Chapter Text
Kim Taehyung is perfectly fine with studying in his dorm, thank you very much. He is one of the rare people who can sit at their desks at home and make real, proper progress on assignments, homework, quizzes, and other productive activities.
(His best friend/roommate would always ask him how he does it, and Taehyung simply says:
“Jimin, I don’t take a week each academic year to make this place our home only to never spend any time in it.”)
Kim Taehyung is perfectly fine with his dorm and has been perfectly fine for his first two years. It is in his third year when he discovers the wonders of the campus library.
Obviously, he had gone to borrow textbooks he didn’t want to pay for, and to conduct research for his numerous art history essays, but he had never really sat down to study in the library before, so why the sudden shift in philosophy? Well. It is in the second month of his third year at the university when he discovered the beautiful place that is specifically the back of the third floor of the library.
Objectively speaking, no one really wants to be at the back of the third floor, and that is because it is the section that houses the books about molecular biology and chemistry (unless you were a student that took those subjects, and even then, ugh.) And since Taehyung is pursuing a degree in Fine Arts, he really has no reason to be there either. However, this year, he had somehow created a timetable where every Tuesday and Thursday had a three hour gap between the two lectures on those days, and so after five weeks of trekking from his class to his dorm to his class then back to his dorm again, he had decided that going home between the classes was not worth the uphill effort. So, he walked into the library on a sunny day and decided to follow the pretty glass staircase which lead him to the third floor, where he searched for a quiet place to sit. This led him to the back of the library, and consequently, the most mesmerising view he had ever seen. What made the view so captivating?
- The wall-to-wall windows happen to overlook the park located next to the library.
- The sunlight filters through the windows just right—not too many shadows, but not too bright either.
- Sat there was the cutest/hottest guy he had ever seen in his brief (yet expansive) university career.
And so, for the first two reasons, (“and the first two reasons only, Jimin,”) Kim Taehyung has been spending extra time in the library, thereby lugging his textbooks up three flights of stairs to study in the molecular biology/chemistry section for the 11th time in two weeks.
And for the past two weeks, Taehyung has been watching the very cute and very hot boy study.
(“He has a mole on his chin, Jimin, on his chin.”
“I know, I saw it when you pointed it out the first time—and quite loudly, might I add.”)
(“He looks like a bunny when he blinks, Chim. And apparently he’s a very fit bunny with amazing biceps.”)
(“Why is life so unfair? He has flowers covering his right arm. He has no business being this hot. Leave some of the hotness for the rest of us, please.”
“Tae, you were literally voted as the number one visual of your department for the past two years.”)
On this particular Wednesday, Taehyung’s 11th visit in two weeks, Jimin is sat beside him. (Sadly, the boy is not. In fact, he isn't in the library at all. Taehyung knows; he checked.)
“–and so, we signed up for flower arranging classes with the florist that makes the bouquets Yoongi-hyung sends me all the time. Taetae, you will not believe how hot the florist is.”
“You sure you should be saying that about the florist?” Taehyung raises his eyebrows with mock surprise (he knows his best friend, so he’s really just indulging him with the response).
“Hyung agrees with me. He says the florist could be a lead in a drama. We’re in a relationship but we’re not blind,” Jimin rolls his eyes. “Anyways, I’m bringing you along. It’s our third session but Yoongi-hyung has to take Namjoon-hyung’s tutorial class for him today. I know you don’t have anything planned for later, so you have no excuses.”
Taehyung agrees, but only because he loves his best friend owes Jimin a favour, and it’s true, he has nothing else planned for the afternoon. (Also, because he is a little bit curious about the florist.
“From your description, I assume the florist was once in love with a girl, but then they parted ways on a snowy evening, with the girl’s last words being something along the lines of ‘flowers are my true love,’ and they never meet again…”
“Tae what the f–”)
They arrive at the (admittedly tasteful) flower shop five minutes before the session begins, and so Jimin introduces Taehyung to the four other people in the class after making quick nametags for the two of them. Everything was going smoothly, which meant something potentially un-smooth was about to happen, and it did. Imagine Taehyung’s surprise when he turns around, expecting to see the mysterious florist with the long lost first love, only to meet the eyes of his cute/hot boy from the library that eerily yet wonderfully resembles a bunny.
(“Jimin what the fuck.”)
Bunny-boy’s eyes widen comically (and Taehyung swears he could see stars in them).
“Um, hi everyone, my name is Jeon Jungkook.” The bunny-boy—Jungkook—turns to the class. “I’m a part-timer at this flower shop and I’ll be taking your class today instead of Isaac-hyung.”
Taehyung assumes the usual teacher is this ‘Isaac’ person.
Everyone was evidently a bit disappointed that the apparently very hot florist Isaac wasn’t there, but Taehyung could clearly see them eyeing Jungkook appreciatively. Jimin bumps him with his hip (Taehyung feels it on his thigh) and grins at him smugly. Taehyung glares back at him, telepathically trying to tell him to not say a word about his crush that seemingly materialised out of nowhere.
“Today is our first session actually working with the flowers, and we’ll be starting with a simple bouquet,” Jungkook continues, “they’ll be small, so it shouldn’t be too difficult for you guys. Shall we begin?”
Taehyung somehow manages to join the chorus of agreement without choking on his (metaphorical) drool.
Taehyung is almost finished with his bouquet when Jungkook comes by to check his progress.
“Have you finished making your bouquet?” Jungkook asks with a tilt of the head. “It looks like it’s almost complete—I can help you with the wrapping paper if you need me.”
Taehyung thinks that he certainly does need him.
“Ah, I’m still thinking about the arrangement of the flowers,” is what Taehyung says. (His mind is partially wandering elsewhere, still preoccupied with the thought of needing Jungkook for not wrapping purposes.) “Something is missing,” he continues, “but I’m not quite sure what it is.”
“Do you have a concept?”
No.
“Um, yes. It’s a bit silly, but I made the main colour scheme purple to convey the phrase ‘I purple you’.” Taehyung isn’t sure where that came from—maybe his professor’s rants about colour theory is finally bleeding into his brain, destroying his brain-to-mouth filter.
“’I purple you’? Is that like ‘I love you’?” Jungkook asks.
Wow. Taehyung never thought he’d hear that phrase directed at him from Jungkook’s mouth, though, to be honest, he never thought he’d hear anything directed at him from Jungkook’s mouth.
“Yeah, it’s similar, but stronger? Since purple is the last colour of the rainbow, it means something like ‘I trust you and love you for a long time’.” A surprisingly bold statement for something Taehyung pulled out of his ass at the last minute. “Well, that’s what I say it means. I made the phrase up after a lot of deliberation.”
Taehyung can see Jimin give him The Look™. The one that he has when he knows something.
“That’s… really good logic. And it’s not silly at all. Actually. It’s wonderful.” Jungkook smiles at Taehyung.
What an angel.
“And what about these pinks, blues, and whites surrounding the purple? Do they symbolise other forms of love?” Jungkook asks with genuine curiosity.
There’s no way Taehyung could lie to that face. Damn the blinky-glittery-sparkly eyes.
“Hmm. Nope.” Taehyung hears Jimin’s bark of laughter, so he glares at him. Discreetly. “I only put them in because the purple was a bit much. To offset all the purple.”
“Ah,” Jungkook says.
“Yes,” Taehyung replies.
“May I suggest something to add to your bouquet? I think I know just what to add to complete it,” Jungkook tells Taehyung, before turning towards the flowers. He turns back with an orange flower covered in small spots in his right hand, and a velvety wine-red flower in his left.
“This one,” Jungkook gestures with his right hand, “is a Tiger Flower. Very flashy. It’s actually my birth flower.” He smiles. “And this one in my left hand is called ‘Carolina Allspice’. Little bit less flashy, and more sophisticated. I think either one of these two would look good as the center of your bouquet. If you want to put it in, that is.”
And Taehyung absolutely wants to. Put it in. Have it put in. Whatever Jungkook prefers.
“I think I’ll put the orange one as the center. It looks perfect, don’t you think?”
“It is perfect,” Jungkook says.
(Taehyung misses the way Jungkook gazes at him as he turns to show Jimin his bouquet.)
Jungkook helps Taehyung wrap his bouquet with a pretty crème-coloured chiffon gauze, then goes around the class to help the others with their wrapping paper. The session ends, and everyone slowly (and reluctantly) trickle out of the flower shop. Jimin and Taehyung somehow manage to be the last ones to leave the shop (an amazing feat considering the fact that no one else wanted to leave either). Just before Taehyung crosses the threshold, Jungkook catches his wrist.
“Here. The Carolina allspice. You can keep this flower too, since I’ve already cut it and all.”
Taehyung wishes he could say that Jungkook looks shy, but that would be a projection of his own desires, so he dismisses the idea.
“Thank you. It was a great session.”
Taehyung looks at the flower and notices the purple ribbon on the stem.
“It’s purple, like you said before.”
Taehyung notices a slight blush on Jungkook’s cheeks, but then again, that might also be a projection.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jungkook adds quietly, but Taehyung misses it, still enamoured by the way the setting sun makes Jungkook appear to glow.
(Later, Jimin tells Taehyung that the Carolina allspice is his birth flower.
“See, December 30th, Carolina allspice.”
“What a coincidence, he picked his birth flower and my birth flower to be the centre of the bouquet.”
“… Yes. What a coincidence,” Jimin says, the intonation of his words rising slightly.)
(Even later, Taehyung realises the implications of his choice of the centre flower. Still, the bouquet sits in a vase beside his bed.)
Somehow, something between going to class the and returning to the dorm the day before cursed him, and Taehyung wakes up Thursday morning with a cold, or as he describes it, a Mild Case of the Sniffles. And he tries to get out of bed, eager to see Jungkook again, only to be pushed back in bed by a Very Stern Park Jimin.
“You are not leaving this bed today. I don’t care about your excuses, I know you don’t have any eminent assignments to hand in, and I know you only have one class today. So be a good boy and rest. I’ll have Yoongi-hyung or even his elusive roommate deliver some food later, so please don’t try to cook anything, especially when you’re sick like this.”
And Taehyung doesn’t argue, because he knows he can’t win. And because he can feel the energy being drained from his body after convincing Jimin to let him go to the bathroom on his own.
Somehow Taehyung doesn’t feel any better after a whole day of rest, so he skips Friday too. He rests through Saturday as well, and finally starts to feel better on Sunday.
(“Who gets knocked out for four days by a cold?” Taehyung laments. “I didn’t get to see Jungkook for ages!”
“Nature will run its course, Young One,” Yoongi tells him, since he and Jimin are in a Committed Relationship™, allowing him to visit their dorm for Sunday Night Movies. “So be quiet and watch the damn movie.”)
Nature did run its course, or whatever Yoongi meant about that.
On Monday, Taehyung settles in his favourite spot at the back of the third floor of the library and waits for Jungkook to appear. And he does. Taehyung expects him to stop a few rows in front of him. Jungkook doesn’t. He keeps walking until he's standing at Taehyung’s row, and looks at him. Taehyung looks upwards, back at Jungkook.
Jungkook gestures towards the empty desk next to him, and Taehyung nods.
“I didn’t see you on Thursday or Friday. Where were you?” Jungkook pouts slightly as he sits down.
Taehyung thinks his soul escapes him.
“I was defeated by a cold,” Taehyung replies, “but I’m better now, which is why I came to see you again.” Brain-to-mouth filter has been demolished.
Jungkook grins. “I see. I missed you, you know.”
Taehyung goes through a mini Gay Panic, thereby activating his emergency Gay Confidence.
“We haven’t even introduced ourselves properly, and you’re making moves already?” Taehyung grins. “The flower shop doesn’t count, you were introducing yourself to the class, and I was too busy checking you out to pay enough attention.” Lies – he was checking him out and paying attention to everything Jungkook was saying.
“Interesting point. Well then, I’m Jeon Jungkook, and you are…?”
“Kim Taehyung, nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. Kim Taehyung, that’s a lovely name.” Jungkook smirks.
Holy mother of–
“Oh, you like that? Then you’re going to love to hear my phone number.” Taehyung smirks back.
(Where is this coming from? Oh right, his emergency Gay Confidence.)
“Perhaps this conversation would be more fitting over a cup of coffee? I think we might be a bit loud.” Jungkook nods at the one other person sitting in the molecular science section. “I know a very good café just off campus.”
“Then let’s move there, but only if I can order a hot chocolate instead.” Taehyung smiles. “I don’t really drink coffee.”
Jungkook acts scandalised at the admission, but leads Taehyung out all the same, gently pushing him by his back.
Taehyung’s back tingles at the memory of Jungkook’s touch for the remainder of their date, and all the way back home.
(“We’re going to be study-buddies!” Taehyung shouts as soon as he sees Jimin.
“Is that what kids call dating these days?” Yoongi snarks, because of course Yoonmin happens in Taehyung’s house as well.
“Hey, I stay here too! And if that’s the case, then maybe we should leave Tae and go study some more.” Jimin wiggles his eyebrows.
Taehyung retches and secretly dances because he supports his best friend and OTP.)
Soon, the one date Café Incident turns into many library study sessions, which turn into more café study sessions, which turns into simple hangouts, which spreads to arcades, museums, art galleries, music shores, tattoo parlours (where Taehyung gets a small purple heart on his wrist), and late night conversations where they lay side-by-side on the grass in the park, talking about anything and everything.
(It is during these moments when Taehyung knows that he’s knees deep in love with the other boy, and a small part in him hopes that the other feels the same.)
However, their most recent hangouts have been at food places. Fast food restaurants, hole-in-the-wall gems, seafood markets when you can cook what you buy, street food, barbeque places, bakeries, ramen and chicken and beer at Han river, and even simply ordering takeout at each other’s dorms.
(Imagine Taehyung’s shock when he finds out that Yoongi’s elusive roommate is Jungkook. Somehow the topic hadn’t come up before, and Taehyung has no idea how.
“Jimin, how long have you guys known?”
“… Since the beginning. But hey, our plan to bring you to the bouquet making session worked.”
And Taehyung can’t even be mad because Jimin is right. Again.)
Taehyung’s waiting outside a fancy pasta place that recently opened near their university, and even though they usually eat at cheaper places, Jungkook insisted they meet at the restaurant. Taehyung’s dressed in a loose silk shirt tucked in a pair of pants that feel two sizes too small, and he prays he doesn’t have any sweat marks as he stands in the sunlight.
(Taehyung will not admit that he spent an hour picking out his clothes, and he will definitely not admit that he even consulted Jimin.
“The guy is head over heels in love with you, I’m sure it won’t matter what you wear! But wear this pair of pants—it makes your butt look extra nice. Make sure you leave the first three buttons of your shirt undone.”)
Taehyung is standing in the sun, and that’s when he sees Jungkook.
And that’s when he knows he must tell Jungkook how much he likes loves him.
Jungkook walks up to Taehyung, and just as Taehyung opens his mouth to do something he may or may not regret for the rest of his life, Jungkook whips out a huge bouquet.
(Somehow Taehyung didn’t notice, as he was too busy being in love. But hey, what’s new.)
“Before you say anything, let me tell you this,” Jungkook starts. He takes a big breath and closes his eyes. “Kim Taehyung, I am absolutely, irrevocably, and hopelessly in love with you. I know you may be shocked at this sudden and admittedly cheesy confession, and honestly, I never thought I would do this. But I wrote this speech and spent an hour memorising it, so I will not let it go to waste.”
Jungkook pauses, opens his eyes, and looks directly at Taehyung.
“Um, these are for you… I know I just mentioned a speech, but I seem to have forgotten it all… So, here is a bouquet I made just for you. Please take it.” Jungkook’s hands tremble slightly as he holds the bundle towards Taehyung.
Taehyung looks at the bouquet. It’s very similar to the one he had made a few months back… Except at the center is two flowers, not one. Gently, he reaches out, and cups Jungkook’s hands.
“You remembered my arrangement?” Taehyung asks simply.
“I remember everything about you,” Jungkook replies, “and… I really, really like you. A lot.”
Taehyung is reminded again of how endearing Jungkook is.
“Thank you. This bouquet is beautiful, and I realise now that the one I made before still wasn’t complete.” Taehyung maintains eye contact with the other. “This is what it should have been like all along.”
And Jungkook smiles. Taehyung is so thankful of the fact that nature ran its course and led him to this point.
(They did eventually go inside to eat, and apparently the two of them sat in front of the window had led so many customers to the restaurant that the manager had offered their meal for free, even going as far as prompting them to return the following week.)