The Ninth Life of Min Yoon Gi

13.

"Large iced americano."

"Anything else?"

"That's it—wait... can I also get a large mocha latte?" Yoon Gi remembered what Jimin had ordered that first morning they got coffee together and decided he should get her one, too. She must be exhausted after being up all night talking to him.

With the two drinks in hand, Yoon Gi headed to the Park's Plantorium. The sun had fully risen as he approached the plant store. Jimin had already set out a selection of plants on the sidewalk and the door was propped open.

"Hello, welcome to Park's Plantorium. How can I assist you?" A tall, young man, with muscles clearly visible through his oversized long sleeve shirt under the green apron he wore with the name of the shop embroidered on it, greeted him.

"I'm looking for Jimin." Yoon Gi stated. This must be the help she had referred to, he thought.

"She's just unloading the delivery, she will be—wait a minute, sir, you can't go back there!"

Yoon Gi had walked past the young man and into the back room to find Jimin struggling with an oversized crate of chrysanthemums. He set the drinks down on a nearby table and took hold of the crate.

"I got this," he said.

"Oh, hi Yoon Gi!" Jimin smiled, releasing her grip so he could carry it. "Just put it over on that table, thank you."

"I'm sorry, Ms. Park, he wouldn't stop." The young man stood in the doorway, biting his lip ring, watching Yoon Gi with big eyes.

"It's okay, Jungkook."

"Jungkook, is it?" Yoon Gi looked the taller man up and down, glaring, his eyes narrowed. "Why are you making her do all the heavy lifting? You look more than strong enough."

Jungkook's mouth dropped open, trying to come up with a response.

Jimin reached a hand out to Yoon Gi's shoulder to calm him down. "It's okay. I prefer to receive the deliveries myself so I know everything is in order. Jungkook takes care of moving everything up front and any customers that come in this early."

He didn't like the fact that Jimin had to struggle with the crates on her own. Yoon Gi wanted to be there, every day if necessary, so that she wouldn't have to labor alone. This was something he could do, at least until... well, until this ends or it end-ends, he thought.

"Thank you, Jungkook. Can you please start prepping for the arrangements I need to make today? There's a list on the work table."

"Sure thing, misses," Jungkook bowed before heading off to complete his task.

"He's a good kid," Jimin said to Yoon Gi.

"I brought you coffee," Yoon Gi retrieved the latte from where he had set it down.

"That's sweet of you, thank you," she smiled up at him.

"So, how can I help today?"

He was almost excited at the idea of learning about plants and floral arrangements. It all seemed familiar to him, but like a distant memory that, maybe if he immersed himself in the craft, might come to light.

"Want to help me with some arrangements?"

"Sure!"

Even Jimin was surprised at the enthusiasm in Yoon Gi's voice.

As Jimin showed Yoon Gi how to properly cut stems and wire them into arrangements, Jungkook kept glancing furtively at the pair. He didn't trust the man who had suddenly appeared in Jimin's life; he didn't want her heart to be broken when she had already experienced one of the greatest heartbreaks a person could.

They day wore on and Yoon Gi had managed to successfully arrange a bouquet, but he was more entertained by playing with the ribbons and smelling the different flowers. Jimin's laugh filled the empty shop as she and Yoon Gi chatted and got to know each other more.

During a lull after lunch, the sky had grown dark, drawing Yoon Gi to stare out the shop window.

"I hate the rain." He said, sensing Jimin's approach.

Jimin peered over his shoulder as the first heavy drops began to fall and ushered in a downpour. "Why? It's refreshing. It brings new life to wilted plants."

Yoon Gi looked at her. "I had a bad day in the rain."

Jimin watched as he walked back to the work table, his mood now dark like the clouds.

It wasn't long after that the family seeking flowers for a funeral arrived. Jimin noticeably tensed as she listened to them speak of their lost loved one. They talked about the location of the service, how many arrangements they wanted, and the amount of their budget. When it came to selecting the actual flowers, they were completely lost.

"It's better to go with something he would have liked, isn't it?" The older woman asked.

"And you know what that is, I suppose?" The middle aged man interjected.

"I usually—" Jimin started, but was interrupted.

"I don't know why we even have to do flowers," the old man grumbled.

At this point, Yoon Gi saw an opportunity to step in and take some of the burden from Jimin.

"It's actually a long standing tradition to use flowers to show appreciation for the life of the deceased and how they touched the lives of others. Yellow lilies, specifically."

Jimin turned her head to look at him with surprise. That fact wasn't something they had discussed, so she was surprised that he knew it.

"Isn't yellow a bit too... cheerful?" The woman asked.

"Not at all. It's still a celebration of life, even though it has ended. It also draws focus to the casket when it's surrounded by them. Some have even said it makes it seem as though it glows with warmth."

"This young man knows what he's talking about," the old man chuckled as he gave Yoon Gi a playful jab on the arm. "I say we go with what he says."

Jimin sighed with relief. All things considered, that was the fastest a customer had made a decision like this in all of her experience.

"Can I show you some of our lily selections? It might be nice to have a little variety, as there are a few different colors within the yellow family." Yoon Gi led the group to the section of flowers to examine the options.

"I think this one—" Yoon Gi froze when he touched the flower, his vision blurred, the shop melting into rain.

Of course it rained on the day his body was laid to rest. The sky had been dark since that day and, with the rain, came Yoon Gi's tears. He felt like everything he loved had been ripped from his life and that even his heart had been ripped from his chest. He felt lifeless. His chest ached with grief, his throat was raspy from his sobs.

He stayed long after the few attendees had left, kneeling on the rain soaked ground, his clothes sticking to his slender frame, the coffin standing erect by the burial mound. His tears would not stop even as the sun set and the air chilled him to the bones. He didn't move.

Yoon Gi just didn't care anymore.

"You okay?" Jimin had taken his hand and was looking up into his eyes, her forehead creased with concern.

"I... I'm sorry. Excuse me." Yoon Gi bowed to the family and hurried to the back entrance, removing the apron and leaving it on the work table as he passed.