Hyacinth 🪷 || JaeDoTae

• 3 •

The familiar chiming of the bell rang through the small classroom. Doyoung glanced up at the clock. It was time for their walk through the neighborhood.

Doyoung stood up and ushered the little kids to the cubby holes, helping them into their yellow jackets and hats. He stooped down and helped them all put back on their shoes before pairing them up and walking outside into the crisp morning air.

The kids followed Doyoung as he made his way away from the school and down a path that led through the park. Together, they started singing nursery rhymes together. They clapped their hands and stamped their feet to the beat of the songs, all the while giggling.

Doyoung smiled to himself. Nothing beats the life of a kindergarten teacher. He got to wake up everyday and take care of all these sweet children. It made his life so much more worthwhile. He loved it with his whole heart.

Doyoung made a right, leaving out from the park and onto a side street that would eventually loop back to the school. Doyoung started walking backwards so he could keep an eye out for the kids while he sang. Together, they started singing the Three Bears song. He was genuinely having the time of his life.

That is until, he crashed into someone.

Doyoung stumbled and heard the person behind him cry out. Doyoung's eyes widened and turned around to look. A man with pink hair was sitting on the floor, next to him was a box of ruined cupcakes, white frosting smeared all over the man's face, shirt and jeans.

Doyoung rushed over and stooped down. "Oh! Oh, goodness. I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going..." Doyoung used the sleeve of his sweater to wipe away the frosting on the man's eyes.
The pink-haired man gestured for him to stop. "Gwaechana. Gwaechana. It's okay, really".
The man started laughing softly, wiping away the frosting on his cheek and licking it off his fingertips.
"It's just frosting, I'm not hurt"

Doyoung watched as the man smiled broadly, innocently. He stood up, dusting himself off. "Though, I may look pretty silly right now", he said with a giggle, looking over at the kindergarteners behind Doyoung. "Am I right"?

The kids all laughed and squealed at the man with pink hair. He laughed himself, shaking his bangs out from his eyes, his silver earrings gleaming in the morning sunlight.
Doyoung felt himself swallow hard as he stared at the man in awe. He had never seen someone act so calmly and polite. Usually everyone would get mad or upset about the littlest things quickly. But this man just blew it off and smiled through it. He seemed so at ease and care-free.

Doyoung smiled, "Still, I'm sorry. I should've been watching where I was going". The man waved him off. "I swear I'm okay. Thanks for your concern though but worst has happened." Doyoung's eyes flashed. That sparked an interest in him but he didn't say anything and remained silent. He instead, reached into the pocket of his shirt and pulled out a business card, pushing it into the guy's hand.

"But, if you happen to feel any pain anywhere, don't hesitate to contact me and I'll be happy to reimburse you for anything. Your clothes for example."
The man got silent, reading the business card. Then he looked up smiling. "I'll definitely do that if anything. But, uh if you don't mind, I have to head back to my Cafe and remake those cupcakes."

Doyoung nodded and bowed slightly, dipping his head. "Yeah, I understand. I have to head back to the school with these kids so their parents can pick them up".
The man nodded, picking up the box and throwing it away in an empty trashcan. "Then I guess we both have to be on our way then".

Doyoung nodded. The man gave a wave and turned around, but Doyoung called out to him before he could take a full step. Doyoung hastily took off his sweater and passed that to the guy as well. He looked startled. Doyoung sighed, "I don't want you to walk around dirty. At least take this. It'll ease my mind." The man grinned broadly, pulling on the sweater. Then his face changed as though a thought had hit him suddenly. He reached into the back pocket of his pants and grabbed out a pink marker. He leaned forward, grabbing Doyoung's hand and began writing.

Doyoung felt his heart speed up as the man leaned forward. He was so close, Doyoung could smell him. He smelled sweet, like maple sugar and pumpkin spice. With a lingering scent of flowers? Before he could take another whiff, the man straightened, capping the marker. "I gave you my number. Now, if it's okay with you, imma head back to my shop now".

Doyoung looked down at the number, then back up. "Wait, what's this for?"

"Well, you want your sweater back don't you? Keep in contact with me. I'll give it back soon but I hope you don't mind if I hold onto it for a while"... The man smiled softly before waving goodbye to Doyoung and the kids. "I'll see you around, Doyoung". Then he turned around and walked away.

Doyoung stood there for a second, frozen.
He wondered how the man knew his name before remembering it was on the business card he had given him. As he turned around and walked with the kids back to the school, he glanced down at his hand again. Not only had the man written down his number but he had written his name as well. Doyoung smiled.

Hope to see you around too... Taeyong.

• • •

"Annyeong!", the little kids waved back towards their teacher as they walked away holding their parents hands.

Doyoung waved back, a content smile on his face. He removed his glasses, wiping them on the hem of his shirt. They constantly kept fogging up from his warm breath and the cool winter air. He placed them back on his face, grabbing his arms and shivering slightly from the cold. The sun was out so it gave off some warmth but it wasn't enough. He retreated back inside, grabbing his things, a spare coat from his storage closet and locked up the school. By now, the sun was starting to set behind the trees and dusk was falling on Busan.

He whistled as he got into his car and started it up. Then, he got a phone call. He glanced at the caller ID and smiled. It was his girlfriend, Giselle. He picked up the call. "Hey babe? What's up?" He listened as Giselle responded.
"Doyoung, can you meet up with me? It's urgent?"
Doyoung's eyebrows furrowed. "Sure. What's wrong though? Sounds serious."
He heard Giselle sigh heavily into the phone, "Just come here please. I'll text you the address." Then she hung up. Doyoung frowned but typed the address into the GPS reluctantly.
He arrived at the destination a mere 13 minutes later.

He walked inside the Cafe to spot Giselle sitting at the window seat on the far left. He strode over and sat down at the seat opposite of her. He cleared his throat. "So... What's wrong"?

Giselle looked up so she was looking him dead in the eyes, "Let's breakup."

Doyoung's eyes widened, shaking his head in confusion. "W- wait. Wha- what do you mean breakup. Like... like breakup breakup?!" Giselle nodded. Doyoung was taken aback. "But why? What did I do? Did I do anything wrong? I'm sorry if I did! I'll do better I swear! I promise I'll do better!"

Giselle shook her head. "D, if you ask me to explain why, I wouldn't be able to give you a straight answer. I've been pondering this for the last 2 weeks and I'm just doing what my gut tells me is right."

Doyoung reached forward, grabbing ahold of her hands. "What are you trying to say? There's a reason for everything. Just tell me. Please, just tell me Giselle. Please."

Giselle exploded, "BECAUSE IM BORED".

Doyoung got quiet, looking at her blankly. Giselle nodded, as if confirming the own words she said out of her mouth. "That's right. Kim Doyoung, I'm bored. With you. I'm bored of you. Everyday, it's the same shit over and over again with you. All you ever do is talk about the kids over at that ridiculous school. Have you ever stopped to think about me? Have you ever given me at least half of the attention you give them? No. Not once. And frankly, I'm done. I've been done since forever. And you know, I was sticking around and going along with it because I was hoping there might eventually be change. I guess I was wrong."

Doyoung was silent before saying, "So you're just gonna throw away the three years we spent together? Just like that?"

Giselle stood up grabbing her belongings before responding in almost a whisper, "I'd throw away every second spent with you if I could". Then she walked away, the sound of her heels echoing across the tiled floors.