Masked Man 2
Couples:Namjoon X Reader
Summary:You're struggling to adjust to Korea, when an unexpected clash with a mysterious, masked man gives you the comfort you need, even though you don't know who he really is.
Content:Fluff, mystery, deception(Not infidelity), sex, namjoon!idol, Reader!salaried, dating, multi-part story, jealousy, angst.
Things in Korea had improved since that noisy encounter with the stranger, who still hadn’t revealed his full identity. After we got coffee, he told me his name was Kim. When I asked him to at least remove his mask, he refused, explaining that he was sick and didn’t want to infect me; he said he’d finish his coffee at home.
I told him about my problems at work, and he encouraged me to keep going. He suggested inviting my coworkers to dinner at the end of the month to break the ice and offered to give me Korean lessons whenever I wanted. Kim provided the comfort I desperately needed. At last, I had found someone in Korea who would listen to me, and I could listen to him.
I was at my cubicle, trying to gather the courage to speak to my coworkers. I stood up, catching the attention of the three people I shared the office with.
“Would you like to go out for dinner after work today? My treat. We’ve done great work this month.”
I spoke while bowing slightly, trying to be as respectful as possible, just as Kim had advised me.
“Oh, I’d love that. I’ve seen a restaurant nearby that comes highly recommended,” said Minjin, the youngest in the office. I smiled, thrilled that at least one out of three had agreed.
“Sure, I’ll join. We’ve only been working this whole month; we need a break,” added Hyeon, the oldest and only man in the office.
The only one left to respond was our boss, Hae.
“Alright, but this time I’ll treat you. We didn’t give you a proper welcome when you arrived. We were so busy, but now we have the time,” Hae said with a smile, which I quickly returned.
I sat back down, excited to experience what a work dinner was like. I had seen it countless times in dramas. I took out my phone and texted Kim:
—Hey! It worked! We’re going out for dinner later.
Thanks to his advice, I had found the courage to step up and make friends again.
—I’m so glad! Remember what I told you: serve the drinks and prepare the meat. That shows respect and that you want to get along — Kim replied.
We had exchanged numbers and had been texting non-stop since then, as if we both needed to share our worries. It had been a long time since I could talk to someone without fear of offending them. Maybe it was because our first encounter had been so out of the ordinary that it left no room for more anger. I felt that Kim wanted to break out of his routine; he confessed to spending too much time at work and needing a break. Knowing that we thought and felt the same made me so happy. Even though he remained a mystery, I couldn’t help but feel close to him because of how deep and easygoing he was.
—Thank you for your help ♥ — I wrote.
The dinner helped everyone relax. I made sure their glasses were always full of soju and helped Minjin prepare the meat. During dinner, she talked a lot, and I found her very likeable. Since we were closer in age, I felt comfortable around her.
“At first, when you arrived, I thought you were spoiled and nosy, but these past few days you’ve shown that you can do your job well. I hope we get to know each other better,” said Mr. Hyeon, raising his glass.
“To our new colleague,” he toasted.
We clinked glasses, and I felt happy to be getting closer to the team, though I couldn’t understand why they had formed such an impression of me when I had tried to fit in from the start. But excitement won over doubt, and I decided to enjoy the evening.
“Well, dinner was delicious, but I need to get back to my kids. It’s getting late; we should all head home,” said our boss, Hae, standing up.
We all followed her, bowing and saying goodbye as she got into her car. Mr. Hyeon also left, saying he lived nearby and would walk home. In the end, only Minjin and I were left.
“Do you live nearby?” I asked, worried about leaving her alone at night.
“Oh no, I live about 20 minutes away. Actually, I’ll take a cab. Want to share?”
She held onto my arm as if we had been friends forever, and that made me incredibly happy. However, I had to decline her invitation as she flagged down a taxi.
“Sorry, but I live a bit further, so I take the subway. It’s better for me.”
Her smile faltered a bit, and I couldn’t help but feel foolish—it was an opportunity to make a friend. However, my responsibility called. I had to get home quickly to walk Susy.
“Oh, don’t worry, I guess you’re not interested in being my friend. See you tomorrow.”
I tried to respond, to tell her that I did want to be her friend, but her words felt like an unexpected door slamming shut. She was already getting into the cab, leaving me with the answer stuck in my throat. I stood there, motionless, watching the taxi drive away, taking with it an opportunity I hadn’t known how to seize.
While walking to the subway station, the weight of doubt began to crush me. Why did it feel like no one at work wanted to get close to me? Why did they avoid me as if I were the problem? Mr. Hyeon’s comment kept echoing in my mind: “I didn’t have a good impression of you at first.” I had never done anything wrong to them; they hadn’t even given me a chance to show who I really was.
On the subway, as my mind wove absurd theories about my reputation, I felt a vibration in my pocket. I pulled out my phone and read the message:
“I’m going to walk Mitty, should I wait for you?”
A smile immediately spread across my face. The subway doors opened, and I ran out as fast as I could. The excitement of seeing him and sharing that little routine with Kim gave me a sense of relief I didn’t know I needed.
“I’m almost home, I’ll be there in 5.”
When I arrived home, the door to the house across the street opened. There was Mrs. Lee, my neighbor, with her warm smile and that gaze that always seemed to mix worry and tenderness in equal measure.
“Oh, it’s good you’re home. I just heard that there was a violent fight between a man and a woman at the park a few days ago. Even the police got involved. Did you hear anything about it?”
My heart stopped for a moment. How could I explain to her that I had been part of that mess? Of course, I couldn’t.
“People need to be very careful these days. The world is crazy now.”
I held back a nervous laugh before responding, feeling like an actress in a play I hadn’t rehearsed.
“Of course, I’ll be careful. Although I haven’t heard anything.”
After saying goodbye, I hurried inside. I greeted Susy, who welcomed me with her usual enthusiasm, and got her ready for a walk.
Walking toward the park, I saw him. Kim was there, tall and with that naturally laid-back posture. The dim light from the streetlamps highlighted the definition of his arms, and for a moment, I caught myself admiring him. Even though I had never seen his full face, there was something irresistibly attractive about him.
“Hi, Kim. Hi, Natty.”
He turned to me with a soft smile as Susy and Natty started playing, sniffing each other like old friends. Seeing them, I let go of Susy’s leash, and he did the same. The dogs dashed off to the wide lawn, their energy contagious.
“How did dinner go? Did you manage to get closer to them?” Kim asked with genuine curiosity. His tone was so warm that it felt like he was opening a door to a safe place.
“It went well. I feel like I’m starting to earn their trust. Thank you for your help; I wouldn’t have done it without you.”
I placed my hand over his on my shoulder for a moment, reaffirming my gratitude.
“I’m glad it went well for you. I wish it were as easy at my job as just inviting people to dinner,” he replied with a tired smile that hid a deeper sadness.
“What’s troubling you about work?” I asked, trying to offer him the same support he had given me.
He paused, looking toward where the dogs were playing carelessly. He seemed to be debating whether to speak or keep it to himself. Finally, he let out a sigh and admitted:
“You could say that my coworkers and I are drifting further apart. We’ve known each other for years, but now it feels like we’re strangers. It makes me nostalgic to realize that.”
We watched the dogs play, excited, as if they had known each other forever. Their carefree wagging tails and chaotic sprints seemed to reflect a pure, instant connection. I waited in silence, giving him time to gather his thoughts.
“It’s ironic,” he began, a bitter smile on his lips. “I’m distancing myself from them too. I don’t want them to realize how much their distance affects me, but I also don’t want them to feel obligated to spend time together like we used to.”
His words lingered in the air, heavy with a weight that seemed to wear him down. When he finished, he looked at me, and in his eyes, I saw a mix of vulnerability and a hint of shame for saying it out loud.
“I understand you,” I responded, trying to ease the tension. My voice came out softer than I expected, as if stepping into sacred ground.
“Before my mom passed away, my family was very close. But when she left, my dad and I drifted apart. We each tried to heal the wound she left… but we did it alone. I never tried to reach out to him, and now I regret it. My dad passed away a few years ago too, and sometimes I think about how things could’ve been if I had told him how I felt.”
The knot I felt while confessing this to Kim was strange, but at the same time, liberating. It was the first time I had talked about it with someone, and doing it with him made me feel less alone.
“I think if you reach out to them and tell them how you feel, they’ll understand,” I continued, trying to give him some hope. “I bet they feel the same. Humans are nostalgic by nature and always seek a place to return to.”
Kim gave me a small but genuine smile, and in that moment, we shared an unspoken understanding. Having someone to confide in, even for just a moment, made the burden we carried feel lighter.
To break the melancholic air, I decided to call Susy. When she saw me, she ran toward me with all her strength, wagging her tail so enthusiastically that I could almost feel the avalanche coming. Knowing she would inevitably knock me over, I ran to hide behind Kim, using him as a human shield.
The strategy, however, didn’t work. Susy slammed into him full force, knocking him backward with me trapped underneath.
“This time it wasn’t you tackling me, but your dog. You’re both a menace,” he said with a laugh as he struggled to pin me to the ground and tease me a little more.
“If you keep teasing me, people will think we’re fighting again,” I replied, laughing, finally managing to get up with his help. The night felt lighter thanks to that silly but comforting exchange.
“I think it’s time to head home. We’ll both wake up sore tomorrow,” Kim said, dusting off his clothes.
He decided to walk me to my house. But just before we arrived, a
few steps from my door, he stopped. He looked at me as if he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure. I could feel the air change around us, the kind of moment that stays in your memory long after it’s gone.
“I’m glad I met you,” he finally said, his voice soft, almost hesitant, as if afraid to say it.
My heart skipped a beat. The way he said those words, with an honesty that reached me, left me without a reply. I simply nodded, smiling, hoping my expression was enough to convey that I felt the same way.
A figure dressed entirely in black sprinted over the fence of my garden. The intruder glanced at us for a second before vanishing into the shadows.
“Hey! What are you doing?” I shouted with all the strength my surprise and fear allowed me.
The shock rooted me to the ground, as if my legs refused to respond. The reality that someone had entered my home—my private space—felt like a direct blow to the chest. Vulnerable and powerless, I could only watch as the stranger disappeared into the darkness.
“Who was that? Was it your house?” Kim asked, alarmed, his gaze darting between the direction the intruder had gone and my pale face.
Without a word, I leaned against him, unable to stand on my own from the fright. Kim didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around me, pulling me into a protective embrace that, while it couldn’t erase the fear, made me feel I wasn’t alone in that moment.
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