Sui Generis | Sungwon

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Here in my heart, an endless sorrow

Tearing apart all that you and I could've been

Two heartbeats out of sync with each other and crying

Dreaming of love-letting love

—Love Letting, VV

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Jungwon stood frozen in front of the florist. He swayed his legs lightly and hummed random notes, a nervous melody that echoed the turmoil in his heart. It was only one day that he hadn't visited the shop, yet for some reason he felt that he hadn't been there for so long.

Jungwon bit his bottom lips. There had been so many things happened yesterday that practically preventing him coming to the shop. However, it was mostly because of how he embarrassingly passed out after practice. He especially felt so sorry that Jongseong had to assist him for the remaining of the day and walk him home after he regained his conscious back as he felt his head banging almost instantly upon opening his eyes that he couldn't even stand himself.

Thanks to Jongseong's meticulous care and his huge spices collection that sped up his recovery, he was eventually healthy enough to participate in the regular practice with the team today. It was such a weird day that he also received so many greetings and worried concerns from other members that he didn't even expect in the first place. He remembered how flustered he was in the practice room surrounded by everyone, though deep down for some unknown reason, his little heart clenched at the possibility that none of the warm experineces was real.

Now, standing in front of the florist's shop, Jungwon's heart raced as he contemplated whether he should walk away or pretend that nothing had happened.

Now, the question is, would Sunghoon still want to teach him after his embarrassing outburst the day before yesterday?

Jungwon cursed himself internally. What was he even thinking? It had been an immature move. He had acted like a petulant child, throwing a tantrum out of sheer frustration. And most importantly, he had allowed the exhaustion to balloon into mindless behavior toward Sunghoon, who had so graciously agreed to mentor an unworthy stranger like him.

Jungwon nibbled the bottom of his lip while fidgeting with the hem of his oversized sweater, looking for little comfort. What would he even do if he were Sunghoon? He wouldn't want to meet someone so disrespectful, overly demanding, and downright whiny. Jungwon grimaced at the thought. Maybe it would be better for them if he simply practiced alone. It would cost nothing, hurting no one.

The self-derision made his lips tremble, and the threat of tears loomed large. Who was he, anyway? Just a dreamer fumbling around trying to grasp things he wasn't meant to, so why was it bothering him that Sunghoon didn't even know his name after all this time?

Jungwon's eyes found their way back to the florist's sign, the bright "Open" glowing faintly on the front door. He couldn't help but feel a deep longing as he watched the white floral arrangements framing the entrance, the blooms swaying gently as if they could sense his emotional turmoil. Flashes of memories appeared, when he was practically entering the shops and getting kicked out from the shops multiple times through that door.

Jungwon closed his eyes tightly, and suddenly, the image of Sunghoon popped into his mind. The way Sunghoon's eyes glinted with mischief when he teased him, his geometric sketching obsession, and all the fashion faux pas he had.

A bitter laugh escaped him. As he swiped one falling tear across his cheeks roughly, he couldn't deny the rush of emotion swelling within. Why was he feeling this way?

It was absurd—how could such an unlikely connection make him feel both anchored and adrift all at once? Jungwon wiped his tears again, wincing of how his eyes got hurt from how hard he was rubbing them. Sunghoon had always been a good company from the start, yet he was the one who treated him so poorly. He is total rubbish.

A sudden cold breeze hit Jungwon, swirling around him like the uncertainties he was grappling with. He tightened his scarf, a feeble attempt at shielding himself from both the elements and the vulnerabilities he now faced. The ding of the shop's doorbell suddenly broke the evening's quietness, and a familiar scent of mixed fresh flowers washed over him.

Jungwon gasped and snapped his eyes wide open.

Standing in the doorframe like an avant-garde fashion statement was the said boy who had already staring at him with a similarly surprised expression mirroring his own.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･