The first petal came while you were talking to Jihoon about his latest composition over FaceTime.
He had been inspired, he said, by someone he might be in love with. The first person he's ever felt deep, genuine love for, he confessed tiredly, a soft grin on his face.
Your heart dropped in your chest at the warmth and admiration in his eyes as he rambled on, and an indescribable itch began to make its way into your throat.
You hung up hurriedly, making an excuse about needing to wake up early the next morning, and coughed, hard.
The petal made its way up your throat after a fit of coughs.
It felt like the same uncomfortable sensation of a strand of hair lost in your mouth, and upon fishing it out, your greatest fear was confirmed: Lee Jihoon didn't love you.
The white petal in your hand mocked your entire being, and with each petal after the first, served as a grave reminder that this love, the love you have for Jihoon, will either end you, or end your friendship with Jihoon.
And you, being selfish, would rather see the end of yourself over a life without Jihoon.
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"'BTW, miss you?'"
Jihoon jumps and quickly erases his message, shoving his phone into the pocket of his hoodie. He shoots Mingyu a sharp glare, and the younger scrunches his nose, backing away from the elder.
"Sorry hyung."
"The look on your face says otherwise," Jihoon snorts, scratching his head irritatedly. Mingyu raises a brow and sits on the floor, leaning against the couch Jihoon's sprawled out on.
"She's not coming?"
"She's avoiding me. I knew I shouldn't have said..." Jihoon trails off, only to groan loudly into his hands. "I'm stupid."
"What'd you say to her? Did you tell her about the dream when you -" Mingyu feels Jihoon's foot dig into the back of his head, and he inches away, rubbing the area. "I'm done teasing!"
Jihoon scowls and sits up, shutting his eyes. "I hinted that I was in love with her. I don't know what I was thinking, honestly, she deserves... more. Someone, you know, not me," Jihoon breathes. "I guess she knows that too, which is why she's shutting me out."
"Are you kidding, hyung?"
"Why would I be?" Jihoon snaps, exasperated. "I love her."
"You two are the most oblivious people I know," Mingyu mutters quietly, dodging another kick from Jihoon. "If you miss her so much, why don't you go to her?"
