That's gay × taekook

14

"I would have liked more enthusiasm, but alas! You must think showing emotions is cringe. That's how kids are these days."

"You're four years older than me," Jungkook glared at the woman in front of him. Black hair with a scarlet tint in the sunlight, dark eyes, and a slim figure wrapped in a dark green coat stood at the boy's door.

"Which further proves my point," Soojin said as she let herself in.

Jungkook looked at his cousin with bittersweet happiness. He had missed her, but he was going to miss Taehyung until she left, as well.

"Oh, come here, you—" He threw himself on her after she took off her coat. She smelled like parchment paper and tea, a scent he hadn't felt in a long time.

"As sweet as ever," Soojin said, hugging him back. When they pulled apart, she lightly pinched his cheeks, much to his protests. "You've grown!"

"Thanks."

"Where's your friend?" The woman's eyes scanned the living room.

"Oh, Taehyung is at his house. Don't worry, he won't visit while you're here."

Soojin frowned. "I didn't say I don't want to see him. On the contrary, I wanted to." A pause. "Well," she shrugged, "whatever."

"He's scared of you, as he should."

The woman didn't get time to reply as Jungkook's parents entered the room, showering their favorite niece with questions and compliments. Jungkook went to get the two bags left at the door and took them upstairs in the only guest room they had. He patted himself on the back, seeing that it had remained clean since the last time he took care of it.

Placing the bags down with a groan, he straightened up and stretched with a yawn. Whatever Soojin had in them, they were heavy. He'd joke about her carrying rocks, but she did, in fact, carry some funky crystals with her every time she went somewhere, so his joke wouldn't be valid.

"I hope you were careful with them," Soojin said from behind him before stepping in his vision and crouching down to open the bags. Jungkook didn't even get the chance to flinch or admit that he was startled by her voice.

"Why? What's in there?" He wiggled his eyebrows. "Are you hiding something fragile?"

Soojin took out three decks of cards and laid them out on the floor like food on a plate. "Mm not really, but the bags themselves are among my favorites."

"You have favorite bags?"

"They're from my boyfriend's mom," her tone softened, a smile creeping up on her face. "We are very close, so the best I can do is keep her gifts in pristine condition. Much like you with that guy, I assume. Taeyang? Taehyun?" She pursed her lips, still taking out other 'witchy' things from her bag.

"Taehyung," Jungkook supplied, arms crossed in front of his chest. Did he care so much about what Taehyung gave him? He must care, right? After all, they're gifts from his best friend. Who wouldn't be extra careful with those?

Soojin sat prim and proper on the floor now, knees tucked under her. The contents of the bag that she had just looked in were splayed out around her almost in a perfect circle, to Jungkook's horror, who was getting chills from the way his cousin looked up at him from the middle of the clutter and grinned.

Tarot card decks; small, medium, and large ones. Crystals and gemstones in all shapes and colors, even one shaped like a.....huh...? "Is that supposed to be a human heart?"

Picking the red ruby up, Soojin nodded. "Carved by yours truly," she bowed her head, pride overtaking her voice. "The ruby cube was already expensive by itself. I didn't want to pay even more for something I could do myself. Here, hold it!"

Jungkook made a mental note to remember that Soojin would always surprise him with a newly aquired skill. Much like someone he knew...

The ruby was the size of his hand and it was cool against his palm, weight heavy enough that he used both hands to hold it. The way it glimmered in the light and reflected it at every turn... It was beautiful.
"Why did you want a ruby heart?"

"Well, not like I need a reason," the woman shrugged. "I like the color red, and ruby just so happens to have some convenient  properties." At his confused stare, she explained:"You know, it stimulates the heart chakra and—" his face did not change. "Ugh," Soojin threw her head back. "It's associated with passion, love, creativity, protection and other things of the sort. Is that clear enough?"

The boy's expression lit up. "Oh, that's cool!"

"It is. Now give it back."

He reluctantly handed it back, feeling like his breath was also taken from him. He hadn't noticed, but the coolness of the gemstone washed away some of his thoughts completely during the moment he held it.... Creepy stuff.

"Oh!" Soojin made a delighted noise. "I almost didn't see it. I've got something for you here."

See, now they were talking. She could've started with that.

Something flashed in front of him and he caught it by reflex. Upon opening his hand, there was a bracelet with cold, light green beads in his palm. Jungkook turned it over to see it from each angle (What a shocker! it was the same sight every time.)

"What is this?" He asked, sliding it on his wrist.

"A green aventurine bracelet. Looks good," Soojin said, looking at his reaction.

"Green what?"

"Aventurine. This one specifically is for good luck. Don't look at me like that, that's actually what it does. You'll see! It will bring harmony in your life."

Jungkook did start feeling more relaxed with the bracelet on, just like he had with the ruby earlier. And good luck? Ohoho, bring all your reserves of it to him. He hadn't felt lucky in a while.

"Thanks," he said to his cousin. "I like the color and all. Though," he cleared his throat. "I don't wear this stuff. You could've got me a ring or something more manly."

Soojin chuckled. "The best I can do about it is the fact that it's green, a very manly color. Make sure you wear it for me."

He nodded, relief washing over him. It wasn't a bad gift, he supposed, and it was from his cousin, so he would wear it. He wondered what Taehyung would think about— Actually, he should text him about it—

Before he could pull out his phone, however, Soojin cleared her throat to get his attention. "My dear cousin," she said sweetly. Oh. Oh no.

"What?"

She gathered the decks of cards and stood up with a smile that was way too sweet to be just from happiness to see him. And then she dropped the bomb. "I'd like to give you a reading."