Work Text:
Sunlight filtered gently through the windows of Natflowers.
Natsha Taechamongkalapiwat arranged her flowers with meticulous care, every petal and leaf in its place. Her hands moved with precision, but her mind seemed elsewhere, lost in the quiet comfort of her shop.
She didn’t like social media. Or celebrities.
She didn’t watch series. Or movies.
If she could, she would live entirely without television.
Unfortunately… she had let her best friend corrupt her.
Jane Jiranorraphat.
Her lifelong best friend, now a popular actress, who regularly sent invitations to premieres and events. Natsha often declined, but somehow, she always ended up saying yes.
Because Jane was still Jane, no matter the fame.
Natsha supported her, in her own quiet way.
Her favorite pastimes ? Watching nature documentaries with fascination… and pampering her flowers.
Belle and Orm, her two employees, giggled over their phones, quietly sharing photos of the bouquets. Belle would sometimes drop subtle hints about their boss without ever showing her face, while Orm always added a playful or artistic touch.
----------------
Later that afternoon.
Natsha had prepared a beautiful bouquet to congratulate Jane on her latest film. Peonies, lilies of the valley, lilies, and magnolias intertwined harmoniously, arranged with the same care as if the bouquet were meant for a royal ceremony.
Her brother Nathan, a stage manager at Channel 3, was tasked with delivering it discreetly.
That evening, Jane posted a story on Instagram :
— Thx u bestie ❤️💐
@Lenaschuett @Natflowers @Channel3
Fans liked and commented in droves.
Belle and Orm reposted as well, adding their little creative touches.
Natsha, meanwhile, remained blissfully unaware of the buzz that was beginning to stir.
----------------
A few days later.
Jane had sent an invitation for the film’s premiere.
Natsha had received it—and, against all expectations, decided to surprise her best friend.
She had already made a plan with her brother to pull it off.
In the meantime, Natsha focused on the bouquet she intended to give Jane.
----------------
Meanwhile, Jane Jiranorraphat’s dressing room still carried the scent of the bouquet she had received a few days earlier. The walls were covered with movie posters and polaroid photos. In the center of the room, the enormous bouquet rested on a small table like a work of art.
Jane waited patiently for her makeup to be finished.
Lena Schuett, her co-star and colleague at Channel 3, had come to visit.
Jane laughed softly as she adjusted her dress.
— Look at this bouquet… At this rate, I’m going to end up with a dating rumor on my hands…
Lena, sitting on the sofa, frowned, intrigued.
— Seriously… who does this ? I checked Natflowers’ online shop, but I couldn’t find anything about the owner.
Jane feigned an innocent smile.
— Oh, it’s nothing… just my best friend, she replied with a shrug.
Lena tilted her head, curious.
— Hm… mysterious, huh ? I do love a mystery.
Jane burst out laughing.
— Yes… she’s very mysterious.
To capture the moment, Jane took out her phone and snapped a selfie with Lena. The bouquet loomed perfectly in the background, massive and immaculate.
— Perfect, said Jane with a smile.
She immediately posted the selfie to her Instagram story with the caption :
“Lena loves flowers 💐”
@Lenaschuett @Natflowers @Channel3
Amused and without a second thought, Lena swiped to repost :
“I wouldn’t mind a bouquet of 💐🥰”
@Janeeyeh @Natflowers @Channel3
The two laughed softly, convinced it was just a cute little moment for their followers.
Little did they know—the internet was about to explode.
----------------
The screening had been incredible.
Natsha had prepared in advance. Dressed as a stagehand, black cap pulled low, she wanted to stay completely incognito.
With the help of her older brother Nathan, she slipped easily into the backstage area, a freshly prepared bouquet held carefully in her arms.
Nathan was dressed the same way.
From a distance, anyone would have assumed they were just two technicians deep in a serious conversation.
Nathan leaned toward his little sister and whispered :
— Ready for the surprise ?
Natsha nodded.
The two Taechamongkalapiwats weaved through the staff. Nathan glanced around quickly before discreetly ushering his sister into the dressing room.
Before leaving, he whispered:
— She shouldn’t be long. Stay put, little sister.
Natsha murmured a thank you. Nathan gave a conspiratorial wink and closed the door behind him.
Natsha froze.
Her mind was racing. She scolded herself silently.
Stop being an idiot. Nothing strange is going to happen. You’re here for your best friend…
She took a deep breath. Her pulse quickened as she waited for any sound.
The door handle slowly turned.
Then—
— OH MY GOD !
Natsha jumped.
Jane rushed over, circled the bouquet, and hugged her.
— Thank you for coming…
Natsha squirmed slightly, then replied calmly:
— Don’t cry. Or I’ll cry with you.
Jane laughed and quickly wiped her eyes.
Then she turned to Lena, standing just outside the dressing room.
— Admit it—you’re jealous, huh !
Lena smiled and shook her head.
Jane grabbed her best friend and positioned her with her back to the door.
— Don’t move.
Natsha frowned but didn’t protest.
Jane pulled out her phone and captured a photo: Jane smiling, the bouquet at her side… and Lena smiling in the background.
She immediately posted it to her Instagram story :
Nat always the best!! Thanks ❤️💐
@Lenaschuett @Natflowers @Channel3 @Surprise
A few minutes later, Lena, innocent and amused, reposted:
Thanks for being by my side! ❤️
@Janeeyeh @Natflowers @Channel3
It was just a selfie.
But by the next morning, it had gone viral.
Because a rumor began circulating:
A Channel 3 celebrity was dating a non-public figure.
And the two people involved were absolutely unprepared for the avalanche it unleashed.
The next morning.
Natflowers had been open for an hour already.
Natsha listened to a program about dolphins while tending to the red roses delivered early that morning.
Behind the counter, Belle and Orm whispered conspiratorially about the shop’s social media account. They bickered over what to post next: one wanted to start a new scavenger hunt involving their boss, while the other preferred to make an aesthetic collage of the freshly delivered roses.
Then everything happened so suddenly that no one could quite figure out where the chaos had started.
First Orm, who nearly choked on her own saliva upon seeing that the follower count had tripled since yesterday.
Then Belle, unable to keep up with the flood of notifications pouring in on both the website and Instagram account.
Natsha, blissfully unaware, continued listening to the documentary.
— “…and dolphins sometimes form very strong bonds with other species…”
Orm and Belle exchanged horrified glances.
They didn’t know how to tell their boss that a rumor was spreading.
A rumor claiming that she was Lena Schuett’s girlfriend.
----------------
Meanwhile, at Channel 3.
It was total chaos.
Screams everywhere. Pure cacophony.
— “Somebody find out who NAT is !”
— “Who’s handling the press release ?!”
— “We are not prepared for this wave !”
Lena Schuett, meanwhile, was scrolling through the posts about her.
Intrigued. Amused. Slightly bewildered.
Her manager, Kris, was running around, phone glued to his ear, sweating like his life depended on it.
— “Lena, stop smiling ! This isn’t funny! This is a disaster !”
Lena didn’t even look up.
— “You’re panicking over nothing. It’s just a rumor about me dating a stranger. Nothing more.”
Kris froze, then leaned closer.
— “Wait… she? Nat is a woman ?”
Finally, Lena lifted her gaze, calm as ever.
— “That’s right.”
Kris blinked. Opened his mouth like a fish… but no sound came out.
Lena went back to her phone.
X was buzzing. Hashtags were multiplying at lightning speed.
The top three trending:
#Natflowers
#LN
#SecretGirlfriend
— “Look.”
Lena turned the screen toward her manager.
— “I even have a submarine. Cute, right ?”
Kris paled at her amusement.
— “Have you considered how your so-called girlfriend might take this…?”
Lena studied him for a few seconds, then nodded as if she had just made up her mind.
— “We’ll visit her shop after my schedule.”
Kris sighed… and nodded in reluctant agreement.
----------------
Back at Natflowers.
Natsha had just heard the terrible news.
She’d turned off the TV. Sat on her work stool, staring into nothing.
Belle and Orm hovered nearby, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
They both knew Natsha’s deep dislike for celebrities.
They’d always expected a rumor about Jane Jiranorraphat and their boss… but never—
Never would they have imagined a dating rumor with Lena Schuett.
Natsha fixed her gaze on a nonexistent point, then slowly lowered her eyes.
Her phone lay on the counter.
Idle.
She stared at it as if it had betrayed her.
Then a thought struck.
Natsha powered on the screen, found a name, a number… and hit call.
The line was answered on the second ring.
Natsha launched straight into it:
— “JANE, YOU RUINED ME !!!”
Jane immediately fired back in the same tone, as if defending herself against something she hadn’t even fully understood :
— “I SWEAR I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING !”
Natsha felt her nerves tighten.
— “THEN WHY DID LENA WRITE THAT ?!”
On the other end, Jane went silent.
Then her voice climbed an octave:
— “Wait… she wrote what ?!”
Natsha closed her eyes, as if saying it out loud might make her pass out.
— “She reposted. Twice. And now everyone thinks I’m dating her !”
Jane let out a strangled little cry.
— “NAT, I SWEAR I DIDN’T MEAN TO !”
— “YOU TAGGED ME !”
— “IT WAS JUST TO PROMOTE YOU !”
— “YOU MADE A GRAVE ON THE INTERNET !”
Jane exhaled.
— “…Okay. Yeah. Fine. That… that does sound like a grave.”
Natsha brought a hand to her forehead.
— “Jane… I don’t even know who this woman is.”
Jane hesitated.
— “You… you do know she’s pretty famous, right…?”
Natsha gritted her teeth.
— “Doesn’t matter. I don’t know her.”
Jane softened her tone, as if talking to a wild animal she didn’t want to scare.
— “Nat… breathe. It’ll calm down.”
Natsha’s reply was dry as dust:
— “It never calms down on the Internet.”
----------------
At the same time, at Channel 3.
The chaos was still in full swing. Nathan stood in a hallway, staring at some invisible point as if his brain had completely shut down.
Lenis, his fiancé and an international collaborator at Channel 3, observed the scene with a calm that was almost unsettling.
— “We need to find out who leaked this,” said Lenis.
Nathan slowly turned to him.
— “My parents are going to kill me…”
Lenis furrowed his brow.
— “I can’t believe your sister is caught up in a celebrity rumor.”
Nathan ran a hand over his face.
— “My sister is literally married to her flowers. I have no idea how she got… dragged into this.”
Lenis blinked, incredulous.
— “How did your sister end up dating Lena Schuett ?”
Nathan looked at him, eyes weary.
— “If you find the answer, let me know. Because right now, she’s probably wanting to buy a shovel…”
He paused.
— “…if she hasn’t already.”
----------------
Back at Natflowers.
Orm watched Natsha with a very serious expression.
— “Boss… the shovel—do you want it for yourself, or for Jane ?”
Natsha, sitting behind the counter with a blank stare, replied without even looking up:
— “One shovel for two. Two for the price of one.”
Belle bit her lip to keep from laughing.
— “We’re losing her… again,” she murmured to Orm. “What can we even do ?”
Orm observed Natsha muttering in her corner, as if negotiating with her own thoughts.
— “Buy a shovel…”
— “Why me… ?”
— “I don’t even know her…”
Natsha spoke to her roses as if they could answer back.
Then suddenly—
— “Oh crap…”
Orm jumped upright, panicked.
She grabbed Belle by the shoulders.
— “The bouquet !”
Belle blinked. Once. Twice.
— “…Which bouquet ?”
A sharp noise made them both turn.
Natsha had sprung to her feet. She was holding a cutter in her hand, her eyes as wide as baseballs.
— “…N… no.”
She stared at her phone as if she’d just remembered a crime.
Her fingers shook as she picked it up. Then she dialed a contact and took a deep breath.
Phone to her ear, she waited.
One ring. Two rings.
Finally, a familiar voice answered.
— “Yes ?”
Natsha’s throat tightened.
— “Ni… tell me you haven’t given it to her yet…”
Her voice trembled, almost pleading.
On the other end, silence stretched. Then, finally:
— “She should be getting it soon.”
Natsha closed her eyes.
— “…I’m sorry, little sister,” the voice added softly.
Natsha exhaled.
— “Isn’t that…
…enough ?” she murmured. Then, quieter still :
— “Thank you, Ni.”
She hung up immediately and whispered, as if dictating her own last will:
— “I want to be buried next to my lilies… and my magnolias.”
Orm, still dead serious, replied without missing a beat:
— “With Jane ? Or two separate graves ?”
Belle smacked Orm on the forearm.
— “Ouch !”
She looked at the red mark calmly and declared:
— “Well deserved.”
Orm placed a hand over her heart, dramatically.
— “Don’t you feel even the slightest bit guilty ?”
Belle stared back.
— “No. Not at all. How about you ?”
Orm gave a puppy-eyed look.
— “So cruel…”
Natsha had already stopped listening.
She stood up slowly, like a person about to abandon civilization entirely.
— “We’re closing today,” she announced.
Belle and Orm froze in place.
— “Do you need help digging ?” Orm asked.
— “Orm,” Belle sighed.
— “What ? It’s a serious question.”
Natsha grabbed the sign and flipped it over.
Closed.
She picked up her keys.
— “Let’s go.”
Orm and Belle immediately sprang into action, as if they were on a military mission.
— “Exceptional closure,” Orm announced, already typing on her phone.
— “Let’s split the order list in half to cancel today’s deliveries,” Belle added.
Orm nodded, then turned to Natsha.
— “Closed until when, boss ?”
Usually, Natsha would have thrown a flower pot at her.
But today, her mind was elsewhere.
— “Indefinitely.”
----------------
A few hours later, at Channel 3.
Lena Schuett had just arrived at the agency.
Smiling, she waved to the fans gathered at the entrance. In her arms, a bouquet from Natflowers, prominently displayed.
Her manager, Kris, wasn’t even sure if the screams were for Lena… or the flowers.
One fan managed to get close enough to ask:
— “Did your girlfriend give you that beautiful bouquet ?”
Lena’s smile grew even wider, clearly amused.
— “Isn’t she just adorable ?”
The fan squealed and was gently ushered away by security.
Kris buried his face in his hands.
— “I’m going to die.”
Lena laughed as she entered the building.
The fans interpreted her laughter in every way imaginable.
Some swore the bouquet was yet another gift from Natflowers.
Others declared it proof of love.
And just like that, the rumor started up all over again.
Later that afternoon.
While X was exploding with theories, Lena walked into Jane Jiranorraphat’s dressing room.
A small pang of guilt settled in her stomach ever since she’d learned that Natflowers had closed for the day.
Jane, sitting in her chair, smiled as she scrolled through her phone.
Lena stood there, searching for the right words.
Finally, she said :
— “I stopped by to talk to her… but the shop was closed.”
Jane burst out laughing.
— “Lena… you do know my best friend isn’t a celebrity, right ?”
Lena nodded.
— “Exactly… I wanted to apologize in person for the rumor.”
Jane looked at Lena, then answered honestly :
— “The worst part… is that she doesn’t even know who you are.”
Lena blinked.
Jane added, thoughtful:
— “Knowing her, Nat probably retreated to her place.”
Then she grinned, amused:
— “She’s probably watching an animal documentary under a blanket.”
Lena laughed.
— “Can you give me her address ?”
Jane sent it, adding immediately:
— “Don’t scare her. She’s my only non-celebrity friend.”
Lena nodded solemnly.
— “I’ll be as well-behaved as a carp.”
Jane looked at her, incredulous, and then laughed.
By the end of the day.
Kris had cleared part of the schedule on purpose.
Lena had gone to a flower shop to pick up a “make‑up” bouquet. It was the least she could do.
She dressed incognito to avoid being recognized—mask and cap in place.
She found the building easily.
The security guard let her in without asking a single question.
Apparently, “apology bouquets” were a normal part of life here.
Lena adjusted her mask, held the bouquet—a mix of pink carnations, orange roses, and a touch of verbena—then climbed the stairs.
At the door, she rang the bell.
A voice from inside shouted:
— “I’ve got a pepper bomb in my hand!”
Lena bit back a laugh.
— “A bouquet for Natsha… from Jane.”
The lock clicked.
The door cracked open.
Natsha appeared, blanket over her head, eyes tired and glare sharp.
— “Tell her I don’t want it !”
She was about to shut the door, but added, irritated:
— “A stupid bouquet isn’t going to make this idiot best friend forgiven!!”
Lena smiled.
She shifted the bouquet to her left arm and lowered her mask.
— “Hello. May I come in ?”
Natsha squinted.
— “Are you here to kill me ?”
— “I’m the celebrity you’ve been dating for months,” Lena said, amused.
Natsha froze.
Then exhaled.
— “…That’s worse.”
Footsteps echoed in the hallway.
Natsha’s eyes widened.
Without thinking, she grabbed Lena by the waist and pulled her inside.
The door slammed shut.
Natsha pressed her ear against the wood, alert.
Lena, on the other hand, was smiling.
— “You’re cute,” she whispered.
Natsha, still under the blanket, turned her head toward her.
— “I’d like to say the same… but no way.”
Lena stifled a laugh.
— “Yet you had flowers delivered to me.”
Natsha grumbled.
— “Because Jane said you liked her bouquet.”
She paused, then added quietly:
— “It was just… to make my best friend happy.”
Lena smiled softly.
— “Of course.”
Lena looked around the apartment, then allowed herself to walk toward the kitchen.
Natsha watched her silently.
Lena found a vase, filled it with water, placed the bouquet inside, and set it on the table.
Natsha nodded, without a word.
Lena followed Natsha into the living room.
They sat on the couch, leaving a small space between them.
A documentary about lions played on the TV.
Natsha stared at the screen.
Lena smiled to herself.
Jane had been right.
Natsha was exactly as she had described her: a florist terrified of the world… who hid under a blanket with an animal documentary.
After a few minutes, Lena broke the silence.
— “Jane told me you didn’t know who I was… is that true ?”
Natsha kept her eyes on the screen, answering calmly:
— “Why would I know you ?”
Lena smiled.
— “You know Jane well, though ?”
Natsha squinted.
— “It’s different. Jane… she was already my best friend before she became famous.”
Lena’s smile widened.
— “I suppose you only follow her projects ?”
— “I try.”
Silence.
Then Natsha murmured, almost involuntarily:
— “I knew this project meant a lot to her. I just wanted her to know how amazing she is.”
She swallowed hard.
— “That she deserved recognition.”
Lena looked at her sincerely.
— “That’s a thoughtful gesture… and very kind of you.”
Natsha finally tore her eyes away from the TV and met Lena’s gaze.
— “I don’t want to be more exposed than I already am…”
Her voice lowered, as if admitting something shameful.
— “Can’t you put an end to it ?”
Lena felt a strange warmth in her chest.
But she replied in a lighter, almost teasing tone:
— “That’s why I’m here… since you closed your shop.”
Natsha’s ears immediately turned red.
Which Lena found adorable.
Natsha looked away, embarrassed.
— “Yeah… I’m just trying to survive.”
Lena leaned a little closer and tilted forward.
— “Actually… I have an idea.”
Natsha tilted her head, curious despite herself.
— “What do you have in mind ?”
Lena smiled softly.
And explained her idea.
At the end, Natsha looked at Lena as if she had grown a second head.
She sighed.
— “So… you want to take a photo with a bouquet of flowers ?”
Lena nodded.
— “Yes.”
Natsha continued, wary:
— “With my arms stretched out next to you…?”
Lena smiled.
— “Yes.”
Natsha bit her lip, then finally asked:
— “And with the caption saying it’s a joke?”
Lena’s eyes sparkled.
— “Isn’t that the perfect plan?”
Natsha hesitated, then said:
— “You expect me to believe your fans will get your April Fools’ reference…?”
Lena placed her hand on Natsha’s thigh and replied calmly:
— “Listen… we’re lucky. Tomorrow’s April Fools’. It’s perfect.”
Natsha nodded slowly.
— “Perfect. Pray it works.”
Lena smiled, teasing.
— “Of course.”
Natsha stared at Lena’s hand, still resting on her thigh, then said in a firm tone:
— “I’m warning you… if this is some kind of flirtation, know that—”
Lena leaned in a little closer. Strangely, Natsha didn’t pull away.
— “Yes ?”
Natsha swallowed slightly.
— “You’re not my type.”
Lena didn’t respond with a teasing remark. She simply kept smiling.
— “Alright. So… does that work for you ?”
Natsha exhaled.
— “Alright… happy ?”
— “Very.”
----------------
The next morning.
As promised, Lena stopped by Natflowers.
She took a selfie, deliberately cropping it so that only Natsha’s arms were visible, just before her face.
Then she posted it to her story with the caption:
“Guess who made my day ?” ;)
@Janeeyeh @Natflowers
#🐟 #AprilFool” #FlowerStory💐
Belle and Orm immediately reposted it, adding their own little creative touches.
Some fans thought it was just a publicity stunt.
Others remained convinced that Lena Schuett was secretly dating the owner of Natflowers, and kept posting montages on X.
But the story had its intended effect.
The rumor gradually died down.
----------------
A week later.
Lena returned to the shop.
She had no appointments that day.
Natsha, focused on her work, held a small pair of pruning shears while a documentary about otters played softly in the background.
Lena approached the counter and spoke gently :
— I’d like to buy a bouquet for someone.
Natsha nodded without interrupting her work.
— Of course. What kind of flowers ?
— Something soft and colorful.
Natsha cast a quick glance at her customer.
— Any particular message ?
Lena smiled and replied calmly :
— I just want to show that my feelings are pure and sincere.
Natsha stepped around the counter and went to gather the flowers.
Lena watched her walk among the shelves with purpose, like she was in a supermarket searching for the finest ingredients.
Natsha returned with several flowers in her arms and began arranging the bouquet.
Then she said:
— Give me five minutes.
Peonies.
Lily of the valley.
Lilies.
And a magnolia.
Natsha finished the bouquet, added a small stick from the shop, and handed it to Lena.
Lena took it delicately and whispered :
— I know you told me I’m not your type…
Natsha’s ears flushed red immediately.
She pretended to look for the card reader, busy with everything except meeting Lena’s eyes.
When she finally found it, she looked up.
Lena was holding out the bouquet she had just prepared.
Natsha blinked, surprised.
Lena, nervous, murmured :
— But I already like you a lot.
She took a soft breath and added :
— May I have the honor of getting to know you?
Natsha blushed furiously.
She took the bouquet carefully and spoke in a low voice:
— That’s… dangerous…
Lena smiled warmly.
— I have all the time in the world. Sushi ?
Natsha’s eyes lit up instantly.
— Okay ! But you’re paying.
Lena burst out laughing.
— Of course.
In the background, the TV continued:
— …Otters are considered very social and affectionate creatures, and holding hands is a sign of intimacy for them.
Lena grinned at the documentary.
Natsha, meanwhile, hid her face behind the bouquet, as if trying to shield the fire in her cheeks.
Then she exhaled, her voice muffled among the flowers :
— I’m warning you…
Lena tilted her head slightly, listening closely.
— Yes ?
Natsha slowly lowered the bouquet just enough to look at her.
— If this turns out to be another April Fool’s joke… I swear I’ll bury you in my peonies.
Lena laughed out loud.
— I’ll take that risk.
Natsha sighed, but a small smile appeared on her lips.
— Very well… Sushi.
Lena immediately stood up, far too excited.
— I love it when you say that.
Natsha hugged the bouquet like a shield.
— Don’t get too used to it.
Then, in a softer tone, as if concluding a private thought:
— This little fish… I think I’m going to keep it.
The end.