The Red Cosmos

New Beginnings

"How beautiful..." she mumbles, chin resting against her knuckles as she leans against the round table.

His eyes are glassy, doll-like as he hands the customer her packaged pastry. His lips are plump and red, curved into a soft smile. She wonders how they'd feel against her own.

As if sensing he's being watched, those delicate eyes find hers and it takes all of her will not to jump back and fall from her seat. That smile is now directed to her, all for her she thinks as her heart flutters.

He waves at her before heading back into the kitchen. She waves back despite him being long gone. Hopefully, her cheeks weren't cherry red, they were burning how flustered she was.

A buzzing notification from her phones startles her from her daze.

It's a reminder from her calendar, her lunch break was almost over.

Sighing dejectedly she shoves her phone into her purse and gingerly stands, throwing one last look at the now empty spot he'd once been standing in she heads for the doors.

"Da Hye!"

Whipping her head around so fast she nearly loses balance, she finds him rushing towards her.

He stops in front of her and holds out a pink paper bag.

She eyes it curiously, unable to get any words out how shook she is.

He laughs, the sound is so melodious she wishes she could listen to it forever.

"A treat for the road".

Can someone really die of happiness? She thinks it possible.

When she makes no move to take it, left utterly stunned, he sighs reaching forward and takes her hand in his. The touch feels electric, it sends a tingling sensation up her spine.

He places the bag in her hand and tugs her out of the shop, a deep chuckle leaving his lips.

"Are you that happy for food?" he chuckles when they're outside.

Pulling herself from her mute state she puts on a casual smile, "Who wouldn't be!"

"You'd better get going, don't wanna be late" he winks before releasing her hand and heading back into the shop.

"Thank you... Seokjin" she whispers to his retreating figure, back facing her as he heads towards the kitchen.

🦋

Walking down the street, she's gazing at the sky lost in her thoughts. It had been three months since she moved to this small town called Cosmos. It was quiet, cute, and safe. She had been worried about moving so abruptly but desperation clawed at her throat thinking back to her life three months prior. She had to do it, she thinks bitterly. She could never go back now, she couldn't deal with that kind of pain anymore.

"Please don't go!! Don't leave me!!" She begged.
His eyes remained cold as he turned away from her.

Her heart sinks at the memory, love had never worked out for her, and she remained an optimist despite it.
Maybe he's the one, just maybe she's finally found her forever person.

She hadn't realized how long she'd been pondering until a knocking sound pulls her from her thoughts. It's Mr. Kim, the owner of the flower shop she worked in, he peers at her curiously from inside the shop mouthing a "what's wrong?".
She smiles shaking her head, pulling the doors open, the floral scent of fresh flowers hits her delightfully. She loved working here, the bright flowers welcomed her every morning and her house wasn't that far a walk. Slinging her purse over the chair behind the counter, she places the pastry bag upon the table in front of her. She blushes thinking of his warm hand clasped around hers.
"You look cheerful, anything good happen today?" Mr. Kim says as he drops an array of flowers on the counter. He gives her a soft smile as he regards her and she giggles absentmindedly picking a rose and caressing its petals.

"I got a free pastry from Seokjin"

He laughs "lucky you! He never gives me anything for free, I'll have to scold him for it later" he jokes before gathering old leaves and cut stems she left to the side and heads to the back room.

The rose is vibrant, a deep red that reminded her of him. Its petals are splayed out wide against each other and the aroma surrounding them is mesmerizing. Perhaps she would give this one to him, as a thank you for the pastry, she thinks to herself setting it aside.

Grabbing a box cutter she begins her work from earlier, cutting each thorn from its stem. She didn't quite understand why people disliked thorns on roses. If anything, they needed them. Similar to love itself, there is both beauty and pain. The two were synonymous. One cannot exist without the other.

All the while she fails to notice the figure in the distance watching her carefully as she snipped away at her flowers. Desire burning in their eyes.