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1. Forget-me-nots, blue violets and stock flowers
Sunoo was certain that Sunghoon was created only to test him.
“You can't be serious.”
Sunghoon made an offended noise and Sunoo rolled his eyes, glad that the other couldn't see it through the phone.
“I am serious! Why wouldn't I be?”
“Hyung, your anniversary is tomorrow and you're just now telling me that you want to buy a gift for Jungwon.”
“I don't want to buy a gift for Jungwon. I want you to buy a gift for Jungwon.”
Sunoo rolled his eyes again.
“Why are you asking me?” he asked, leaning back in his chair. “And why did you wait until the last minute?”
“You have more free time than me. I wanted to buy him flowers but by the time I'll get off work, the stores will be closed or almost closed.”
Sunoo hummed.
It was true that his schedule was a lot less rigid than his friends’. While they had set working hours, Sunoo was given a bit more leeway as a writer. He still had deadlines to make, but there were no set hours for him to work between.
“Please? I'll even buy you your gross ice cream,” Sunghoon pleaded.
Sunoo huffed, “You know, when people ask for things, they typically don't insult the person's favourite things.”
“Sorry, sorry. Just…please? This one time?”
Sunoo could almost see the face that Sunghoon was making. Even though they likened Jake to a puppy, Sunoo was sure that their friends all agreed that Sunghoon was a close second, especially when he wanted something.
He hummed, trying to make it seem as if he were thinking over his decision, but it had already been made. He didn't mind doing things for his friends and what Sunghoon was asking for wasn't an impossible task. Besides, it was a gift for his best friend and if there was anyone who deserved flowers (especially after putting up with Sunghoon), it was Jungwon.
“Alright, fine. I'll buy them later and you can pick them up after work.”
Sunghoon cheered and Sunoo couldn't help but laugh. After thanking him profusely, Sunghoon hung up.
Sunoo sighed, putting down his phone. His eyes focused back on his laptop, the blinking cursor on his blank page staring back at him.
‘I guess it can wait. I can’t think of anything to write anyway,’ he thought.
Sunoo had almost forgotten about his promise to Sunghoon when he caught sight of a flower shop. He'd gone to the convenience store and was walking back home when the sign caught his attention.
It was raining, but not so heavily that he couldn't make out the words ‘In Full Blossom’ painted in white on the black sign hanging above the door.
Sunoo stepped inside, closing his umbrella and putting it inside the stand beside the door. As he stepped further in, a voice rang out welcoming him inside.
He caught sight of the clerk by the register, initially hidden when he'd entered. The man smiled at him and Sunoo instinctively smiled back. The man was gorgeous, his tan skin looking like honey in the warm lighting. His dark hair was feathery and parted almost perfectly to show his forehead.
Sunoo’s eyes started to trail past his sharp jawline and down his deep V-neck before he caught himself. He quickly turned around, his cheeks feeling warm.
The store was fairly small and there was no one else besides him and the clerk. He walked over to the flowers, browsing through the selection of blossoms as he wondered what Jungwon would like.
After a few minutes of fruitless searching, he decided that he was hopeless and turned to look at the clerk who was fixing some pre-made bouquets in the display case behind the counter.
“Excuse me?” Sunoo called out.
The clerk turned his head, giving him a curious look.
“Yes? Would you like help with something?”
Sunoo nodded, “I'm trying to pick out some flowers but I'm not sure what to get.”
The clerk was now turned completely towards him, giving him his full attention.
“What's the occasion?”
“It's for an anniversary,” Sunoo said.
“Ah, I see,” the clerk hummed. “Do you know what flowers your partner likes?”
Sunoo's eyes widened, “What? No, no, it's not my anniversary! It's for a friend of mine. His boyfriend asked me to do this because he wouldn't have the time.”
“Oh.”
The clerk seemed a bit stunned but quickly got over it.
“I'm sorry about that.”
“No, it's fine. I should have explained,” Sunoo said with a sheepish smile.
The clerk smiled back, “No worries. Well, do you know what kind of flowers your friend likes?”
Sunoo shook his head, suddenly feeling inadequate about completing the task. He probably should have asked Sunghoon if there were any particular flowers he wanted to get for Jungwon.
To his credit, the clerk didn't seem put off by Sunoo’s lack of knowledge. He hummed, seeming to think for a minute before going to open the door that closed off the area behind the counter from the rest of the store.
Sunoo watched as he started to go around the store, mumbling to himself while picking out flowers. He went back to the counter and laid out his collection on the surface for Sunoo to see.
“These are forget-me-nots,” he said, pointing to a cluster of small bluish purple flowers. “They can mean true love.”
Sunoo watched as he then picked up some slightly larger flowers of a similar colour.
“These are blue violets. They represent faithfulness.”
The clerk then reached for a handful of long stalks with flowers that were a mix of bright purple and pink with a few pastels mixed in it. “These are stock flowers. They can mean ‘You’ll always be beautiful to me’.”
He looked directly at Sunoo as he was explaining and Sunoo felt his cheeks heating up once again. He averted his gaze and when he looked back, the clerk was bending down to pick out some wrapping paper and ribbon from the counter. He worked quickly, arranging a beautiful bouquet before wrapping it carefully with the paper and ribbon.
Sunoo couldn’t help but let his gaze linger a bit on the man’s face. His lips were in a pout as he concentrated on fixing the bouquet. Sunoo had to hold back a laugh as he thought that the clerk looked cute focusing on his task.
When he was finished, he presented the bouquet to Sunoo. It was pretty and far better than what Sunoo could have come up with. While he prided himself on good taste, he wasn’t exactly an expert on flowers and he was glad he’d gone somewhere where the bouquet ended up looking great while also having a sweet meaning.
“I’m guessing you like it?”
Sunoo looked up, smiling sheepishly at the clerk. He hadn’t realised that he’d been gaping at the bouquet for the past minute or so.
“I do. It looks great and I’m sure my friend will love it.”
The clerk smiled, looking satisfied, before he went over to the register to ring up the bouquet. Once it was paid for, Sunoo headed to the door and grabbed his umbrella from the stand. He stepped outside, quickly putting up his umbrella as the rain was still falling. Clutching the bouquet to his chest, he rushed home, hoping that the flowers wouldn’t get ruined.
A sigh escaped his lips when he finally entered his apartment. After taking off his shoes and putting down his umbrella, Sunoo went over to his kitchen where he placed his things on the counter. He took a picture of the bouquet and sent it to Sunghoon before going to sit on the couch.
In the silence, his mind strayed back to the clerk at the flower shop. He’d been cute and Sunoo wasn’t usually incredibly shy, but he wasn’t sure if flirting was the right thing to do. First, the man was at work after all and even though there was no one else in the store, it didn’t mean he would like customers trying to flirt with him. Secondly, who was to say that he even felt attracted to Sunoo?
Either way, Sunoo coming on to him might have made him uncomfortable and that was the last thing he wanted. He decided to just put the encounter to the back of his mind. Besides, he was most likely never going to see the man again.
2. Peonies and hawthorns
The sound of furious typing filled the room before a frustrated sigh eventually broke it off.
With a headache that was steadily growing stronger, Sunoo highlighted the paragraph he’d just written before deleting it. He didn’t bother to look over the rest of his work before saving the document and closing his laptop. It didn’t matter what he wrote anyway; he just knew it was all terrible.
Deciding that he was long overdue for a break, he got up from his desk and left his study to go to the kitchen.
As he stood over a boiling pot of ramen, he heard his phone ping from the counter. He finished cooking before sitting down to eat his lunch and picking up his phone. He saw a notification from Jungwon and opened the chat.
‘Sunghoon-hyung said you helped him pick out the flowers.’
Sunoo scoffed before texting back.
Sunoo started to eat, now in a better mood than earlier. When he was finished and was washing up his dish, he heard his phone ping once again. He quickly wiped his hands and went to pick it up.
It was a text from his sister.
Sunoo sighed.
He hadn’t forgotten about his sister’s birthday. He just didn’t know what to get her as a gift. He and his sister had similar interests but he was tired of getting her the same gifts every year. Perfume and jewellery had become the norm and while those were nice gifts, Sunoo didn’t want to be predictable.
He thought about what he could possibly give his sister instead of the usual. His mind wandered to the conversation he’d had with Jungwon earlier. Jungwon had liked the flowers that he had bought.
An idea popped into his head.
When Sunoo opened the door to the flower shop, he was greeted by the same welcome that he’d heard the last time.
The same florist who had been there before was behind the counter, fixing some of the ribbons inside. He stood up, smiling at Sunoo for a second before a look of surprise came over his face.
“Oh, you’re back?”
Sunoo blinked, a bit confused at the turn of events. He hadn't expected the clerk to remember him and had figured that his interaction would be pretty much the same as the last time. Surely, the shop had enough customers per day that the clerk wouldn't remember someone who had come in a few weeks before.
“You remember me?”
The clerk nodded, “Of course. Your friend's boyfriend asked you to buy a bouquet, right?”
“That's right,” Sunoo replied, a bit stunned. He couldn't believe the guy remembered him.
“So, what can I do for you today?”
Sunoo took a moment to respond, still feeling slightly surprised.
“Oh, um, my sister's birthday is coming up and I wanted to get her a bouquet.”
The clerk smiled, “I think I have the perfect arrangement in mind.”
He left from behind the counter and fluttered about the store, collecting flowers. He went back to the counter once he finished and began to arrange a bouquet while explaining to Sunoo.
“Peonies which can mean prosperity and hawthorns which are May’s birth flower and can mean hope as well as happiness.”
Somehow, the bouquet was even more lovely than the last time. Sunoo wondered if the florist secretly had some sort of secret powers. Perhaps he was a fairy. It would certainly explain his looks.
“It looks great! Are you sure you don't have special powers or something?” Sunoo teased.
The florist laughed, his ears tinged pink.
‘Cute’ , Sunoo thought.
“I guess I’m just good at my job,” the florist said with a shrug.
“Well, that’s always a good thing,” Sunoo replied.
The florist smiled before turning to the register to give Sunoo his total. After paying and being handed the receipt, Sunoo felt their fingers brush for a second. He had to resist smiling like a lunatic and quickly said his goodbyes to the florist before leaving the store.
As he turned the corner, he glanced through the window into the store where the man was tidying up the counter. He bit back another smile and continued his walk.
3. Bells-of-Ireland and hydrangeas
“Wow. It’s certainly improved.”
Sunoo leaned forward in his chair, his eyes wide with curiosity and a tinge of hope.
“It did?”
His editor laughed and nodded.
“It did. I’m a bit impressed,” she said before pausing. Her face twisted with hesitation for a moment before she spoke again. “I have to say that I’m relieved as well.”
“Ah,” Sunoo said, his voice soft.
He knew that his writer’s block had gotten worse over the past few weeks and that he had essentially come up against a brick wall when it came to finishing his book. He’d barely even started, for that matter.
He knew all of that, yes, but it was another thing to hear about it from his editor.
“I didn’t mean to worry you,” he murmured. “I was just having a rough patch.”
His editor waved her hand dismissively as if to brush off the matter.
“It happens. I have to admit that I am curious about how you got over this, however,” she said, leaning forward to fold her arms on her desk. She gave Sunoo a teasing smile, a hint of curiosity glinting in her eyes.
He laughed nervously, “It’s not anything special, noona.”
“Really? You are writing a romance novel after all. Are you sure it’s nothing special?”
His editor wiggled her eyebrows, obviously trying to look silly (and she did), but Sunoo couldn’t find it in himself to laugh genuinely.
He had noticed his writing improving; being able to produce a few chapters for his novel in a matter of a few hours. He wasn’t a slow writer, per say, but it was certainly a new record for him. He wasn’t oblivious to the reason why.
It wasn’t exactly a coincidence that, despite previously being unable to, he was suddenly able to write out page after page after meeting a certain florist. So, he knew the reason, yes, but that didn’t mean that he was going to say anything about it. It was embarrassing enough as it was.
“It’s nothing, I swear,” he said, trying to look innocent.
He didn’t know if he succeeded or not as his editor sent him a dubious look but she didn’t question him any further and he was glad for it.
“Alright, if you say so,” she said, turning to look back at the copy of what Sunoo had written. She only glanced over it for a second before her face suddenly lit up. “Oh! I forgot to tell you, but Yunjin is leaving the company.”
Sunoo hummed, “Yunjin? As in Han Yunjin? From the sales department?”
“Yeah. She’s moving to Canada to be with her fiance.”
“Oh, that’s great!”
“Mhm. We’re having a little going away party next Friday. The authors are welcome to come, so if you want, you could come to say goodbye.”
Sunoo thought about it for a second. He wasn’t close with Yunjin, but she was someone who he’d gotten along with from when he’d just started his contract with the publishing company. She was sweet and was always kind to Sunoo, never failing to give him a good review on his books.
“I’d love to go.”
“Oh, you’re back again? That’s the third time this month.”
Sunoo smiled bashfully, “I have a lot of people that I can give flowers to, I guess.”
The florist laughed and Sunoo’s heart fluttered in his chest. He cleared his throat awkwardly, silently wondering why he was always so quick to gain a crush on someone.
“What is it for this time?”
“A…co-worker of mine is leaving and I wanted to give her some flowers as a parting gift,” Sunoo explained.
“That’s nice of you,” the florist said, his smile gentle.
Sunoo shrugged, sure that his cheeks were pink.
Thankfully, if the florist noticed, he didn’t comment on it. Once again, Sunoo stood in awe as the other man went around the store to get what he needed. As he went back behind the counter to make the arrangement, Sunoo took the time to look around the store.
It was empty, just like the last two times he’d gone there.
Perhaps it was just that the times when Sunoo came weren’t peak hours, but it was hard to imagine that a store like that didn’t get much foot traffic. It had a dreamy, soft aesthetic about it that drew his attention and made the place seem enchanted, almost like something out of a fairytale.
As Sunoo continued to look around, his attention caught by a few giant sunflowers in the corner, he saw the florist looking at him out of the corner of his eye.
Or at least, he thought he did.
When he turned around, the florist seemed to just be finished with the arrangement, wiping his hands on his apron. His gaze was set firmly on the bouquet and Sunoo wondered if maybe he had just been seeing things.
‘I must be delusional,’ he thought.
He went back over to the counter as the florist cleaned up the space. His gaze subconsciously wandered down to the man’s chest. He seemed to have a thing for deep V-neck shirts, Sunoo realised. Trying to find something else to focus on, his eyes settled on the plain dark blue apron the man was wearing.
“You don’t have a nametag,” he blurted out.
The florist looked up, his face a bit confused.
“Hm?”
“Sorry. It’s just that I noticed that you don’t have a nametag,” Sunoo explained, pointing at the florist’s chest.
He looked down, though it would have been hard to see from that angle.
“Oh, right,” the florist said, his expression softening with realisation. “The tag bothers me while I’m working, so I don’t usually wear it. My name is Jay.”
“I’m Sunoo.”
“Nice to meet you, Sunoo-ssi.”
Sunoo smiled, suddenly feeling shy in the face of Jay’s gentle smile. He looked down at the finished bouquet.
“What do these mean?” he asked, for lack of anything better to say.
“Bell-of-Ireland which symbolise good luck and hydrangeas which can mean good fortune and gratitude.”
Sunoo didn’t know how someone could memorise so many meanings of so many flowers. It was nothing short of amazing. He was tempted to tell Jay that.
“It looks beautiful,” he chose to say instead.
Jay gave him a small smile before moving over to the register. He glanced up at Sunoo a moment later.
“So, Sunoo-ssi, do you like flowers? They seem to be your gift of choice.”
Sunoo chuckled, “I like them. They’re pretty, but to be honest, I don’t really know much about them. Not like you.”
“Well, that all came with time,” Jay said, shaking his head.
“You mean you weren’t always an expert?” Sunoo teased, his eyes wide with fake innocence.
Jay laughed.
“Of course not. I did a course on it while I was studying Business Management and sort of fell in love with the idea. I took an apprenticeship after I graduated and eventually opened this store.”
Sunoo let out a small ‘Oh’, slightly surprised to hear that Jay owned the flower shop. It made sense, however. He was always the only one there whenever Sunoo came.
“What about you? Don’t tell me you own a flower shop too and are secretly trying to spy on the competition,” Jay joked with a dramatic gasp.
Sunoo laughed as he shook his head.
“No, no. I’m a writer.”
“Oh, as in novels?” Jay asked. He looked intrigued and Sunoo felt himself getting flustered at the attention. Jay’s gaze was intense.
“Mhm. I haven’t written that many and they’re not extremely popular, by any means,” Sunoo said, trying not to sound too boastful.
He wasn’t lying, however. It hadn’t been easy to become a published author, but he was proud of his work all the same. Still, he wasn’t blind to the fact that he was no Jane Austen.
“Don’t say that,” Jay said. “I’m sure your work is great. You might just have to tell me all about it and I’ll give you a sparkling review.”
Sunoo wondered when was the last time he’d laughed so much. Jay just seemed to be that humorous. (Or perhaps Sunoo was just that easily humoured.)
“Maybe next time.”
“Does that mean you’ll be coming back?” Jay asked, his expression seeming almost hopeful.
Sunoo bit his lip as he tried to calm himself down. Surely, Jay was just being friendly and polite, probably even looking for more business. There was no way he was flirting with Sunoo.
Right?
His mind replayed a few minutes ago when he thought he saw Jay looking at him when he wasn’t looking back. He’d thought that was his mind playing tricks on him, but was it really?
“I’ll definitely be back,” he decided to say.
That appeared to be the correct response as Jay’s face lit up.
The rest of the transaction went by in a blur and before he knew it, Sunoo was on his way back to his apartment. He thought back to the conversation that he just had and as he walked, a plan began to form in his mind.
4. Carnation
It was only two days later when Sunoo went back to the store.
Jay seemed glad to see him if the smile on his face was any indication. He didn't immediately move to talk to him, however, as for the first time since Sunoo started coming to the store, there was another customer there.
Sunoo ook the opportunity to walk about the store, gazing at the flowers as Jay wrapped up his transaction with the other person.
His eyes settled on a bunch of bright red carnations.
Admiration.
He had done his research the night before, looking through various sources for the right flower for his plan. In the end, he decided on the red carnation. It meant several things, including ‘I admire you’. For an expert like Jay, Sunoo was sure that it would work. (If it didn’t, then he had no idea what else to do.)
Picking up one carnation from the bunch, he heard Jay telling the other customer goodbye before the door opened and closed.
“What’s the occasion this time?”
At Jay’s question, Sunoo turned around and approached the counter with a smile on his lips.
“Just buying a flower for a special someone.”
Jay’s eyebrows raised as he gently took the flower from Sunoo’s hand. He laid it down on the counter before bending to grab paper and ribbon.
“Oh, so you don’t need my help today?”
Sunoo shook his head, “Not anymore.”
“Oh, I’m hurt,” Jay said, clutching his chest. “I thought you valued my opinion.”
“I do,” Sunoo said with a chuckle.
Jay eyed him suspiciously before shrugging.
“Alright. If you say so, Sunoo-ssi.”
Sunoo only smiled in response, watching as Jay worked on wrapping the flower.
“I take it you know what it means?” Jay suddenly asked, his eyes fixed on his work.
“Mhm. Admiration.”
Jay looked up, his face appearing mildly impressed, “Someone did their research.”
“Of course,” Sunoo said with a serious nod. “It’s for someone just as pretty as the flower, if not more.”
With his eyes trained on Jay’s face, he could see when the florist’s smile dimmed for a split second before going back to the customer-service-ready expression.
“Oh, I see.”
Without saying anything more, Jay continued to wrap the flower. When he was finished, he went to the register and gave Sunoo the total. He seemed far too polite and clinical for Sunoo’s liking, but that was hopefully about to change.
When Jay handed him the carnation, Sunoo only held it for a second before presenting the flower back to the other man.
Jay’s eyebrows scrunched in visible confusion.
“Is there something wrong with it? Would you like a different one?” he asked, slowly taking back the carnation.
Sunoo shook his head, “No. It’s for you.”
“Oh,” Jay said, still looking confused. After a moment, a look of realisation came over his face. “Oh!”
His cheeks turned pink and he stubbornly refused to meet Sunoo’s gaze.
“Thank you,” he mumbled.
Sunoo laughed, “You’re welcome, Jay-ssi.”
He left the store in high spirits and couldn’t resist stopping once he was around the corner to peek through the window. He saw Jay gazing down at the carnation with the softest look on his face, his lips stretched into a gentle smile.
A grin sprouted on Sunoo’s face and he practically skipped his way home.
5. Tulips
Sunoo was weak and hence, he was back at the store the very next day.
Jay seemed just as eager to see him too, so Sunoo couldn’t complain.
He headed straight for the flowers, set on the bright yellow blooms of a set of tulips.
There’s sunshine in your smile.
People likened Sunoo to the sun and he had been called ‘Sunshine’ many times in his life. He didn’t mind it; liked it even.
However, he had gained a new perspective after meeting Jay. While Jay didn't seem like what most people would typically call a very sunny person, to Sunoo, he was cute in a reserved way, especially when he smiled, and it deserved to be recognized.
Going over to the counter, he handed the tulips to Jay who took them with an amused chuckle.
“You’re too much.”
Sunoo laughed, letting the florist do his work of arranging the tulips into a bouquet. Immediately after paying, Sunoo gave them right back to Jay who didn’t seem as confused as the first time.
He only smiled and set the bouquet down before turning to open the display case behind him. He took out a plain glass vase and placed the tulips in it.
Sunoo’s stomach felt tingly upon seeing Jay displaying the flowers that he’d bought. He was glad that Jay was responding positively to the flirting, having worried about the possibility of him not being interested. It was nice to see that his concerns were unfounded.
“Uh, before you leave,” Jay started, his voice pulling Sunoo from his thoughts, “I wanted to know if you were maybe free on Saturday.”
Despite it being a statement, he almost sounded as if he were asking, his voice having a questioning tone towards the end.
Sunoo’s heart jumped in his chest as his thoughts immediately began to run wild. Why was Jay asking if he was free? That had to mean something, right? Was he asking Sunoo out on a date?
“Oh, yeah. I’m free,” Sunoo replied, trying to sound nonchalant. “Why?”
Jay looked nervous, fiddling with the tulips and fixing imperfections that weren’t there.
“I was wondering if you’d like to go with me to the National Museum to go see a few exhibits. Maybe after that, we could have a picnic or go to a restaurant.”
He was definitely being asked out on a date.
Sunoo wasn’t sure just how big the smile on his face was, but it must have been huge because his cheeks were hurting.
“That sounds nice. I’d love to,” he said, surprisingly sounding calm.
Jay looked relieved, his shoulders dropping their tension and a smile blooming on his face.
“Great. Maybe we could meet here in the afternoon and go from there,” he suggested.
Sunoo nodded in agreement and after exchanging KakaoTalk IDs with Jay, he left the store. He must have looked crazy, walking home with a huge smile on his face, but he couldn’t care less as he thought about his upcoming date.
+1. Daffodils
After putting aside his phone, Sunoo gave himself one last look in the mirror before he left the bathroom, satisfied with the result.
He made sure he had everything he needed in his bag and went through the motions of locking up his apartment. His nerves grew stronger as he left the building and made his way down the street, heading for the flower shop.
‘It’s okay. It’s just a date,’ he thought, trying to calm down.
It didn’t work.
He felt butterflies in his stomach as the store came into sight. As he drew closer, he saw someone stepping out of the store and moving to lock the door.
It was Jay and he looked absolutely gorgeous. (He usually did, but it looked like he somehow could look even better. Sunoo didn’t understand it.)
He turned around as Sunoo approached and the sweet smile on his face almost instantly made the nerves disappear.
“Hi,” he said when Sunoo came to a stop before him.
“Hi.”
They stared at each other for a moment, before Jay seemed to snap himself out of the trance. He held out his hand and just then, Sunoo realised that he had been holding something. That something was a bouquet.
“These are for you,” Jay said.
Sunoo took the bouquet, silently wondering if he had ended up in a drama or a webtoon. How did he end up on a date with a guy like Jay? Though, he supposed he started it first by giving the first flower.
“And what do these mean?”
“These are daffodils,” Jay explained. “They can mean joy and optimism. They usually symbolise new beginnings.”
It was weird how it was somehow possible for Jay to be even more attractive. Sunoo’s cheeks felt warm and he had to hold back a grin, though it was hard to contain. He didn’t think he was doing a good job.
“Thank you,” he managed to say. “I love it.”
“No problem. You deserve them,” Jay said, his face fond. “Shall we go?”
Sunoo nodded and they headed off to the bus station. He felt a hopeful anticipation rising in him as they walked, their shoulders bumping against each other though neither of them made the effort to move away.
It was going to be a good day.