#016
Ban Hajoon exhaled slowly with a deeply tense expression on his face. I straightened my hunched back just slightly. Even during that motion, groaning sounds escaped me involuntarily. Ahh… it hurts like hell. I met eyes with Ban Hajoon, who was clenching his fists and patting them again while spouting absurd words.
“No, what do you mean take responsibility… for my back?”
“I… I’ll naturally take responsibility.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why, Ranho-ssi. How could… did you think I would just pretend not to know?”
Well, if he remembered, I thought he’d apologize… but it’s not like it was such a grave mistake that he needs to make such a big deal about taking responsibility. What is this. I became confused by the conversation that seemed slightly off-track. Was causing my back to go out really something to feel that much responsibility for? But if he’s going to take responsibility, how exactly does he plan to do it? Will he give me money? But I have plenty of money too. I just hope he doesn’t come to buy flowers.
“If you really feel sorry, just introduce me to a good oriental medicine clinic. Gyoyeon said Ban Hajoon-ssi knows a lot of people.”
“…Can that be fixed with just oriental medicine? Shouldn’t you go to Western medicine?”
“…Ah. Is that so? Still, if I get moxa treatment or acupuncture or something like that…”
There, how could that… Ban Hajoon muttered quietly then let out a deep sigh. He looked at me with a confused expression, then dropped his pale face downward.
“Looking at Ranho-ssi, I really never had such thoughts for even a moment… I mean, I did have them. No, it wasn’t that specific. Still, to suddenly do something like that… I’m sorry. I don’t know why I did that either…”
What is he talking about? Did he usually want to wreck my back? Why?
“I’m sorry. I… really didn’t do it on purpose.”
“Of course you wouldn’t, right? If you did it on purpose, I’d sue you.”
“…Really…”
This really seems like some kind of accident. An unlucky accident that happened when I, who was less drunk than him, was supporting Ban Hajoon who was completely wasted.
“Let’s just consider it an accident or something.”
“……”
“It does hurt now that it happened, but there’s no problem with daily life. I’m not sure if there will be lasting effects, but anyway… let’s just think of it as some kind of mishap that happened because we were both too drunk.”
“……”
Ban Hajoon just stared at me silently without saying anything. What am I supposed to do about it? His sunken eyes somehow even showed resentment. What am I supposed to do, really? My back went out, not his.
“No. That won’t happen.”
“What?”
“For me, what happened last night. It wasn’t an accident.”
“Crazy, then was it planned?”
“……”
When I tried to straighten my leaning body, I staggered from the sharp spreading pain and grabbed my back, and Ban Hajoon quickly came over and supported my body.
“What on earth did I do to you…”
“…I’m sorry.”
“You planned this? Ban Hajoon-ssi is really a scary person.”
“……”
“My back is out right now. Are you still angry about me ripping you off for the flower price? Is that why you did this?”
Getting worked up at the mention of it being planned, I suddenly remembered I had to go to the flower market today.
“This is really driving me crazy.”
“Ranho-ssi.”
“I have a bouquet reservation tomorrow so I need to go get flowers today. With my back like this, how can I drive…”
I felt like I was really going to cry. If I could just get the flowers prepared, I felt like I could somehow make the bouquet, but that process was going to be seriously difficult.
“I’ll, I’ll help you.”
“……”
“I’ll drive and carry the flowers and do everything you tell me to do.”
Ban Hajoon disgustingly grabbed my hand.
“But… why are you holding my hand?”
“…I’m sorry.”
The thick body warmth filled with longing fell away, and both I and Ban Hajoon sighed deeply at the same time. Ah… this really can’t be anything other than a disaster brought on by alcohol.
While we were facing each other in an awkward position, we both jumped in surprise at the suddenly ringing wind chime sound and moved apart. Ban Hajoon brushed his not-quite-dry hair with a handkerchief, and I pointlessly reached toward the table to sweep away non-existent dust.
“Ah… I came to buy a bouquet…”
At the end of the clicking heel sounds, a gentle voice rang out.
“Do you have any flowers in mind?”
“I’d like tulips to be included. My boyfriend proposed last week. I’m supposed to give him my answer today…”
She explained the flowers she wanted along with the reason.
“Should I make you a bouquet with just tulips? Or would a mixed bouquet with other flowers be okay too?”
“I don’t know much about it… Please make it the prettiest one you think, manager. My answer is… yes.”
She smiled shyly and blushed. Ah, I’m envious. Regardless of my aching back, I felt a ticklish feeling.
“Then I’ll make you a mixed one. Just a moment.”
I took out pink hydrangea and coral peonies, light purple double tulips whose buds were starting to open, lisianthus, iberis, and shepherd’s purse. Thinking there might not be enough green, I additionally took out eucalyptus and arranged the shape. My back kept throbbing, so I stood hunched over but began concentrating immediately.
The bouquet I carefully shaped harmoniously blended pink, purple, and white, creating a lovely atmosphere. An answer to a proposal being a bouquet. Just thinking about it was romantic.
I wrapped the flower bud area with pure white tissue paper, covered the outside with light beige floral paper, and tied a white ribbon string in the middle section to finish the packaging.
“Here you go.”
“Wow…”
Seeing her happy smile as she held the bouquet in her arms, pride washed over me like a wave. Ah, this is why I loved flowers. Because there are so many people who hold pretty things and show pretty expressions.
Ban Hajoon was still sitting on the sofa in a daze, and I received the card from the customer. I glanced at him sitting there blankly, then spoke in a voice small enough for only the customer to hear.
“It’s seventy thousand won.”
“Wow. Really?”
“Yes. Really. I hope both the person receiving it and you will be happy with this bouquet today.”
She gave me an answer that made me even happier, saying she was already happy with a bright smile. After handing over the card with the receipt, I saw her off to the entrance. I watched her retreating figure against the clear sky for a long time, then was startled by the presence I felt behind me.
“Eek-.”
“Seventy thousand won…”
“…What, what are you doing?”
“……”
“You heard that too.”
Ban Hajoon had sharp hearing. He was sitting there with a blank vagrant-like face, so I thought he hadn’t heard, but apparently he heard everything.
“But Ranho-ssi, you’re really cool when you make flowers.”
“Thank you. If my back hurt less, I could have made it even cooler.”
“…Should we go to the flower market now? Business is really good here. Almost all the flowers are gone.”
Ban Hajoon looked around busily and changed the subject.
“That’s right. It would be better to go and come back early.”
“Then I’ll go get the car. Come out slowly.”
Ban Hajoon left the flower shop with quick steps. I watched his hurriedly moving figure, then roughly cleaned up the table that was messy from making the bouquet and grabbed my bag. Since I’d be coming back to the store, I didn’t close the open window and didn’t turn off the sign light. After hanging up a sign saying “temporarily out,” I walked to the roadside and waited for Ban Hajoon’s car.
I was patting my back and looking down at my toes when suddenly there was a presence from the side. What? He said he was going to get the car, so didn’t he go?
“Hello.”
Ah. This is a voice I shouldn’t get familiar with.
The moment I turned my head toward the voice, my body jumped at the face immediately visible. What a surprise. I thought my heart was going to drop.
“…Smell of alcohol.”
The man smiled and leaned his head toward me, taking a deep breath around my neckline.
“Smells like flowers too.”
His damp voice felt as if it was touching my skin. Unpleasant goosebumps spread throughout my body, and I obviously moved away with a disgusted expression.
“You really hate it. You’re always spacing out when you see my face, so I thought you liked it, but I guess not.”
“You come here often.”
“That’s right. I keep coming often.”
He was more than a span taller, so I looked up at the man then turned to the side to check for Ban Hajoon’s car. Humanly speaking, shouldn’t he be coming out around now? My brow furrowed involuntarily.
“I was going to buy flowers. When will you be back?”
“I won’t be back today.”
“Liar. You didn’t turn off the sign and the window inside is open too.”
His eye for detail is annoyingly good for no reason. I irritably tapped the ground with the toe of my sneakers and deliberately mentioned a late time.
“Around… 7 o’clock or… something like that.”
“Then I’ll come around then. I need to come borrow again.”
The man answered with laughter in his voice.
“…You’ll probably get hit with flowers again.”
“I got hit with hands too. That’s why I asked. Is it okay to hit with hands?”
The man’s tongue swept the inside of his cheek. As I looked at his cheek that bulged following the tongue’s movement, a bluish bruise showed through.
“Is it okay to hit with hands?”
“…Of course not.”
“Exactly. It hurts like hell.”
The man muttered languidly with an expression that didn’t look hurt at all. Just then, Ban Hajoon’s car exiting the parking lot entrance honked – beep. As I unconsciously moved my body, the man stepped back and greeted me.
“See you again.”
Instead of answering, I bowed my head briefly and got into Ban Hajoon’s car that had stopped smoothly.
As I pulled the seatbelt and clipped it in, Ban Hajoon, who had been staring outside intently, slowly started the car and opened his mouth.
“Who was that? Someone you know?”
“No. I don’t know him. He’s someone who came to buy flowers… He says he’s coming again in the evening.”
“I talked to Gyoyeon. She wants to have dinner. With the team manager.”
“Ah, right. Did you hear why Gyoyeon didn’t come?”
“No? Well, she said she was sleeping.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
