Chapter Text
Jimin’s love for flowers has always been present from a very young age.
It started when he plucked one and gave it to his mother. The woman accepted it with a smile so big and bright, it had catched little Jimin off guard. He never had thought such a simple thing could bring such an amount of happiness to a person. So after one flower, he plucked two and then more, forming a bouquet so his mother’s vase on the kitchen table would always be filled.
It was not that surprising when his love for flowers turned into a passion, a passion which he wanted to share with the world. He wanted to see the same happiness he saw on his mother’s face on the faces of other people too. One thing led to another and Jimin finally had the courage to tell his parents he wanted to open a flower boutique. A place, almost equivalent to heaven, where he would be surrounded with flowers he loved so dearly.
It was not an easy dream. Opening a shop was not something he could do with the snap of his fingers. It had cost him everything as he put his everything into it. His time, money, his blood, sweat and tears. After being rejected from countless vacant properties and buildings, he finally found one in Seoul. It was not ideal as he lived in Busan, the place where his friends and family were. Only after enough pushing and encouragement from the important people around him, did he say yes to it.
When the time came to say goodbye to his family to move to Seoul, Jimin found himself standing on a very difficult crossroad. He had to leave everything behind to start anew in a place he had never been to. So, when he almost wanted to break out in tears and drop his bags to stay in Busan, his mother had gently cupped his cheek and her wrinkled fingers had softly caressed the skin;
‘’This is your dream, Jiminie. This is what you live for. So go, and do what you love to do the most.’’
And he did go after that. Leaving familiarity and comfort behind, only to welcome the unknowingness and discomfort of being all alone in a city far too big instead. He believes it must have been luck that gave him a building where on the first floor he could build his shop in and on the second floor his home.
After a month of hard work, sleepless nights and too many cups of coffees, Jimin found himself standing in front of his finished boutique. Besides feeling immensely proud of himself for finally recreating his dreams in real life, he mostly felt overjoyed to finally start the life he always wanted. Still, he knew the struggle was not over yet, because as a beginning shop in a new area, it would take some time for his shop to attract enough customers to make a living out of it.
✿
It was an ordinary day, one like many. Jimin was just going about his daily chores when a boy stepped foot into his boutique. Immediately an odd kind of aura washed over him and his shop. It felt kind of gloomy, sad even. Suddenly, his plants looked less colourful and the smile on his face felt almost fake. Nevertheless, by pushing these things to the back of his head as if they didn’t exist, he had put on his most sincere smile and greeted his customer.
“Good afternoon, welcome to the boutique, how can I help you?”
It’s odd really. Most of the time his bubbly personality gets mirrored back by the customer. It’s as science has proven us, that we are more inclined to smile when the other does so too. So Jimin is a little confused when the boy stoically looks at him. His eyes look empty and his lips are stretched into a thin line.
“Hello. Don’t bother, I am just looking.”
“Okay!” He chirps.
It’s not uncommon for a customer to decline his offer, as they want to explore the shop on their own. He leaves the boy alone and goes back to work. Checking on his flowers and making more bouquets. His whole body itches to turn around and assist his costumer. He has always been a little difficult with that. He is always too eager to share his passion and always wants to assist people with picking flowers and at the same time inform them about nature’s beautiful creations. It’s why he can’t hold himself back from asking another question;
“For whom are you buying flowers?”
“My mother. She is in the hospital.”
“Oh. I am sorry to hear that.” The boy doesn’t say anything back. With his hands in the pockets of his hoodie he walks away from the florist, his eyes uninterested looking at the flowers. Jimin immediately goes to work. He finds himself some gladioluses and petunias and starts making the bouquet. He works fast, not wanting the boy to leave his shop empty handed.
It might have been smart to inform the boy he was making a bouquet for his mother, but it was such a sudden and impulsive decision he didn’t even have time to inform the customer about it.
After less than fifteen minutes, Jimin triumphantly holds up the bouquet in his hands, he doesn’t waste any more time and moves towards the boy who is still looking at the flowers, although it seems more like he is zoning out. “Hey.” Jimin begins, not wanting to startle the young men. “I have got you this.” He holds out the bouquet and smiles when the other takes it from him. It silently tells Jimin the other likes it. “Those are a mix of gladioluses and petunias, representing strength and healing. Something I sincerely wish for your mother. “
The boy doesn’t immediately lift his head up from the flowers and when he does his eyes are still vacant from any emotions. It’s a bit scary, but nonetheless Jimin keeps smiling. “I hope you like it.” The boy slightly bows in gratitude. “Thank you. I will take these then.”
Jimin should be really happy he managed to sell them, but more than the money, he craves the smiles on people's faces more- But on this customer, for the first time, he doesn’t see anything. Not a single muscle moves on the boy's face and Jimin can’t help but to feel bad about it.
“I hope your mother gets well soon.” He says, thinking the boy must be silent because of his mothers condition. It might be very serious. The boy only nods his head in affirmation before he turns around and walks out of the shop. But the colour in the flowers and the bright atmosphere in the boutique doesn’t return.
✿
It’s two weeks later when the same boy enters his shop again. He is wearing an oversized hoodie in a brown colour, his hood covering most of his head, but still some strands of orange hair peek out from beneath it. Jimin doesn’t know if it is appropriate to say that he doesn’t recognize the boy because of his clothes or hair, but because of his eyes.
He has never seen eyes like his, empty but still full of emotion, negative emotions, but still.
‘’Good morning!’’ The boy kind of flinches at the greeting, Jimin assumes it must be because he is so enthusiastic. The other pulls one of his earbuds out. ‘’Morning.’’ He greets back. His voice is flat and monotone, it’s difficult to find out the emotion behind it.
Jimin lays the flowers he was working on beside him and walks towards the other. ‘’What kind of flowers are you looking for?’’ The boy doesn't look at him when he talks. ‘’I am looking for flowers to give to someone to congratulate them.’’ Jimin makes a knowing sound. ‘’Ah, what a coincidence, I was just making a bouquet for that.’’ He beckons the boy to follow him and he does.
The florist goes to stand behind his workbench and points out all the flowers spread across the table. The boy doesn't say anything, so Jimin takes it as his cue to start explaining.
‘’Here you see the pink lilies, signifying prosperity, and here you see some sunflowers laying, they symbolise happiness, strength, and positivity, all things you'd want to wish the one you congratulating. At last I wanted to incorporate some white tulips. These beautiful flowers signify happiness and cheerfulness. What do you think?’’ Jimin asks him, wanting to know his customer’s opinion too, but when he looks up from his flowers, he for the first time is able to look into the boy's eyes. They are watching him, and although his facial expressions are still the same, he notices how the boy’s eyes have slightly widened. ‘’You know a lot about flowers.’’ He says matter of factly. It makes jimin smile. ‘’Yes I do. I love flowers.’’ The boy hums. ‘’I will take these then.’’
Jimin happily goes to work, putting all the flowers together and wrapping them up in a crème white paper. “This will be 20.000 won. Do you want to pay with cash or pin?”
This time when the boy leaves his shop, Jimin can see some of the lost colour reappearing on his flowers.
✿
The next time the boy visits his shop it’s not even a week later. Jimin has to confess that he is curious as to what the occasion is now. He is about to greet him, when the boy walks into his boutique in a suit rather than in his regular hoodie. His black hair is neatly parted to both sides and Jimin would have thought he was going to a wedding when his gaze fell on the boy’s reddened eyes.
It seemed like he had cried.
This time it is the boy who speaks to him first. “Do you have flowers for a funeral?” Oh. Jimin’s heart breaks a little. “Yes, of course. Let me see.” Jimin silently walks to the other side of the shop, he doesn’t realise the boy has been following him, so he jumps a little in his place when the other speaks up. “My mother has died.”
Jimin feels his heart aching at the words. “I am so sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine how you must feel right now.” The boy doesn’t say anything back, so Jimin continues. “If you want you can be the one to choose the flowers this time. Or better, did your mom have a favourite flower?” It remains quiet for a while, and then a whisper. “I don’t know. She didn’t like much.” His voice progressively gets quieter and Jimin has to really concentrate to catch what the other is saying.
“Then, do you have a favourite flower?” This time the boy gives an answer immediately. “No. I don’t like flowers.” Jimin tries to not feel bad about the boy’s words, he can’t imagine someone not liking these beautiful beings.
Ultimately he settles for a bouquet of orchids. Their white petals symbolising the everlasting love for the deceased.
‘’How much is it?’’ The boy asks, having his wallet already in his hand. Jimin gently places his hand on the boy’s arm and smiles. ‘’It’s on me.’’ ‘’What?’’ The boy is a little confused, he doesn't put his wallet away immediately, maybe thinking that he didn't hear it right. ‘’It’s alright. You don't have to pay for it. Go give it to your mother, she must be waiting.’’
Jimin really tries to not cry in front of him. He is just very emotional, seeing how the boy he has been seeing for a while now, standing in his shop without a mother in his life. Jimin can’t imagine for the life of him about how it must feel to lose your mother. He is still so young, just barely 25. He still has to show his mother so much, has to give her more and has to be with her more. The boy looks around his age, but he can’t do those things any more.
‘’Thank you. I will be going now.’’ The boy says. He leaves the shop, but his sadness remains with Jimin for the rest of the day.
✿
A month had passed when finally the boy reappeared in his shop. Jimin will confess that he, very eagerly, had been waiting for the other to visit his shop again.
He doesn’t know why exactly. It’s just something. Something tiny that manages to budge him almost every day. When he wakes up and when he goes to sleep, he thinks about the boy with eyes that resemble a black void, a void he feels himself almost falling into. It’s that same void that keeps him awake at night, because he doesn't know what hides there, in that pitch black darkness. He doesn’t know what there is at the end of the void or if there even is an end to it and maybe that unknowingness is what sparked the curiosity in him.
‘’Hello.’’ The boy had walked up to him. That’s a first. He was wearing his familiar hoodie again, with cargo pants and a matching black beanie on top of his head. Jimin wonders what he will look like with some colour.
‘’Hello, how are you?’’ He greets back, keeping his voice a bit low, as he remembers the circumstances in which the boy came to visit him last time. ‘’Can be better.’’
It's refreshing to hear something different than a simple good or I am fine. It has become a ’to-go’ answer and Jimin had catched himself many times saying he was fine when he was not. It takes a different kind of courage to say how you really feel, to be vulnerable in front of others. A warm feeling buzzes inside his chest by the thought of the boy being comfortable enough to be so honest and open to him.
‘’Do you need some cheering up?’’ Jimin asks him, a small smile tugging at his lips as the boy asks him how. ‘’With flowers of course!’’ The boy furrows his eyebrows at that. ‘’I told you, I don't like flowers.’’ Jimin walks from behind the counter to the boy and stops when he stands right in front of him. He gently grips his wrist and tugs. ‘’Just trust me.’’ he whispers, before he leads them to his workbench. He tries to keep his head cool, pushing the creeping warmth that wants to settle in his cheeks away. He is surprised the other didn't resist.
The florist brings an apron for the other, before he starts to explain his plan. ‘’We are going to make a flower crown.’’ ‘’A flower crown?’’ The boy repeats confusedly. ‘’Yes, it’s really simple. I will show you.’’
‘’First we have to shape the wire.’’ Jimin explains. The boy looks even more confused, so the florist opts to just show him. He takes the wire and wraps it around the boy’s head, adjusting it till he finds the best fit. Like this they are really close, their noses almost brushing as they are the same height. ‘’Got it!’’ He triumphantly exclaims, laying the base of the crown on the table to fix his own one.
For both of them Jimin uses the floral tape to affix the greenery’s stems to the floral wire. Choosing myrtle and ivy to create a more delicate look.
‘’Here u go, now it is your turn.’’
The boy doesn't move his hands, maybe a little lost, but mostly very confused. ‘’Why are you doing this for me?’’
It’s crazy what kind of things people can do when they let themself be led by emotions and impulsivity. It’s the feeling that has been nagging him for a time now. It’s an unlabeled feeling though, but it is the one who makes him want to spend time with the boy and cheer him up. ‘’Just because.’’ Jimin simply answers, shoving the flower tape in the direction of the other.
After that he starts by selecting some blooms and wrapping the stems together with the floral tape. He smiles to himself when he feels the boy looking over his shoulder to watch what he is doing. It’s cute.
‘’You need to wrap the floral tape from the base of the bloom to the bottom of the stem to make sure it’s secure.’’
‘’It’s difficult.’’ Jimin hears the boy say and as he looks up he is greeted with furrowed eyebrows and pouty lips. The other is so concentrated in following the florist's orders that he doesn't notice Jimin sneaking up on him. ‘’Let me help you.’’ Jimin murmurs, bringing his hand forward to help attach the flowers. Their fingers brush while doing so, but neither of them seem to move away.
After combining the flowers in bunches, they can finally start with affixing the bunches to the crown.
‘’Okay, now we will be going to fasten the stems to our crown.’’ The boy follows his orders and soon enough Jimin hears him humming softly as he layers more blooms over the stems and attaches more flowers till he is satisfied with his crown.
The first time Jimin felt like he was stuck in a trance it must have been when he was a child. When he first came face to face with a flower, a flower so beautiful it captivated all of his attention. His body couldn’t move and his eyes did not wander from the beautiful yellow coloured petals. Multiple occasions followed where he got introduced to flowers he had never seen before. Flowers with crazy patterns or an unlikely colorscheme. But they never could be too crazy for him. No flower could be ugly in his eyes as every single one had something the other didn't have and that peculiarity is beauty in itself.
It’s a first that he got stuck in a trance because of something other than a flower.
‘’Done.’’ The boy mumbles, holding his flower crown in his hand and turning around to show it to the florist. Jimin suddenly feels his lips getting dry.
‘’It’s… it’s beautiful.’’
‘’Oh.’’
Only if you would squint your eyes, could you see the tip of the boy’s ears turning a bright red, but for Jimin it was as obvious as the sun on a clear day.
‘’You did it even better than me!’’ Jimin chirps, holding out his own flower crown to compare. As the other boy included a lot of different flowers with different colours, he held onto a colour palette, only choosing flowers with a red, pink or white colour.
Suddenly the boy’s lips turn a bit downwards as he observes his own flower crown. ‘’I made a mess, I just mindlessly put flowers together. I didn't even think about colours.’’ His voice quivers a bit and it makes Jimin's smile fall. ‘’This was a stupid idea.’’ The boy says as he lays his crown on the workbench and goes to undo his apron.
‘’Wait!’’ Jimin exclaims, grabbing the other’s flower crown to hold it in his hands. The boy stops with what he was doing and faces Jimin. ‘’I am sorry for wasting your time.’’ He continues. ‘’You didn’t.’’ Jimin reassures, stepping forward as he lifts his arms up and places the flower crown on top of the boy’s now black hair.
‘’You didn't make a mess.’’
‘’But yours-’’
‘’Forget mine.’’ He says as he holds the boy’s hands. The action only piercing through his skull, when he feels how warm their hands are.
‘’When I first saw you I had a hard time deciding which flower suited you, but now, after seeing you making this crown, I realise how dumb I was for thinking that only one flower could define you.’’
‘’Oh.’’
‘’Oh.’’ Jimin repeats as they awkwardly stand in front of each other, gazes locked on the floor and cheeks blossoming a soft pink.
✿
It’s a day later when Jimin realises as he is brushing his teeth, ready to jump under the duvet after a tiring day, that he doesn't even know the name of the boy.
✿
The next time the boy pays his boutique another visit, Jimin doesn’t forget to come up with a plan to unravel the boy’s name. He could just ask him, (yeah, that was a pretty obvious option) but he is too embarrassed to do that. So he comes up with a waterproof plan instead.
“Good morning!” Jimin greets him again as usual. The boy immediately walks towards him.
It’s a miracle, the florist thinks when the boy comes closer, because for the first time since they met the other is wearing colours instead of his usual black and white.
“Nice sweater.” He compliments immediately, pointing at the baby blue sweater the other is wearing underneath his puffer. The boy, visibly a bit taken aback by such a straightforward compliment, blinks his eyes slowly before shyly looking away, mumbling something under his breath which Jimin can't quite catch. What he does catch though, is the pink adorning the boy's cheeks
‘’I have something for you!’’ Jimin says then, to the boy’s relief.
‘’Oh? What is it?’’ The other asks curiously, cautiously walking towards the florist’s workbench. It’s not exactly the first time for him being here in the boutique, but still, something feels odd today. The flowers feel odd and even the florist’s smile seems odd. Odd in a way that makes the boy’s body tingle pleasantly.
Jimin on the other hand has to contain his excitement before he legit begins to bounce up and down on his place, his whole body feeling as if it had been winded up like a music box, ready to finally play its song. For the florist this song would contain him finally having a name to call the person his heart has secretly been singing to.
‘’They say that each and every flower has a meaning,’’ Jimin begins, as he reaches for the bouquet laying on his workbench. ‘’Like irises symbolises faith and blue salvias mean you are thinking of them. Like those, there are many more flowers which symbolises love, friendship and more,’’ The florist takes a deep breath in between his words, a small smile dancing on his face as he looks from the bouquet in his hands to the boy in front of him. ‘’but when I think about you, I just don't understand which flower I should give you.’’
And he says it with such sincerity but at the same time with so much confusion that the boy for a second doesn't know what to think or to feel. His lips just feel dry, but for some reason, one he doesn’t know about, wet tears prickle at the back of his eyes. ‘’Wh..what?’’ He croaks out. The forming lump in his throat making him stumble over his words.
‘I-’’ Jimin begins, even he gulps visibly, maybe trying to get rid of a lump in his throat too. ‘’I made this bouquet for you.’’
‘’Why?’’ The boy asks almost immediately.
The question was fired at such a speed that it could almost resemble a bullet. A bullet which could cause the florist to bleed out unspoken words.
‘’I don’t know.’’
Jimin does know now, but he can’t speak them out loud.
‘’I-, you.. you have become a regular visitor, so I thought why not make a special bouquet for a special someone.’’ Jimin hastily says, a forced laugh escaping his lips.
‘’Oh.’’ The boy finally murmurs after a moment of silence. Jimin can see to his relief that his eyes have stopped being watery, but now they are just glassy, like he has put something in front of them to hide the emotion that lies behind.
‘’Thank you, but you didn’t have to.’’ The boy whispers. He seems embarrassed, the tips of his ear are glowing red, and it looks freaking adorable in Jimin’s opinion if it wasn't for the anxious look in his eyes.
Jimin’s shoulders slightly drop, the reality that maybe the boy didn’t like his surprise dawning on him. ‘’I, I am sorry for making you uncomfortable with my stupid surprise.’’ He huffs out, his gaze casting down in shame.
The boy surprises him back when he feels a hesitant but warm hand against his underarm. Jimin looks up, his eyes locking with another pair. Now it feels like the curtains have fallen, as if the play has ended and the theatre is closed. He can see the real and raw emotions swimming in front of the boy’s eyes; Fondness, glee, but mainly gratitude.
‘’I have never received flowers before.’’ The boy confesses. His voice is quiet and thin, but so honest. ‘’I am not good at accepting gifts like these.’’
He is embarrassed again and his face flushes a sweet pink, but this time Jimin likes to see it as it is associated with a positive emotion. He smiles fondly and walks out of the boy’s grip. He returns to his workbench to the other’s confusion and picks up a pen. ‘’Then,’’ He breathes out, … ‘’to whom can I address this beautiful bouquet to?’’
The boy bats his eyelashes a couple of times as if he cant believe what the florist just asked him. In the end, he mirrors Jimin's smile, which briefly discloses his gums. ‘’Yoongi. My name is Yoongi.’’
‘’Yoongi.’’ Jimin repeats slowly so as to absorb each phoneme of his name. ‘’I like your name.’’ He says as he hands over the bouquet. The apples of Yoongi's cheeks grow even redder than they already were at the compliment. He bows slightly as he accepts the florist’s gift. ‘’Th-thank you.’’ He splutters, making Jimin break out in an amused smile.
‘’Take care of them, Yoongi.’’ Jimin says as he walks the other out of the door. ‘’I will try.’’ He answers honestly, never having to take care of something other than himself. He never had gotten the time or the opportunity really, but now with a bunch of flowers smiling up at him from below, Yoongi feels as if his life had found another reason to try again.
As he walks out of the door and Jimin wants to close the door to his shop, Yoongi turns around and smiles. ‘’I promise.’’
For the first time since he moved to Seoul, Jimin found his interests shifting to something else than his flowers.