Chapter 7: Breaking Limits

College was always Namjoon’s playground. He wasn’t just the charismatic captain of the baseball team, but also the guy girls whispered about between classes and in hallways. His broad shoulders, perfectly styled hair, and that confident smirk had an effect that was impossible to miss. Namjoon enjoyed the attention he thrived on it. Girls would flirt shamelessly with him, slipping their numbers into his hand or inviting him to parties. He wasn’t someone to say no, at least not back then.

Today, though, things felt different.

Namjoon strolled into the cafeteria with his usual swagger, his phone buzzing with messages from girls wanting to see him later. But instead of answering, he shoved his phone back into his pocket. His friends, noticing the change, shot him confused glances.

"Hey, Namjoon," one of his friends, Hyun, called out, nudging him. "You feeling alright, man? You didn’t even flirt back with Hana earlier. That’s not like you."

Namjoon shrugged, absentmindedly sipping his drink. "Maybe I’m sick," he joked, though the words felt oddly true.

His friends exchanged puzzled looks. Hyun leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Or maybe you’re… turning into a monk?"

Namjoon smirked at that, but something was off. He couldn’t get YN out of his head. The quiet, unassuming chef he’d met by chance was invading his thoughts more than he wanted to admit. She wasn’t like the girls in college who threw themselves at him. She was real, grounded, and it made him curious.

Meanwhile, YN’s day was just another busy shift at the restaurant. The usual flow of customers came and went, and she moved through her work with practised ease. Mr. Kwon observed her from behind the counter, his eyes softening. He had known YN for years, watched her dedicate herself to the restaurant and little else. But now, seeing Namjoon come by almost every day, something has shifted in Mr. Kwon’s mind.

As Namjoon walked into the restaurant that evening, Mr. Kwon couldn’t help but think,

This one might have potential. Maybe he’s the guy who can show YN, what love really is. The age gap between them is big, but who cares? YN deserves a good partner.

"Namjoon," Mr. Kwon greeted him with a warm smile. "You’ve been quite the regular these days."

Namjoon chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Guess I can’t stay away from your food."

But it wasn’t the food that kept pulling him back. As Mr. Kwon led him to his usual spot, Namjoon’s eyes searched for YN, but she was busy in the kitchen, as always.

"You want your usual, I assume?" Mr. Kwon asked, his tone casual but curious.

"Yeah, the usual good," Namjoon replied, though his mind was elsewhere.

Sitting down, Namjoon couldn’t help but wonder about the magic YN put into the dishes she served. It wasn’t just about the food it was something more, something that made him feel comfortable, at ease. Every time he took a bite, it felt like YN’s presence was in every flavour.

As he ate, YN finally emerged from the kitchen to check on things. Spotting Namjoon, she gave a small nod of acknowledgment, which he returned with a smile. When the rush died down, she found herself walking over to him, not entirely sure why.

"You’ve become a regular," YN said, her voice soft but carrying that calm confidence he admired.

Namjoon leaned back in his chair, grinning. "Yeah, I guess I just like the food here too much."

YN smirked slightly. "Is that all?"

He chuckled, his gaze holding hers for a moment longer than usual. "Maybe not."

There was a pause, a comfortable silence that spoke more than words. Namjoon broke it first, curiosity finally getting the better of him. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," YN replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Why are you still single?" Namjoon’s tone was playful, but there was genuine interest behind his words.

YN looked at him, taken aback for a moment, before her lips curled into a small smile. "Why do you assume I’m single?"

"Just a guess," Namjoon said, flashing that charming grin. "No ring, no talk of a boyfriend… and well, you work all the time."

YN shook her head, skillfully dodging the question. "Let’s just say I’ve had other priorities."

"Other priorities?" Namjoon leaned forward, intrigued. "Like running this place?"

"Exactly," YN replied. "It’s not easy keeping everything in order."

Namjoon nodded, glancing around the restaurant. "Yeah, I can tell. But don’t you ever take a break?"

YN’s expression softened, and she glanced away, thinking for a moment. "I don’t really know what I’d do with a break."

Namjoon’s eyes lit up at that, an idea forming in his mind. "How about I show you?"

YN’s gaze snapped back to him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. "Show me?"

"Yeah," Namjoon said, his voice gentle but insistent. "Take a day off. I’ll show you how to take a proper break."

YN looked at him, hesitating. Her mind screamed that it wasn’t a good idea. This was her life, her routine. She couldn’t just leave it behind, even for a day. But then there was a part of her, a small, rebellious part that was intrigued by the idea.

"Maybe," she said finally, her tone light but carrying a hint of curiosity.

Namjoon grinned, knowing that “maybe” was the closest thing to a yes he was going to get. "I’ll take that as a yes."

YN shook her head, chuckling softly. "Don’t get ahead of yourself."

Namjoon leaned back in his chair, satisfaction written all over his face. They both knew that something had shifted between them. There was a connection now, something unspoken but undeniably there. And neither of them could ignore it.

As Namjoon finished his meal, he couldn’t help but think about her, her unpolished authenticity, the way she handled everything with such grace, and how different she was from anyone he’d ever met. He didn’t care about the age gap; something about her drew him in, and he was determined to figure out what it was.

"Well, I’ll see you soon," Namjoon said as he stood up to leave, his eyes locking with hers.

"Take care," YN replied, watching him go.

As Namjoon walked out of the restaurant, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was crossing a line he never thought he’d approach. And oddly enough, he didn’t mind one bit.

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