Tulips

51. The Popular Girl's Girlfriend.

Becky.

The day after the event had been very hectic. The shop suddenly have many customers coming in. I was now getting overwhelmed by the number of customers. I excused myself and went to the kitchen. I took a deep breath first. I then took my phone and called Richie.

"Hello."

"Richie, I need your help."

"Why? What happened? Are you hurt? Where..." I heard how worried he become.

"Richie...calm down. I'm okay. Nothing happened to me." I heard him took a deep breath. "It's just...the shop suddenly have a lot of customers coming in. It's overwhelming me. Can you let me borrow one of your men to help me?"

"You scared me for a second there." He said. I'm picturing him saying this with his hand by his chest. Which is what he does when he got startled or shocked.

"Okay. One? I'll send you two. I'll have them come over now. Hang in there for the meantime. Okay?"

"I will. Thanks Rich."

The line went silent for a while. "I'll visit one of these days."

"You better cause I miss you, Rich." I feel like crying. I'm afraid of what he'll think when he knows about me and Freen.

"Thanks again, Rich. Take care of yourself okay?"

"I should be the one saying that, you're the one who's alone there."

Half an hour later, the backups arrived. Emman and Rey helped me taking orders and picking up the flowers. Most of the time I was the one arranging the bouquet.

By lunch time. I ordered our food and let the two eat first. I silently ate my lunch by the kitchen when Nam called me.

"Becca!!!!" Nam shouted as soon as I picked up her call. I pulled my phone away so I could rub my ear which I thought bled from her shout.

"Nam that hurts! You just shattered my eardrum!"

"Sorry! I just heard the news."

"What news?"

"You didn't know? What your popular girl did on the event reached the social media. People were tweeting about her dating a girl. A video was shared as well and of course you're in it."

I was shocked.

"Oh that's why..." Now that explains why there's a lot of people outside.

"What? What is it?" A very curious Nam asked.

"That's why I have a lot of customers today since I opened. I can't handle them all so I asked Richie if he could lend me one of his men. Thank heavens cause he sent two."

Nam suddenly squealed making me pull away the phone again.

"Your shop gotten popular as well! Wait..." She went silent for a second then squealed again. "Waaaaah! They have pictures of you too while you're attending to your customers. They said you're lucky to have a pretty girl. Some say you're prettier in person. That you two look good together. Another said you were so sweet and kind. This one said you're a good florist, you're really knowledgeable about flowers. Wow Becca, it's all praises here."

Wow. Just wow. "So this is how it is to have a popular girlfriend." I absentmindedly said my thoughts aloud.

"Wait... what! Girlfriend?"

I was surprised. "I said that aloud didn't I."

"You did and if you didn't you wouldn't tell me?"

"Well I was thinking of telling you I just got stuck with work."

"What! So it's true then, you're now official? You're really her girl now?"

"Yeah... She asked me just last night..."  I was about to tell her what happened last night but Emman came in looking for me. "Nam, wait a sec."

He said someone wanted an advice on what flowers to pick to apologize. I told him Purple or blue hyacinths would be best to say sorry. He smiled, thanked me and went back to the shop.

"Hey Nam, it's really getting hectic here. I need to go back. I'll call you later okay?"

"Okay. Remember to call me okay?"

"Yeah. Bye."

I went back to the shop and was surprised seeing there were more people outside now.

I noticed now that some were taking pictures not just of the flowers, their phones are facing directly at me.

My phone rings, I picked it up and let it rest between my shoulder and ears so that I could continue on wrapping the bouquet.

"Hi, Becca Blooms, how may I help?"

"Can you help me get my girlfriend to reply on my messages." I smiled upon hearing her voice.

"Babe, sorry. I was busy ever since I opened the shop. There's a lot of customers who suddenly showed up." I noticed the people looking at me, I wonder if they're listening too.

I turned around and said. "Apparently a video of you saying I'm your date last night got viral. My customers are your followers. They're so many Richie had to lend me two of his men."

I heard her laugh. "I'm not sure if I should say sorry or congratulations. Sorry that people got to know you're my date and congratulations cause at least there's a positive outcome. More sales!"

I laughed at how she animatedly say More sales.

"I guess you're right. I literally had no idea how to react. I didn't have time to think either for I need to tend to them first."

"Well, keep it up then. I won't hold you up any longer. Call me when you're free."

"Wait. By the way, why did you call?"

"I just want to hear my girlfriend's voice. I miss you."

I smiled widely. "I miss you too." The familiar fluttering on my tummy is back.

"I'll go now. I have a meeting in 10 minutes. Message me okay?"

"I will."

"Good. Bye baby."

"Bye babe."

When I turned around I was startled as many people were lined up by the counter leaning close. Once I turned they leaned back and began whispering while smiling. I could feel my face getting red. They must've heard me.

I went back in finishing the bouquet. I handed it over to the customer. She then said while smiling. "Thanks babe."

I was speechless while the people around who heard what she said  laughed teasingly.