A.N—I don't own plz don't sue!

Cyclamens

Earlier chapter

"No way, no-uh". He pulled a few bills from his wallet.

"Please", Akane resolutely refused. "I was going to... throw them anyway".

"Can I know what the hell is going on here?" Inpatient feminine voice cut through the talk. "I started to think something happened to you". The beauty of this woman was breath taking, and Akane remembered immediately her sister's words: money stick to money and beauty stick to beauty. Her chestnut hair was pulled back and on her neck was a thin diamond necklace. Akane didn't miss the wedding ring that was on one of her well cared fingers.

Now continuing

"I'm coming", the man said shortly. He took the Cyclamens from Akane and gave them to the woman. "Here!"

The woman looked on the flowers with a traumatized look. "Is this the best you could find?"

"You wanted flowers did you or did you not?" he asked in a weary voice.

"That's what you call flowers! Don't you have eyes? Can't you see they're about to wither?"

"That's not true", Akane protested.

The woman dropped the Cyclamens on the counter and looked quickly around her. Her gaze fell on a high stand. "Those!" she ordered. "I want those!"

Akane and the man turned their look to the fair rose.

"A bouquet of ten", she ordered, "with no plants. And do me a favor, as fast as you can. Visitors should be arriving soon and we wasted enough time as it is".

Akane struggled in her mind. She doesn't need to serve her, she thought quickly. She doesn't need to tolerant her insulting and snooty tone. But then he addressed her, and she changed her mind. "I'm really sorry". Even though is face muscles didn't move, Akane noticed his anger. "I think we'll skip the flowers", he held his wife arm and started to lead her to the exit, and she, in spite of her apparent displeasure, followed.

"Wait", Akane called after them. "There's no problem... I'll make you a bouquet". She swallowed hard. "I don't mind".

"I told you so", the woman said defiantly. "You make a big deal out of nothing".

He sighed. "Maybe you should wait for me in the car?" he suggested.

To Akane delight the women accepted his offer.

Akane arranged the white roses and wrapped it skillfully. "You'll have to pay for them", she said.

"But of course".

"It's hundred and fifty dollars please".

He handed her a bill of two hundred. "The change is for you".

She started. "There's no need, really..."

"There is", he said, and the same softness she noticed earlier reached again to his tone. He was nearly at the door when he turned around again. "What will you do with the Cyclamens?" he smiled. "I can't believe you were going to throw them a way".

"I'll give them to Mrs. Ono", she answered immediately.

"Mrs. Ono?"

"Yes she's a neighbor of mine. She has only one son that lives in America and come to visit only once a year. She's pretty lonely, and I sometimes come in and talk to her. It's not nice to be alone in the holiday and flowers can help relief". Then she realized she was babbling and laughed embarrassed. "Sorry. I'm holding you up".

His hand was already on the door handle but he lingered for a moment. "And I had the impression", he said slowly in a nice voice even caressing, "that I should be the one to apologize. That I was the one that hold you up". He sent her a one last smile and walked out.

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"Mrs. Ono..."

"What is it Akane?"

The holiday came in and they both set in Mrs. Ono's dinning room in front of a beautifully set table. Mrs. Ono made a lovely dinner and after they ate they sat and talked. For the occasion Mrs. Ono was dressed in her best cloths, her hair done carefully. A Cyclamens bouquet was set in a glass jar in the middle of the table.

"If you lived your life all over again, is there something you would do differently?" she asked suddenly.

Mrs. Ono thought for a long moment before she answered. "I would study more", finally she said. "Get more education. Young people don't know it yet but being unintelligent is very hard".

She's right, Akane thought when she cuddled in her bed. Before she fell asleep she made a decision. Life is too short and she's wasting it. Instead of sitting and feeling sorry for her self she should move that useless ass of hers and get a grip. She was hungry for knowledge, for culture, for art, for literature, for beauty. Even if she won't win love she can be happy, content and full of things that will come from inside of her. Things that aren't depend on anything. She decided that starting of tomorrow she'll sign up to some seminars in the university. No matter how much it'll cost her. She'll lessen her expenses, she'll talk less on the phone, walk more on foot, she'll... Eat less!

Luckily help came from an unexpected place. When she told Mikado about her decision he immediately said that anyway he was going to give her a raise and a bigger bonus then usual for her dedicative work.

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R&R!

Lili Boom