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Minho didn't know much about flowers, let alone how to sell them to hopeless romantics on Valentine's day.
Throughout the day he’d force a smile, tell people to ‘have an amazing day!’ and whisper a forced ‘what a cute couple’ as they walked out. A sale tactic? Or something…
Minho's friend owned this devil spawn of a store and unfortunately he had a date, so that left him with a pleading Yongbok begging him to take over for the day.
Minho couldn't say no to Yongbok, especially on a day so important to him.
He was busy sulking, his face resting in his palm, when a man awkwardly walked in, scanning the room.
Minho immediately fixed his posture, the same retail smile reappearing on his face.
“Is there anything you’re looking for…” Minho started confidently, until the man turned around, revealing a face that felt too unreal to be anything but an angel.
Soft wisps of burgundy framed his face, his eyes were big and expressionate, startled at Minho’s voice. His expression switched into something that Minho could only describe as similar to his own, yet it still could've blinded him.
The man smiled, a small and embarrassed tug at his lips, but Minho’s breath still hitched.
“No— Well— Not really,” the man scrambled for words he didn't have. “I just come here sometimes, to look around, I know the owner.”
He scanned the room as if he was trying to point him out.
“Yongbok? You know him?”
“Oh, right. Yeah. We met at a karaoke bar a while back, I thought he’d be here.” He shifted slightly closer to the counter.
“I don't even work here, he begged me to cover for him whilst he went out with his boyfriend.” Minho admitted, his eyes fixed on the man now in front of him.
The man laughed, a gentle sound that perfectly suited him.
“I think you’d suit being a flower-boy.”
“What makes you say that?” Minho said, flustered slightly.
Suddenly the man has this new found confidence, a much different look from when he first walked in.
“You’re pretty, soft features, light hair. Matches the ‘vibe’ quite well I’d say.” He rested his arms on the counter as he said this.
“I’m sorry?” Minho said, dumbfounded on how this complete stranger has just basically hit on him on his first day at ‘work’.
“Too forward? Sorry. I’m Jisung, Han Jisung and I think you are prettier than all of these flowers,” Jisung paused. “Don't tell Yongbok I said that.”
Minho couldn't help but laugh, he hadn't met anyone quite as bright as Han Jisung. “Lee Minho.”
“Do you have a Valentine, Minho?”
“No, I don't.”
Jisung didn't respond after that, he just took a flowery green apron that matched Minho’s and joined him behind the counter.
“I’ll stay here till you close, save you from boredom.” Jisung smiled again, this time it was warm, sincere.
Minho felt his face go embarrassingly hot. He quickly turned away and nodded, averting a crisis.
Throughout the rest of the day the two helped lovesick couples pick out the perfect flowers. The shop was filled with a joy that not even Minho could hide from.
“What can I get you two lovely ladies,” Jisung hummed, showing the girls several bouquets.
“Well my wife really loves orchids, so I wanted something with those.”
“Jagi, You love carnations, so it has to have carnations.” The other woman was ready to have a lovey-dovey ‘honeymoon’ kind of argument.
“I’m sure we can make a bouquet with orchids and carnations, right Minho? Easy, yeah?” Jisung smiled bright, helping the girls make their own bouquet.
Minho decided that maybe Jisung suited the flower boy title more than him.
After they left, Minho heard one of the women whisper 'aren't they such a cute couple’ to the other. Somehow, at some point throughout the course of the day, the roles had reversed.
They hung up their aprons, taking extra time to close. Minho didn't want to admit that he didn't actually want to leave.
“Uh.. Minho?” Jisung called out from the back of the shop, his voice muffled from the distance.
“Are you okay? Did something happen?” He stood, ready to go out back, but Jisung’s voice stopped him.
“No, not at all,” he poked his head out, then shuffled out with a bouquet of pink peonies, magnolias, gypsophilas and sunflowers all flawlessly wrapped in green.
“Would you want to.. maybe.. be my Valentine? For the rest of today anyway.”
Again, Minho laughed, because all of this was beyond bizarre. “Of course I will.” He managed through a giggle.
Jisung was completely unlike anyone he’d ever met, everything he did was endearing to Minho. Never did he think that he’d find a Valentine at his best friend's flower shop.
“How does going out to eat sound, flower-boy?” Jisung handed him the stupidly beautiful flowers, that shy smile lighting up the room.
Minho also thought that Jisung was prettier than any flower here, so he silently agreed that he wouldn't tell Yongbok.
Minho finally flipped the sign to ‘closed’, then turned to face Jisung.
“It sounds perfect.”