𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐒 • Park Seonghwa + Reader (they/them) *best friends au ! Angst !
Warnings : I tried my best , I don’t really know if I touched on the ‘best friend’ part enough or not . 🥺 or the angst part . please tell me how I did 🥺🥺
Seonghwa grinned , biting his inner cheek to suppress a smile as he sighed into his phone , heeled boots clicking behind him as he headed towards the florist’s .
“Hong , I’m way too nervous and way too excited for my own good.” A jolt of excitement shot through him as he told Hongjoong and he resisted the urge to start bouncing up and down , chattering teeth clenched in an effort to control himself .
But Seonghwa didn’t want to look crazy . Not today.
Hongjoong laughed a little on the other end of the call .
Seonghwa took in a deep breath—though it did nothing to calm his heart—as his eyes scanned the signs hanging above shops , reading them to find the flower shop .
“It’s just that we haven’t seen each other since ...quarantine ! And you know how busy we’ve been-”
“Oh , I’m sure it’ll be fine. I’m not that close to them but it sure seems like...well , they like you too , Hwa.” Hongjoong chuckled , voice cracking over the line . Seonghwa giggled before hanging up . Nothing was going wrong . Nothing was going to go wrong .
It was a perfectly sunny day , with Seonghwa smiling just as bright . He was dressed in a white dress shirt—red and black overlapping the collar of it—and a presentable set of black jeans . Nothing was going wrong . Nothing .
He found the shop , hearing the ethereal chimes announcing his presence as he opened the door and met eyes with the tall young man who owned it .
“Hey there-” Seonghwa fished in his back pocket for his wallet , producing it and opening it without looking-“could I get a bouquet of roses ?”
The man smiled , nodding and went around the counter , gesturing for Seonghwa to follow behind him .
“What colours , dude ?” He hummed , pushing gold rimmed glasses up his nose . Seonghwa smiled ,“Red...That’s what you normally give people , right ?”
His smile looked almost painful as he rethought the colour he had chosen . Was red too basic ? Maybe roses were too basic . Do you even like flowers ? Of course they do , I got them roses once and they were elated-
“Well I’m guessing it’s for your lover ? Cause , yes. It’s pretty standard .” The man chuckled , picking fresh flowers . Seonghwa , reassured , nodded with bright eyes . His cheeks tinted nearly the same colour as the roses .
Lover ? His heart swelled at the idea . You...and him...lovers . Had he been in his own company , he would have squealed at the thought . But no . Nothing would go wrong . He wasn’t going to risk embarrassing himself . Nope , nothing .
The florist wrapped the roses well and waited , wordlessly , for the payment . Seonghwa blinked for a second before audibly reaslising what was to come next . Paying and carefully taking the bouquet , Seonghwa glanced at his watch and then headed for the door .
“Thank you , Mister...Mingi.” He smiled , squinting to read the man’s name tag just before he stepped out . Mingi blinked , slightly bewildered before calling out . Seonghwa paused , turning back .
“It looks like it’s gonna rain soon , take care .” He wished , smiling . Seonghwa looked out at the clouds to find them grey . He smiled at Mingi , waving with his free hand before turning to leave .
It’s okay . A little rain won’t ruin the day . Might even make it more romantic-nope , let’s not go there yet . He tried to shake off some blush as he headed towards the bus stop where you both would usually meet .
He inhaled and exhaled as thunder rumbled overhead , almost signifying something .
“Hey , I like you,” he practiced he thought over it for a moment ,“No , no , no . Too forward .”
He paced , holding the flowers behind his back as he racked his brain .
Then he stopped abruptly , facing the lamp post and focusing on it .
“Hey , we’ve been best friends for a really long time-” the words fell out as his eyes widened and his jaw lowered .
Seonghwa’s heart stopped for a moment . Its every beat echoed in his ear almost mockingly , to tell him he was alive and what he was seeing was real . The grip he had on the bouquet loosened and it nearly fell to the ground .
He slumped against the lamp post , watching . Watching you kiss someone else goodbye . Watching how their hands hung around your waist and how you pulled them in. Watching as he heard his own heart breaking .
His eyes watered and, shakily , a crooked , broken kind of smile fit onto his face .
“Oh.” He croaked , voice breaking . He gulped back something that clawed at his throat , ignoring hot tears and looked away as he processed it all .
Processed how all his efforts had been thrown away . How he was not the one .
How everything had went wrong .
He chuckled darkly and stumbled backwards .
Breathy excuses for laughter left his lips as he looked around at the blurry world . Rain started pattering against the streets , finally dropping .
It went wrong . Something went wrong . What had he done wrong ? His lower lip trembled as he bit on it , watching you say your last goodbyes and smile at your lover for lending you their jacket so you could meet him .
Something soaked his shirt , he didn’t quite know if it was his tears or the rain . Quickly wiping his face , Seonghwa’s eyes refocused on you who was about to turn and head for him . He turned his back against you , praying that you wouldn’t come . Praying you would go home .
Home with them. He closed his eyes , struggling to contain his emotions . Thunder clapped but he didn’t flinch . His grip on the flowers was loose but , he was too afraid of letting go . He couldn’t . Not...not yet-
“Seonghwa ?” His grip tightened as the voice pierced his ears . He barely turned back to see you . Your smile a little curious , your aura a little too happy . A kind of giddy he guessed they had caused .
“What are you doing in the rain?” You tutted , clicking your tongue in annoyance and pulled him under the shelter of the bus stop .
He thought you’d be warm . That he’d be warm in your presence .You’d always been warm , radiated this light that made everyone feel nice .
But that day , under the bus stop , in your presence , Seonghwa shivered . Maybe because he was cold . Maybe because he was soaking wet . Or maybe he just mistook the shaking of his hunched shoulders that only ever happened when he was sobbing for shivering.
“What’s with the roses ?” You hummed , taking your warm fingers and wrapping them around his wrist . Seonghwa shut his eyes as you examined the bouquet , gulping down grief and anxiousness. His heart ached and he hoped you wouldn’t make any links .
“Seonghwa ?” You whispered , concerned eyes catching his pained expression . He hummed , smiling convincingly after years of practice . You cocked an eyebrow , gaze firing the bullet that wounded him.
“Nothing’s wrong , if that’s what you’re wondering.” He cleared his throat , gripping the roses tighter .
Your eyes showed hurt , the kind that was so shallow it could barely be seen . His one was buried , deep deep down . Too deep for normal people to find . For you to find .
“Sounds like something you would say when something’s wrong,” you peered into his eyes as you muttered , searching for any signs . He looked away shakily , pushing the bouquet of roses behind his back .
“No-” he repeated , murmuring so softly he should have been drowned out by the rain-“No , I’m absolutely fine.”
