Word count: 3,304
Small droplets of water landed on the withering leaves of the plant as Namjoon misted the poor thing. He hated seeing his beloved blooms dying out and always did his best to take care of them, giving any withered plants the extra TLC they needed.
His full lips were set into a concerned pout as he gently touched the sagging petals.
"You might need a little more than water." He murmured.
Taking a cursory glance around the little shop, he turned his attention to the plant before him and held his palms out as he focused. He watched through his wired spectacles as the once saggy leaves on the plant began to perk up, the blooms regaining their color as the life was brought back to it. When he lowered his hands there was a pleased smile on his face.
"There. All better."
The melodious ring of the bell chiming at the front entrance of the shop alerted Namjoon to a customer's presence.
He quickly smoothed out his beige waistcoat before proceeding to the front of the store where he spotted a woman perusing the plants. She pushed her h/c hair out of her face while squatting down to examine one of the potted flowers sitting in the window.
"Hello."
You stood upright, turning towards the voice that greeted you. Amongst the seeds and gardening supplies stood a man with soft-looking brown hair and thin wired spectacles perched on his nose. His attire was perfectly pristine and free of any dirt stains.
He must be a meticulous person. You thought.
Wait. Didn't he say hello to you?
"Hi." You forced out a greeting, hoping it wasn't too delayed.
He chuckled softly, flashing a smile causing small dimples to indent his cheeks.
"Can I help you find anything today?" He asked.
"Yes and no. I'm looking for a plant for my new apartment, something small and easy to take care of. I don't have a particular plant in mind so I was just looking around to see what you have, but if you've got any suggestions I'd be happy to hear them."
He hummed thoughtfully. "Normally people would go with a succulent. They require full sun and are the easiest to take care of."
"Do you have any of those in stock?"
"Of course. Follow me."
The man led you through the shop to the very back where a wooden shelf sat against the wall stocked with a variety of succulents.
"As you can see I have quite a few to choose from." He gestured. "With these, you only have to water them once a week. A good way to check if they need water is by sticking a chopstick into the dirt. If it comes out with no soil stuck to it, you need to water the plant."
You had already picked up one of the succulents, turning it around to get a look at it from all angles while the owner spoke.
"That's an interesting tip." You commented.
"Very."
You set the plant back onto the shelf where you found it.
"Do you have anything else?"
"Yes. This way."
Once again, you were led through the store to a different section.
"If you're into greenery, these are good low maintenance plants." He stepped forward and picked one up. "This is a philodendron. It only needs to be watered once a week, no more than that. And it can tolerate dark corners if your apartment doesn't have many windows or get much sunlight. I also have a split-leaf philodendron if you like the look of that one."
You nodded, taking in all the information he was giving.
"A small bamboo plant for a desktop is a nice choice as well. It's pretty, minimalistic, and adds some personality to the space. If you're looking for something with blooms, an orchid is a great choice. My orchids are over there." He gestured.
"Wow. There's so much to choose from." You commented.
"Mhm. I try to keep as wide of a variety of plants as I can. That way I have something for everyone."
He stood quietly for a moment, shifting from one foot to the other while you perused the plants clustered on the table.
"Well, I'll stop talking your ear off now and let you browse." He chuckled. "If you have any questions, feel free to ask."
"Thanks..." You trailed off, not knowing how to address him.
"Namjoon." He spoke up, your silence prompting him to introduce himself. "My name is Namjoon."
"Okay. Thanks Namjoon."
He pressed his lips together in a shy smile, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose before turning around and leaving you to yourself.
You stayed to look at the leafy, green plants for a few moments before deciding they were too plain for you. Moving back to the shelf of succulents, you briefly looked through them before grabbing a small one that had caught your attention the moment you saw it.
"Alright." You sighed out quietly, your eyes scanning the shop.
Color. You needed a plant with color. Sure, the succulent was cute and it would look nice sitting in your window, but you needed a pop of color. That's when you remembered Namjoon had suggested orchids. Meandering through the shop, you found yourself standing before a shelf with an array of colored orchids on display. They were all beautiful, but one in particular caught your eye. The blossoms were a stunning shade of blue accompanied by a vibrant pink hue that seeped outward from the center of the flower. You stepped closer to it, enraptured by its beauty and uniqueness. There was no doubt about it, you had to have this flower.
Without wasting a single second, you reached out and grabbed the light gray ceramic pot that held the stunning bloom, carrying it with you to the register where Namjoon stood.
"Ah." He smiled pleasantly when you set your purchases on the counter. "Wonderful choices."
"This one is so pretty." You commented while pointing at the orchid. "How did you get those colors?"
"Magic."
You gave a laugh of amusement. "So in other words, it's a secret?"
"Nah." He chuckled. "I'm just messing with you. I dyed it."
"Oh. I've heard of people doing that. I've just never seen something like this. It's so uniquely done. The way the fuchsia colors the center and the veins of the flower."
Namjoon gave a shy smile, muttering a bashful thank you before telling you your total for the two plants.
You paid for your items and wished him a good day, making your way out of the store.
Back at home, you searched for a place to put your new additions. The succulent ended up sitting on the windowsill of your bedroom and the orchid was placed on the coffee table in your living room area where the sun would shine on it. While adjusting the flower, your mind flashed up images of the handsome and dimpled plant shop owner, a light fluttering in your chest.
He was really handsome. You thought.
Stepping back to look at where the flower was positioned on the table, you gave a nod of approval, deciding it looked very nice sitting there.
A little over a week passed and you tended to your plants, watering them once a week as Namjoon had instructed. You really enjoyed your tiny succulent and uniquely-colored orchid, but something was still missing.
Two plants wasn't exactly enough.
The need for more greenery was what brought you back to the small plant nursery, stepping into the shop with a new mission.
"You're back." Namjoon's face lit up when he saw you.
"I am."
"How are your babies?"
"My babies?" You parroted with an amused chuckle.
"Your plants."
"They're doing well. I've been keeping a check on them and even though it's only been a week and a half since I brought them home, I think they'll be super easy to care for."
"They are. So, what can I help you find today?"
"I was considering getting another succulent to go in the window with my other one. The windowsill looks a bit empty with just one plant."
"Well, feel free to browse." Namjoon gestured towards the back where the succulents were kept.
Already knowing where they were, you headed back to the shelf and started looking through the tiny plants. One thing you loved about succulents was how different each one was. How they varied in color and how their leaves had different shapes. Instead of choosing a succulent that looked like the one you had at home, you chose to get a different one for variety.
"These are beautiful." You commented when you got to the register, reaching up to delicately touch one of the petals on a flower Namjoon had displayed on the counter. "I don't know much about plants, but isn't this one out of season? How did you manage to grow it?"
Namjoon shifted on his feet for a moment.
"I guess I have a green thumb." He shrugged with a dimpled grin.
"I guess you do."
"Will this be all for you?" He asked, pointing to the succulent.
"Yes. Just this one."
He gave you your total and you paid, but instead of leaving, you continued to stand there, hesitant to exit the shop.
"I noticed you sell things besides plants." You gestured to a display of seeds and bags of soil.
"I do. For those who want to try growing something from scratch, I have seeds. Those little bags are full of plant growth powder that helps to give extra nutrients to your plants."
"Like Miracle-Gro?"
"Yep, except this is my own mix." He leaned closer across the counter. "It's cheaper than Miracle-Gro too."
"It is?"
He nodded. "Not only is my special growth mix more affordable, but it works just as well, maybe even better."
"If I have any dying plants I'll be sure to come here first." You gave him a smile and started to hesitantly make your way towards the entrance. "Thanks for the new plant."
"It was my pleasure. Have a nice day."
As soon as the glass door closed behind you, a wave of realization hit Namjoon.
He didn't ask for your name.
Before he could make any advances, you were already out of sight. He dropped his head with a sigh. Another missed opportunity. He silently cursed himself for getting so nervous around you that it slipped his mind. All he could think about when speaking to you was to try and be professional and helpful.
Maybe she'll be back. He thought.
Your new succulent looked perfect next to the first one you purchased and really added some personality to the space. The windowsill looked fuller and more colorful, painting the area with various shades of green.
This is perfect. You thought.
Three beautiful, low-maintenance plants was all you needed.
Or so you thought.
As the days went on, you kept trying to make excuses to visit the plant shop, each time talking yourself out of it. If you gave in and allowed yourself to take off every time you wanted to see Namjoon, your apartment would turn into a jungle. You wanted to see the cute shop owner so bad that any time you saw a bare spot in your apartment, your first thought was to add a plant there.
Then again, maybe you could just admit that you're interested in him and see if he wanted to grab lunch sometime.
You were quick to push the thought right out of your mind. No way you were going to do that.
***
You were preparing a meal for yourself, bustling around the kitchen to try and get everything ready at the same time. In your haste, you reached across the stovetop to pull the lid off one of the two pans, foolishly forgetting to grab an oven mitt first, this little fumble resulting in a burn to your hand.
Hissing, you withdrew your stinging fingers and palm, rushing to the sink to run it under cold water.
Even after you turned the faucet off, the stinging persisted, your face twisted in pain.
I need something to soothe the burning. You thought. Something like... aloe.
Minutes later you were standing before Namjoon with a sheepish smile on your face.
"You need what?" He asked.
"Aloe vera."
Namjoon's eyes traveled down to the hand you seemed to be holding close to you.
"Did you burn yourself?"
You nodded.
"You don't have to buy a whole plant. I keep aloe vera on hand. Come here."
He beckoned you behind the counter and led you to sit down on the stool behind the register. He then disappeared into a small room in the back, assuring you that he'd return in just a moment.
In the side room behind the counter, Namjoon went to the small aloe plant he kept amongst his jars of elixirs and whatnot. He broke off one of the leaves and took a quick glance behind him to make sure you hadn't followed him into the room. When he knew it was safe, he turned back to the piece of aloe in his hands, focusing his energy on it and allowing his magic to flow into the plant, heightening it's healing properties.
"Alright." He emerged from the room with the aloe and a roll of gauze.
Your eyes followed him as he walked over and started unraveling the white cotton in preparation to wrap the burn.
"You didn't have to do this." You told him.
"It's no trouble."
"You're sure?"
He nodded, squeezing some gel out of the aloe vera leaf.
"I never got your name." He mentioned, rubbing the aloe along your palm.
"Y/n."
"Y/n." He repeated with a smile.
Finally a name to go with the pretty face. He thought.
"Does this hurt?"
You shook your head.
"Good. This aloe should soothe that burn right away."
"I hope so."
"Try moving your hand."
Truthfully, you expected there to be some discomfort, but there wasn't. Nothing stung or hurt at all.
"Wow." Your brows raised. "That must be some magic aloe."
Namjoon stiffened for a moment until he realized you were joking and forced a laugh.
"Yeah. Must be."
He reached over to grab the roll of gauze, wrapping it securely around your hand to keep the aloe on the burn.
"Alright. All done." He flashed a friendly smile.
"Thank you, really. That was really nice of you."
"Like I said, it's no trouble."
"You're very kind."
"I don't mind helping someone out, especially when that someone is so pretty."
Namjoon was surprised by his own suave comment, but judging by the expression on your face, you didn't appear to dislike it.
"You think I'm pretty?" You asked.
"I do."
Holding back a smile, you glanced down at your lap, fiddling with the gauze wrapped around your palm.
"I have something to tell you." Namjoon mentioned.
You lifted your head. "What is it?"
"You know when you said I must've used magic aloe on your burn?"
"Yeah." You chuckled.
"What if I told you it really was magic?"
You gave him a skeptical expression, holding back an amused smile.
"I'd say you're lying."
"I can prove it."
"Alright. Prove it, then."
Namjoon led you over to a plant situated near the window, it's leaves were wilted and it's colorful petals were dried and faded to a paler version of its usual hue. He threw a glance over his shoulder at you and held his palms out towards the dying flower, his eyes closing in concentration. You waited, watching the bloom with a careful gaze. Then, right before your eyes, the shriveled leaves began to uncurl and the color was brought back to the petals, the entire flower sitting upright and appearing as if it was never on the verge of dying.
Truthfully, you expected him to make some joke out of the whole situation and chant some mumbo jumbo nonsense to make you laugh.
"No way." You huffed out a chuckle of disbelief. "It's not possible."
Namjoon stood anxiously, trying to gauge your reaction.
"You... you brought that flower back to life. That's unbelievable. But... but I saw it."
He pressed his lips together, fiddling with his fingers.
"What are you?" You asked. "Are you a wizard or something?"
"Sort of." He shrugged. "Are you scared?"
"No, not at all." You shook your head. "I'm bewildered... confused—very confused, but also intrigued."
He perked up. "Intrigued?"
"Yes. How can I not be after you just magically brought a plant back to life? Not only that, but you healed the burn on my hand with literal magic aloe." You paused.
The uniquely-colored orchid you bought.
The out of season plant sitting on the counter.
The plant growth mix.
"You really do use magic to grow your plants, don't you?" You asked after a moment of silence, realization finally hitting you.
"Not always. I try not to, but if a plant is in bad condition I'll give it a little boost."
"What about your special plant mix?"
"I do use a little magic to make that, I'll admit."
A smile broke out on your face. "This is incredible. You're incredible."
The apples of his cheeks dusted pink at your words.
"You have magic." You continued on. "And you trusted me with your secret. Why?"
"Because I like you. I figured if by some chance you felt the same way then you should know the truth about me." He rocked back and forth on his heels, pushing his glasses up his nose.
"I do like you. In fact, like you so much that I almost came up here at least three different times to buy more plants just so I could see you."
"You didn't have to do that." He murmured bashfully.
"I wanted any excuse to see you. Although, getting burned wasn't part of that plan." You chuckled. "That was all an accident, but it led me here."
Namjoon smiled softly, taking a step forward.
"Then maybe it wasn't an accident."
With bated breath, your eyes followed Namjoon as he came to a stop in front of you and brought his hand up to your face, gingerly caressing your cheek with the pad of his thumb. Your eyelids fluttered at his gentle touch.
"Is it okay if I kiss you, Y/n?"
An intense feeling of admiration swelled in your chest at his politeness.
"Of course it's okay."
With your permission, he closed the short distance between your faces and pressed his lips to your own, tenderly at first, then picking up the pace a bit.
His lips moved a little quicker against yours as his hand slid around to cup the back of your neck, the other resting on your waist. Namjoon had set a good pace for the kiss, not too overbearing, but not slow enough to make you impatient.
When he parted ways, you kept your eyes shut for a few seconds to let everything sink in.
Namjoon couldn't hold back his grin when he saw the expression on your face as you slowly opened your eyes, a look of dreamy bliss painted across your features.
"I'd really like to take you out on a date." He admitted. "Would you be interested?"
"I most certainly would. I'd love to learn more about you, not just your magic, but you as a person. I want to know how you started this business, what your other hobbies are, your favorite music, everything."
Namjoon's heart leapt at your words.
"We can talk about all of that on our date. I can give you my number and we can set up a day to meet."
"I'd love that."
_____________________________________
Big thank you to celestial_nyx_ for giving me this idea! She suggested I write a Namjoon imagine where he's a plant shop owner who uses magic to grow out of season plants 🥺 I fell in love with the idea right away! I love these kinds of imagines
QOTD: What's your favorite flower?
AOTD: I loveee orchids. They're so pretty and I've always kind of wanted one. I love how different they look compared to regular flowers
DO NOT steal, copy, alter, or repost my works. These are my original ideas and I work very hard on them. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.