ask if you could tag along for the snaps.

SERAH : (-getting his point-) Ah, of course. My work will be over by tonight. So, sure!

NJ : Great! (-turns around to leave-) Happy working!

As he left, Serah looked down at her coffee rewinding the foreign awkwardness they just had.

SERAH : Didn't we already surpass the awkward stage? (-guessing-) By any chance? (-looking at her computer with wide eyes-)

She rushed to it and had a mental breakdown seeing the minimized folder that she forgot to close before leaving- the mini heart attack you experience at times like this when you desperately wish you could go back in time and erase what you should have.

SERAH : (-kicking the air-) He saw it! He saw it! HE SAW IT! (-whines-)

She was messing her hair crying out whines when she heard a knock from the adjacent cabin as a sign to be quiet and immediately straightened her posture.

SERAH : (-politely-) I am sorry.

Next day

As they were both set on their hike to the peaceful countryside, it was less awkward with minimal interaction.

One pretending to not see what he did and the other pretending to not know what she knew- both playing a pretentious game where they sure were winning but the tie their hearts were trying to knot was failing.

He was peacefully seated easing his mind completely forgetting that someone was taking pictures of him. Subconsciously or maybe to some point on purpose, his mind rewound to the previous day.

Giving it a thought, he searched for her and found his camera girl unceasingly getting the best angle possible.

NJ : Serah-ssi, end it already. I just needed a few clicks not a whole album.

SERAH : (-chuckles while coming to him-) Did I overdo it?

NJ : (-smiles-) If you do more, then you might. Have a seat.

He looked forward as she sat beside him going through the shots she clicked in the camera.

SERAH : You are really photogenic. (-amusingly swipes the photographs-)

Being preoccupied with his thoughts, Namjoon didn't pay much attention to what she was saying.

NJ : Serah-ssi.

SERAH : Yes? (-still looking at the camera-)

He didn't say anything making her look at him unwillingly moving her eyes from his pictures- the only way she could keep looking at him without being judged or alleged as a creep.

SERAH : Yeah?

NJ : (-looking into her eyes-) Do you have something to tell me?

Her eyes locked into his- she had her smile fade away at his question and heart crazily pounding beats as she took a small gulp. Ever inch of her body knew what he was talking about.
But, she felt admitting it would snatch the only thing she has of him. Not that it was legal to click pictures without one's consent, yet she believed it was the only way she could ease her heart.

SERAH : (-looking away-) Huh? No, I don't. (-being uneasy-) Isn't there any washrooms nearby? (-stands up-) I will go look for one. (-walks away-)

Namjoon didn't stop her feeling she needed the space and somehow the words she didn't say reached his heart.

All the tease he got from the boys about their relationship prompted him into realizing that he indeed had a few feelings that he couldn't acknowledge until then.

He felt he wasn't ready to start anything new having his work as his best priority at that moment. Believing it as the reason that he didn't realize his feelings for her to be romantic ones, he tried sealing them back.

Although a little late it maybe, he learnt about his feelings yet was still scared and made himself believe that he was being completely delusional. He edited out his visit to her capsule last night just like it never happened.

That day, in the noise free atmosphere with the eventide closing in, he promised himself to never restore his edited memory for he feared an obnoxious future it might prospect.

Now that he finally realized his need to steal a glance of her he wouldn't miss any chances but would immediately divert his eyes feigning the unacquaintance of their feelings.

"Will it be hard to look away when my eyes only want to focus on you?"
He quoted down in the small notebook he carried along, a potential line that Armys might hear in their new songs.

"You've always had your lens focused on me. What took my heart so long to focus on you?"