Work Text:
The trails of roses were beautiful,
the way I feel for you wasn't.
I.
“Kai-” Huening kai had to watch Kang Taehyun stumble to his feet, trying to catch up with him-“sorry I have to keep you waiting, Beomgyu hyung kept me for a while.”
Kai clicked his tongue, and it was silent enough to not be noticed by Taehyun who only smiled at him apologetically. There's that familiar bitterness he can frustratedly taste every time the older mentions his Beomgyu hyung, again. Kai knew better than to hope, so he smiled and nodded his head.
It was better to keep it. That's what he keeps telling himself as he stared at how Taehyun grabbed his phone from the pocket of the denim jacket Kai could tell was Beomgyu's, and then Taehyun laughed at something. Kai knew it was wrong but when he leaned closer to look over, he saw Beomgyu's name with a moon emoji next to it and a sparkling heart.
That was too much.
He pressed his lips tightly, forcing himself to not say anything, and had to compose himself, continue walking and act like he saw nothing. Act like he wasn't affected, and that it doesn't hurt.
Because after all, he was just the best friend. He never really got out of that zone ever since the whole Choi Beomgyu happened. He couldn't even blame the guy! He was oblivious than a fucking rock and it's what frustrates Kai the most.
And while they're both silently walking, inhaling the night breeze and under the million little stars with the moon beside it, a memory was playing on Huening Kai's mind.
A memory of how he finally accepted his feelings for his best friend.
II.
It was when they were both 18, and Kai was looking down at Taehyun, and back to the rose he had been holding for more than a minute. It's Valentine's day and so he has an excuse to give him flowers. The rose already has spots of black, and it's only a matter of time that the rose will begin shredding its petals.
He bought it for Taehyun because his mother told him that if you're fond of someone, you can give them flowers as a symbol of it. But Taehyun didn't notice it. He was busy munching the chocolates Beomgyu had brought him, not even asking or giving the flower a glance.
Another moment, and then it became hours, the rose's petals were now beginning to fall. One petal met the ground, and then two, and three—Kai had to throw it in the trash. With a heavy heart, he went back to sit beside Taehyun.
Kai knew that very moment that falling for someone who already fell for someone else was like flowers growing into your lungs. Although beautiful, it's painful.
III.
“Kai!” Taehyun waves his hand in front of his best friend and Kai is pulled back to the agonizing reality of everything. “You're spacing out again. Are you okay?”
“I am. Just a little bit tired.”
They both stop walking because Taehyun did it first, and Kai got confused so he stopped walking as well. It might have been the harsh and loud pounding of his heart that made him freeze on his spot, but it might also be because Taehyun hugged him suddenly. That caught him off guard and he had to put his hands immediately on both Taehyun's shoulders and push the guy gently.
That habit of Taehyun really gets me everytime. Taehyun will hug him every time and he will not think about it one bit. Huening kai would receive that hug and would try to shove everything on the deepest part of his mind and heart, as well as the sound of his heart beating faster than the normal beat of one's heart.
“I'm really okay,” Kai nervously said and pat Taehyun's head.
He was not okay.
And then they continue walking again, oblivious of the trail of rose petals coming out of Kai's bag pack. Or maybe Kai was not oblivious of it, maybe he just knew that just like the first rose that ended up with no petals and left painful thorns, the second one will end up that way, too.