Work Text:
Jeon Jungkook obstinately refused to accept the term “stalker” as a label for himself. He was more than sure that somewhere in some dictionary the term “stalker” included in its definition that the “stalker” should know the person he or she was stalking. Therefore by this definition, Jungkook wasn’t one. He was…widely interested in human behaviour. That sounded quite alright and the young man found it to be an appropriate definition. He was just being a casual human researcher. A sociologist.
For the eight (?) time that month, the proud just-graduate Jeon Jungkook found himself ordering the same not-quite-so-tasty-as-he-would-have-wanted Caramel Mocha from the not-so-kind-actually-quite-rude barista (for someone so small he sure had an attitude larger than him and a tongue sharp enough to cut) and sitting on the same chair (skipping the fact that it was not at all comfortable) , laptop open in front of him, headphones plugged in and listening to a random playlist on YouTube that looped the same Lana Del Rey songs over and over again (he was badly taking the ‘basic’ aesthetics and might have been just a tad ashamed) and idly waiting for the subject of his research to appear.
Apparently said subject was running late that day, much to the young researcher’s displeasure. Every minute was important in his dedicated work.
After thirty minutes of waiting and experimenting the sinking feeling in his stomach (over someone that he did not actually meet) that made Jungkook reconsider with what purpose he was doing this research, he finally opened the door, the little bell making its quite annoying clicket sound, and stepped inside the hole-in-the-wall café which apparently he loved so much.
He was taller than Jungkook (he could tell by scientific experiments of comparing where the man’s came up to in comparison to how low the lamp was. Science.), had dyed light brown hair that was styled with care over his expressive eyes and had the most handsome features Jungkook had ever seen in his life, even the little flaws that came with the lack of makeup looked nice on the stranger in the young man’s humble opinion. That day, like any other day, he was wearing simple clothing, nothing too flashy but horribly unfitted on the man’s tall and lithe frame, and was armed with just a simple leather wallet and a book. He was always carrying a book, not a laptop, tablet or journal, just that.
That time the cover of the book was matte white with a swirling black design on the bottom half that Jungkook can’t recognize as anything specific from his distance. Is the second book he had seen the mysterious man with, the first one had been a psychological novel (he had googled). The first one had also been white, but with a red design and always brought a tiny frown on the man otherwise sunny face. He supposed it must have been quite a heavy read, all things considered.
The young man made his way to the front counter and ordered what Jungkook supposed it was his usual beverage of choice since he only made a short, excited hand gesture to the barista to set him into motion. The drink was probably something as simple as his Caramel Mocha as it was brewed and served in less than two minutes. The attractive stranger was also probably some sort of godly entity since the grumpy barista seemed to regard him with an unusual friendliness. Jungkook was left baffled.
He took the table closest to the wide windows so he could have as much natural light as he could to facilitate his reading, sipped from his ceramic cup, humming happily at the taste before setting said cup on the table in front of him, got into a comfortable position and opened his book.
It took Jungkook an hour, a trip to buy a muffin from the counter and a keen eye to decipher the name of the book held by the mysterious man. It was called “The Graveyard”. The young man frowned, now that was a joyous read. Though his mind said it in a sarcastic fashion, apparently it was quite correct in reality, it appeared, since the subject of his research looked like he was having the fun of his life, looking ready to burst in laughter every so often. Was that book one of those very ironically named books? He wondered. It didn’t really matter in the end because the man’s laugh was just SO adorable Jungkook wondered if he could record it and put it as his ringtone. His mind helpfully supplied that his thoughts were in reality very creepy, and stopped that train of thought just in time.
They co-existed there in perfect silence for more than two hours: Jungkook not-so-secretly-staring and sometimes watching funny fail videos on his laptop just to pass the time and the man reading his book with an amused expression on his face at all times (which was what it actually kept him entertained), the atmosphere was pleasant and for once in his life, the young man found silence to be, as many said in those inspirational quotes, golden.
And of course, the silence was very easy to break.
Trust Jungkook’s best friend, Jimin, to break said precious quaint moment by calling him and indelicately announcing the younger man that he was stuck in his office dying of hunger and unable to leave the building so Jungkook, as the perfect friend that he was should feel morally obligated to buy him a sandwich and bring it to him. Jungkook wondered why the fuck was he always agreeing with Jimin. (it might have been the fact that the older man owned a shit load of carefully stored blackmail material on him including the latest and most exciting: his stalker-ish tendencies).
Having paid for his drink beforehand, he packed his laptop and put on his jacket, sent one last glance to the quietly chuckling man that was still very much immersed in his book and left the café in hurry.
oOo
It wasn’t until Jimin told him that he had texted his preference for the sandwich beforehand that Jungkook belatedly realized that he had left his (brand new) IPhone on his table at the café.
Leaving his laptop at Jimin’s office he took off in a sprint towards the café, dread settled in his throat at the idea of losing the precious item and thinking about what his mom would think about the loss of the (very) expensive handphone for which she paid, having been a present for the end of the year.
When he finally stepped into the café (in a manner that resembled a baby tornado) he was stuck pleasantly surprised that his beloved phone was still on the table where he sat mere 15 minutes ago. He sighed in pure relief and placed the precious piece of plastic back in his jean pocket.
Out of instinct, probably he glanced towards the place his favourite reader had been sat, observing with dissatisfaction that he was no longer there, though his table had been already cleaned out. Well.
oOo
He was eating a small meal alongside Jimin at the mas’s office later that day when his phone did the small popping sound that informed the existence of a new text message. He opened said message only to find with stupor that he had received a text message from someone named Taehyung.
He didn’t know anyone named Taehyung that could possibly have his phone number. And for him to have the contact saved. It wasn’t like Jungkook had so many friends that he couldn’t remember everyone he had saved in his phone.
While being plenty confused he tapped the screen to open the message, finding a long text instead of a simple greeting or something along those lines.
‘ “What are you doing Adam?” And Adam would have answered. “The hell, nothing. Relaxed. Playing Angry Birds on my phone, just closed a few million dollars deal and have much more in my bank account and planning a trip with Eve to Caribbean Islands. The Devil: “Wouldn’t the apple of wisdom tempt you?” Adam: “Dude are you stupid or something? Why would an apple tempt the mighty me? I have a mansion with a pool, a car, all the fruits I like, including apples, served by maids nonetheless, and Eve is the sexiest chick in town ‘cause she uses the most expensive products. An apple? To tempt me? You make me laugh!” ‘
Excerpt from “The Graveyard”
-From Taehyung, The Graveyard Reader
P.S. It is quite an interesting read to be honest and it is quite sad in my opinion that you can only see the cover, but I am willing to lend it to you when I’m done grated you’ll still meet me at the café.
PPS. Even if you don’t want to read the book, I’d still like to get to meet you and actually speak to you.
PPPS. You’re not as sneaky as you’d like to be. ‘
Though being slightly mortified by the fact that his stalking tendencies weren’t really that secret Jungkook couldn’t help himself with the bubbling excitement that overtook him and spent around 10 minutes or so jumping around the office until Jimin threatened him to call the security to get him out if he didn’t stop.
[It was an odd experience the first time Jungkook went to the counter to order his coffee (that suddenly tasted much better) this time alongside Taehyung, chattering about ‘The Graveyard’, the barista gave them a long, judging stare before a soft smile crept on the man’s usual harsh features.
“It was about that- with as much you two stared at one another.”
Jungkook would have been embarrassed by the fact that really he was not subtle for anyone if he wasn’t that amused (and a bit captivated) by the adorable redness that set itself over Taehyung’s cheeks.
Jungkook doesn’t know a lot about literature but he knows that Taehyung is one of those people, so special and precious in their existence that makes people want to write books about them.]