Starlight and Petals (taekook)

22: Stash

Authors pov:

Day 7

Taehyung sat in his shop, staring blankly at the flowers arranged so carefully before him. It had been a week since he last saw Jungkook, a week since their encounter that felt like a cruel dream. Jungkook was now in LA, his concert making waves across the world. The media buzzed relentlessly with headlines about how Jungkook had changed the lyrics of his songs from "she" to "he." Fans speculated, theories flooded online spaces, but neither Jungkook nor his agency had made any official statement.

Sehun had visited Taehyung before leaving for Japan, and his words had lingered, stuck to Taehyung's thoughts like a haunting whisper. 

"Tell him, before it's too late"

"He loves you, Taehyung. Don't push him away..."

"Don't lose him, Taehyung... Not again. Not after everything..."

Taehyung couldn't shake off what Sehun had said, nor the growing concern he felt about his missing bag. He had searched everywhere—the shop, his apartment, his car—desperately looking for it. But the bag, with his journal tucked inside, was nowhere to be found. Not even Sehun had seen it at the stadium. Regret gnawed at him for always carrying the journal with him, its pages holding his most vulnerable thoughts, his raw emotions—especially those tied to Jungkook. Losing it felt like losing a part of himself, a part he wasn't ready to face being out there for someone else to find.

His therapy sessions with IU had continued, but the last week had been worse than usual. Taehyung felt like he was spiraling. His sleep had become a restless void, plagued by dreams and memories he couldn't escape. The dull ache in his head and fever was constant now, a lingering reminder of everything crashing down around him. Even though the physical wound had healed, the pain inside him hadn't. He was always distracted, zoning out during work, feeling like a ghost of himself.

He'd been scrolling through social media mindlessly, watching viral clips of Jungkook's performances. The sight of him, radiant on stage, singing with that unmistakable passion, tore at Taehyung's heart. Jungkook's voice, so full of raw emotion, broke him a little more each time he watched. In every note, in every change of lyric, Taehyung heard an echo of their past, of everything they once had and lost.

He felt like he was losing control—losing himself. And more painfully, he was losing Jungkook all over again. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he leaned back, closing his eyes against the wave of emotions threatening to overwhelm him. Taehyung wasn't sure how much longer he could keep holding it together.

"Hyung, it's time to close," Yeonjun called, his voice laced with concern. Taehyung barely registered the words, staring blankly at the flowers he'd been arranging all day. He nodded mechanically, getting up from his seat.

"You both go. I'll handle it," Taehyung muttered, his tone distant as he started to walk down the aisle of flowers, fingers absently brushing against petals as he walked. Yeonjun and Wooyoung exchanged worried glances.

"Hyung, you don't look well. I'll close up. You should go home and get some rest—you haven't slept in days," Yeonjun urged gently, trying to make him see reason. Taehyung didn't respond immediately, his movements slow, deliberate. His fingers fiddled with the arrangement of a bouquet that was already perfect.

"Hyung, are you even listening?" Wooyoung chimed in, more insistent this time.

Taehyung sighed deeply and finally turned to face them, offering a faint smile that didn't reach his tired eyes.

"Okay,. You two close up. I'll go home," he said quietly, heading to the counter to grab his new bag.

As he walked out of the shop, his steps were slow and purposeful, yet aimless in the grander sense. He left his car behind, choosing instead to walk. With every step, Taehyung felt like he was walking through a fog, his mind too tired to focus, too distracted to care.