Chapter Text
"Fuck."
Was the first word Sion uttered that morning.
Not because he was angry. Not because something terrible had happened. He was simply frustrated.
The pathway that was usually spacious enough for people to walk through without much trouble was unusually crowded today. Somehow groups of people moved in every direction, forcing him to slow down every few steps.
Under normal circumstances, he probably wouldn't have minded.
Today, however, was not a normal circumstance. Because he was late. Very late, even.
"Riku's gonna kill me, isn't he?"
Sion let out a groan as he checked the time for what felt like the tenth time in the past five minutes. The sight of the numbers only made him regret his life choices even more.
More specifically, one particular life choice: turning off his alarm.
In his defense, he had been half asleep. The bed had been warm. The blanket had been comfortable. And five more minutes of sleep had sounded completely reasonable at the time.
Unfortunately, those five minutes somehow turned into fifty.
Which was exactly why he was currently rushing down the street instead of comfortably sitting at his couch with a cup of coffee in hand, enjoying his weekend to the fullest.
Mentally, Sion was already preparing himself for whatever nags Riku would inevitably give him later.
Maybe accompanied by dramatic sighs.
Definitely accompanied by dramatic sighs.
As he approached the bus stop, Sion was already calculating how much later he would be if he missed the next bus. His steps quickened slightly, hoping he might still make it.
Then his eyes caught something across the street.
A flower shop.
The sight made him slow down instinctively.
Nestled between two larger buildings sat a storefront he didn't remember seeing before. Large windows displayed colorful arrangements of flowers, while potted plants decorated the entrance in a way that made the entire shop look warm and inviting.
Sion frowned slightly.
Must be new.
At least, he assumed it was.
He passed through this area almost every day on his way to work, yet he couldn't remember seeing it before.
Then again, that realization wasn't exactly reliable.
Most mornings, he spent the bus ride catching up on sleep rather than paying attention to his surroundings. After all, he still had eight hours of staring at spreadsheets and computer screens waiting for him once he reached the office.
There was a very real possibility that the shop had been there for weeks. Maybe even months. And Sion had simply never noticed.
His gaze lingered on the storefront a little longer. Then an idea suddenly popped into his head.
Instead of heading toward the bus stop, Sion turned his attention toward the traffic light.
Maybe, if he brought Riku flowers, the man wouldn't be quite as furious about him arriving late.
The moment the traffic light turned red, Sion quickly crossed the street and headed straight for the flower shop.
A small bell chimed above the door as he stepped inside.
The shop wasn't particularly large, but it wasn't cramped either. The space felt comfortable, with rows of flowers neatly displayed throughout the store. Fresh blooms filled every corner, adding splashes of color that immediately brightened the room. The faint scent of flowers also lingered in the air.
It was pleasant. Calming, even.
Unfortunately, he quickly ran into another problem. He knew absolutely nothing about flowers. Roses, tulips, lilies, hydrangeas. To Sion, they were all just flowers. Pretty flowers, certainly. But beyond that, he had no idea what he was looking at.
After spending a moment awkwardly staring at several bouquets as if the answers might magically reveal themselves, Sion eventually decided to seek professional help.
Near the side of the shop, someone was busy arranging a bouquet. The florist had his back turned toward him, completely focused on his work.
Relieved to have found someone who actually knew what they were doing, Sion approached.
"Excuse me?" His voice was polite enough not to startle the other man.
The florist paused his work. Then quickly turned around.
And instantly, Sion's entire world stopped.
For one brief, ridiculous moment, everything else seemed to disappear.
Because standing in front of him was, without question, the most beautiful person Sion had ever seen.
Call him dramatic if you wanted, but the moment the florist turned around and offered him a polite smile, Sion genuinely forgot how to breathe.
It wasn't just that the man was attractive. It was the kind of beauty that caught people off guard.
The kind that made someone stop in the middle of a thought and completely lose track of what they were supposed to be doing.
For a few seconds, Sion could only stand there and stare.
The florist had soft pink hair that should have looked eccentric, or at the very least unusual. Yet somehow, it suited him perfectly. Instead of drawing attention away from his features, the color only made him look softer, almost dreamlike beneath the warm lighting of the flower shop.
His face was small and delicate, with features that seemed carefully sculpted into place. What captured Sion's attention the most, however, were his eyes.
They were beautiful.
Sharp enough to remind him of a cat, yet softened by a warmth that appeared the moment he smiled.
It was the sort of face people would remember long after a single meeting.
Then Sion noticed the scar.
A small one. Subtle enough that most people probably wouldn't pay much attention to it.
Yet somehow, it only made the florist more captivating. Rather than taking away from his appearance, the scar added a unique charm that made him feel real amidst all that impossible prettiness.
By that point, Sion had completely forgotten why he had entered the shop in the first place.
Flowers? What flowers? Riku? Who's Riku?
None of those things seemed particularly important anymore.
Because standing in front of him was quite possibly the prettiest person Sion had ever seen in his life.
"Yes?"
The florist's voice immediately pulled Sion back to reality.
He blinked once. Then twice. Because he genuinely had no idea what was happening.
"Sorry, what?" he asked, still trying to recover from whatever embarrassing situation he had apparently created for himself.
The florist tilted his head slightly and frowned in confusion. It was such a simple gesture, yet Sion somehow found himself staring again.
The slight furrow between the man's brows, the way his expression shifted as he tried to understand what Sion meant—it was unfairly adorable. Sion had to physically stop himself from doing something incredibly stupid, like reaching out and squeezing those soft-looking cheeks.
Thankfully, common sense won. (Though, barely)
"You just said pretty," the florist explained.
Then, as if suddenly realizing what Sion was referring to, his expression brightened.
"Oh," a smile appeared on his face. "Lilies are indeed pretty!" As he spoke, he lifted a bundle of lilies he had been holding against his side.
The flowers were beautiful, yes. White petals, elegant stems, carefully cared for and arranged.
Objectively speaking, they were very pretty.
Unfortunately, they weren't what Sion had been looking at.
The realization then hit him like a truck. Because apparently, he hadn't just thought the word pretty. He had actually said it out loud to someone who is practically a stranger.
Sion immediately felt the overwhelming urge to lie down on the shop floor and let the earth reclaim him.
Meanwhile, a completely different part of his brain was busy protesting.
Because if they were being honest, the lilies had absolutely nothing on the florist standing in front of him.
The florist was far prettier. Prettier than the lilies. Prettier than every flower currently displayed in the shop. Possibly prettier than every flower in existence.
Of course, Sion was not insane enough to actually say any of that out loud.
Because there was a very high chance he would be kicked out immediately. Possibly banned from the shop. Potentially arrested for being a creep. And considering this was their first meeting, none of those outcomes seemed particularly ideal.
So instead of arguing, Sion forced himself to nod awkwardly.
"Yes," he said. "Sure."
His dignity continued to crumble.
"Lily," another nod. "Pretty."
The florist smiled, seemingly satisfied with that answer.
Meanwhile, Sion silently accepted the misunderstanding and prayed he wouldn't accidentally make an even bigger fool of himself before leaving the shop.
"So, you want to buy them?"
The florist's voice pulled Sion out of his thoughts once again.
For someone who had spent the last few minutes making a fool out of himself, Sion was beginning to realize that being around this man was surprisingly dangerous. Every time he looked at him for longer than a second, his brain seemed to stop functioning properly.
"Oh, no!"
Sion watched as the florist blinked in mild surprise, causing him to realize just how eager he had sounded. Clearing his throat, he tried to recover whatever dignity he still had left.
"No lilies," he corrected, shaking his head. "I mean, they're pretty, but they're not what I came for."
The florist glanced down at the flowers in his arms before nodding in understanding. Fortunately, he didn't seem to think much of Sion's awkwardness.
"Then do you want something else?"
Unfortunately, Sion's brain immediately supplied an answer that absolutely could not be said out loud.
You.
The word appeared so quickly that it nearly escaped before common sense tackled it to the ground.
Thankfully, years of functioning as a normal member of society prevailed.
Instead, Sion awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck and forced himself to focus on the actual reason he had entered the shop.
"I, uh..." He paused, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed by how clueless he was. "I want to buy something for my friend, but I don't really know what kind of flowers I should get."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the florist hummed softly.
Cute, Sion thought but he immediately ordered himself to focus.
"Is this a special friend?"
"No!" The answer exploded out of him before he could stop it. Sion nearly choked at his own reaction too.
The florist visibly blinked at the volume.
Meanwhile, Sion wanted to slam his head into the nearest wall. Why had he reacted like that? Now he definitely looked weird.
"No," he repeated quickly, this time lowering his voice to a normal level. "Not like that."
For some reason, the idea of this florist thinking he already had someone bothered him more than it should have.
Which was ridiculous because they were complete strangers. Sion didn't even know the man's name. Yet he still found himself wanting to clarify the misunderstanding as quickly as possible.
"My friend has an engagement party today," he explained. "I wanted to buy flowers to congratulate him."
Understanding immediately crossed the florist's face. The confusion disappeared, replaced by a smile so warm that Sion momentarily forgot he was late for work.
"Oh," the florist nodded.
"Should I arrange the flowers that will suitable for the occasion, then?" He said right after that.
Sion released a breath he hadn't realize he was holding and nodded, "Yes, please."
The florist carefully set the lilies aside before turning his full attention toward Sion. With nobody else inside the shop, the sudden focus made Sion oddly aware of himself.
"Congratulatory flowers are pretty easy," the florist said while wiping his hands on his apron. "You don't have to think too deeply about them. The important thing is choosing something bright and cheerful."
As he spoke, he moved toward one of the displays and began pointing out different arrangements. Sion tried his best to pay attention, he really did.
The problem was that every time the florist smiled while explaining something, Sion immediately forgot everything that had been said.
The flowers became a blur, and the explanations somehow became background noise.
At some point, the florist picked up a bouquet and started describing why certain flowers worked well for celebrations especially celebrations for something romantic like anniversaries, engagement, and marriage, but Sion's attention had already drifted elsewhere.
Specifically, to the way the morning sunlight filtered through the shop window and caught against the florist's pink hair.
The color looked softer under the light. He would pay thousand won to pat those fluffy hair if he could.
All the time, Sion just simply stood there and stare.
The florist looked completely at ease surrounded by flowers, moving through the shop with the familiarity of someone who truly loved what he did. Even the way he spoke about flowers carried a soft affection that made it impossible not to listen.
Or in Sion's case, impossible not to stare.
Sion had entered the shop hoping to buy flowers for Riku. Now he found himself wondering if it was possible to come back tomorrow. And the day after that. And maybe every day after that too.
"Do you like this bouquet, then?"
The florist's voice pulled Sion out of whatever trance he had been trapped in for the past several minutes.
He blinked and looked down at the bouquet being held up in front of him.
At some point during the florist's explanation, the man had somehow managed to arrange an entire bouquet.
Sion genuinely had no idea when that happened.
One moment the florist had been standing beside a display, explaining the meaning behind certain flowers and which ones were suitable for congratulatory gifts. The next, he was holding a finished bouquet as if it had appeared out of thin air.
The arrangement itself was beautiful. Not rushed. Not messy. Not something that looked hastily put together for a customer who clearly knew nothing about flowers.
Every flower seemed to belong exactly where it was. The colors complemented each other perfectly, creating something bright and elegant without looking overwhelming. Sion didn't know the names of half the flowers inside it, but he knew one thing for certain.
It was pretty.
Then again, considering who made it, perhaps that wasn't surprising.
"Yes," Sion answered almost immediately. "I'll take that. Thank you."
The florist's smile widened ever so slightly at the approval.
For some reason, seeing that expression made Sion feel oddly accomplished. As though he had somehow passed a test.
While Sion reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, the florist carefully wrapped the bouquet before reaching for the card reader. The transaction itself was quick, and soon enough Sion was handing over his card.
The florist hummed softly while processing the payment, the same quiet tune he had been absentmindedly humming throughout the morning.
Sion found himself listening to it. Which was ridiculous, because it was just a random humming. Yet somehow he still liked the sound.
Once the payment went through, the florist handed the card back.
"Should I write a little card?" he asked. "What's the name?"
Without thinking, Sion answered immediately, "Sion."
The florist nodded, "Okay."
He grabbed one of the small decorative cards resting near the register and began writing something down.
Sion watched as he carefully scribbled a short message before slipping the card neatly into the bouquet.
A few moments later, the florist finally handed the bouquet over, "Here you go."
The flowers looked even prettier up close.
"Thank you," Sion said sincerely as he accepted them.
Only then did he happen to glance down at the watch on his wrist. And the moment he saw the time, his soul practically left his body.
He was very late.
Actually, he was probably beyond the point of being fashionably late and entering the territory of getting murdered by Riku.
The realization immediately snapped him back into reality. Sion adjusted his grip on the bouquet before offering the florist one last smile.
"Thank you again."
The florist smiled back.
"You're welcome!" Then he lifted his hand and gave Sion a small wave.
"Tell Sion I hope he's happy with the bouquet!" he called out cheerfully. "And congratulations!"
Sion frowned slightly. The words didn't fully register. Not with the bus suddenly pulling up across the street. Not with panic flooding his system after seeing the time.
There was genuinely no time to think because he needed to catch the bus.
So after returning the wave, Sion hurried out of the shop and practically ran across the street.
Somehow, he managed to board the bus just before the doors closed.
Breathless, he dropped into the nearest empty seat and hugged the bouquet to his chest while trying to recover.
For a few moments, all he focused on was catching his breath.
Then the florist's words finally replayed inside his head.
"Tell Sion I hope he's happy with the bouquet."
And then, everything clicked into place.
The florist hadn't been asking for his name. He had been asking for Riku's name, the name of the friend receiving the flowers.
Which meant, Sion had confidently answered with his own name.
Which meant, the florist now believed the friend getting engaged was named Sion.
Sion let out a groan and immediately buried his face in one hand, "Fucking hell, Oh Sion."
"Hyung, you made it!"
The moment Sion stepped into the event area, he heard a familiar voice calling out to him.
Turning his head, he was immediately greeted by Daeyoung, who was making his way through the crowd toward him. There was obvious surprise written all over his face, and honestly, Sion couldn't even blame him for it.
He was late. Not just a few minutes late but late as in already missed the main event.
By the time he arrived, the engagement ceremony was long over, and most of the guests had already settled into enjoying the party. Considering how late he was, Sion was fairly certain everyone had assumed he wasn't going to make it at all.
Guilt immediately settled in his chest.
"I'm really sorry, Daeyoung, I—"
"Ohh, so you decided to show up, huh?"
The familiar voice cut through his apology before he could finish.
Sion froze. And slowly, he turned toward the source of the voice.
And there he was, the final boss, Riku.
If Daeyoung was pleasantly surprised to see him, then Riku looked like he was deciding whether to accept Sion's presence or kick him out of his own engagement party. Which, honestly, would have been fair.
This wasn't just any event. It was Riku and Daeyoung's engagement party.
And as Riku's best friend, Sion should have been there from the beginning. He should have been present for the ceremony, helping with preparations, taking pictures, and celebrating alongside them.
Instead, he had managed to miss nearly half of the event because he couldn't wake up on time.
Looking at the couple standing in front of him, Sion felt another wave of guilt wash over him.
Without hesitation, he lowered himself into an apologetic bow.
"I truly am sorry for missing the main event," he said sincerely.
When he straightened again, he quickly held out the bouquet he had been carrying ever since leaving the flower shop.
"I know this might feel like a bribe, but trust me, it isn't," he continued. "Please take it."
For a moment, Riku simply stared at him. Then his gaze shifted toward the bouquet. The sulky expression on his face softened ever so slightly. Though, not completely.
He was still pouting. Still very much annoyed. But at least he looked less likely to murder Sion on the spot.
With a dramatic sigh, Riku finally accepted the bouquet and Sion felt immediate relief.
"Congratulations on your engagement," he said, this time with a genuine smile. "I'm really happy for both of you."
Riku snorted as though he was trying very hard not to be affected by the heartfelt sentiment.
Still, after a brief pause, he muttered a quiet, "Thank you."
Beside him, Daeyoung's reaction was much easier to read. The younger man smiled brightly while looking between Sion and the bouquet.
"Thank you, hyung!" he said enthusiastically. "Please enjoy the party!"
His happiness was so genuine that Sion couldn't help smiling back.
Unfortunately, Riku wasn't quite finished with him yet.
"We'll talk about why you're late later."
The words were spoken casually. Yet somehow they sounded more like a threat than anything else. Sion immediately felt his soul leave his body.
Riku glanced down at the bouquet again before clicking his tongue.
"The bouquet's pretty, though," he admitted reluctantly. "I'll give you that."
The compliment felt less directed at Sion and more at whoever had arranged it.
Which was fair.
Sion had absolutely nothing to do with making it look that good.
Before he could say anything else, Riku had already started walking away, Daeyoung following close beside him as they moved to greet another group of guests.
Left standing alone near the entrance, Sion let out a long breath he hadn't realized he had been holding.
At least the bouquet had worked.
His gaze wandered across the garden as he took in the surroundings.
The engagement party wasn't particularly large. Unlike the extravagant celebrations he had seen online, this one felt intimate and personal. The space was filled with familiar laughter, scattered conversations, and small groups of people enjoying the afternoon together. Most of the guests appeared to be relatives, close friends, and people who had been part of Riku and Daeyoung's lives for years.
Sion slowly scanned the crowd, looking for someone he knew.
After a few moments, his eyes landed on a familiar figure standing near one of the dessert tables.
Without hesitation, he made his way over.
"Wonbin."
At the sound of his name, Wonbin looked up from whatever had been occupying his attention. Namely, a cupcake.
Upon spotting Sion, he immediately lifted a hand in greeting.
"Hey, you made it!"
There was amusement in his voice as he looked Sion up and down.
"You're missing the main event, though."
Sion groaned. Trust Wonbin to remind him immediately.
But it seems like there was a bigger news than him being late, because Wonbin looked far too entertained as he continued.
"You should've seen it, Daeyoung was so nervous that the ring literally slipped out of his hand. We spent fifteen minutes searching for it before someone finally found it under the dessert table," Wonbin paused dramatically before adding, "It was hilarious."
A grin instantly spread across Sion's face.
The image appeared so clearly in his mind that he could practically see it happening.
A panicked Daeyoung. A horrified Riku. A group of guests crawling around looking for a missing engagement ring. It sounded exactly like the kind of disaster Daeyoung would accidentally create.
A laugh then escaped him before he could stop it, "Wish I could've seen that in person."
Wonbin nodded in agreement before taking another bite of his cupcake.Honestly, he seemed far more invested in the dessert than the conversation.
After chewing for a moment, he glanced back at Sion.
"But seriously," he said, "Why are you so late?"
Then he added with a snort, "Weren't you afraid Riku was going to kill you?"
Sion huffed, "I missed my alarm."
Wonbin stared at him for a moment. Eventually, he simply nodded. Apparently satisfied with the explanation. Or perhaps he had decided the cupcake deserved more of his attention.
Sion suspected it was the latter, though.
A comfortable silence settled between them for a moment while Wonbin continued eating.
Then the younger man suddenly looked down at the half-finished cupcake in his hand and sighed dramatically.
"Man, this cupcake is amazing."
There it was. Just as he expected.
Sion fought back a laugh while Wonbin took another bite before continuing.
"Sometimes I forget that Riku's a baker."
There was genuine admiration in his voice now.
Sion glanced toward the dessert table where various pastries, cakes, and sweets had been arranged for the guests.
Considering how quickly people were emptying the trays, it was safe to assume everything tasted just as good as it looked.
"I don't know how you keep forgetting that," Sion said. "The man literally won't stop talking about bread."
That earned a laugh from Wonbin.
"Fair point."
For a while, silence settled comfortably between them again.
Wonbin continued working on his cupcake with impressive dedication while Sion simply stood beside him, enjoying the atmosphere of the party.
The afternoon breeze was pleasant, carrying the sounds of laughter and conversation from every corner of the park. Somewhere nearby, someone was taking pictures of the newly engaged couple. It was nice.
Despite arriving embarrassingly late, Sion found himself relaxing little by little.
His gaze wandered around the venue, taking in the decorations he hadn't had the chance to appreciate earlier. The entire garden had been transformed for the occasion. White veils draped elegantly between arches and trees, ribbons fluttered gently whenever the wind passed by, and fresh flowers had been arranged throughout the venue.
The decorations were simple, but beautiful.
Then his eyes landed on one of the bouquets decorating a nearby table.
Sion studied it for a moment and came to a conclusion that it was decent. Whoever made it clearly knew what they were doing.
Still, his thoughts immediately drifted elsewhere. Back to a certain flower shop. Back to a certain florist.
And suddenly, the bouquet in front of him didn't seem nearly as impressive.
The arrangements he had seen earlier were much prettier.
The bouquets in that shop had looked more vibrant somehow. More alive.
Or maybe that was just because they had been made by someone whose face kept refusing to leave Sion's mind.
Honestly, Riku should've just ordered flowers from that florist.
The thought appeared so naturally that Sion almost laughed at himself.
Unfortunately, it also reminded him of everything that had happened earlier.
The fact that he had somehow managed to make a fool of himself multiple times within a single visit. The more he thought about it, the more mortified he became.
The florist probably thought he was weird.
Actually, scratch that.
The florist definitely thought he was weird.
And after all that embarrassment, Sion hadn't even managed to ask for the man's name.
A deep sigh escaped him.
Immediately, Wonbin looked up from his cupcake, "What's wrong?"
Sion sighed again. Part of him wanted to keep the whole thing to himself.
The other part knew that if he didn't tell someone, he was probably going to spend the rest of the party thinking about pink hair and cat-like eyes.
Wonbin was already staring at him curiously anyway. So after a moment of consideration, Sion decided to settle for a question.
"Have you ever seen a man so pretty that you unconsciously make a fool of yourself in front of him?"
The question hung in the air for a second.
Wonbin blinked. Then a grin slowly spread across his face. He tilted his head slightly before answering with complete confidence.
"That's what people usually do when they see me."
Sion immediately kicked him just enough to make his friend stumble dramatically. And Wonbin immediately burst out laughing.
"Violence!" he complained between laughs.
Sion rolled his eyes, "You deserved that."
The fact that Wonbin admitted it so easily somehow made it even more annoying.
Still laughing, the man raised both hands in surrender.
"Sorry, sorry." The apology was completely insincere. Both of them knew it.
But after a moment, Wonbin's expression shifted into something more curious. His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Sion's face.
Then he asked the question Sion had been expecting.
"But why?" A knowing smile appeared on his lips, "Did you meet someone?"
For a moment, Sion simply nodded.
Wonbin's eyes lit up with interest so quickly that Sion almost regretted answering at all. The man straightened from where he had been leaning against the table, his attention now fully shifted away from the cupcake in his hand.
"Oh, fun!" Wonbin exclaimed, sounding far too excited for Sion's liking. "Who is he?"
Hearing the question only made Sion sigh again.
At this point, he felt like he had been sighing nonstop ever since he left the flower shop.
The situation was ridiculous when he actually thought about it. He had spent a good amount of time talking to the florist, had managed to embarrass himself multiple times in front of him, and somehow walked away knowing absolutely nothing important about the man.
"That's exactly the problem," Sion admitted, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "I don't even know his name."
Ever since Riku's engagement party, Sion found himself thinking about a certain pink-haired florist far more often than he should.
It started innocently enough.
A passing thought while commuting to work. A brief memory whenever he spot a flower.
But as the days passed, the thoughts only became more frequent.
Sion wanted to see him again. At the very least, he wanted to learn the man's name. The problem was that he had absolutely no reason to return.
Every night before going to bed, he would convince himself that he should just visit the shop again. He could buy another bouquet, maybe a small arrangement, or literally any flower available in the store. It didn't matter what it was. The flowers would simply be an excuse to talk to the florist again.
The plan always sounded reasonable at night.
Then morning came.
And suddenly the entire thing felt ridiculous. What exactly was he supposed to do with a bunch of flowers? His apartment wasn't a botanical garden. And what if the florist misunderstood? What if he saw Sion buying flowers every few days and assumed he had a partner?
The thought alone bothered him far more than it should. As a result, Sion continued doing absolutely nothing.
Which was precisely why he currently found himself sitting in his office chair, frustratedly dragging both hands through his hair.
His work for the day was already finished. Every report had been submitted, every email had been answered, and every task on his schedule had been crossed off. All that remained was waiting for the end of his work hours so he could finally go home.
Unfortunately, having nothing to do only gave him more opportunities to think.
And lately, all his thoughts seemed to lead back to the same person.
"...and I don't feel good because he always buys me something whenever we go on dates. Should I buy something for him in return too?"
Sion's attention shifted toward the conversation happening nearby.
A few desks away, Wonbin was talking to Daeyoung.
The two of them seemed deeply invested in whatever discussion they were having, while Sion shamelessly listened in despite not being invited into the conversation.
"I think he does that because he wants to," Daeyoung replied thoughtfully. "But if you want to return the favor, I think he'd definitely be happy about whatever you're going to give."
Sion found himself nodding along. Honestly, Daeyoung's advice made perfect sense. The younger man had always been surprisingly wise whenever it came to relationships. Maybe that's why he can get Riku to engaged with him only a year after Sion introduced them both.
For a moment, Sion simply listened while staring at his monitor.
Then suddenly, an idea appeared. A very simple and convenient idea. And perhaps most importantly, an idea that finally gave him a legitimate reason to visit a certain flower shop.
Before he could stop himself, Sion turned toward them.
"What about flowers?" The question came out so naturally that neither of them had time to react.
Only after speaking did Sion realize he had just inserted himself into a conversation he wasn't even part of. A conversation he had been openly eavesdropping on the entire time.
But at this point, shame be damned.
Sion needed a reason to go back to the flower shop, and this was the first reasonable excuse that had presented itself since the engagement party.
Fortunately, Daeyoung seemed to like the idea immediately. His face visibly brightened as he looked at Sion.
"That actually sounds good!" he said enthusiastically. "Who doesn't like flowers?"
Sion nodded along a little too eagerly.
Exactly.
That was what he had been thinking.
Flowers were a perfectly normal gift. Nobody would question someone buying flowers as a present. More importantly, nobody could accuse him of making up excuses if he was technically helping Wonbin.
It was a flawless plan.
Unfortunately, Wonbin had known him for far too long. The moment their eyes met, Sion saw Wonbin narrow his gaze suspiciously. And just like that, he knew he had been caught.
"Let me guess," Wonbin said slowly.
Sion already didn't like that tone.
"I should buy the flowers from the shop where this pretty florist works?"
The accusation landed perfectly. But Sion didn't even bother pretending to be innocent. Instead, he simply shrugged.
"Only if you're desperate enough to please your boyfriend."
A second later, something hit his forehead.
"Hey!" Sion immediately raised a hand to rub the spot while laughing.
Across from him, Wonbin looked ready to commit a crime.
"That's indeed your plan in the first place, you annoying bun!" Wonbin shrieked.
The nickname only made Sion laugh harder.
At this point, there was no point denying anything. Yes, he wanted to return to the flower shop. Yes, he wanted to see the florist again. And yes, he was absolutely willing to use Wonbin's relationship as an excuse to do so. If anything, Sion think Wonbin should be honored.
Meanwhile, Daeyoung looked between them with obvious amusement before suddenly speaking up.
"Is this the flower shop where you got our bouquet from, hyung?"
Sion's laughter immediately weakened. A bad feeling settled in his stomach.
"The one with the card that had your own name instead of mine and Riku hyung's?"
The office fell silent for half a second, then it was Wonbin's turn to explode into laughter. The kind that made him lean forward and hold onto the edge of his desk.
Sion immediately groaned after getting his instant karma.
Of course they had to bring that up again.
Ever since the engagement party, he hadn't heard the end of it.
The moment Riku discovered the card attached to the bouquet, the younger man had made an entire scene about it. For days afterward, he kept annoyingly asking why Sion had apparently bought himself congratulatory flowers when it was him and Daeyoung who got engaged. Then the others joined in. Before Sion knew it, the story had become the source of endless inside jokes within their circle.
For an entire week, he had suffered.
And apparently he was still suffering.
"Hey!" Sion protested. "I already told you the reason!"
That only encouraged them. Wonbin was still laughing. Daeyoung looked like he was trying—and failing—to hold back a smile.
"Still, though," Daeyoung said, grinning openly now, "You have to admit it was funny."
Sion let out an exaggerated groan.
In the end, Wonbin agreed to go with him.
Not because he was particularly interested in flowers, but because he clearly found Sion's situation entertaining enough to witness firsthand.
And so, after work, the two of them found themselves standing in front of the flower shop.
The very same flower shop that had been occupying Sion's thoughts for days.
Suddenly, all the confidence he had built up throughout the afternoon disappeared.
His heart began beating faster the moment his eyes landed on the familiar storefront. It was ridiculous, honestly. He wasn't about to confess his feelings. He wasn't even going on a date.
He was just entering a flower shop. Yet somehow, his chest felt tight with anticipation. Taking a deep breath, Sion tried to calm himself down.
Beside him, Wonbin looked thoroughly unimpressed. After watching Sion stand there for several seconds doing absolutely nothing, the man rolled his eyes dramatically.
Without waiting any longer, Wonbin reached for the door and pushed it open himself.
The bell above the entrance chimed softly.
Sion immediately jolted.
"Hey—" Before he could stop him, Wonbin had already walked inside.
Left with no other choice, Sion quickly followed after him. And the familiar scent of flowers greeted him the moment he stepped into the shop.
Meanwhile, Wonbin had already wandered off to browse the displays, seemingly more interested in completing his mission than waiting for Sion to gather himself.
Sion, however, barely paid attention to any of the flowers.
Instead, his eyes immediately began searching the shop. And hopefully looking for a certain pink-haired florist.
His gaze swept across the bouquets near the entrance. Then the arrangements displayed along the walls. Then toward the counter.
Only to find no one.
Or rather, not the person he was looking for.
Standing behind the counter was a florist he had never seen before. A much younger florist. Definitely not the pink-haired man he remembered.
Before he could stop himself, Sion frowned. Disappointment settled in his chest almost immediately.
Had he come on the wrong day?
Was the florist off work?
Did he quit?
The questions began piling up one after another before Sion could even process what was happening.
While he was still trying to make sense of the situation, Wonbin had apparently already chosen something.
Sion looked up just in time to see his friend walking back toward him with a bouquet in hand.
Wonbin leaned slightly closer before lowering his voice.
"That's the pretty florist?" There was obvious skepticism in his tone.
Sion blinked.
"I didn't know your type was a.. kid?" Now there was unmistakable judgment in Wonbin's voice.
Which made Sion didn't even hesitate to kicked Wonbin's leg.
"No," Sion hissed. "It's a different florist! I don't see my pretty florist now!"
Wonbin rubbed his shin dramatically while Sion shocked with his own words.
My pretty florist? He internally screamed.
The thought of it sure made his chest fluttered, but he had to remind himself to be normal, or else everyone's gonna think he's a weirdo, or worse, a creep.
Thankfully, Wonbin seemed to be busy rubbing his legs to focus on what Sion just said.
"Well then, of course we have to ask," Wonbin said lightly after that, before casually making his way toward the counter.
The moment those words left his mouth, Sion felt a wave of panic wash over him. He knew exactly what Wonbin was about to do, and unfortunately, he also knew there was absolutely no stopping him once he had made up his mind.
Before Sion could even grab his sleeve or come up with an excuse to distract him, Wonbin had already reached the counter and caught the florist's attention.
"Hello! Do you need something else?" the florist greeted politely, looking up from the bouquet he had been working on.
Wonbin immediately put on a friendly smile and shook his head. "That'd be all," he replied.
While the florist focused on putting a ribbon around the bouquet, Sion quickly shot Wonbin a warning look from behind. A very clear one. The kind that should have conveyed, Don't you dare say anything.
Unfortunately, Wonbin had never been the type of person to listen to those kinds of warnings.
The next thing Sion knew, Wonbin was already leaning slightly against the counter.
"You know," he began casually, "My friend here came by about a week ago. He bought a really pretty bouquet made by another florist, but I don't think I see him today. Is he off?"
The florist paused for a moment.
His eyes moved from Wonbin to Sion, as if trying to connect the dots, and Sion immediately wished the floor would just open up and swallow him whole because this situation he was in is embarrassing. Humiliating, even.
He could practically feel the heat creeping up the back of his neck as he stood there awkwardly, unable to do anything except hope the florist wouldn't think they were complete weirdos.
Thankfully, the florist didn't seem bothered at all.
Instead, understanding flashed across his face and he smiled.
"Must be Ushi hyung, then!"
The name immediately caught Sion's attention.
Ushi.
So that was his name.
Before he could think too much about it, the florist continued while placing the card reader on the counter, "He's not feeling well today, so he took a day off."
"He's sick?" The question came out far too quickly, far too concerned, and far too obvious to his liking.
The moment he heard himself speak, Sion wanted to slam his head against the nearest wall. Beside him, Wonbin immediately let out a laugh without sound. Sion could practically feel the amusement radiating off him.
Embarrassed, Sion hurriedly tried to explain himself.
"I mean..." he started awkwardly, suddenly forgetting how conversations worked. "I was wondering because he's really good at arranging flowers, and I wanted him to make one for my friend too. Not that I don't want to buy one that you made yourself, I just—"
Halfway through his explanation, Sion completely lost track of what he was trying to say.
The words kept coming out, but none of them sounded right. In fact, the more he talked, the worse it seemed to get.
Fuck, what am I even saying? he thought in horror.
Beside him, Wonbin finally gave up trying to hide his laughter. A moment later, even the florist started laughing.
Fortunately, it didn't sound mocking. If anything, he looked genuinely amused by Sion's rambling.
"I get it, I get it," the florist said with a grin, clearly taking pity on him.
He tapped Wonbin's card against the reader before handing it back and gestured toward the flowers around the shop.
"Don't worry, though. All the flowers here were arranged by Ushi hyung," he explained. "I was just helping him a little!"
"And you've certainly done well in helping! Thank you, uhm—"
The younger florist immediately supplied the answer before Wonbin could finish the question, "Ryo."
"Thank you, Ryo!" Wonbin said with a bright smile, as if the three of them were old friends rather than customers who had spent the last few minutes embarrassing themselves at the counter. "My name is Wonbin, by the way. My friend here is Sion."
He didn't know whether to be grateful that Wonbin was being polite or horrified that he was now introducing him by name after all of that.
Unfortunately, Wonbin wasn't done.
"And we hope Ushi feels better soon!"
Ryo's expression softened immediately.
"Thank you!" he said, looking genuinely appreciative. "I'll tell him if he comes by tomorrow."
After offering Ryo a polite bow, both Wonbin and Sion finally left the flower shop.
The bell above the door chimed softly as they stepped outside, and the familiar sounds of the street immediately greeted them again. People walked past without paying them much attention, cars moved steadily along the road, and life continued as usual.
Meanwhile, Sion was still processing everything that had just happened.
At the very least, he now knew the florist's name. And he also knew why he wasn't at the shop today. That should have been enough.
Unfortunately, before Sion could properly enjoy that small victory, Wonbin opened his mouth.
"See?" he said almost immediately. "That wasn't so hard to ask, was it?"
Sion let out a sigh the moment he heard that tone. Wonbin, meanwhile, looked entirely too pleased with himself.
"Now you know his name and why he isn't here."
Sion rolled his eyes but didn't bother arguing. Because annoyingly enough, Wonbin was right.
If he had gathered his courage earlier, he probably would've learned Ushi's name a week ago instead of spending days thinking about a florist he couldn't stop remembering.
The realization only made him sigh again.
Beside him, Wonbin grinned.
"Now that Ryo said he might be here tomorrow," he continued, looking far too entertained by the situation, "Why don't you spend tonight gathering your courage while I go kiss my man?"
The smugness in his voice was unbearable. Sion immediately lifted a foot, fully intending to kick him.
Unfortunately, Wonbin saw it coming. The younger man laughed loudly before jumping away. By the time Sion's foot landed back on the ground, Wonbin was already jogging backward down the sidewalk.
"Bye, Sion! And good luck for tomorrow!"
His laughter echoed through the street. Sion could only stare at him in disbelief as his best friend continued retreating farther and farther away.