Chapter Text
As far as Jinyoung could remember, he always knew.
But the first time he ever really noticed was on his 6th birthday. After constant begging and despite his mother’s disapproval, little Jinyoung was able to convince his dad to buy him a puppy. It was the best birthday present he could ever wished for. He remembers rolling around the grass as the pup tried giving him kisses, and ignoring everyone for the rest of his party. At night giving his new best friend a kiss on the top of his head, he recalls the smell. It was nothing from what you expected a dog to smell, it smelled flowery. Although it happened many years ago; Jinyoung could remember the aroma vividly.
“Mommy, he smells like flowers!” Jinyoung pulled on his mom’s sleeves trying to get her attention.
She turned, scrunching her nose. “Ah, Jinyoung-ie… He smells like dirt and grass I smell it from here. Tomorrow you and you dad are going to bathe him okay?” She swapped her hands in front of her face trying to get the smell away.
Jinyoung was confused. The smell was obvious yet his mom couldn’t smell it. He reached over to hug the puppy and smell his head once again.
“I can smell it, Don’t believe my mommy… you smell pretty and I won’t let them bathe you.” Jinyoung comforted his pet with a pout on his face.
A week later after coming home from school, his parents gave him the news.
“Jinyoung-ie, sweetie… We have to tell you something…” his mother’s face was restless.
Jinyoung looked around for his best friend, growing frustrated when he was unable to spot him.
He cried the rest of the night. That was the first day Jinyoung knew death existed.
But it wasn’t the last. It was only three years later when he smelled the scent again.
Jinyoung’s dad had called in work sick. So it was unusual for him to drive Jinyoung to school instead of his mom. They both got off and waited at the school’s gate.
“C’mon give me a hug or are you too embarrassed to hug your dad at school?” his dad smiled softly.
Jinyoung looked around there were a few parents and students passing by but he didn’t mind.
“Only if you promise you won’t get me sick.” Jinyoung gave his dad a hug.
He sighed. “No promises.”
Jinyoung knew right away once he smelled it, that it wasn’t his first time.
“You smell like flowers, did you put on mom’s perfume?” Jinyoung giggled at the thought.
He grabbed the collar of his shirt and quickly sniffed it.
Suddenly letting out an airy laugh. “No way, I don’t smell anything? Go on before the bell rings.” He ruffled Jinyoung’s hair.
Jinyoung stood there confused. The smell was there. Maybe his dad was too sick to smell anything. He went to class trying to remember what it had reminded him of.
It had been a week since then, he waited at the gate like he always did after school. His dad would pick him up unless he was running late, in which case his mom would come. But none of them came. Once he grew scared, he saw his uncle running over to him. It was rare when he saw his uncle so he felt happy. His uncle let out his hand. Jinyoung noticed how he was shaking but there was still a smile on his face, so he stopped himself from asking.
“Jinyoung-ie...Can you promise me something?”
Jinyoung was in the backseat of the car so he couldn’t see his uncle’s face, but he heard him trembling.
“Please take care of your mother? For me okay?”
Jinyoung eyes were wide opened, what was he talking about?
“Jinho Uncle, Are you crying?” Is all that Jinyoung could say.
That night Jinyoung slept in his mother’s arms, both of them crying. That was his second time he smelled death, and sadly it didn’t hurt any less.
---
There was only 3 days until school started. Despite it being “summer” the morning was cold. Jinyoung shoved his hands into his hoodie’s pocket in hopes of warming them up.
This is how he spent his entire summer, in the mornings he would visit the park near his house. He enjoyed it because he all alone. Once people started to show up, he would walk back home and spend the rest of his day by himself. Sometimes he would write in a journal but most of the time he would keep all of his thoughts in his head.
He wasn’t excited or sad to be going back to school. There was nothing to look forward to, he had no friends but at least the homework would get him distracted.
One year after his father passed away Jinyoung told his mom about how his dad smelled like flowers. It was a sensitive topic but he felt the words leave his mouth without thinking. His mother looked up, hearing his son speak in a very long time.
“Jinyoung, what did the flowers smell like?” His mom asked with no particular reason. She looked at Jinyoung, smiling letting herself remember her husband.
Yet there was no words to describe it. He closed his eyes, and it came to him.
It was the same smell his puppy had when he died a week later. The same smell no one could smell. And then it all connected, like solving the last puzzle piece. He told his mom and she believed him.
Jinyoung went on with his life, he distanced himself from everyone. It didn’t matter what he did he couldn’t stop himself from smelling the flowers. He even began blaming himself, but his mom convinced him it was people’s fate. Once he knew what it meant he was able to smell it on people, or animals. Sometimes he would smell it once in a few months, sometimes multiple times a day but they all had the same fate. It broke Jinyoung knowing they were all fated to die, and he couldn’t do anything about it. He witness too much death for his young age, relative, strangers. He recalls seeing an ad for a missing girl on tv once, the same little girl he had bumped into the week prior with an all too similar scent. He cried for her, and just like many others until he realized he had no obligation. These were all strangers, Jinyoung didn’t know them and slowly the pain he had was replaced by a constant numbness.
Jinyoung was sitting on the park’s bench, mad at the entire world. How cruel it was for them to curse him like this. Tired of the world bringing death right in front of his eyes. He wanted to stop it; he wasn’t even sure if it was possible but he was going to change someone’s fate.
Just as he finished his thought, his nose caught the smell he hated so much. The boy quickly walked past him, wearing a blue jacket and a beanie that made him stood out. Without thinking, he gets up to follow him. Jinyoung had definitely not given much thought about this. How was he going to stop someone from dying, a stranger let alone. Yet he followed him, imagining what he would tell him. “Hello, Bae Jinyoung. Whenever I smell a flowery scent on someone they end up dying a week later, and guess what? I smell it on you. Nice to meet you.” Definitely not. His heart was pounding, maybe it was a silly idea to begin with. His brain made to sure to remind him that his mother had a point but suddenly the boy in front of him came to a stop.
The stranger turned around, taking a step away from Jinyoung. “ Are you following me? Listen I know I’m small but I can probably take you on right now. That and… I’m also a good runner…” He said loudly but his voice got quieter towards the end.
Jinyoung was just as scared. He felt a lump in his throat that was preventing him from speaking. And he mentally slapped his face for ever thinking this was a good idea.
“I-I… Bae Jinyoung!” He spit out hoping not to scare him off. Maybe if he knows his name, he won’t be too cautious. The boy just stared at him, confused.
Jinyoung noticed the bus in front of him coming to a stop and quickly came up with a lie. He looked down at the floor, not sure what to expect. “I’m lost and I don’t know how to use the bus.” It wasn’t entirely a lie… He’s never been on a bus before.
The stranger kept staring making sure not to let his guard down, but he reached over and pulled on Jinyoung’s sleeve.
“Well, hurry up before the bus leaves us both.” Jinyoung followed not given much choice, focusing on not tripping over himself. He led him to the bus running up the stairs, paying for them both.
Jinyoung noticed every seat was taken and all of their eyes were on him, or at least that’s what he felt. It been months since he’d been surrounded by so many people. His anxiety was kicking in being in an unfamiliar place. The boy’s hand was still on Jinyoung dragging him to the very end of the bus where they had no choice but to stand.
The bus began to move and Jinyoung held on to a pole above him.
He took a better glance at the boy very closely in front of him. He seemed young, maybe even younger than him. He took his beanie off, running his fingers through his hair in hopes of fixing it. His hair laid just above his eyes, the texture seemed soft. And Jinyoung’s eyes couldn’t seem to look else where.
“Can you stop staring at me? What is it? You’ve never seen a boy before?” The boy asked but surprisingly he didn’t seem mad. If Jinyoung’s eyes were right, he was slightly smiling.
Completely embarrassed, he turns his head around.
“So...Where are you going to?” he asks bringing his attention back.
Jinyoung stayed silent unable to think of a response.
“Main? View? Lak-”
Jinyoung cuts him off before he can finish. “View street! I live there.” Jinyoung lies.
“That’s good, I was hoping so or else you’re on the wrong bus.” He softly laughed. Jinyoung thinks it comforts him somewhat.
Jinyoung smelled the air, remembering why he was on the bus. The scent was strong, which would be logical since he was only a few inches away from him. He used to think it smelled pretty but now he was sick of it. He kept thinking about how this was such a crazy idea. He was on a bus with a stranger, that’s going who knows where. He has the social skills of a potato and yet he’s made it this far.
“Hmm, What school are you going to?” The stranger asked curiously.
Jinyoung found no reason to lie. “Uh, Academy of Arts…”
The boy's face lit up. “Wait really!? You must be so smart to get accepted to that school..”
Jinyoung wanted to laugh at how easily his mood changed.
“No not really, I just studied everyday… for 2 months..” Jinyoung responded slowly drifting off. He remembers not caring what high school he would go to but once he found out Academy of Arts was their town’s largest school he figured it would be harder to get noticed there.
“Ah Bae Jinyoung, you’re so cool.”
Jinyoung felt a pull to his heart. It been so long since anyone has ever complimented him, let alone say his name.
Feeling greedy for the attention he wanted to keep the conversation going. “And you?”
The boy hesitates before answering. “Hm Liberty.”
Jinyoung didn’t know much about the school other than it being a private school.
“Liberty, you must be smart too. If they don’t accept just anyone.” Jinyoung said hoping to give him confidence.
“Nothing compared to you though. But that wasn’t why I chose it. It’s actually the smallest school in town there’s like 300 of us but my friends are all going there. And I know this probably isn’t the best choice but I want to spend my life enjoying it you know who knows what’s going to happen? I can worry about school later.” He started laughing at his own silly mentality. And Jinyoung’s heart broke knowing fully well what’s going to happen.
“No… You’re right. Enjoy your life. But take care of yourself.” Jinyoung whispered.
He noticed the boy putting on his beanie back and the bus coming to a stop.
“Ah, I get off here.” He gave Jinyoung the brightest smile. “Your stop is actually next so just wait a few more minutes. Well, It was nice meeting you! Maybe if fate wants to we’ll meet again.”
And just as quickly as it had started it was coming to an end.
Jinyoung stared as he made his way to the front of the bus. He didn’t know his name, or any information besides his school and who knows how long it would take him to find the younger. He accomplished absolutely nothing, and just thinking about it made him anxious. Before the boy could leave, he decides to stand out for once in his life.
“HEY!” Jinyoung yelled stealing the boy’s attention as well as everyone else on the bus. He stayed silent for a second while everyone anticipated for what he was about to say.
“Can I get your number?” The second the words leave his mouth, he feels his face get hot. The boy seemed to feel the same way, since he couldn’t hide the obvious blush on his face.
While Jinyoung’s mind was spinning, he heard some teenagers whooping in the background. An old couple was clapping. He wondered if the other wanted to die just as much as he did right now.
He had just given up on the entire plan when he heard the boy speak. “3-1-2” Jinyoung scrambled through his pocket to find his phone, typing in the numbers as quickly as possible.“5-3--”
“Lee Daehwi!” He finally spits out before walking off the bus.
The bus began to move but Jinyoung stood still, processing everything that had just happened.
He takes his phone out, looking for his mom’s contact before eventually calling.
“Mom, yea. Can you pick me up? I don’t know where I am.”