삼십 오
Taehyung's PoV;
I could see Jeongguk in the doorway of the coffee shop, standing midway through the entry as he conversed with Rocky.
"Rocky, for the last time, you can't come with me."
"But I want to."
"..." Jeongguk paused, "yeah, no shit. Isn't MyungJin free?"
I nervously fiddled with my hands, going from playing with my shirt to twirling my hair, then smoothing it down and then going pack to picking at the denim that covered my legs.
"I miss you." Rocky said.
"I've been with you the entire fucking day!" Jeongguk exclaimed, "actually, can you do me a favour?"
"If you're going to say 'fuck off' I will throw hands."
"You can't start a fight and lose, dickwit." Jeongguk laughed, "no. For real, will you pick up my papers?"
"Jeongguk." Rocky whined, "I did that last time and look what happened!"
"It wasn't my fault that that old man wanted to fuck you."
I pulled a face, holding back an awkward cough at the casual tone of his voice, not seeming to realise how strange he sounded outside of their conversation.
"Yes it was. The guy was so bad at flirting, like if he had better game I might be more interested."
"He was like seventy. You disgust me. Pick up my papers."
With that, Rocky whined but headed off anyway, visible through the cosily tinted windows of the shop as he stomped away, hair bouncing as he did so.
Jeongguk came back in, rubbing at his paint-splattered face as he arrived in a different outfit to earlier.
This time, a hoodie replaced his blue shirt and navy jeans covered his thighs instead of white, although some rips exposed his muscular skin beneath, combat boots on the ends of his impossibly long legs.
He looked just like a college boy.
He didn't look like he'd killed people.
He just looked like a stereotypical boy: who smelt like flowers and cigarette smoke, permanent roses and daisies etched into his skin, bruised and cut hands that lay down gentle touches, split lips that spoke beautiful curses and pretty nicknames - catching the silver bar that snugly sat in his septum with white and straight teeth, soft raven hair that fell over his face despite him constantly softly blowing it up and out of his face, the delicate slope of his nose descending down to a round button, girlish giggles with sparkling eyes.
I unknowingly smiled, waving him over with a gentle flick of my hand.
"Hey, petal. Sorry about that, Rocky has attachment issues." Jeongguk greeted, his smile warm as he sat in the leather chair before me, hoodie bundling around his figure.
"No, it's okay." I replied, "I could tell that he didn't want to let you go, you two must be close."
"Eh, something along those lines. He's one of boss' servants. Tends to sell weapons rather than drugs." Jeongguk shrugged, as if he was talking about selling food and not intoxicating substances or killing weapons.
"Is it not scary? Like all the drugs and weapons and fights?" I nervously squeaked, "and the assassinations?"
"It was at first, I suppose. But not now." Jeongguk replied, "let's not talk about this, it's clear that it makes you uncomfortable, petal."
Jeongguk as a person, didn't scare me.
Jeongguk as an assassin, did scare me.
The fact that he could go from an art-obsessed boy, fanboying over his favourite groups, squealing over my dog, smiling at beautiful bouquets that contained bursts of bright flowers, wrapping them with paint-splattered hands - to an assassin, sneaking around with guns and knives, hiding around in dark alleyways and streets, hearing the increased exhalation of his victim as they began to notice that they weren't alone, only for them to end up dead on the floor, Jeongguk's hands splattered with blood as he dumped their body somewhere or brought it to boss: was absolutely, fucking terrifyingly frightening.
The way that his personality and act could change so fast, was scary.
"It doesn't make me uncomfor- well. A little. It's just strange to think that the kid who beat a jock up for calling someone a flower, also kills people because someone wants them dead."
"Pays the bills, I suppose." Jeongguk hummed, "plus, I'm not constantly killing people. I spend weeks, occasionally months tracing them, deciding how and where to kill them, studying their behaviour before I actually do something."
I looked up at him in a sudden jolt of fear, ready to run.
Though, if he had plans to kill me, me running away from a coffee shop wouldn't save my life.
He's an assassin.
I'm an art student.
"Petal, don't be scared, I refused to kill you. Boss wanted you dead and you're the only person I've ever blank-point refused to kill."
"W-why did he want me dead?" I stuttered, feeling tears well up in my eyes as anxiety and nerves built up in my stomach, "I haven't done anything."
"It isn't specifically to do with you. But obviously, soulmates are a weakness to an assassin and I'm his best one, so he didn't want me to be dragged down." Jeongguk said, patting my hands gently with the tips of his lilac and jade fingers, the smoothness of his skin feeling as though he was rubbing the paint (and blood) onto my hands, "which obviously, wouldn't happen. JinJin, my advisor-boss-supervisor-thing talked with Boss and he understands now."
I nodded, feeling my tight chest relax as his fingertips stroked the backs of my hands, warmly smiling at me despite the fresh wound that scarred his lip.
Gulping as I made eye contact, I looked away, taking interest in the yellowing menus beside our hands.
I was midway through reading the vegan section, when I felt Jeongguk's hands slip from mine and I flicked my eyes back up to see him frowning at his phone in either confusion or frustration.
"What's wrong? Is everything okay?" I asked worriedly.
My voice must've been too loud or brass as it snapped him out of his trance, startling slightly as he jolted in his seat.
"Yeah, yeah. It's fine, petal." He reassured.
"What is it?" I asked with a knowing tone in my voice, "if you have to go, don't let me hold you back."
"I do have to go, and that's my issue. I haven't seen you in weeks and suddenly Boss is slapping me with a new profile, when I just fucking finished my last one four days ago." He sighed, "I'm sorry petal."
"It's okay, I guess we could just meet up another time." I said, disappointment in my voice.
Jeongguk clearly picked this up, walking over to me and crouching before me.
He gently plucked my hand between his fingers, bringing my knuckles to his lips and softly pressing a kiss to the soft skin.
I immediately blushed, seeing Jeongguk's wide and faux-grey eyes looking up at me from my hand.
"You could come with me, petal, but I don't want you getting involved in all this shit. I don't want my precious bluebell being battered."
I smiled sadly, the pink hue from Jeongguk's lips a lighter shade of the hue that stained my cheeks.
I looked in confusion as he gestured for me to lean down.
I moved my head so my nose brushed against his forehead, bowing my head when he gestured for me to move again.
With his one hand still cradling mine, he used his free hand to shift the lavender locks that flopped over my face, fingertips grazing my forehead.
He softly pressed his lips against my forehead, his eyelashes kissing his cheekbones as he shut his eyes.
Unconsciously, I bent my fingers so his hand held more of mine, looking at him with an innocent pout on my lips as he pulled away.
"Don't look at me like that, petal, or I might cave and bring you with me." He sighed, rubbing his thumb against the back of my hand.
I pouted further, widening my eyes for the impression that I was a puppy.
Jeongguk was a sucker for puppies.
"Petal." He whined.
I silently pleaded more with my eyes, smiling in victory as Jeongguk caved, standing up and bringing me along with him.
"You're too cute, petal." He smiled prettily.