The Red Cosmos

Marigolds

By the time she manages to make it home, there are tears spilling from her eyes. She falls to the floor with choked sobs, gasping as the pain in her chest increases.

Why? Why is this happening to her again??

All she wanted was to be loved, to find her forever person.
It was like the universe conspired against her, every time there was a glimmer of hope it would be snatched away just as quickly.

She excused herself after Seokjin introduced Mina, way too overwhelmed to function. Taehyung offered to walk to her home but she ignored him. She needed to leave that place as soon as possible.

Seokjin had cast her a worried glance but she reassured him she simply wasn't feeling well.

Leaning against the couch, her head pounds from how much she cried, and despite it all, her mind still drifts back to him. The heart-shaped smile, his warm hands, those eyes she had once assumed would only look at her.

Her phone buzzed from beside her, multiple messages from Taehyung, she didn't want to deal with him at the moment. She didn't want to do anything at all.

Her wallowing in self-pity is abruptly interrupted by a knock at the door.

For fucks sake couldn't she cry alone in peace!

Scrambling to her feet pathetically she tugs open the front door expecting it to be Taehyung.

"Look Tae I'm not in the moo-" her words drift into silence as there's no one there. What does catch her by surprise is the large bouquet of white and pink carnations in a glass vase sitting on her porch. There's a familiar envelope stuck in between the petals.

How did this person manage to sneak it onto her porch in such a short period of time?

Stepping outside she glances over at Hoseok's house, right at that moment she catches the brief flutter of his curtains as they close. Weird.

She hadn't seen much of him lately and usually, he'd be the one to randomly rush over and check on her. Maybe he was busy.

Tired and heartbroken she doesn't quite care about anything at the moment. Without a second thought, she slams the door shut, ignoring the bouquet and not bothering with the letter.

                                                                                      🌹

It's when she's at work the next day, sulking away as she snips stems from flowers when a delivery comes in.

"Package for Da Hye?" the delivery boy says.

She never ordered anything.

"That's me," she says eyeing the boy suspiciously, her eyes nearly bulge out of her head when she sees the same bouquet of carnations she threw in the trash bin that morning placed atop her desk. There's a letter tucked between the leaves and she huffs in irritation.

Tearing open the letter impatiently she skims each word.

Da Hye,

Sometimes in love, we are pricked by thorns.
Shall I pluck the thorns from your beloved rose?
Will it ease your heart?
Will you then, see what you mean to me?
I love you.

yours truly.

What did that even mean?? This was getting ridiculous. This person knew where she worked.

Maybe she should tell Hoseok, then again his behavior was rather odd yesterday.

The shop bells ring and she quickly tosses the letter aside, shifting the bouquet to the side.

"Welcome to Spring-... Taehyung." she sighs.

Recalling the events from yesterday she feels bad for ignoring him, especially considering his appearance. He looked as though he lost sleep worry over her.

"You ignored my messages".

"I know I just... I was hurt".

His eyes are sad as he nods understandingly. "I don't want anything to be different between us. I mean I know I confessed and all but I can't force you to return my feelings and I'd rather have you as a friend than nothing at all".

Despite her broken heart, she feels the warmth from his words "thank you Tae".

He smiles at her, his shoulders relaxing. When his eyes land on the carnations he frowns, "did you make that?".

"Nope" she hesitates before continuing "don't mention this to anyone but I've been getting random letters from some person claiming to love me"

"What? And you haven't told anyone?"

"I meant to tell Hoseok but honestly I didn't think much of it at first but now it's getting kind of creepy. I mean, the person knows where I work, they sent these flowers".

Taehyungs face drops into a worried expression

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know if maybe I'm overthinking things but Hoseok's been pretty suspicious these days. Don't freak out but I caught him snooping around your house this morning".

"What?"

"Yeah I went to give you the photos I took for Mr. Kim and to talk about yesterday but when I got there he was just standing there peering through your porch window. He had a carnation in his hand".

Oh hell no.

It couldn't be.

Hoseok was her secret admirer??

"No, it can't be, I mean..." Could it be?

"I don't know but if you want I can walk you home later if you don't feel safe".

The words are familiar and she hates that it reminds her of a certain pastry chef.

"No it's fine, I'll be okay"

Taehyung looks skeptical but nods anyway. "I gotta get back to work, I'll text you later" he winks as he leaves.

She sighs as she shoves all the carnation into the garbage, this was getting out of hand now.

There's no way it was Hoseok all this time... right?