Chapter Text
Parties weren’t Jungkook’s thing. Not at all. Although the life of the elite had always fascinated him, he never felt envious. He was rather curious. But not curious enough to want to attend a party.
When Hobi had invited Jungkook to a Christmas party, he had expected it to be a small gathering of people to celebrate the sparkle season. He was hoping to meet new people, bond over some cookies, and a warm meal. You know, the usual. He had dressed accordingly, too.
What he wasn’t expecting was to be bombarded by glimmering lights and a concoction of what Jungkook could tell was expensive french perfume.
This party wasn’t for Jungkook’s retail bought checkered dress pants and a black shirt. This party was for extravagant Gucci models and Chanel ambassadors. For as far as his sight went, he could only see glamour and beauty, both natural and artificial.
Jeon Jungkook had somehow ended up in the Vogue magazine Christmas soirée.
Feeling out of place and extremely awkward, Jungkook pulled Hoseok to the side, hurriedly.
“Hyung, you told me this was going to be a simple party!” he whispered angrily. Hobi blinked at him a few times and turned his head to look at the hall they were in.
“But it is simple,” he said innocently and Jungkook sighed. “Hyung, we are in a fucking castle!” he said nervously, eyes surveying his surroundings. A majestic ballroom with domed ceilings, bathed in ambient lighting, holding a regal era.
In short, it was grand. Too grand for Jungkook.
Hobi looked around once more and shrugged. Simply shrugged off the luxury surrounding them.
Jung Hoseok, or as his friends called him, Hobi, was a well known and sought after Fashion designer. One might wonder how The Jung Hoseok knew a humble, down to earth florist like Jungkook. It’s simple really. Jungkook almost killed Hoseok. Not intentionally of course. It went somewhat like this, Jungkook was watering some plants on his balcony, his elbow nudged a pot and it fell right in front of Hoseok, missing his head merely by a strand. He wasn’t pleased, to say the least, but once Jungkook treated him to a burger, the older grew rather fond of him. It has been a year since then and they’re closer than ever. Hobi was Jungkook’s only friend. Jungkook wasn’t unlikeable per se but he was rather unsociable. Plus, his tattoos and his overall ‘dark aesthetic’, as Hobi put it, seemed to scare people away. Apparently, he didn’t look like a florist. Whatever that means. Jungkook was content with Hobi and his family. There were occasions when his family refused to cooperate with him but they were fine for the most part.
Anyhow, this level of luxury meant nothing to Jung Hoseok. He was routinely surrounded by models and rich people. But he wasn’t arrogant despite his popularity and demand. Had it been anybody else, Jungkook was sure he would’ve been sued for almost dropping a pot on their head.
“It’s nothing much Jungkook-ah. Here, maybe some punch will loosen you up.” Hobi said as he grabbed a glass, poured some punch, and handed it to Jungkook. With tense shoulders and a heart brimming with anxiety, Jungkook heaved a sigh and smiled nervously at his friend. He watched as Hobi took a sip from his glass,” Ok. I’ll be fine as long as you don’t leave--”
“Oh Jungkook-ah sorry I have to go. Chuu and Yves are here!”
“But Hyung--”
“I’ll be back soon! Chuu! Yves! You both look stunning ,” he gushed and hurried away to the two women, arms open for a warm welcome. Jungkook exhaled as he watched their interaction, sipping on his punch. From where he was standing, Jungkook could see almost everything. The fake smiles, the genuine laughs, jealous glares, and envious glances. Jungkook knew the glamour industry wasn’t as glamorous as people perceived it to be. It was corrupt, sour, and absolutely rancid. One that held so many dirty secrets. Which was another reason why this party miffed Jungkook. He didn’t want to be anywhere near these rotten people with withered hearts and corrupt minds. They were roses adorned with thorns. Beautiful and fragrant but devious and selfish.
Jungkook was aware he was generalizing them. He knew that people like Hobi existed. But he couldn't simply change his mindset. Maybe if he were to encounter a Rose without thorns, something naturally impossible, he would change his views. But until then, he would continue to view the industry as the rotten thing it was.
"Waiter, where is the Champagne?" a deep, velvety voice spoke up from behind Jungkook. As soothing as it sounded, the tone it held and the words it spewed upset Jungkook. He sighed and turned around. He knew he looked like a waiter but he wasn’t one! He will definitely up his game next time, Jungkook thought sourly.
"I'm sorry but I am not a waiter--" his words were cut short when his eyes landed on the owner of the voice. He was unarguably the prettiest person Jungkook had ever seen. Dressed in a lace puffed shoulder top with white crepe pants was a beautiful man, staring at Jungkook, hands crossed at his chest under his beige knee-length jacket, finger tapping away impatiently. He looked intimidating but strangely soft.
His long, blonde and soft curls and the pearl earrings contrasted with his rose-tinted lips and cheeks. His whole being gleamed brighter than the hanging lights around them. Jungkook noticed that people in their radius had their eyes trained on them. Not them, no. Just this insanely gorgeous person standing across Jungkook.
“Uh hello?” said man snapped his fingers in front of Jungkook’s face, the sharp sound combined with his annoyed voice burst him out of his little stupor. Jungkook cleared his voice, ready to speak but he muttered something unintelligible as his eyes still scanned the person. There was no way he was real. Jungkook wondered if he was actually looking at a painting. But would a painting call him a waiter? A rich one probably would but that was beside the point.
“Right. I’m not a waiter, sir.” Jungkook croaked out and the painting- - person scoffed. His dark brown eyes scanned Jungkook top to bottom, “Then why do you look like one?”
It was Jungkook’s turn to scoff, in disbelief. He took a step closer, finally realizing the difference in their heights. This person was probably wearing heels.
“Listen, I am not a waiter and I’d suggest you lay off the alcohol. It’s Christmas, after all,” Jungkook wasn’t rude but this person seemed to be having fun belittling him. His brows twitched at the words. Feeling satisfied, Jungkook turned to leave when the other caught hold of him.
“You! How dare you talk to me like that? Do you have any idea who you’re talking to?” his nimble fingers maintained a firm grip around Jungkook’s wrist, forcing the other to turn around and talk to this gorgeous but very irritable man. He heaved a sigh and turned around, eyeing the beautiful fingers wrapped around his hand. Manicured nails adorned with beige nail polish and gold beads.
“No, I don’t. Who are you?” he didn’t mean for it to come out that harsh but it did. And it effectively made the other’s nostrils flare.
“How dare you--” it looked like this person was some sort of a hotshot but Jungkook couldn’t care less. His words were cut short when Hobi rushed over to diffuse the situation.
“Taehyung!! I haven’t seen you in months! How have you been?” Hobi pulled taehyung into a light hug, careful to not ruin his outfit. They blew air kisses on each others' cheeks, Taehyung’s eyes still trained on Jungkook, filled with rage. But the moment they shifted to Hobi, they softened considerably, making Jungkook scoff, one that didn’t go unnoticed by Hobi and Taehyung.
Feeling the tension around them rise, Hobi turned to Jungkook with a nervous smile and yanked him closer.
“Taehyung, this is--”
“I don’t care,” he huffed. Hoseok sighed. “Jungkook this is Ki--”
“I don’t want to know.” Hoseok exhaled, eyes shifting between the two. Jungkook realized this was just childish, but he didn’t care. Two could play this game.
“I don’t need to introduce myself to people like you. Who needs your validation anyway?” Taehyung spat. Jungkook raised his brow, “Great! I don’t want to bore myself with useless information anyway.”
“You brat--,” Hobi came in between the two before Taehyung possibly landed a punch on the florist.
“Whoa, whoa! Taehyung! Let’s go grab some drinks, eh?” Hobi didn’t know what else to say. But that seemed to catch his attention. The man took a deep breath and straightened his posture. He exhaled, “Let’s go, Hobi Hyung,” he sent Jungkook a last scathing glare before he walked away, hand around Hobi’s. Jungkook decided against making a childish face (resisted the urge to stick his tongue out??) in response to that glare, and settled for hmphing and turning away instead.
Good riddance!
Jungkook went back to drinking his punch, making sure to stray further away from the obnoxious person he had just run into. This encounter with him had only strengthened Jungkook’s mindset. The Glamour industry sucked! They were all pungent roses with thorns.
Jungkook wished he wouldn't run into that person again.
---
Of course, nothing ever went Jungkook’s way. Because the one person he had been avoiding all evening was now rushing towards him.
Jungkook had been hanging around the snack area. The people were rotten but the food was delicious. He wasn’t going to pass up on an opportunity to taste all sorts of fancy hors d'oeuvres. But just as he turned around to the sound of heels, dread-filled his heart.
It was the same man.
A rather frantic Taehyung-something was making his way towards Jungkook, his walk a little wobbly. Jungkook rolled his eyes as Taehyung waved at him and turned around, deciding to completely ignore his existence rather than wasting his energy on engaging in another fight.
But before he could walk away, he felt two hands wrap around his waist from behind him. Taehyung’s heart was beating erratically against his back, his labored breaths hitting the back of Jungkook’s neck. Jungkook froze.
Jungkook wanted to push him away, he should push him away, nudge him off. This person was probably just drunk, invading his personal space. But something about the urgency in his grip and desperation in his voice made Jungkook halt, “Please, help me.”
His eyes grew bigger and he turned around to face the man but the latter just fell forward into Jungkook’s arms. Panic filled Jungkook as the boy trembled in his embrace, “You! G-Get off! Is this some sort of a sick joke?”
“Just help me out. Please,” he said as he balanced himself on Jungkook. He felt eyes watching them, camera flashes going off in the distance as people gathered around them.
“Listen--”
“Kiss me.”
…….. what? Did he really just ask me to KISS him?
But before he could refuse, Taehyung yanked him closer and planted a firm kiss on his lips. Jungkook’s eyes widened in surprise, his heart beating frantically out of his chest, but he couldn’t resist the luscious lips moving against his. He kissed back, arms automatically wrapping around the other’s waist. As time ticked by, murmurs and whispers reached Jungkook’s ears and a wave of camera flashes jolted Jungkook out of his daze. And Taehyung.
He pulled back with a ‘chu’, Jungkook’s eyes closed and brows raised, his soul close to leaving his body. He opened his eyes to meet Taehyung’s hazel ones. And everything after that was a daze.
People approached them, someone whistled and murmurs filled the room. Taehyung and another person had dragged him away from the prying eyes of the crowd and dropped him off with Hobi, who, for some reason, immediately escorted Jungkook home from the backdoor, with a quick goodbye.
That was all he remembered of that night. Well, that and those sinfully soft lips that had been pressed against his.
That night, after he went home, he looked up the name he recollected from his memories on google and heaved a shaky sigh, a blush covering his cheeks.
He couldn’t believe he had just kissed the Top Model of South Korea, Gucci Prince, and The Dahlia of the Fashion Industry, Kim Taehyung.
~~
Dahlia - Elegance
