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Flowers were his passion and he would be a florist until he couldn’t no longer. Park Jimin was in love with one thing and one thing only: flowers. He’d been raised with a garden full of them and his beautiful mother always loved telling the young Jimin about how his grandparents would send them to each other since they were separated by work. “Roses aren’t the only flower that mean love jimin. There are many types of love out there and there is a flower that represents each.” Those words have always stuck with them and he may have made the “Roses aren’t the only flower that mean love,” part his slogan. He was a hopeless romantic who has never fallen in love with anything that is not his dear chrysanthemums.
“Goodmorning Mrs. Choi.” He politely greeted the older lady who was a regular in his shop, she never bought any flowers and Jimin had to say it was strange at first but when she told him the reason why out of the blue he always looked forward to her visits, she treated him like he was her own son. She had lost her twin sister in an accident and flowers were the one thing they both loved despite their huge differences in character. She had said that the aura of Jimin’s shop was fairly different from all the others, his design was simple: the space was a little bigger than the usual size of the other parts of the building but Jimin managed to add as many plants on display all over and in special sections and there was a healthily unhealthy amount of ceiling plants hanging from above. Most of the blooming flowers were outside and the houseplants were inside.
It was a very comfortable atmosphere to say the least, there was a small section one of the workers he hired called the “waiting room” because it was similar to a lounge area with a lot of plants. It was a strategic move to get customers and recognition, they would order a bouquet and they could wait and take photos in the little area. Some people came to just take photos and post them on their instagram page with him tagged and he liked it because it brought more customers to his small business, he got the idea from Namjoon.
Before she could say anything in response there was a loud bang on the ceiling that startled the two of them. The noise had been going on for at least a week and the best guess Jimin had was that there was a new shop owner moving in since the second floor had been empty for a while. It was nice that he was soon going to have a close shop neighbor despite there being 5 floors to the building.
“Oh my, it seems as if they still aren’t finished with the construction up there, do you perhaps know how long it will take?” She asked casually while walking over to his counter and leaning over the table with her face in her hands. She may be in her early forties but she sure acted like she was in her early thirties. He loved that about her.
“I don’t know really, but what I can do is ask Taehyung and tell you tomorrow.” He politely said to her with a bright smile, she smiled back and raised herself from the counter and made her way around the shop like she always did and Jimin let her, it was always nice to see his customers enjoy plants just like he did.
The day was moving at a decent pace if you exclude an order he got for a bachelorette party. He found it strange that the bride wanted tansies but who was he to judge if a person thought flowers that meant war were pretty? Everyone likes different things and in this case the customer was a bit misinformed but not everyone had a book on victorian flower language handed down from generations. Just as he was going to the back to place an order for the flowers from his local flower dealer the door chimed and he left it to hoseok who had come in a bit late but he was interrupted when said person entered the room with a shit-eating grin on his face.
“Namjoon is here and he requested you specifically for a very important reason.” Jimin’s coworker said while wiggling his eyebrows and putting his hands in his apron pockets. There were many reasons why Namjoon could decide that today was the day to pay his younger sibling a visit and there was only one reason he could think of at the moment and it was that Jimin missed some things on his inventory, it wasn’t just Jimin who owned the shop, namjoon took care of the finances and some of the other stuff Jimin wasn’t good at keeping track of with Taehyung. He looked up from his computer with confusion as he got up to tend to his sibling’s needs.
“Namjoon, why the visit today?” Jimin spoke, startling the elder who quickly turned to face his younger brother with a nervous look on his face.
“I’m here to buy some flowers for someone.”
Well that isn’t what Jimin expected. Just like himself, Namjoon was a hopeless romantic and it seemed as if it was in the family because his own mother was a hopeless romantic.
"Oh? Who for?" Jimin asked, wiggling his eyebrows with a grin that held intent. He wondered if it was someone he knew or if it was someone he met recently. He was very curious.
"Someone… if it goes well I'll tell you. Please, what is something a person who isn’t good with flowers would like?" Namjoon desperately said while his younger brother stared at him with a sly grin on his face and his head resting in his left arm which was propped up on the counter. Namjoon only seemed to be even more flushed each moment Jimin kept staring at his brother with a smirk.
“You really like them I guess, you’ve only ever bought red roses like a typical person.” the younger brother finally spoke before pointing to the clovers hanging from the ceiling.
“Sadly I have no four leaf clovers, what I do have are jonquils and mignonettes. But rosebud moss would be the best, considering their meaning is “confession of love.” Only the best for my most loyal customer even if they are flower buds.”
“I guess I'll have those in a very small bouquet please.” Namjoon smiled as Jimin went to the front of the shop to clip off some moss rosebuds that had been growing in the front of the shop with the actual roses and put them in a simple bouquet with a white string. He set the flower buds in front of Namjoon and rang them up on the register.
“17000 won my dear brother, I gave you the sibling and co-owner discount. Just write what you want to say on that card.” Namjoon paid for the flower buds and thought about what to write.
“What is the meaning of these flowers again?”
“Confession of love. I’ll leave you to write your love poetry, after all, I am the lesser smarter one.” Jimin said before leaving to tend to another customer who had just entered the shop.
“Oh please, you’re equally as smart. Did you forget that I attended your graduation ceremony in which you earned your doctorate degree in botanical studies? Dr. Park Jimin, or as the Americans say it, Dr. Jimin Park.” Namjoon pretended to brush off his coat and straighten it. Jimin laughed.
“I clearly remember that you brought me Aloe Vera and mother had you return it before grandma found out because she would have scolded you in front of hundreds of people. To be honest, I would expect that a certain older brother of mine named Dr. Kim Namjoon with a PhD in linguistics who also somehow scored a place as-listen to this-an assistant professor to one of the top professors in this goddamn country when he was only 30 and took over after said professor retired to daydream and read books making this Dr. Kim Namjoon, not only the head of the English department but also giving him a top 20 spot in TIME’s top 100 most influential people for his New York time's bestseller and his handsome face would have done his research since he is a part of a family in which half of them are anthofiles.” Jimin responded with his hands on his hips at the counter after the customer was taken care of. He had basically listed almost all of Namjoon’s great achievements. Namjoon was beaming at the hidden compliments playfully.
“I seriously do not understand how the three of you are so dedicated to flowers, especially grandma. Mom did save my ass though I'll give her that.” Namjoon laughed, reminiscing the memory of his mother’s panicked face when they arrived at the venue and Namjoon was holding aloe vera. She gave him a nice scolding and quickly put the poor plant in the backseat of her car.
He wished well for his brother and continued his day. The rest was easy. An old man came in looking for daisies to cheer his wife up, a nervous older brother clueless on what to get his younger sister who became a new mother just the day before, and a teenager who just wanted to buy some succulents for her fathers. He was glad that the only things he had to worry about was the shipment of flowers for the bachelorette party and if Taehyung's dad would raise the rent once more by whatever amount of money because this building was the only one his son wanted to look over and all of that rich people business. Jimin’s own family was pretty loaded on both his parent’s sides, even almost loaded enough that Jimin didn’t have to work a single finger for the rest of his life, after all, he and Taehyung went to the same private school. But Jimin wanted to work, along with his brother. He wanted to work with flowers and thankfully that was easy for him since his family was very accepting of his choice. He may be loaded, but almost half his income goes to charity.
He made his way through his now closed shop and towards the elevator right next to the door of his store. It was a very questionable placement but Taehyung said that it was placed there so it would be “all inclusive” and easier to get to the many floors of the building which were not that many. The multipurpose piece of concrete that also housed a cool mini penthouse was only 5 stories high and Jimin called it home along with his best friend since middle school Taehyung.
Jimin would like to say that he is truly exceptional. He has his shortcomings and out of all the flaws he had, the best one was finding a flower for certain situations in which he cannot find words for. Just like the moment the elevator stopped at the second floor and the door opened to reveal a handsome face he had never seen staring at him with sharp eyes. Jimin was speechless as he made eye contact with the man while entering the lift. The unfamiliar face was obviously taller than Jimin himself and Jimin could only wonder what that big hoodie was hiding underneath. His thoughts were cut off as the man spoke.
“There are five floors here, which one are you going to?” Jimin heard him ask and he couldn't function properly. It’s not his fault the good looking man of his dreams with the added bonus of an eyebrow piercing is talking directly to him. He could only say what his brain saw fit without Jimin’s consent.
“Ice ficoides, your looks freeze me.” He spoke and the man let out a breathy laugh. What a first impression. In an attempt to save grace he stepped forward and pressed the 5th floor which was the flat that he and taehyung shared that was not accessible to the public for obvious reasons.
“I am guessing you are the florist on the first floor and thank you for the compliment. I'll take it as a good one.” He said smiling while looking at Jimin and he swore that he could have fainted right there. He could only let out a small yes before the elevator dinged and Jimin looked at the man one last time before he arrived in front of his front door. He let out a little squeal before opening the door with his keys and stepping into his apartment. Taehyung seemed to be typing away on his laptop with his glasses perched up on his nose and not seeming to pay attention to Jimin’s presence.
“I’ve found the love of my life.” Jimin said, setting down his bag and flopping on the loveseat, spreading his limbs like a starfish on the couch. Taehyung didn’t even bother to look at him before saying the very words he always did when Jimin said that.
“Which plant is it this time?” he deadpanned and Jimin was offended even if it was true. He may love plants and flowers a bit too much, and they may also be scattered around their apartment (he’ll sell those ones and bring new ones soon) but he has his limits ok. He isn’t that obsessed. Jimin threw a pillow at taehyung but he continued to type away.
“I did not bring a new plant home, I met someone.” Jimin said and immediately Taehyung closed his laptop and was all ears. Jimin rolled his eyes and sat up on the couch while hugging the last pillow left.
“Ok, spill.”
“He was everything Tae.”
“Long hair but not too long, taller than you by at least 2 inches, muscular, strong jawline, and has a bunch of piercings, with tattoos preferably a thigh-to-waist one, full sleeve, smells like that one Mont Blanc cologne and an eyebrow piercing as an added bonus.” Taehyung listed every single trait Jimin had described to him 3 years prior when they tried and failed to create a tinder account for Jimin. Funny how that man met every single criteria of his, even though it didn’t really matter, he preferred attitude, passion, and loyalty over looks. To him, looks were just plus points.
“Yes, he was all of those including the eyebrow piercing except I don’t know if he has tattoos since he was wearing a hoodie.” JImin said, holding his hands to his heart as he recalled their awkward conversation on the elevator. With the facial expression on Taehyung’s face Jimin could tell that his best friend was thinking about how he looked. Taehyung may or may not know who it is, he doesn’t really pay attention to faces. Then it clicked… Taehyung was going to tell Jimin about the new person moving in on the second floor the week before because he was definitely Jimin’s type. He knows all of this stuff because his father is the person who owns this building and many others much bigger, he’s been tasked to look over this building while his other siblings do the same with others. There's basically no difference between him and a landlord, he’s just a landlord under an even bigger landlord.
“Ohhh! That was Jeon Jungkook, he’s moving his store to the second floor. I was going to tell you but I got caught up in some personal work…” Taehyung spoke sheepishly, giving Jimin a small smile before the older of the two leaped on him, holding him by the collar playfully.
“What?! You could have told me even while I was at work! Or last week when the construction started!! I thought I trusted you Taehyung. You could have been like “hey Jimin there’s this cute dude who’s opening a shop right above yours he’s very handsome” are you not my best friend?!” Jimin said forcefully, shaking the poor man who could only accept the small punishment he was given. They played like this many times so
“Hey! At least I do know that he has a tattoo sleeve.” Taehyung laughed and also hoped that Jimin would let go of his collar. He did, infact, let go of Taehyung’s collar right before proceeding to dramatically collapse on the marble floor. Jimin was somehow dramatic like that the moment he left his shop.
“He’s the possible love of my life! I must get to know him at once dear friend!”
“All you have to do is talk to him the next time you see him, he’s a very respectable and nice young man.” his best friend stated matter-of-factly. Just a simple explanation of his actions could lead to more talking and soon even friendship.
“No.”
“Suit yourself.” Taehyung shrugged, getting up from his position to make something to eat all while leaving Jimin to crawl to his room even more dramatically than the telenovela fall stunt he pulled when Taehyung told him that his new shop neighbor had tattoos. He was an extra bean and Taehyung was the exact same person when he wanted to be.
Jimin hoped that he would be able to see the man once again and befriend him, hopefully he could make up for the awkward first impression. He’d reacted the same when he’d gotten his first confession from an unsuspecting girl in middle school, poor girl didn’t know that grade eight Jimin was gay. He replied with “striped carnation” which means refusal but the young grade seven girl only brought him those flowers the next day thinking that he liked the flowers until Taehyung(bless his social soul) told the girl that she was rejected. Jimin was just too shy. He smiles back at those memories.