Snow and Ice || 태국

Bonus Chapter 1 - Side story: The funeral of roses

Taehyung did not enjoy gardening. This was mainly due to a traumatizing incident in his childhood.

It was the first time he ever planted a flower.

Then, the Director of Academic Affairs gifted Principal Kim several rose seeds. It was said to be a newly cultivated variety of rose that was not expensive. However, it was quite rare and near impossible to purchase.

It just so happened that Principal Kim was fretting over Taehyung's boundless energy to cause trouble every day. He had planned to find more activities for Taehyung to do and thus entrusted the seeds to him. When doing so, Hyoseop did not neglect to describe how stunning the rose would look after blooming, how its fragrance would perfume the air, and how it would be the talk of the town.

Taehyung's eyes rounded at his words. Mesmerized at his descriptions, he began to imagine a wondrous image in his head.

At once, he decided, I'm going to plant a flower!

He followed his father's instructions and planted the seed into a small flower pot. Then, he began to anticipate the day the seed would sprout.

The next day, Taehyung brought the small flower pot to class and bragged to Jungkook in vivid detail.

Jungkook was against anything that Taehyung liked. Thus, he was not at all interested in the pot of flowers.

Furthermore, it was at most only a pot and could not even be considered a pot of flowers.

Taehyung's enthusiasm did not wane for several days. He even held up his hand and counted for Jungkook, "My father said that this seed could sprout in two weeks. It's already been four days, so there are still..." Here, he faltered.

"There are still ten more days," Jungkook said stiffly.

"Oh, right, right. Jungkook, I'll pluck a flower for you after it blossoms."

Jungkook was caught off guard. "Why for me?"

"All the imperial consorts on television usually wear flowers on their head."

Jungkook, "..." It was his fault for feeling touched too quickly.

Jungkook looked at Taehyung's face which was full of anticipation. The rose did not sprout but the devilish seed in his heart did.

If... the pot of flower never did sprout, he would be quite upset, wouldn't he?

——

The next day, during PE (physical education) lesson, Jungkook stayed back alone in the classroom with the excuse that his tummy hurt.

The empty flower pot sat on the desk. Jungkook locked the classroom door and shifted the pot over. Carefully, he rummaged through the soil and found the seed. Then, he took the seed out and wrapped it in paper before shifting everything back in place. He did his best to make the soil look the same as before.

His heart pounded furiously the entire process, a nerve-racking exhilaration running through his body.

Taehyung's face was covered in sweat after finishing the PE lesson. He was licking an ice pop when he came back. Jungkook sprawled across his table, not quite daring to face Taehyung. Jungkook monitored the others actions furtively through the slits of his eyes.

Taehyung used one hand to hold the ice pop and the other hand to nudge the flower pot closer to his front.

Jungkook's breath caught in his throat.

Taehyung suddenly yelled his name, "Jungkook!"

"Ah..." Jungkook's heart seized as he answered Taehyung's summon weakly.