Under the lights tonight || Park Jimin

21

I sat outside, the wind picking up. The tears were still streaming down my face, I couldn't believe she would say anything like that. If anything, I am the least selfish person I know. A selfish person wouldn't have put my job on hold to come here to a funeral I don't even want to attend. I don't care that my father is gone, he never cared about me ever anyway.
"Ana?" Hye greets me, "You okay?" He places both hands on my shoulders, holding me tight.I collapse into his arms, crying harder, "I just want to get out of here."
"Alright Ana," Hye wraps his arms around me tighter, "You're okay, I've got you."
"I just want to get out of here..." I sob.
"One moment," he sways slightly, "Let's get out of here, we can get you some lunch and talk about whatever you want."
I nod, "Thank you." I pull out of his arms and wipe my tears from his face, "This is so embarrassing. I meant to call my best friend."

"That's alright Ana," He takes my hand, "I'll always be here for you anyway."

"Thank you, Hye," I smile softly, "You don't have to do this."
"That's alright Ana," He squeezes my hand, "Now come on." He starts pulling me down the street, the cold air stinging my cheeks where the tears had been. It was familiar to be walking down the street with Hye like this, I felt young like a junior high student again. When we used to spend our weekends taking the bus downtown to wander the shops. We weren't far from where we used to spend our time.
"How did you get to me so fast?" I ponder as he leads me down a corner to a familiar row of restaurants and shops, which have changed but not much.
"Well, I was at work."
"Oh my god," I pause, "Hye you didn't have to leave work for me!"
"It's okay," He smiles, stopping, "Besides I can do whatever I want when it's my business." He gestures to the building beside us. I turn to look and realize it was his grandmother's flower shop.
"The flower shop?" I pause, "You own this now?"
"Yeah I do," He smiles proudly, something that looks beautiful on him, "None of my siblings wants the shop but I couldn't let my grandmother's hard work be wasted." It was admirable of him truly, especially knowing his family always despised the flower shop.
"That's beautiful Hye." I smile softly and he squeezes my hand again.
"Now can I show you the shop?"

"Of course." I nod. I follow him into the quaint shop that was painted a pale yellow and filled with potted plants and ready to buy bouquets, "It's just like I remember it..." I look around as he drops my hand to head behind the counter.

"I didn't want to change anything, it was a nice way to remember my grandma." He smiles, picking up his brown apron from the counter, tying it behind his back again.

"That's nice," I wander into the shop, looking at the flowers, "So you own the shop now?"

"Yeah, it's just me," He smiles, gathering cellophane for a new bouquet, "It's nice though."
"You don't need help?"
"Can't find any," He shrugs, "So until then it's just me."
"I understand that." I nod.
"Here Ana," He clears off a stool at the counter, "Sit here." I come behind the counter and sit at the stool, watching as he gathers the flowers for different bouquets.

"Are you making any bouquet in particular?" I watch his focused face, organizing the flowers in a certain way.

"Well this," He picks up the piece of paper, "Is the ticket, this is an order someone placed over the phone so now I'm fulfilling it for pick up."
"Oh that's nice," I nod, "I can help with anything you need, you know. Since I'm invading your workday."
"Well if you're offering, then you can play cashier and answer the phones." He teases.
"I will," I smile, "Sounds like a fun day to work in the flower shop." I hum along to the quiet music playing in the shop. It was a peaceful moment in the shop with Hye until the familiar sound of "Serendipity" started. I wanted to be annoyed at the song but it was a pretty song.
"Isn't this by BTS?" Hye asks, "Do you still like them?"
"Oh yeah this is BTS," I nod, "Not really, I've grown up."
Hye chuckles, "You know that never really grow out of music you like right?"
I roll my eyes, "Well I did, my best friend still loves them though."
"Whatever you say," Hye rolls his eyes, wrapping up the bouquet as the phone rings and I grab it, "You know you don't have to help."
I roll my eyes, "It's fine." While Hye holds his hands up in defeat. I put the phone to my ear, "Hello this is Choi flowers."
"Hello," a man's voice says quietly, "Sorry my girlfriend is resting in the next room and I don't want to wake her." His voice sounds familiar but I chalk it up to sounding like a generic men's voice.