BTS One Shots

It Happened Over Books-K.TH

It was a slow day at the bookstore. Sundays were usually slow, but this one was the slowest Sunday you’d worked in a very long time.  The bell by the door jingled, signaling someone’s entrance; you turned, ready to ask if the customer needed help finding anything, but the sight before you left you momentarily speechless.  The man before you was tall and ethereally handsome. His pitch black hair was styled into a more modern, surprisingly attractive mullet. His honey colored skin was smooth and clear. Deep, dark eyes were set into his handsome face and a single freckle graced the tip of his nose. When the man saw you staring at him, he shot you a grin.  Your single minded focus was to keep from opening and closing your mouth like a fish. Not only was he possibly the most handsome man you had ever seen in your life, but when he smiled he was outlandishly cute, especially considering his smile was more of a square than the typical shape of a  smile. He giggled at your stupor, which shook you out of your embarrassing admiration of him.

“Can I help you find anything today?” you asked him once you’d regained the ability to speak.  He nodded eagerly and walked toward the counter where you were stationed. When he reached the counter, he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and held it out to you.  

“Do you know if you have this one?” he said, his deep voice colored with excitement.  You took the piece of paper and examined the title and author he had scrawled out. Tipping your head back you considered for a moment.  

“If we have it,” you said moving out from behind the counter, gesturing for him to follow you. “It will be over here.”  You led him past the first two shelves, packed tightly with books and brought him to the next section. Looking at him over your shoulder you explained, “Since this is a used book store we don’t really have a specific inventory like most bookstores do, but I’m pretty sure we got one of these in the other day on a trade.”

He shot you another smile and you tried not to melt into a puddle where you stood.  Facing forward again you stopped in front of the art and photography section, skimming your fingers over the spines of the books, searching for the author he was looking for. “Aha!” you exclaimed, running your finger up the spine of a hardcover book and hooking your finger at the top of the spine.  You gently pulled the book off the shelf and handed it to him.

“Thank you!” he said, eyes shining happily as he took the book from your hand.  “Is it okay if I look at it a little bit first?”

“Absolutely!” you replied.  “Take all the time you need.  I’m going to be up at the counter if you need anything else.” He smiled at you before gracefully situating himself criss cross applesauce on the floor, turning his attention to the book.  You smiled and made your way back toward the front of the store, turning when you reached the end of the aisle to look back at him. What I wouldn’t give to have my camera right now you thought.  He had scooted so his back rested against the shelf behind him, propping one leg up to rest the book on his knee, while the other was bent, still resting on the floor.  A beautiful, artistic, possibly well-read man, surrounded by books both old and new. Your heart fluttered and you turned away crossing over to the counter again.

The lovely perfume of books, coupled with boredom must be getting to you.  It was all well and good to find the man attractive, but the squeeze on your heart that felt like feelings seemed a little ridiculous considering the two of you had just met and you didn’t even know his name. You sank down onto the stool behind the counter and picked up a book that you’d bought earlier that week.  A girl had come in with an exorbitant amount of books to sell. She insisted she didn’t want to trade for anything, and eventually your boss had haggled her down on the price for the lot of books.

You’d been stamping them and sorting them into stacks for which sections they belonged in when one book had caught your eye.  You’d gasped when you realized what you were looking at; the elusive and very rare fan-club exclusive companion to The Finisher Chronicles.  When you were growing up you had adored these books, but you couldn’t afford to join the official fan-club.  You had desperately wanted the book, but never found any copies of them on auction websites, and if they did the price was astronomical.  When you had realized what you had in your hands you immediately tracked down your boss, Camille, and begged her to let you buy the book rather than putting it out.  She’d laughed at your enthusiasm for the book and told you to just take it and consider it a gift from her for all your hard work and loyalty over the years.

You smiled softly, thinking about the kindness of your boss as you turned the pages in your book, taking in the interesting information the pages held.  Over the years, some of the fans had shared information they had learned via the companion, but it was no comparison to having the book in your hands. You were lost in thought, thinking that you needed to reread the series again when a throat being cleared right in front of you startled you so badly you squealed, pinwheeling your arms before falling off the stool you’d been perched on.

“I’m so sorry,” the deep voice of the customer rang out with concern.  He hurried over to you, setting his book down on the counter, as he kneeled beside you.  He gently grasped your arm and pulled you into a sitting position. He gently pushed your hair out of your face, his warm, brown eyes, wide and worried as he looked over you, checking for injuries. “Are you alright??”

You nodded your head, shifting so you could stand.  His large, warm hand slid from your elbow down to your hand as he helped you stand.  You blushed in embarrassment at having been so absorbed in your book that you didn’t even notice him approaching you.  You knew you were also blushing because he was still holding his hand. Taking in the blush staining your cheeks, he cleared his throat and awkwardly dropped your hand, mumbling a sorry as he moved back around the counter.  When you could finally bring yourself to look up at him, you noticed he was looking at his feet, watching one boot scuff the other. His hands were deep in his pockets, and though he wasn’t looking at you, you could clearly see a blush staining his cheeks as well.

“So,” you started, before clearing your throat, “was the book what you wanted?” He looked up at you, still blushing and unable to look directly in your eyes, and nodded.

“I think it’ll help my technique,” his deep voice rumbled softly as he spoke.  You felt awkward standing there not speaking. You wanted to ask him what he did, since the book was about photography and  painting, but he looked like he wanted the floor to open up and swallow him.  You weren’t any good with awkwardness either, so you started calculating what he was going to owe for the book.  Before you could tell him his total, you noticed his long fingers ghosting over the pages of your book.

“You like The Finisher Chronicles, too?” he asked.  You looked up at him and he was staring at you inquisitively.  You nodded enthusiastically before replying, “Who doesn’t??”

He laughed, “Crazy people.” You joined him in his laughter, the awkwardness starting to melt away.  The two of you started talking about the books and before you knew it thirty minutes had passed. You realized it was almost time to close, and you were disappointed that you were going to have to ask him to leave.  Sensing your shift in mood, he quirked his head sideways and asked, “Is everything alright?”

“Well, I have to close soon, so I kind of have to ask you to leave,” you replied glumly.  You looked down at the counter and picked at your nails.

“That’s okay!” he answered cheerfully.  You looked up at him, almost hurt that he seemed so happy to be leaving.  Had he not been enjoying talking to you, too?? Seeing your brows furrow he quickly continued, “I just mean, that means I can ask you if you’d want to go get a bite to eat with me since your shift is over.  I’ve really enjoyed talking with you and I would love to get to know you better.”

The way his voice had somehow gotten even deeper at the end sent shivers down your spine.  He sounded sincere, which made you giddy with excitement. You smiled brightly at him, almost nodding your head before you realized something important.

“But I don’t even know your name.” you pointed out.  He smiled his boxy smile at you.

“Taehyung,” he said cheerfully.  “My name is Taehyung.”