Work Text:
"I suppose... Love doesn't exist." He was lying in his back. "Because if it did, wouldn't it be so strong that you'd love that person forever?"
"Are you high again?" A tired voice came from the other side of the room, followed by a grunt.
"I haven't been high for a week." Silence. "Five days." Silence again. "Three days." More silence. "Two hours."
"Sounds about right."
"Wouldn't your boyfriend go all hay wire on you if he finds out your smoking?"
"He knows." The room filled up with smoke again, different smell this time.
"Again with the cigarettes?"
"Well yeah."
"What does he think of it?"
"He's okay with it, as long as I don't do stupid shit like fuck some random girl I see on the street. Or have some guy blow me in return for s-"
"Okay. Stop talking."
"At least I'm not stuck in my house as I mope around about some guy-"
"Shut up."
"It's been, what, ten months?"
"Get out." His friend sighed, standing up no walking towards the door. "Make sure you lock the door, don't take the key either."
"Why do you keep that key under the mat still? He's not coming back, you heard him."
"Just go already!" He grabbed the lamp, throwing it to the door as it closed shut. "Dumbass..." He flipped over and dragged his finger across the carpet. He felt his gaze soften after a while, remembering how soft his skin felt. How much life his laughter carried. The happiness his smile held when he'd do small things for the other. Things can't always be like that, though. Life isn't just ups, there's downs as well. He knows that.
After what seems like hours, he gets up and heads to his bathroom. He closes the door behind him, stretching out a bit before examining his face in the mirror. You should eat more. You look thinner. He smirks a bit, remembering his friend's words. He continues to look in the mirror, his gaze on his hair. It's always been black as far as he remembers. Other than the time his older sister forced him to get highlights, he's never allowed anyone to touch his hair after that.
His smirk grows bigger with a hint of fear in it. Change is good. Another life lesson his dumb friend told him. He sighs, leaving the bathroom and going to his front door. He slips on his sneakers and jacket, grabbing his wallet and phone as well. His phone buzzes. 'I took the key. -Namjoon' He sighs again and leaves his apartment, locking the door.
He takes out his earphones and plugs them into his phone. He put his music on shuffle and places his phone inside his jacket's pocket. Walking down the hall, he raises an eyebrow. The walls have been painted peach, no longer pearl white. Some of the doors were painted coral, others were painted white. He rolled his eyes, walking to the elevator and pressing the first floor button. The elevator went down and the doors opened when they reached the first floor. What color should I dye it? He shoved his hands in his pockets, walking out of the elevator and out of the front door.
He looked around, seeing the trees already blooming with their white flowers. People walked around, colorful shopping bags in hand as they enjoyed their time with their friends. A couple walked by, smiling at each other as they talked about what they were going to eat for lunch. He huffed, rolling his eyes and continuing his stroll.
A few minutes passed and he arrived in front of the hair salon. Should I really do this? What if I regret it? He ruffled his hair, pushing the door open and being greeted by pastel painted interior. The walls were painted pastel blue and the chairs were colored differently. It looked more like a sweets shop than a salon. He takes out his earphones at unplugs it from his phone, putting them away in his jean's pocket.
A lady fixed her ponytail as she dashed out of the back room and towards the front desk.
"How may I help you?" He looked at her name tag, 'Lucinda'. She smiled a little too eagerly, making Yoongi step back a bit.
"Um..."
"First time getting your hair dyed?" She laughed calmly. Yoongi swears he didn't feel creeped out.
"Yeah." He reached for his phone, already feeling anxiety shake his heart.
"Well, as you can see, there's not many people in here so pick a seat." She typed something in to the computer while Yoongi looked at the chairs and made his way over to the farthest one. What if she screws up? What if she makes me go bald?! What if it turns out really ugly oh god how will I live—
He let out a deep breath and situated himself into the chair. The lady walked over with black gloves covering her hands.
"Do you want to pick the color or should I recommend you ones?"
"Either one."
"Hm," she looked at him intently through the mirror, "Apple red? Lilac? Rose?"
"Uh... Rose, I guess."
"Al right. I'll be back, I need to make the bleaching mixture." She smiled before walking to the back room. He takes out his phone and opens up his Instagram. His friend's recent post shows up on his feed. A picture of a tree burning with the caption 'dreams never die' under it makes Yoongi laugh.
'dboy: are you sure you posted the right picture? You're not high, are you?'
'sexybrains: @ dboy says the one who was talking about love.'
'pinkjin: @ sexybrains are you saying love is a joke?'
'sexybrains: @ pinkjin that's not what I meant.'
'pinkjin: @ sexybrains guess who's sleeping outside the apartment tonight.'
'sexybrains: @ pinkjin I dIdN't MeAn It '
Yoongi shook his head, looking up just in time to see the lady coming back.
"Ready?" She picks up a wide tint brush and dips the bristles into the bowl. He nodded. She started by parting his hair and covering a tiny hair section with the mixture. After a strand is thoroughly covered in bleach, she wraps a piece of aluminum foil around it and proceeds to the next strand. He continues through his Instagram and tries not to laugh so loud when he comes across ignorant comments. "What made you decide to dye your hair?"
"My friend said to change things up a bit. Get out of the apartment more and do something with my life. To stop waiting for someone, basically."
"Ah, a girlfriend?" He smiled nervously, "...Boyfriend? Partner?"
"I'm not sure what he is to me now."
"Sounds bad, mind telling me what happened? I've been told I give pretty good advice."
"Sure." He's not sure exactly why he tells her because honestly, he hasn't even spoken about it to anyone else besides his dumb friend.
"First off, why do you keep a key under the mat?! A random person could decide to look under it one day and have access into your house!" She shook her head in disbelief, "Second, maybe you two needed a break. It sounds like spending so much time with each other made him feel like he didn't really have anyone else or it didn't capture his inte—"
"My friend took the key, problem solved! And we could have changed things up, could we not?"
"Of course you could have. It just happens some times."
"He could have told me if he wanted to stop seeing each other instead of leaving like that and not saying anything."
"How long has it been?"
"Ten months." She almost dropped the tint brush before tightening her grip on it.
"Shit, that long? How are you still waiting? Have you tried contacting him?"
"No."
"If you weren't a client and a friend of mine, you would be dead right now." She huffed. "Do any of your friends keep in touch with him?"
"Most likely, but they wouldn't tell me anyways."
"Great friends, huh?"
"Very great friends." He laughed.
"Well, you could try finding out where he is, you know." She finishes wrapping the last strand of hair in aluminum foil, "who knows, maybe he's still holding on to this like you are."
~~~~~
"Are you almost done? I didn't know it would take this long—"
"Jeez, it's only been two hours!" Lucinda shoves his head back a little too close to the faucet.
"What the fuc—"
"That'll teach you, butt." She rolled her eyes, "I'm washing out the excess dye and then I'll blow dry your hair." She turned off the water, "lift your head up." He did what he was told. She grabbed the blow dryer nearby and turned it on, letting the hot air dry his hair. "I hope you like it, 'cause there's no way I'm going to give you a discount."
"You're like, 48 inches shorter. I think I can just walk over you—"
"Don't take it out on my height!" She scowled, running a comb through his hair. "Done. Look in the mirror." She turns his seat towards a mirror while she goes to dispose of her gloves. Huh... He stands up and takes a closer look. It's not bad... "I hope you'll take my advice and make up with your... Er... Friend."
"Sure."
"If you bring him in, maybe I'll get you two to match hair colors."
"As if."
"Suit yourself." She walked to the cash register, "$35.75." He took his wallet out and handed her some money. "Hold on, let me take a picture of your hair." She smiled and she took out here phone, "I promise it'll only be your hair and not your face."
"You could also take picture of my face but then I'd have to charge you."
"Yes, because you are about as handsome as Kim Tae Hwan." She rolled her eyes and quickly took a picture. "Now go and get your boyfriend back, it's better than being alone. Wait no, being alone is better but you seem to miss him a lot." She laughed as the shop door rang.
"I'm back for a touch up." The male smiled, already heading to a seat.
"Good luck." She stuck her thumb out and walked,towards the thee client. Yoongi sighed and took his leave. Maybe I should message him... But what if he has someone else now?
~~~~~
"Are you going to pay rent soon?" The man and the counter eyed Yoongi as he walked into the building.
"I'll pay tomorrow." He waved his hand in the air and went to the elevator. He pressed the floor number and closed his eyes, feeling a bit dizzy as it came to a stop. He left the elevator, scrolling through Instagram once again before he reached his apartment. Stopping momentarily, he puts his phone away and looks up.
A tall familiar figure stands in front of the door, slowly looking up and turning to face Yoongi.
"Hi."