Efflorescence (2won)

4. The mysterious man

Hyungwon sat up on his bed, he rubbed his face, yawned and got up. It was time to get up because he had an hour and a half before his shift would start. Hyungwon walked into the bathroom and washed his face with cold water. Then he ate breakfast and brushed his teeth. Next, he went to close a small window that he always left open for the night. At the same time, he looked out and disappointed when he noticed it was pouring rain.

Hyungwon sighed and reached for his umbrella, put on his jacket and walked out. Fresh air felt wonderful, even though the rain wasn't his favorite weather. It was refreshing to walk in the cool and moist weather. Hyungwon looked around, watching the people and cars passing by.

He has always been quiet and focused, but now there was only one thing in his mind. Wonho. Hyungwon didn't like being obsessed with him, but he couldn't stop it. He walked quickly and soon he was there.

Hyungwon opened the door with his keys and walked in. Today In-Sook wasn't going to be there, so he had to open the shop by himself, but it wasn't a hard task. Actually, Hyungwon liked being alone in the shop. When there were no customers, he was able to watch all the plants and listen to the music. It was like therapy for him, which is why he had a lot of plants in his apartment too.

Hyungwon set the sign to open, watered all the plants and sat down. He changed the music that was playing in the shop to the same radio channel he would always listen to at home. Now it was nice and cozy. Hyungwon watched the rain outside. He started thinking, and took his notebook and pen.

"When the sky is crying, it cleanses us..." He hummed. "but when the sky is angry, it burns us."

He looked at the writing on his notebook and sighed. It was not working.

"Inside, I want to cry like the sky, but I hide it behind the sun." Hyungwon smiled sadly at the words. "I pretend that I'm totally fine, until they ask and I run."

Hyungwon crumbled the paper and threw it across the room to the bin.

"It hurts, it makes us happy... It takes, it gives... it will guide us and mislead, but it's life... and only we can see if it's worth of it."

Hyungwon closed the notebook as he saw a man coming in, but soon he realized it was one of his friends. Or they were not even so close. In any case, Hyungwon stood up and walked to the other side of the counter.

"Hi, I came again to get some fresh flowers." Changkyun said, smiling a little.

Hyungwon knew that Changkyun wasn't the happiest of people, s o a little smile meant he was in a very good mood.

"Hey, so is it the normal?" Hyungwon asked him.

Changkyun shook his head. "Actually, not this time."

Hyungwon raised an eyebrow.

"You know, soon will be midsummer, so Kihyun wants to get some sunflowers and daisies." Changkyun said and walked up to Hyungwon.

"Can do." Hyungwon nodded and walked to the flowers, starting to look at the best ones.

"You know, something really freaking weird happened yesterday." Changkyun said suddenly.

Hyungwon only nodded, not looking at him.

"Kihyun came to the shop with a dude we've never seen before." Changkyun started. "Minhyuk told me that Kihyun and the guy they literally walked into each other at the street and Kihyun brought him to the café to apologize with a free cup of coffee."

It was undeniably strange. Kihyun wasn't the kindest person on this planet, so it was odd.

"That's strange." Hyungwon admitted. "Maybe he hit his eye on the guy." Hyungwon joked.

"I think so too. They were talking like they've known each other for years." Changkyun laughed.

Hyungwon walked over to him, holding flowers. "Does Kihyun want bundles or just the flowers?"

"Bundles, please." Changkyun answered.

Hyungwon nodded and went to the counter to make them. He was focused, but was still listening to Changkyun, who started speaking again.

"That guy was actually really special looking." Changkyun stated. "He was almost like a weird model. Leather jacket, bright hair... I think he's a biker."

"A biker? That's interesting." Hyungwon hummed. "It's ready."

Changkyun walked to the counter. "I think you already know the address of the bill."

"I do... but I might actually come by later today so I can get the payment myself. Boss said I can get it, because I saved her ass yesterday." Hyungwon said.

"Oh? What is the heroic thing you did?" Changkyun asked, laughing.

"Ya! Don't laugh. I really helped." Hyungwon hissed. "We were out of cards and two guys came in to get funeral flowers and a card, so I had to improvise a little. They were fine with the shittiest card ever, but they were literally shitting themselves over the poem, so I wrote them one." Hyungwon explained, sounding a little proud.

"Oh wow." Changkyun sighed. "You're a real prince." He joked.

"I know." Hyungwon hit back. "But anyways... let's talk more later. Are you at the shop at four pm?"

"Yeah, I have a long shift today, so I'll be there." Changkyun nodded.

"Cool, see you then." Hyungwon smiled. "Can you carry all of those?" He asked as Changkyun was struggling a little with the big bushes of flowers.

"Y-yeah, I think... it's not a long trip anyways,so I can handle it. See you." Changkyun left, carrying the flowers.