"I HATE TO TELL YOU, BUT RACISM IS ALIVE AND WELL IN A LOT OF PARTS OF THE WORLD."
- Timothy Olyphant

MI-YOUNG PARK WAS CONCERNED.

Every time Mi-young would walk home with her brother, she would have to walk home with the disgusting stench that he carried.

Man, does he even know what a shower is for?

"Jimin, what happened to showering everyday?"

"Huh?"

"You stink, literally. I swear, ever since you've been hanging out with Taehyung, you seem to have forgotten how to shower. Don't tell me that twat is telling you that showering is lame. That twat really needs to keep his opinions to himself."

"Hey, don't talk about Taehyung like that."

"Oh? Well, what can I say? I'm sorry that you befriended such a horrible person?"

"Hey, admit it, you like Taehyung too. He's really fun once you get to know him."

"Can I un-get to know him?"

"Um, no?"

"Tsk. Such. A. Shame."

"At least I made a new friend. Where are your new friends, Mi-young? It seems to me that Taehyung and I are your only friends, and we're not even in the same grade as you."

"Hey! Not true! I have friends! What's that guy's name again? The one that always follows us home, whenever we walk with Taehyung? Jungcock? Junglecook? Juan-something?"

"What guy? I never saw a guy?"

"Bitch is you blind?"

"Whatever. If I haven't noticed him, then you clearly aren't even really friends with the guy. You can't even remember his name!"

"You know how bad I am with names!"

"Yeah, yeah, sure. You seemed pretty good at remembering Taehyung's name though."

"That's because I've never met such a racist twat like him. I mean who's he to talk? Does he not realize that he's Asian too? And more specifically, Korean like us?"

"Eh, I think it's pretty funny, Mi-young. You need to learn how to take a joke once in a while."

"It isn't once in a while, Jimin. It's every time I see him."

"What can I say? He's got the hots for you, huh?"

Mi-young couldn't help but gag.

"You did not just say that."

"Oh c'mon! Admit it! You like him! You know what they say, boys always tease the girls they like!"

"There's a difference between cutely teasing someone and bashfully bullying someone."

"Oh c'mon. You're over exaggerating. He's not bullying you. He's never even laid hands on you!"

"There is such a thing as mentally bullying someone, Jimin."

"All his comments mean well, you know that."

"Do I?"

"Yes, you do."

"Gee, thanks. You really opened my eyes."

"Ha ha, very funny. I will admit that your sarcasm has gotten better. Could it be because of all the time you're spending with Taehyung?"

"That boy needs to learn how to leave people alone. I swear, he's everywhere I go! I wouldn't even know he's a year older than me if he hadn't been friends with you. The guy is in all of my classes! How is that even possible?"

"He had to miss a lot of school last year. That's why he's in classes a year below him."

"That's suspicious."

"How is that suspicious?"

"Why did he miss a lot of school last year?"

"Um, I don't know. I never asked."

"You don't think it's strange that he had to miss so many days of school to the extent where he was forced to redo the year?"

"Um, no? There are always cases like that, Mi-young."

"Yeah, but knowing him I bet he must've done something bad, which forced him to leave school for so long."

"Aw c'mon. He's not all that bad."

"Mhm."

~•~

The sweet smell of flowers cut through the soft scent of the morning's dewy air.

The small flower shop warmly welcomed Jungkook.

What are some pretty flowers she would like?

Eyes scanning the colorful array, he struggled to choose which bouquet would best please the girl of his dreams.

He was determined to buy the best bouquet there was for the best girl there was.

Jungkook held a flower between his fingertips to avoid scuffing it with his palms. The stems held a beautiful hue of spring grass with scintillating pink petals, so thin that the lights of the shop could shine through them, bestowing an unearthly glow.

He softly smiled.

As he was about to grab the bouquet, a voice stopped him.

His voice.

"Juancock, well I didn't expect to run into you here! Man, out of all places!"

Jungkook winced as he slowly turned to face the familiar voice.

"Oh, it's you."

"Aw, why so cold? Don't you miss me, bud?"

"Why would I miss you?"

"Well why wouldn't you miss me?"

"Because I don't like you, Taehyung."

"Aw, don't be like that! We had our differences last year, but that was, well, last year! Ya know, in the past. Can't we move on from the past?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Me? Why I'm just buying some flowers, of course. I suppose you are as well?"

"Mhm."

"It wouldn't happen to be for Mi-young, would it?"

Jungkook paused and slowly lifted his head up to directly face the boy.

"No. What's it to you, Taehyung?"

"Oh, nothing. I was just asking because I'm actually buying flowers for Mi-young."

Jungkook pursed his lips and looked down to the ground.

"Oh."

"Yeah, we wouldn't want a repeat of what happened last year, right Kook?"

"Mhm."

Taehyung smirked while looking at the crestfallen boy before him.

"Well, I suppose I should get going. I need to give these to Mi-young while they're still fresh. It was nice seeing you, pal."

Jungkook glanced at the bouquet in Taehyung's hands.

Red roses.

Of course. All girls like red roses. I should've known to pick red roses.

"Kook, you still there?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Well alrighty then. I'll see you around!"

"Mhm."

And with that, the despondent boy was left alone in the quiet flower shop.

He glanced back at the previous bouquet he was staring at and plucked off a flower.

Without its roots, its vibrancy and beauty would fade sooner than daylight. Not even the glowing sun could save the dying, rootless flower. Nothing lasts forever.

Shaking his head, the once hopeful boy left the shop empty-handed.

~•~

A/N: yIKES SORRY THAT THIS WAS MOSTLY DIALOGUE. IT JUST SORTA HAPPENED I GUESS? oOPS. I hope you enjoyed this nonetheless. Lmk if all dialogue chapters annoy you because we can't let that happen lmao. And I hope you guys are doing well! Lmao let's just be glad it's almost the weekend. I love you <3