Pink Peonies and Coffee Stains (on hiatus)

Chapter 4: Daffodils and Dancing Bears

Later that night Changkyun carried his hyung to his bed and tucked him in. He would sleep on the couch, it was only fitting. He slumped onto the couch with a sigh. He knew he needed to let Hyungwon go. He didn't feel the same way and he couldn't ruin this friendship with Hyungwon just because of his stupid feelings. His friendship was important to the quiet, reserved florist, he knew the older boy didn't have many friends he felt that he could be open with and Chankyun was one of them. He wasn't going to take that away from Hyungwonnie. His brows furrow as he thinks through his feelings. He liked Hyungwon, but Hyungwon didn't like him. He lets his eyes linger on the fake yellow daffodils on the table. He made his decision. He stood up abruptly grabbing the fake flowers and walking swiftly to his small kitchen and tossing the plastic replicas into the trash. He needed to move on. He was going to move on. He knew the person he was really meant to be with was still out there waiting for him and he would find them. He would always love Hyungwon, but he needed to love him as a friend and he was determined to do so. Besides, fate is a funny mistress. She brings people together unexpectantly. He returns to the sofa and lies down slowly. Sleep soon takes the boy into her deep embrace, letting his thoughts wash away into darkness.

"Thank you again for letting me spend the night and helping me get to work Kkyunie." Hyungwon said with a warm smile as he and Changkyun walked on the rather empty sidewalk that lines the row of shops in Hyungwon's district.

"Don't worry about it Hyung," Changkyun said as he looked down at the cemented path under his feet.

Changkyun had a look in his eye that Hyungwon couldn't quite discern. It was melancholic but his eyes also shined, with what, Hyungwon wasn't absolutely sure. With Hyungwon looking at his friend and his friend looking down at the ground, neither saw the strange figure they soon crashed into. All three feel to the ground with a thump. Hyungwon looked up as he rubbed his now aching bottom and was surprised to find not a person but a bear. Well, it was a person wearing some costume and holding a bear head.

"We're so sorry, we weren't looking where we were going."

Changkyun is already standing, bowing apologetically to the stranger the two just ran into. Hyungwon is quick to nod in agreement and offer his hand to the stranger to help pull him up. The stranger accepts and Hyungwon regrets his offer because he feels like his arm is about to fall off after he helps him to his feet. Now in front of them, the pair can see that the man has small eyes and chubby cheeks. Changkyun can't help but think that he looks rather cute, like the costume he has on. Well except for the bear head.

"Oh don't worry about it. I should have paid more attention to where I was walking too." The man smiles and his cheeks reveal two dimples.

Changkyun completely forgets the pain in his back from landing on the hard cement. How can someone be so cute? If Hyungwon is the definition of beauty, then this man is the definition of cuteness.

Hyungwon looks over at his friend briefly and sees that shining look in his eye he noticed earlier seems to be glistening. He can't help but smile, the smaller arcade worker is obviously very intrigued. Although he'd prefer to accept the mutual apology between the trio and hurry up and get back to his shop, he decides to help his single friend mingle, or at least help him get to know the stranger he looks so interested in already.

"So, why the costume?" Hyungwon points to the head the man is holding in his left arm against his hip.

"Oh? I work at an amusement park. It's not the best job, but it pays the bills. Plus I get to dance!" With his last remark, he smiles brightly, his dimples presenting themselves once again. "I'm Jooheon by the way! You should come to the park sometime! My moves are quite impressive, the rides are fun too."

Jooheon smiles goofily, before digging into the side of his costume and pulling out a flyer and a pen from seemingly nowhere. He scrawls something down onto the paper and hands it to the shorter boy.

"If you ever want to go, I get employee discounts. Consider it an apology for bumping into you guys. Speaking of work, I best be going there now. Just contact me and we can go together, ok?"

The boy smiles and waves as he briskly walks off.

Hyungwon glances at the paper Changkyun is holding and can't help but giggle when he sees it. It's a flyer for the amusement park and at the bottom written in blue ink is a phone number with hearts drawn around it. He sneaks a glance at the holder's face and his smile breaks into a smirk. His younger friend is blushing like crazy.

"Looks like you've got an admirer~," Hyungwon says coyly, having fun teasing his maknae.

"Sh-shut up! You're one to talk! Sounds like you've got that barista hanging all over you!" Changkyun says with a puff, crossing his arms and sticking out his tongue at the florist.

Now both boys are blushing as they continue to walk towards the flower shop. Indeed, fate works mysteriously and she pounces when you least expect it.

Hehe you didn't think I'd just let Changkyun be a sad baby for the rest of the story did you?

Daffodils represent both unrequited love as well as new beginnings ;-)

Did any of you catch on?

Also, this is still a Hyungwonho fic so don't worry any side stuff will happen off screen and may just be briefly mentioned when it fits the plot. And don't worry Wonho returns next chapter!