jonquil – desire for return of affections


Chapter 3: Jonquil

Tsuna woke up, determined. A week had passed since that man's confession, and he was resolved to gain some sort of explanation regarding his outlandish act. Not only did Tsuna feel insulted, but he also felt cross. For a person like him who took love seriously, it was like being stepped on again and again. Such a vile act should be frowned upon. With a huff, he did his morning routine and went off for work.

Before completely leaving his apartment building, he first dug through his mailbox, wondering if he had received any messages. After rummaging through the space, he felt a thin rectangular bulge on the surface and took it out. Tsuna flipped the envelope over and was surprised to see the sender was his mother. Gingerly, as not to completely destroy the white casing, he opened it and winced.

Mom, it's not good to send a picture of you and Dad kissing, you know, he thought, slightly scarred and feeling sorry for the person who took the photo. He noticed two pieces of paper inside. As he chanced upon the first, he figured it was his mother who wrote it. The letter contained a normal one, the normal cycle of asking how he was, was he enjoying work, and call them if there's anything wrong. Tsuna smiled. How typical for his mother to worry about him. Opening the second letter, he grimaced at the short message.

Hey there, my cute son! I recently heard there's this bastard who dumped you. Don't worry. Daddy will hunt him down and beat him up just for you. - Iemitsu

It had been more than a year since that happened. Snorting, Tsuna carefully returned both letters to the envelope and placed it inside his blue backpack, thinking of replying back once work was over.

-x-

"Good morning, Luce-san," he greeted upon opening the door. Luce was nowhere in sight, so Tsuna figured she was out in the back. On the wall behind the cash registrar hung his orange apron uniform, he passed it over his head and snugly tied it behind. The shop seemed to be in tiptop shape, mainly on account of the hardworking Luce always arriving early. Because of this, Tsuna had unceasingly attempted to help her early in the morning, but his body clock begged to differ.

Luce came out of the back door holding a hamper full of white roses, Tsuna's eyebrows furrowing as he remembered the unknown man – no – Hibari Kyouya and his foolish confession. A wide smile graced her face as her purplish eyes landed on him. "Good morning, Tsunayoshi-kun. Aria just sent us a delivery of white roses. Aren't they so pretty?" She sighed.

Tsuna beamed. "Yes, they really are." Just forget about him. He looked at the clock, if his memory served him right, Hibari entered the shop at around an hour after they opened, following the teenager who ordered the bouquet of roses, and if that man was serious about the nonsense he had uttered, he would come back, probably with more rubbish coming out of his mouth.

Fifty-five more minutes until the dreaded hour. Not that he was counting, he inwardly slapped himself. He wasn't hoping that much or was he expecting anything from that epitome of arrogance. No, he wasn't looking at the clock every five minutes, feeling apprehensive as every minute or even second passed, noticing that his arrival would be in half an hour.

He just wanted answers. No man or woman should make a fool of one's feelings. That very act repulsed him to a great degree.

"Tsunayoshi-kun!"

He whirled around, embarrassed at being caught in a daze. "Y-yes, Luce-san?" asked Tsuna feebly.

Luce placed her hands on her hips. "You've been looking at the clock non-stop. Look at the poor flowers begging to be tended."

"Hie! Sorry! I'll get to it right away!" he answered, saluting. Hurriedly, he went over the basket of buttercups when he heard the woman call his name again. "What is it, Luce-san?" he asked.

"If you look at the clock again, I'm going to let you eat it. Got it?" said Luce sweetly.

Tsuna gulped. "Got it, Luce-san."

-x-

Time seemed to fly by when Tsuna once more sneakily peeked at the clock, glancing at Luce to make sure he wouldn't be seen. The shorter hand of the timepiece had reached the number ten. The hour was up and he was nowhere to be seen. He snorted, believing that the man had merely spouted lies. On the other hand, the thought of the man arriving later hadn't escaped his mind. He didn't exactly say that he was going to come on the same time.

Whatever. He probably grew tired of this prank. Tsuna continued to check up on the flowers. They hadn't have any customers except for a couple, whom Luce attended to, ordering a bouquet for an event. He sat behind the stool beside Luce who was humming while sewing. Curious, he asked, "What are you sewing, Luce-san?"

"A sweater for Yuni, my granddaughter."

"G-g-granddaughter?" said Tsuna, stunned. "Luce-san, how old are you?"

"It's wrong to ask a woman that, Tsunayoshi-kun." The eerie smile he received from the woman sent shivers down his spine.

"R-right." The bell atop the door tinkled. "A customer. I'll tend to it," said Tsuna, eager to escape.

He didn't expect to be greeted with the face he'd been waiting for.

Tsuna bit his lower lip. "Welcome to the Sky's. How may I help you, sir?"

Hibari smirked. "I'd like an order of Sawada Tsunayoshi."

Lame! If Tsuna wasn't so annoyed at the man, he would had have laughed out loud. He swore he heard Luce giggling at the back. Feeling embarrassed, he thought, Crap. She can hear us. Better make this quick. "Regarding that, I'd like to speak with you."

The man simply raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you doing this to me?" he hissed. "The way you're acting is just—just absurd! Stop joking with me."

"Do I look like I joke, Tsunayoshi?" asked Hibari coolly.

Admittedly, Tsuna thought that this man was truly intimidating. But he wasn't ready to back off just yet. "W-well," he inwardly cursed at stuttering, "if you haven't noticed, you just joked earlier. And I don't think we're that close for you to call me by my name, dear customer," he drawled.

"About my ordering you? I was serious." He smirked again. "But we will be."

How arrogant can this man be? Tsuna mentally screamed. "No, we won't be. And if you are serious, then I have to apologise. I swore never to fall in love again." He looked down, avoiding Hibari's stare.

"Why?"

"None of your business," he retorted.

Hibari remained silent for a while. "Easy then."

"What?" asked Tsuna but was ignored. Hibari walked along the shop, glancing left and right until his eyes rested on a certain place. He walked over a basket and carefully picked up something Tsuna didn't see. His eyes widened upon finally recognising the flower. Jonquil, desire for return of affections. No, he can't be serious!

"I just have to make you fall for me," stated Hibari, grabbing Tsuna's hand and placing the flower in his palm. Without another word, he left the shop.

Lost in thought, Tsuna twirled the stem of the yellow and white flower between his index finger and thumb. Is he serious? I mean, I'll never fall in love again. He's just wasting his time.

"Tsunayoshi-kun."

Tsuna braced himself for an embarrassing remark. Curse that man for doing it right in front of someone.

"He didn't pay for the flower."

Curse that man.