Chapter Text
Flowers.
Do you like flowers?
What was only green a week before has become a garland of the most vibrant blooms. They are colors to weave dreams from, as soft as any silk. How they come from earth, sunshine and rain feels akin to magic, even though the science is well known.
Each one is a delicate bloom, no matter if it is a formal garden or a waste land. Their petals are delicate works of art and their hues are medicine for any soul. We bring flowers into the hospitals and graveyards, we send them to express our love, we plant them in our yards though they bear no edible fruits.
There's a place, in this little town where flowers bloom, planted in a tiny pot, surrounding a tiny building also. A flower shop; next to it was a tiny house where flowers grows around it. Everyone in the town have at least visit this little flower shop just to calm their minds, rest their soul and gaze at the beautiful flowers.
On a sunny morning, the flowers bloomed, lit up as they hear a footstep followed by a hum; the gentle, calming voice who could make any flower bloomed; those audible vibrations are like a musical instrument playing lullabies to any soul. They are melodious songs that bring forth the light of a new day.
"Good morning, my little sprouts,"
The flowers, the sprouts, the leaves greeted the boy back with a gentle sway. The green haired boy giggles, his hair was a chorus of greens. Green skin in sunlight, the hue each leaf had a way of enchanting the soul. And his eyes were the color of earth kissed by spring rains, the hue that promises to stir life from dormant seeds, the nascent plants guided upward by the light before blossoming into the vibrant colors of a new season.
Herb. He lives by his name. His personality is as warm as a cup of tea in the winter night, his voice as sweet as stevia. His touch as gentle as the swaying leaves on the tree. Everybody loves Herb. Just being next to him you can feel yourself healed, he's a real healer. His presence is such a blessing to the world.
Herb works at the flower shop, he's very good at flower arranging. If you ever happen to need a bouquet of flowers, just go to see him! Need a bouquet to show someone how much you love them? Herb will give you his finest roses, tulips, carnations, orchid and peony all in one bouquet with a lovely ribbon. Need to apologize to someone and you don't know how? Hand them a bouquet of Blue hyacinths combined with white tulips with some lily of the valley on it, Herb will make sure you'll be fine. Want to say "fuck you" to someone but at the same time you don't want to hurt their feelings? Herb knows how! Just hand them a bouquet of geranium, foxglove, meadowsweet, yellow carnation, and orange lilies! Pretty amazing isn't it?
In that sunny morning, Herb was supposed to do a bouquet. Yesterday, before the shop was closed, a girl with twin tailed-lime-colored hair comes up with a sad look and whisper, "could you make me a bouquet that shows unrequited love?" and oh how painful it is for Herb to hear those words. The girl would come at 10 am to pick up the bouquet today, but Herb still hasn't done it yet. He turned to where his yellow tulips and daffodil where planted. Those flowers who symbolize unrequited love blooms perfectly in his garden.
Unrequited love....
The yellow petals of those flowers reminds Herb about something.
Yellow...Blond....
His hair... it was strands of a newborn day, of the sunlight that called for us to open our eyes and greet the dawn. As if starlight and wintry boughs had swirled together in some lucid dream. As fresh as a sparkling water, his hair was always combed neatly. And the color of his eyes? There is a kind of green that speaks to the soul of nature, of fresh wands of grass and new buds, and his eyes were that color, bold and beautiful. Green. Herb's favorite color. Herb shook his head when he suddenly had a thought of that person's smile. His smile was one of happiness growing, much as a spring flower opens. His voice, something Herb would listen all day rather than his favorite music, rather than the sound of raindrops hitting earth.
Herb sighed and got up from where he sat, he put down his watering can and pick up his garden knife. Starting to arrange the bouquet, carefully places the daffodils and yellow tulips together. When he's finished, he decorates the bouquet with a yellow ribbon, and it's done now. Just need to wait until the girl picks it up.
10:05 AM.
"Mr. Herb. I am here to take my bouquet." It's that lime haired girl, she was dressed in a school uniform. Her hair was tailed up, but it's messy. Her face was pretty, but it looks super sad.
"Ah, Yes. Here you go miss." Herb hand her the bouquet. The girl receives it with shaking hands, the moment she gazed at the flowers, she looks like she's holding back tears.
"How... how much is it?" She asked with shaky voice. Herb sighed at her with concerned look. How sad, how painful it must be for her...
"Don't worry about it." Herb smiled weakly.
"I'm sorry you have to go through all of this. I believe you're a kind person, look how you go all your way here to give them this bouquet. You're broken... but you still care about them didn't you? I'm so sorry... You really deserve better than this..." Herb kneels down and tap the girl's shoulder. The girl looked down and hardly grasp the bouquet.
"I loved her...." The girl begins to sobs, Herb couldn't stand it and he hugs the girl tightly while whispers "it's going to be alright" to her several times until she calmed.
"I should go now... she... she must be waiting for me," The lime haired girl wept, Herb nods and let go of his arms. "I really... need to pay for this," the girl said again.
"Hmm." Herb shakes his head, "In return, you can just come again to talk to me. We could drink some tea," Hearing that, the girl smiled.
"Thank you. You are so kind. Have a nice day, Mr. Herb." The girl waved and slowly walks away leaving the flower shop and Herb behind.
Herb waved back as he watched the girl walks away until she couldn't be seen anymore.
"She...loved her." Herb murmured.
"I don't even know who she is but... The feeling," Herb tighten his apron and walks back inside to the flower shop.
"I know how exactly she feels." He mumbled as he caresses the daffodils gently, holding back tears. It's been months, and it was so painful for him.
"I also wish.... That one person... loved me back," he said while one of his hand clutches his chest, the painful stinging pain in his chest feels so overwhelming and it grows every time. Each day, it feels hard to breathe. He tried to ignore it but it's there, it's painful. It's hard to breathe.
Herb coughs up and sat on one of the chair. He looked outside and sighed.
"there's no way that would happen."
21:30 PM.
The flower shop closed, there's plenty of customers today and Herb earned enough money. It's a bit hard to work with the stinging pain on his chest grows, and he keeps coughing the whole time. His customers suggest him to take a day off and just stay at home, but there's nothing more healing to herb than to take care of his plants and surrounded by nature. Besides, he didn't even have any chronic disease, maybe all he need is a refreshing... drink from a certain bartender.
The sky was black tranquility married to a poetry of stars. It was the softness that called body and brain to rest and let the heart go to its steady rhythm. Night came as a reward of sorts, a restfulness above to calm the soul. Instead of walking to his tiny house next to the flower shop, Herb walked the opposite ways, where a lively, shimmering juice bar were open every night. Herb usually comes at late night to avoid the crowds, but tonight he couldn't endure the feeling of how much he misses that place, or we could say, the owner of that place.
Herb is now outside the bar, from what he could see from the window, it wasn't that crowded inside. He could see Mr. Almond sipping whiskey in the corner of the room alone, and in other table was Sour Belt and Bonbon. There's also Milk and Purple Yam there, they're seem to be arguing about something... and on the counter, his close friends, Vamp and Mint laughing along with a blond, cheerful person... Sparkling.
He pushed the door and walks in, Sparkling turned as fast as possible and greeted Herb with his distinctive "welcome." Followed by laughter from Vamp and Mint.
Herb smiled shyly and took a seat next to Mint, near the exit door. Sparkling smiled widely at him and winked, "What can I get you tonight?"
That wink... That wink. Herb took a deep breath and starts fidgeting with his fingers.
"Just... Faux fizz, please..." With that respond, Sparkling nodded and grab his shaker, with all the ingredients, he prepares the Faux fizz fancily, it's a brilliantly fizzy cocktail, made from a base syrup of pear, apricots, honey, lemon and rosemary. Pour into a champagne flute and top with cold sparkling water, very refreshing.
He pours it in a fancy glass and decorates it with pear slices and rosemary, then slides it to Herb. "Enjoy," He winked again. At this point Herb could've just fainted and fall to the ground.
"Thanks...." He smiled.
"You come so early, Herb." Mint took a sip from his glass which apparently is a Midori sour. It looks so fresh. A green cocktail with lime slice on top and a cherry, Mint always stated that Sparkling made the best Midori sour.
"I... I think it's been a while since I come here so..."
"Is everything going okay at the flower shop?" Vamp is the one who asked this time, Herb nodded in respond. He took a sip from his glass just to cough up and almost spilled his drink everywhere.
"Are you okay Herb?" Sparkling hands Herb a napkin, Herb still coughing but he just nodded and makes gesture with his hands.
"Look, I'm no doctor but... I don't think you're okay." Mint commented as he taps Herb's back repeatedly trying to help him stop coughing.
"I'm fine! Really! It's just— "Before Herb could finish his words, he coughed up again, making his friends all worried.
He clutches his chest, there's.... there's something inside his chest. He just doesn't know why; it feels like there's something growing there. It's painful, lack of breath is felt through his body, that feeling of tiredness and lethargy. For as his lungs work to bring in the much needed oxygen, even then he feels as if he's drowning in the air.
"Herb!" The dreamy voice called out to Herb's name, he sounds so worried... Herb tries to stop the cough as he took a deep breath and let it out. He sighed and holds on to the table.
"Sorry about that," He giggled nervously, he's breathing heavily and it's unsteady. His chest grown up and down as he tries to calm himself. Mint put his hand on Herb's forehead to check the temperature, he raised an eyebrow and stares at Herb.
"Your temperature's normal, but... Are you really okay?"
"You choked on the drink?"
Herb shakes his head and smiles nervously to his friends. "It's alright, it's just... since this morning I've been coughing a lot and..." he sighed, "it's not a big deal."
"It... looks like it is a big deal, Herb." Sparkling frowned, "Maybe you should go to see the doctor?" He continued.
"As for tonight, you should get enough rest!"
Herb looked down, he just wanted to spend more time with Sparkling... But now the coughing is in the way. Maybe Sparkling is right, maybe he needs to see the doctor. But really, all he need right now is to chill right there with Sparkling. Listening to his voice and watches him making drinks, that's what Herb wants.
"Yeah, Herb. Just listen to Sparkling, come on. I'll take you home," Vamp stood up and walks towards Herb. Herb turned to the red haired man, those red hair is the color of bloom of poppy meadows, of the silken petals that sail upon the updraft winds. Long red hair, there was a kind of carefree style to his hair, for though it was clearly clean and brushed, it twirled and danced in the on-shore breeze.
.... Was red Sparkling's favorite color?
Herb just nodded and stood up, "I'm sorry to bother you Sparkling ..."
"No, no! Don't worry about it. I hope you feel better soon, if you want you could call me tomorrow to bring you anything if you need," Sparkling smiled at him, his smile is the sunshine and the birdsong, it is the silencing of the clocks, it is both the cage and the ever open door. Herb froze for a moment before he smiles back.
"Or call me, I'm your friend too, you know." It's Mint's turn now to smile at Herb. Mint is such a calm and gentle person. Unlike Sparkling who's very cheerful and bubbly, Mint is more calm and shooting with a tender manner. He is a good friend.
"Thank you, both of you."
"Come on now, Herb."
Vamp holds the open door for him. Herb walked outside the bar with Vamp, the moment he stepped outside the bar, he could feel the cold wind blew and the tree rustles. Herb holds himself to keep him warm, Vamp noticed and stopped walking.
"Are you cold? Do you want to use my cloak?" For a moment, Herb could see a glimpse of light from Vamp's purple pupils. Those are like grapes with royal purple-hue. It reminds Herb of the lilac bushes that grows on his backyard, the color so unique and mysterious. It shines under the moonlight before Herb turns his face away.
.... Was purple Sparkling's favorite color?
"No, it's alright. Thank you." He forced a smile, Vamp sighed and floats next to Herb.
"Look, Herb. I know you have a hard time opening up, and it's alright to take your time. I just want to remind you that you're not alone. You can tell us little by little of what's troubling you," Vamp said with a chill tone. He's such a chill person, very relaxed. He goes with the flow and don't tend to get angry real quick or be mean. He's not overly emotional, unlike Herb. Vamp is pretty much likeable. Though he seems to be very lazy, but he's a good person.
Herb tries to believe it. There's this feeling on his chest that annoys him every time Vamp is around. He knows exactly that feeling is.
Jealousy.
How absurd is that? Herb thought to himself. That's so rude of him to hate Vamp just because he's... he's something Herb could never be. Herb's envious about that, and envy is a poison to soul, it can never come from a loving heart, Herb don't want to be those monsters with an unkind heart.
"Thank you again..." Herb giggles, holding his chest, he's hoping he wouldn't cough up badly again, the feeling's still lurking though. Something's growing inside his chest... uncomfortable.
"You're always so caring to everyone. That big brother nature of you. No wonder people like you," Herb smiled at him.
".... And Sparkling... likes you," He lowered his voice to almost inaudible. Vamp definitely didn't hear the last phrase.
"No worries. Just, don't push yourself okay?"
Both of them smiled at each other. The surroundings around them are tranquil, the town isn't as busy as it is during the day. The wands of rising branches became dancing silhouettes in the moonlight, the cold night breeze. Walking home at night would be a bit eerie when you're alone. Herb turned to Vamp who's floating full with relax and suddenly jealousy wraps around his soul once more. He tried to ignore it the whole way home.
21:50 PM
"It's not even that late, but Thank you, Vamp for walking me home."
"Yeah, don't worry about it. You heard what Sparky and Mint said? Just call them if you need anything, or even me. I'd be glad to help you out,"
Herb forced a smile and nodded. He pulls out his keys and opened his door, stepping in and waved to Vamp before he walks in. Vamp waved back and transformed into his bat form, leaving Herb alone with his thought in his tiny little house.
"You... you heard what 'Sparky' and Mint...said?" Herb throws himself to his bed. Not even changing his clothes yet, he buried his face on the pillow and grab onto the sheets as hard as he could.
"Just... how close they two could get? He calls Sparkling... with a nickname. While me? I couldn't even look at his eyes for more than 5 seconds." Herb sighed in frustration.
"I get it. You two are made for each other. I get it." His breathe becomes heavy, something is growing in his chest.
"I'm no one to him. I am just his... regular. His.... Friend."
Cough.
"I'm nothing. I'm a loser. There's no way he would love me back."
Cough.
"He would never.... Love me back."
Cough.
Yellow petals all over the sheet, as the uncomfortable feeling grows more and more inside Herb's chest, he coughed hard, petals of daffodils flowing out from his mouth as if he just swallowed a bouquet of them.
Herb rubs his eyes and look around, where did the petals came from? With shaking hands, Herb picks one of it from the sheet.
Daffodils.
Certainly, it's daffodils. Herb spent all of his life studying flowers and plants and yes, these are daffodils petals. Yes, the daffodils, golden stars and trumpets of the rising green, come as silent choir for the eyes and soul. Flower that grows during spring, flowers that grows....
Inside Herb?
Herb coughed up another petals, he quickly ran to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. He washed his face and stare at his own reflection.
He looks broken.
Has he finally lost his mind over something stupid? He washed his face one more time and took off his apron, left it hanging behind his door and crawls back to his bed.
Coughing up flowers...
What should he do now? It's getting hard for him to breathe now; it's probably still growing inside him, those lovely daffodils. What's going to happen soon? Is this how Herb going to live from now on? A walking bouquet of daffodils, the flower that symbolize lots of joyful meanings, but also unrequited love and broken love?
Will one day his body just gives up and he would be one with the soil? With daffodils grows inside him, doesn't it sound... wonderful? If Herb really going to die, then this is how he wants it to be. Maybe it's not that bad. Maybe this is his punishment for being envious and selfish. Maybe then he doesn't have to feel pain anymore. Maybe he... could finally get over Sparkling now.
The moonlight slips through his window, and slowly, Herb's warm colored eyes begins to close.