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Jungkook has a little trick.
It’s something that he has regrettably learnt by being single too many years in a row.
Because when you have no one to buy you chocolates for Valentine’s Day, who says that you can’t get your own!
Entering in a convenience store the weeks before Valentine’s Day is a literal nightmare. Corny and overromantic songs on the speakers all day long, everything is filled with hearts, teddy bears, flowers, so much pink and red. And of course, the chocolates. So many types of chocolates. Infinite alternatives. But they are all super expensive.
Valentine’s Day is truly a farce. It’s Capitalism in its brightest expression. But people are dying to buy the overpriced chocolate, cause that means that there’s someone they can gift the candy to.
However, once the special day passes, the remaining chocolates won’t be sold, and the stores are forced to make limited discounts to sell the remnant.
And that’s when Jungkook comes in. He has noticed that on Valentine’s Day, past 9 pm, the shops and supermarkets will start announcing their discounted chocolate. Perfect for a night treat.
In reality, Jungkook would love to have someone to go on a date with, to have that fluttering feeling in your stomach when you are nervous and excited about chatting and meeting the person you like, but, dating is hard. He is a romantic, but Jungkook has come to accept that finding that special connection is very rare. So, he’ll buy his own chocolate in the meantime.
It’s 9 pm sharp when he enters the supermarket just around the corner from his apartment. The clerks are just changing the tags. 70% off. It looks like it’s his lucky day.
He goes to the shelve and muses about which one to buy. He is so enthralled by it that when he finally decides on one chocolate and turns around in the direction of the counter, he fails to notice the person just passing behind him.
The person literally falls into his chest, Jungkook’s arms wrapping automatically around the stranger’s waist. He blinks, for a second he doesn’t know what has happen or where he is. Then a sweet vanilla scent reaches his nostrils and he notices the heat source that is pressed against his body. It feels so nice.
When he looks down, a pair of dark eyes are staring at him. Jungkook yelps, talking a step back. “I-I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there!” He apologizes.
“Oh, it’s you!” The stranger smiles brightly. “Don’t worry, I should have been more careful, this aisles are quite narrow”
Jungkook glances at the boy in front of him. His eyes widen in recognition. “Ah, you’re the new neighbor, right?”
The boy beams cutely, apparently happy that Jungkook has noticed him. And Jungkook has indeed noticed him. His apartment building is full of nice old ladies and married couples, so when a guy around his age have moved, everyone commented on it. The old ladies had encouraged Jungkook to introduce himself and make friends with him, but the boy seems to be a busy person. He always leaves early in the morning, and comes back late at night. Jungkook doesn’t know what he does for a living, but they have only crossed paths a couple of times, with no time to chat.
Looking at him so closely for the first time, Jungkook has to admit that the boy is breathtaking. Even though he is wearing baggy pants and a oversized hoodie, he looks elegant and charming.
“I’m Hoseok. Jung Hoseok, it’s nice to meet you”. The boy introduces himself with a big smile, that Jungkook notices is heart-shaped. How fitting.
“J-Jungkook. Jeon Jungkook, likewise” He says shaking Hoseok’s hand. He suddenly feels nervous, he doesn’t know why.
Hoseok is staring at his face, smile still present, then his gaze downs to Jungkook’s hands and his eyebrow raises a little bit. “Oh!” He exclaims. “Last minute Valentine’s Day date..?” He asks, pointing at the forgotten Chocolate box.
“Wha..—Ah!— No!.. It’s not..” Jungkook chuckles embarrassed. “It-it’s for me, actually…”. Hoseok tilts his head. “I wait until they are on discount to buy them” Jungkook confesses.
“Oh! So you already know the trick…” Hoseok comments.
Jungkook knows that is kinda pathetic. He sighs.. “Yeah well… let’s just say that I’m not very lucky when it comes to relationships, love… and all that stuff, you know? But I still want the chocolate”
Hoseok chuckles, but it’s not a mocking one. In fact he is smiling fondly. “No, I get you. It’s the same for me.” He says. “It’s so bad that my best friends, who are a couple, took pity on me and offered to spend Valentine’s Day together, saying that they don’t care much for the festivity.” He giggles. Jungkook thinks that it’s a beautiful sound. “I don’t mind being a third wheel any other day, but today was a big hard pass. They are probably having kinky sex right at this moment”
Jungkook almost chokes at the last comment. His torturous mind thinking that that would be pretty nice, while ogling at the sexy boy in front of him.
“So, that’s why I’m here, buying my poison” Hoseok adds.
It’s in that moment that Jungkook notices that Hoseok is carrying something in his hands. “..Sprite..?” He stares at the cans confused.
“Hey! I love Sprite! You can keep your chocolate, but don’t insult my sophisticated tastes!” Hoseok teases.
Jungkook lifts his hands, amused. “I wouldn’t dare to”
They laugh. It’s so nice. Why is it so nice? Usually Jungkook has trouble speaking with people he doesn’t know. But talking with Hoseok is so easy. He really likes his laugh.
“Are you going to buy that?” Jungkook’s thoughts get interrupted by the voice of the cashier, who is suddenly next to them, staring with a somehow disgusted face.
“Oh, yes, sorry!” Hoseok offers an apologetic glance. He follows the cashier and Jungkook does the same. But Hoseok looks off now, like a kid who has been scolded for doing something bad, and Jungkook doesn’t like it.
He wants to scream. The moment is broken. His stomach starts fluttering in a different and unpleasant way.
Hoseok puts the Sprite cans on the counter, and the cashier scans them. Jungkook wants to say something, he wants to continue with their silly conversation, but he struggles to find the words. Then, Hoseok turns around, and their eyes meet. He smiles, and Jungkook has truly never seen a more beautiful smile. But then, Hoseok surprises him, snatching his chocolate box from his hands.
“H-hey!” Jungkook complains. He hears Hoseok giggle.
“This too please” Hoseok says handing the chocolates to the cashier.
Jungkook snorts. If it had been anyone else he would have been annoyed that someone stole his chocolate, but Hoseok is way too endearing. “I thought you didn’t have a sweet tooth”
“I never said that” Hoseok responds, eyes showing amusement.
“Cash or credit card?” The cashier was really trying to ruin Jungkook’s night.
Hoseok pays and grabs the items. Jungkook doesn’t want to say good night, they can still walk to the building together. “Wait a second, I’ll grab another box of chocolat—”
Hoseok extends his arm towards him. Jungkook stares confusedly at the chocolates. When he lifts his gaze, he sees that Hoseok is avoiding his eyes, and that his cheeks and ears are slightly colored. “Happy Valentine’s Day Jungkook” Their eyes meet, and Jungkook feels something squeezing his heart which is beating out of control.
It feels like ages till Jungkook finally tears his eyes off Hoseok and accepts the box. Hoseok tugs a lock of his hair behind his ear, and with a hushed chuckle he walks out of the store.
Alarms go crazy inside of Jungkook. Follow him! Follow him!
“Hoseok!” Jungkook calls catching up to him. “T-thanks you didn’t really have to…”
The other boy smiles. “I wanted to. It’s better to receive them, right?”
“Yes, definitely… thank you! But I didn’t get you…”
Hoseok shakes his head. “No, that’s fine! I hope we see each other more often, Jungkook, it was nice meeting you!”
Jungkook doesn’t want to say goodbye. They are already at their building door. “Hoseok-ssi…”
“Call me hyung, I’m pretty sure I’m a little bit older than you” Hoseok says.
Jungkook nods. “Hyung. I was actually going to watch a movie, probably superheroes or something silly like that, with the cheapest ramen I have, and the chocolates. It’s a terrible terrible plan, but if you want to…”
Hoseok’s smile is the brightest light in the night. “That actually sounds perfect”
Jungkook’s belly flutters, he smiles while Hoseok giggles opening the door.
The discounted chocolates were delicious. However, nothing compares to the taste of Hoseok’s sweet sweet lips.