Category : Stories

Sub Category : Romance

"I fall in and out of love as quickly as I change clothes. Then I write about it."

---

"It was winter, the cold air's kisses sending shivers down my spine. The wind blew small, soft snowflakes into my face. The crunch of footsteps silenced as we made eye contact for the first time, green eyes of his staring into the blue of mine. I'd found a new favorite color in those moments."

"You're a hell of a writer," someone said, sliding into the seat across from me. I looked up from my notebook, his coffee cup hiding half his face from me. I chuckled softly, the way English sounded on his tongue causing me to laugh.

"I know Korean, I just prefer to write in English," I spoke up, licking my lips. His brown eyes sparkled slightly in interest, causing my smile to slide into a smirk.

"But why?" He asked, head tilting to the side. He had switched back to Korean. I hummed in reply, taking a sip of my own drink.

"Why not?" I countered, raising my eyebrow slightly as I placed my now empty cup back on the table. He hummed, seeming to approve of my switching to Korean as well.

"I'm Jungkook," he lowered his cup. I smiled sweetly.

"Rosaline."

---

"You come here often," a chuckle left his lips as I moved my eyes off my notebook. I was greeted with his shinning brown eyes and a smile on his lips. 

"How would you know? This is the second time we've met," I replied, closing my notebook. He watched my movements with acute interest, his tongue coming out for a moment to wet his lips.

"You come here often enough for me to see you more than once," he restated, a faint smirk touching his lips.

"You could say that of over half of these people," I moved my eyes off of him and looked around the cafe. It wasn't as crowded as it normally was at 9 am on a Saturday. I turned to catch him staring at me. With a soft smirk as his cheeks burned a dark shade of red, I watched him divert his eyes to his coffee.

"Do you come here often?" He finally asked, still not looking at me.

"I'll stop if I keep having to see you."

---

"You remind me of my friend," the boy, whose name slipped from my mind, spoke up after watching me write for almost an hour.

"It's taken you that long to announce?" I sipped my now cold coffee, frowning at the coldness that touched my lips. A chuckle fell from his lips, making me purse mine together.

"Do you want me to get you a new one?" He asked, confidence filling his chest. I kept my mouth shut for a moment, watching his eyebrow raise in cockiness.

"I'd owe you money then, so I'd rather not," I stated, watching his pride deflate slowly.

"What were you writing just now that had you so concentrated, anyway?" He asked instead. I looked down at my words quickly scratched across the paper. I smiled faintly at them, rereading them as if reliving the memories that surrounded them.

"A love story."

---

"I thought you said you were writing a love story," The boy, whose name I still couldn't remember, plopped down in the seat I've decided to label as his. He had a black mask on, hiding his face from me.

"I am," I replied, returning to my work.

"So why do you look like you've been crying?"

I looked up at him, mildly alarmed. His brown eyes stayed the same, worry laced in with a hint of amusement. I swallowed and closed my notebook. He leaned back in his seat, worry morphing into silent admiration. 

"Not every love story is a happy one."

"It could be if you wanted it to be. You are the author, after all."

---

I stopped when I saw him already sitting there, phone in hand as he scrolled. His hair was slightly lighter in color and a bit fluffier. He smiled softly at his phone, the kind of smile that's genuine and pure. He shook his head slightly like the person on the other side of the screen could see him, making him appear innocently naive. With my notebook gripped tightly in my hand, I slid into my usual seat.

"I didn't realize you came here to see me," I spoke first, making him drop his phone on the table. He scrambled to pick it up, eyes avoiding mine.

"I," he stuttered, hand gripped tightly between his fingers. "I don't come to see you."

"There's plenty of seats open all over the cafe. You chose to sit here, where I've been sitting each time you've come in since we've met," I tilted my head, a sliver of a smile falling on my lips as his cheeks heated red.

"How's the story?" He changed the topic. He was staring at his hands, finger rhythmically tapping against his phone.

"It's finished," I leaned against the table, my head resting in my arms. 

"Oh?" He mumbled, face still down. 

"I'm getting ready to start another one," I spoke up. I watched as his cheeks darkened again as his eyes flickered to me and back to his hands. My heart swelled at his shyness, all my attention focusing on him: my next story.

---

"You bring your notebook every time," Jungkook, his name finally engraved in my mind, said. He raised his cup to his lips, steaming floating around his face. I laughed softly at his words.

"It's as much a part of me as my leg is," I shrugged, smiling. I watched as his own grew a bit bigger than normal.

"Can you read me something from it?" He asked, eyes shinning. I looked down at the dark leather covered notebook with a sigh, flipping to the first page.

"When it's the middle of the worst winter in years and you are more than willing to leave your house in nothing but your pajamas, you're either crazy or in love. I, unfortunately, was the latter. 

I shivered in the snow that reached halfway up my calves, the chattering of my teeth the only sound other than the wind blowing snowflakes around. I watched in silence as he opened the door, his lips falling open upon the sight of me. 

The blue color was lighter than mine, reminding me of crystals. I didn't hear him as he spoke to me, pulling me inside and into the warmth of his home. He hugged me as the door closed behind us, the only home I needed at the moment."

"You can't stop there!" He exclaimed, frowning. I closed the notebook, raising an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"I want to know why you went over there and how the story ends!" He pouted. He lifted his coffee to his lips, steam still rising from it slightly.

"Oh, I don't think you do."

---

"You don't write anymore," Jungkook spoke up, looking at me curiously. I hummed, sipping my coffee. His brown eyes shined, staring into my blue ones. "Also, I didn't ask why you were here."

"You mean in South Korea," I replied, not missing a beat. He nodded slowly, cautious of my answer. "It's a beautiful country filled with all kinds of beautiful people."

"That's it? No story behind it? Its just simply beautiful?" He frowned.

"There doesn't have to be an adventurous story behind everything Jungkook. Sometimes it's just fate."

---

"Can we do something?" Jungkook asked, pouting. His bottom lip was jutted out slightly, eyes wide. I closed the book I had been reading and let out a breath.

"Only if it's something fun, otherwise I choose next time," I told him. He was out of his seat in seconds and dragging me down the street.

"And yes, it's too late for you to take it back," he said, smiling at me. His hand was wrapped around my wrist, but he hastily let go as I loked down at it. I blushed softly, shaking my head.

"You're weird one, Jungkook."

---

"Do you want to go bowling?" He asked, looking at me from his swing next to me. I blinked, surprised by his request. Flustered, he quickly reiterated. "My friend and his girlfriend are going, but I didn't want to third wheel."

"Jungkook, are you asking me on a date?" I asked, watching his cheeks darken in a matter of seconds. "Because I would say yes, if thats what you were doing."

"So its a date?"

"Are you asking me on one?"

"Yes."

"Then it is a date."

---

"Yugyeom, Mina, this is Rosaline," Jungkook introduced me. I smiled and waved, moving a little closer to Jungkook. He let out a quiet breath, but I was close enough to hear him swallow.

"Nice to meet the mystery girl that Jungkook won't shut up about," Yugyeom joked, pulling Mina under his arm. It was suddenly a territory thing, or an ego thing considering Yugyeom and Jungkook were both male.

"You're the only thing he talks about anymore," Mina laughed. I felt Jungkook tense beside me, so I reached out and took his hand in mine.

"Hopefully, it's all good things," I smiled. Mina giggled softly as she looked between Jungkook and I.

"Let's start then? Boys vs Girls?" Yugyeom suggested. 

As the game started, I got to know Mina pretty well. She was going to school to be a photographer and worked part time at a convenient store to pay for school. She is in love with dogs and sunsets. Her favorite song isn't a GOT7 song, which is the band Yugyeom is in, but rather a song from SEVENTEEN called 'ADORE U'.

"You know Jungkook is in BTS, right?" She asked me as I sat back down from my turn. I nodded, only faintly remembering the conversation. "Good, I didn't want to have to tiptoe around the fact."

"With him being as busy as he is, it always surprises me that he has time to see me," I spoke softly, moving my eyes to him. It was his turn and he looked as concentrated as possible. His eyes narrowed slightly, breath evening. It was something I'd watched him do when I'd ask a rather intriguing question, meaning he was thinking really hard. As he went to bowl, I spoke a little louder so I'd know he'd hear me. "I'm really glad he asked me out tonight."

Gutter ball.

---

"You should ask me for my number," I instructed Jungkook. His cheeks heated again for what was the millionth time that evening, however it wasn't due to the cold this time. It was a little past 1 in the morning and we were stood outside of my apartment. 

"Can I have your number?" He asked, looking at me. I giggled softly, crossing my arms.

"Well, you'll have to wait for it now since you waited so long to ask anyway," I teased him. He smiled softly and breathed.

"I had a good time tonight," he finally stated.

"Me too. Mina is really nice," I adverted my eyes to the side. In my peripheral vision, I noticed him lick his lips.

"Sorry we didn't really get to hang out," he sighed. I sucked in a breath, feeling his eyes roam my face. I hastily kissed his cheek, smiling at his shocked look when I pulled away.

"When we go on a real date, maybe I'll kiss you then," I opened my apartment and slipped inside, leaning against my door.

The familiar rush of emotions filled my chest, causing a wide smile to extend my lips. I laughed softly, feelings of giddiness spread all over me. 

Deep down I knew this was a dangerous game to play, but that hadn't stopped me before.

---

"You're quite peculiar," Jungkook said, sipping his coffee. His brown eyes were familiar, shining with admiration. I hadn't said anything, barely lookes at him, but his eyes were filled with it. If anyone was peculiar, it was him.

"You think so?" I asked. He tilted his head, hair falling into his face. I bit my lip, watching his eyes flicker down to the small action.

"Do you think I could get your number now?" He asked. "It's a little late, especially with all the confusion surrounding the bowling date and where to meet, but nows a good time."

"I'd love for you to have my number," I giggled softly, watching his guard fall slowly. In less than six months, he was faintly eating out of my hand. We exchanged numbers in silence, smiles on both of our lips.

This was going well.

---

Jungkook: You know, I leave the country soon

Rosaline: Is that so?

Jungkook: You know, texting you is easier than talking to you

Rosaline: Is that so?

Jungkook: Why are you being so cold?

Jungkook: Did I do something?

Rosaline: Not yet

Jungkook: ???

Rosaline: I'm being distant because I don't want to miss you too much

Jungkook: I'll miss you a lot, Rosaline

Jungkook: Even letting my coffee go cold as I listen to you talk about a book you've read is something I'll miss

Rosaline: I told you to get more coffee -_-

---

"Jungkook, isn't it like five in the morning?" I asked, glancing at his tired face through my phone. Since he left, we facetime as often as we can. He tends to call when it is late for him, but it was early now.

"Yes," he replied, yawning softly. I moved my food to the counter and looked at him, tilting my head.

"So why aren't you sleeping?"

"You say that every time I call you. Do you not want me to call you?"

"If you had waited at least three hours, it would have been fine. Everyone is going to think I'm making you sleep deprived."

"So what if you are?"

"Jungkook, go back to sleep."

---

Months without him. Months without looking across the flimsy table to see him smile. Months without looking up to catch him staring at me. Months without feeling his arm brush against mine, his hand tightly gripping mine. Months without hearing his voice in person, telling me how odd I am yet how much he likes it. Months without inspiration. 

Months of late night phone calls. Months of rare texts and photos. Months of seeing him smile through a screen. Months of watching him live a beautiful, wonderful life. Months of being happy for him. Months of wanting him back.

The coffee burned my throat, a pain I was used to. I let out a soft sigh, glancing down at the empty page in my notebook. I was supposed to start the story today, but something was holding me back. I looked at the paper a bit longer, noticing drops of water staining the page. I reached a hand up to my cheek and felt the tears.

God, I really did miss him.

---

"When do you get back?" I asked him as soon as I answered his call, the phone pressed against my ear tightly.

"Next week," he sighed, a soft yawn coming from him. I pouted even though he couldn't see me. "Are you admitting that you miss me?"

"I'll hang up, Jungkook," I argued, hearing his laughter through the phone.

"JUNGKOOKIE! IS THAT HER?" I heard someone in the background yell. I few mumbled words were exchanged and then the call ended. With a frown, I looked at it and sighed. 

Not meeting the rest of BTS was quite frustrating, but GOT7 liked having me around. Mina had invited me over to one of their gatherings once, letting me get to know her and those boys better. I was afraid that after this Mina would hate me, so as long as I kept her as a friend for now, all would be well.

---

"Rose!" Mina exclaimed, hugging me as I reached the door. I blinked and hugged her back, still not quite used to all the hugging GOT7 and her did.

"Hey Mina," I smiled, letting her pull away first.

"Jungkook gets back on Friday, right?" She asked, pulling me inside.

"Yeah," I swallowed, feeling weirdly anxious even though I'd been here a few times before.

"Rosaline!" Bambam yelled, crashing into me. His arms quickly wrapped around me as he spun us, causing Mina to giggle softly from the sidelines.

"It'd be nice to see you if I could actually see you," I commented, stumbling as Bambam let me go. I let out a breath and smiled, watching BamBam's grin widen.

"Are you harassing her again?" Jinyoung asked, appearing out of no where.

Jinyoung was easily one of my best friends. He was sarcastic and a bit rude, all with a graceful smile on his face. He had his moments where he was just as immature as the rest, but was all around kind and supportive. He was eager to hear from me and see me whenever he could, always making a lasting impression. He asked about Jungkook often, taking on the role of an older brother. It was nice, seeing as I was the oldest child in my family.

"No!" Bambam whined, hugging me to him.

"What would Jungkook say?" Jaebum appeared at Jinyoung's side, Youngjae and Jackson following close behind.

"He'd kill Bambam before he said anything," Yugyeom brought up, sliding next to Mina. All that was left was Mark.

Mark was a peculiar case, much like me. He was shy and easily flustered, while I was quiet and a little frustrating to talk to. I wouldn't say we were opposites, but we weren't two peas on a pod.

"None of us are as close to Jungkook as Yugyeom is, so I trust him," Youngjae said.

"Can we have a movie night now?" Jackson complained. I smiled softly, feeling a rush of the cold air in the room surround me as Bambam let go. It wasn't a cold I liked, but I liked it better than the warmth coming from someone other than Jungkook.

---

"Why do you look so sad?" Jungkook frowned, walking over to me. He cupped my face in his hands, leaning his forehead against mine. "Aren't you glad to see me?"

"Not in the slightest," I told him, pouting. "Where's the shy, innocent, sweet Jungkook that always got flustered when I looked at him?"

"Oh, he's still here. He just got better at hiding it," Jungkook replied, eyes trailing down to my lips. We still hadn't gone on a proper first date yet, let alone see each other in months.

"That's too bad, that Jungkook was particularly cute," I sighed watching him narrow his eyes at me. This Jungkook was more than handsome, more toned than I remember him being. A flash of butterflies entered my stomach as we held eye contact. To prove my point, I forced myself to not remove my eyes from his. Indeed, he looked away first.

In a moment, he pulled away from me and his arms found their way around my waist. With a simple tug, I was in his arms. His head was on my shoulder, my hands pressed flat against his chest. "I missed you so much, Rosaline. Too much."

And the butterflies were back again.

---

"Oh, Rosaline!' Jinyoung called out, entering my home with no warning. I glared at him from my spot on the couch, wondering why I'd ever given him a key.

"The fuck, Jinyoung?" I asked, closing my notebook. I pulled my knees to my chest, giving him plenty of room to sit down on the couch. Instead, he plopped down on my coffee table.

"Why are you ignoring Jungkook?"

"How would you even know if I was doing that? You don't speak to anyone in BTS," I rolled my eyes. 

"Yugyeom talks to Jungkook, and that boy has a huge mouth," Jinyoung stated.

"What's it to you if I am?" I frowned again.

"You see, that," Jinyoung snapped his fingers, standing up. Surprised and confused, I gapped at him. "You're even more cold without him."

"What?" I muttered, completely shocked on where this conversation was going.

"Why are you ignoring him?" Jinyoung asked.

"Why are you being annoying?" I retorted.

"Are you on your period?" Jinyoung's head tilted, his face filling with disgust as the worda left his mouth.

"No, but your blood will be everywhere if you don't leave," I threatened him. He smiled widely, nodding and happily leaving. With the sound of the door closing, I leaned back into the couch. 

"Fuck you, Jeon Jungkook."

---

"I've made a few mistakes along the line. I opened my heart to be broken, I pierced my own veins, I watched the blood spill. When my eyes fell on you, I didn't think it could get worse. 

"It did. It got much worse. I let you treat my wounds, I let you be my medicine. I got addicted to the sound of your voice, hanging onto the drop of every word that left your lips.

"I couldn't blame myself, you were the definition of perfection. Nonetheless, I wasn't about to let myself get hurt, so I covered your bandages with my own and lived with the empty feeling left behind after I pushed you away.

"My coffee's colder now, bittersweet. I miss the touch of your hand and the curve of your lips. I miss everything about you, my favorite being the way you said my name."

"Hey," Jungkook said, taking his seat across from me. I blew out a breath, staring at him. As I continued in silence, Jungkook frowned. "Why'd you end us before we even started?"

"I fall in and out of love as often as I change clothes. Then I write about it. You turned into my muse, you've been used," I told him, something about the words I'd used so many times before began to taste worse than anything I'd ever eaten.

"Used...." Jungkook mumbled, staring at his burning hot coffee. I felt my stomach do a flip, his heart visibly shattering. "Used."

"Saying it more often won't make it less real," I muttered, flinching in sync with him from my words. I felt my chest constrict, something I hadn't ever felt before.

"You wrote about me," he spoke up, eyes turning on my blue ones. Instead of shinning, I swear they were darkening. I felt my voice catch in my throat.

Jungkook was angry and hurt, making me guilty and shocked. This conversation has happened at least five times before with different people, but none of them ever made me feel this way. It was foreign, unusual. I hated this feeling, seeing him break before my eyes.

"Yes."

"Read me the first page you wrote about me," Jungkook said slowly, thankfully. The coffee shop was moving a million miles a minute in my mind. I opened the leather notebook on the flimsy table to the beginning of his story.

"Angelic. What other way would I describe him and his ethereal beauty? His eyes shine like stars, brighter than I ever imagined possible. The pink of his lips tainting my mind with images I have burned in my soul now. 

"When he spoke, I was hooked. I couldn't deny or confirm anything yet. He was shy, quiet, intriguing. I wanted him, I wanted his smile to be because of me, I wanted him to come back.

"And he did, growing into something I never thought would be mine. So here's the story of Jeon Jungkook, my coffee shop lover."

Jungkook grabbed his coffee and left, the bell above the door jingling intensely. I gritted my teeth, feeling something I hadn't ever felt before when dealing with this.

I felt saddened of the deepest kind.

---

"You're fucking joking, right?" Jinyoung had previously stormed into my kitchen, knocking me into the counter. He was glaring at me, the rat to GOT7 trailing behind him.

"Is this about Jungkook?" I asked, his name causing me pain. I rolled my eyes at the pain and continued making lunch.

"You WROTE about him?!?" Yugyeom exploded, joining Jinyoung in my face. I turned to face him and nodded.

"Are you telling me you used Jungkook?" Jaebum brought up.

"He was my muse, yes," I sighed, leaning against the counter. "Now I just need to finish the story."

"Are you seriously that fucked in the mind?" The very quiet Mark spoke for once.

"You wouldn't know, since all you've ever done is stare at me froma cross the room," I argued.

"Stay away from him," Yugyeom seethed, storming out of my kitchen. Jinyoung dropped his key on the counter, following the rest of them out. With a door slam, I knew they were gone.

I sunk to the floor and cried for the second time since I'd 'broken up' with Jeon Jungkook.

---

Winter was back and it was cold inside and out, the only warmth coming from the coffee in my coffee cup. I sat at my usual spot in the coffee shop, eyes directed out the window. My notebook lay open, a few scribbled words here and there. They were all crossed out.

I watched as snow fell slowly, covering the ground with white kisses. I felt my heart grow heavy at the sight, remembering last winter when Jungkook was out of the country. A few months had passed, no sight of him anywhere. 

And, with him gone, there was no light. The world seemed terribly gray, utterly boring, and inescapable. The golden boy, the one with shiny brown eyes, had taken all happiness with him when he'd left the cafe.

Most days were spent staring at the page, wondering where inspiration had run off to and where I could go to buy some more. I was falling behind in my classes, specifically my Creative Writing course. All hopes of becoming a creative writing teacher flushed down the drain with an F on my latest assignment, leaving me here in this cafe on a Saturday morning in the middle of December.

"Is this seat taken?" A boy around my age asked. Months ago, I might have jumped at the opportunity to get a new story written. Now, all I felt was dread and guilt as I peered at his innocent face.

"No, I was just about to leave," I stood up, closing my notebook and grabbing my coffee.

I left my jacket off as I stepped outside, snowflakes kissing every exposed inch of my body. The cold wasn't what bothered me. It was the fact that I felt absolutely nothing. There was no cold. There was no happiness. There was no sadness. I was simply numb.

"Oh, Jeon Jungkook. What have you done?"

"I dyed my hair," a voice said, drawinf my eyes from the ground.

There he stood in all his glory, looking better than ever. Dark hair, eyes a dark brown that reminded me of milk chocolate, and a tight-lipped smile. I felt an overwhelming feeling to cry, like I'd held it in for years isntead of months. 

"You used to have quite a smart mouth, didn't you?" Jungkook asked. I couldn't focus on what he was saying. I could barely remember my name at this point.

Nothing. Silence. That was all the was left between us. Unforgettable memories. Unspeakable words to say. An apology that should have happened months ago. I stared at him, wondering where the boy I'd fallen for had run to.

"Silence doesn't suit you," Jungkook shoves his hands deeper in his pockets.

"Neither does crying, but I've done it before," I mumbled, hearing his intake of a breath.

"Would you mind joining me for a coffee?"

"Really?" I asked, shocked by the request and the desperateness coming from my mouth.

"Yeah. You won't put your jacket on, but you won't turn down coffee," Jungkook smiled, but instead of that feeling of happiness, I was filled with pain. It didn't match his eyes, it didn't send my mind swirling.

I was in love with him, but that wasn't the plan. I'd fallen in too deep. He'd fallen quicker and harder. I was staring at the shell of someone I love. It was my fault. I'd broken him.

"If you're buying," I attempted a joke, watching his smile widen ever so slowly.

"You never let me buy you anything," he raised an eyebrow.

"Let's just say we are starting over. I'd like to do this properly with you," I smiled back, watching him shake his head.

"I'd like that."