Chapter Text
Morning arrived over Seoul, the sunlight slipping between clusters of high-rise buildings and glass towers still catching the last trace of night. The Han River shimmered faintly in the distance as the city began to stir awake, one neighborhood at a time.
Subway stations spilled out streams of commuters, footsteps echoing through underground corridors, while buses rolled steadily along their routes, flashing number signs in bright digital text. Street vendors were already setting up along sidewalks, the scent of hot tteokbokki, freshly baked salt bread, and newly brewed americano weaving together in the Seoul morning air.
Convenience stores lit up in its glow and cafés along narrow streets filled quickly with office workers grabbing their first americano of the day. Above it all, Seoul moved with its familiar pace, fast and alive, like a city that never truly slept, only paused for a breath.
Among them stood a small florist shop on a corner of Sincheon—Moonlit Florals, where a young man who worked there was about to open the shop for the day.
His frame was small and slight, with gentle and sweet features, eyes that curved into crescents when he smiled, and jet-black locks that glinted in the soft morning light.
He hummed lightly, a bright smile spread across his face. With nimble fingers, he entered the store’s password and was about to push open the glass door, meant to step into the dim interior. Then, a familiar voice called out, pulling his attention. The young man turned.
“Good morning, Baekhyun-ah,” an elderly woman in her sixties greeted him.
“Good morning, Misook imo!” Baekhyun replied warmly, a soft smile forming on his lips.
“Opening up with your usual energy, huh?” Misook chuckled, pulling out a bunch of keys from her pocket to unlock the small pastry shop next door to Moonlit Florals.
Baekhyun mirrored her gesture, chuckling and nodding. “A day should always start with a little enthusiasm, don’t you think, imo?”
“Absolutely.” Misook flashed him a smile while unlocking the door. “Have a good one, Baekhyun-ah.”
“You too, imo!”
They exchanged one final smile before retreating into their respective shops.
Baekhyun set his bag on the counter and took off his black hoodie, which swallowed his small frame. Of course, because it belonged to his tall and buff boyfriend.
He flicked on the lights one by one, until the shop glowed with warmth and colour. Flowers of every shade and variety painted the space, coaxing a satisfied smile from him. Baekhyun picked up his dark brown apron from the hook behind the counter, tied it securely around his waist, and went to fetch a broom and mop from the janitor’s closet. He swept and mopped the floors, wiping the glass windows until they gleamed.
Once the shop was spotless, he returned the cleaning supplies and switched on the register and payment system behind the counter, ready for the day.
Several minutes passed by before Baekhyun’s gaze happened to catch Misook approaching the florist with a small paper bag dangling from her hand. Without hesitation, Baekhyun pushed open the glass door and stepped outside to greet her.
“Here, take this,” Misook held out the paper bag toward him. “There’s a warm custard bungeoppang and a few of your favorite chocolate cookies inside. Have them for breakfast.”
“Really?” Baekhyun’s voice lifted in bright surprise as he accepted the paper bag. “You really didn’t have to bother, imo,”
“It’s no bother in the slightest,” she chuckled softly, “Eat slowly, okay?”
The young man’s face blossomed into a radiant smile, his eyes curving like crescent moon in the night sky. He nodded gratefully. “Thank you so much, Misook imo! I’ll enjoy every bite!”
After exchanging farewells, Misook made his way back to her pastry shop, while Baekhyun returned inside the florist. He set the paper bag down beside the counter. Then suddenly, his phone buzzed. A message came through.
‘Already at the florist, my peony?’
A smile spread across his face. His fingers danced on the screen.
‘Yup. Just got here around 20 minutes ago :)’
Baekhyun waited, tapping his fingers lightly on the side of his phone, as if he could get a reply faster by doing that.
‘Had your breakfast yet?:)’
‘I'm so sorry, I didn’t know you were up and off to work so early today. I’m really tired from last night’s gig:(‘
‘Misook imo gave me a warm bungeoppang and some cookies, I’ll have it for breakfast later’
‘No need to apologize, Yeol. Just cook me your signature bulgogi for dinner in return, okay?:p‘
‘Of course<3 I’ll make the best dinner in the world for you. I love you so much, Baek!!!’
‘I love you so much more, Yeol. I’ll text you later, ‘kay?<3’
After sending the message, Baekhyun slipped his phone into the drawer beside the counter with a bright smile on his face. Then, he hurried to the front door, flipping the sign from CLOSED to OPEN, humming a little tune under his breath.
He made his way back to the counter, waiting for the first customer of the day to stop by the florist. He took small bites of the warm custard bungeoppang Misook had given him earlier, letting it gently fill his stomach to start the morning.
He had just taken his third bite when the bell above the door chimed. A customer had arrived, immediately pulling his attention away. He hurriedly set the bungeoppang back inside its paper bag, wiping the faint trace of butter from his fingertips with a tissue beside the register. Baekhyun turned toward the entrance and saw a neatly dressed man stepping into the shop, probably someone in his thirties.
“Good morning, welcome to Moonlit Florals! How may I help you, Sir?” He greeted the customer. The man returned the smile and walked toward the register counter.
“Hi, I’d like to buy a bouquet for my fiancée’s birthday. But I want something non-mainstream. Not roses, lilies, or tulips. Could you recommend some flowers that would suit her?”
“Of course! Come this way, I’ll show you a few options we have, Sir.” Baekhyun flashed him a polite smile.
The customer nodded and followed as Baekhyun led him to the row of flowers arranged in silver buckets inside the shop.
“These are some of the varieties we offer besides roses, lilies, and tulips.” Baekhyun explained. “Here we have Carnations, Gerbera Daisies, Ranunculus, and Sunflowers. I recommend these ones, Sir.” He politely gestured at the selection.
The man hummed thoughtfully, studying each flower Baekhyun had pointed out. “Hmm, I kinda like this one,” he pointed at a bunch of fuchsia Gerbera Daisies. “But I think the colour is a little too bright. I also like this one,” he added, now pointing at the Ranunculus. “But I’m not really a fan of the shape. It looks a bit too similar to a rose.”
“May I know when you’re planning to give the bouquet to your partner, Sir?”
“We’re having a birthday dinner tonight. So I plan to give it to her this evening.”
Baekhyun smiled and nodded. “Perfect. I think I know just the right flower for the occasion, Sir. It's one we keep special.” he said with a soft chuckle. “Come this way, Sir. I’ll show it to you.”
He bowed his head slightly before walking toward the cooler where several flowers were stored. Usually, the flowers kept in the cooler were those that only lasted about three days and needed specific temperatures to stay fresh.
“These are pink peonies,” Baekhyun pointed at the soft pink blossoms sitting in a silver bucket behind the glass door. “I highly recommend these, Sir.”
The customer shifted his gaze to the pink peonies. He fell silent for a moment, as if captivated by their beauty. “That’s really beautiful,” he muttered, eyes fixed on the delicate pink petals.
“Exactly.” Baekhyun chuckled softly with a small nod. “Peonies symbolize blossoming romance and happiness in relationships. I think they’re perfect for a birthday gift. They don’t last very long though, three days at best, even under ideal cool temperatures. But since you’re giving them tonight, they’ll still look beautifully fresh, Sir.”
The explanation earned a relieved smile and a firm nod from the customer. “I’ll go with the peonies.”
“An excellent choice!” Baekhyun exclaimed brightly. “How many stems would you like for the bouquet?”
“Hmm, I think fifteen should be enough.”
“All right, I’ll prepare them for you, Sir. You can wait on the sofa over there while I work on your bouquet.” Baekhyun politely gestured toward the cream-coloured sofa near the counter.
“Perfect. I’ll wait there.”
“I’ll let you know as soon as it’s ready, Sir.”
The customer gave him a small smile and nodded slightly before hurrying to take a seat on the sofa Baekhyun had pointed out earlier. Meanwhile, Baekhyun walked toward the cooling unit, softly humming to himself, a quiet sense of joy blooming within him at the thought of preparing a peony bouquet, his all-time favorite flower.
Baekhyun liked peonies.
No, he loved them. Especially for pink peonies.
From a very young age, he had grown used to assisting his mother tend to the flowers in the small garden behind their house back in Bucheon. And through those moments, his affection for flowers of all kinds began to take root.
He remembered one particular day when his mother took him along to her workplace, back when she herself had been a florist in Bucheon. It was there, at ten years old, that Baekhyun saw peonies for the first time in his life.
He didn’t come from a wealthy family, and the flowers growing in their small garden were modest ones. Common varieties such as roses, sunflowers, orchids, and the like. Peonies, after all, belonged to a different category altogether, known for their costly upkeep.
From the moment his eyes first met the splendor of peony petals, Baekhyun fell helplessly in love. There was something about the flower that felt almost bewitching, as though it carried magic that bound his heart to it. He remembered how his gaze lingered, unwilling to turn away. Especially from the soft pink petals, gentle yet arresting in their beauty.
He remembered the way he had begged his mother, asking if they could plant peonies in their garden. Yet that simple wish had been met with quiet regret, unable to be fulfilled beneath the weight of financial limitations.
And again, Baekhyun remembered. The first peony he had ever received. A birthday gift from his mother in his fifteenth year, five long years after the moment he had first wished for it. Overcome with emotion, he had cried without restraint, holding the flower as though it were something precious beyond words.
The second time peonies found their way into his life was when he was twenty-two. A gift from the one he loved most, Park Chanyeol. His boyfriend.
On their first anniversary, Chanyeol had placed a bouquet of five pink peonies into his hands. The moment alone was enough to draw tears from Baekhyun’s eyes as his chest tightened with a swell of emotion he could barely contain.
He remembered how tightly, yet with such care he had held the bouquet in his arms, as though it were something fragile and precious beyond measure. He remembered how deeply he had inhaled the delicate scent of the blossoms, his breath hitching as tears of gratitude streamed down his face.
And he remembered the words Chanyeol had spoken that day. The words were very simple. But they lingered, carving a deep mark into his heart.
“Pink looks very lovely on you, Baek.”
And from that moment on, Baekhyun began to see a new kind of beauty in everything touched by the colour of pink.
Remembering that small and tender fragment of the past, a fond smile curved upon his lips. His fingers moved with quiet skill, arranging the stems of the pink peonies with a grace born from habit and sincere affection.
A faint hum slipped past his thin lips, a little tune he always found himself singing whenever he worked with pink peonies. When the bouquet was finally finished, he lifted it delicately before his face, brushing his fingertips over the petals as though committing their beauty to memory.
“Excuse me, Sir. Your bouquet is ready.” Baekhyun spoke as he approached the customer who had been patiently waiting on the sofa.
The customer rose to his feet and walked over to Baekhyun. The young man then held out the bouquet he had arranged with a courteous gesture, earning a satisfied smile from the man.
“It’s beautiful,” the costumer murmured in awe as he accepted the bouquet from Baekhyun.
“Peonies are always beautiful, Sir,” he replied with a smile of his own.
The customer nodded. “How much is everything in total?”
“Please, let’s head to the register, Sir,” Baekhyun gestured toward the counter with both of his palms.
The customer nodded again and followed Baekhyun to the register. Then, he carefully calculated the total on the cash register.
“The total comes to 170.000 won, Sir,”
“Hmm, that’s quite a price,” the man chuckled as he pulled his wallet from his pocket.
“Indeed, Sir,” Baekhyun replied with a light laugh. “Peonies are generally quite expensive per stem. And since it’s already October, past their peak season, the price gets even higher. But our florist always makes sure to provide the best-quality peonies, even if the stock is limited and the cost is a bit steep.”
“That’s totally fine, actually,” the customer smiled, placing his card against the payment machine. “Nothing is ever too expensive for someone you love, right?”
Baekhyun nodded, chuckling softly in agreement. He then handed the receipt to the man across from him. Once everything was settled, he thanked the customer with a polite bow, receiving a grateful nod in return before the man left the florist with the fresh pink peony bouquet in hand.
Baekhyun watched him go until the man disappeared completely from his sight. A soft sigh escaped him, followed by a gentle and satisfied smile. Simply working with pink peonies that morning was enough to fill his heart with warmth. He then took a seat on the chair behind the register counter and continued his now-cool custard bungeoppang, finishing his breakfast in peace.
Time slipped by. A few more customers came and went, buying flowers from the shop, until he realized noon had already arrived. Baekhyun was in the middle of cleaning the worktable where he arranged bouquets, his back to the entrance, when the bell above the door suddenly chimed, ignaling another customer’s arrival.
“Welcome to Moonlit—” he greeted as he turned around, only for the words to die on his lips as his eyes widened at the sight before him.
"Hi, Baek," a handsome and tall figure stood at the doorway. He wore a plain black hoodie beneath a dark brown leather jacket with a guitar case slung casually over his shoulder.
"Yeol!" Baekhyun’s face lighting up instantly.
The tall man—Chanyeol, laughed softly at the sight of his lover's reaction. He opened his arms in silent invitation. Baekhyun hurried over without a second thought, slipping easily into the warmth of Chanyeol’s embrace.
Chanyeol held him close, strong arms encircling his lover’s small frame as he lowered his face to the crown of his head, inhaling the familiar sweetness that always clung to him.
"What are you doing here???" Baekhyun asked breathlessly, lifting his sparkling gaze to meet his lover's handsome features.
"Because I missed you?" he brushed a swift kiss against Baekhyun's cheek.
"You’re such a charmer, Yeol. You know that?" Baekhyun teased, smiling as he gently pulled away from the embrace.
The taller man answered with a playful chuckle before sliding the guitar case off his shoulder and resting it against the sofa near the entrance. Then suddenly, he held out a paper bag to Baekhyun. One Baekhyun hadn’t even realized Chanyeol had been holding all along.
“Here, Baek.” he said, earning a puzzled furrow of Baekhyun’s eyebrows. Even so, Baekhyun accepted it.
“Huh? What’s this?” Baekhyun craned his neck to peer inside the paper bag.
”A little packed lunch for my peony,” Chanyeol smiled widely. “I cooked the bulgogi for you, just like I promised earlier. A proper apology for this morning.”
Baekhyun lifted his head at once, his eyes rounding in quiet surprise at the confession. “You didn’t have to do all this, Yeol,” he murmured, tone softening by the sincerity of his feelings.
To some, it might have seemed like nothing out of the ordinary. But to Baekhyun, who had spent much of his life unfamiliar with such careful affection, it meant far more than words could ever express.
Every small gesture, every quiet act of care Chanyeol had shown him over the past five years had filled him with a warmth he didn’t always know how to name. And it brought back memories of the past, reminding him of a time when his mother had still been there by his side.
Chanyeol chuckled as he leaned down just slightly, pressing a soft kiss to the top of Baekhyun’s head before straightening up. “I just like seeing you happy, Baek. And I like taking care of you.”
Then, the tall man moved to the sofa beside the door and opened his guitar case. From within, he pulled out a baby pink scarf, the fabric catching the light as he held it out to Baekhyun.
“I bought this on my way here,” he said, a fond smile curling his lips. “Because you always look so lovely in pink, Baek. And I don’t want you catching a cold. The weather’s starting to get chilly, you know?”
Baekhyun fell silent for a moment, his eyes lingering on the baby pink scarf in Chanyeol’s hands. He slowly lifted his head, looking up at his lover with a gaze filled with quiet disbelief.
Chanyeol let out an affectionate chuckle upon seeing that expression. With such care, he lifted the scarf and draped it around Baekhyun’s neck, gently adjusting the fabric until it rested neatly in place.
Baekhyun’s fingers trembled slightly as he touched the scarf, feeling the warmth of Chanyeol’s thoughtfulness seep into his chest. “Yeol...” he breathed as his eyes started to glisten.
Chanyeol’s gaze softened even further the sight. His hand slowly reached out, brushing Baekhyun’s cheek gently, his thumb resting lightly against his skin.
“You’re my peony, Baek. You’re always delicate and always beautiful. I’ll always make sure you’re taken care of.”
The wave of emotion swelling within Baekhyun could no longer be contained. A single tear slipped down his cheek before he hastily wiped it away with the back of his hand. He didn’t want to drown in his tears and ruin the sweet and warm moment they were sharing.
Seeing his lover overcome with emotion, Chanyeol slowly began to close the distance between them, leaning in as if to draw Baekhyun into a warm kiss.
“W-wait!” realizing where this was heading, Baekhyun quickly stopped him. “W-we’re still inside the florist–I-I mean! The CCTV—” he stammered.
At that, the taller man let out a rather loud chuckle, clearly amused by his lover’s reaction. He drew back just enough, choosing instead to ruffle Baekhyun’s jet-black locks with gentle fondness.
“Shall we continue where we left off at home?” he teased, a playful glint sparkling in his eyes. One that coaxed a sweet laugh from Baekhyun.
His surge of emotion quickly faded. Already replaced by a soft and playful laugh, and it was but one of a thousand reasons Baekhyun loved the man before him.
To Baekhyun, Chanyeol had always been someone who could soften the world, making everything feel warm and brighter. Especially his world.
“Sure will.” Baekhyun returned with a knowing smile, his gaze lingering a second too long. Chanyeol answered with a boyish smirk before turning to retrieve the guitar case resting by the sofa.
Baekhyun placed the paper-bag on the counter, before he turned to his boyfriend again. “Oh, right. Where are you headed? Why are you out this early? Doesn’t your gig start later tonight?” he watched as Chanyeol swung the guitar case over his shoulder with ease.
“Baby, I came all the way here just to bring you your lunch.”
Baekhyun only rolled his eyes playfully before he chuckled. “I’m serious, Yeol.”
“And so am I, Baek.” Chanyeol countered. “I’m also planning to change my guitar strings at a music shop nearby. Then I'll head over to Sehun’s for some practice.”
The smaller man nodded in understanding, his gaze following Chanyeol as he began walking back toward him.
“Don’t forget to eat the bulgogi, ‘kay? And don’t overwork yourself. I’ll get you more vitamins later, so you won’t get sick in this kind of weather,” Chanyeol said, cupping one of Baekhyun’s cheeks, his thumb gently brushing against the soft skin. “See you at home, Baek.”
Baekhyun nodded, again, a loving smile blooming across his face as one of his hands rose to hold Chanyeol’s fingers resting against his cheek.
“Good luck with your gig tonight, Yeol. I’ll see you at home.” he said warmly as Chanyeol placed a soft kiss atop his head before he finally took his leave.
Baekhyun lifted his hand, waving at his lover as he stepped outside. Chanyeol waved back through the glass, a smile full of affection gracing his face, until his figure gradually disappeared from Baekhyun’s sight. Baekhyun remained standing there for a few seconds, his smile still softly lingering on his face.
Then suddenly—
Chanyeol’s head popped back into view from the edge of the florist’s, waving at him again through the glass, making Baekhyun flinch slightly in surprise.
Baekhyun watched as Chanyeol pointed to himself with his index finger. ‘I—‘ he mouthed.
Then, he formed a small heart with both of his index fingers. ‘Love—‘
And finally, he pointed toward Baekhyun, his lips moving once more. ‘You!’
A burst of amused laughter escaped Baekhyun’s lips, slipping out so easily it was almost uncontrollable. He nodded to himself, as if he had always known that all too well.
‘I love you too!’ Baekhyun mouthed in return, earning a bright and cheerful laugh from Chanyeol. The taller man finished with a playful blown kiss before giving one last of his enthusiastic wave, then finally turning away and disappearing for real this time.
Once Baekhyun was certain Chanyeol wouldn’t suddenly reappear again, he let out another soft laugh, shaking his head gently, still amazed by his lover’s random yet endlessly sweet antics.
He exhaled a long breath, warm smile still lingering. He made his way toward the mirror near the florist’s worktable, his gaze settling on his reflection. There, he noticed the new addition to himself. A baby pink scarf from Chanyeol, now wrapped so sweetly around his neck.
And Chanyeol was always right all along. He did look lovely in pink.
And slowly, almost half-heartedly, Baekhyun began to loosen the scarf and took it off from his neck, holding it gently on his palms. His head dipped as he studied it carefully, thumb brushing over the fabric in a soft stroke. His smile deepened, warmed by the quiet realization of how much Chanyeol loved him, just as deeply as he loved the tall man in return.
He pulled the scarf into a gentle embrace for a moment, holding it close for some good seconds. Then with such care, he folded the scarf and put it near his bag, already looking forward to wearing it again, later when the air outside turned too cold and wind unforgiving.
Baekhyun turned away, now with his heart a little too lighter, a little too warm, as he returned to get back to work.
Shortly after, the bell above the florist’s door chimed once more. Baekhyun turned, only to find a young man, seemingly around his age, stepping into the shop. And as always as he was, he greeted the customer with a warm, welcoming smile.
“Welcome to Moonlit Florals! How may I help you?”
Without any preface, the man spoke, his words coming out in a slight rush. “Do you have red roses here?”
At the mention of that colour, Baekhyun’s heart skipped a beat.
For a brief second, something flickered quite painfully across his chest. But just as quickly, he forced himself back to his senses, steadying his expression and holding onto his practiced smile.
“Of course! We do have them.”
“Oh, thank goodness!” the man exclaimed in relief, exhaling a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Do you have a lot in stock?”
“May I ask how many you need?” Baekhyun asked, his smile held steady despite it all.
“I need a hundred stems for one bouquet,” he explained. “I really hope you have that much. I’ve been going around all day and couldn’t find a shop with enough stock. I seriously need that bouquet as soon as possible,”
Upon that, Baekhyun swallowed hard. The motion was tight and almost painful, as though something heavy had stuck itself in his throat. He forced himself to steady his breathing, though his thoughts churned uneasily beneath the surface. And behind the counter, his hands had begun to tremble, palms growing slick with nervous sweat.
“Y-yes, we do,” he forced out, the words came out unsteady despite the effort to control it. He cleared his throat a little too quickly, “We… we just restocked red roses last night.”
“Excellent!” the man chimed brightly, a stark contrast with the storm unraveling inside Baekhyun. “How long does it usually take to prepare a bouquet of a hundred red roses?”
For what felt like the hundredth time, Baekhyun swallowed hard. His fingers now tightened around the edges of his apron, gripping the fabric to keep himself grounded.
“Around… around one and a half to three hours. It depends on how complex the design is,”
“That long?” the man gasped. “Is there any way to make it faster? Just make it simple, anything, as long as it’s done as quickly as possible. I need it by three. Please?”
Baekhyun’s gaze flickered toward the wall clock, the hands pointing to one in the afternoon. “R-right. We’ll do our best,” the words barely held together as they left his lips. “It… should be ready by around two-thirty.”
“Jeez! Thank you so much, you’re my life savior!” the man cheered gratefully. “How much is it?” he asked, already reaching into his pocket for his wallet.
With his trembling hands, Baekhyun tried to key in the total on the register, his hands refusing to stay steady. “The total comes to 400,000 won.” he said, drawing a nod from the customer who had his card ready. “You can tap the card on the machine.” Baekhyun motioned toward the payment machine in front of him with both hands, trembling still.
Noticing the faint tremor in Baekhyun’s hands, the man shifted his attention to him. “Are you okay?”
The question made Baekhyun flinch slightly, his eyes blinking a few times in quick succession. “O-oh, that… Yes, I’m totally fine.” A lie. A total lie.
“Your hands are shaking a little,” he pointed out. “But alright, if you say so.” He gave a small shrug before tapping his card against the machine.
Baekhyun could only give a strained smile in return, forcing it to stay in place as he waited for the receipt to be printed. Once it did, he handed it over to the man in front of him.
“Thank you for shopping at Moonlit Florals,” Baekhyun said with his polite smile still. “You can wait on the sofa—”
“Oh, no, no, no,” the customer cut in as he hurriedly slipped his card back into his wallet. “I still need to go find another gift. It’s okay to leave it here, right? I’ll come back later to pick up the bouquet.”
Baekhyun had to fight the urge to audibly let out a relieved sigh. Truthfully, he was extremely grateful that the customer didn’t have to stay and wait inside the florist, didn't have to sit there and watch him work.
Because Baekhyun knew he was already on the verge of breaking. And the last thing he wanted was for his customer to witness him fall apart while arranging a bouquet of a hundred red roses.
“Of course. No worries at all.” His forced smile was starting to wear thin. “As I said earlier, the bouquet will be ready by approximately two-thirty. You’re welcome to come back then.”
“Great, I'll see you by then.” The man returned the smile. “Once again, thank you so much!”
Baekhyun’s faint smile lingered for a moment, before it slowly began to fade, just as the customer hurried out of the florist.
After making sure the man had completely disappeared from view, Baekhyun finally let go. His body gave out beneath him, sinking slowly until he had to dart both of his palms on the counter, preventing himself from collapsing entirely. The breath he had been holding all this time escaped in a broken rush.
He was gasping now. Ragged breaths tearing from his chest as though even breathing had become a struggle. His hand balled into a fist, clenched tightly against his chest, fingers pressing hard in hope that it somehow could steady the erratic beats of his heart.
“Breathe, Baekhyun. Just breathe,” he whispered to himself under his breath.
Baekhyun hated red roses.
He hated every shade of red in this entire world.
Since the age of twenty, Baekhyun had been a florist’s assistant. And it wasn't just a job, it had been his dream for as long as he could remember. A dream rooted in love for flowers, and for the tender memories of caring for them alongside his late mother, who had once been a florist herself.
And as a florist from a young age, he had dealt with red roses countless times before. But never like this. Never in such a number.
A hundred red roses, all at once.
How was he supposed to stand there for nearly two hours and arrange them one by one? How was he supposed to endure it, to see, to touch, to breathe in that colour without falling apart?
How was he supposed to bear it?
He quickly moved to grab his bag near the counter, his hands fumbling in haste as they searched for the pair of sunglasses he always kept inside. The same sunglasses he wore every time he had to arrange a bouquet of red roses, so that the colour he despised most in the world could be hidden away behind the black of the lenses.
A minute passed by, as his eyes widened when realization fully struck him. His sunglasses weren’t there.
Shit. Shit shit shit.
Panic hit almost instantly. His hands dove back into the bag, trembling even more as they searched with panicked urgency. His belongings were tossed aside without care, his movements growing more erratic and more desperate with each passing second. And then, as if instinct had taken over, he lifted the entire bag and overturned it. Everything spilled out in a loud chaotic scatter on the counter.
Baekhyun froze for a split second, his breath uneven, before dropping his body even more. He scrunched and quickly scanned through the mess. His eyes moved rapidly from one item to another. He was searching, searching, searching—
Nothing. Not there.
The one thing that had always saved him, the only thing that let him endure it all, was nowhere in sight. And for a moment, his breath caught again, worse than before. His body trembled violently, each breath coming out in short and ragged gasps. His head felt as though it were spinning out of control, a wave of confusion and overwhelming panic crashing down on him all at once.
Baekhyun began to weaken, immediately sinking down until he was crouched on the floor. Under his breath, curses slipped out uncontrollably, while both hands moved up to grip his locks tightly, trying to anchor the chaos inside his mind.
“Fuck… fuck, fuck, fuck,” he muttered in panic. “I can’t. I can’t do this.”
His breathing grew tighter and more suffocating with every second. A sharp ringing filled his ears, drowning out everything else as the world around him began to blur and distort. Even the chime of the bell above the florist’s door failed to reach his ears, unable to break through or capture his attention. Nor did he notice the sound of footsteps entering the shop.
“Baek, I think I left—”
There, Chanyeol stood, having returned to the florist to retrieve something he had forgotten, only for his words to die abruptly in his throat.
His eyes landed on Baekhyun, who was crouching behind the counter, body trembling hard, head lowered as he clutched at his hair in distress. Chanyeol’s eyes widened in shock at the sight of his lover’s current state. Without hesitation, his steps quickened as he rushed toward him, dropping down to his knees right beside Baekhyun.
“Baek—shit, what happened?!”
Baekhyun only shook his head in response, his entire body shaking like a leaf. His grip on his hair tightened further, as if holding onto it was the only thing keeping him from falling apart completely.
“Baek, it’s me. It’s Yeol. Hey, look at me.” Chanyeol tried his best to keep his voice as soft as possible, hoping it would calm Baekhyun down. Carefully, he reached out, attempting to pry the smaller’s hands away from his own hair.
Slowly recognizing the voice, Baekhyun lifted his head, his tear-streaked face finally coming into view. At the heart-breaking scene unfolding right before him, Chanyeol immediately pulled the small figure into a tight embrace.
"Baek, what is it? What’s wrong? Tell me what’s going on," he asked, worry spilling out without restraint. He buried his face into the crown of Baekhyun's head, one hand gently rubbing slow circles across his back, trying to soothe him, trying to bring him back to calm.
“I—I can’t, Yeol. I fucking can’t. Red—red roses. A hundred—and, I can’t find it,” Baekhyun stammered. His lips trembled hard as the words broke apart in his panic.
“Shh,” Chanyeol soothed him softly. He realized Baekhyun was still overwhelmed, so he chose not to press him any further. “It’s okay, Baek. I’ve got you. I’m right here.”
Chanyeol continued to hold him close, refusing to loosen his grip even for a second. His hand moved slowly over Baekhyun’s back in comforting strokes, while his lips kept pressing soothing kisses to the crown of his head, again and again, trying to pull him back from wherever his mind was slipping away to.
Gradually, bit by bit, Chanyeol began to piece together the broken words Baekhyun had just spoken.
And then it clicked. A hundred. Red roses.
A hundred Red roses.
That colour. He knew it too well.
It was the colour Baekhyun despised most in the world. The colour that never came alone, but always brought with it shadows of pain, memories too sharp to touch, too heavy to carry. A shade that didn’t just exist. It haunted Baekhyun’s life.
Chanyeol knew it. He knew it far too well. More than anyone else ever could.
His gaze wandered slowly across the room, scanning, trying to piece everything together, to understand what had shattered Baekhyun so completely like that.
And then he saw it.
On the counter, Baekhyun’s belongings scattered all over there, thrown in a desperate mess. The disorder, the urgency of it, the way nothing had been carefully placed but instead spilled out as if in panic—the puzzle he had been trying to solve in such a short time, finally began to click into place.
“Baek,” Chanyeol called softly. “Were you… trying to find your sunglasses?” he asked carefully.
He felt it then, the faint nod of Baekhyun’s head against his chest. And just like that, Chanyeol understood everything. “And… is there an order for a hundred red roses you have to finish?”
Again, Baekhyun nodded.
At that, Chanyeol exhaled a slow and quiet breath, something close to relief, though it sat uneasily in his chest still. Not because the sight before him was any less painful, but because the worst possibilities that had flashed through his mind, had not come true.
Because this, this was something he understood way too well. Something he knew how to face and handle. Baekhyun was breaking down, yes, unraveling right there in his arms, it was all because of that one specific colour.
That cursed, unforgiving colour. The one that had never failed to bring Baekhyun back to times he should have never had to remember.
“What should I do, Yeol?” Baekhyun whispered between his small sobs. The tremor in his body had slowly begun to ease, soothed little by little by Chanyeol’s steady embrace, by the warmth that held him together when he could not do it himself. “What should I do?”
It was a question Baekhyun had asked countless times over the years, one that seemed to follow him through every storm he could never quite escape.
For years, the world had never been gentle with him. And so, he had learned to endure it alone. To stand on his own and to keep going, even when his legs threatened to give way beneath him. Even when everything inside him begged to fall apart.
He had convinced himself that strength meant solitude. That surviving meant never needing anyone. But then, Chanyeol came into his life. Unexpectedly. Until he changed everything in Baekhyun’s life.
Slowly, Baekhyun began to unlearn the loneliness he had carried for so long. He began to understand that leaning on someone was not weakness, but a kind of quiet courage. That it was alright to rest, to be held, and to let someone else carry the weight for a while.
Because if there was one thing Baekhyun had always, always longed for, it was this. To have someone who would stay. Someone who would hold him together when he could no longer hold himself.
Because Chanyeol had always been that person.
The one who could make sense of the chaos. The one who could gather the broken pieces and gently fit them back into place.And Chanyeol had always been able to answer that very same question, over and over again.
“Baek, look at me,” Chanyeol slowly loosened his embrace, his hands coming up to cup Baekhyun’s cheeks. Gently and carefully, he guided his tear-streaked face to meet his gaze.
“I’m right here, Baek,” he murmured softly. “I’m here with you and we’ll get through this together. I’ll help with anything I can, anything you need, anything you ask. Now close your eyes and just breathe slowly with me, okay?” Then, Chanyeol gently rested his palm over Baekhyun’s chest, grounding him. His other hand found Baekhyun’s, holding it reassuringly.
Baekhyun nodded, slowly starting to follow Chanyeol’s lead. He closed his eyes and matched Chanyeol’s breaths to the steady rhythm being offered to him. In… and out. Slowly and carefully, like learning how to breathe all over again.
“That’s it, nice and slow, Baek,” Chanyeol muttered, each word wrapped in quiet reassurance. “You’re doing so well, just like that.”
A soft and tender smile curved along Chanyeol’s lips as he watched Baekhyun begin to find his footing again. His thumb brushing gently beneath his eyes, wiping away the trace of tears with the utmost care.
Once his breathing had finally begun to settle, Baekhyun slowly opened his eyes, lifting his gaze to meet Chanyeol’s, only to find that his lover was already holding a pair of sunglasses in his hands.
“Here, take mine,” Chanyeol carefully placed them on Baekhyun’s face.
“Ready, Baek? I’ve got you, okay? We'll do this together.” An impossibly warm smile lingered on his lips. “Now, up we go.” He carefully guided Baekhyun up, slowly helping him rise to his feet.
Baekhyun stood there for a moment, still unsteady, but Chanyeol’s support never once loosened. Slowly, he released a shaky breath.
“Thank you, Yeol,” Baekhyun whispered. “Thank you, really.”
“What are you thanking me for?” Chanyeol’s smile was so fond. “It’s always been my place to be by your side, Baek. To be your safe place. You mean everything to me, and nothing matters more than you being okay.”
Baekhyun faintly nodded, a small smile gradually began to form on his face as the familiar warmth bloomed in his chest. An emotion that never failed to find him so easily whenever Chanyeol treated him like this. So gently, so effortlessly, as if caring for him was the most natural thing to do in the world.
It wasn’t new. It never was.
And yet, every single time, it still managed to break something soft inside him. In the best possible way.
Before him, Chanyeol’s smile only grew wider, because seeing Baekhyun like this was enough to quiet everything else in the world.
Then carefully, Chanyeol began to shift his attention. “Where are the red roses, Baek?” he asked, already scanning all over the shop as if ready to take over whatever needed to be done.
Baekhyun hesitated at first. His fingers tightened slightly around Chanyeol’s sleeve. “Aren’t you… supposed to be at Sehun’s place? You still have things to do there,” he said, uncertainty lacing his voice.
Chanyeol paused for only a second before shaking his head lightly. “The rest can wait,” he said softly, but full with certainty that left no room for argument. “But you, especially in this state, can’t, Baek.”
Baekhyun almost wanted to cry again. Not because the panic was still gripping him, and not because his breath was failing him anymore. But because something more overwhelming was beginning to rise instead.
A Guilt. A heavy guilt.
There were times when he truly felt like he didn’t deserve this kind of care. Not this gentleness. Not this patience. Especially from Chanyeol.
Ever since his mother passed away, it was as if something inside him had quietly dimmed. And over time, Baekhyun had almost forgotten what it meant to feel worthy. Forgotten that he had value beyond what he could give or endure. Forgotten that he, too, deserved kindness without having to earn it through pain or silence.
Because he was only human, after all. And humans, he had learned, often forgot how to be kind to themselves. But Chanyeol, the man standing right in front of him, his lover, kept undoing all of that in the gentlest way possible.
With every steady touch. Every patient breathes. Every unwavering “I’m here, Baek.” and every answer to his “What should i do, Yeol?”
Slowly but eagerly, Chanyeol kept reminding him of something Baekhyun thought he had lost long ago. That he was worth something. That he was allowed to be cared for. That softness was not something he had to fear. And that, perhaps most overwhelming and beautiful of all, he was someone who deserved to be loved.
A gentle squeeze on both of his hands pulled Baekhyun back to reality, grounding him after his thoughts had drifted far beyond reach. It was soft, steady, and constant, just like the person holding him.
Gradually, as if learning how to return to himself again, Baekhyun refocused his gaze. Everything else faded around him. The noise, the chaos, the fear, until there was only one thing left in front of him.
Chanyeol.
The person standing there, holding him together when he felt like falling apart. The one he loved with a certainty that had never once faltered.
“Now, show me where they are, okay?”
And from there, Chanyeol began helping Baekhyun to finish the order for the bouquet of a hundred red roses. He stayed right beside him, fully present, moving with such eagerness as he followed every step Baekhyun explained.
Together, they worked side by side.
Every instruction Baekhyun gave was met with Chanyeol’s immediate understanding, his hands moving carefully, efficiently, as if he had always belonged there too. There was no rush anymore, no chaos, only a shared rhythm between them that felt steady and reassuring.
All the while, Chanyeol’s gaze kept drifting back to his lover, who was now fully absorbed in his work, fingers moving with quiet skill and effortless grace. The oversized sunglasses rested a little too large on Baekhyun’s face, giving him a funny look that made Chanyeol smile softly to himself. He even let out a fond chuckle he didn’t try to hide.
But even like this, especially like this, Baekhyun was still the most beautiful sight in Chanyeol’s world. No matter what he wore, no matter how messy or tired he might look, Baekhyun always seemed to him like something precious, something almost unreal.
To Chanyeol, there was never anything about Baekhyun that wasn’t perfect.
And even while fully immersed in his work, Baekhyun would still, often, let his gaze drift toward Chanyeol. Sometimes—no, more often than not, he would find himself looking at him without even realizing it.
Soft muttered curses occasionally slipped past Chanyeol’s lips when he struggled to trim the thorns from the rose stems, or when he accidentally pressed too hard and crumpled a delicate petal between his fingers, making Baekhyun shake his head in fond amusement as a sweet chuckle escaping him. It should have been a clumsy sight, maybe even frustrating. But to Baekhyun, it was nothing short of endearing.
And so, between petals and quiet breaths, Baekhyun kept moving, learning how to stay in the moment without letting himself fall apart.
The world outside the florist remained the same, so did the burden of certain memories that never truly left him. Especially that colour. Red. The one shade that still etched too deeply beneath his skin, refusing to fade no matter how much time passed.
But now, there Chanyeol was. Right beside him. Always been, and Baekhyun hoped he would always be.
And somehow, with Chanyeol there, even something as heavy as red roses felt slightly easier to face. Not because the colour had changed, and not because the memories had faded.
But because Baekhyun no longer had to face it all alone.
☆