roses are red | hwang hyunjin

13

weeks went by.

starr searched everywhere for this hwang hyunjin, on social media, only to discover that he has no social media accounts. and after a class mate showed her hyunjin's seat, she showed up everyday, noting that he was never in class. she wondered how he would get his art noticed without social media. she found it quite odd. and if he was okay for him to be skipping class so much.

maybe he didn't want a carreer in art, she thought as she left his class once again, disappointed to find his seat empty for the nth time. she decided to give up after that, scolding herself for wanting for being interested in someone who harassed her in the first place. she just thought that there was more to the notes than just infactuation and an his inabilty to communicate well.

seungmin caught her one day without her knowledge and bitched to felix about it, leading a fight to break out between the two and caused them not to speak until a few days ago. she reached out to felix first after concluding that her friendship with felix was way more important and there was no way in hell she'd lose him over someone who clearly didn't want to meet her.

life was good. she had felix, ate well, was financially secure and focused on her studies and everything else before hyunjin happened. but she still felt as if though life was incomplete, that there was more to life than what she bargained for.

now, it's a year later. and she's graduating.

<

"i can't believe we finally graduated, yes!" felix yelled the second he came out rushing out of the graduation ceromony with starr smiling by his side.

"i'm finally done with this shitty place, it's shitty people and it's shitty food!" he cheered, picking starr up in a hug, spinning her around then quickly put her down.

"you look really hot, i'mma nut," he groaned, wrapping his arms around her waist. starr rolled her eyes.

"stop flirting with me, your boyfriend's watching."

as if on cue, bang chan joined them, hugging both of them tightly.

"MY BABIES! I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!" he cried. the two friends could only laugh whilst trying to get out of the older's grasp.

"thanks for taking time off work to take our pictures, 오빠."

"오빠?" felix looked at starr, offended. "uhm, get your own man please," he said before grabbing chan's arm that was unconsciously latched around starr's waist, pulling the man towards him causing both him and starr to laugh at a cute, possesive felix.

"why do you still have that?" felix glanced at the gown draped over starr's arm as he now wiped at his boyfriend's cheeks.

"shit. let me return it. see you later, yeah?"

"yeah. and change your outfit 'cause chan is apparently taking us to some bougie ass restaurant. yay," felix finished with an eye roll.

"hey!" chan said offended. felix responded with another eye roll.

starr laughed, bidding them goodbye before rushing off.

<

"sorry... miss?"

starr looked back at the lady who collected her gown who was smiling warmly at her now. she raised a brow, finding it uncomfortable.

"i recognize you from the artwork on the wall around the corner. it's so beautiful, you're so beautiful, EEK!"

before starr could even say anything, the lady disappeared into the storage room where the gowns were kept.

starr blinked, shaking her head before walking towards the corner to see what the lady went on about, her heels clicking loudly, turning a few heads she wasn't aware off, not caring if she did notice anyway.

and there on the wall she was indeed, her dark skin and facial features so beautifully accentuated. starr went closer, in awe of how someone could display her so beautifully. her eyes scanned the artwork for a name, noticing it at the bottom left corner of the which was accompanied with a message.

roses are red,
it's a year later.
and you're still as gorgeous as ever.
happy graduation.

-hhj

hhj, starr's heart skipped a beat, the memories rushing in her brain. she let out a breathless chuckle as hhj was the only thrill she had within the four years of university.

she shook her head, looking at the painting one last time. she didn't want to take a picture of it as hhj was someone she decided to leave in the past.

instead, she went back to the reception desk, asking for a sticky not and went back to the artwork to place it underneath the painting. a simple thank you was all it said.

she backed up, giving the painting one last look before swiftly turning around, bumping into someone as she did.

"ow," she winced, rubbing her arm.

"shit, sorry!" the blonde before her panicked, his hands waving around in panic.

starr only stared, her intense gaze making him back away and nervously play with the rings beautifully decorating his fingers.

how come i've never seen this fine ass on campus before? and now i'm leaving this place forever. great, starr thought as she continued to look at him, captivated by his beauty.

"no problem," she eventually said, walking away.

"roses..."

starr froze, slowly turning back around and meeting the hesitant eyes of the man she once longingly searched for.

"are r-red," hyunjin said with a wince from his nails digging into his palms which is something he did to calm his rising anxiety. he wasn't running, he thought as he watched starr come closer. not anymore.

"we-we f-finally meet," he said softly again, her closeness causing his heart to beat even faster.

he gulped, digging his nails even deeper.

"i-i know i'm most probably not your type, b-but..."

he bit his lip, stopping while she waited with an unreadable expression. you can do it hyunjin, he told himself, letting out a breath.

"at- at least let me take you out to eat."

there was silence before starr let out a cute laugh. hyunjin's shoulder's slumped, instantly at ease at her reaction, only to quickly tense up when she wiped at his cheeks. he didn't even realize he was crying, how embarrassing he thought to himself.

"that was your cutest one yet."

hyunjin blushed, looking away again. starr smiled at him, amused before lifting his chin to have his eyes meet hers.

"d-do you like the painting?" he asked. he was really trying his best to not chase her away with his awkwardness. everyone else always avoided him because of it.

"yeah. i left a little thank you note underneath it."

hyunjin gulped, bowing. starr's smile grew.

"it's nice to finally meet you after so long, hwang hyunjin."

hyunjin stared at the girl before him in awe. he never thought that it was possible to find the serenity he's been in dire need of within another person. he didn't think he deserved someone like her.

"and happy graduation to you too," starr added, noting that he was nervous and most likely overthinking the worst of their encounter when it was the sweetest to her. there was no more doubt. she definitely wanted to know him.

"th-thank you. my name is hw-hwang hyunj-jin," he sighed. "sorry, hw-hwang-" he closed his eyes in frustration, but it popped open real quick as starr rested her palm against his face.

hyunjin sighed, feeling calm and finally gave her a genuine smile.

"it's a pleasure to meet you too... finally."