Roses and Coffins| kth x jjk

9. Mixed feelings

Brace yourself for the cliche at the end

Taehyung did not understand why he was greeted with leaves instead of blushes like before. Whatever the reason, now he had a bunch of leaves stuck in his hairs with a mix of petals.

He watched as the young mage silently placed the packages on the counter and went to placing the bill. His eyes seemed unsettled as if he was in another world. The boy worried with his teeth on his pink lips.

Taehyung couldnt help but stare. How could he not when the boy looked like an incarnation of an angel?

If he noticed Taehyung staring, he didn't show it. Almost like he was ignoring his existence completely. Taehyung couldn't fanthom why.

He's pretty sure Jungkook wouldn't be upset from one or two pick up lines. He hasn't done anything wrong as far as he can remember. So why isn't Jungkook willing to be his friend?

Maybe because he hates you, his brain supplied helpfully. Taehyung pouted at the thought.

"Why do you look like a 6 year old who wants his candy?" Jungkook asked curtly.

"Maybe because the candy is right in front of me. So close yet so far" Taehyung replied, ignoring Jungkook's tone.

The cactus giggled as Jungkook scowled. Taehyung raised his brow at the action(?)

"Now who might this prickly lady be?" He asked is his most flirtatious voice.

"Stop harassing my cactus" Jungkook crowed just as the cactus squealed in delight.

"Cloudie, Cloudie, Cloudie!" The cactus crooned in a sweet voice.

"Well, lady of clouds, hope we can be best of friends in the future" he replied in a cheery tone. Jungkook seemd to be looking more and more like a raincloud.

"Kookie I made a friend! Cloudie made a friend!" Cloudie gasped.

Jungkook smiled at his cactus and turned to glare at Taehyung. Thrusting the bill forward, he went to pick up a backpack near the till.

"I need to go to school or else I'll be late. Hurry up outside" Jungkook told him.

Taehyung gathered the packages and started towards the door. Just before he could leave, he heard Jungkook call out.

"You didn't happen...to uh...see a man going outside when you came in?"

Taehyung was about deliver a snide remark when the tone of Jungkook's voice registered his head. He sounded...nervous? Taehyung turned around to face him.

"No, I haven't. But this place reeks of vinegar and flowers. I don't know what air freshener you magic people use, but you need a new one asap" Taehyung replied.

Jungkook's expression turned grim again. Somehow... Taehyung knew it wasn't because of him. There was something uneasy about Jungkook's posture, as if he was awaiting an attack any moment. He wondered what could make the boy in front of him so unsettled.

Whatever it was, it wasn't Taehyung's business to pry. He let himself out and walked towards the back alley. If those paintings were what he thought they were, then he should stay away from the mage's life as much as possible. He shouldn't start befriending him instead.

Yet, why did he want to?