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sunflowers: false riches, pride
Taehyung pondered over the floriographic meaning of sunflowers as he gazed at Hoseok watering the dwarf sunflowers propped on the windows.
The younger remembered the denial he faced in the beginning, having heard that Hoseok's bakery was owned by a sunflower considering the name "Sunflower Sweets".
But Hoseok was nothing like the sunflowers Taehyung knew.
He didn't even come close.
The day Taehyung met Hoseok was awfully hot, the blazing sun being a horrid nuisance. If Taehyung had been born a mimosa, he was sure his front hair would've rushed to cover his face and partially block his vision.
Taehyung had figured he was craving something sweet to ignore the irritating heat, stepping inside a rather pleasant bakery with an adorable name and creamy walls and cute little tables with chairs to rest. But the best part was the sweets, which quite frankly, were mouthwatering with how utterly delicious they looked.
It seemed like there was no one at the counter, but the various seated people with sweets made it obvious that the bakery must've been popular. Taehyung was never one to listen in on other people's conversations, but he couldn't help listening in on information about the owner.
"Oh, yes! That young man is an absolute doll really, the most polite sunflower I've ever met."
Taehyung overheard some ladies chatting at a table, and he couldn't help the distasteful expression on his face. He normally didn't judge someone he hadn't met yet, but whenever he heard about sunflower hybrids, he was immediately displeased.
Because sunflowers were always so prideful and unpleasant despite their astonishing beauty. They exaggerated their accomplishments and overlooked others with their height. Those were the sunflowers Taehyung had always known back in his hometown.
And in the two years he had been in this city, he surprisingly hadn't met any sunflowers. To his displeasure, that was probably about to change.
But the male that entered from the back surprised him.
First, it was his height. Sure, he seemed to be about Taehyung's height, but he was obviously a few centimeters shorter. Sunflowers were usually much taller, regardless of their gender.
Compared to most sunflowers, the bakery's owner was probably a midget.
Second, his smile as he greeted Taehyung. It truly shouldn't have been so bright, almost challenging the raging sun outside.
Lastly, it was the lack of displeasure to see Taehyung and notice he wasn't a flower hybrid. Sunflowers had a particular hatred for humans.
"Welcome to Sunflower Sweets, how may I help you? I haven't seen you around before so this must be your first time. My name is Jung Hoseok!"
And with that sweet tone of voice as the male named Hoseok extended his hand, Taehyung just knew the male couldn't possibly be compared to other sunflowers.
Taehyung never knew he'd be the type to frequent a bakery, but with those pretty lips that formed a heart and chocolate eyes that held galaxies, Taehyung had become a regular.
Hoseok had soon learned his name, and occasionally teased him after finding out Taehyung was younger.
Conversations with the sunflower were soft. Soft and peaceful. Soft and peaceful and just, lovely. And Taehyung felt proud as he got to know the little things about the older.
Little things like how Hoseok liked his coffee early in the morning when he let Taehyung come inside, probably way too much sugar in the cup. But Taehyung had figured that's just how the sunflower was; so sugary and sweet.
Sweet with the way he greeted customers. Sweet with his honesty, because Hoseok sucked at lying. Sweet with his failed little flirting attempts, the male becoming so flustered and shy.
So unlike a sunflower.
And Taehyung simply couldn't hate him.
Not when they were getting closer as days, weeks, even almost months passed.
Taehyung got momentarily snapped out of his thoughts as he noticed an old picture of Hoseok's parents on the wall, the image bringing Taehyung a separate and more intimate memory.
A memory of the first time he saw the gorgeous sunflower cry.
The day Taehyung first saw Hoseok cry was a particularly chilly day near the end of fall, winter almost easing it's way in and leaving hopeful hearts frozen beneath lakes. It was never a favored time for flower hybrids. Most of them dreaded the season despite all the bright festivities that surrounded it.
And the sweet sunflower known as Hoseok was no exception, although he had a completely different set of reasons.
Reasons that explained why he wasn't working that day, his older sister Jiwoo filling in for him instead.
Reasons that explained why Taehyung was directed to the nearby cemetery, only to see Hoseok standing in front of a grave.
Reasons that explained the foreign frown on the older's lips, eyebrows knitted in thought.
And when Hoseok finally noticed Taehyung's presence as the younger stepped close, he strained a smile. Taehyung shook his head at him and gently cupped the older's cheeks, a silent gesture to say that it was okay; that he didn't always have to smile.
"M-My," Hoseok's voice quivered as he desperately sought to communicate. "My p-parents.."
Taehyung's eyes shifted to the grave, noticing the pairs of normal sunflowers intertwined with dwarf sunflowers around it. Whenever flower hybrid couples died, their coffins would be placed next to one another, and their flowers would sprout up from the soil and intertwine, creating a beautiful array around the grave.
Taehyung's gaze spinned back to Hoseok as soon as he felt something wet reach his hands, and he almost felt his heart shatter when he realized what is was: tears.
Hoseok's tears.
Hoseok was crying.
He was crying right in front of Taehyung without a care in the world, as if his pride was made of impenetrable steel and what was currently happening would never break it.
And it was true, Taehyung realized. True because Hoseok wasn't prideful like other sunflowers. He had a different pride, the type that brought him confidence in his own being, because Hoseok knew who he was. Hoseok knew those tears streaming down his cheeks wouldn't change a thing.
"T-They, on t-this day.." Hoseok sobbed and Taehyung shushed him because he understood. Flower hybrids had shorter life spans than humans, and Hoseok's parents were no exception to that fact of nature.
The younger focused on comforting Hoseok by kissing his forehead, and he didn't miss the literal golden sparkle in those wet eyes, the nearby dwarf sunflowers having a similar effect.
Taehyung put two and two together as he wrapped Hoseok in a warm embrace, a small smile on his lips.
Hoseok was certainly not like other sunflowers.
He was a dwarf sunflower.
dwarf sunflowers: adoration, pride
And even the most adored cried, for keeping smiles could be a difficult task.
"Tae, want some peach tea?" Taehyung was snapped back to reality as he heard the sweet voice he dearly adored, watching Hoseok finish up watering the flowers and walking towards the younger.
Taehyung smirked and extended his hand, plopping Hoseok down on his lap as soon as the older took it. Hoseok squirmed for a moment, cheeks rosy from the sudden action. "Hmm, I think I'd rather have you." The younger whispered, tempted by the shiver that rose through Hoseok along with a quick golden glow in his eyes, the dwarf sunflowers glowing momentarily.
"But you already do, silly," Hoseok's expression quickly changed, a pout forming on his lips, which made Taehyung's heart skip an honest beat as he leaned up to peck them.
"You're right, sunshine," Taehyung nodded, utter joy bubbling in his chest as Hoseok immediately smiled at his favorite pet name. "But I just love having you in so many more ways. It's unbelievable, really. You've got me whipped." He shook his head in fake disappointment, causing the older to roll his eyes and adorably giggle.
"Guess I can't blame you when I feel just the same way about you." Hoseok sighed before kissing Taehyung full on the lips, mouths beginning an elegant movement as hands began to wonder, connecting slowly in the search for passionate throes.
And Hoseok continued with romantic antics that were so unlike sunflowers, which was perfectly fine.
It was fine because Hoseok was Taehyung's sunflower, his dwarf sunflower.