Taehyung sighed again, when he saw Jungkook noticing the flower bunch he had left in the younger's path, but turning a blind eye to it. It's a regular occurrence and Taehyung should really be used to it by now. Even so, he couldn't stop the sting in his heart when he saw Jungkook walking past the flowers as they were truly invisible.

After Jungkook left, Taehyung picked up the flower bunch. He had made an extra effort this time to find purple coloured flowers because he knew that it was Jungkook's favorite color. He looked at his palms, which had scratches all over, a result of trying to pluck a particular set of flowers that had loads of thorns on its stem. For him, it was worth the wounds because those flowers were the prettiest in the bunch. But of course, Jungkook probably didn't even notice.

Taehyung would never give up, he can swear in front of any god, but it'd be a lie to say it didn't sting. He had put so much effort to catch a glimpse from Jungkook, to have a simple conversation where Jungkook's every word doesn't feel like a knife stab to his heart. But the younger prince had been adamant in treating Taehyung as a stranger, unrelenting in keeping up his walls so high that Taehyung's voice had no chance of reaching that barrier.

Taehyung had brought flowers, food, drinks, and ornaments which he thought would match Jungkook's preferences… anything and everything he possibly can think of and afford. He follows Jungkook almost everyday now, except for market days. He can't disregard his work as it's the only source of income for him. His mother is beside herself with anger of having to do all the housework work by herself but Taehyung truly believed that she deserved it.

Just like he deserved to be standing under the scorching sun for a couple of hours, so he could accompany Jungkook when he goes to replenish Namjoon's herbal ingredients stock. Taehyung's father was the one who was supposed to join that task but Taehyung managed to make his father stay at home and come in his stead.

However, when Jungkook completely disregarded his presence and started to walk ahead, Taehyung couldn't stay quiet anymore. He quickly took a few steps, till he was walking right next to Jungkook.

“Father is not feeling well.”

Taehyung waited for a few seconds for Jungkook to acknowledge it, but when the younger one didn't, he bit back the sigh and spoke up again. “He asked me to accompany you, so that you won't have to go alone.”

A blatant lie, Taehyung knew that Jungkook knew it. To be honest, he was kind of expecting to get scolded from Jungkook for that. He was sure that lying again would not be something that Jungkook would tolerate. But to his surprise, Jungkook didn't react to it at all, as if he didn't care about it either.

“Sorry, I lied.” Taehyung raised an arm in an surrendering gesture. “He's not even sick actually, in case you were worrying. I asked him to stay back today and let me come instead. And I already cleared it out with Namjoon-ssi. He said you know all the stuff that he needs and I can just help to carry them. I'm sure he didn't want to do it but I kind of asked Jin hyung to talk to Namjoon as well so I guess that worked.”

That must be the most Taehyung had spoken in front of Jungkook in a long while but even that wasn't enough to pull out a response from Jungkook. So Taehyung just followed him quietly from there on, thanking the gods that Jungkook didn't stop him from coming.

Even when they ventured deep into the forest in search of rare medicinal plants and stuff, there was only silence between them. Jungkook led the way, and by the looks of it, he wasn't even slightly bothered by his companion.

However, once they started to collect what they wanted, Jungkook couldn't stay quiet. He had to communicate with Taehyung, as they had to work as a team for this part.

“Hold this bottle under the cut, wait for the liquid to clear before you start collecting.”
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“Don't put these leaves with those red cherries. They react.”
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“Watch out for those thorns, they are poisonous. We only need the young leaves.”
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Taehyung did as he was told, with only giving minimal responses, most of the time just a simple ‘okay’. He had enough sense to know that this isn't the time to force Jungkook into a conversation. However, when Jungkook dropped his bags on the ground, held his small, curved knife in between his teeth, and looked like he's about to climb a big tree, Taehyung wouldn't stay quiet.

He grabbed Jungkook's elbow and gently turned him away from the tree. “What are you doing?”

Jungkook looked at him for a few seconds before holding the knife with his fingers. He then pointed towards the vibrant flowers at the high branches of the tree. “I need to get 5 of those flowers.”

Taehyung looked up again. It was quite far from the ground. “You're gonna climb?”

Jungkook didn't answer and just nodded his head.

“With a knife between your teeth??”

“Where else am I to keep it then?”

Taehyung didn't have an answer to that. He didn't want Jungkook to hold it in his hand or somewhere on his body where there's a chance of him getting cut by it.

“Can't you pluck it by hand?”

“The stem is too hard. And it irritates my fingers.”

Taehyung raised his eyebrows at that. “How many times have you done this before?!”

For that, Jungkook didn't answer. But he did give a look that said ‘mind your own business’ right before he turned back towards the tree. He was gonna climb but Taehyung was faster.

“It's dangerous.” Taehyung held Jungkook's elbow again. “Let me do it.”

Jungkook simply pulled his arm away. “It's my job.”

“But you might get hurt!”

“I don't see how that's any of your business. My safety is not of your concern.”

Taehyung felt the verbal slap. He felt his cheek getting red from what Jungkook is so clearly implying. But he was not ready to back down either.

He grabbed the knife out of Jungkook's grip, and spoke in a tone which left no room for any arguments.

“You can hate me as much as you want, Kookie. But you'll do it with your feet firmly on the ground.”

With that, Taehyung held the knife with his teeth and started to climb the tree. It took him only a minute or so to get to the top. He sat on a steady branch, before calling down to Jungkook.

“Do you want the yellow, orange or the red?”

Jungkook huffed. Of course Taehyung had no clue what he even needed to get. The flower changes color as it matures and Jungkook needed an exact shade of orange, which he has no clue how to explain to Taehyung.

“It's orange, but you need to get the correct shade.” Jungkook yelled back, making Taehyung frown.

Exact shade? How was he supposed to know what that is? Taehyung thought for a few seconds before calling down. “Is it darker or lighter than the jewelry box I made for you?”

Jungkook felt a tug in his heart. The memories that he had locked in the furthest corner of his mind, was desperately trying to make a comeback. Jungkook didn't need to spend time remembering things related to Taehyung.

“A little lighter than that.”

Another question ame a few seconds later. “How about the color of the stars I drew for you?”

“D-darker than that.”

“Okay.

A few minutes later, Taehyung was climbing down, 5 flowers tucked in the sleeve of his hanbok, exactly the shade Jungkook needed.

Jungkook took the flowers, the surprise clearly visible in his face. “How did you-”

“I'm a painter, Kookie. Colors are kind of my thing.”

They stared at each other for about a minute before Jungkook closed his eyes. “Why can't you leave me alone?”

The voice was barely above a whisper. Taehyung felt his heart ache at the evident pain in that voice. He stepped closer to Jungkook and held his hand. He was indulged for a mere second only, before Jungkook snapped his eyes open and pulled his hand back.

“You know why.”

“I don't-”

“I'm here to earn your forgiveness, Kookie. I'll keep on trying till death calls for me.”

“What if I never forgive you?”

“Then so be it. I won't mind spending the rest of my life trying.”

Again, there was silence for a few seconds.

“And what if I forgave you?” Jungkook whispered. “Will you leave me alone then?”

Taehyung chuckled humorlessly. “Of course not. That's when the hard work starts.”

Jungkook blinked a few times in confusion. “What-”

Taehyung raised his hand and gently pushed a strand of unruly hair behind Jungkook's ear. The touch was so light that Jungkook didn't even feel it.

“After you forgive me, I need to make you fall in love with me again.”