resurgence || rosekook

epilogue

The day was winding down, the usual bustle of the café settling into a quiet hum. The last few customers had trickled out, and the evening light, soft and golden, filled the room with a warm glow. I was behind the counter, cleaning up the remnants of the day's work—washing cups, wiping down surfaces—when I saw him.

Jungkook had slipped in during the rush hour, like he always did when things got busy. He didn't say much, just slid behind the counter to help, his familiar, quiet presence easing the chaos. He made himself useful, taking drink orders and chatting with a few regulars while I scrambled to prepare pastries and wrap up other tasks.

It was a whirlwind, the kind of rush I always dreaded but somehow appreciated. It made the quiet moments afterward all the more precious.

As the door clicked shut behind the last of the customers, I let out a long breath, feeling the weight of the day lift. I turned toward Jungkook, who was sitting at his usual spot by the window. He had his sleeves rolled up, elbows resting on the table, watching the last streaks of sunlight stretch across the floor.

I grabbed the broom and began sweeping, my gaze drifting to him. Something about the way he looked—calm, comfortable—made me smile. I hadn't realized how much I'd gotten used to his presence here, how right it felt for him to be part of my everyday routine.

"Need help?" Jungkook's voice broke through my thoughts.

I paused, glancing at him. "You've already helped," I said, offering him a grin. "But if you're up for it, I could use someone to sort the flowers for tomorrow."

His lips curved into a soft smile, his eyes lighting up. "Flowers? That's more your thing than mine."

I laughed, walking over to him with the small bundle of roses. "You'd be surprised. You're good at everything else, you might as well give this a try."

He looked at the flowers, his eyes considering them for a moment before he nodded slowly. "I suppose I could give it a shot. Not that I have any clue how to make a bouquet, but... I'll try."

I set the flowers down in front of him, watching as he hesitated for a moment, then picked up a stem with careful fingers. "It's not that complicated," I said, sitting next to him. "You just have to keep them balanced, like... how we balance things."

I didn't realize how intimate the words sounded until they were out. The way he looked at me—soft, attentive—made me swallow back whatever else I had been about to say.

Jungkook picked up another flower, his movements tentative but sincere. "Balance, huh? Sounds easy enough."

There was a moment of quiet between us, and I felt the familiar flutter in my chest. The comfortable silence was one of the things I had missed the most. After everything, after all the time apart, there was something so simple about being here with him now—just the two of us, making bouquets. It felt easy.

I watched as he arranged the stems, his hands careful but unsure. It wasn't perfect, but it didn't matter. The fact that he was trying, that he was here with me—well, that was enough.