withered || jikook [discontinued]

fifteen.

♢♢♢

"Hey Jin hyung, did you plant new flowers in here?" I sniffed the air again and again as the scent of sweetness lingered in the air.

"Huh? Of course not," Jin hyung stared at me confused, "what makes you think that way?"

I pursed my lips and shook my head, "just curious, since this cafe is starting to feel a bit tacky don't you think?"

I laughed as Jin hyung rolled his eyes, placing his hands on his hips.

"Ah, you're quite a brat, Jimin."

I grinned as I continued wiping the counter, ignoring the fragrance that danced in the air.

Maybe the scent had been there since this cafe opened and had become the trademark smell of the place. The customers tend to say the cafe has a unique and sweet aroma every time they walked in here.

Yeah, maybe that's it. Maybe I was too immersed in work that I didn't notice the scent of the cafe.

I looked around to be greeted by a couple of tables filled with customers. Today wasn't too crowded like the past few weeks and it felt nice to be able to relax. College is also not as busy and all in all it was a nice time of the month to relax and recharge the energy I used up.

"Hyung, wanna grab something for lunch? Jin hyung is letting us off for an hour," Jungkook grinned slightly as he stood in front of the counter.

My heart stopped at the moment as it felt like how he used to bring me out for lunch dates a few years ago. I swallowed the bitterness in my throat, "uh, sure I guess. But I need to help out Hoseok hyung with the dishes."

"Eh? He just finished washing the dishes, see?" He pointed towards the Hoseok hyung who was actually finished with his task.

"Ah but I also need to help clean the tables up," I bit my inner cheek, racking my brain for excuses to not go with him for lunch.

"Hyung, I just finished cleaning them, remember?" He laughed, "stop worrying, it'll be fine, hyung. There's not many customers for today. I'm sure the others can manage while we're gone."

I sighed internally and nodded, forcing a smile although my heart ached, "alright, just give me a minute."

Jungkook grinned wider (if that was even possible) and said that he'll be waiting outside. I slumped my shoulders once he walked out of the door, frowning because I still didn't want to talk to him after what happened on Namjoon hyung's surprise party.

I felt a tap on my shoulder, "you okay, Jiminie?" I turned to face Hoseok hyung and smiled, "yeah, just a bit tired. But don't worry, I'll be recharging myself by going out for lunch. Jin hyung is letting me off for an hour."

He chuckled and ruffled my hair, "well alright then, you going with the new kid?"

I nodded.

"Don't force yourself too much, though, alright? You wouldn't want to hurt yourself more," Hobi hyung offered a sympathetic smile although worry flashed in his eyes.

"It'll be fine, hyung. I'm starting to get used to it anyways," I laughed forcibly, "well I'll get going now, hyung. Just text me or Jungkook if you need our help when we're out."

"Will do! Have fun, Jiminie!"

I stepped out of the cafe and took a deep breath. I told myself that this was not a date, just a normal lunch like how you would with a friend.

Yeah, a friend.

"So where will be going, Jungkook?" I asked the taller male casually, not wanting to sound excited or panicked.

He pointed his index finger towards some direction, "I heard there's a good ramen shop there that just opened a few days ago. Wanna go there?"

"Sure."

---

"Ahh that ramen is good, alright," Jungkook sighed happily, rubbing his now full belly as we started walking back to the cafe.

"It is! I mean it was the best ramen I've eaten since years," I laughed, "it got a unique taste too! The flower scent the broth gave is pleasing."

Jungkook tilted his head confusedly, "what do you mean, hyung? I don't think my noodles smell or even taste like flowers..."

I stayed silent for a bit as the younger kept his eyes on me, waiting for an answer. I decided to shrug it off, "maybe the cook accidentally put something in mine, I don't know."

"Yeah, you're probably right, hyung."

We walked silently after that small conversation, the hustle and bustle of the city filling the atmosphere around us.

It was calming. Very calming.

But the idiot walking with me decided to break the peaceful moment when he grabbed onto my arm, "hyung, hyung! Should we get something for the other hyungs too?"

"Hobi texted me in the shop before that they already ordered something. But I guess they won't mind us getting something for them," I smiled at Jungkook's caring behavior to his hyungs, "maybe we should get them some dessert?"

"Ah! What about manggaetteok?" He grinned cheekily.

I slapped his arm playfully, "you brat! I told you to stop calling me that!"

He just laughed as he dragged me towards a nearby shop that displayed some of the mochi outside of the store. I hated the fact that my heart skipped a beat when he did that, just like how he would when we were still...

I winced as I felt an unfamiliar sharp pain in my chest, wheezing slightly as it started to suffocate. I placed my free hand on my chest and gripped my shirt tightly, biting my inner cheek and hoping that the pain will go away.

And suddenly, the sweet scent of flowers can be smelled in the air again, as if someone used a flower-scented cologne.

I looked around and was relieved when I saw the flower shop from before a few meters away from where we were.

Ah, that's it. So that's where this pleasant smell came from...

♢♢♢

//don't worry I'm not dead, just busy with school;; grade 11 is hell oH GOD PLS SEND HELP :"