Spring Snow

3

It had been 2 days since Jungkook came, and my days had been copies and pastes of pure boredom, and repeats of events.

Snapping me out of my thoughts, a tall young man, about the same age as me, came into the store covered in snow, heading straight for the arts and crafts on the second level. He didn't disappear without giving me a kind smile, which I returned out of manners.

I reached for my phone in my puffy winter coat's pocket and opened a piano tiles game. After tapping the option to choose a piano song, I scrolled through my 50 options. I chose one and began to play for half an hour, not giving the slightest thought of customers thinking I was a lousy shop owner. 

After a while, lunch time had finally come around- I mentally prepared myself to go out in the frosty snow to order warming food from the local restaurant. I counted the customers as the walked in and left, so I helped myself, not having to search the store for human life. After shoving my phone back into my pocket, I exhaled, watching a cloud of condensation disperse and disappear. Grabbing the store keys from the pocket without my phone, I swung my backpack onto my back and opened the worn out, wooden door. My foot planted into a good few inches of snow, and I mentally face palmed myself for stepping so quickly, as I almost lost balance. "For fuck sake." I cursed to myself as I locked the door and trudged away in the ice.

≻───── ⋆❄⋆ ─────≺

With a mouthful of succulent burger and crisp, golden fries, I started to appreciate the warmth of buildings(and food). The homeless have to suffer in below 0° conditions with minimal layers, while we can afford expensive, padded coats, and buy even more layers if that can't satisfy us.

Feeling a slight heaviness lower down, my gaze subconsciously switched from my tray of food to the stairs on the restaurant's right. Those stairs led to the toilet. I can't go now, I need to finish first, I reminded myself as I increased my pace of chewing.

Suddenly, an uncomfortable feeling in my throat appeared, and I almost mistook it for not chewing long enough. Gagging and choking, my eyes widened after I took notice of a familiar boy. I'm seeing him out of the shop now? I hope he isn't stalking me. I smiled at the ridiculous thought, whilst simultaneously coughing up the food I accidentally swallowed too early. After I consumed the food properly, I sighed and sat back into the brown leather chair, remains of my burger in my right hand as I recovered from the accident. Fucking hell.

The youngster that caused me to choke walked over to my table with a soft smile, and I noticed he was wearing near to the same thing he wore the last time I saw him. The hoodie changed to a pristine white pullover with a hood. "Namjoon hyung, are you on lunch break?" Jungkook asked once he sat down in front of me.
"Yep." I replied, carefully taking more bites of food. Although, I saw a problem with the latter- why is he out of school at lunch time?
"Is it ok if I stay with you? I mean, because I was going to go to the art shop again, might as well stay for you to unlock the doors." Logical proposal.
"Sure, but why are you not in school?" I decided to ask.
"I'm sick." The younger answered as he pulled his hood over his head, then slouching.
"And you're out in the cold? I bet the snow made-"
"No, my older brother passed his germs to me," Jungkook chuckled lightly, and I smiled. Siblings. "I never get sick in cold weather." I almost raised an eyebrow at these words, as it was common for most people to become ill in these conditions.
"Right."

After a moment of silence, I asked a question that had been on my mind since the beginning. "Why do you not buy anything when you come to the shop?" Jungkook looked up from his freezing chocolate milkshake(that was originally mine) to me, beckoning me to continue. "I've noticed, you've been doing this for months."
"Because I'm making a mental list of what I want to have. My mum is going to buy them for me- well, give me the money to buy them- when I'm happy with what I want. I'm indecisive which is why I've been doing this for months." The black haired explained, then he took a swift sip of the drink. Letting go of the numbing cup, Jungkook scrunched up his face, and I laughed whole heartedly at the reason. He got a brain freeze, cute.
"Aw momma's boy." I reached my poofy arm across the table and poked the younger's cheek. Jungkook pouted endearingly. "I'm joking, but that's nice of her."

"I want to be a professional artist when I leave college. I'm in my first year." The younger stated, taking another slow sip of the chocolatey milkshake with care. This gave me time to process the information. Highschool finishes at 16, he's 17?
"You're 17?" I guessed. Jungkook confirmed my logic by nodding enthusiastically with a smile. "Young, I'm in my last year. You have a long life ahead of you, live it right."
"I don't believe in there being a right way to do things." The black haired said, his smile dropping. Oops he misunderstood. Somehow, I found the younger's reply linking to art.
"I'm just saying don't do drugs." Picking up my foodless tray, I justified myself, walking to the black bin by the door. "You don't believe in anything I say." I chuckled, although I felt as if my statement was true, as if me and the latter were complete opposites. The thought disheartened me.
"You look 20, you have a long life ahead of you too." Whoa… he got my age right.
"Lucky guess!"

I felt vulnerable next to Jungkook. He was actually nearly the same height as me, and he strode so confidently in the thick snow. I'm sure he knows he could fall at any moment. Glove covered hands buried in my coat pockets, I waddled along beside the younger. "Look at how beautiful snow is, despite the toxins coming from cars and shit." Snow flakes  lightly sat atop the other's silky, raven hair. The boy giggled to himself, as he outstretched his hand to feel the falling ice on his warm palms. I don't understand him.
"I don't know how you think snow is pretty, Jungkook." I sighed. Jungkook sighed too, lowering his hand.
"When does your shift end tomorrow?" Er…
"3:30pm. Why?" I responded after a few seconds of thought.
"My classes finish at 3:10, I go to the local college up the road." Jungkook pointed ahead of us, but the snow was getting heavier and the wind blowing was getting stronger- I couldn't look up without getting snow in my eyes. I suspected the younger was pointing to his college. "So I will get here just before your shift ends and we can stroll around town?"
"You're gonna help me see 'the beauty of snow' as you said?" I asked, turning to face Jungkook with a smile. The boy faced me too and nodded, his eyes sparkling in excitement by the idea. I scoffed and looked back down at the white canvas surrounding us, but I didn't lose my smile. I want to see what he will do. "Good luck Jungkook."