✓ READY TO LOVE | JAKE

19 - Worshiping You

Good morning, I hope you have a good day. I'll come to the shop after work. Soo Yun read Jake's text and smiled. 

Good morning! Are you working? She typed.

Yes. Currently working on your necklace ;)

She laughed at his almost-right-away reply. 

Show me :)

No, you'll have to wait for it until I'm done.

Okay. There's only one necklace like it so it's worth the wait.

I'm glad to hear that. I'll see you later then. Take care.

You too.

Putting down her phone, she let out a sigh and smiled. But then, of course, someone had to interrupt her moment.

"Hello, Yunie." Hearing her nickname made her turn around quickly, only to be met with Jay. She almost thought it was someone else. 

"Oh, Jay. Hi." She smiled as he walked inside.

"You seem in a good mood. Did anything happen?" He asked as he sat down on one chair in front of her desk. "I haven't seen you in a while."

"Nothing special happened, I'm just the happiest when I'm here." She shrugged and he nodded, smiling. "Right, you're preparing for the trip?"

"That's right. Are you excited?" He asked as he stared into her eyes.

"I am! It's been some time since I last went to Jeju. I miss the beach and staying in your cottage. Oh, the beautiful old days." She muttered, head in the cloud.

"I miss spending time together too." He said, seeming a little sad. "I also miss going to Lotte World with you."

His words made her slightly widen her eyes. "Oh..."

"I know you went with Jake yesterday." He muttered, looking down at his hands. "I've been busy for some time now, and I've been ignoring you."

"No, your work comes first. We can just hang out whenever-"

"But you come first too." He said and she just blinked in confusion, staring at him as he gave her a bitter smile. "You were always first to me, Yunie."

"You're a dear friend to me, Jay." She said and he shook his head.

Sighing heavily, he looked down. "You see me as a friend, Yunie. But I..." He stopped, turning to look at her. "I don't see you as a friend."

"Hm?" Her eyes widened. "Stop joking around, I almost believed you."

"Oh..." He frowned then broke into laughter. "I got you!"

"You idiot." She laughed, resting a hand on her elbow as she looked away. "Stop teasing me."

"Okay, okay." He stood up and extended his hand to ruffle her hair. "I'm sorry for teasing you, but you literally look adorable when you're flustered. Anyways, make sure to come with Sunghoon, otherwise, I'll drag you out myself."

Soo Yun laughed at his words before she nodded. "But... what about Jake?"

"What about him?" He frowned.

"Did you two make up? You know, that day at his place..."

"Ah, well we never fought, so there's no reason to make up." He shrugged. "And of course, he's coming with us. He's a dear friend."

Soo Yun smiled at him. "You're really amazing, Jay."

"I'm glad you think of me that way." He smiled. "I'll see you on the weekend then."

"See you." She muttered and as soon as he stepped out of her shop, she let out a heavy sigh. She just hoped Jay wouldn't confess his feelings, because then she'd lose a dear friend. And he'd just get his heart broken because she'd just have to reject him.

Jay just ruined her moment with Jake, but the rest of her day wasn't that bad. Not when an angry man barged into her shop, panting.

"How do I passive-aggressively say fuck you in flower?" He asked, making Soo Yun snort. 

"I'm sorry. But I have the perfect bouquet for you." She smiled. It was her time to shine. "Some geraniums that symbolize stupidity, foxglove which is related to insincerity, yellow carnations that basically mean you have disappointed me, and some orange lilies that symbolize hatred."

"Is that it?" He raised an eyebrow before he took out his credit card.

"Yes. It would be quite striking and full of loathing."

"Well, thank you." He nodded.

"Thank you for making my day." She laughed. "This was a first."

The man smiled a little before he walked out of the shop, his hand tightening around the bouquet. Gosh, he's full of hatred.

And before she knew it, it was afternoon already and soon closing time. Soo Yun organized the place - putting flowers beautifully on display and putting the trash in a corner - oblivious to the man who was standing in front of the shop with his eyes on her as he smiled.

Right then, she heard the door opening and when she looked up to see the customer, it was him. Her eyes brightened at the sight of him.

"Hey." He smiled, walking closer to the counter. It seemed that he was the happiest around the beautiful girl and her beautiful flowers.

"You're early." She said, smiling back.

"I'd actually like a flower. One dahlia, please."

"Hm?" she frowned before she nodded, shrugging. "What do you want it for?"

Jake took the dahlia she handed him before he smiled and leaned forward. "It's for you."

Soo Yun broke into a soft smile when he placed the flower in her hair, making sure it was nicely placed on the side. "Why?" She chuckled.

"I thought about it earlier, I knew it'd look pretty on you."

"You thought about me?" Her cheeks reddened. "I mean, you were working, and then you-"

"Gosh," Jake muttered, stopping her mid-sentence. "You look so beautiful. You look like the girls they write books about."

That was the best compliment Soo Yun had ever gotten. It warmed her heart and made her smile like an idiot. She didn't even know what to say back so she just smiled at him.

"I just worshiped you." He said and she chuckled.

"Can you say it again? It's nice to hear." She joked but Jake took it literally. 

"You're so pretty and beautiful and gorgeous-" He stopped and laughed. "I love the happiness I feel when I think of you. Or the excitement when you text me or when I'm about to see you, it's amazing. You're amazing."

His words made her eyes soften as she stared at him, but then she remember what happened earlier. "Oh my god, earlier someone barged here asking how to say fuck you in flowers- sorry I just cursed."

Jake smiled before he ruffled her hair. "You look cute when you curse. But why would he want to know that?"

"Well, he got the bouquet so he'll surely give it to someone who annoys him." She explained and he nodded.

"I'd like to give one to many people too." He laughed. "That would be a big relief since they wouldn't understand the meaning behind it."

"What flower would you give me?" Soo Yun leaned on the counter as she waited for his reply.

"A red tulip." He didn't even hesitate, making her widen her eyes before she chuckled.

"Are you declaring your love to me, Sim Jake?" She teased.

"Perhaps?" Jake smiled.