#017
Though it was denial followed by more denial, I understood. I figured as much. Gyoyeon was quite the sleeper. She must have lain down saying she’d just rest for a moment after washing up, then fallen asleep just like that. I nodded in understanding while watching the man’s figure grow smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror.
Now I was starting to get a bit confused about whether that man was actually Kang Min or not. Maybe it was because I’d misunderstood twice. But he did seem like “that kind of guy”…
“Hmm…”
When I let out a deep sigh, Ban Hajoon’s body trembled slightly.
“Um… are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?”
I gave a rough answer to his cautious question while reaching out my hand. Fortunately, since it was the same car model, I was able to set the navigation address without much difficulty.
“I should go… but the flowers are more urgent. I’ll either stop by briefly after picking them up, or maybe tomorrow…”
I adjusted my sitting position several times to find a posture that hurt less, then leaned my head against the window. The softly playing classical music and gentle vibrations made me drowsy. I yawned repeatedly and before I knew it, I was nodding off.
I arrived at the flower market still not fully awake. After eating nearby, I was completely alert. While touring the flower market, Ban Hajoon’s eyes sparkled as he selected roses. We bought one bundle each of Hazel, Emma Wood, and Bubuzela roses, and added a bundle of round pompon gerberas. Seeing this, I added white and light pink baby’s breath. It seemed like we’d be making a lot of rose-centered bouquets starting tomorrow. Finally, we picked up the white calla lilies, astilbe, and Savanna roses that had been ordered for the bouquets.
Though I was fully awake, I must not have recovered from fatigue as I kept yawning. Ban Hajoon carefully loaded the flowers into the car so the petals wouldn’t get damaged, then tilted the passenger seat back slightly.
“Ah, I wasn’t going to sleep though.”
“I understand.”
But he didn’t adjust the seat back up. I blinked drowsily while pondering what kind of bouquets would be good to make with the flowers Ban Hajoon had chosen.
“But don’t you need to go to work at the cafe?”
“Ah… no. There are both opening and closing shift workers.”
“I see.”
The cafe has clear role divisions. If I hire part-timers, how should I divide the work? If they don’t know how to handle flowers… Maybe instead of part-timers, I should try opening a small flower arrangement class. If I open flower arrangement classes, people can make bouquets themselves, so maybe they won’t come to buy as much?
My thoughts were getting complicated.
Of all things, why is the flower shop doing so well that I’m having these kinds of concerns…
***
Ban Hajoon, who had brought in all the flowers by himself, was busy taking out and admiring the roses he’d chosen, one by one.
“I thought all roses were the same, but they’re all different.”
“Do you like them?”
“They’re pretty.”
Ban Hajoon seems to like pretty things too. Well, there’s no one who dislikes pretty things. After filling the showcase, I decided to make a bouquet for Gyoyeon. And I decided to make one for Ban Hajoon as well.
I took out Hazel roses, pink pompon gerberas, iberis and oxypetalum, and started making a slightly smaller bouquet. Since Hazel roses have large faces, even the small bouquet looked big and full.
Instead of using wrapping paper, I finished the bouquet by gathering the stems and tying them with thick ribbon. I placed one in front of Ban Hajoon and put the other in a vase.
“Is this one for me?”
“Yes. You worked hard carrying the flowers.”
“What about that one?”
“That’s for Gyoyeon.”
“…Why is that one bigger and prettier?”
“……”
I had nothing to say. There wasn’t more or less in either one, so why on earth… I patted my stiff back and took the bouquet out of the vase to give to Ban Hajoon, then put the bouquet I’d given him into the vase.
“There.”
“……”
Ban Hajoon looked down with a sulky expression. He’d really been difficult since yesterday.
While I was gradually tidying up the shop, Ban Hajoon was absorbed in looking at the bouquet I’d made for him. He gently stroked the petals with his fingertips and buried his nose in it several times to smell the fragrance. Afterward, he smiled with the happiest expression in the world.
“Did you always like flowers?”
“No. I thought roses were the only flowers that existed.”
“Ah, that’s a bit extreme.”
“Right? I really had no interest.”
In the gaze he gave me while muttering softly, those things that shouldn’t dwell there were dwelling. Affection, or well, affection, or emotions like affection. I wondered why on earth he was looking at me like that while picking up leaves and stems that had fallen on the floor.
He’d been looking at me like that continuously since earlier. Why? Why… what on earth…
I spent as much time as possible picking up the few leaves and cut stems that hadn’t even fallen much. I carefully held them in my palm and walked to the trash can, then went “Oops!” and dropped them on the floor again. After intentionally spilling them and repeatedly picking them up one by one, Ban Hajoon, who couldn’t stand watching anymore, approached me.
“Do your hands hurt too? Why do you keep dropping them?”
“Huh? No. Just my back. Just my back hurts…?”
When I repeatedly mentioned my back, which is like life itself to a man, Ban Hajoon’s hand gently rubbed around my waist area and moved toward the floor. Crazy, what the hell. At the too-natural skinship, I unconsciously straightened up and moved far away from him. His round eyes followed me, filled with questions.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, what’s wrong with you?”
“What do you mean what’s wrong? After what happened, it can’t be like before.”
“Exactly. After what happened, you shouldn’t be doing this. You said it was planned.”
At my gaze full of resentment and anger, Ban Hajoon picked up everything I’d dropped and stepped back.
“I understand. Even I think it was too sudden.”
“…What?”
“I’ll wait. I understand why you’re acting like this, Ranho-ssi. So I’ll wait. While waiting, I’ll try my best to remember.”
What the hell is this crybaby saying?
“Remember what exactly? That you messed up my back like this?”
“Yes.”
His firm answer was almost solemn. It seemed like Ban Hajoon and I couldn’t have a proper conversation since this morning. Maybe he’s the type whose alcohol wears off late? No, even if that were the case, too much time has passed now. I really should have sent him home instead of keeping him here.
Instead of continuing the conversation while not hiding my irritation as I looked at Ban Hajoon, I decided to do something more productive. Since we brought in flowers, I needed to pick out the wilted ones. I decided to calm my mind and body by trimming and handling the flowers.
“What are you doing?”
“The flowers are wilting. I’m picking them out to keep at home. It’s too wasteful to throw them away.”
The eyes following my hands as I thinned out the flowers suddenly sparkled.
“I know this one.”
Ah, he wanted to show off his knowledge. I reacted appropriately while quietly examining the wilted petals.
“What is it then?”
At my question, Ban Hajoon, now confident, spoke very proudly.
“Stark.”
“……”
How can he be such an idiot…
“Stock… I suppose.”
How is he the male protagonist?
“……”
“In Korean… it’s Stock.”
When I told him both the Korean and English names, Ban Hajoon’s face gradually turned red with heat. I caressed the light purple petals that were pretty even when wilted, set aside the ones that were too wilted, then gathered and tied the stem parts before putting them in a vase.
When will Gyoyeon come? I naturally checked the time once and swept up the trimmed stems. I threw all the leaves in the trash and pretended not to notice Ban Hajoon, who was red as if about to burst from embarrassment, as I spoke.
“If you’re bored, go to the cafe or home and come back. Gyoyeon gets off work at 6, so she’ll probably arrive here around 7.”
“I’m not bored though? I’ll stay here. Until Gyoyeon comes.”
It was somehow cute how he acted sulky after getting the name wrong himself. He’s like a child. I looked at his still flushed cheeks and let out an incredulous laugh – pfft. Maybe because his skin was fair, the redness didn’t fade quickly.
“I knew the name but got confused because I watched a movie before going to Ranho-ssi’s place yesterday.”
“Ah, I see.”
I responded half-heartedly.
“It’s understandable. Stark, Stock. They’re similar.”
I stared at Ban Hajoon, who was being particularly sulky today, then nodded.
“…They are… similar. Stock and Stark.”
At my last words, Ban Hajoon’s face turned an even redder shade. As if wanting to change the subject, he kept asking if my back was okay.
“But doesn’t your back hurt anymore? Is it better now? Are you okay?”
I stopped plucking off the wilted, drooping leaves while holding the stem and looked up to meet his eyes.
“It hurts… if it keeps hurting, I was going to buy you some pain patches.”
I turned my gaze away from Ban Hajoon and carefully moved my hands so as not to damage the stems while answering.
“Of course it hurts. It’s killing me. But pain patches are, well, the smell is kind of off-putting. When working… the scent is too strong.”
“Then what should we do? Shouldn’t you go to the hospital?”
“I should. I’m properly injured.”
Why ask something so obvious? I planned to deliver the bouquet early tomorrow morning and then visit a traditional medicine clinic. I was still tapping my bent back with my fists when the entrance door opened. Ding-a-ling- the wind chime rang out, and both Ban Hajoon’s and my gazes naturally turned in one direction.
A sound burst from my mouth first upon confirming who it was.
“Ah.”
I checked the time. There was still quite a while before 7 o’clock. Actually, I had mentioned 7 o’clock to avoid running into him. I was planning to close the shop before then. Unlike me, who was flustered, Ban Hajoon turned toward the man entering and said,
“Welcome.”
He even bowed his head politely.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
