safe place || k.v.m

six

"what's up with you today?"

kevin, who had just kind of been busy cleaning up behind the counter, looks at haknyeon, puzzled, "what do you mean?"

"you're spacing out ever since this morning," he answers before breaking out in a grin, "is it because of her?"

he shoots him a glare. that said, as annoying as the comment may be, he can't really deny it. "kinda? I asked her if she's okay but she just kinda avoided the question."

"okay? why wouldn't she be?"
"remember two, three weeks ago or something? when juyeon said a couple here was arguing?"
"yeah, I reme– wait, that was her?"

kevin nods. haknyeon juts his bottom lip out in surpise but soon asks, "but why get involved? I get that it's worrying but it's not like you're part of it."

"yeah but–"

a third voice interrupts them as someone slings an arm over kevin's shoulders, "kevin is a psychology major, do you really think he knows how to not worry about people?"

"juyeon? what're you doing here? you don't even have a shift today?"

said co-worker rolls his eyes at kevin's question, "yeah, I wouldn't if it wasn't for changmin calling in sick."

giving juyeon a clap on his back, haknyeon grins at him only to receive a glare from him,

"tough luck, man."

• • •

"nari."
"hm?"
"look at me."
"I can't, cob, not now, I'm fixing an order."

despite her protest, jacob puts an index finger under her chin, turning her to face him – the last thing she expects to see is an unusually stern look in his eyes.

"are you getting enough sleep?"

nari arches an eyebrow, "you look at me like I've killed someone and that's all?"

sighing, jacob lets her continue with the flower arrangement she had been working on. watching it, he takes notice of the way her hands are slightly trembling, something that quickly fills him with worry. that said, he doesn't push it any further, aware that she wouldn't give in nor feel happy about it. instead,

"you've become better at this."

nari smiles, "really?"

"yeah. remember when you started working here last year? when I had to teach you how to arrange flowers and stuff?" jacob recalls back, the memories making him smile as well, "took forever until you got a grasp of it and look at you now."

it becomes quiet for a while but when nari lastly speaks again, the question asked leaves him confused, "say, jacob, what's your favorite flower?"

"mine? lilies, probably." the answer makes the smile on her lips even wider. "what?"

though not diverting her eyes and attention from the soon-to-be finished bouquet on the counter, she begins explaining, "do you remember when you said people tend to pick flowers that describe them?"

he hums in acknowledgement, waiting for her to go on. once she does, she hangs her head lower, a faint pink dusting her cheeks. "I looked up what lilies say about people; they describe someone as playful but friendly and compassionate, love to help those they care for and can easily make others feel safe and calm around them."

right before she finishes, nari looks back up at him with a wide grin,

"maybe it is true after all, that our favorite flowers describe us."

jacob stares at her in shock, not having expected to hear that but in the end feels the corner of his lips tilt upwards. humbly wrapping an arm around her shoulders, his hand reaches out to gently stroke the top of her head. "you know, working here would be really boring if you weren't here."

"thank yourself for that, you were the one who picked me up from the streets – literally."

jacob lets out an exaggerated groan, "na, do you even know how much you scared me when you ra–"

he's cut short when nari suddenly pushes his arm away from her and in a split second, nervousness can be seen in her eyes. noticing the confusion that has returned to him, though this time even stronger, she nods towards the glass door and windows of the shop; on the other side of them, daehwan gets out of his car and starts making his way towards the shop.

"what is he doing here?"
"picking me up," she explains and turns to wrap up the bouquet. "said he wanted to take me somewhere."

before he can answer, daehwan has entered the shop, "hey, babe." he gives jacob a quick glance and faster than nari cares to think about, a not all too pleased look crosses his face.

her co-worker doesn't miss it either but still, he just shows him a welcoming smile, "you must be daehwan, right?"

"yeah, her boyfriend," daehwan nods, jaw clenched before turning to her, "you ready to go?"

"not until another twenty minutes. I have to finish this bo–"
"it's okay, you can go ahead. I'll finish it for you."

with something apologetic lacing her voice, nari turns to jacob and answers, "are you sure?"

in return, he just softly laughs, "I'm sure, you've worked hard enough today already."

she's hesitant at first but eventually, the encouraging look in his eyes has her giving in with a deep breath, whispering a light "thank you," shortly after announcing to her boyfriend, "let me just get my stuff."

with that, nari disappears into the staff room, leaving jacob and daehwan alone outside in the shop. while the florist completes the arrangement of the bouquet, the latter mumbles, "you two seem pretty close."

"we're co-workers, sir. it's part of our job to work together."
"when all you have to do is picking flowers?"
"you'd be surprised."

even without looking up from the counter, jacob can tell how he's not particularly pleased by the click of his tongue. with crossed arms, daehwan starts walking around in the shop, gaze stuck to the many flowers but attention anywhere but close to them. "so... what do you think of nari?"

"pretty funny, easy to work with. she's a nice girl," jacob hums.
"oh, yeah?"

he doesn't answer, almost certain there's more to come from daehwan, and indeed,

"what is she to you?"
"she's my co–"
"I meant, what is she to you?"

at that very moment, jacob finishes tying a pink ribbon around the wrapping paper enclosing the flowers. carefully putting them to the side, he places his hands on top of the counter, leaning his weight on them. he looks up at daehwan, his composure and calm water clear as he speaks,

"nari is like a little sister to me."

the two keep their eyes locked, a heavy silence falling over them. thankfully for the situation, it's not long until nari finally returns to the two. much oblivious to what had just happened, she chimes,

"thank you for today, cobie!"