Roses You Left For Me

16

It's two days after that Jeongguk is back. It wasn't planned originally, as he had to practically beg Namjoon once again for grocery money.

He had been shopping, mindlessly pushing the cart around as he looks over his shopping list. It's here that everything went wrong.

Jeongguk picks up a bag of rice, checking the price label before he drops it into his cart, going to push it forward. He looks up and instantly stops, seeing not one, but two familiar faces. Suho holds the girl's waist, laughing as she tries to reach the top shelf.

"I can't do it," she whines.

"Shortie," Suho teases.

The girl scowls and turns to poke Suho in the side, but the man just bends forward and kisses her nose, smiling as she giggles. "You're such a softie," she says.

"Only for you," Suho responds.

Jeongguk can't bring himself to pull away. Can't find the energy within himself to turn the cart and push it the other way. So he just stands there and watches, his whole body frozen as Suho grabs something from the top shelf and turns to put it in their basket. It's then that he catches sight of Jeongguk.

"Kook," the man says quietly, his voice slow, telling Jeongguk that he didn't expect to run into Jeongguk either.

"Suho," Jeongguk responds, mentally thanking himself that his voice doesn't crack.

The girl looks between them, having most likely never seen Jeongguk's face before. "Who's this? A friend from school or something?" She asks cheerily. "Hi, I'm Mia,"

"This-" Suho says before he clears his throat. "Mia, this is Jeongguk. Kook, this is my girlfriend, Mia,"

"Jeongguk," the girl says quietly, her eyes wide. She drops her hand before Jeongguk has the chance to shake it, not that he was going to anyway, and takes a step back. "Suho," the girl says as he looks up at the tall man beside her. "We should go, this isn't fair on either of you,"

But Jeongguk doesn't want to hear her voice anymore. Can't keep staring at Suho as if he'll drop everything for him. Because deep down, he knows Suho won't. No matter how hard he wishes for it, it's all bogus.

Jeongguk turns, leaving the cart where it is as he walks out of the aisle and out of the shop completely. He keeps walking, not daring to blink as he knows it'll make the tears fall. He walks until he's at the club. He walks until he's at the bar. And he stops when he sees Hoseok.

"Jeongguk, feeling okay?" The bartender asks.

"Yeah, yeah I'm good. Is V here?"

"I am," Taehyung says as he suddenly appears by Jeongguk's side. "I just finished with a customer, so I'm free for you," he says. "Pay now, I just need to clean up. I'll tell the bouncers you're alright to come through alone,"

Jeongguk just nods and looks at Hoseok expectantly. The bartender buzzes back to life and takes the tablet from under the bar, sliding it towards Jeongguk. "Are you sure you're okay? You look a little lifeless today,"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Jeongguk lies. "Just didn't sleep very well last night,"

Hoseok makes an 'o' shape with his mouth and nods. "Want some water?"

"Please,"

The bartender gives him a warm smile as Jeongguk fills out each box, putting in his details before Hoseok slides a glass of water towards the boy. He murmurs a thank you and takes a sip, only now just realizing how thirsty he really is. He glugs down the water until the glass is empty, ignoring the way Hoseok raises an eyebrow. "Thirsty? He asks.