Number Neighbor

19

I blink, just standing and staring at my phone.

Looking up at the light of the sun just peeking over the horizon I look at the time on my phone.

Why are you up so early? :Y/N

PJ: we're all up early for work. Still haven't answered my question.

I blink.

It's too late/early for this. I need to catch my bus back home and get some sleep. Watching the sun rise should only happen if I have to be in to work to make dough. And I don't. :Y/N

I watch the three dots of typing flash on my phone, stop, then start up again.

It continues in this fashion as I watch the bus approach, I get on, and I find a seat to relax in.

PJ: I'll ask again tonight after work. Please have an answer ready. If it's yes I'll be even happier! Oh, and please answer me before you talk to any of the other guys!!

****

By sunset i'm awake again. My sleep schedule has just become fracked up.

Looking at my phone plugged in next to me, I can see none of the guys has tried to contact me. They must still be working then.

****

My mind is a mess over the idea that Jimin, as well as at least one other member of BTS, wants to flirt with me.

They like-like me?!

To help calm my thoughts I immediately start in on baking.

It's simple to start a dough for bread. As it's proofing I decide to make it a sweet treat, cinnamon rolls, and gather additional ingredients.

It's only as the dough is finally in the oven and baking that I come to a conclusion.

I'm a lover, not a fighter.

****

The polite knock followed by the incessant ringing of my doorbell has my jumping out of my skin as I ice the rolls.

After carefully putting down the piping bag and removing my apron I move to open the door.

'So what's your decision?' Asks Jimin, bouquet of flowers in hand, as he he peers up though his parted bangs.

My face immediately turns pink.

The guys behind him are also holding flowers.

Each of them.

Namjoon has an orchid bonsai.

Taehyung has a half dozen sunflowers.

Hoseok has a large hydrangea head surrounded by baby's breath.

Seokjin has an arrangement of what could be a salad in any other moment. These flowers are all edible!

Yoongi has a rainbow of tulips in his hands, held out to me.

Jungkook is holding a single red rose.

My eyes turn back to Jimin's bouquet.

It's as if someone took a flower from each of the other bouquets surrounding him, and made it into an impossible yet perfect presentation.

I take a step back, overwhelmed, my jaw dropping.

'You _all_ want to flirt with me?!' I whisper-shout as a fall on my ass.

****

After I find my way to a chair, guide the guys to find containers for the flowers (some had to double up bouquets into one large holder), and they all settled around me, I dropped my head into my hands.

'I don't want to cause problems.' I start.

This, of course, starts everyone else protesting. Loudly.

With the banging on the ceiling from my upstairs neighbor letting them know they're too loud, the quickly go silent.

Not that they're done protesting. This time in mime.

I wind up laughing and falling back on the floor.

****

'It's just, why? I know what Jimin said, and I get that he's a natural flirt...' his frown and need to protest this immediately gets shushed by two hands thrown over his mouth to let me finish, 'but why do any of the rest of you want to flirt with me? Don't you get enough of that on stage?'

Namjoon shakes his head.

'I think you're misunderstanding this.' He starts. 'What we do on stage is to share our love of performing for our ARMY. That flirting is all in good fun, but isn't what this is.' He pauses, waiting for my nod of comprehension before continuing.

'We want to court you. Flirting is the first step in finding out whether you are interested in each of us, and whether you might want to date.' I shocked blink and nod allows him to continue his explanation.

'We're not sure if you're interested in any of us, or maybe even all of us, but each of us is interested in you. Each of us would like the chance to date you.'

Jimin finally struggles free of the hold two of his band members had on him to vocalize his thoughts.

Sadly, its all in rapid Korean. Besides the gesticulations there's little I can get out of his tirade.

With a frown of belligerence he turns to Namjoon to insist on help communicating what he said.

Nodding, Namjoon considers for a moment before turning to look at me again.

'Jimin is angry that you think what we do on stage has anything to do with how we feel towards you. Our stage presences are carefully crafted, and you know us all better than that. He also insists that we improve your Korean as quickly as possible because there's so many things he wants to say to you without help in translating.'

'I also learn more English.' Jimin states boldly, crossing his arms and pouting, before smiling. 'Talking yes.'

'I think he's trying to say communication is Important.' Yoongi adds.

I nod, my shocked pikachu face firmly cemented in place.

'Hey, you're getting better at english!' Hoseok says, grinning proudly at Yoongi, who flushes and scowls at his friend.

****

The smell of fresh baked cinnamon rolls hasn't gone unnoticed by anyone during all of this.

Soon several member's tummies were rumbling at the smell, drool being swallowed as they forced their focus on the conversation.

Smiling wanly I get up and walk into the kitchen.

Like ducklings they follow me a couple of steps behind, watching.

It's only as I start gathering plates and chopsticks/silverware that the conga line of guys turns into a bustling crew of assistants.

Soon we're all enjoying warm gooey cinnamon rolls. Some more than others.

****

The rolls don't make it another twenty minutes before they're all finished. I only had one though.

Jimin and Yoongi both had two rolls.

Hobi, Joon, and Tae had three each.

Again, JK and Jin competed for the crumbs as they practically inhaled five each.

The rest of the guys didn't even looked shocked to see them put away that much food.

They did look a bit abashed as they realized they'd finished off the rolls, doing their hardest to not beg for more, and when they'd all finished off their treats I nodded firmly.

'I'll accept any and all flirting from the seven of you. But, you might have to point it out to me. I'm more than a bit dense to that it seems.' 

The instant group hug was filled with smiles and wriggling eyebrows.

What had I got myself into?!