“a flowering connection”
— hunlisa au by lvsksoo
The similarity of love with a flower is uncanny.
A flower starts as a seed.
It was Lisa's first day as a transferee. She wouldn't be confused about where to go if only she wasn't half asleep when the council toured their new students in their campus.
Fortunately for her, someone looks like he was running late that day.
Lisa boldly approached the student, “Excuse me, uhm, do you know where room 417 is?”
Was that weird? Lisa asked herself because the man only stared at her.
Coming back to his senses, the man finally replied “Yeah, uh, do you want me to,” He scratched his head, “Accompany you to the room? Or you'll be okay on your own?”
For an instance, his eyes widened, and shooked his head. “Wait– that sounded weird. My class is also on the 4th floor, I can, uh, go with you?”
“Only if you want to, of course!” He panicked again.
Lisa couldn't help but chuckle “Actually, that sounds better...”
Yes, that's definitely weird.
A flower that receives enough sunlight and water turns into a sprout.
“Jen, I'll go ahead.”
Her friend, Jennie, nodded, “Take care, Lis.” and waved her goodbye.
Lisa has been preparing for this moment. The dance club was finally accepting new members; she couldn't wait to audition.
Entering St. Catherine's Hall, many auditionees are evident. Perhaps, many see the dance club as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; it's the pride and soul of their school. The club is high maintenance, competing in different tournaments and bringing the crown home— the club would only choose the best.
Lisa was patienly waiting by the side of the stage for her name to be called when she felt someone sit beside her. “Audition?”
Glancing at the person beside her, it was the same man who helped her that day. “Yeah,”
“Sehun. Nice to officially meet you.”
“Lisa.”
That sprout, then, grows a stem.
“Good job team! See you next weekend.”
Lisa was busy fixing her belongings when a random water bottle appeared in front of her. Looking up, the hand's owner was wearing a smile.
“Thanks, Seh.” She said, accepting the water bottle
“See you next weekend, Lali!”
Lisa groaned at the nickname which only made Sehun laugh before leaving the room.
For the past few months, this was Lisa's typical day. The dance club was heavy on her shoulders but what's life without sacrifices?
She also became close to Sehun, the student who helped her on her first day. Sehun was a dance club member as well, not to mention, that they quite have the synergy in dancing and off-stage.
Truth to be told, they were supposed to eat together today; just like the other days. But Lisa canceled because backlogs are officially piling up.
Ding!
Lisa was picking up her phone when another notification popped up. It was a message from Sehun.
Sehun: You did great, always did :)
Sehun: Don't forget to rest, Lali.
Time pass by so fast that we barely notice the little things that holds no relevance in our life.
Remember that stem that was once a seed turned sprout? It bloomed a flower now.
Lisa doesn't remember when nor where exactly did it happen, but she vividly remembers this one morning...
It's a normal day. Nothing out of the ordinary. The club's practice was still difficult and tiring but Lisa can handle.
“Water.” As usual, Sehun handed her bottled water while Lisa was resting.
“Are bottles of water your love language?”
“Acts of service, dumb dumb.”
Lisa rolled her eyes before accepting the bottle.
Tug dug. Tug dug. Tug dug. Tug dug.
Lisa was busy practicing her moves alone when Sehun approached her again. “You nearly got it but you need to move your legs wider so the movements look bigger...”
Sehun was showing her the proper steps but Lisa wasn't paying attention at all. All because she heard that sound once again...
Tug dug. Tug dug. Tug dug. Tug dug.
Perhaps, Lisa was wrong. She clearly remembers and it's nowhere near an ordinary day.
How do you know you've fallen in love with someone? It's not like realizing it was one click away from the search bar. Google is free but unfortunately, love wasn't something wikiHow can dictate.
Did it start with Lisa noticing the small details? Like the way Sehun would unconsciously fix his cap whenever he dances? Or the way he would always carry that bitter Iced Americano every time there's practice? Or how he'll always try to cook whenever they'll have one of those samgyupsal dinners when she wasn't looking?
Or perhaps it started when Lisa realized smiling Sehun was the best version of him... and she wants to keep it that way?
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a phone ringing.
“Hey Lis, are you going to eat dinner with Sehun tonight?”
“Yep. Don't wait for me!”
Jennie scoffs after hearing her reply, “I swear both of you act like you're dating! Anyway, schedule a dinner with me sometime soon. I miss eating with you. I need to go now. Enjoy your dinner. Bye!”
“Sure, take care, Jen.”
Lisa unintentionally glanced at the dancing figure after Jennie dropped the call.
Sehun as a lover? Lisa liked the idea.
Taking care of a flower can be a handful. It requires a lot of conditions for it to properly live.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee is lingering around the small coffee shop near their university. It's a Monday, a busy day for the both of them, yet they found time to spend with each other.
“Taemin said they'll hold auditions for the competition for the dance fest,”
Sehun is holding another iced americano, she believes it's his second for this day because he was drinking another one when he fetched her this morning.
“For sure you'll get accepted, don't you think so?”
Sehun sips his coffee, “I mean, I'm not sure? Maybe?”
“The coaches adore you because you're a great dancer, Sehun.”
It was subtle but Lisa's sure she saw a smile form from the man's lips.
“They'll pick you if that's what you're worried about.”
A smile blooms in the personification of spring, the embodiment of warmth and comfort, of life and daylight. Because with Sehun, a flowering love grows.
Their conversation continued a little bit more but was put to a halt when Sehun received a notification. What once was a beautiful spring suddenly turned into a cold winter night when Sehun's face falls.
The spring, just seconds ago– so full of warmth, briefly closed his eyes, barely holding his tears in. It was like the seasons forgot summer existed, as Sehun's tears starts to fall.
Sehun hurriedly stands up and wipes the droplets of tears, “I'll be back,”
Lisa was about to ask what happened but Sehun already left, leaving her with nothing but worried thoughts.
Seconds. Minutes had passed but Sehun hasn't come back yet. It felt like forever. Deciding to check on her friend, Lisa stood up and went to the bathroom.
“Seh? You there?” Lisa softly knocked on the door.
“Wait!”
A few minutes later, Sehun finally opens the door wearing a sad smile, “Sorry, did I worry you?”
Lisa finds something odd with how pale Sehun became– her eyes traveled down to the bathroom floor.
Flowers?
Right there, Lisa felt like a bucket of ice cold water was splashed on her whole body in the middle of a winter night when she understood why.
Sehun is coughing flowers. Sehun is in love with someone else.
A flower, no matter how much it represents love, no matter how romantic they sound. Flowers.. cannot last forever.
The similarity of love with a flower is indeed uncanny.
Flowers, they blossom. They wither. While love flourishes and after some time, it dies.
(see from apollo.)