[Hiatus] Flower Shop

» Flowers (continued)

The bell on the door chimed, announcing another guest had arrived. A teen, probably a few years younger than me. He reminded me of a yellow tulip. Bright gold hair, and fair skin. He wore a green apron, with the flower shop's logo on it. I could tell he ran in a hurry, he was out of breath, yet he still looked full of life.

"Sorry for being late! My grandparents' dog was holding on to me." After he apologized there were some sounds coming from the door. A golden retriever that was trying to come in, but was stopped by the glass door. "And I had to bring him along." A sigh of defeat came from him.

I gave a small laugh without realizing. Even my driver seemed surprised from my reaction. I got up from my seat and went towards the tulip. I towered over him by a few inches, since his head could only reach my chin. As I was about to ask for the pink carnations, he interrupted me.

"Oh, you look like, you're here for the," There was a pause, "bouquet of pink carnations, right?" He gave a smile, while handing me the bouquet. I took the bouquet from his hands, when our fingertips touched, he quickly removed his hand from the bouquet. Then he quickly shied away, and went behind the other rows of flowers, to arrange the rest of the bouquets that were in his arms. I went towards the counter, preparing myself to hear the cashier say, "again".

"Your subtotal is $30.95, but since you have been a loyal customer, the 10th bouquet you bought today will have a $10 discount!" The cashier said excitedly. I heard my driver give a sigh of relief. "So your new total is $20.95, will you be paying with cash or credit?" The cashier continued to ramble on. "Cash would be nice," I said while pulling out my wallet, and handed him a couple of bills. Then received the change and bouquet back after the transaction was made.

I left the flower shop thinking of today's interactions. I couldn't stop thinking about the tulip. He was the first person to avert his gaze instead of staring at my appearance. 

"Mr.Vaji, are you still thinking about him?" My driver asked. "Perhaps." I was surprised that he knew me so well even though he was just my driver. "Would you like me to wait inside the car, while you visit your mother?" He asked me. "Yes, I have some words to speak to her in private." I told him, and that was the end of our conversation. The rest of the ride was silent, but I could still feel the awkwardness in the air. It was suffocating sometimes, but I didn't know what else to talk about with him. 

"We arrived." He announced then unlocking the doors for me to leave. I wanted to tell him "thank you", but I ended up nodding again. Then I walked to my mother's resting place with the bouquet in my hands.

◈

Nikko Vaji

October 16 1974 - October 16 2003

"May your soul rest within a beautiful symphony"

◈

"Happy birthday, mother." I told her. I sat on the ground, seeing eye level with the picture of my mother that was framed on the gravestone. Long white hair, pale skin with blue eyes, her entire family was albino. I still wonder what she saw in my father that made her leave her own career as a musician. "Mother, I hope you are resting well." I started to say, I knew I wouldn't get a reply, but it feels great to just talk. "My next performance is a couple weeks away, please come watch it." I knew slouching was not good for my posture, but for now, I want to be comfortable. "Maybe God will send an angel in your stead..." My mind wandered for a bit. Tulip. Tulips?

"Mr.Vaji am I right?" The tulip asked, while holding his own bouquet of tulips. "Yes, can I help you?" I asked calmly. It was surprising enough for him to be here, but he even remembered my name. "Oh, it's nothing! I just remembered seeing the pink carnations, and came to say 'hi'." He told me while pointing to the bouquet that was still in my hands. "I see. I must get going now, I wouldn't want to interrupt your own conversations." I said bluntly. I hadn't realized how passive aggressive the statement was until after I said it. I looked over at Tulip's face, but he didn't seem to think much of what I said. 

"I'll visit again soon, bye mother." I whispered into the flowers, then placed them near the gravestone. As I was about to walk back to the car, "Mr.Vaji!" Tulip had called out. I turned my head to see what he needed. "Actually, these tulips are for you." He told me, while putting the bouquet in front of him. "Oh?" I was slightly confused, but Tulip might be a fan of mine, but he doesn't really seem like my usual 'fans'. My fans were often old, white, elitist, men. Their wives sometimes complimented me, and say they were a fan, but their compliments were often quite backhanded.

"Ah, Luke forgot to give you the tulips, as a gift for being a loyal customer." He stammered. I smiled. "I see, thank you tu-, oh your name?" I asked. I completely forgot his name wasn't Tulip. "It's Aurelio." Aurelio told me. "Thank you, Aurelio." I said, then accepted the flowers, then left the cemetery. 

As I sat in the car, I replayed our conversation. "Thank you, Aurelio", I had told him. It was an automatic response, but his face lit up with so much joy when I said that to him. It was cute.

"Was that delivery boy, your friend?" My driver asked me. There was silence. "I don't know." I finally muttered. Was Aurelio a friend, or was he just fulfilling his duty?

"Thank you." I told my driver as I got out of the car. "You're welcome, sir." My driver quickly said. I nodded and walked into the house.

I couldn't stop thinking about tulip, no Aurelio. As I entered my room, I placed the yellow tulips in a vase that I had told the maids to put one in my room on my way back from the cemetery. I sat by the piano to play the piece for my concert in a few weeks. But...I can't seem to focus on sight reading the piece. Aurelio, who are you to make me feel this way?

word count: 1108