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A day as a florist starts early. Unloading newly delivered flowers, setting them up in a way visually appealing to customers, making sure the inventory is accurately counted, and mentally preparing for a long day ahead. A practice Dohoon has engraved on his soul as he first dreamt of creating a flower boutique.
Looking around as he’s surrounded by hundreds if not thousands of individual stems, Dohoon felt a sense of belonging.
“Welcome to Lucky Flower Boutique!” Dohoon greeted as he heard the door chimed as his first customer of the day arrived.
“Good Morning, Dohoon” the customer greeted back with a bright tug on his lips that gave Dohoon chest a little flutter of delight, immediately warming up the chilly spring morning.
“If it isn’t my favorite customer.” The florist beamed at the recognition with a smile as the corners of his lips nearly touched his ear. “Good Morning, Doc Youngjae.”
Chuckling at the enthusiasm that met him, “You seem to be in a good mood this early in the morning.” the doctor responded as he made his way closer to the florist with a list in his hand, now mirroring the bright smile Dohoon has on.
Dohoon reached towards the tulips section, grabbing a stem from the yellow tulips. “Well, with my favorite customer greeting me with a smile that rivals the brightness of the sun’s shine, I think my serotonin levels are automatically on max.” the florist proclaimed as he handed the flower to Youngjae with a princely bow.
Accepting the tulip, Youngjae giggled. “Your knowledge of flowers never fails to amaze me.” the doctor exclaimed as he remembered a flower fact Dohoon said on a passing during his earlier visits. ‘According to the Victorian Flower Language, yellow tulips symbolise that there's sunshine in your smile.’ Youngjae recalled to himself as he extended his hand to give the list he was holding.
“Flowers are my second favorite right after that pretty smile of yours.” Dohoon winked before reading the list of orders the doctor gave him. “The usual amount of flowers?” the florist asked as he read the familiar flowers written on a small piece of pastel yellow sticky note.
Youngjae responded with a quiet hum as he nodded in affirmation. With an order to prepare, Dohoon let the doctor roam around the boutique. A silent routine they have built with every purchase Youngjae has made and Dohoon prepared.
As the yellow tulip twirled between his fingers, Youngjae is reminded of the random facts the florist usually tells him during his visits. His gaze first fell on one of the biggest looking flowers in the boutique.
“Sunflowers are my definition of happiness. It’s the perfect representation of positivity and strength – as their bright yellow appearance seems to bring warmth and the strong stalks they have carries its resiliency of being able to endure the harsh summer heat. Giving someone a sunflower wishing them an everlasting happiness, very poetic right?”
What Youngjae saw next contrasted the bright yellow sunflowers as the dainty purple lavenders sat beside them.
“Oh those are the models of innocences. Lavender symbolises purity, grace, and tranquility as it gives the aroma that leaves you in a relaxed state – but the purple hue it gives has such a big contrast from its calm representation as the color itself denotes a symbol of luxury and elegance. It is a very empowering flower to say the least.”
Along the section of different shades of carnations, the eye-catching deep red ones caught the doctor’s eyes.
“Carnations can carry different meanings depending on the color it gives – but this one right here is my favorite type of them. Red in the language of flowers usually means love so this red carnation having its deep hue often symbolises the depth of someone’s passionate affection.”
After the colorful bunch, white petaled flowers come to his sight.
“Those are some of the best scenting ones, sweet and intoxicating despite the delicate look it has. It’s a flower also associated with romance – not as common as the red rose – but with the heavy scent, white jasmine can be connected to passions and deep affections.
In a similar yet contrasting manner, the white clovers beside them have a really light powdery scent that would remind you of honey. It’s a type of flower that says ‘think of me’. They grow abundantly like how love and hope blooms."
“White carnations, orchids, and chrysanthemums.” Dohoon sing-songed, breaking the comfortable silence that surrounded them, catching Youngjae’s attention. “You always get them.”
.
“Mhm..” Youngjae hummed, facing the florist before continuing. “I help people in their old age – so those types of flowers where they are low maintenance and hypoallergenic are something I want to give them as a sign of comfort. It kind of gives a more homey feel in the suffocating walls of the hospital rooms, right?”
“In the language of flowers, chrysanthemums symbolise optimism and longevity while orchids wish for good health and strength. I think your patients are gonna love them.” Dohoon replied, hands nimbly cleaned and arranged the flowers in a bouquet. “It gives a very thoughtful message of wishing them a longer and healthier life. I see how sincerely you care about them.”
The mellow tone in Dohoon’s voice caught Youngjae by surprise – filled with genuine awe, devoid of his usual playful and flirtatious responses. His heart filled with warmth at the heartfelt remark. “I did not know they could carry such words that perfectly.” Youngjae replied as he watched the florist finish up wrapping the bouquet in cream colored newspaper, tying it with a yellow bow that resembled the tulip on Youngjae’s hand.
“Flowers have this unspoken language that can tell stories. They let you express emotions without the need of speaking – with the right types, colors, or combinations are a fitted message. May it be about romance, friendship, and gratitude to sorrows, apologies, and remembrance of someone.” the florist answered as he handed the bouquet to the doctor.
Fascination filled Youngjae as he quietly listened to Dohoon talk. It's not the first time he’s heard the florist talk about flowers in such a manner – but each time it happened it never failed to make him feel astonished as he processed each symbolism the flowers gave.
“It’s very intriguing to learn more from you every time I visit,” the doctor praised with a soft smile. “Thank you for putting so much care into this.” Youngjae chuckled as he glanced at the bouquet now in his arms.
“I’m glad that you seemed to enjoy letting me ramble about the language of flowers.” Dohoon joked as he continued with his usual playful tone. “Anything to make sure my favorite customer keeps coming back.”
Youngjae responded with a hearty laugh as he headed for the door, waving the yellow tulip Dohoon gave him earlier.
Cheerful smiles from colleagues and patients greeted Youngjae as he arrived inside the geriatric department. The sight instantly sent warmth in his chest to see everyone with bright faces as he walked towards his office before he started his shift.
“Oh, Youngjae hyung!” one of the nurses exclaimed as soon as their eyes landed on the doctor. “You went to Lucky Flower Boutique before coming to work? You look as happy as that yellow tulip loose from the bouquet you are holding.” giggling as he teased Youngjae.
Youngjae chuckled, “The first thing you do after seeing me is to tease me. I went there to get our patients’ vases new flowers, Hanjin. Last week’s flowers already started wilting.”
“Ah, you’re right. Some of the petals from Mr. Park’s chrysanthemums have started falling off the disk florets.” Hanjin recalled, “I’ll help you distribute them.”
Thanking Hanjin with a nod, Youngjae gave half the amount from the bouquet. “I’ll settle down in my office for a while before I start with my rounds. Thank you for the help, Hanjin.”
As soon as he entered his office, he set the remainders of the bouquet down his center table, taking a stem of each flower to put on his vase and removing the set from 8 days ago as it already started wilting – using the same flower from the same purchase inside his office as a timer of his next boutique visit.
In a separate vase – shining with golden marble that spreads from a white porcelain – contains the flowers Dohoon gave from his previous purchases. A pink carnation from 2 weeks half wilted and a scarlet zinnia that has been sitting in the vase for 8 days. Youngjae added the yellow tulip from his collection.
“Those flowers are beautiful, Doctor Youngjae.” One of his patients weakly chimed as Youngjae tended to the semi-private room’s shared vase after he had checked up on the patient’s condition. “It gives me so much encouragement.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Youngjae responded while tidying up the table where the vase is placed. “I was told that this combination sends a very thoughtful message.”
What Youngjae heard next comes to him as a surprise. “You know, every time you change the flowers into fresh ones, you seem to have a different glow with you. The person you get them from must be very special to you.” the other patient marveled.
“Uhh no..” the doctor stammered as he was caught off guard at the realization. He never saw Dohoon as someone like that.
To him, Dohoon was a kind mischievous acquaintance that flirts with him for fun and loves to ramble about flowers – who has become a part of his routine without him knowing. Youngjae always anticipated visiting the Lucky Flower Boutique, whether it be for the flowers, the facts, or the florist’s companionship. It felt so natural for Youngjae that he never thought of it as something more.
Warmth crept up his face he became aware of the butterflies that flutter in his stomach whenever the florist handed him a flower, the smile that inch up on his face without his permission whenever Dohoon tells a joke, and the intense attentiveness that he has as listening to him chatter about which flowers are which.
“Maybe he is.” Youngjae whispered, just enough for his patients to hear over the news playing from the television. Clearing his throat he added, “I’ll leave both of you to rest for tonight. Please make sure to not sleep in too late watching the news. I’ll take my leave, Good night.”
After closing the door, Youngjae released a breath he didn’t know he was holding. The sudden consciousness about what he felt left Youngjae feeling winded as he walked back to his office.
“Youngjae hyung!” Hanjin called out, making Youngjae stop his tracks as he faced the nurse. “Are you okay? You’re as red as a rose.”
Hearing that, Youngjae blushed even more at the mention of a flower – the florist's face flashes in his head. “I’m okay… I think.” He answered with uncertainty as Hanjin looked at him closely.
“What do you mean ‘you think?’, are you running down a fever?” Hanjin was about to touch Youngjae’s forehead when the doctor suddenly put up both his palms on his face.
“I’m fine, really.” he said, shyly peeking from his fingers. “Just a little flustered.”
From the way Youngjae hid his red face with his hands to the tiny bits and pieces of leaves and petals still sticking to his fingers, Hanjin caught a hunch of what might have happened – deciding not to fuss and let the blushing Youngjae free.
Before letting him walk away Hanjin called out once more as he remembered something. “Youngjae hyung, you got something delivered earlier. A handsome man with black hair asked me to put in on your office. You might want to see it immediately.” the nurse stated as he walked past Youngjae, seeing his already flustered expression twinkle with anticipation.
Youngjae rushed to his office as soon as he heard the description of the man – the same man that has plagued his thoughts the moment he finished the last vase. When he opened the door it was the first thing he saw.
Sitting beside the arrangement he made from his recent purchase is an unfamiliar yet elegant pink vase where it surrounds this lace-like scallops that is traced by shiny white pearls around the vase’s neck as it holds a display of white clovers, white jasmines, red carnations, and one lone sunflower.
The sight instantly made Youngjae’s heart race as he saw the familiar flowers. “This sounds like a confession, Dohoon-ah” he mumbled to himself as he reached to touch the flowers. Youngjae’s chest fluttered as he slowly understood the message the florist meant. “Isn’t this telling me to think of you as someone you feel affectionate with so deeply?” he asked as he reached for a matching pink card beside the vase.
Happy Birthday, Youngjae <3
-Dohoon
A tear rolled down from Youngjae’s eye as he felt the overwhelming emotions flood him. Flowers have symbolisms and a bouquet can tell a story – he knows that Dohoon would not be the type to give them ‘just because’. This arrangement is a declaration of the love that slowly built from the quiet mornings they have spent.
💐
I hope that you think of me – one who feels deeply affectionate of you as you have given me so much warmth and joy