008 SWEET LOVE

'soon, when all is well, you're going to look back at this period of your life and be so glad that you never gave up.'

//

the next day Zelda stands outside of Flores with her arms crossed.

Zelda appears to be focused on the ground, her mind in a sloppy, tender daze as she thinks about the flower boy called Jimin. how did she get so lucky to meet him? to talk to him? the thought of spending time with him... alone makes her insides twist in the most pleasurable way- she's never been good at interacting with people, the silence becomes too awkward, the conversations become too small and her anxiety gets the best of her. however, the uncertainty of what their bond could lead to makes her anxious, what are his thoughts? does he feel the romantic pull too?

her thoughts come to a halt- images of unreal Jimin, his voice and imaginary scenarios dissolve when she notices a lanky man on a bicycle, stumbling over in her direction. she moves aside quickly, trying to avoid the harmful impact that will occur but she ends up being bumped by the clumsy stranger.

others would raise their voice and ask, can't you see where you're going? but all Zelda can do is stand up straight, brush dirt off her clothed arms and admire the basket of the strangers bicycle. she's always wanted a bicycle like that- one that would allow her to explore the town that she's lived in for years just a little more whilst still feeling at one with nature, allow her to inhale the scent of the emerald park and whisk past people on the industrious pavements.

Zelda's caring, compassionate and open minded nature is something that the world needs more of .. she wants to make sure the gawky man is okay after his accident, never thinks about shouting. "are you okay?"

"oh shit." the man with amber hair and dismal eyes mutters. the swirls of brown in his eyes hold turmoil and suddenly irritation. he stumbles in his steps and holds the bicycle in his hands- not aware of Zelda's serene help when she lifts the slightly heavy use of transport from the floor. the two of them move out the way, allowing strangers to walk their paths.

his prolonged scarf intertwines with the handles of the bicycle as the autumn colours of his outfit vibrate off him- a fashion sense too artistic not to stare at. "fuck! i swore." he speaks to himself. he seems like a man that gets lost in his own bubble, a bubble that he likes to spend time in freely and Zelda can't help but admire that because her own bubble is one she loves to escape to. our own individual, personal bubbles can be places of solace.

everyone has their own bubbles of escapism, comfort and cheer- one everyone attends to when they need to get away from life. one that we unintentionally get lost in. Zelda's bubble happens to hold loneliness, the smell of rain on a gloomy day, her grandad, silly Taehyung, cafe smells, examples of love, vintage movies, affective music, crinkled paper and her constant writing.

and flowers are starting to become part of her own personal bubble.

along with Park Jimin.

Zelda watches the stranger, trying not to laugh at his concern for swearing. the poor, jittery man is not surprised by his falling actions- he's used to himself and how one accident seems to happen one after the other as his scarf chokes him unexpectedly. "and you swore again." she points out with a shrug.

"yeah, i don't swear so-"

Zelda fidgets on the spot, playing with her fingers, sliding off her rings before sliding them back onto her slender fingers. the nerves of meeting new people in tricky situations reappears- all she wants is people to be gracious and friendly and if they are... she feels much better, welcomed. "sorry for making you swear." she says, her tone soft as always.

the man waves his hand. "no no, it's fine! it's not your fault. are you okay?" he asks. Zelda finds it nice to have someone ask about her wellbeing, other than her grandad or Taehyung even if it's about her physicality.

"yes, thank you kind stranger." Zelda laughs which makes him smile- dimples showing in both glazed cheeks. her laugh is one that makes others feel warm, a small sound that can bring joy to the bleakest of hearts. and the man leaves, making sure Zelda is okay with a concerned nod. another person she'll never meet again- she starts to think about the amount of strangers she's met in her lifetime and will never meet again, all with their own, wild stories and beautiful, slowly lost memories.

Zelda doesn't realise that a few minutes later, Jimin appears with his wrapped leather bag as he closes the florist for the day with an unintentional smile. he waves at her and calls out her name. a voice so winsome saying Zelda! makes shivers run down her arms. say my name again.

"you ready?" Zelda asks as he stands in front of her, the smile on his face continues to radiate such happiness that passerbys fall in love with the being.

Jimin seems enthusiastic after his long day of work. "yup let's go."

he asks Zelda to place the florist's keys into the backpack that's thrown on his back and she does, eventually joining his side to walk together. "was it busy today?" she asks- small talk feeling comfortable with her inevitable crush. with others, it's simply to pass time and be polite in a way that it wouldn't be awkward for the two people.

"no, it never is." Jimin replies immediately. he seems irritated but also aware with the desolation of his work place which is a surprise. having it next to a cafe that works so wonderfully must not be good for business. but then again, people like new things and their interest will eventually move on, even in a matter of seconds. but a florist in such a modern town seems pointless as each day passes.

"when i first started working at Flores, i expected there to be so many customers. but we're lucky if just one person comes into the store now. before, people came and asked for deliveries, but that was before things changed." he seems afflicted by the fact and Zelda feels his emotion because society does not see the relevance of flowers, how much significance they hold from just a name. the way Jimin, Zelda and her grandad admire flowers is very different from everybody else.

and when society's opinions and beliefs differ from a certain individual, conflict arises and things fall because going against the typical norm is pressurising.

Jimin is a man that doesn't speak to many but only those that seem engrossed in his life, only those he feels comfortable with and Zelda means a lot to him, despite the short time of knowing each other. he never expected to feel this way with her. he feels wanted and listened to, which is why he gladly listens to Zelda- a girl he's aware doesn't talk a lot either and he appreciates it when she does, knowing she trusts him to share her thoughts.

"people don't buy flowers anymore. they care more about materialistic things, but hey! because of you, I look at flowers differently." she nudges him with her elbow playfully which catches him by surprise and his cinnamon eyes gape at her. she tries her best to make him feel better. "they're more than just a present, more than something that's natural and grows out of the soil. they have several meanings and are symbolic." she tries her best to show Jimin that she understands, that his emotions are valid. a sense of gratitude is hidden behind her words since... because of him, she has a diverse perception.

flowers hold temperance, they wilt and die. but they also hold beauty and remain for an everlasting moment.

"my grandad loves knowing the meanings too. he always researches it and I guess I do too now." she offers a smile which he returns and it makes them feel better- shared smiles is becoming normal between the similar, delighted individuals. flowers are blooming in their chest, surrounding their hearts with careful vines. Zelda is reminded of herself sitting in front of the laptop, smiling at the meanings behind flowers petals- their looks and her grandad wanting to learn more and buy more flowers, taking in every little aspect of them.

"your words are very true. do you like flowers?" Jimin asks, carefully choosing his words and he wonders what Zelda loves about life on earth. he wants to discover more about her, remember her smile and her words. grow with her.

"are you seriously asking me that? I come to your shop everyday to buy flowers."

"ah and here I was thinking you came everyday just to see me." Jimin pouts without him realising, his bottom lip stained in pretty coral juts out and the way he looks at her makes her blush. "I'm joking." he adds with a chuckle, not wanting to be too obvious.

"no you're right, you caught me." Zelda raises her hands in defeat and she kicks the small stone in her path. "i've been looking for an excuse to hang out with you, so then the meanings of flowers as an article became the perfect excuse." she admits and is astounded by herself because she usually never talks so much, never opens up so fast and it's terrifying.

"i should've brought my book of flower meanings!" the boy exclaims, waving his hands in the air as he accidentally bumps into the young lady. he apologises and Zelda murmurs don't worry. their sides brushed.

"you have one? oh my god." and she lets out a shy laugh, of course he does.

"yes... I have to impress the customers with my broad knowledge." Jimin replies with pride which she mentally applauds him for and she admires his veiled intelligence, memorising countless flower names and meanings must be hard. she can't even remember what her article's last month were about. cats and dogs? how obsessions with boy bands last until marriage? strangest kinks in society? will the world keep changing?

Zelda can imagine the scene perfectly, the boy greeting baffled customers as they gaze around the store, not knowing what flowers would be the best gift for a birthday, a thank you note, a party, a birth of a child. that's until everyone's hero- Park Jimin comes along with his wisdom of flowers and their meanings. therefore, customers do not just leave with a flower bouquet for their loved ones but also a fact from a boy they had never met before.

that prince like boy is enough to make anyone come back. she knows better.

Zelda hums. "does it work?"

one thing Zelda has noticed about Jimin is that he's a smooth individual, like their good friend Taehyung. many similarities and differences bind their golden friendship together. "it worked with you didn't it?" he smiles, pleased with his answer and Zelda's nervousness.

Zelda shakes her head, admitting defeat for the second time. "damn it."

her honest words slip out as she recalls the first time he told her, at their first meeting what lilacs meant. she never expected to meet such a dedicated and cunning boy. "It's impressive." she shrugs, referring to his knowledge. 

Jimin thanks her, fixing the collar of his pastel blue button up and watching his leather boots make each step. "i like learning new things everyday." he states.

earlier in life, people would tell Jimin he was a nerd for wanting to learn. they saw it as a waste of time whereas the exceptional boy enjoyed school, enjoyed learning more about the world he was born into and to finally hear someone who agreed with his messy thoughts made him want to appreciate himself more. and Zelda was that person who made him want to thrive and continue to learn. no

"so do i." Zelda agrees, their similarities shining through the town of mystery, occasional drama and beauty. the task of learning is something that happens everyday without her realising. her life doesn't feel unproductive when she realises that she's being taught, even if it's the smallest of things such as the lesson of self care. "when I get a new writing task i have to do research for example, Greek mythology or Lucifer and God or something-"

Jimin likes the way Zelda speaks. as a writer, she speaks well. "you make your job sound like a once in a lifetime opportunity." he smiles, wanting to hear her speak more to him. about her job, her love life, her memories...

"it is." she nods eagerly. "it's amazing." and Zelda suddenly feels grateful that Nora gave her the splendid job because if she didn't, she wouldn't have discovered herself more, explored her writing abilities, met Taehyung and even Jimin. she smiles shyly, also looking at the ground and notices Jimin's leather boots contrasting with her brown ones.

Jimin folds his arms over his chest, ringed hands clasping the sides of his small, slender body. "then there's Taehyung who's like, yeah today i wrote about different sex positions, who wants to try?"

Zelda bursts into laughter and remembers his reaction when he got assigned the article he wasn't expecting. "he was a mess when he was writing that article. he struggled for days, lots of energy drinks and he got in trouble for screaming at the office when he came across porn accidentally when researching sex positions online. we ended up watching it together, trying to analyse."

"so yeah, once in a lifetime kind of guy."

—

the couple sit together on a hill patched with natural grass, spiralled vines clothed with leaves from trees leaning close where buildings such as colossal houses filled with chaotic families, apartments filled with solitary, active students are overlooked. the view is one that is different from a balcony as the beryl essence of nature surrounds the sight of the city.

but the sight of the couple is one that people glance at... young and pure love. a boy who's golden locks are flattened by his baby blue beanie, wanting to cover his ears from the cold as he rubs his hands together. he pulled out his emergency beanie from the backpack that matches his boots. he accidentally making eye contact with passing strangers before scooting closer to the girl who keeps her distance from him physically but has somehow made her way to his heart. Zelda notices the proximity between her and Jimin. she feels the nerves reappear yet his consoling presence makes her want to spend a lifetime with him, get to know him and be with him. she can't help but scoot a little closer, mentally groaning when their thighs touch just a little.

"woah," leaves Zelda's lips as she wraps her cardigan covered arms around her knees, her eyes focusing on the view in front of them. she notices things she hasn't noticed before such as the park filled with children and a zip wire she knows Taehyung would love, paths filled with scattered rocks which are being kicked around by people with brief looks, trying to bring depth into a brief conversation on their nice stroll in the grassy gardens.

"you can see everything from here! look... there's even some flowers there." she blurts out, noticing patches of different groups of flowers, embarrassed by her sudden love for the naturalistic flowers. when she turns to her side, Jimin is already looking at her and she loves how the hazel and golden specks in his eyes are brought out more due to his blue shirt.

she musters up some unusual courage and tells Jimin that she remembers a few flower names and he lifts up his small hand, giving her a jolly high five.

"speaking of flowers..." Jimin smiles a close lipped smile before pulling his backpack onto his lap. he takes out a flower from inside, the scent strong as ivory petals come into view. he had wrapped it delicately with tissue paper from the florist, relieved that it has stayed intact gracefully. "here you go."

Zelda holds the delicate flower with her fingers. the petals are smooth against the pads of her fingers and the immediate scent fills her sensitive nose. Jimin notices Zelda's care when handling the flower and it makes him admire her more. he can't help but hope to be handled like that one day. all these years and he hasn't been handled with the care and gentle nature he has craved- the same way he's handled with flowers. he wants the same.

"tell me the meaning oh intellectual one." Zelda laughs and glances at Jimin who's already staring at her. his sudden eyes on her makes her look away.

Jimin laughs too and he looks ahead of them, at the view, trying his best to ignore the rapid beating of his heart. he hasn't felt like this in a long time. actually he's never felt like this. "well i'm glad you asked Zelda." he grins, lips turning upwards before he stretches out his slender legs in front of him.

the flower boy- intrigued by the flowers in his workplace, in his home, in his heart and mind starts to explain. "the meaning of the Jasmine flower is varied." he starts and Jimin remembers the countless times he has given the same flower to his friends for them to give to someone they like, like Taehyung to Talulah and Jin to a girl he mentioned but never talked about. mystery even in people.

"it's meaning is associated with love and romance. it's the perfect gift for a special person." his voice wavers in nervousness as he feels himself blushing, hoping she doesn't get the hint but also hoping she maybe does? i'm making my crush on her so obvious! "it brings more luck into their lives. good luck and fortune. the gentle petals of the Jasmine as well as it's beautiful colour perfectly compliments the symbolism of the pretty flower."

Zelda nods, listening to every word. "I hope the entire park heard that." beauty! she marvels at his words, appreciating his mind and intelligence. she can't help but look at the flower differently.

"it's a beautiful park." Jimin admits.

have you seen yourself? Zelda thinks and lifts up her gifted flower to her nose and smiles unintentionally.

—

in their safe space of the park, surrounded by flowers, greenery and the silence of the town, Jimin builds up bravery and ambition for his moment. it's one that is spontaneous for him.

Jimin's voice is gentle when he speaks. "can i kiss you?" he asks, his body leaning towards a surprised Zelda who's eyes lower to the flower boy's lips.

Zelda's mind runs in circles, a yes cloud her thoughts and she leans closer. she feels her hand touch the back of Jimin's laying on the grass and she laughs, "you don't even have to ask."

"of course I have to ask! consent is very important-"

and Zelda laughs, bringing her lips to Jimin's as he eagerly kisses her back. their lips move against each other's, the softness of their kiss match their soft, flowering interior as they hold each other tightly. Jimin's hands caress her cheeks, cradling her face with his gentle touch. they move to hold the sides of her neck, fingers stroking lines before wrapping around her shoulders- all whilst kissing her with delight, just lips.

Zelda's hands tangle through his blonde locks, taking off his beanie in the process and moves closer. it's a soft, first kiss that she knows she'll spend her entire life remembering.

they both smile through the kiss and Zelda takes a moment to be thankful for the boy who makes flowers grow in the imperfect pieces of her growing heart.