“HEY.”

Samantha got surprised to hear a man’s voice from her back when she didn’t hear the wind chimes. Maybe because she was so immersed arranging the funeral spray.

She got more surprised to see who it is. “Hey,” she smiled at him. Like usual, he has this wide smile on his face. “Long time no see, Mr. Byun.”

“Nah, you’re too formal. I told you to just call me, Chad,” he looks at the flower she’s arranging. “Busy?”

“Yeah, a little. But don’t worry, I can insert yours. Like usual?”

“It’s okay, finish that first,” he looks at his wristwatch. “I’ll just get back around 5 P.M.”

That’s their closing time but maybe Chad won’t come beyond the time he gives so she thinks it’s fine to say yes.

“Sure.”

The moment Chad leaves, Julia arrives with the ribbons she asked her to buy.

“He’s back! That was him, right? Did you ask him why he didn’t buy flowers for the last three weeks?”

Chad has been their loyal customer for a year. He never missed a single day but for the last three weeks, he was nowhere to be found.

“That’s already an invasion to his private life, Julia.”

“My gosh, Sam. That’s the reason why you never had a boyfriend, you don’t know how to converse. Oh right, I forgot. You actually had one but you kept it from me.”

“Are you still sulking about that?”

She didn’t tell Julia who the guy she dated. She just told her that it’s no longer important since it’s already in the past. But it seems like her friend can’t still get over it.

“I’m really curious who that guy was. I’m pretty sure I know him. Why can’t you just tell me? It’s not like- wait. Don’t tell me you have feelings for him till now? My God! It has been eight years since we graduated. Or was it after college?”

“I’m over him, Julia. I just don’t like to remember those people who have hurt me before. Period.”

Julia let out a deep breath. “Fine. If you don’t want to talk about your past, why don’t we just talk about that customer who just left? Don’t you find him cute?”

“There you go again. I told you to stop paring me with any men. And besides, for whom do you think he buys those flowers for? He obviously has a girlfriend and looks younger than us.”

“But don’t you find it weird that he always requests for you to arrange his order? And take note, he always chooses your favorite flower, roses.”

“Because that’s what I recommended him to buy. You know what, you’ve overdosed with your K-dramas. Those were just coincidences, Julia.”

“Including those times he tells me he’ll just come back when you’re around?”

“Well, maybe he likes how I arrange his bouquet more than you do.”

“Ouch. You’re hurting my feelings. Do you really think I can’t arrange that simple bouquet? Just admit it. I know you think he likes you too.”

Not really. If Chad likes her, he would have made a move. For a year, he only orders a bouquet and that‘s it, he leaves right away. He never mentioned who it was for so she chose not to ask about it too.

“HOW do I look?”

Brylle was wearing a black leather jacket and white undershirt, skinny ragged pants, and white sneakers.

Chad looks at him from head to toe. “Do you think I’d care how you look?” he said blatantly before taking a bite of chicken sandwich. “Are you sure about your plan? You know how dangerous your job is. It is going to be more painful for her if you show up and leave again.”

His brows furrows. “Who told you I’m going to leave her again?”

“Who knows, you might get killed one of these days.”

He gave Chad a strike on his nape. “Do you want to go ahead?”

“What the hell?! You almost killed me!” Chad said eyes widen while grabbing his nape. “My sight blacked-out for a moment.”

“I really did that on purpose and I’m not sorry. You still have to be thankful that I controlled myself not to kill you. How could you say that to your friend?”

“I’m just concern for her. She seems a nice person.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for her? She’s mine, Chad. Go get yourself a woman your age.”

“She’s beautiful but I don’t like her that way. I just feel bad for her. I heard her talking with Julia about the man who broke her heart. She never dated again because of that man. She can’t even tell Julia who that person was. That’s how badly she was hurt by that person who was obviously you.”

He asks Chad to bug Samantha’s shop. He knows he’s invading her personal life but that’s actually what’s keeping him sane for the past year, by knowing everything that’s happening to Sam.

Chad was still new to them when he thought of testing his skills by hacking different CCTV cameras. And by accident, he found Samantha in one of those. Since then, he’s been asking Chad to buy him flowers from Samantha’s flower shop. He got contented doing that until last three weeks ago, he almost died. That’s when he thought that he doesn’t want to die without seeing Samantha again.

“That was in the past, Chad. I’m never going to leave her this time.”

“ARE you sure he’s still coming? It’s already five,” Julia said looking anxious.

“You can go ahead. I know you still have a date.”

Julia’s face brightens. “Really? You’re really the best boss and the best friend in the world, Sam,” she kissed her on the cheek. “See you tomorrow!”

She just laughs and shakes her head. She looks back at the wall clock. It’s already 5:05 P.M. Did Chad forgot about his order? But what if something just came up and he’s already on his way? Well, she can still wait for a few more minutes. She’s got nothing important to do anyway. She decided to make herself busy while waiting for Chad. She was arranging the baskets when she heard the wind chimes.

“At last you’re-,” she stiffens and got speechless after seeing the man who came in. It was the man who suddenly disappeared in her life twelve years ago.

She can’t explain what she feels at that moment. Her heart starts beating fast. He didn’t looks surprised seeing her. How did he knew she was there?

“Are you still single?”

He was gone for so long and that’s what he’s going to ask her?

“I-I’m not,” she stutters. Of course, she wouldn’t admit she is. He might get full of himself.

“That’s good to hear that then. Let’s go?”

She doesn’t know why he asked that but she finds his reaction weird and annoying. He even have the guts to smile at her.

Her brows furrow even more. “What do you mean let’s go? Did you not hear me? I just said that I’m not single.”

“I heard you and that only means I’m still your boyfriend.”

What the heck?