When Flowers Bloom✔

2

The next day was like any other, slow in the morning but he got an okay amount of customers by noon. Birthday flowers, anniversary flowers, get well flowers and everything in between. Hoseok had some of the best arrangements, he always took such good care of his flowers.

"Ah. Mrs. Park! You're Evening Bell arrangement has been eagerly awaiting." Hoseok said with a cheery smile as he carefully slid the large arrangement over along the counter.

"Oh my goodness Hoseok, dear. It looks so wonderful. Oh the girls are absolutely going to love this for tonight's mystery dinner party." She beamed at him, like a lighthouse in the dark. He chuckled at her cheerfulness and bowed to her.

"You're always so kind to me Mrs. Park." He replied to the older woman. She smiled and handed him her credit card, he swiped her card and handed it back to her as he waited for the receipt to print. He then handed it over and offered to carry the arrangements to her car. She obliged and showed him the way outside. Her car was parked in front of the meter down a little ways from the shop. Hoseok saw her time was about to run out and he quickly dropped in a few more quarters from his pocket.

Mrs. Park looked at him and smiled again.

"I'll see you soon dear." She waved to him.

"Drive safe Mrs. Park!" He cheerfully waved back before heading inside to tend to his flower friends.

As evening settled in, Hoseok was singing to the flowers when he noticed the clock on the wall chime 5pm.

"Ah." He hurried outside with a hand full of coins and slipped them into each parking meter out front along the flower shop. Just as he was filling the last meter a rusty old van pulled up to the meter he was at. The car backfired before shutting off, a cloud of smoke wafted behind it and blew forward. Hoseok coughed a bit and watched as an old man in a long deep brown trench coat, a black beanie, and a deep white beard got out and came around the the side of his van. He looked at Hoseok, up then down and grumbled a bit.

"What are you doing with the parking meter boy?" The man grumbled more loudly.

"Me? Oh.. I'm just filling the time Sir. Why?" Hoseok asked.

"Filling the time? Like some do-gooder?" The older man asked, stuffing his hands in his pockets. He didn't wait for Hoseok to answer and turned, shuffling off down the sidewalk. Hoseok blinked in place, stunned at the abrupt departure of the elderly gentleman. He shook it off, shaking his head slightly as he headed back inside to finish cleaning up.

Thirty minutes had passed since Hoseok had filled the meters. Inside the flower shop the sprinklers were finishing up their job of misting the flowers. Hoseok was sweeping the floor again to be sure everything was tidy- the way he liked it. It was fifteen minutes to closing time when the bell above the flower shop rung again. The man in the long trench coat approached the counter. He stared into Hoseok's eyes as Hoseok smiled and greeted him as he would anyone else.

"Good evening Sir, what can I help you with this evening?" His cheery smile was bright, the old man grumbled under his breath and leaned over the counter.

"You are a do-gooder. A nice boy, are you not?" He asked gruffly.

"I-I'm not sure what you're asking, Sir." Hoseok replied, a little frightened but he kept his bright smile and tried to figure the old man out.

"You take care of these flowers, day in... day out. A young man like you could be out partying with your friends, could be out hooking up with women, could be drinking yourself into the nearest dumpster... hell, you could be getting high and trying to climb a building thinking your happy ass could fly." The man spoke gruffly, irritation and a touch of sarcasm in his voice.

"You're a good young man. You care about the people that come in here. You daydream, you talk and nurture these creatures." The man rambled as he motioned to the flowers all around the shop.

"You help the elderly, you fill the meters outside the shop just so others won't have to be bothered by the task."

"Well it seems silly for people to pay, especially if they're only coming in to pick up an order. What good is it for them to waste money on an hour or even thirty minutes when you're only here for five minutes, maybe ten. It just seems silly to me." Hoseok replied in defense, though he really had nothing to defend against.

"That's what I mean. You're good. You've got a good outlook, but...." He leaned back and looked at Hoseok, his eyes searching the young man's. "You're lonely. You're a pushover, and you're far to scared to actually be living." The old man said. Hoseok looked at him confusingly. What this strange man mean, was the old guy drunk? As he ran about a hundred questions through his head, the old man reached into his trench coat and pulled out something. He set it on the counter and pushed it towards Hoseok.

"What's that?" Hoseok asked as he looked at this strange small pot that had an even stranger looking flower growing out of it. The flower hadn't bloomed, it was closed up tight but it did look pretty.

"Take good care of her, make sure she's watered, gets her sunlight and is well fed. Go on, take her, she'll be your friend." The old man insisted as he waited for Hoseok to take the potted plant. Hoseok gazed at it for a few more seconds before he lifted it up to take a better look at it. It didn't seem so odd, it was pretty flower and he kind of like it.

"I'll do that, thank you Sir." Hoseok replied. The old man turned his back to Hoseok.

"Have a happy life Hoseok, most importantly- Live a little." The old man said one last time as he walked to the door. The bell rang signaling him exiting the shop, Hoseok was still examining the pretty flower. He didn't know what to make of it but he knew he should keep it close.

That night after dinner Hoseok made sure to give the new flower a tour of his little apartment. He brought the pretty flower into his room and set it on his desk, his window was open- allowing the nice cool air to blow in and keep him comfortable. He changed into his pajamas after washing up in his attached bathroom and then turned out the lights and got into bed. Awaiting him were the night sounds of the city, slowly they lulled him to sleep.