Work Text:
That was an ordinary morning for Oscar, but with a special touch that he always appreciated. The day was sunny, and the gentle warmth brought with it the promise of a vibrant spring, the season Oscar loved most. A light breeze made the flowers sway gently, as if greeting the first customers entering the flower shop. The store was the heart of the small town, a place where everyone seemed to find a bit of peace and beauty amid the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Oscar always felt at home there, surrounded by the colors and aromas of the flowers that he and his parents, Mark and Fernando, lovingly cultivated. The flower shop was not just a business for them; it was a labor of love, a dream he and his parents nurtured with each passing season. Oscar loved spending the mornings organizing deliveries, carefully attending to orders, and especially helping customers choose the perfect flowers to express their feelings, whether of love, gratitude, or even longing.
With spring just beginning, the store was busier than ever. The arrival of new flowers seemed to attract all the town’s residents, eager to fill their homes with the vibrant colors and sweet aromas that only the floral season could provide. The shelves were filled with roses, lilies, tulips, and other flowers that Oscar knew like the back of his hand. He loved the way customers were often left speechless by the beauty surrounding them.
As Oscar helped his father, Fernando, arrange the flowers in their respective vases, he noticed that his father was particularly focused on tying bows on the ordered bouquets. Each bow was tied with precision, reflecting the care and dedication Fernando always put into every detail. It was a meticulous, almost artistic job, and Oscar deeply admired his father's patience with those little satin ribbons.
The sound of the phone interrupted his thoughts.
“Hijo, could you answer that?” Fernando asked without taking his eyes off the bows.
“Sure, Dad.” Oscar replied with a smile, picking up the phone that was on the counter. He opened the message that had arrived and read it with a curious look.
Unknown 9:56 AM
Hello, good morning. How do I say fuck you in flower??
Oscar blinked, confused by the message. They had never received such a peculiar request. He read the message again, as if trying to find some hidden meaning. But there wasn't any. The message was clear and direct.
Oscar 10:00 AM
Hi! What do you mean by that? Would you like to order a bouquet?
Unknown 10:00 AM
I apologize for reaching out so suddenly.
Yes, I want to order a bouquet that says "fuck yourself".
Can you do that?
Oscar frowned, still perplexed but also intrigued. He looked around the shop, seeking inspiration from the flowers surrounding him. His father, Mark, had taught him that each flower had a meaning, its own message. Over the years, Oscar had learned to use these combinations to create bouquets that expressed the deepest emotions of their customers. But this was the first time he needed to create something so unusual.
Oscar 10:02 AM
We can do that, I’ll send you a photo when it's ready, okay?
Unknown 10:02 AM
Okay, thank you.
Oscar began thinking about which flowers to use. He mentally ran through the catalog of floral meanings his father had taught him, carefully choosing the flowers that best represented the message. Yellow carnations to symbolize disdain, monkshood to represent hatred, and petunias that meant resentment.
As he assembled the bouquet, Oscar couldn’t help but chuckle a bit at the situation. It was so unusual that he wondered what had driven someone to want to send such an aggressive message through flowers. What had someone done to this person to deserve such a gift?
After picking up some ribbons from Fernando, he carefully tied the bouquet and sent a photo to the client.
Unknown 10:14 AM
That’s great, I’ll pick it up in 15 minutes.
Oscar set the bouquet aside from the others and returned to his tasks, immersed in the flower shop’s routine. He didn’t even notice when the stranger arrived. The store was relatively quiet at that moment, the morning sun bathing the space in golden light, reflecting off the flower petals and creating an almost magical atmosphere.
“Good morning.” A hesitant voice caught Oscar’s attention as he was watering some hanging pots from a ladder.
Oscar turned and saw a young blond man standing by the counter, nervously shifting from foot to foot. The man’s face was young, but there was something in his eyes that seemed weary, as if he had been through much more than someone his age should have.
“Oh, good morning!” Oscar’s face lit up with a friendly smile as he climbed down the ladder, placing the watering can on the counter carefully. “How can I help you?”
“I’m here to pick up a bouquet I ordered earlier today.” The blond replied, frustration clear in his voice. Oscar immediately guessed which bouquet it was.
“You’re the one who wants to tell someone to “fuck yourself” with flowers?” Oscar asked, trying to hide a smile as he mentioned the order. The blond only nodded, looking a bit embarrassed but determined.
Oscar fetched the bouquet and, as he handed it over, noticed the way the blond looked at the flowers. There was a mixture of sadness and bitterness in his eyes, as if those flowers were a reflection of feelings he couldn’t put into words. For a moment, it seemed like he was going to laugh at the situation, but instead, he shook his head and began searching for his wallet in his jacket pocket.
“Did you end a relationship?” Oscar dared to ask, feeling a genuine curiosity about what had led the young man to make that order.
The man shook his head in denial, looking at the flowers once more. “No. Actually, these are for my boss. He’s a complete asshole and fired me without any warning.”
Oscar was surprised by the blunt response but quickly hid his surprise with a sympathetic nod. “That sounds awful. I’m sorry you went through that.”
“It’s life, isn’t it?” The blond shrugged, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “There’s not much I can do except move on.”
Oscar watched the man for a moment, feeling a wave of empathy. There was something about the way he held the bouquet, as if he were carrying more than just flowers, but also all the unspoken emotions that came with them.
Determined to try and brighten the stranger's day, Oscar went to a shelf where there were some fresh lavender flowers. He knew that lavender symbolized calm and tranquility, something this man clearly needed. Gently, he made a small arrangement and handed it to the blond.
The man looked at the additional flowers, surprised by the unexpected gesture. He opened his mouth to say something, but seemed to think better of it and, instead, smiled slightly. “Thank you... Oscar, right?” He read the name on Oscar’s badge, confirming it.
“Yes, and your name is?” Oscar asked, curious.
“Logan,” he replied, hesitating for a moment before extending his hand. “Thanks for helping today, Oscar. You made a shitty day a bit more bearable.”
“It was nothing. If you need anything else, we’re here.” Oscar replied with a smile, relieved to have been able to help.
Logan nodded in farewell and left the store, the sound of the doorbell echoing softly as he walked away. Oscar watched through the window, seeing Logan disappear into the crowd passing by on the street. He returned to his work but couldn’t help thinking that there was something in Logan’s expression, a mixture of relief and exhaustion, that stirred Oscar’s curiosity, making him wonder what had happened between Logan and his boss to leave him so resolute.
In the days that followed, Oscar couldn’t get Logan out of his mind. He wondered if the flowers had served their purpose and if Logan was okay now, if he had actually delivered the bouquet or if it was just a way to vent his anger about being fired. So, a few days later, when Logan appeared again at the flower shop, Oscar was surprised.
This time, Logan seemed different, less downcast, but still carrying the same intensity in his eyes. He entered the store and went straight to the counter, where Oscar was distractedly organizing some tulips.
"I just wanted to thank you," Logan began after Oscar greeted him. "The bouquet... well, I think it worked. And it made me realize a few things."
Oscar raised his eyebrows, waiting for Logan to continue. The silence in the store was filled only by the soft sound of leaves rustling in the wind.
"I... maybe I overreacted with the bouquet. Not that my boss didn’t deserve it, but I realized I was wasting my energy on things that weren’t worth it," Logan admitted, with a half-smile. “Those flowers were too beautiful to end up in the hands of that jerk.”
Oscar chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Sometimes we just need an extreme gesture to realize what really matters, don’t we?”
Logan nodded, his eyes focused on a flower behind Oscar. “That’s it. I was so caught up in anger and frustration that I didn’t see how it was consuming me. When I delivered the flowers, I realized it wasn’t the end of the world. In fact, it was kind of liberating. That place was hell, but I thought I could handle it.”
Logan stayed for a while, talking to Oscar about his former job, about how he was trying to find something new, and about the frustration of constantly being pushed to the limit by his boss and the people there. None of this felt strange to Oscar; it was like talking to an old friend, just chatting casually without worrying about judgments or anything like that.
As the weeks went by, Logan started to visit the flower shop more frequently. He always had an excuse to be there: sometimes to buy flowers for his mother, other times to ask for suggestions for a birthday gift. But, in truth, they both knew these were just pretexts to spend more time together.
Oscar began to look forward to Logan’s visits. The two shared stories, laughed at the situations they encountered throughout the day, and slowly, something deeper began to develop between them. Logan was sarcastic and straightforward, but there was a vulnerability in the way he spoke that drew Oscar in. Meanwhile, Oscar, with his calmness and sensitivity, was a comforting presence for Logan, who felt safe to be himself.
One afternoon, as Oscar was closing the shop for his parents, Logan showed up, carrying a small bouquet of orange blossoms that he had tried to arrange himself. He handed the flowers to Oscar, somewhat awkwardly.
"I thought maybe it was my turn to give you flowers," Logan said, a slight blush coloring his cheeks. "But I’m not very good at this, so… I hope you like it."
Oscar looked at the orange blossoms, simple and charming, and smiled at the gesture. They weren’t exotic or luxurious flowers, but to Oscar, they were absolutely perfect. He took the bouquet, lightly brushing Logan’s fingers, and felt a warm sensation spread through his chest.
"I loved them," Oscar replied, his bright eyes shifting between the flowers and Logan, who looked as red as a tomato in front of him. "Thank you, Logan."
In that moment, Oscar realized that those frequent visits, the endless conversations, and the small acts of kindness had turned into something more than just kindness and friendship. He was falling in love with Logan, and by the way Logan looked at him, he knew the feeling was mutual.
After that, Logan’s visits were no longer just excuses. They started seeing each other outside the flower shop, walking through the park, going to cafés, and eventually spending nights together, talking until dawn. Oscar was even bold enough to introduce Logan to his parents, who loved meeting the young man and quickly welcomed him as part of the family. Their relationship blossomed with the same delicacy and intensity that Oscar always saw in flowers, each new layer of emotion revealing itself little by little.
And so, what began with an impulsive message to "tell someone to fuck yourself with flowers" ended up becoming the event that connected Logan and Oscar, leading them to find happiness and love there, surrounded by flowers and each other’s presence.