Chapter Text
Sandrone’s POV
***
TWO DAYS AGO.
It was warm.
A girl was sobbing at the hallway of my workplace sitting on a marble seat.
I was about to pass her by but my conscience was killing me so I stopped to check on her.
“Are you okay, miss?” I asked carefully. The woman was looking down when she answered me.
“I-I’m...going to be okay,” she said to me.
“Uh, okay…. Uhm, here.” I gave out a hanky, “Might help you.” I said.
“Thanks.”
“Well, I’ll be going now.”
“W-Wait!” she called out and I looked back, I saw her pleading eyes.
“Can you stay for a bit?” she desperately asked.
The atmosphere was awkward, and yet I couldn’t leave her behind. But I didn’t know how to comfort other people so I just sat beside her in silence.
‘She looks lonely.’
I looked at my watch before deciding, “Okay.”
Then, I spent an hour watching a woman cry before she left me with no word.
‘I wonder why she was crying.’
***
I was the type of person who did not know what to do with my life next. A bit impulsive or there could be times a bit of a playing safe type. I’m either of the two extremes. And it became a source of trouble in my life.
I met a guy from a common friend. His name was Arlecchino. He gave me a job. A personal secretary at his law firm. I’ve been doing this job for three months. It’s not a type of thing I would do forever but it isn’t bad, it pays my bills.
“It’s a great day today, want to watch some movies and chill out at my place?” he asked charmingly, but I never liked guys, to begin with.
I never liked anyone even myself.
“Sorry, I don’t feel like it, sir.” I declined politely.
He smiled and shrugged.
“Well, your lost.”
He’s an easy-going type of man. He went out on a lot of dates aside from the fact that he had a long term girlfriend.
One day, his girlfriend found out about his doing and I was tasked to cover it up.
“Sandrone?” he called me out once I was finished answering the phone calls at the firm.
“Yes, sir?”
“How do you appease a madwoman?” he asked curiously.
I’ve never been mad my whole life so I didn’t know what to say.
“I don’t know sir, in what sense?”
“My girlfriend seems to be mad at me.”
“I don’t know sir, give her a flower maybe?”
Like those movies and cliche.
“Splendid, will you do that for me? I’m kind of busy as of the moment.”
“You mean, you want me to send a flower for your girlfriend?” I raised my eyebrow.
‘Is this a part of my job?’
“Yes, to Columbina Hyposelenia. A 7th-floor building nearby.” He wrote the address on a paper and gave it to me.
“Uh, any notes you want to say?”
“Write one for me.”
“Uh, okay?”
“Great, thanks.”
Then I saw him go out with one of his girls at the building.
‘Cassanova, huh?’
I wonder why his girlfriend puts up with him.
***
I was about to call the flower delivery service but my boss requested me to deliver it personally at his girlfriend’s office. He insisted that a personal assistant delivering the flower instead of a service courier is much better.
But I personally think he delivers the flower himself, much better.
“Hi, I’m looking for Ms Columbina Hyposelenia?” I asked the concierge.
“Is this for business?”
“No, just delivering a package.”
“7th floor left door.”
“Thank you,”
I went on a lift to the 7th floor and somebody bumped on my shoulder causing the flowers on my hand to almost scatter. Thank heavens, my grip was tight.
“I-I...Sorry!”
“It’s Oka...Oh, wait. You were that girl two days ago?” I asked in surprise when I saw the familiar face
“It’s you.” she said, “Your hanky is still with me, I’m so s-sorry…” she went stiff and suddenly nervous. The narrow space on the elevator doesn’t help at all in our awkward atmosphere.
“No problem.”
While waiting for my floor, I heard hiccups from my side.
‘She’s crying again.’
Her nose was a bit red and her cheeks were a bit blushing.
“Are you okay?” I asked carefully. Not wanting her to feel uncomfortable.
“I-I’m… going to be okay.”
The girl looked so lonely and sad.
‘Fuck my conscience.’
“Uhm, take this.” I handed her the bouquet. Her eyes widened in surprise.
“No, it’s o-okay.”
‘Shit.’ I looked down embarrassedly. ‘She might think I’m a creep.’
“S-Sorry… I just thought it would make you feel better.”
She stared at me for a minute before taking my hand to get the bouquet.
“T-Thanks, I guess.”
I noticed there’s only a single number pressed on the elevator so I asked her, “What’s your floor number?”
“7th,” she answered.
“Uh, okay.”
The elevator door opened and the girl was about too stepped out until she saw me pressing the ground floor again.
“Isn’t this your floor too?”
“I’ll just come back some other time.” I scratched the back of my head.
“Uh, okay. Thanks for this again.”
The girl went out on her floor before bidding me a smile.
‘I’ll just come back here tomorrow to deliver a flower to my boss’ girlfriend.’
I bought his girlfriend Yellow Daffodils as a sign of good luck for her new beginnings and left with a lovely note composed by me.
‘You deserve better.’
***
Another day at work doing my daily task, Arlecchino greeted me.
“Good morning, have you delivered the flowers?” Crap. I forgot.
“U-Uh, not yet. I’m sorry sir.”
“Can you deliver it today? My girlfriend broke up with me yesterday. Not that I’m sad but she’s the kind of girl I can boast to everyone you know.” he said and drank the remaining contents of coffee on his hand.
‘Good decision.’
“Any notes or choice of flowers?” I asked.
“You do it, I have no time for those things.” he shrugged.
“Okay.”
‘So, a trophy girlfriend, huh? I wonder what she feels.’
***
I went back to my boss’ girlfriend’s office to deliver the long-awaited flowers.
“Hi, I’m looking for Columbina Hyposelenia?” I asked the concierge again.
“7th floor left door.”
“By the way, do you know where I can use the bathroom?” I asked.
“5th floor,” she said.
“Thank you.”
I made my way towards the 5th floor to use the bathroom then I heard cries.
‘Is there a ghost here?’
Then I went on to follow the noise, I stopped at a bathroom stall at the corner.
“Hello?” I asked cautiously, I was about to peak until the door opened and my forehead bumped on it.
“OW!”
“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry!” a girl said, “Are you okay?” she checked my covered face.
“I-I’m… I think I had amnesia.” I said jokingly.
“It’s you.”
Wait a minute.
“Oh, hi!” I greeted her.
That girl again from the elevator.
“It’s red.” she stared at my forehead worriedly.
“I’ll be fine.” I smiled sheepishly,
“Sit on the sink,” she suggested and I did, looking at her confusedly.
She brought out her hanky and cold water on it before pressing it in my forehead.
“Your hanky…”
“It’s fine, I owe you one.”
“I’m sorry, we tend to meet like this,” she said apologetically.
“Were you crying again?” I asked her.
“Y-Yeah… But I felt better the last time we met.”
“You did?”
“Your note.”
“Oh.” I stared at her face, her eyebrows were thick, her lips were red and her skin was pale. She looks pretty. I must have been staring so hard that she looked away and cleared her throat.
“Done,” she said.
“T-Thank you. D-Do you work here?” I asked.
“Yeah, you worked for Hearth’s Law Firm, right?” she assumed.
“How did you know?”
“We’ve met there for the first time.”
“O-Oh, were you there for a case meeting?”
“No… I just know someone there.”
“What do you work for?” I asked, then I saw the same stare she gave me when we were inside the elevator.
“I-I swear, I’m not a creep… I’m just curious, I guess.”
“There’s a cafeteria downstairs, want to have some coffee?” she offered suddenly.
“Sure.”
We sat in silence as we stirred our cups. We glanced at each other occasionally and gave out a few smiles. I wanted to say something but I didn’t know what to say and I also didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable.
“Is that for someone?” She asked pertaining to the flower on the table.
‘Right, the forgotten flower.’
“Uh, yeah. It’s for my boss’s girlfriend. I was asked to deliver.”
“Who’s your boss?” she asked.
“Hearth, Arlecchino.”
She blinked her eyes repeatedly before she sipped her coffee, “Oh.”
“I have to deliver these flowers today for Ms Columbina Hyposelenia.” then she coughed a bit.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, sorry. Uh, which shop do you buy your flowers from? Their note is creative.”
“Oh, I wrote the note by myself,” I said and she suddenly burst out into fits of laughter.
“That’s a lovely note!” she giggled.
“Well, everyone should know their worth.” I shrugged.
“I know Columbina Hyposelenia, I can give the flowers to her if you want.”
“Really?! Thank you!”
“Well, I gotta go. I’ll see you soon, Sandrone.” She stood up and left.
“Yeah, see you- Wait, how did she know my name?”
‘I forgot to ask her name too.’
***
Meanwhile,
As the girl walked by towards the 7th floor, she looked at the flowers on her hand and smiled.
Gillyflower for a happy life.
She opened the tiny note on the flower and read.
‘Great decision. Never look back.’
And for that, she cried again not because she was sad, but because she felt relieved by those flowers and simple notes.
Her phone rang and she answered it.
“Hello? Babe, can we please talk? I’m sorry I won’t do it again.”
“Don’t call me again, Arlecchino.”
She hangs up and mutes her phone.
‘Sandrone, I hope to see more of you.’ She dried her tears and went back to her office as she hugged the flowers close to her heart.
“Good morning, Ms Columbina!” her secretary greeted.
“Good morning.”
Her secretary saw her and was glad. It seems like it's the first time she saw her boss smile in a while.
"Happiness suits your face, Ms Columbina." The secretary told Columbina and she smiled even more.
"Do you believe in chance encounter, Furina?" Columbina asked her secretary.
"I'm not sure for I have not experienced it yet, do you Ms Columbina?" Furina asked.
"I think I'm starting to believe on it."
"Is that a good thing?"
"I hope so."
‘I wonder what it would be like to move on and love again.’
***
One time, Arlecchino saw Columbina at his office lobby. Waiting for someone.
‘She’s waiting for me, huh?’ he grinned.
“Babe, hi! I knew you'd come around soon again for me!” he was about to hug her when Columbina halted him.
“Touch me and I’ll murder you. Life imprisonment is okay for me. I won’t regret it.” she glared at the boy.
“B-But you came to see me, right? Is the white rose for me?” he asked excitedly.
“Dream on, I’m not here for you.” Columbina looked around and saw Sandrone walking out of the lobby.
“HEY, Sandrone!” she called out happily. Sandrone looked at her in surprise.
“It’s you.”
“Come with me.” Columbina grabbed her hand and dragged her out towards her car and Arlecchino could only look at the two in confusion.
‘What was that?’
And the God on his subconscious mind gave him an answer.
‘Karma, my bro.'
***
Inside the car, Sandrone was thinking hard what’s happening. And why her boss Arlecchino was glaring at her when this girl grabbed her hand and dragged her inside her car.
“Hey, you… uh, where are we going?” Sandrone asked as she looked at the girl who was buckling her seatbelt excitedly.
“We can go anywhere. Watch a movie, eat somewhere nice, shop, name it. Let’s spend time together.” the girl smiled and squeezed Sandrone’s hand, “I almost forgot this is for you.”
A white rose, a symbol of moving on on a clean slate.
Sandrone unfolded the small note attached to it.
‘Sandrone, Date me. -Columbina Hyposelenia’
Sandrone’s eyes widened upon the realization.
“You are MY BOSS’ GIRLFRIEND?!”
“Ex.” Columbina corrected.
‘Shit, am I going to lose my job?’ Sandrone thought.
“You said I deserve better. Is it you?” Columbina asked hopefully.
“I’ll try to be the best!” Sandrone surprised her with a stolen kiss and a big hug.
‘Well, losing my job is okay when I get a girl I like.’
Columbina was looking at Sandrone who enjoyed the fresh air with the windows down.
‘For all the days I was hurting and crying, I wonder if life is just preparing me to meet the right person for me.’
‘I hope it’s you.’
Years after, Columbina was crying again but that’s because Sandrone knelt and put a ring on her finger. Months after, Arlecchino was feasting on the food at the wedding reception.
‘All because of the fucking flowers.’