Autumn Angel | JHS ✔

.twenty.

I felt cool. Like I was part of the popular group of kids from elementary or middle school. With a lollipop in my mouth, a similar outfit with Hoseok's, my hand in his, and the desire to be nowhere else but where I am now can't help but lead to a sway in my hips and a smile on my face. If it weren't for Hoseok's status, I would have wished for people to walk past and stare, admiring us with jealousy and envy. 

"Is there any shop in particular you want to visit first?" Hoseok lowers his head and voice in my direction so only I can hear. 

The question and words are completely normal, but the fact that only I could hear what he was saying makes me feel like we're the only ones in the crowded mall, as if we were both in on some sort of secret the rest of the world shouldn't know about. I shake my head as an answer. "We'll just go into the ones we end up going into." 

At that he pulls me into a smaller clothing store. No one else is in the secluded area and the woman behind the register vocalizes her greeting. I observe Hoseok as his eyes scan the place while taking slow steps forward. Bright lights shine down onto us, the heat from them almost making me debate whether I should take off my overcoat. Bubble pop music blasts from the speakers and I can't help but sway back and forth to the upbeat melody. When I look over at Hoseok, he too is bobbing his head to the music as he slides articles of clothing on the rack to look at his options. 

I turn my head to look for my own style of clothing as well and a basic tee catches my attention. I let go of Hoseok's hand and walk over to the table to hold up the white fabric. It's extremely basic and simple with the pure fabric having no design except for a small, single heart with a swirl of colors stitched over the breast pocket. I reach for a medium in size, knowing there would be more options for styling if I got a size up than my own. A hand reaches next to me to pick out a large of the same shirt. 

I laugh and look up at Hoseok. "Are we going to be extremely cliche and buy the same shirts so we can match?" 

Hoseok's eyes squint and I know his lips have curled into a wide smile behind his mask. "We totally are. I'll get this if you do too." 

I tilt my head and then shake my head. "Deal." 

Once we bought the first pair of matching tops, both of us can't help ourselves and go around the rest of the floor, buying two more shirts for us to wear together. The entire hour, a smile remains on my face and an energy buzzes through me every movement. I glance over at the cause of this feeling as Hoseok and I exit another store, one of my hands holding onto his, and the other grabbing several shopping bags. 

Happy. He made me happy. Truly, genuinely happy. He helped me live in the moment and appreciate even the smallest of things. Hoseok steals a glance at me and I can imagine his warm smile behind the cloth of his face covering. He bends down to kiss the top of my head. 

"You look most beautiful when you're happy, when you're smiling." 

A blush creeps up my face. "I'm always beautiful," I say cooly. 

"That's why I said most beautiful." 

I tilt my head and look forward as we walk. "Meaning this is the most beautiful I can get? This is it? Did you just put a limit to an angel's beauty?" 

Hoseok laughs out loud. "I can't even compliment you, my goodness." 

I look up at him. "Thank you," I finally manage out. 

He just chuckles again. "Of course."

A couple of feet later, a certain store catches my eye and I tug on Hoseok's hand to lead us in. The art store has a much more laid back vibe with the music being much more relaxing instead of energetic and in your face. Color palettes and displays line the walls and a table is set in the middle for people to interact with the material and draw whatever that came to mind with basic coloring pencils and oil pastels. 

"Please don't tell me you're good at art." 

I walk over to the side of the small store and pick up a tray of colored pencils. "I drew a lot more in high school as a stress reliever but kind of fell away from it in college. Although I have been thinking about picking it up again recently." I set down the metal casing and turn to face Hoseok. "What's wrong with being good at art?" 

Hoseok sighs and within three steps, closes the distance between us to wrap his arms around my smaller frame. "It makes you seem so much more attractive," he admits with another sigh. 

I laugh and lift my arms to wrap around his torso. "I apologize for being so perfect, Hobi. Truly. I myself don't know how I do it." 

"Well figure out how to stop. I am falling way too hard." 

So am I. And I'm trying my hardest to not freak out. I'm trying my hardest to trust you. 

Hoseok's head moves so his forehead makes contact with my own. Dark eyes pierce into mine and I look up through my lashes to meet the gaze. "I really like you, Angel," he whispers. 

I let out a breathy laugh. "Me too, Hobi." I partially lift onto my toes to brush my lips on the line of his collar bones and a shock of thrill flows through me when I feel Hoseok tense up. With a final grin up at him, I move out of the embrace and walk over to the table in the middle. A few moments pass by before Hoseok takes a seat next to me. The blades of scissors kiss together as I snip them over a line of string. Silently, I slide basic, clear beads onto the length. 

"What are you doing, Angel?" 

I continue to keep my eyes on the piece as I work but another smile finds its way onto my lips. "For you," I answer Hoseok. 

"For me? Really?" 

I force myself to keep my fingers working but I can't help the hiccup that runs through me when I realize how close his lips are to my ear. My head tilts. Something wasn't adding up. I finally look over at Hoseok and realize why I was able to feel his skin against mine. "Put that mask back up, Hobi." 

He chuckles but obediently does so. Beside me, he also reaches to the middle of the table and gathers his own supplies. "If you're making that for me, then it's only right I do something in return." 

We work silently for the next minute and I watch in satisfaction as bead after bead follows its path along the string to bump into its neighbors. Finally, both of us finish tying off the simple bracelet. Both of the pieces are made up of entirely clear beads only and the simple design allows it to fit in with any surrounding. The basic beads make the design seem almost childish but that makes me love it that much more. 

"Thank you for your transparency," I say as I slide the circle onto the wrist of the man I adored. 

Both of us laugh. 

"Thank you for being real. For helping me genuinely smile in my world of fake happiness." 

The cool beads rest on my caramel skin and I stare down at our matching bracelets. Pale fingers tangle with my own dark ones, a thumb rubbing back and forth across the back of my hand. What was it about him? What about him made me feel like how I was feeling now? Like I was safe, warm, bubbly, and everything good? Like I had finally found the thing I was unknowingly searching for my entire life? 

My hand is lifted to meet the lips of Hoseok's and I give him a small smile. In this moment, I feel like life could be thrown my way and I would stand undefeatable. No, not I. We would stand undefeatable, jumping over life's obstacles together, supporting each other through everything, and continuing to better ourselves for the happiness of our own selves and the other.