Amaranthine | k.jh ✓

chapter nine

you only smile that pretty for me

"See, I think that there is poisonous, but only if you eat it. Like, if you touch it, it's not gonna give you a rash or anything. But it will make you really sick if you eat it."

"Thanks, Flora, I was feeling a little munchy," Jinki teases.

"Hey, I'm just trying to share my knowledge," she pouts, crossing her arms sulkily.

"We do appreciate it, Flore," I tell her as we trot along the winding path, "What kind of flower is it?"

Her round features brighten at my interest. "A Lady's Glove! Also known as Foxglove."

"It's super pretty, just like you," Minho helps her over an uneven patch of the trail.

"Minho!" she protests, scrunching her nose, "Do not get cheesy on me."

"Get a room," Kibum groans.

"Girl, shut up," Felicity scoffs, jumping up on a behemoth of a rock, "Check out this beauty!"

"Model for me," I say, and she poses dramatically with an overemphasized pout while I snap a picture on my digital camera, "Perfection."

"Where did you even get that thing?" you ask, peering over my shoulder.

"It was my mom's!" I say excitedly, "Isn't it cool?"

"When is it from? 1932?" Kibum asks.

"I will push you over the ledge," I reply.

"I'd pay to see that," Taemin says.

We continue to traverse the winding trail, drinking in the last of the morning light and the tunes of the songbirds. The air smells musky, heady, humid- a storm is on the horizon, but for now, the sun dapples the forest floor ahead. We're coming up on a rather steep incline, so we hold on to each other for support as we maneuver over gnarled tree roots and jutting stones.

You have a grip on my forearm as you pull me over the worst of it, and as I pause to catch my breath, I hear Flick gasp as she trips over a camouflaged rock. I immediately reach out to steady her, but Kibum catches her first, holding her waist gently.

"Watch out, babe," he says, helping her onto more solid, flat ground.

"Uh, thanks," she pushes him away, "I'm fine."

"Hm," he shrugs and keeps walking.

You and I exchange a glance, our eyes twinkling with the same childlike excitement. I can't suppress the giggle I feel building in my chest.

"Did-" Taemin chuckles, "Did you guys-"

"Yeah," you reply, "That was definitely..."

"Are you guys coming or what?" Kibum calls from ahead, with Flick a step or two behind him.

"It's finally happening, I think," Minho grins, "He finally is starting to crack."

Murmuring ripples within us as we catch up to the subjects of our conversation.

It's funny, really. When we first introduced our friend groups, you and I both thought Kibum and Flick would get together because of how natural their chemistry is. Kibum and Flick both thought you and I would be together because of how we simply click on everything.

I wonder if either of those things will ever happen, or if we're all too stubborn.

"Lu, take a picture of this!" Jinki calls, and I turn to him. He's got Flora in his arms as he carries her across a stretch of deep mud.