Final

Jaemin sprayed water onto the vibrant flowers. It was the same routine he did every morning for the past two years. His mother owned the flower shop and he always lent his hand around the shop. Now, he practically worked there. From the experiences he had in past years, he learnt about flower arrangements.

It might sound weird to others that a teenage boy loved flowers and worked as a florist. Screw the stereotypes. He enjoyed doing this, so, no one had the right to tell him what he should be interested in.

The alley was calm. Occasionally, voices exchanging good mornings were heard. It was a Tuesday. Jaemin loved the alley, especially on weekdays; quiet and peaceful. The building were rather old, but the landlord made the most out of it. Arts on the walls, wild leaves binding the pillars left the alley looking like it stayed that way since the 60s.

Your day was starting out perfectly. Until you heard the record store blast loud music. , they’re doing it again. Other shop owners had a hard time because of a particular record store’s choice of music. Out of all genres in the world, they were very fond of the ones with deafening beats. It sure did rile Jaemin’s nerves.

Weird. They stopped blasting weeks ago after we filed a complain to the authorities. Jaemin was trying to concentrate on arranging the flowers. His hand gripped the flower too tight as the loud music echoed after three seconds of silence. Now, his arrangements were ruined.

Jaemin fumed, throwing his hands into the air. How brazen of them to continue their rude act when the neighbours were clearly not having it. Jaemin rose from his seat, fine, I’ll do it myself then.

His feet were storming down the ground, rippling the rage he had in his body. The record store was the exact opposite unit of his. Meaning that the sound wave emitted from the speaker hit his store directly, no interruptions.

As Jaemin barged himself into the store, his eyes searched for a distinct figure: a slinky arms man who always in one of his band tees. Except, he did not encounter such person.

“Looking for something,” a voice appealed behind his back.

For a short second, he was stagnant. He examined the boy who had half of his body hidden behind racks as he slightly leaned backwards to catch Jaemin. Like a loser, Jaemin’s tongue were tied. The said boy was in a plain white shirt that was messily tucked into his black jeans. Few strands of his black hair fell on his forehead without covering the skin. His arm flexed as he was holding on few records. Jaemin came here to give him a good piece of his mind, not to check out this gorgeous specimen in front of him.

Jaemin snapped out of his admiration as he stammered, “You-your… the speakers are too loud. Do something about it.”

The boy strutted towards him looking superior, confidence flowed out from his posture. He coaxed as he walked pass Jaemin, “Nothing can do. That thing has some volume problem. Costs too much to get it fixed.”

Jaemin gaped in disbelief. This boy did not look a bit bothered by the fact that he was the cause nuisance in people’s ears. His answer enraged Jaemin, “Okay, then put on a nice, slow music or, better, turn it off?” Jaemin scorned at him.

The boy threw his body on the sofa, laying down as he closed his eyes and tapped his foot to the beat. He shrugged, “This song is good.”

Jaemin rolled his eyes in annoyance. He walked over the sofa, looking down at the comfortable boy before went off him, “To you. But we live in a democratic community. The people hated it. And you’re causing an inconvenience. Turn off that thing before I call the authorities.”

He shut his eyes tighter upon hearing the pretty boy above him. He opened them and stood in front of Jaemin. Close enough that their body was inches apart. He locked his gaze with the pretty boy, “No, you wouldn’t.”

Jaemin scoffed at his confidence, “Oh, what made you think that I won’t?”

He leaned his face towards Jaemin. The close proximate dizzied Jaemin as he tried hard not to south his gaze towards his lips. The boy purred, “You know you’re too kind to do that.”

Jaemin bit his lips in anger. Yes, he would feel sorry to call the police on him. Plus, it would not even worth it. The police did not really care. Jaemin held his breath as he thought of words to retort back, but stormed out when he realised he had none.

The boy smirked in victory seeing him retreated. He shouted, “The name’s Jeno by the way.”

Jaemin stopped once he finally out of the store. He looked at the speaker, eyes trailed along the wire. It might be a little mean to do what he was going to do, but Jaemin wanted to released his anger. With full power, he yanked into the wire, the speaker went off.

Smiling contently, Jaemin shouted back, “And the name’s Jaemin, !”

The next few days, Jaemin did not have to put up with the loud music. He felt more at peace. The elders thanked him for what he did, slipping in some gossips about the record boy, Jeno.

Despite the inconvenience he brought to the alley, the elders complimented how dashing young man he was. Jaemin disagreed with them as he told them Jeno was nothing but rude. Although he knew that Jeno was handsome. His attitude was a turn-off. And Jaemin could not stand his smugness. If words of Jaemin finding him attractive got out, he would totally to death.

Jaemin was attending his customer’s order when he saw a couple wandering around the record store’s entrance before leaving. He stopped his work to check out on Jeno. Not that he was worried or anything, he tried to convince himself. What if something happened? Like maybe he’s tied up by a robber?

Jaemin stood out in the cold with confused expression. Closed? He definitely saw Jeno unlocking the store this morning. Mustering up his courage, Jaemin entered the store. Jaemin was readying himself to find at least an injured Jeno on the ground. As he entered, the store seemed normal.

His eyes caught a figure fiddling through his guitar behind the counter. Jeno’s brows puckered as he was trying to figure out the lyrics. He let out a heavy sigh as nothing crossed his mind. Up for another attempt, he hummed the tune.

Jeno was out of the world when he focused on his songs. No wonder he did not sense Jaemin watching his every moves over the counter. Jaemin wanted to make his presence known. But, not right now. Now when Jeno resembled a king making decisions to save his crumbled country.

Jeno’s frustrated state made Jaemin frustrated too. Maybe that was why he accidentally emitted, “You wear your smile like a loaded gun, all mysterious intriguing me. Here’s a blue rose, that’s how I feel.”

Jeno swiftly turned his head to the source of the voice. Eyes quetioning Jaemin. Jaemin, on the other hand, was flustered by his own outburst. Classic Jaemin stuttered, “Um- that was- um- something that popped in my head. Ha-ha. I better leave.”

He was ready to launch his first large step until Jeno stood up almost immediately and caught his arm. “Can you repeat it again?” Jeno pleaded with low voice. His voice sounded different than what Jaemin remembered. It sounded… softer.

Jeno walked over to the sofa, his grip still on Jaemin’s arm as he lead the pretty one with him. Jeno took out a pen and a paper, eyes eagerly encouraged Jaemin to repeat his words.

Hesitantly, Jaemin repeated his sentence. Word by word. Looking at Jeno as if he gone crazy. Jeno smiled as he finished jotting down and patted the cushion beside him, instructing Jaemin to sit.

His eyes bore into Jaemin’s face. He asked, “So, what does blue rose mean?”

Jaemin’s narrowed his eyes towards Jeno. Visibly surprised at the transition. They were a bickering pair few days ago, and here they were now, having a conversation about flowers. Jaemin responded anyway, “Mystery, intrigued.”

Jeno nodded as he learned anew fact today. Then, he realised that Jaemin must had needed something as h came over with his two feet, “What are you doing here?”

The younger boy could not put his head around the reason. He forgot momentarily why he was there until he saw the sign, “I think you forgot to flip the sign. There was a customer earlier.”

Jeno looked over instantly, lips mumbling trail of curses as he flipped the sign to ‘open’.

He patted Jaemin’s shoulder out of gratitude. But that slight indirect touch sent Jaemin electrifying jolts.

Jeno was not that oblivious to see that Jaemin was nervous being around him. Although he found him cute as hell. Jeno took out a coke out of the ice box and tossed one to Jaemin, “So, how long have you been working there?” Jeno asked while leaning his back on the sofa, eyes on Jaemin.

“Since I can remember. My mum owns it,” Jaemin answered. He knew where the conversation was going. Jeno probably would be asking him why was he so keen about flowers. Why not venture to a more ‘masculine’ activities. Although Jaemin was not really sure what activities defined masculinity. He was ready to accept fire rapid questions from Jeno. Except the muscular boy was in a laze, casually nodding in acknowledgement before stated, “That’s cool.”

The conversation drained down. Jaemin wanted to ask him if he was okay with that. Come to think at it again, what for? It was not like he was trying to appeal himself to Jeno.

“You compose?” Jaemin let out his curiousity. He had next to none musical knowledge. Even though he was musically illiterate, he could tell the song was good. The tune Jeno hummed was sweet, just the way he preferred.

Jeno sheepishly smiled as he massaged the back of his neck. Composing was his hobbies. In Jaemin’s point of view, it was definitely a skill. But Jeno thought that it was too lacking to call it a skill. So, Jeno did it in secret. Never really admitted to anyone.

“Just something I do, once in a while. I’m not that good, really.”

Jaemin casually sipped on his drink as he said, “Sounds fly to me though.”

At this moment, Jaemin totally missed the way Jeno’s eyes lit up brighter than ever. Composing songs was confidential matter to Jeno. Nobody knew which meant he never got complimented before. Jaemin’s complimented boosted his confidence sky high. He never knew he needed it.

Jeno lifted his body from the sofa, elbows on his knees as he crouched forward. He tilted his head towards Jaemin’s side, staring at him keenly, “Care to hear some?” Jeno offered.

Jaemin listened to Jeno strumming his guitar while humming tunes, occasionally assimilating some inaudible words. Jeno had a low honeyed voice. His voice mixed with the acoustic sounds was heavenly.

The listening boy felt his heart thumped. No, no, no. Catching feelings was not something he wanted to endeavour that moment. He agreed, Jeno did turn out differently than what he painted him as. But, that was not good reason for him to suffer one-sided love. Jeno strummed his last chords, then focused at the gawking boy, flashing his eye-smile.

“What do you think?”

“It was good. I loved it,” Jaemin stuttered. Jeno’s smile caught him by surprise. “Have you thought about the lyrics?”

Jeno sighed again, “That’s the problem. I at words.”

You see, Jaemin’s vocabulary and poetic sense were not on point either. However, this boy read enough books to come up with some idyllic lyrics. Jaemin let out a ‘hmm’ when he scooted closer to Jeno.

“How about: In the middle of my chaos, there was you. And suddenly all the love songs are about you.” mumbled the pretty boy, totally lost in his brain storage. He looked up to see Jeno’s opinion. However, Jeno’s eyes were already on him, resulting an eye-contact between them. At this point, Jaemin would have break it and run for his life. Somehow, the two boys locked their gaze tighter for a little bit too long.

Jeno was gaping; his lips were slightly apart when he watched over Jaemin’s lips. Jeno felt like he was drunk. Subconciously, he leaned closer to Jaemin. He gazed down at the younger’s pink lips as he tilted his head a bit to the side. Beside him was a tensed Jaemin, with his breath hitched and fist pumped. He could feel Jeno’s breath hitting his skin.

Jeno snapped out of it when he sensed Jaemin’s nervousness. He pulled away, to Jaemin’s dismay and said, “Can I see you some time?”

Jaemin did not know that in Jeno’s dictionary, ‘some time’ meant at least three times a day. He came over whenever the street seemed to be less busy, using the excuse that Jaemin was good with lyrics and he was in a desperate situation.

Another day of having Jeno over. He was scribbling on his paper while Jaemin arranging flowers. Jeno sat in front of Jaemin with a large wooden table separating them.

“So, you remember that time you told me about the blue rose? Do roses have different meanings, depending on their colours?” Jeno asked, genuinely curious.

Jaemin got up from his spot and walked around the store, introducing the flowers and their meanings to Jeno, “Roses in general mean love. But, if you want to express your feeling more specifically, you have different options of roses. Like, yellow roses symbolise joy and friendship. Purple roses; love at first sight. Lavender; enchantment.”

Jeno watched Jaemin went on about flowers. Some of the content slipped through as he was too immersed staring at the boy. , he’s beautiful. He trailed behind Jaemin, having a proper view of his side profile. But, he favourite was Jaemin’s lips. How his lips pursed when he smiled. When he smile, the corner of his lips curved, accentuating his cheekbones.

“...and yellow with red tips is the prettiest one. It symbolises falling in love,” Jaemin wrapped up. He noticed how unusually quiet Jeno was behind him, so he turned his body back to check on him.

Jaemin bumped into Jeno as he did not realised how close the boy was standing behind him. He gripped Jeno’s arm for support so that he would not fall. Jeno caught his waist in that midst of the situation.

Instinctively, Jeno pulled him closer and said, “Like right now?”

Jaemin gulped at his remark. Right now?? Falling in love?? Jaemin did not want to hold back right now. The moment was straight out of a drop dead romantic film. His grip tightened as he caught Jeno his chapped lips while gazing at his.

Jeno wasted no time. He attacked Jaemin’s lips, gradually slowing his pace as he devoured is lips. Jaemin shut his eyes, a gasp escaping his lips. He responded to Jeno’s kiss immediately. Bringing his arms upwards, fingers in between Jeno’s locks. The touch messed up Jeno’s system as he grew frustrated. He lost it when Jaemin bit his lips.

The two were in their own little world, not minding if anyone walked into them. However, they hoped nobody did. Of course, sinful act could not be let off easily. An elderly came in, with intention to visit her favourite teen: Jaemin. She shrieked out, “Oh my god! You two finally got together!”

Jaemin was distinctly flustered as he trying to break off from Jeno who was still into the kiss, resulting Jeno to place kisses along his jaw. Jeno inhaled and looked up to the elderly woman. He smirked at her remark.

“You know- you should- um- get going… I should get going,” Jaemin stammered.

Jeno then pecked his cheek before whispering, “We’ll continue this later, baby.”

The next day, Jaemin found himself looking forward to see Jeno. His eyes shifted towards the opposite store every three minutes. Why is he not here yet? He grew anxious. As he heard the creaking sound of the door, he rushed out.

His disappointment must had been obvious when he saw the original owner unlocking the door and he teased, “I’m sorry to disappoint you. But, Jeno asked me to pass you this.”

Jaemin took what it seemed like a note from him before thanked him. He walked back to his store, sigh in exasperation. He opened the note.

Meet me at this place tonight, at 8 pm: xxxx

Will be waiting for you.

-jeno

It was a simple affinity. But hell, it erupted all the tingles in Jaemin. He had to admit it. Yesterday was magical. He could finally acknowledge that he fell for the boy. Hard. He did not know Jeno that much yet. But he intended to. He wanted to be the one who knew about Jeno the most.

Waiting till the sun set was pure torture for Jaemin, especially knowing in few hours he would be seeing the love of his life. God knew he was restless all day. As the clock hit 7:30 sharp, he picked up his belongings and dashed towards the address.

Walking in the dark with full reliance on the GPS took some time for Jaemin to arrive. He arrived exactly on time. The place turned out to be an ancient looking pub. The neon lights flickered, adding more youth-feeling onto it. There was a tiny stage at the end of the space with spotlights.

Jaemin was bewildered. Jeno was nowhere in his sight. He wandered around like a lost puppy, trying to blend himself in. Suddenly, the lights went off. And the spotlight shined onto the stage. A familiar silhouette caught Jaemin’s eyes. Of course, it was the biy he had been longing since this morning, looking like a royalty with his grey blazers on and a guitar.

“This is for a person who is as sweet as a flower; his smile, his voice, him,” the low affectionate voice echoed into the space, emitting a simultaneous ‘aww’ from the crowd.

I didn’t believe in love at first sight,

but here I am holding purple roses for you.

The way you talk,

You had the white roses envy your purity.

You wear your smile like a loaded gun,

all mysterious intriguing me.

Here’s a blue rose,

that’s how I feel.

In the middle of my chaos,

there was you.

And suddenly,

all the love songs are about you.

Jaemin was left open-mouth. He did not expect Jeno to listen to his rambles. But most of all, he was touched by Jeno’s performance. Just when he thought he could not possibly fall more for him, Jeno wrapped up his performance with a ment,

“I am unsure about lots of things, especially meanings behind flowers. But, one thong I’m certain of, is that I’m in love with you, Na Jaemin,” Jeno said, staring straight at him, the whole audience followed his stare, clapping enthusiastically.

Jeno slipped through the crowd before marching over and pull Jaemin in his embrace. Jaemin hid his face by pressing it on Jeno’s broad shoulder. Jeno chuckled, “How was it?”

Jaemin shyly looked at Jeno, “You fool. I love you too.”

Jeno smiled so wide he felt his cheekbones ache. He stared at the smaller boy lovingly before pulling out a red rose, “The feelings I have for you were in every other roses. Red is basic, but ‘love’ is what I mostly feel for you. You were on my mind at every odd hours and I don’t hate it. I want to always think of you. Call me selfish, but I want you to think of me every time you heard the word ‘love’.”

Jaemin smiled before cupping his face, “I always do.”