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There had always been something strange about him that you couldn’t quite put your finger on.
The first time you saw him, you were working at a quiet little cafe. The day hadn’t been busy, barely any customers stopping by except for some quite early in the morning. You were bored, finding nothing better to do than checking the many tables to make sure they were clean. Something you had already done twice during the last two hours, but it was better to be safe then sorry, and, you know, better than not having anything to do.
Then you saw him. A man with blonde hair and an open dark green coat was outside, staring down one of the raised tulip flower beds the cafe had right outside it’s windows. There were people walking down the street behind him, the occasional couple holding hands, but none caught your attention like this man that looked like he at any minute now would shove his whole face into the bristles just to get a closer look. He was eyeing the plants so intently, a frown on his face as he studied the many flowers.
It didn’t take long before he felt your gaze on him and looked up. He had a dumb look on his face, his eyes a little wide and mouth slightly open, as if he had been caught. It didn’t take long before he snapped out of it, his eyes widening slightly before he lightly shook his head from side to side, stopping to give you an embarrassed smile, one with which you quickly returned.
You figured any normal embarrassed person would scurry off after something like that, so you turned away and went back behind the counter to see if you’d find anything else that could entertain you there. What you hadn’t expected was to hear the bell above the cafe door chime, and to then turn around and see him standing there, one hand gripping the other arm in a nervous manner and quietly switching which foot he leaned on in a fidgety manner.
“Hello?” you say, not meaning to sound quite as rude as you did. You really didn’t expect him to walk in the door, there were plenty of other cafes he could go to around here so he could easily not have to deal with being embarrassed by walking into this one. Why would someone willingly walk into an awkward conversation when it could so easily be avoided?
He switches which foot he leans on again, still smiling at you in an apologetic manner. “Hello, sorry about, uh” he pauses, vaguely gesturing towards the window with the hand that isn’t currently gripping his arm. “Being weird outside with the flowers.”
You couldn’t help but let a small smile creep onto your lips. His awkwardness was cute, you had to admit. “No harm done” you shrug, and you can hear him sigh a relived sigh.
After that he walks up to the counter, orders a cup of tea, sits down at a table to drink it and then leaves, the sound of the bell ringing as the door opens and closes. You both did a bit of small talk while he was there, but not much.
You really didn’t expect to see him again after that, but he kept coming back. He always ordered his cup of tea and you both had your occasional small talk. Eventually he revealed to you the reason as to why he had intensely stared down the flower bed outside, the day of your meeting. Most of the tulips apparently had the tobacco necrosis virus, and Namjoon (as he had told you his name was) had quickly noticed and felt bad for the plants.
Fast forward a few years, and he asks you to be his fiance. You instantly accept, crying tears of happiness, knowing his cute, dimpled smile will stay with you for the rest of your life. You move in together, buying a small house the both of you could barely afford.
You’re happy, but you know there is something he has yet to tell you.
At first you thought the man simply loved plant life, which you had just chalked up to being another one of his cute quirks. You quickly found out that there was something more to it, however. It was almost as if he was physically hurt whenever any plant within a certain radius of him was trampled or killed. He’d flinch, sometimes you’d even catch his eyes starting to water. It even happened when he was oblivious to it. A flower nearby would be crushed by some kid stepping on it, and he’d flinch and start looking around for the source.
It was incredibly strange, and you’d indirectly asked him about it multiple times, but he always went to such lengths just to make sure you never found out. You couldn’t even begin to fathom why he was so set on hiding this form you, why he couldn’t trust you with this information, whatever it was. However, trust was important. The last thing you would do is start losing trust in him over something like this, you wanted to stay with him, you did not want to ruin everything over his very strange plant obsession.
He’d tell you when the time was right, and if he never did, maybe it was for the better.
You turn the key and hear the engines of the car start to softly purr with life. Looking behind you to make sure you don’t accidentally ram into an innocent car or person behind you, you set the gear in reverse and quietly make your way out of the parking lot.
If Namjoon wouldn’t tell you, then you hoped maybe showing him you’d noticed, and that you still care about him and don’t mind it would make him trust you. You wouldn’t mind it if he wouldn’t tell you after this, the last thing you wanted to do was make him feel obliged to tell you, but you knew that if you’d kept a secret from him for that long then you’d have imploded a long time ago from the guilt.
You hope your hunch is right. If it is then this would make Namjoon extremely happy, and that is an emotion you are determined to bring out of him today. Everyone deserves to be happy on their birthday.
>>>>
You’re not so sure about this anymore.
It almost seems too easy now. Too small, like you should do something more. Surely it wouldn’t be this easy to show him that you’re trustworthy? You slowly begin to stand up. No, you’d have to come up with something else, and quickly, before-
You faintly hear the front door open, the familiar “I’m home!” ringing throughout the house and just about reaching you through the back door. You hold your breath, plopping right back down onto the grass.
To hell with it, looks like you’re going through with this either way now.
You hear his footsteps from inside the house, a confused call of your name causing you to let out a hesitant “I- I’m over here!” You hear his footsteps get louder, and your nervousness rises.
Sitting in one of the corners of the beautiful garden your fiance has grown, your thoughts start to run wild. Any normal person would give you a confused look at what you’re about to do, earning you a “yeah, and?” as well as the need for an awkward, disheartened explanation from you. However, Namjoon is not any normal person. He is the plant obsessed dork you know and love. Yes, surely he’ll like your gift.
You look up as you hear your name, seeing him standing in the open, sliding glass door now, a confused look on his face.
You quickly stand up, brushing off your pants before clearing your throat. “So I went out to get you a present today, you know, since it’s your birthday” you tell him, fidgeting slightly in your place. “I figured it’s something you’d like, something we could both take care of together.”
You see even more confusion make its way to his face before you step out of the way, and his eyes widen, a small gasp leaving him.
There, planted in the corner near the fence of your garden is a lone sapling. It’s leaves look like that of a maple tree, bright and green. It’s small branches stretch somewhat awkwardly towards the sky, one of them even look broken.
You see what you can only describe as life filling his eyes as he stares at the plant, mumbling a quiet “Norway Maple.” You can’t help but smile at the fact he knows the name of the tree, it’s almost as if he knows everything about every plant in existence, and seeing that makes you want to tackle him with kisses for his cuteness.
Then you spot the tears in his eyes and you quickly worry life wasn’t what his eyes were being filled with. You shift a little nervously, quietly reaching out a hand towards him. “Namjoon?”
Suddenly you feel arms around you, and you realize Namjoon is hugging you tightly. You don’t even get the chance to return the hug before he leans away, gently grabbing your face in his hands and leaving kisses all over it. Multiple small “thank you”s leaving his lips. Once he leans away, his confidence seems to crumble a little, perhaps because of your dumbfounded expression. You did not expect that reaction out of him.
He lets go of your face. “Sorry, sorry” he sniffles, trying to wipe the tears away with his hands before looking up at you again. “It’s just that” He pauses, looking over at the sapling. “I’m so happy” A breathy laugh leaves him, his eyes never leaving the little tree.
All the places his lips touched your face tingle with a slight warmth, you can feel your cheeks grow a little hotter as your brain finally catches up. You sigh with relief, smiling. Of course, you knew he’d like it. That’s just the kind of man he is.
One of your hands travel upwards to frame his face, the other goes to the back of his head. You lean in to give him a kiss, feeling his soft lips faintly smile against yours, and it leaves a fluttery feeling in your chest. “Then I’m happy too.” You smile reassuringly at him, the hand at the back of his head tenderly playing with his hair.
“Why did you pick this one though?” he asks, looking at the sapling before looking back at you with a questioning look, a smile still present, almost making it seem teasing.
“I picked the ugly duckling” you reply with a chirp, stepping away from him and letting your hands fall to your sides. “If I didn’t pick it, no one would. It needs loving parents that can take care of it properly so it will grow into the beautiful tree it has the potential to be.”
Namjoon laughs, amused, and you grin at him. “I don’t think you know this just from looking at where you planted it, but you picked a pretty difficult tree” He informs you, his smile turning a little more apologetic.
Your smile is instantly wiped from your face, and you quickly turn to look at the plant, feeling a little more uneasy. “What? Why?” You ask, a squeak to your voice. You’d still be able to keep it, right?
“It’s completely okay, don’t worry!” Namjoon says quickly, trying to assure you it was alright. “The Norway Maple is just known for destroying any other plant that grows around it. It’s shade prevents other plants from getting adequate amounts of sunlight, and it has fibrous roots that take all of the nutrients from the soil. It’s also a very big type of tree.”
You freeze, at least a million thoughts running through your mind at his words.
It destroys any other plant that grows around it…
That means your gift would kill his whole f*cking garden!
You take several steps away form him at the realization, eyes widening rapidly. “Doesn’t that mean it’ll ruin your whole garden?!” Your eyes snap to look at the plant, suddenly not liking it very much anymore. This tree would be the killer of what Namjoon basically treats as his children.
“No, no” he tries to calm you down, letting his hand take yours in his. “I really don’t mind!”
You feel extremely bad for this, and also like you need to get rid of the tree as soon as possible. You should have never brought it here, now Namjoon will feel like he has to keep it just because it’s a gift from you. You should think more before you do things like this. This was a mistake. “Namjoon, you really don’t have to keep it. I can get rid of it!”
“No.”
It’s just a simple word, added with the small action of him firmly tugging at your hand to have you look at him, but it instantly snaps you out of the more panicky state you were in. The way Namjoon said the word was more stern and sure than you had ever heard him speak before. He says it in a way that clearly tells you this is his final answer, and he won’t have you argue with him over this.
He sighs, the stern expression he wore just moments ago deflating. “No one has ever given me something like this before. This matters more to me than you’d ever know” he says, his eyes looking into yours, pleading with you to believe him.
You hold your breath, just looking at him, waiting for him to say anything else.
You see tears start to well up in his eyes again, and you immediately feel bad. “I love you so much” He inhales a shaky breath. “We can raise this tree together. Watch over it.” He tries to smile and squeezes your hand, and you can’t help but think he is looking for comfort. “I never thought I’d be able to have something like this. It makes me incredibly happy that you’d want to share it with me.”
He smiles at you, tears in his eyes and dimples on full display. In that moment, all you can see is him, all you can hear is him, and all you can feel is him. Your heart clenches painfully in your chest at the fact you ever believed he wouldn’t like your stupid tree. This dork would love anything you gave him as long as it was somewhat plant based. Heck, he’d probably like whatever you’d give him even if it had nothing to do with plants. That’s just the kind of person he is.
You lean in, kissing him again. “I love you too, you dork, and happy birthday.”
He laughs, and it’s like music to your ears.
“We’ll have to move the sapling though. It can’t be that close to the house because the Norway Maple really is big” he informs you, and then you’re laughing too.
You realize you don’t really need to know what’s going on with him and his strange plant thing. You knew it before too, but now you’re more sure than ever. He’ll tell you when he’s ready.
For now you will both just continue laughing, together, thinking about each other and the stupid tree.