I don't own Flower Lane.
...…...
It's been half year after she rejected my second confession of love and chose someone else. I can't really blame her when all of this happened because of my fault. If only when we were together, I spent more time with her, this definitely wouldn't have happened. Chelsea and Kaira have always been people who cheer me up, and because of that, Chelsea agreed when I said to move me to another city. Since I can't work under the same roof with her and see her with other people, Not until I can forget her.
"Are you thinking about it again?" My friend's question broke my mind
"...Not"
"You're lying. How long have we known each other, Alicia? I can see when you lie and when you don't"
"She's not the only girl on the planet you know"
"I know. But she's the only girl I think can fill the empty space in my heart"
"No. She's not the only one. Someday, you'll meet the right person"
"... I don't want to hear it from someone who always changes girlfriends once a week"
"YAAAA !!! I'm trying to cheer you up now"
"Yeah..yeah..I know. It's late, I have to go back now"
"Do you have something you want to do?"
"Yes. I didn't feed my fish today. See you again"
"Fish??"
Not waiting for my friend's answer, I walked out of the restaurant. It won't be long before Christmas. I remember our first Christmas, we exchanged gifts, made cakes, went ice skating, and cuddled in our beds. I remember her smile when she opened my gift, I remember her laugh when I put the cake in her face, I remember her tears that fell when she read my Christmas card.
"Are you alright??"
"Huh?"
"You cry in this beautiful season."
I touched my face and felt the tears wet it. I didn't realize that I cried when I remembered everything about her. Immediately I wiped my tears with my hand, but she who had stopped in front of me, took my hand and gave me a handkerchief and a chocolate bar.
"Happiness always comes in the Christmas season. I'm sure it will happen to you too"
On this cold night, I felt warm hands wrap around my body. It's been a long time since I felt someone hug me so lovingly like this. Even though we didn't know each other, she still wanted to comfort me.
...
It's been a week since my meeting with that girl. I remember, when I calmed down, she released her embrace from my body. And then with a smile she left me who was still silent to process everything. Only her handkerchief is still with me.
"Chief..."
"Yes ??"
"Everyone's already in the conference room"
"Ah, right. I'm sorry. I'll be right there"
When the meeting was over, everyone decided to go out to dinner together, but I turned them down and told them I wasn't feeling well today. They nodded and told me to come with them next time which I only answered with a smile. When I decided to take a walk to clear my mind, I stopped on a road I had never traveled before. I don't really know why my feet brought me here, I just felt that I had to keep going further. And just down the street, I saw a flower shop with a "Carpe Diem" sign on its door. The bell rang as I walked into the shop. And in front of me stood the girl who gave me a handkerchief.
"Well- Oh, weren't you the girl from the days before?"
"Yes. Thank you for what you have done before"
"Are you all right now?"
"Ah ... yes ... I guess"
I don't want to make her worry about me anymore. After all, we were just two strangers who accidentally met on the street.
"What flowers do you want to buy ??"
"Can I buy the Ros -...ah..."
I thought of her again. My mind returns to remembering her favorite rose. Will you always be a shadow hovering over me every step I take?
"Miss ??"
".. sorry .. it's okay. I don't need anything. I-I'll just return your handkerchief. Thank you again for your help. I have to go now"
"What is your favorite flower, miss?" She asked when I was standing by the door.
"What??"
"Your favorite flower. Do you have one?"
"..Yes-yes. I like Plum Blossom"
"Would you like to make a flower bouquet with me?"
"Eh??"
"Come here"
"W-Wait ..."
Before I could give my reply, she took my hand and led me to the backside shop. There I saw a green house with more flowers than I saw on the front. She took me to where she grows Plum Blossom and taught me how to pick them.
"Ughk..I thought it looked so easy when I saw you making the bouquet, Vivi. But it turned out that the opposite happened when I made it"
"Hehe..but for someone who is starting out for the first time you are quite talented, Alicia"
"Am I far from finished?
"No. You're doing well. A few more touches and your bouquet will be done"
An hour has passed since she taught me how to make a flower bouquet. We talked and laughed. She told me her name and I told her my name. She asked about my job and I asked about her job. Sometimes she talked about the funny things that had happened in her life. And until I didn't realize it, little by little she managed to bring me to enjoy her story.
"I'm done. My first bouquet of plum blossoms."
"Very beautiful"
"Really??"
"Hn. You are very talented, Alicia"
"You are more talented because you taught me"
"Hehehe... thank you"
"You gave me a bouquet of flowers too. And I also remember giving you a plum blossoms as the dress code at the Flower Lane launch event half a year ago. Why is it so hard to forget you? Do you still think of me the way I always think of you?"
"Alicia, are you okay?"
"Ah ... sorry ... just remembering something"
"Something bad??"
"what makes you think that?"
"Because you look so fragile like when I met you for the first time"
"... No...Actually, I don't know." I tried hard to open my mouth, and tried to hold back all the emotions in my heart. "I don't want to say that it was a bad thing because when these things happen, my life is full of happiness. But now, I don't know what to call it. Is that good ?? Or bad ?? I can't say. I just hope this feeling in my heart can disappear "
"I'm sorry. I talked about things that are not important to you. Hahah..so, what are we going to do after this, Vivi?" jokingly, I stood up and turned my back to Vivi trying to hide my every feeling.
"Do you know the meaning of plum blossoms, Alicia?"
"...N-No. I don't"
She took my hand and made me see her. Then took my bouquet from my hand and made me sit beside her.
"In the coldest winter, the plum blossoms will bloom most beautifully and fragrant. Even though the temperature is getting colder, even though the wind is blowing hard, the plum blossoms will always survive. Then, as a time went on, the flower buds will start to appear and bloom one by one, signaling the arrival of spring. "New hope" is what the plum blossoms mean. Even though your heart is hurting now, you want to scream and cry, but remember, there is a new hope waiting for you in the future. Better than what you saw in the past. When you say that plum blossoms are your favorite flower, I think it suits you very well, Alicia. "
Wet. I felt my face wet. Since when I cried, I don't even know. Every word, every sentence, makes me unable to endure the sadness that I have kept in my heart all this time. I screamed, and cried so hard. I felt her hand hugging my body. Warm. Very warm.
"Are you sure you are okay to go home now, Alicia?"
"Yes. I have a meeting in the morning. So, I have to prepare all my documents tonight"
"I see. Then, be careful on the way home"
"Thank you"
Before I walked out of the shop, my feet stopped at the door and looked back to face Vivi. She looked at me in confusion.
"Vivi .."
"Yes ??"
"C-Can I come back to your shop another time ??"
"Of course" with a smile she answered me. "Come back whenever you like, Alicia"
"... Thank you. I'll come again. See you, Vivi"
"Yes. I'll wait"
On my way back to my apartment, I paused to look up at the sky. Maybe because of the bright moon tonight or maybe because the number of stars appeared more than before, but right now I felt like something warm had filled the void in my heart. Even though it's just a little, but I know I feel better than before.
"I hope you're always happy there, Taylor"