Chapter Text
A tattooed hand presses on the small bell of the reception desk to attract any employee. An angel passes, but it's still silent. Brown eyes look over the shop, impatience kicking as he rings the bell thrice. Jongseong has never been a patient man. And how professional it is to leave a shop empty without anyone to welcome customers.
While being forcefully slowed, he takes his time to admire the beautiful flowers, all genres pending on top of his head and around him. The tropical smell could be suffocating, but instead, it's soft and appealing. It can even be scented from outside when walking on the gravel pathway past the glass vitrine of the shop. It was one of the clues that indicated to him the location of the store. Flowers are all around him, vibrant and pastel colors blended together perfectly. He feels the growing need to shop for everything.
Unconsciously, his hand is still pressing repeatedly against the bell to attract whoever was supposed to be at their post right now behind the desk. He is still amazed by the amount of sun entering the shop. The ceiling and the facing wall that mirrors the street outside are in completely made of glass. It's giving room to a cozy atmosphere as everything is bathed in an orange glow due to the sunset. Maybe he came a little too late. But the sign on the door clearly said « OPEN ».
Jongseong sighs. This can only happen to him. Whenever he decides to do something nice for someone the odds decide to play against him. How could Heeseung pass an order from this place ?
"I am here ! Don't break the bell for fuck's sake !"
An energumen holding four pilled boxes far too big for his size come forward surging from a small door behind the counter. He difficultly walks into the reception desk as the boxes hide his face.
"What am I supposed to do when your staff is so incompetent ? I've been standing here longer than I am supposed to as a customer." His fiery temper surges right out of his automatic reaction system. He was advised many times to work on that and Jongseong swears that he tries. Simply not on occasions like this.
A loud thud resonates in the space when the boxes strategically fall on the counter accompanied by heavy breathing. A red-haired head surges from behind the boxes with curious cat eyes and furrowed dark brows. Jongseong's breath gets stuck in his throat.
"Wait ! You were supposed to wait !"
He doesn't follow anything said as he studies the creature in front of him. The first word that comes to his mind is "exotic". Vivid red hair, broad shoulders, huge tilted eyes, long lashes, glowing skin, luscious lips in a resting pout, and a yellow flower stuck between his hair and his ear. The stranger looks like the feline prince of a lost civilization who came straight out of a hidden tropical paradise island.
Right at that instant hundreds of questions came tumbling down the spirals of Jongseong's brain. What is his name ? How old is he ? Where does he live ? Is he single ? Does he like men ? Why is he so pretty ? Since when, how... they come crashing strong and Jongseong has to hold his fist tighter to not let future humiliating words spill out of his lips.
But they keep flooding his mind, again and again, pushing his primary annoyance long forgotten. He looks young, definitely not passing the twenty-three years band.
Jongseong, he gapes. In thin air. Looking for the words, this never happened. Jay never has to look for words, they come to him. The worker looks at the screen behind the desk and then bites his lower lip worriedly. And as much as Jongseong wouldn't want to, he has to look. It's impossible not to do so because the employee is simply so tirelessly pretty. And Jay, has always been a sucker for pretty boys.
The worker clears his throat, quickly moving some of the boxes and giving a wary but not less pissed glance to Jongseong.
It's with a tied but professional tongue that he speaks in a lower wavelength. "My apologies sir. Our other staff was supposed to come and take in your inquiries but it seems like they are late again." Jongseong remains silent. The florist continues. "We sincerely apologize but the smallest thing we expect from our customers is their patience." He bats his lashes, leaning through the counter with a genuinely apologetic look. Also silently scrutinizing Jay. It's not every day that the view is pleasing.
"That's not really professional of them." Jongseong can't help it. It's stronger than him. Although the worker is such a divine payback, he still can't forget how his patience has been tested and how much time he has lost standing here.
The worker, sighs. Seemingly pushing back words from pouring through his sinful lips. And Jongseong sees it, pulling his fabulous smirk.
"I apologize on their behalf. Sorry again for the inconvenience, sir. What can I do for you ?" He says it all as if it was one revised line. But behind the professional mask, Jongseong sees his trouble. The raven is almost tempted to ask if he could get an eight-digit number but retract. Because it's simply not the time yet. And he'd much like to savor the pink shade invading the cute worker's face from embarrassment and something else Jongseong can't grasp on yet.
"I am here to pick an order. For Lee Heeseung."
His tattooed hand goes through the pocket of his leather jacket, intensely followed by the worker's gaze. Jongseong pulls out a receipt to confirm the order. Seems like the employee does his absolute best to not make any contact between their fingers. And fortunately or unfortunately for Jongseong, here it happens. Slender fingers brushing against his while taking the ticket slowly.
The racer is almost tempted to run a finger through his own hair until he realizes they're well sprayed behind already. Weirdly enough he feels the sense of pride booming in his chest for always looking his absolute best. He engulfs his hands again in the pockets of his jacket, shamelessly staring at the employee doing his work.
He finally notices. Yang Jungwon is the name. Suits so nicely. Here it is engraved in gold stainless steel on the left chest of his baby blue shirt unbuttoned on the two first. Jungwon, a garden, in a flower shop. His eyes soften at the little wholesome things to admire in life.
The employee pauses and reaches for a set of rectangular glasses inside his shirt pocket to wear.
"I have never seen you around here. New in the zone ?" The worker asks without looking away from the screen.
Jongseong shrugs. Though he is surprised by how the young man must be able to recognize all the faces that go through the doors of this shop. Or is it something about him that loudly screams that he is not from here ?
"I don't live here. Only doing a favor for a friend." Jungwon nods, acknowledging his words as if they were the most important words ever spoken to him. But Jongseong doesn't notice. How could he when the only thing he wants to do is sew every inch of the view in front of him on the fibers of his brain forever ?
"Like it so far ?"
"The sight is to die for." Followed by an intense stare that drifts over the flowers before landing on the cute worker. And if Jungwon notices, he certainly doesn't add anything but his grin unveiling breathtaking dimples betrays him.
"I agree. Your friend has great taste, azaleas are really nice." He diverts the subject nicely.
"Will let him know." Jongseong is naturally talkative. But here he is an observer. And right now he is really busy observing those broad shoulders turning around before facing him again. Jungwon's attention shifts from the computer before moving around, coming out of the small space behind the counter.
And he is so... small. Surely that has something to do with Jongseong wearing high-platform boots and the guy wearing slippers but he can't help it. Jongseong almost coos because he realizes how Jungwon has been standing on a small rostrum behind the desk all along. The guy is not pocket-sized but Jay could comfortably see the center of his head if he only raised himself on the tip of his toes. And numerous thoughts cross the racer's mind, including diverse manhandling situations.
His white apron outlines his body from his broad shoulders, slim figure, and ridiculously tiny waist. Angels should envy this guy and Jongseong is fucked.
"We usually keep our orders in the back. You can come with me to visit the shop on the way or stay here and patiently wait for my return." Jongseong dodges the pun with a sly smirk.
"I am not against a little tour."
And he walks behind the guy. Eyes fixed on top of his softly curled red hair. Yang Jungwon. Really nice.
He didn't really get the time to make new friends after moving to Seoul. That was one month ago. The worker squints, the direct sunlight is hitting on the left side of his face. Jungwon seems to find it pleasant. The gentle orange glow is laying on his cheekbone and he navigates through the aisles with a familiarity that only comes with repeated experience over a long time.
"Here we have a variety of wedding flowers, mostly with white schemes since it's the most popular." His furrowed brows give away his thoughts. Even in the subtlest of ways. Jongseong is curious.
"You don't seem to like them."
"No, I don't really. A little color won't hurt a wedding ceremony. But what I think doesn't matter." He shrugs walking faster with quick descriptions of the flowers while Jongseong trails behind him, hands in his pockets.
"These are Daisies. One of my favorites." He pauses a second to rearrange them briefly. Jongseong admires the pink on the tips of his fingers between the flowers under the sun and he wishes he had his camera right now.
"I know."
Jungwon stills before turning around with a questioning look. He looks almost playful.
"Oh, I mean not that they are your favorites but that they are Daisies." He could've added that they are his birth flower, that he got a small tattoo of it on his back, and maybe that he got a vase full of it in his apartment to remind him of home, but he doesn't.
"Oh, I see. They are really pretty don't you think ?" He smiles weakly
But you are prettier. That's what Jongseong wants to say.
"Yeah, they definitely are." Jungwon hums before pulling one out. He holds it to Jongseong.
"It's from the house. So that you will maybe, come back."
And Jongseong thinks. He thinks hard about inviting the cute worker on a date to the park. In this summer when the flowers are blooming with sunrays boldly reflecting on the reddish strands of his hair. He carefully takes it from his hand and he doesn't miss Jungwon's small chuckle.
"And it wouldn't be to make up for your lateness of earlier ?" He asks playfully, eyes anchored deeply in the worker's. A faint smile plays on his own lips.
"Absolutely not." Jungwon retorts with a mischievous grin despite trying to hold a smile. And here in the tan glimmer of the flower shop, Jongseong feels his heart beating a little too fast.
"Let's get your order."
The rest is blurred because the only thing Jongseong is able to focus on is the cute worker's expressions. His hands move a lot so he has to keep them busy, his tone lowers when he is talking about something he appreciates and he really likes vibrant-toned flowers. His eyebrows are really expressive, his tiny mouth also betrays his emotions a lot. And Jongseong's doom, the man has a devastating smile. One that streches wide like a boat to reveal short and straight teeth eclipsed by his dimples and the way his eyelashes flutter softly whenever he smiles because his eyes crease to show a violently accurate depiction of a humanoid cat. If those ever existed...
Jongseong definitely needs a lot of time after this visit to think about the boy.
The order is so nicely wrapped that he halts to glance at it from every angle and it smells really good. Heeseung actually made the right choice. He wonders, who these flowers are for. Maybe for his partner but as he heard last they have broken up. His manager never fully discloses his personal life. But that doesn't stop Heeseung from completely immersing himself in Jay's as if it was naturally granted by their contract. When he picks it up, he catches Jungwon's hopeful glance.
And he thinks again, he hesitates. But his mind halts, scenarios and apprehension all coming from the same source. The one that talks about how this race is a determining factor for his future and if the pretty florist comes and watches him end up second in line and pack his bags to drop right back in the next plane for Seattle, his sorrow will take centuries to dissipate. So he simply bites his lower lip while standing there. Jungwon leans closer to the counter with his head resting on his hand.
"Well, I hope our shop will see you again."
Do, you, want to see me again ?
He leans too, face close to the worker's and Jungwon's eyes widen a little.
"Only if you're here."
There is a moment of silence where Jongseong admire the worker's stare slide to his lips. He is so easy to read. Maybe he could at least ask for his number ? He is about to proceed when the door of the shop opens, ringing the bell. The bubble bursts and Jungwon skip back fast with a polite smile as reality seeps back into him. A man with orange hair comes in and Jongseong takes it as his cue to leave.
"Goodbye Jungwon."
And before the door closes behind his back he hears a faint. "Feels like I interrupted something." And maybe he feels Jungwon's stare pierce his neck through the glass wall separating the shop from the street, but he doesn't turn back. Stare riveted on the daisy in his hand, deaf to the noise of the streets.
-❀ -
"Doesn't your apartment look homier now ? You should thank me."
Jongseong sleepily stands, leaning back on his dinner table with crossed arms. His naked torso curve in under the force of compression.
"So the flowers were for me ?"
The tall man leaves his luggage behind before walking around the large apartment and visiting every room. Appreciative sounds leave his mouth from time to time definitely appreciating the view on the rest of Seoul's skyscrapers through the enormous glass windows. He is wearing a far too big garland of flowers around his neck and a straw hat, the one you would get in Cancún. Where he just came from.
Heeseung finally stills in the middle of the living room after his inspection.
"Of course ! A welcome gift ! You know I still feel bad about sending you here without being with you. But it was me and Jake's first year anniversary."
"I thought you guys broke up, but I should have guessed, you are smelling of spent sex drive and the beach."
Yes, he would have guessed if his manager said he wasn't going on a business trip. That he was in Cancún this whole time fucking like a rabbit with his boyfriend while Jay had moved from one whole country to another after years and adapted all alone. Heeseung walks fast through the entire place again, inspecting small things.
"I know right ? Ah, it was heaven. Be grateful you are the first person I came to see straight from the airport, brat." Jongseong sighs. Heeseung opens every single drawer, probably inspecting food and Jay's dieting ways. Jongseong doesn't care, he is just exhausted. His manager rang his door around four AM not a bit considerate of his sleep schedule.
"Why is this flower in a single vase ?" Heeseung then eyes the single daisy in a small white vase right beside the vase full of pink azaleas and the other one of daisies. The single one is set apart. There were too many empty vases in this house anyways.
"I put it there." He simply says and Heeseung walks back to his luggage. He doesn't add his meeting with a cute florist, nor his incapacity to get the red-haired boy and the smell of petals out of his head.
Nothing to add.
"I am too high for this. I will be back tomorrow and we will go see the circuit." He walks to Jongseong putting two hands on his shoulders and being tall enough, he makes it work. His pupils are dilated and his face is full of glee almost dreamy. "Everyone is so hyped about this race because you are here, god I can't wait to see Chan's dejected face when you win."
"And I will go back to Seattle after this one right ?" The question makes Heeseung retracts quickly turning his back to Jongseong and holding the handle of his luggage again.
"Ah I have to go, goodbye son."
"I am not your son and reply to me."
Heeseung quickly opens the door with Jongseong on his steps.
"Details. Take my sombrero and go to sleep." He leaves it on top of Jongseong's head with a dashing smile before shutting the door closed.
"This conversation is not over !"
He runs a hand on his sleepy face. Fuck. He hates everything about this.
-❀ -
The second time he is in front of the shop, it is for the sole purpose of seeing Jungwon again. Amidst the chaos and high frequency of Seoul, the cute worker has been the only land of peace he found. Inside the flower shop, it feels like a whole other universe, cut short from the deafening noises clouding the rest of the city. It may sound ridiculous but Jongseong would describe it as one of those scenes set up in Disney's princess movies when it's all peaceful and the birds start chirping under the sun and the flowers start swaying and singing in tune with nature.
That is what Jongseong needs. A Disney movie forest.
Looking at his watch, it's the same hour he came last time, in the same weekday and he can only hope to find Jungwon. But his hopes chatter when he finds the boy with the orange hair that interrupted their goodbyes of last time. He has the generic smile that workers give to clients despite his furrowed brows trying to recognize Jongseong from somewhere.
Jongseong gets this uncomfortable itch on his nape. Silently praying that the worker is only trying to decipher memories of his face from the last time he saw Jeongseong while entering the shop and not because he knows him.
"Welcome to Yang's flower shop where you can find gifts for your loved ones and accessories to a gracious living ! What can we do to bloom a smile on your face ?"
And Jongseong doesn't remember Jungwon saying any slogans. Nor any wordplay related to flowers. His expression unconsciously enlengthens as he imagines the cute worker excitedly asking "What can we do to bloom a smile on your face ?". It's been a week already and he wonders if Jungwon would even remember him with te influx of workers on the daily.
"Hello, I am looking for a worker here. His name is Yang Jungwon."
"Oh, why they always come for him." The worker whispers the latter part to himself and Jongseong now reads his name engraved on his shirt, Do Yun. Do Yun is a short man probably in his twenties as well and by the way his smile washed off when Jongseong mentioned Jungwon's name he assume this is not a one-time experience for the worker as it is for him.
"Well, he is not here today. And before you ask we are not allowed to disclose anything about the workers here but if you have a message for him I can pass it on."
Jongseong sighs defeatedly. He knew he should've come this morning while pacing around the garage only being able to think about flower shops and dimples of curled hair.
"It's fine, thanks. I will-"
"Wait ! Aren't you Park Jay ?" The worker's face finally brightens up and his eyes go wide as if he finally deciphered the enigma that has been bothering him since this familiar man entered the shop. And he is about to say more before Jongseong answers.
"No." He smiles before waving off quickly and quickly getting out of the shop. His palms are sweating when he pulls down his hat to cover his face. He walks fast to a park nearby and sits on a bench.
"That was a close one." He throws his head on top of the bench. Of course, Jungwon mentioned last time that another staff was supposed to work there at his place. And fuck now he is going to come off as a stalker if the worker tells to Jungwon that he came. Which he will inherently do since he seems to know who Jay is. He kicks the stone under his feet. Fuck. Now it is all ruined. Either way, he will go back to Seattle soon. It would be dumb to get affected by any florist.
He removes his bucket hat to push his wet hair back. He didn't bother drying them off properly before coming here, mind too preoccupied and subtly thrilled at the thought of seeing Jungwon again.
He picks it up from his pocket with a sigh when his phone rings. The stern voice of Heeseung resonates behind the gadget.
"I told you to stay inside." He pronounces every single word like an insult and Jongseong rolls his eyes, spreading on the entirety of the bench watching the old couple far in front of him feeding bread crumbs to pigeons.
"And I said I don't want to." He can properly hear the way Heeseung tilts on his chair and swear under his breath.
"And also since when was I famous ? I mean no one ever cared about me in Seattle. But here a lot of people seem to know me."
He said the exact same thing again this morning when Heeseung gave him the whole talk about not showing himself to the public before the big race. Assuming that everyone in Seoul is widely interested in the topic of car racing to begin with unless they are fanatics just like Do-yun. Or just like the bald guy with a nose piercing at the supermarket who asked for an autograph while Jay was shopping for his bask of yogurt.
Or just, a mere hour ago when he was walking down the bus stop towards the flower shop and stumbled upon a vividly adorned flyer on a post lamp.
There, in bold letters, his next car race was emblazoned, the very essence of adrenaline and speed encapsulated in a single piece of paper. Edited cars, vibrant and sleek graced the flyer, hinting at the exhilarating battle that awaited him on the asphalt battleground. Among the list of names, he recognized a few legends of the korean racing world, their reputations etched in history and their talents revered by enthusiasts. And his name was right there, on the third line Park Jay.
Folding it meticulously, he tucked it into the sanctuary of his pocket before jogging to the shop. A simple reminder that fate was calling him to embrace the roaring symphony of engines very soon again.
But he still wonder. Why ?
"Because they deem you as mysterious ! The broke korean prodigy whose father died and started skipping classes to go to clandestine car races and became the most acclaimed racer of Seattle." Jongseong sighs, readying himself for the same speech again. Heeseung will never shut up about this so how can he ever forget ?
"The image is no one knows you, but they all want to. You are not supposed to put yourself out here too much. But, but, but ! Not everyone may be interested in racing, but you can catch few eyes with those good looks of yours. Why do you think I sent you to take the flowers when I could've sent someone else ? Huh ?"
"Fuck you." The old woman sitting in the couple across looks up at him with a disapproving stare and he just avoids looking at her. They get up and leave soon anyways.
"For a little bit of coverage because people saw you on the streets. The posts on Pann were drooling and that was enough ! I don't need you to be out here at every single occa-"
His brain disconnects because in his peripheral he sees a group of boys walking. They seem like a bunch of college students just hanging out in the park. Something mundane. But what strikes Jongseong's attention is the redhead in the middle. He is wearing a flashy yellow backpack with multiple flowers and stars charms dangling on the back. A pastel red cardigan that matches with his hair on top of a white shirt with Lola bunny embroidered in the center and green cargo pants.
Jungwon is a walking fashion catastrophe and Jongseong thinks that is the most endearing thing ever.
The boy seems to be having fun, all smile while entertaining a discussion with his friends and Jongseong doesn't know why he scrambles to run away from the bench and hide behind the bushes before Jungwon can catch a glance of him. He does not want Jungwon to see him now and it feels so fucking weird to be a situation like this. But he can't hide the rumbling excitement under his chest coming hand in hand with the fear of being perceived as a creep.
You see, maybe Jongseong has developed a fascination for the florist that awoke the dandy sixteen-years old girl in every teen show crushing on the high school seniors in him. It causes him to act irrationally because until now, Jongseong is not able to tell you why he is hiding behind bushes at this instant.
"Jay ? Are you running ?"
He forgot he was on the phone with his annoying manager for a minute.
"Yeah, I will call you back. Bye."He whispers quickly.
He hangs up before peeking up the bushes to horrifiedly notice that the group of four people stopped and installed on the bench he was previously occupying. How could they have not noticed or seen him hiding is a mystery.
Three are sitting while one is standing wearing a cross necklace and holding up a skateboard. This one dress well. Compared to the walking rainbow that is Jungwon sitting in the center. The back of the redhead is facing Jongseong and he can't help but feel creepy doing this.
He is about to stand up and disappear from the premises right before he hears, "A car racing competition ?"
It's Jungwon's voice. He is reading the flyer that- tapping his pockets, Jongseong notices that is his. The one that he found earlier this afternoon and pushed down his pocket is the same one Jungwon is reading.
"Woah ! That sounds so cool."
The standing boy practically snatches the flyer away from Jungwon's hands and Jongseong frowns.
"We need to go to this ! Kang Junho and Kim Jiwoong will be racing !"
"I didn't even know this was allowed in Seoul actually." Says one of the boys sitting beside the florist.
Jongseong is so curious to know what Jungwon thinks about this, if Jungwon knows about car racing. If there's a tiny probability that maybe Jungwon knows him.
"We should go seriously. I want to see Park Jay loosing."
A quiet scoff escapes his lips, this is taking an unfunny turn.
"Why ? Who is that ?" Jungwon asks.
"A stuck up from the states. No techniques just a pretty face going viral on social medias. He thinks he is better than everyone in Korea, I can't wait to see him getting crushed." The standing boy mimics a crushing motion with his fist.
"Are you sure you aren't just jealous because he is an 02's liner but is doing much more than you ?" The guy sitting on the right of Jungwon with his arm on the bench around the florist says.
And Jongseong would be happier than he is at this complete stranger defending his honor if it weren't for the man's body language leaning towards Jungwon.
Because after all, what if the boy was already taken ?
"Yah! You will see, you all will see at the race. It's in two days. We are all going."
Jongseong wants to throw his fist in the air. As annoying as his hater may be, if he manages to bring Jungwon then he is being useful.
"I am not sure hyung. I have so many assignments to catch up to." Jungwon says.
His enthusiasm dims and Jongseong wished he could come out and invite the boy himself if it weren't for the setup of the bush that will make it really obvious-- and creepy if he were to just pop out from behind it.
"C'mon it will be the weekend. You will have plenty of time." Say the other one on the bench with the vibrant strawberry cheeks.
Please come. Please come. Please come.
Peer pressure needs to work. I has to because Jay remaims behind the bush fingers crossed while he prays any gods that they influence him enough for him to come.
"I will see with my schedule."
"But seriously what kind of hyung would I be if I left you to miss that douchebag's humiliation ?"
Ouch. But Jay almost laugh out loud because of the methods deployed. Isn't this so ironic ?
"Sunghoon hyung may be right. It's always legendary to see an asshole getting humbled."
Double ouch. Jay is holding his breath as Jungwon sighs in defeat.
"Fine then, let's go quickly so I can finish and be able to witness « history » in two days."
Adrenaline slowly fills in his veins, the one he recognizes from the first time he got inside a car to race. Jungwon was going to come.
Jungwon was going to come watch Jongseong's first race in Korea after seven years.
His smile is dopey behind the bush and he foregoes the short conversation that follows before the group of friends leaves the bench. Taking with them the flyer, Jay's flyer. That ended back in Jungwon's hand.
And this would all come down to the fact that, Jungwon would come to see him at the end. And it makes everything worse because then...
Jay absolutely has to win.