"i liked your hair," "you looked good today," some compliments anyone could say. but despite not knowing who these were from, you felt your stomach turn. your best friend could tell you this and you'd just go "thank you." a relative go say the same thing and you'd think they're just being polite. but something about getting anonymous letters sent specifically to you made you feel special. it made you feel wanted. you weren't popular or anything, so you this person really had you wrapped around their finger with their charming letters. you never wrote back—obviously, though its not like you could either way—but you re-read them every night, wondering who of all people it could be from.

soon enough, the letters were written describing things that were specifically you. mentioning habits only you have. then again, you still thought it was cute. like this admirer noticed you enough to mention how you specifically doodled bunnies and aliens at the right bottom corner of your notepad when class got boring. like they adored you enough to discern the way you'd sneak off to rooftop after tests, usually because you got stressed easily and wanted some fresh air and to take a breather.

you smiled everyday as you saw the letter stuck on your locker through the tight closing of the metal door after your third class, skipping to the cafeteria as you read the letters with your friends over lunch.

as the details grew more accurate and oddly specific, your friends slowly started to feel uneasy about this person.

"isn't it weird that this person knows so much about you?"

"i don't think it's weird. i think it's sweet that means someone likes me enough to notice me that much."

"yeah, but don't you think they're paying too much attention to you?"

"you guys are too anxious. chill out a bit!"

after a while, this person started talking more about themself little by little rather than sending you compliments only.

you learned he was a guy, and that he was into music. besides that, he mentioned a recent hobby he had was photography.

"if you'd like, i could send you some pictures i took in my next letter. if you want that, leave this paper on top of your locker. i'll leave a sticker of a camera on your locker if i got the paper." his letter read.

doing as told, you left the letter on top of the metal box. soon enough, you saw the sticker on your locker.

honestly? despite how much he told you about himself already, you still weren't interested in finding out who he really was. sure, you were curious, but you also enjoyed the thrill of the mystery, the way you were clueless of his identity.

finally, the next day came. his letter was already there when you arrived at school. you opened it immediately, finding aesthetic pictures, the kinds you'd find on pinterest. in one of the photos, he took a picture of a puddle from a rainy day. you could see a soft reflection of him holding his camera up over his face, his black fluffy hair covering up the rest of his features that the camera didn't hide. you found that photo alone attractive, growing more attached to this guy.

since then, he'd been sending you photos daily and talked about them too, whilst still talking about little habits you had that he (in his words) loved, cherished, and adored.

soon, he started taking pictures of you.

along the photographs of night skies and windy meadows, there were snapped moments of when you weren't paying attention in class, chatting with your friends in the cafeteria, waiting for your ride back home. you started finding these little things odd, though then again you dumbed it down to this guy being 'romantic'.

as the letters kept coming, he'd been even more specific with the things you do. worst of all, he started mentioning 'how nice your room is', and 'i love the little posters on your walls, and those tiny figurines on your study desk.' it was unsettling. you were already certain that this person wasn't your close friend. first of all, you rarely invite your friends into your room. not only because it's a mess most of the time, but also because you see it as your private space, for you and only you. as the weeks passed and you kept reading the letters, chills would run down your spine for different reasons from before.

the messages kept coming. 'i liked your pajamas last night, pastels suit you.' 'you should tie your hair up more often, you look better.' it was like there was a literal camera in your room, and he would watch the footage while writing you his next letters. sometimes, you'd talk to yourself and some of his messages in the letters would be like responses, as if he'd been part of the conversation.

soon enough, it became obvious that you were creeped out by this. you started leaving the papers to pile up, the letters dropping to the floor as rushes of students passed through the hallways in between classes. he started leaving them more and more, trying to put them in places you couldn't ignore. pinned onto your locker by a magnet, on the desk of your next class, and even on your friend's lockers. you picked them all up and threw them into the trash, trying to stay away from him as much as possible now. you were too late, though. you already fed into his obsession.

as you rushed to the benches outside your school to wait for your ride, you suddenly felt a tight grip on your wrist that dragged you to an empty classroom. it couldn't be any of your friends, they'd all left already. you heard the click of the door locking, the guy's back facing you. then, he turned around. it was han taesan, that guy in band club. you knew him from being partnered together in a few class projects, but you never really paid proper attention to him.

"why have you been ignoring me? have i done something wrong??"

"taesan? wha-" 'what are you saying?' you wanted to continue, but then it hit you. the letters you've refused to read. the stacks of papers you've thrown out. the familiar hair and face shape. 'i'm into music,' and he's in band. 'but recently, i've really been enjoying photography,' and there's a camera strapped around his neck.

han taesan was your secret admirer. or rather, your stalker.

"why are you the one asking me questions? shouldn't it be the other way around?"

"no, answer me first!"

"fine, then! it's because you're a creep, han taesan! knowing where i live, checking out my room, watching me at night, taking pictures of me—you're genuinely insane! you're brave enough to do that but you can't even approach me?"

with those words, something in taesan snapped. his demeanour changed quickly from pleading, needy, and desperate, to something darker. more dangerous, rather.

"creep? insane? y/n, i did all that because i love you. i want to get to know you more." he seemed all soft and gentler now, but something was off. like he had set up a trap, and he was waiting for you to fall into it. "i wanted to find out more things about you. things that only i know." he reached his hand out to you, wanting to touch or hold you. your hand, your arm, your waist, anything. "that's what makes our love special, y/n. it's secretive. we know things about each other that others don't."

you stepped back as he reached out, trembling and genuinely terrified, unsure of what to do. you felt that if you ran away or tried to escape, he'd charge at you and keep you pinned down. or maybe knock you out and trap you in some dark place like in movies.

"taesan, that's not love! that's obsession... that's... that's stalking! and if that's your idea of love, you're messed up. you're a freak, you're sick in the head! you-"

you were about to go on, but then he suddenly pulled you over and held you against the door, pinning you and trapping you. his voice was a lot softer now, which terrified you even more than yelling. "maybe. maybe you're right. maybe i'm what you say i am. obsessed, messed up, a freak, sick in the head—but it's all for you, baby. because i love you and i want you. i need you, y/n, and i can't live without you." he leaned in closer whispering into your ear. you stood still with your breath held, petrified. you felt that it you squirmed a bit much or even breathed too loudly, he'd do something you wouldn't like. "though i do wish that you could understand me... in another universe, maybe. maybe you'll love me for who i am, for my actions. maybe you'll be mine, and only mine. i don't care. even if it means hurting your friends to keep them away from what's not theirs, ill do it. but maybe in another universe, you'll understand why i'm like this... and maybe you'll love me the same way."

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“ouch!! what the hell was— sungho?!” your eyes are wide as the expression on your face radiates bewilderment.

you hear the kitty lose himself in apologies as he leans in to make sure there isn’t a bump left on your head. but you’re more interested in what he had accidentally brought to you. a book on.. gardening? you flip through the pages to see different flower types, plant breeds, and care instructions.

you sit up on your day bed in realization. that’s what you need, florals! a source of life in your living space to bring an extra touch of color. “oh, sungho!” you cradle his face in your palms, eyes sparkling with excitement. “you’re a genius!!”

soft tufts of his hair fluff up as his ears twitch in confusion, “i am?” he questions with a tilt of his head.

you can imagine it now, vines and stems adorned with bright wildflowers strung across the ceilings. the planters that surround the exterior of your cottage have remained relatively empty and unchanged since you moved in. you can only assume that’s what sungho’s original plan with the book was until he brought it to your attention.

you’re not sure if you’d call yourself the most trustworthy when it came to gardening. somehow, someway, plants would end up withering under your care. they’d end up growing out of their pots, needing more sunlight, and all of their water intakes were different. so you had decided to let nature take its course with the fungus and foliage sprouting in your backyard.

and these would be no ordinary flowers, no no! you need something… special. because after some thought, you realize you can’t kill flowers that you’ve created. they can’t die if your magic is what brought them into this world. so now, you’re on a mission. a mission to prove you’ll be the best magical gardener there is!

you practically float down the stairs to your work room, already envisioning the spell book you have in mind. a friend had gifted it to you while cleaning out her own collection and you didn’t have the heart to decline, so it’s been sitting untouched for a while.

the door to your library is still a little jammed, needing to use more force than necessary just to get a book. you should probably get that fixed.. “sungho!! can you write down in my journal that we—” you’re met with a face full of chest when you turn around.

“need to fix the door? i can get on that tomorrow.” he smiles, nodding before pressing a quick kiss to the crown of your head and easing the door open for you. you freeze for a second, a little dazed but now isn’t the time to get distracted, you have a job to do.

however, you’ve searched high and low for this spell book and it’s no where to be seen! and you’re a surprisingly organized person when it comes to your library so you know the exact shelf it should be on. but even after searching from the nature section all the way to books on pyrotechnics, you’ve just about torn apart your library.

a pout carves itself onto your face as you weigh your options. you cut yourself off before calling for sungho, thinking you should try to do this one thing yourself this time. you roll up your sleeves, tie up your hair, and venture to the deep storage in the back of the room. you open up the first box to your left, only to be met with.. a huge spider!?

the lid slams closed and you scurry back to the edge of the counter, your beloved cat appearing before you even get through the second syllable of his name. he allows you to tuck yourself behind him as he lets the arachnid crawl free outside of your window. a warm hand settles on the small of your back and leads you out of the storage room.

“you could’ve just asked for my help,” his hand slowly smooths over your hip to keep you close, as if to soften the way he scolds you for being careless.

you mumble something about not wanting to be a bother as your eyes catch on what’s sitting on your desk. a dusty and well loved copy of ‘from wisterias to wildflowers: a guide to floral witchery!’ there before your very eyes.

“how did- where was— you found it??” your legs move faster than your brain towards the book, fingers now flipping through the pages at lightning speed trying to find the right spell.

he hums in admiration for how you light up at what he’s brought back for you. “under your bedside table, where you normally keep your book recommendations.”

oops. you’d berate yourself for your ignorance if you weren’t so invested in finding just the right flower.

after some time of studying each page, one section catches your attention; flora enhancement. the passage claims that a pre-existing, healthy plant can be transformed into another species under the right conditions. perfect!

since your luck with shrubbery is less than ideal, you call for your cute lab assistant to find one for you, “yeppiii, could you find me something like this from outside?” you point to the examples of ‘preferred plants for first stage.’

he nods dutifully which allows for you to prepare your work space. the steps seem easy enough, only needing a few ingredients to get to the flower you want. it does, however, require an elixir you dread making. it’s time consuming and very precise, so you keep a spare batch of it on the top shelf as to avoid having to make more in the future.

so with a sigh, you reach up as far as you can to grab the glass bottle. the tips of your fingers graze the sides but you can’t get a good grip on it, how did you even get this up here? you huff out of frustration and jump up to scoot it forward, the way it teeters dangerously close to the edge goes unnoticed.

one more push should do it, you think, so you use your other hand as leverage against the counter and jump up again. your heart sinks when your fingers nudge it the wrong way and it wobbles once, twice, and—

“i thought i told you to ask me for help.” a larger hand shoots out in front of your face and lowers the bottle to the counter. his voice, while stern and a little sharp, is laced with concern that you know better than to argue against.

his other hand cradles a small pot filled with soil and several bunches of little flowers, you recognize them as forget-me-nots. with a quick and appreciative kiss to his cheek, you take the pot and line it up with all the other ingredients you need.

there’s a faint sense of doubt swirling in your chest, you’ve never been good with plants. the chances of messing up your home, while small, linger in the back of your mind.

but when you catch sungho in the corner of your eye, it all melts away.

you’re good at magic, it’s hardly new to you. you’ve been doing this for years with your good luck charm by your side. some flower isn’t gonna ruin your life!

you crack your knuckles, take a deep breath, and get to work.

. ⟡ ݁ ˖ 𓂃 𓈒 ✶

TEST #1: FORGET-ME-NOTS -> MORNING GLORIES

you scribble your first experiment into the top corner of your journal. this should be relatively easy, you think, neither of the flowers are necessarily intricate or over the top. it’s just like.. putting forget-me-nots onto a vine, not that big of a jump!

as morning glories are described as ‘funnel-shaped vining flowers,’ they require a different set of conditions to change into from forget-me-nots, which are ‘spring flowers’. the steps in the spell book instruct you to isolate the original plant as best you can and use a mix of two different potions to accelerate the growth process.

after measuring the liquids with an amount of precision unusual to even you, the bunch of flowers starts growing before your eyes. the leaves spread wider and petals gain more color. you’re about to turn to sungho and announce your success until you remember the last step; expose to sunlight for ~20 seconds immediately after mixture is introduced.

dang it.

the flowers begin to wilt as your self esteem deflates along with them. and sungho, who’s just witnessed the rise and fall of your expression as he walked back into the room, scoots the pot out of the way and brings a fresh one into frame.

“trial run,” he says as reassurance, arm slung around your shoulder. “that’s why you’re experimenting,” he squeezes your arm to comfort you and carefully kisses your temple.

and to your delight, test #1.5 goes smoothly and you jot down your findings in your notebook.

TEST #2: MORNING GLORIES -> STAR JASMINE

the enhancements start getting easier after the initial transformation of the first, thankfully.

star jasmines, considered a ‘flowering plant,’ are a little more delicate than morning glories. which makes the process both easier and harder to complete. less ingredients but more patience and precision.

first, you dig a couple cinnamon sticks into the soil for its scent and thinning their delicate petals. easy!

the second step, however, is far more tedious; sprinkling exactly 5 grains of sugar into its stigma. that’s what gives the jasmine its body from the morning glories, so a wrong measurement can change it completely.

your feline hones in on the slight tremble in your hand as you separate each minuscule cube. the warmth of his palm hovers over your wrist as you use the end of your tweezers to gently place the sweetener into the pollen tubes.

his nose twitches from the increase of pollen in the air and a tickle in his nose brings up a threat of a sneeze that could throw you off completely. he tries keeping it at bay as he holds his breath, not realizing his grip on your wrist is growing tighter. unable to fight it off, sungho hides his face in your neck, ears tucked back and eyes shut tight.

“sungho..?” your voice is small and he doesn’t like it, he doesn’t like the slight trace of doubt that follows your tone.

but you repeat his name, now louder and.. excited?

“sungho!! sungho— yeppi look!” he peels himself off of your neck and your eyes are sparkling with smile on your face so wide it’s almost blinding.

“it.. it worked!! look, they’re white now! and thinner- oh they’re so prettyyy,” you take a step back to take in your work, proud of yourself. “i- i did it!!” yeah. pretty was right.

sungho praises your success and plucks a few of the flowers off to put in your hair, claiming they remind him of you and your perfume. he was the one who was interested in gardening in the first place, so you let it slide with a blush on your cheeks.

TEST #3: STAR JASMINE -> CYPRESS VINES

with the last trial having boosted your confidence, you’re sure this next round will be the final one.

another ‘climbing vine’ flower variant, cypress vines take on a star shape similar to jasmines, only fuller in shape. that’ll make it easier for you to enhance them size-wise, color is a whole other story.

these steps are similar to the previous ones, this time using ground nutmeg around the roots for longer vines and vanilla bean paste on the petals to fill them in. it’s just the colors aren’t exactly what you had in mind. the white is cute, but too simple for what the rest of your home interior looks like.

the deep red you had envisioned is quite the jump from its original ivory white. the book mentioned something about color lightening, so deepening a color shouldn’t be much different.

“hmm.. oh i know what this needs!” you perk up as you lean over to quickly scribble something down in your notebook, free hand outstretched. “sungho dearest, could you grab me the—” a small vile of liquid sits in your palm before you can finish your sentence.

“mint oil, right?” it’s like he read your mind, and with the way his eyes are locked onto yours, that doesn’t seem so impossible. you really shouldn’t even be shocked, he’s been your other half for years now that sharing a brain wouldn’t be that crazy.

with each drop, the bright white of each petal gradually shifts into a blush pink, soon deepening into a rosy red and settling into a beautiful shade of maroon. the perfect color for your decor that just so happens to complement the lightness of your kitty’s hair.

you mark test #3 as a success and grin at the words written at the bottom of the page;

FLORA ENHANCEMENT COMPLETED! COMPLICATIONS : minimal… ABILITY TO REPLICATE : high possibility!!

. ⟡ ݁ ˖ 𓂃 𓈒 ✶

now, as you finish cleaning up (and let sungho put the heavier jars away for you), you envision all of the spots you’ll hang your vining flowers from. one spot in particular stays noticeably empty.

you pluck off a star shaped flower and call your kitty over. he cranes his head down as per your request, ready for instructions, when he feels your hand smooth over his hair and brush his ear.

“there, because it reminds me of you.” a pretty pink flower tucked behind his ear, practically matching the shade on his cheeks.

“now we match.”

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