Archive of Our Own ^beta

Tugging on the edges of his lilac denim jacket sleeve, he bit his lip as he recalled the reason he was here in the nearly empty floral shop.

Breathless, and starry-eyed he couldn't hold himself back from daydreaming. Jungwon knew for a fact that his dark hair was a disaster, he hadn't needed to be told. 

Approaching the unattended countertop, his best friend was quick to comment on his appearance. "Woah, what the hell happened to you? You look like a tornado picked you up and dropped you off here." 

Rolling his eyes at his dramatic friend, he adjusted his gaze to focus. "Don't exaggerate, Sunghoon-hyung, it's not that bad."

Yeah, it wasn't that bad. He only ran from the previous store he was at, all the way over here. He couldn't think about how stupid that might've been for the fact that he was running on exceptionally euphoric energy. That wouldn't last him too long though, and would prove it's instability in due time. 

Taking mental note that the dark-haired male wouldn't tell him his reasoning for his appearance immediately, the brunet placed a seed starting pot onto the counter, it had a large, yet precise amount of soil patted in there.

"I met the sun in the form, of a person." Carding a hand through his dark fringe. 

With a handheld trowel, Sunghoon poked at parts of the soil, before leaning down to retrieve a seed packet. "Ah, really? Are they more sunshiney than Jake?" He chuckled lightly.

Looking down at the elder, he nodded. "Definitely. The word's even in his name! And his aura is so bright too." 

"Hm..." Pondering on the packets he had, Sunghoon tapped on his chin. "If you were to buy flowers, what type would they be?" 

"What- are you even listening to me?" The younger questioned. 

Getting back up from his crouching position, he had retrieved a couple pack of seeds. "Of course, I am." Upon witnessing the glare from the younger, he smiled teasingly. "Go on." 

"He was so sweet too. I mean, I thought someone who looked so-so I don't know- pretty, wouldn't want to give anyone the time of day!" 

Finding the younger man struggling to even speak was something new he'd never seen on the other. Sunghoon thought it was adorable to see his best friend this way. 

"And?" 

"And he did anyways! He was so nice to everyone, and oh my god, his voice!" His large hands slowly ran down his face. "It's so smooth. He's cutest guy I've ever seen too." 

Sunghoon couldn't help but let out a laugh at the younger's frustration. He'd temporarily forgotten the articles of seeds in front of him, but he'd get back to the those in a minute. 

"I don't know how the hell I did it, but I asked him out somehow." 

"You managed to speak to him?" The brunet laughed wholeheartedly. 

"Yeah- don't laugh too hard- I kind of wish I didn't though. Once I started talking I didn't know what the hell I was saying anymore. Ugh, what is wrong with me?" He dropped his forehead onto the countertop out of sheer embarrassment. 

"C'mon, don't be so hard on yourself, it's cute that you're getting a little crush on someone." Sunghoon teased, unable to contain himself. 

Could you blame him though? His best friend was extremely picky whenever it had to do with liking anyone. He only went out with three people in college, and that was only because Sunghoon begged him to when they had gone on group dates. Jungwon had a bit of a soft spot for him so he agreed, but he never called the person again after the date. 

No matter how many times Sunghoon had tried to convince Jungwon to change his mind about people who really liked him, he wouldn't budge. He was too stuck to his beliefs. 

Sunghoon had changed his entire ideaology, and picked out a new career, yet Jungwon never changed his mind. It just showed if anything, how they were completely different people. 

But now seeing his friend like someone he'd just met so easily just meant there was probably a time for everything. 

"Shut up, hyung. I'm not a kid, stop patronizing me." The dark-haired male annunciated, lifting his head. 

"Come on, let me have my fun. You never go through this type of thing." Sunghoon flicked the smaller's forehead. 

 "Ow!" Rubbing at the sore spot he came out with, "I asked him out, and I don't know why he said yes." 

He'd rambled the question out, then corrected the way he asked, to tell the other male he hadn't needed to say yes if he was bothered. And if he was bothered he'd leave him alone. 

Getting a laugh out of Jungwon's lack of confidence, the older spoke up. "Because you're a catch! C'mon he probably thought you were cute. You are cute." 

"The way I asked wasn't cute." He mumbled, his arm against the counter he leaned on it backwards. 

"Are you moping?" The florsit asked, now half-focused on dropping the seeds into place.  "You need to calm down, you perfectionist." 

"I'm not a perfectionist." Turning on his heel he was back at looking his best friend's way. "Look, I'm just here for-" Cutting him off perfectly, Sunghoon hadn't needed to look up to answer. 

"My expertise." Sunghoon replied swiftly, a toothy grin on his face. 

Scratching behind his ear, Jungwon responded. "Yeah, kind of. What type of flowers do you take to these things?" Suddenly finding the pattern of the edge of the wooden counter facinating, he found he didn't need to look up. 

"You mean, a date?" Sunghoon smiled at the younger's reddening ears. 

"Yeah, that." 

"You made sure he doesn't have an allergy, right?" The brunet peered over at his best friend. 

Of course he had, amongst the rambling, he'd gotten the question out. The other male simply told him he liked flowers. That was a good enough answer for him.

He nodded and the elder thought about it for a second before bringing up options. "Hm, what type of vibe are you going for? First love, purple lilacs I guess. I could give you roses too, is that a little too simple for you though?" Smoothing out the soil, he pushed that plant pot to the side. 

"Hyung, what about... sunflowers?" 

"Sunflowers? Sure, those match." Sunghoon shrugged. 

"What do those mean anyways?" 

Smiling over the question, Jungwon knew his best friend, Sunghoon loved talking about plants. He could do it for hours on end. He especially loved to indulge people on the flowers and their symbolism. It was what made him most happy. 

"Well, they could mean joy, and giving it to someone could be your way of telling them they've made your day better. It also means adoration and loyalty. So I think it fits for this person in particular." 

Abashed cheeks, Jungwon nodded. "Yeah, I think so too." 

Taking out three more plant pots, he added one more lingering thought. "Personal flowers are much more meaningful than generic flowers, y'know. How romantic of you!" 

"Stop already!" Jungwon's ears flared up in a flustered red color.

Porcelain skin under the pattern of the shade the tree above provided and the tiny patches of sun beaming down on him. 

He was the sun personified. 

Just like he'd told Sunghoon. 

His jaw dropped at the sight. 

He was definitely the same man he'd met at the record store. Before he sported a soft multi-colored knitted sweater over a tucked in short-sleeved blouse and wide legged jeans.

Now instead, two strings tied to his shoulders kept a flowy, mesh, munsell yellow sundress in place. 

This man managed to play a chord in him that had never been touched before, and somehow he'd just played another. 

Jungwon's clammy hand gripped at the stem of the flower a little tighter. His heart clenched at the nervous feeling he'd felt a week ago. The one that had his heart racing and confused. He'd never been so stuck in between the strong emotions of being highly strung and jubilant.

But he made it then.

Somehow. 

So he could do it now. 

And when the smaller male cluelessly spun, making the dress rise just a bit, he'd absentmindedly made Jungwon's heart start it's skipping frenzy. 

Catching his eye by chance, the blonde smiled his way. He hadn't any other way to respond, so he shoved the single golden flower in front of him, whilst averting his gaze. 

"For you." He was still awkward, he knew that. 

But god, could you blame him? He asked the literal sunshine to go out with him. He was a mere human next to this man- who posessesed the spirit of the light. 

No, he was the light.

A bubbly giggle erupted from the other male's throat. And it was the sound of the start of spring. Nothing more pure existed. 

"Thank you, Jungwon-ah." His mellow voice exerted into the soft wind, it lulled him into an even deeper trance. 

Finding his voice, he commented on his etheral  appearance. "You look," His eyes straying away he felt his cheeks burn. "beautiful." 

The blonde male's plump lips stretching into a dazzling, heart-palpitating smile he replied with, "Thank you, you do too." 

The gingham picnic blanket spread out on the grass, articles of fresh fruit and rolls sticking out of the wenge brown willow basket. 

Leading him to the assortment laid out over the blanket. Smoothing the lengthy skirt from under him, he settled down onto it, Jungwon clumsily joined him. His lanky limbs folding into each other.

He found the contrast in their body language almost laughable. 

Usually he was the one who was confident, the very decisive man everyone was used to. Jungwon wished he could take advantage of the fact that the other male didn't know him. 

That entire idea flew out the window once he opened up his mouth at the record store. 

Opening the lid of the prettily woven basket, he reached in to pull everything out. Ranging from eating utensils, to the glass dishes, fruits, iced beverages and sandwiches were laid out. 

But Jungwon found his eyes peering over the bowls and plates in front of them, just to sneak another look at the blonde. Wisps of his hair blowing towards his dark eyelashes, the wind wasn't often the sun's own enemy.

Today, though he had his own protector. 

Jungwon slipped his finger under the strand and pushed it to the side. That careful caress gained the attention of the other male whose sharp fox-like eyes lifted to meet his in silent curiousity. 

"This was about everything I brought," The sunflower was laid down, right under where the sun could reach through the shade of the tree. 

Conversation felt as impossible as eating anything in front of him. He never liked cut corners nor was he a fan of small talk. Jungwon was all too used to getting to the point in every and any conversation. It was just the way he rolled. 

Now, he didn't want every conversation to be rustled through like leaf shaken out of a tree during autumn. He wanted a relaxed one, that passed as a casual conversation.

Luckily Sunoo, had gotten a glimpse of the trainwreck Jungwon was and was still willing to give this date a shot.

How kind of him. 

"You bought three vinyl records at the store. Do you happen to have a-"  

At the sound of music being mentioned his ears perked up. "Record player?!" Sunoo nodded, a sort of held back smile at the joyous look that came across Jungwon's face. "Of course, I do. I love them- vinyls I mean- I love those." 

Jungwon could remember quite well that Sunoo had his own vinyl record on hand. It was the face of a singer he didn't quite know, but the aura did give off indie pop. 

"How about you?" He snagged a can of grape juice, certainly not something he came across often, then lifted its top open after a bit of a shake. 

"Mhm, it's sort of a hand-me-down from my family. So it's really old, but if you're into the vintage aesthetic you might like it." Sunoo shrugged. 

"Do I? I love old things. It's always so interesting to see how they work compared to new things. See, I have a new one that I've had since college." 

It was the first thing he'd bought for himself when he finally had some spare cash after final exams. It wasn't special by any means, as it was teal, brand new and wasn't anything like the gorgeous wooden ones he liked in the movies. But it was his first vinyl record and that was good enough for him. 

"It probably sounds better than mine though. I still don't know how sound can come out of that ancient machine." His lips jutted out in the cutest pout Jungwon's ever seen, and he wished there was a warning before the other made his heart clench. 

A soft laughter escaped his lips, and Jungwon couldn’t help but let his own spill out as well. Though he was sure they weren't laughing over the same thing. 

"Whose vinyl record did you buy? I couldn't really see." Jungwon squinted, the rays of the sun beaming towards his eyes. 

"Mxmtoon's dawn and dusk." 

"Indie pop! I knew it!" Jungwon's smile grew, the satisfying feeling of slowly learning about the older filling him up.

"Yeah, I've been meaning to buy it for a while now. I just never got the chance to before. I guess it's a good thing I went that day." A dazzling gleam in his light brown orbs, Jungwon's heart rate sped up a tad bit at that unexpected line.

From there all Jungwon could remember was the sun changing position from where it hung in the sky, and the edges of bread crumbs leftover on the glass alongside fruit leaves and empty cans. Now lying on the scarlet gingham blanket, he felt closer than before. His body adjusted to the feeling of sinking into the ground and letting the sun's eternal warmth light up his skin in patches. 

The direction of conversation hadn't gone anywhere than delving even farther into music. 

The thing about Jungwon is he could go on and on about music. For hours and hours on end. If you indulged in it for long enough you'd have music's entire history at your hands, at the flick of a pen you'd know that. 

It didn't help that Sunoo didn't seem to mind Jungwon's babble about the same subject. He'd listen too, and Jungwon felt his ears burn at the attention, but he couldn't stop. 

It ranged from all music genres to what he knew and a guitarist he was close to. 

"Park Jay, you might or might now have heard of him, but he's an acquaintance of mine. We met in college actually. He's really cool." 

"Acquintance, or friend?" Sunoo questioned, Licking over his reddened lips.

That question had made him ponder for a second. Though he hadn't need to do it for long. 

"He's not close enough to me that I'd call him a friend, he's kind of just someone I've known since college, y'know?" In a way he'd carried their conversations uknowingly at first.

He'd of course made sure that Sunoo would get a word in, but whenever he turned over to the elder, he simply asked more questions. Which in turn would cause the loop of Jungwon talking even more about how he'd pursued music. 

There was one part of the date in particular he never dared to forget. 

Strawberry stained fingertips and lips, Sunoo lifted himself up from his spot just a bit, propped up on his elbows but lying on his stomach, Jungwon noticed it. At the angle he was leaning towards, the sun hit his light brown eyes and it hinted at a gorgeous amber brown, a shade he's never seen in anyone's irises before. A sort of halo formed around the older male, and Jungwon wished there was a way he could capture the way he looked without ruining it. 

And there it was, in an instant, like an eyelash to the cheek, Jungwon clasped the side of his taller's chin. 

The heat of the sun on his body for the prolonged time, he could nap feverishly so. Dreaming of nipping at the older's bottom lip till the strawberry juice dribbled out ever-so-slightly. 

That delicious content that came over him at the idea of napping under the sun crossed his mind. 

Though he was too far gone to go back now. 

Leaning forward, his gaze directed towards his lips and trailing back up to his eyes. "Can I?"

But was it too soon? He'd never been on a proper date before. He cursed how picky he'd been in the past, it was what led him to his inexperience when it came to this. He'd heard of people who kissed on the first date, and sure it felt right, but maybe it was just him who was lost in the moment. It could have easily just been him who ended up lost in the older's heavenly presence as a whole. Molded into a hopeless romantic who'd foolishly believed the elder held any sort of interest towards him yet-

Nodding, the sweet glint in his eyes disappeared as they closed in waiting. Closing his own eyes, he gently pressed his lips against the older male's. The smell of an unfamilliar flowery scent flooding his nose, he felt his heart palpitating faster than he could keep track of, playing an unorthodoxy tune, but he never wanted it to stop. The invitation felt as sweet as he thought it would, blending the taste of his velvety, plump lips with the strawberry juice from earlier. When the older male kissed back, he felt himself be lifted to the heavens, as if his soul was no longer trapped on the earth. Like he'd finally experienced what being something beyond a simple human couldn't know about. 

Sunoo was making Jungwon's heart play a tune of strings he'd never quite heard of before. 

But he liked it. 

Two weeks of wonder and anticipation later, he held a pair of sunny smile flowers enfolded around a pastel lavender wrapping paper. They were still what Sunghoon whined about, 'baby flowers' but he gave them up for good luck. 

Knowing Jungwon, that was beyond considerate. The younger male clearly needed the baby blossoms more than they needed their florist caretaker. 

So, sweaty palms gripping at the plastic protecting the two flowers, he gulped down his last hesitant thought. 

Thoughts that casually flowed through his mind, was this the right house? Did Sunoo really want him at his house or had he changed his mind? When he had told him to pick him up at his house, did he really mean it, or was it a joke? Would Sunoo think it was creepy that he'd went to that address? Or would he simply be upset that he went directly to his door in the first place? He was already here though, so did he really have a choice anymore?

Rapping his knuckles against the door, he took in the way it looked. A tiny house surrounded by more grass than stores around. The outside, a yellowish cream white, and the gable roof a perfectly brick red. The grass was cleanly cut, though it looked hard to manage, and before he could ponder on that a little longer, the door swung open. 

"Hey! Jungwon-ah, come in." Opening up, he stepped aside to let the younger in. 

He wore the cutest pair of blue bell bottom's alongside a sleeveless rib-knit coffee brown top. It went went well with Jungwon's green crocheted sweater and baggy jeans. Sticking the sunny smile pair up, he offered a smile of his own. A tad less awkward than the first he'd given him.

Sunoo once again granted him attention, alongside a warm smile, it matched the glowing aura of the baby flowers. He grasped them under his long fingers, soft skin brushed against Jungwon's shaky hands. 

He asked that every deity in existence would hide his nervousness from the elder. 

Whenever it came to him, he wanted nothing less than to impress. 

"I've got a couple vases lying around, I'll go get one, and I'll be right back." Sunoo kept the flowers in hand while strolling off.

The dark-haired male rubbed all signs of moisture off his thin hands. He'd managed to dry them off his smooth jeans, this time, he'd better not end up in this predicament again. He internally scolded himself.

Letting his gaze roam the simple, yet classy abode, he found the elder's home comfortable. The entrance being the kitchen was a questionable choice, but it was certainly stylish. At the very start there was a small round table with a gentle sandstone orange and matching tawny brown wooden chairs surrounding it. The white and black stove to the left and the refrigerator the opposite to it. The living room seemed to be the next room, as it was what you led to if you walked on forward. There was an open doorhole into where Sunoo walked in though, so there was another room you could go to.

Emerging from that room, Sunoo returned with a clear crimson glass vase. Sitting it atop the cream granite counter, he searched for something new. "My sister gets new hobbies all the time, and one of them was gardening."

"Yeah?" Jungwon casually stuck his nimble fingers into his pockets.

"Yeah," The blonde casted him a smile that pressed his whisker dimples against the apples of his cheeks. "Now that she doesn't really do it anymore I'm stuck with all her things because I was learning with her." 

"Like my best friend and I?" Drawing his index digit, he gestured towards himself. "Except he's a florist now." 

"Wow, that's pretty cool." Sunoo's smile softened. 

"He's actually the one who I get my flowers from, he knows all about them actually." Noting the elder facing the entryway, he walked towards it as well. 

Sunoo swooped his arm under the chair his brown and multi-color patched cardigan was hanging from. Heading the way of the door, he commented. "Did he recommend more sunflowers or?" 

A naturally awkward laugh came out, " No- no, I thought they matched you pretty well." 

"Well, I do agree. You've got good taste." Sunoo looped an arm under his own, whilst the sunny smile pair in the other hand. 

A blush rose to his cheeks at the compliment and proximity. 

🌻

A golden frame hung on the wall across from them. It displayed emotions that couldn't be described so easily. Messages that couldn't be decoded in a simple way. Or maybe it could be written off as something that had little to no meaning. 

"I don't know." The elder stared at the painting in front of them. 

"Well, you have to at least try." Jungwon urged, a hint of amusment in his tone as he leaned in a bit.

Jungwon liked going places he thought could help start up a conversation. It was refreshing to get to know the person better when you're still meeting them. Art exhibits worked in his favor over a movie, but that was just his preference. 

His eyes stared at the painting as if it had a soul he was searching for. The different colors blended into a messy array of waves and brushed lines all around what he percieved to be a man in the middle. 

He was clearly upset. 

But about what?

Jungwon tapped on his chin twice before clicking his tongue and pointing towards the painting. "It could symbolize life." 

"That's vague." He could practically feel the teasing smile ethed on the blonde's expression. 

"Yeah, but isn't life also kind of vague?" Pocketing his hands since they had no business not knowing what to do, he turned to Sunoo's side. "When you think of the meaning of life there's no clear answer." He shrugged. 

Adorable eyebrows scrunched together in confusion, Sunoo pursed his lips. "You know, you're onto something." 

"That's just your way of telling me I'm not saying a whole bunch of nothing." He waggled his brows in a teasing manner. 

Opening his eyes in a sort of feigned surprise, Sunoo played along. "That's exactly it, but I've come up with my own theory." 

"And what's that?" 

"It's all stress. Look, all of this," Signalling the airy strokes upwards, he continued. "It's the problems the person has, and the overthinking is making the issue bigger. So big, it surrounds and consumes them entirely." 

Now that was certainly something to think about. A light rouge bloomed onto his face, he could sense it's presence. It was about time he'd heard the other male speak. He hadn't done much of that on their last date, so Jungwon could fall under the daze he was so prone to whenever hearing his deep silky, yet light voice. 

And dammit Jungwon was a sucker for someone who could really contribute to a conversation. Especially one he was most invested in. 

Was there anything that wasn't perfect about this man? 

"That makes so much more sense, if I'm being honest." Jungwon confessed, feeling his heart palpitate a little harder. "Less vague." 

It was up for more interpretation of course. That wasn't debatable since that was the whole point that it was here at all. The paintings around them all had glass pads that explained an abstract for of their meaning, but this one wasn't quite clear. It left much room for more explanations that could be made up by the audience. 

The smaller had strayed when talking about it, now he was treading backwards to his spot once more. "Well, no matter the meaning, it is beautiful."

Jungwon's round eyes followed the blonde's gaze and found himself silently admiring the piece. "Undoubtedly." He nodded. 

"But, d'you know what's more beautiful?" The dark-haired male's attention was stolen by the smaller. 

You Jungwon almost uttered out, but kept to himself as he hadn't wanted to weird the elder out. 

Quirking an inquisitive brow, he recieved a response when the smaller dug a hand into his bag. He revealed a flat, glass square container, it was a resin covered sunflower. 

"Wait- is that?-" 

"The sunflower you gave me on our first date, yes." 

Biting his lip, he felt the air knocked out of him as blood rushed to his cheeks. He turned away, this unpredictability was what had him this flustered everytime.

"Hyung, is it hard to preserve a flower?" 

"Hmm... kind of a random question don't you think?" Arranging a new set of flowers, Sunghoon shot him an inquisitive look.

"Maybe to you." But the question had penetrated his brain and hadn't let it flow in peace. 

"It depends on which type of preserving you're doing." 

"There are different types?" 

"Yes, Won-ah, I told you this ages ago!" He whacked the younger with a wilted carnation. It's yellow color reminded him of his special someone. "What do you fill your brain with these days?" 

"Um... Music. The pop genre is very diverse these days, so I always have a lot to browse through-" 

"It was a rhetorical question, dumbass." Rolling his umber brown eyes, he tucked a fresh carnation into the blend. 

"Ahaha- ok resin, it's resin." Wiping a fake tear supposedly backed into the corners of his eyes. 

"Resin? With that it's not the hardest thing to do, it's just difficult to do properly." Adjusting the stems carefully, the flowers slightly bent to Sunghoon's prodding fingertips. "Why?" His gaze returning Jungwon's intent ones. 

"Sunoo did it. He preserved the one from our first date." 

"Woo- and that's the dwarf pacino I gave you, right?" 

"Dwarf what? That thing was huge, nothing about that sunflower was dwarf-like." 

"Oh my go- I don't mean like that." The older male narrowed his eyes. "That's the name of that specific flower!" 

"Oh, I don't know, lemme look it up." Taking his phone out of his pocket, fully intending to do a quick google search, the elder felt offended. 

Pulling a spray bottle out from a cubby under the counter, the brunet aimed it at the younger. "Yah, you have a flower expert in front of you and you still have the indecency to try to ask those questions online?" 

Lowering his phone back into his back pocket, Jungwon brought his hands up in surrender. "Down boy, I just had a question." 

Placing the bottle down onto the counter, Sunghoon's nose wrinkled in picky distaste. "Don't come over here to disrespect me, you brat." 

Getting caught up in a laugh, Jungwon kept his eyes peeled just in case the taller changed his mind. 

Now finally satisfied with his work, the brunet gently pushed the vase aside. "It was, I remember it now." Collecting the rustling dying florets, Sunghoon rose his head, a soft smile on his lips. "Finally someone who appreciates it." 

A dreamy sigh escaping the dark-haired male's lips, he nodded. "Right? No one's ever done something like that for me." 

"What?" The quirk of his perplexed brow was quick to change into a shamless chuckle. "I meant the flower, not you." 

Jungwon glared at the elder who laughed at his irritated glance. 

"Fine, you two are totally meant for each other." Mirth swam in his best friend's umber eyes.

🌻

Head hanging from the side of his bed, Jungwon wore his headphones on, listening to pop love songs. 

Poppy tunes of heart thumping, slow dancing and sunny skies had him tip-tapping on his knitted sweater. 

He felt his heart pounding at the memories protruding his mind. 

Silky blonde fringe, wafted by the covetous wind that wished to take him as if he were a part of the very earth. He envied it for being able to carelessly caress his hair.

His laugh at all of Jungwon's clumsy mistakes and awfully awkward jokes made him feel as if he were on clouds. Far from the ground, the elder had brought him heaven. 

The sweet floral scent that fufilled his dreams and engulfed his senses to the brim. 

Voice more velvety than any rose petal could ever wish to be. Every flower vyed to be the same.

Sharp hazel eyes that greeted him whenever he was inside glowed an amber under the glimmering sunlight. 

His gentle mannerisms and faint taunts that stomped on Jungwon's cumbersome approaches. Through the blossoming crimson he fought, he'd look away. 

Their texts made the grasshoppers in his stomach pounce about. Very unlike butterflies, he practically felt the internal hops. They filled his empty days with soft chuckles and carding through his dark hair. It cleared all the bad, with just one message of acknowledgment. Meaningless jokes, and playful banter, their texts filled the days they wouldn't see each other. Uneventful as a day could be, he lit up at the familliar notification bell. 

Hands so lovingly expressive, with a baby soft texture. Their pale shade somehow colored his life a golden tint he couldn't erase, but wouldn't dare to try. They danced their way into Jungwon's own, their sharp tips edging into his shaky palms. They made his heart race harder, but somehow calmed him as he felt them gently connect. 

Glossy peach pink lips he wished to capture everytime he saw them. Oh-so-lonely they looked when he nipped at them by habit. Rubbing them together after applying more lip gloss, Jungwon took the very little energy he had left to look away forcibly. He never wanted to stare too long, that nor express his wishes to worship the elder's lips. Wanting to turn them a cherry rouge after, breathless gasps leaving his parted lips. 

Random unexpected words that matched his shamelessness. It flustered Jungwon more than any other trait Sunoo had, and that made him so undeniably frustrating. Though the constant teasing and unpredicted actions were what had him so addicted. He couldn't get enough of the dizzying fragments of time he couldn't quite wrap his head around it. 

Rolling to his side, he crawled out of his bed. If there was something that could compete against the man taking over his brain, it was music. 

Pulling at his plastic crate, he skimmed through the different vinyl records. Indie pop, that reminded him of Sunoo. So that's what he would look for.

But more than that, he wanted to make a playlist that could elucidate the man as a whole. 

Even more than that he wanted to create something of the melody that played within him whenever the smaller male was around. 

It was the sound of his heart beating like finger-drumming and guitar strumming, it was a song that plays on for long. But it didn't feel that way. It didn't feel too long at all. It felt right. Like a seven minute ballad that wasn't rushed. It played all the way through, and each melody was important. The beat changes and lyricless parts made it art. 

Flicking through each record, his thumb halted at the feel of one of them. Clinching it between two fingers, he pulled it out. He made sure the album version was on hand as well.

'It's perfect' 

Opening a drawer next to the crate nearby, he grabbed his record player, he plugged the cord of his headphones in. Clicking it open, he placed the disc in. Closing it, he pressed play and let his feline-like eyelids flutter shut. 

Letting the strings start the symphony, he hummed along letting his body sway side to side. 

Rarely a minute in, his racing heart had led him to daydreaming of the next day, he bit his lip as his eyes shot open. His honey boba brown eyes darted to the right, the beautifully arranged dune sunflowers of different sizes accompanied by a couple daisies and carnations were sat.

Making his way towards it, the sound of soft drumming and gentle strings kept him in a flowery heaven. He reached out, clutching it's veiny greens to extract one out of it's perfectly packaged plastic. The paper rustled under it's disappearance. 

This one would be his good luck charm, the way his last sunny smile pair were. 

Plucking at the golden helianthus, he mouthed the words he's never said before. 

"He loves me, he loves me not." 

Hoping, and wishing, maybe even dreaming that he wasn't the only one this hopelessly enamoured. 

Two vinyl's in his right hand and a bouquet in the other, he knocked steadily. 

The door was pulled open in just a few minutes, Jungwon fought his foolish reverie, it coaxed the idea that the other male felt the same electric excitement he did on the other side of the door, with the same leap in his step and rush of energy that hadn't let him sleep last night either. Leaning back and forth from his toes to heels, his ecstatic heart was hammering in his ears. 

The blonde held the side of the door rather than the knob, and the sight of him in a long sleeved cropped white blouse and high waisted boyfriend jeans with alluring amber eyes and an enticing tug of his thinning lips had his desperate heart fed. "Jungwonie! How'd you know what my favorite flowers were?!" After a gasp his hand flew up to his mouth, hiding his fake surprise. 

Unable to contain his laugh, he chuckled at the teasing tone and nickname. He felt his ears burn at the brush of their fingers when the elder grasped the bouquet. 

God, he was gone. 

He'd only ever read the nickname over texts that were exchanged between the two of them. He had never heard it roll off of his tongue before. It made his heartbeat stutter.

Soft-edged, pretty, porcelain fingertips stroked a golden petal. "Did your friend arrange these again?" 

At this point it common knowledge that the musician ever only purchased his flowers from one shop. He never thought once to look elsewhere. 

Maybe it was a habit. Or maybe it'd feel too wrong to just not.

Nodding, he feared his dazed mind would betray his attempt to impress. Though that attempt would remain fruitless. That hadn't changed.

"Oh my god- is that Conan Gray?" Sunoo's airy gasp broke his bubble of thoughts. "I love him!" 

"Do you have this one?" The dark-haired male lifted the the vinyl. 

Lips jutting out into a baby pink pout, Sunoo shook his head. "I don't." Quickly reverting to a playful smile, he gestured inside with a bob of his head. 

Upon entering the home that was dipped into a clump of soaked daisies. 

Had the walls always been so yellow and white? They weren't alternating stripes, but the walls were opposites to each other with color. Their smooth finishes were satisfying to look at. He just knew they'd be soft to the touch. 

The same glass vase he's seen a couple weeks ago, the two dried crippled petals clung onto the last heliunthus he's bought the male before. He was aware that the elder tended to be busy and couldn't tend to all of the flowers very often. When given the idea that he stopped gifting him them, Sunoo quickly dismissed it, informing the taller that they made for nice decor in his home. 

Not one to deny the elder and his lacy convincing and insisting, he brought more than the last time. 

Rolling the crumpled sunny smile pair off onto his countertop, he brought the crimson glass under running water in the sink. 

More than that, something bigger caught his eye, something he somehow missed when entering. 

The large vintage record player, chestnut brown with it's name carved into the front. For a second he set the vinyl's to lean against the wall on the counter. Bending down to look at the name, he couldn't see it too clearly, it was real old after all. Paint smuged off of it, and polished pieces in only some parts he could tell it's age from a single glance. 

A colorful charm braclet of blue, pink, and green hung off the side of the top. The beads resembled the shades of hard candy. A finger suddenly hooking under it and pulling it off, Jungwon saw few water droplets slide down Sunoo's thin arms, close to his scruffed up sleeves.

"Sorry about that," Opening the closest drawer he tossed the charm bracelet inside and pushed it close. 

Lifting an amused brow, Jungwon realized this was the first time he'd seen the display of shameful pink tint that complimented his features beautifully. 

Hand on the counter, Sunoo's gaze met the record player. "Ah, you found it. I swear, this thing sounds good half the time."

"And the other half?" 

"Suuper scratchy." 

"Hmm, well that can be for aesthetic reasons this time around." His arm swiftly made it's way behind the record player to grab the black and red vinyl. 

Turning back to the left Sunoo was giggling, he felt the slight relief as he saw the older's shoulders relax. "You're gonna make it work?" 

Returning a look of undying confidence, Jungwon told him, "It'll work, trust me." 

"Pfft- alright!" As lighthearted as always, Sunoo strode into the kitchen reaching for the crimson vase that now carried the new batch of flowers. 

Jungwon elevated the tonearm before dragging the record out of it's cover, he carefully positioned it onto the platter. Bringing the needle down, he adjusted it. Like so many times before he let it down and hearing the first track through a grainy sound. To his ears it sounded so unfamilliar, though it was the same singer. This one sounded like a crunch rather than the clear crisp one he was used to at home. But when he faced the blonde across from him, sitting on one of the wooden chairs smiling that smile that made his fox-like eyes crinkle at the sides, the song felt sweeter than he's ever heard it. 

Joining him at the round little table, Sunoo guffawed at Jungwon's joking skip. He started the conversation with a subject Jungwon never failed to answer to. "Which is your favorite song?" 

"I have to pick?" False stress in his eye straining, he rubbed at his forehead. "If I have to, then," Jungwon sucked in a breath. "Disaster." 

"Mmm, I should've expected that." Sunoo comfessed.

Holding his chin, he narrowed his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?" 

"I don't know... something about you just screams loud generic pop." 

The younger felt a shiver down his spine at how accurate that guess was. He supposed he was good at guessing other’s taste, but that was too pinpointed. 

"That's not all I listen to." He quipped. 

"But it's your preference, or is it not?" 

Yes. Yes it was, and he hadn't even told him that. Always wanting to be diverse with the type of music he streamed, his favorite would always shine through. 

Shrugging, he nodded. "Hey," The blonde waited for his response. "I have this power, where I can figure out what someone's exact favorite genre of music is." 

Sunoo wore a grin of obvious disbelief. "That's called assumption, Jungwon." 

"Ah-ah-ah! It's perfectly accurate assumptions though." Encouraging another reaction he held his arms out waiting for the older's expression to change. "Ah?" 

It hadn't.

Holding back an eye roll, Sunoo's hazel gaze unhesitant, doubt lingered. "Prove it then." 

So it's a hoax unless he proves it then? 

"Alright, I already know you listen to indie pop, and now indie rock," He got a good reaction out of the second one. Sunoo nodded. "So I'm gonna assume your favorite artist is..." Tapping on his chin, he threw out his guess,  "Melanie Martinez." 

The older stared for a moment, frozen, and Jungwon was, probably for the first time, unable to read this usually open book. 

He never got it wrong before. So he didn't know why he'd reacted that wa-

"I- told you that though, didn't I?"

Raising two amused brows alongside a taunting grin, the musician held out on the smugness his tone could turn to. "Not once." 

Surprise in his gaze and his pouting lips, the blonde tucked his chin into his palm. "Huh," He commented in thought. "Well, she is an indie artist isn't that predictable?" 

"Yeah, but not entirely. She does happen to sing other genres that you don't listen to much though, right? Like Electro-pop?" 

"I never really thought about it like that, but yeah." Sunoo shrugged. A light gasp filled with thrill, he clapped at an idea. "That's really cool that you can do that! You need to do it on my sister though!" 

"Sure." At Jungwon's unnecessary smugness, Sunoo laughed. 

"You're not a music enthusiast! You're a music professional." On the border of humor and an actual compliment, Jungwon fell into the stupor of laughter as well. 

He didn't know how to measure time. No, he wasn't even focused on that. Whenever he was around this man he'd forgotten all about the concept. They'd been three to four juice cans (apperently it was Sunoo's favorite form of fruit juice, and yes Jungwon made fun of him for it.) in before he took note that they'd spoken for longer than he could count. Wait no- there was a sort of way for him to figure that out. If he fiddled with the back of the vinyl cover, he'd find out how long the album actually was. They'd replayed 'Summer Child', and 'Jigsaw', Sunoo's favorites, more than enough times. And laughed whenever they messed up which song they played instead. 

Everytime he'd skip a song or replay it, he insisted it be him since he liked to tease the older male with what song he wanted him to play. Sunoo would annunciate, "I could listen to Jigsaw forever, just put that one on again." 

"But the last one is so good-

"No- look play 'The Exit' right after." 

Right, he'd replayed the conclusion track about a million times before. How was Sunoo so patient with him? 

After putting the song to its start he'd find a new way to reach his seat, it'd be the dumbest dances, but he couldn't find it in himself to feel that embarrassed when that precious high-pitched giggle sprouted from Sunoo's lips. 

If his ears were blessed with that sound everytime he did something stupid, he would remain prone to stupidity forever. 

"Dancing?" 

"Yeah, sort of." Two fingers curled at the tip over his mouth in thought. "What kind, though?" 

Raising the can of grape juice to his lips, Jungwon brought the now empty can down to answer. "Any kind, but maybe, slow dancing waltz kind?" 

"Doesn't everyone?" He assumed.

"Oh, you'd be surprised." A wide eyed gaze was sent towards the naïve male. 

He'd encountered people who hadn't known what the hell they were doing when it came to formal dance. Stepping where they shouldn't, swaying too hard, even with the simplest of steps, they held no grace. They hadn't an ounce of it whenever pulled onto a dance floor. 

He held no doubt that Sunoo wasn't in any way like them. He held no clumsiness, and did his every action thought out. He wasn't just some graceless fellow. He was the flawless Kim Sunoo. Except he'd bow humbly and tell the taller that those were exaggerated compliments, but Jungwon wouldn't stop. Because the older deserved to be reminded of his perfection, the earth constantly fought to take their only source of light and heat away. Though gravity had it's fair share of pulling against the earth's greedy wishes to drag him in. 

This time when the younger got up from his seat and tread on forward, in lieu of changing the track, he changed the record. 

"That's the other one you brought." The blonde's oblivious tone shared he'd forgotten all about the other vinyl. 

The dark-haired man stuck an inviting hand out. His warm gaze sending their own silent insitance. The gentle vocals smoothly melted together with the light snap of the drums and soft yet clippy guitar strumming made the moment slow with the song. The vintage record player scruffed the tune in a way his ears found pleasant. He was comfortable, it was right to be here. He felt it, in the way he faintly bobbed his head to the song, how he oozed confident charm towards Sunoo, for the first time, and how his heart slowed as if it were preparing for the melody. 

The musician in him made him sing a few of the backround adlibs by habit, and it gained a portion of Sunoo's impression. 

The tantalizing glint in his gorgeous hazel orbs, and amusement played on his lips as he acsended from his spot, like a seedling would when stretched up for the sun. Whisked ahead the way the wind would bend to its will, Sunoo's petite waist was now in his delicate yet firm hold. The petal-softness of his bare skin made his own prickle hotly, he lowered his hands to his hips. Sunoo, the unpredictable meister relocated his hands, bringing them in between the skin of his lower stomach and the jeans against his waist. His breath hitched at the skin contact, his thumb and index over the expanse of it, his middle slipped under the hook of his jeans. Jungwon's eyes dared to flicker up at the elder's gaze, and he still held that glow. 

He was glowing.

The weight of the smaller male's hands dropped onto the collar of his fitted black vest, Sunoo's hands slid up behind his neck, they clasped together and rested against him. 

Jungwon led them to a long-drawn-out sway, slow and steady, side to side. Closed lids from pure bliss. Each step on the kitchen floor felt more like the ground of a ballroom. The music not coming from a record player, but from a larger speaker. It smelled of a garden of blooming flowers, a gentle tingle of his nose that spread the more they spun. Moving to the beat, they progressivley changed the way they were positioned. 

"I like your outfit." Sunoo whispered though half-lidded eyes, fingering the back of Jungwon's collar.

"I do too." Jungwon's tone cracked, his thumb gently carressed the porcelain skin.

He looked up to search for some sort of approval, Sunoo's captivating hazel were the window to his voiceless wishes. He felt the older’s palms pressure the middle of his shoulders, their tension diminished. 

More relaxed through his loose muscles, he began to hum the melody. Having memorized it long ago, it's every beat, and lyric imbedded into him. 

His quiet voice never breaking their trance, "What's this one? I've never heard of it before." 

"Out Like a Light, by the Ricky Montgomery and the Honeysticks." 

There he went again, rambling about musical artists, but somehow instead of an eyeroll, or nod and exasperated groan he got from others, he recieved that look. That look that made him weak in the knees whenever he stared down directly into Sunoo's eyes. They were so expressive, so honest, they shine so bright for him. As if he were something to admire.

It made the pitter-patter of his heart change it's bpm. It became that song whenever Sunoo was around. The repetivitive one that held no lyrics. It had the same beat for ages. But it never once got old, and the feeling of whenever he had it, made him more overjoyed than any other song could make him. 

It was beautful. 

"I like Ricky too." Mouth still agape, the words died at his tongue, as he let the last comment linger in the air. 

Jungwon could see Sunoo's irises through the sight of his black thin, yet long eyelashes. He batted them prettily, as his gaze lowered, leaned up and he closed the gap. 

Jungwon squeezed the shorter male's waist, responding by kissing back feverishly. It was too hot to let go of. A passion that grew at every ticking second, Sunoo pulled him closer, his dainty fingers tugging at his lengthy hair. It was hard, but slow as they needed time to savor each other the way they never had. He could taste Sunoo's sweet lipgloss, and the heat from his breath. It came to a stop so delibarate they stopped moving. Like they felt the same way. Like they both didn't want to breathe more than seperate. When they did, it was Sunoo who edged away so labored, he didn't want to break the vulnerability of the moment. It took everything in him not to chase after his red puffy lips once more.

So he focused on the ongoing tune and still keeping them at bay with the tempo, he got his breathing under control. Sunoo left his head snug against his shoulder and Jungwon embraced him so closely, there was no longer any space between them.

A breeze of confidence dashed past him, unable to resist it, he sang along the last quietly sung part right before the artists louder vocals would come booming in. His voice was low and with a dedicated tone. He hummed the last parts out.

It was on point, even though he could hear his pulse louder than the music. And he was trying not to show how much he enjoyed the feeling of Sunoo leaning on him. 

Sunoo lifted his head to shoot him the softest look he's ever given him. "You have an incredible voice, please sing it again for me?" His precious orbs pleaded.

It's then that Jungwon realizes when his favorite moment with Sunoo is. 

"Aish, why is it always you? Can't you visit when I'm at home? Why is it when I'm working that you come bother me?" His best friend verbally berated him. 

"Wow, ok. What happened to 'hello'? 'how are you'? 'my name is.' What happened to that?" Jungwon teased, always loving to get a reaction out of the elder male. 

"It died the instant I saw your annoying face." Sunghoon sneered. 

"Aww! You don't mean that!" The musician exclaimed in an obnoxiously high-pitched voice, even he would agree he deserved the bottle that was thrown at him. Didn't mean it didn't hurt though. "Ow!" 

"I'm about to close up shop, help me spritz some of the plants, dumbass." Taking a clear spray bottle of his own, he directed it between the younger's eyes. "And by spritz, I mean spritz not drench."

Nodding obediently, the bottle was now far from him, less threatening of a stance he followed the brunet behind the counter. "Why don't you force your workers to help you with the plants you adore so much anyways?" Playing with the handle, he was attentive of preassuring it and wetting himself accidentally. "Isn't that their job too?" 

"Yes, but a lot of them had shifts that were longer than usual and real busy. Since it's spring and all. I like doing this alone to keep track of the seedlings too." Sunghoon expounded, walking into the 'room of plants' as Jungwon named it easily. Amongst the two of them though, Sunghoon preferred the nickname 'Flower Kingdom'. He'd made it up when he was back in college and it grew on them. 

"Before I do anything, which ones do I spray?" Jungwon was faulty whenever it came to plants, he was always overwatering them and leaving them away from the sun for too long. 

He was very prone to killing flowers and cacti, so that begged the question of why he was even able to be back here. 

"Spritz the fully grown ones on the right about five times and only five, ok?" His best friend narrowed his eyes, something that wasn't too hard to do as the room had it's lights dimmed. 

"Got it!" Jungwon adjusted to the darkened room, seeing seedlings from afar sprout under the hot light placed above them. 

He approached the colorful potted flowers, grown but having a yellowing tint to their stems, a few of them sagged slightly. Assuming they'd reached for the sun and missed miserably, he sprayed one in pity. 

"What'd you come here for anyways?" Sunghoon inquired out of the blue. 

"To visit you of course." Jungwon's grin stretched out to be convincing, too strong to be charming. 

"Save it, you fucking liar. And wipe that sly grin off your face, you're not fooling me." The brunet replied sarcastically.

"How could you say that? I love coming over here." He mumbled the last part before moving onto the next flower.

"I know what this is about." A wily, knowing smile on his face, Sunghoon spared him a look. 

"Do you now? Enlighten me?" Jungwon challenged, he returned to spraying lightly, counting each time he'd depress the trigger. 

Casting him a slight smirk, the elder replied. "It's about Sunshine boy, right?" 

At the mention of the man who occupied his thoughts far more than he deemed necessary, his heart drummed that beat that became all too well to him. He'd grown accustomed to it, the same beat everytime. It went hand in hand with the overjoy that took over him and he'd fight the urge to smile stupidly at what seemed like nothing to anyone else. 

Shrugging half-heartedly, he heard his best friend snort before falling into a full fledged laugh. He rolled his eyes at the older, but hid his contented smile. "You're always talking about that guy. I'm starting to think he looks like a greek god." Well, he wasn't wrong. Maybe just less muscular, that was what made him more attracive though. "If he doesn't look that way, I'm gonna be pissed." 

It was funny how he hadn't ever shown Sunghoon a single photo from the sunny male. It was as if he didn't talk about him every other hour of the day, besides music of course. It never bothered Sunghoon, as the elder was relieved Jungwon finally liked something as much, if not more than, music. The two of them held deep passion for what they loved. Jungwon with his music, and Sunghoon with his gardening and that was what they enjoyed talking to each other about besides small talk on their days. It seemed like a sort of obsession yes, but it was also a part of his job.

"Oh, you won't be disappointed." Giving the fifth flower it's mist shower he stopped for a moment. 

And he remembered why exactly he'd come here. It wasn't to speak only of the male who gave him brainrot to fill his days, but it wasn't to rant about his recent favorite tune either. It was a mix of both.

As if on cue, the chord that was struck within him as he'd thought of his favorite memory with Sunoo played in his mind. All strung out, rapid drum beating replayed. 

"I was thinking." Licking over his lips, he placed the spray bottle down for a moment. "Everytime he's around, I hear this-this melody." Jungwon gestured his head. 

"What song is it?" Casting him his dewy gaze, Jungwon shook his head in response. 

Leaning a little into the counter, he replied. "It's not a song I've ever heard of. It's one that I haven't even written for, yet." 

"Interesting. You're starting to sound more like a composer rather than a songwriter." 

Shoving a hand into his pocket the dark-haired male let out a chuckle. "Aren't I already?" 

Pushing his gloved thumb into the soil with ease, Sunghoon trained his eyes on the seedling in front of him. "I guess you are, in a way." Removing his hand from the baby plant, he placed it onto a cart. 

Jungwon picked up the spray bottle, hoping not go be whacked with something else, for seemingly doing nothing. 

"I do have a question actually." Propelling the cart forward, Jungwon assumed the seedling was either to be tranferred into a bigger plant pot or was being moved to a different section. "You sound like you could be popular, but how come Jay's working with popular artists and you aren't?" 

"Oh that?" The dark-haired male's brow rose. "Jay-hyung chose to work for other artists as a guitarist. So he gets acknowledged as a backround instrumentalist. I, on the other hand don't care as much about getting popular, and I prefer working alone." 

It was quite simple actually. Their method of getting seen by the public was different. 

"But why not give it a shot? Isn't the whole point of being a musical artist, to be rich and famous?" Sunghoon's thick brows scrunched in confusion, and the younger laughed at the assumption. 

"For some people, yes. But it's a form of artistic expression as well as a job. So I don't do it for those reasons, I just do it cause I'm obsessed with it." Upon the humorous response, Sunghoon giggled. 

The next set of flowers was a tickle to the funny bone. A joke amongst inside jokes, and Jungwon believed if it hadn't been almost three months of dating it wouldn't have had the effect it had. 

A wagon full of far too many heliunthus to count. A small satin bag of dried chamomile flowers laid in the mix. Almost every species of the sunflower were piled into the mix. Different shades of golden were there. 

The three knocks on Sunoo's door, and gripping on the silver wagon's handle, he waited. And perhaps there was a four-leaf clover in the mix of golden petals, due to having been graced by the sight of the white oversized t-shirt that slipped off the side of one of his shoulders, the hem ending high up his thighs. The elder's exposed milky skin drove him just a little bit insane. 

Over text, Sunoo had explained he'd probably be wearing casual clothes as he was exhasted. Technically Jungwon wasn't supposed to come at first, but he'd insisted on helping cure his restlessness. Too dedicated to leave him be, he reasoned that he could make a real good tea that'd really put someone to sleep. And had a list of songs that always lulled him into a slumber. Sunoo of course couldn't resist the child-like dimpled man, and agreed he could come over. 

A giggle erupted from the blonde, "Jungwon-ah! Where am I supposed to-?" He tumbled into a giggle fit, sniffling and unable to finish his own sentence. 

Jungwon caught onto the contagious laughter, a natural cheery smile painted his lips at knowing he was the reason the smaller was shaking from laughing uncontrollably.

It was now that he'd realized how different the older male looked compared to every other time he'd seen him. Besides the fact that this was the most skin he's seen, the bags under his eyes were quite visible and his face was more pale than usual. Jungwon believed the cause was the lack of sleep, but even then, Sunoo still managed to be the most beautiful man he's ever set eyes on. 

God, how did he make his heart stutter into such a pattern? 

"Look-" Still choked up between laughs, "leave that in the yard, I'll- I'll sort them out later." Sunoo waved them off, now recovering he sighed heavily. "I can't with you, Wonie!" He face-palmed before turning on his heel. 

"Wait- Sun!" 

Now a miniture satin sack that held crumpled dry, chamomile flowers hung off the hook of his finger. 

🌻

Pouring the chamomile flower petals into the kettle of boiling water. "My friend always uses the leftover flowers for tea cause he says it always tastes better from the source." He stuck his head out, glancing the older's way. 

He probably boiled it wrong with how faulty he usually was, but he nothing bad would happen by switching up the directions. 

"And what do you think?" Sunoo's chin was tucked into his arms that rested on the wooden chair he was sitting on. 

Isn't it obvious? He'd come all this way to make him this. It'd be pretty ridiculous, and desperate if he thought otherwise. He was somewhat desperate, but not that desperate. 

Just desperate enough to find Sunoo's restlessness a reason to come over. 

"It's true, it tastes much better too." Returning to the spot he'd previously been in, sitting not too far away from him he rested his chin in his elbow. "What's wrong, Sun?" He mumbled.

They'd reached a comfortable understanding that nicknames were alright. Sunoo already used them, so it wasn't hard to use naturally. Really they'd just slid into conversations without them properly acknowledging them at first. Of course they held their cutesy outlook, but overall they were sort of normalized. 

"Besides what I already told you?" 

Craning his neck inward, Jungwon felt his tone settle into something more practical, more serious than what he was used to when speaking to the blonde. "If it isn't something personal and you don't mind me asking, what's messing with your sleep anyways?" 

Sunoo shook his head, an unreadable expression on his face. It was strangely blank, something Jungwon wasn't used to. "I don't know, amymore." 

"I have more than one job, and yesterday it just felt like too much for me." Running a hand through his blonde hair, he spoke up. "I always feel like it's not enough. Everyone else around me has more stable careers, and finished college for it, but I didn't think that was right for me. And now-now I don't know what I want." 

His voice reached a deeper tone the younger hadn't expected. It was the first time he'd heard something so personal from him. Always quick to avoid anything that had to do with him and dodge questions by asking more instead, it came as a surprise that he was being so honest about this. 

"You're confused because you're comparing yourself to a lot of other people." He might be included in that list, he realized as his eyed flitted downwards.

"I can't help it, it always feels like things come so easily for everyone else." His eyes wandering back up, they shot down instantaneously. "I know it not like that, but," Like rain pitter pattering, his eyes daunted a saddened look. 

"You must've chosen to live this way, or?" Waiting to be corrected he recieved his answer. 

Sunoo nodded, "No, I did choose this." 

"You had a reason to, so why did you?" 

Sunoo lifted a brow of probable suspicion, Jungwon stayed silent. He wasn't asking random questions. He just wanted the smaller male to have something to say to himself when he felt down. 

"I didn't have any career in mind, it's not really my style to to commit to stuff I'm not that into. And," Glancing his way, Jungwon held back a smile at the sight of the blonde's upcoming speech. "My job, current or not doesn't define me. Just like clothing, it doesn't define anyone." A slight confidence adding onto his voice, Sunoo looked a thousand times more comfortable.

"I've been meaning to ask you about that actually? Cause your clothing style, it's very different almost everytime I see you." Jungwon confessed. 

"It's exactly that, if I wear a dress one day and then jeans the next doesn't make me, myself any less. I'm still going to be the same person no matter what I wear." 

Pondering on that, Sunoo was onto something and it had him thinking hard. "I like to think of music as my life, since it's my passion. But it's also my career path, so does it not define who I am?" 

It was certainly something to think about. Something he wouldn't have an immediate response to. Usually it was though. He loved music and that's all there was to it. Sure there were other things, and people he could say he cared about, but they didn't 'define' him as Sunoo put it. 

"It's not only your job, it's what you love. It doesn't define you entirely but that makes it apart of you." In Jungwon's vision there were flowers and tiny hearts adorning Sunoo's pale complexion.

He was perfect in his eyes. 

"Then, Sunoo." Leaning closer, honey boba eyes glazing over with care, he let his fingers sink into the blonde's hand. "Don't compare yourself to others. You know yourself better than anyone else, what you just told me proved how much smarter you are than a lot of the people you compare yourself to." 

Sunoo beamed under any sort of praise, like a flower finally growing to open it's petals, his irises shone even when he faked a coy, dimissive look in his fox-like gaze. 

The kettle squealed loudly, gaining the attention of the two distracted males.

🌻

Running his fingers down the instrument's strings, he got to working on it's tuning keys. 

"Ooh, are you gonna sing me a lullaby, Jungwon-ah?" Sunoo's presence was warm, as he settled onto the couch next to him. 

It'd been the first time he'd gotten to see the elder's living room since it was the first time he stepped foot in it. It was cozy, like he'd expected it to be. The sun radiating through the white curtains, painting the room a darkened golden, it brought that vibe more essentially as well. 

"Not exactly, but maybe I can." The younger's gaze was transfixed with the acoustic guitar in his arms, he turned the keys to tighten the strings to a certain extent. 

"Did you not tune it before you got here?" The blonde questioned. 

"I loosened the strings before I put it away, I always do it that way." He strummed it to hear the sound still come off as sour. "It's a force of habit." 

"Ah, figures." He could practiclly feel Sunoo's nod and hum of acknowledgment. 

"Y'know, Jay, is the one who actually taught me a lot about guitars, he's obsessed with them! Do you remember him?" 

"I do, I do! He's the college aquintance?" 

"Mhm, that's him." Tightening his hold on the neck just a tad bit before releasing the keys and strumming again. "Ok, got it!" 

"Alright, serenade me to sleep." Finally looking over his shoulder, he found Sunoo's aura quite playful through heavy-lidded eyes. 

It seemed the chamomile tea had done it's job fairly well. 

"You wanted a lullaby?" The dark-haired male pressed his hand against the strings to halt them from playing anything accidentally. "How's this for one? Old McDonald had a fa-"

A hand was shoved to his mouth to make him stop fake-yodelling. "Oh god- please no! That's not a lullaby!" the musician mumbled the last 'ee-i-ee-i-oh', before smoothly pecking the smaller male's palm and pulling away. 

Goodness, Sunoo was adorable, when his cheeks became a soft pink tinge. It splashed color onto his pale face.

"It's just jokes, jokes." Jungwon smiled softly at the blonde who was pouting, his teasing eyes about ready to attack. 

"Don't jumpscare me like that." He laughed, and Jungwon let his nimble fingers rest on the finger board, holding the strings down.

"Ok, ok, in all seriousness, can you guess what song I will sing?" The younger's brow rose out of curiousity towards what answer he'd recieve. 

"Hint?" 

"It has to do with a certain flower." 

"You're gonna sing Rex Orange County?" His sharp eyes lit up. 

"Not exactly." That was oddly specific, though he definitely had to after seeing that reaction. He had no choice, that little hop Sunoo did make him jump internally too. "I was thinking more along the lines of, Harry Styles?" 

"He's so good. I actually think I know what song it is." 

"Figures." Jungwon glanced at him one last time before returning to the acoustic guitar. 

Sunoo leaned into the sofa, his elbow was against the velvety brown couch that made his white t-shirt ride up and milky thighs stand out all the more. 

Now concentrating on where his fingertips pushed, he strummed experimentally. Humming the melody by habit, he began when his ears heard the instrument perfectly in tune. 

The lyrics already at the tip of his tongue, he sang the song he'd memorized as if it were written on the back of his hand. His throat, loose and ready for the long notes, the tea had refreshed his voice pleasantly. 

The words left his mouth, as naturally as they were retained. Reminiscing flooded his brain, daydreams of what is and what could be in the future had his mind wander. All three to almost four months were filled of the blonde who held the most riveting gaze he'd ever seen. 

He could fall off the face of the earth, and feel complete, because he met someone who'd made him feel fulfilled. He, of course, intended to go through with where this was going with Sunoo. He had no intention on stopping. 

Halfway through it, Jungwon thought of the fact that the story that the song tells is so familliar it was laughable. 

If someone told you something that happens in one of your favorite songs is going to happen to you, would you believe them? You most likely wouldn't as that sounds humorous, something random, made up on the spot. 

Suddenly, a swift movement like the winds changing temperature in warm April, he didn't expect it, a soft kiss to his earlobe. "I love your singing." His breathy tone made the skin on his ear tingle. He bit his lip to hold back any sort of reaction, his ear burned hotly. The note he'd played lingered, and the head full of fluffy blonde hair tickled his sharp jaw, as he rested upon his shoulder. Leaving his weight onto him, but not inward enough to forcibly stop him from playing. 

Even with the ability to continue to play, his fingers fumbled and he strummed a completely different tune than the actual song, hard enough he thought his guitar might snap. The immediate split-second response in his head being, 'I love you'. 

And the words spilt like an undeniable waterfall, as if they were a part of the song as well.

His internal panic making him hurridely go back to the fingerboard, he heard the airy breaths come to a slow and realized Sunoo was asleep and hadn't noticed his mistake. His shoulder drooped in relief. Jungwon knew he felt a strong attachment, a strong feeling towards Sunoo. That didn't mean that almost four months in, he'd be ready to drop the L-word bomb. 

So even in the trance he was in, he awoke slightly just to finish the almost complete song. 

Another month come and gone and the days flew by with no hesitence, it was almost summer. 

Jungwon could safely say that he knew practically every inch of Sunoo's house from the amount of times he'd gone by now. 

He felt like life could no longer do him any wrong. Sure sometimes he made less than what was needed for his bills, or he felt doubtful of some of his choices in life, but he never felt as stressed as he had to anymore, because Sunoo was his antidote shot to recover from the pain of adulthood. 

The blonde unknowingly made life a little harder by making him overthink a tad too much, but all at the same time made life so much easier with his carefree personality. 

It felt like he'd met an angel in disguise, who couldn't hide their naturally good tendencies. Jungwon now lived where it was always sunshiny days, and white puffy clouds of happiness.

So he skipped onto somewhere he hadn't stumbled into, in forever. 

As he pushed the entryway open, the little brass bell at the top rung lightly informing the workers that someone new was there. 

Not having been here in so long, he was surprised to see so many customers compared to all the other times he'd come over. 

Sunghoon caught him off guard, holding up a trowel and a spray bottle when Jungwon approached the counter. "Back away you little sunflower monster." His eyes narrowed threateningly at sight of the younger.

Sending a questioning gaze, Jungwon wanted to say he was confused by the statement and sudden accusation. 

Though he really shouldn't have been. Even when he tried to text the florist and the he simply left him on read. 

A couple of other customers laughed at the scene unfolding before them. "Woah, what's with the violence? Calm down." Jungwon hoped the older would tone down his menacing gaze. 

"I know that you bought way too many of them on my day off. And the other workers," Sunghoon side-eyed the part timers next to him, and they avoided his gaze. "sold them to you because they couldn't resist the amount you were offering." Placing the trowel down, he pointed the bottle at him. "Are you trying to destroy this shops business, Yang Jungwon? Are you?" He sprayed him, causing the younger to recoil like a cat. 

"Hyung, stop- it's not like that." He covered himself and backed away to a corner the water couldn't reach.

"Yeah, right, it's not." Jungwon could tell Sunghoon was holding back from cursing aloud. He usually did it when it was just the two of them, but he was too professional to let it slip when working. 

"It's not!" The brunet managed to still spray a little bit of water on him which had him baring his arms for protection. "Really, I came back because I needed advice- actually I have the solution." 

"Damn well you do. You're gonna buy back those flowers, and bring them over here." Jungwon nodded at the statement from slight intimidation. 

An awkward guffaw later, he noted that the shop was slowly emptying as the other workers were quick with attending the crowd. The corner the two of them were in proved to be unpopular as no one approached it. Sunghoon was now preparing bouquets that had been ordered before, on the side and silently, his eyes urged the younger to say what wanted to say. 

"I wanted to know, how to grow your own sunflowers." Jungwon confessed albeit hesitantly. 

Tying a cluster of daises together, his umber brown orbs bore into Jungwon's. "Please tell me you've improved your gardening skills. I can't give away my precious sunflower seeds to someone who can't at least do that." Sunghoon put the set aside to go fetch about five baby pink dahlias in 'the room of plants', a part timer glanced their way before returning looking away quickly when the older gave them a look.

"Well, I had Injang and Mini-won recently..." He spoke in a rather hushed tone. "They didn't make it." Biting his lips awkwardly, he stared at the older sheepishly.

"Oh, my poor sweet boy. Thank hyung for being here, ok? Cause what would you do without me?" The brunet patted the younger's back, his voice taking on a tonal shift. 

He really wanted those sunflowers back, and now that they were confirmed to be restocked by the musician. 

If Jungwon weren't at his mercy, he'd wholeheartedly berate the florist for pitying him. That and because he was talking to him as he were a child again.

"Try to garden anyways?" He shrugged.

"And fail?" Sunghoon slapped the younger with a small pouch filled with contents Jungwon didn't know of.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding!" 

A day where the dark-haired antsy male would have the sunny-like male come over, was today. 

A buttoned up, tucked in polo shirt, with baggy cargo pants and a pair of dirty convese, later he'd tidied the entirety of his house. Too anxious to eat, he shoved half of a granola bar down his throat and felt a stomachache form from the anxiety. He did and undid his top button about fifty times in the mirror and still looked a wreck. Not knowing if his hair tousled or brushed thoroughly looked better, he glowered at his reflection.

He knew he was being ridiculous, but Sunoo had never gone to his house before, and sure they'd known each other for almost the half of a year but he still wasn't accustomed to the new things they had to experience as two people dating and getting to know each other. 

Sunghoon called it the sickeningly sweet, honeymoon stage. But that phrase made Jungwon's stomach flip in ways he didn't know were possible. 

He tried to make light of things like this, as it wasn't the first time he would see the smaller, but it still felt like it. His heart beating at an erratic rate and his stomach twisting in ways unimaginable. He rubbed on some cologne hoping not to sweat it all out in his nervousness.

The sound of the front door being rapped against, Jungwon all but flew down the flight of stairs in a frenzy. Unlocking and opening the door, he was greeted by the lovely sight of Sunoo in adorable wide-leg overalls hanging off of a canaray yellow top. He held out a couple of gardening tools of his own. 

"Wow, you really live here? This house looks amazing!" Sunoo gushed in awe.

Jungwon was never a real big fan of his house, it being a plain sort of bluish gray and feeling somewhat empty most of the time. But when Sunoo's eyes glossed over, and his mesmerized gaze saw it a different way, Jungwon's opinions flew out of the window. 

"Yeah, th-thanks." 

🌻

"So you dig under where you're going to drop them. You can cover them with soil when you're done." Sunoo explained, whilst demonstrating what he'd learned from his sister. 

Jungwon had learned how to plant a seed properly from Sunghoon, and had recieved harsh lessons on how to do it from the florist before he left the floral shop the last time he visited. But even then, he couldn't help but let himself fall under the helpless spell Kim Sunoo held over him and simply listen and nod his love-struck eyes never looking away.

Whenever he gave a sign he heard what the older told him, he gave him a smile that thinned his poppy pink lips and indented his whisker dimples. It made his heart pump to that song that never left him alone. 

God, he would never get over this feeling.

Jungwon thought as he thumbed his way through the earth to pick at the seeds he'd dropped. His gloved hands were quick at having covered the seeds. 

And although he tried his best with them, he couldn't seem to smooth the soil out as well as Sunoo did. The older wordlessly did it everytime Jungwon had tried but clumsily failed. 

Sunoo did notice his efforts and still rewarded him with a short kiss that had Jungwon's brain short circuiting.

The trial and error cycle they went through made the dark-haired male wonder how many times Sunoo did that without ever complaining about him. 

He never once did, always teasing, but never shaming Jungwon for being such a screw-up. And he didn't for the life of him figure out why the blonde did it. It was something people usually called out if he ever did, especially since it was so unlike him. 

Of course Sunoo didn't know that. Sunoo didn't know what Jungwon was like when he wasn't around. And of course he had to be the worst version of himself whenever he was around Sunoo specifically. 

But Sunoo just sort of accepted how he was. 

He didn't know why or how someone could just accept someone's flaws so easily. Or never really call them out. The blonde was more ok with it than he, himself was. 

His own mistakes irked the hell out of him, but Sunoo never felt that way. That was what Jungwon couldn't understand.

Maybe he was a perfectionist, exactly the way his best friend called him.

Hauling up the cornflower blue watering can, Sunoo poured a generous amount on the layer of soil that now took up ends of the front yard. The water sprinkled out, lightly. 

"Sorry, I'm really terrible at gardening," The dark-haired male scratched at the ends of his mullet when the older glanced his way curiously. "Ironic that it's my name and all." 

"Yang Jungwon, are you sulking?" Enthusiasm amusement played on Sunoo's feature beautifully. 

Shoving his hands into his pockets he felt them to be thicker and rather stuffy. "I'm not, it's just a joke my friend always makes." He shrugged, his head lowered but his honey boba gaze latched onto the other male.

"Alright, I guess it is pretty funny." The sun rained down on his skin and that made his nose and cheeks rather rosy and shiny with sweat. "But don't apologize so much." 

"Why are you like that?" Jungwon quirked a brow, begging the question. 

"Hm? Like what?" 

"I'm kind of, all over the place, all of the time. Why are you ok with that?" 

Sunoo's gaze softened, as he looked up at the taller. And it made Jungwon's annoyed insides sort of melt the way he wished they wouldn't. Why did he have to look at him so tenderly? Why couldn't he stop? As if he deserved such stunningly glistening eyes to stare at him?

"Because," Taking off his pair of thick gloves, he reached into Jungwon's pockets to pull his hands out. "I like how you are." He removed the gloves that were still on the younger's pair letting them fall onto the grass. "I think it's cute, you're cute." He intertwined both their thin fingers together, and they slotted perfectly into each other. As if their hands were fated to be linked. 

Jungwon couldn't keep track of his heart throbs, nor could he overthink Sunoo's words. All he could see was amber. Those irises that shone that color under the sun. He wondered what made them sparkle the way they did, how could they do what the stars could only dream of doing? 

"What do you see, when you look at me?" 

Jungwon could answer that for Sunoo a thousand times and more as he'd already done before. But Sunoo now that had gotten a glimpse of that, he most certainly wouldn't let it go.

"I see a man who's imperfectly perfect." And he smiled that gorgeous smile that stole his heart the first time he saw him. His thumb carressed over his hand. "I'll never let you forget that."