Blooming Prof (Sunghoon x female reader/oc)

3. Green Fingers

Mid-semester I decided to pay my grandma a visit. My parents lived in the countryside but at least I had my grandma who also lived in London.

After taking a bus, I walked into the neighbourhood where my grandma lived. The neighbourhood was set on a hill, gifting the people who lived there a spectacular view of the city. As I froze for a moment to appreciate the view, I realised how the city and this neighbourhood felt like two entirely different worlds.

I walked down my grandma’s street and took a deep breath, feeling the peaceful rays of the sun and hearing nothing but birds chirping. I want to retire here someday.

As I approached my grandma’s Victorian style house, I looked over to the house just across the street. My eyes wandered over all the white Tulips beside the pathway to the house and other blue flowers peaking through the wooden gate. I squinted my eyes and recognised these flowers as Blue Baron Azalea. The trees in front of the house provided the idyllic shade for these flowers. White Wisteria covered the walls above the staircase.

I raised my eyebrow. Months ago, there were only the Wisteria and the trees in front of this house. My guess was that someone moved in. As soon as I stepped foot into my grandmother’s house, I had to tell her all the details about my first semester so far at the university.

As I gave my grandma all the gossip, I watered the Pansies in her kitchen. Because of my love for plants, her home already looked like a nursery. My eyes caught the house across the street though the kitchen window.

“Grandma, did someone move in across the street?”

She also peeked out the window, “Ah, yes, dear. A handsome young man moved in about five months ago. I was quite surprised when he greeted me in English the first time because he is clearly a foreigner. As you can see, he also has green fingers.” Grandma raised a brow and gave me a look.

I scoffed and glared at the beautiful flowers in front of his house, “Whatever. My flowers look better.”

“It’s a shame, Victoria. I told him that I’ll introduce you one day. He’s quite interested in meeting the person who has a knack for growing Daffodils and Hydrangea in my front garden.” I could hear in my grandma’s tone that she was trying to set me up with this botanic stranger.

With a sigh, I sat down at the kitchen table, “No, thank you.”

Grandma took a box of my favourite cookies out of the kitchen cabinet, “My dear, with that attitude you are going to end up alone.”

“I’ll just become a cat-lady.” I shrugged before indulging in my favourite treat.

With a content smile I crouched down beside the bedding of Daffodils. I admired Daffodils for their unique shape and their warm vibe. After watering the yellow and white flowers, I walked around my grandma’s black, slightly gothic gate to give my attention to the light purple and pink Hydrangea bushes. I glanced at the house across the street and saw someone in the front yard crouching beside the Tulips.

Curiosity got the best of me and I took a few steps to the side to get a better view of my grandma’s new neighbour. When the stranger slightly turned his head, my blood went ice cold. My botany professor was living across my grandma! Without a second thought I ducked behind the gate to hide behind the flowers.

Lying on my stomach and between the Daffodils, I peeked through the flowers in disbelief. The strong scent of the Jasmine creeping around the gothic gate filled my nostrils. Out of all the people in the world it just had to be the professor who got on my ass for everything. My eyes were glued onto him unwillingly and I watched him walk onto the sidewalk to water the rest of his beautiful Irises. The small smile displayed on his lips was a bit uncharacteristic, yet it suited his soft face well.

“Victoria, what are you doing in between the flowers?” My grandma suddenly called out.

Fuck. As I was praying that prof. Park didn’t hear her, my grandma spoke again, “Oh, hello Sunghoon. My grand daughter I’ve told you about is right here.”

I gritted my teeth and whispered loudly, “Grandma!”

To my dismay, she ignored me and I heard footsteps. Well shit. I quickly got to my feet and dusted the ground off my knees and clothes. My cheeks heated up in embarrassment as I stared at the ground.

“Victoria, this is Sunghoon Park. Sunghoon this is my grand daughter, Victoria Evergarden.” Grandma introduced us a bit too giddy.

I finally lifted my eyes to meet his widened orbs. He looked even prettier without his glasses. The obvious surprise quickly disappeared from his face and he extended a hand. I swallowed and took his hand, giving it a gentle shake.

“Nice to meet you, Victoria.” My professor said in an almost gentle tone.

I nodded, “Nice to meet you too, pro- erm Sunghoon.”