the lone amaryllis plant is at an unnatural slope; cut within the stem and was neglected thanks to some idiotic newcomer who couldn’t understand what the word ‘fragile’ meant if it was shoved down his throat. it was set to be discarded until jieun took it upon herself to make it hers, knowing someone that would give it the love it deserved. it’s why the girl passes her own front door to stop at his entrance, giving the steel a repetitious knock of three that not only signaled that it was her, but also a warning that she was coming in and that hanbin better be decent instead of a request of entrance like most. she adjusts the plant within her hands to let herself in his apartment, nudging the door shut behind her with her hips. glossed lips part to call out for the owner as she walks in, only to pause once she finds him in the living room and shuffles her way towards him. “bean,” jieun starts, grabbing the pot of the flower plant with both hands before she thrusts it in his direction, “got another one, doc. you can do it, mmh?” it’s a question that’s asked though it sounds more like a command with her monotone voice – but hanbin would understand. somehow, he always did. while she waits she casts a gaze around his apartment, noting the bare kitchen before looking back at him, hands sinking into the back pockets of her jeans, “have you eaten yet?”
it was rare when he didn’t find much excitement to his day. Hanbin enjoyed nearly every second of his mornings, from the moment he stretched every muscle and joint in order to fully awaken his body, when he would drag feet about his tiny apartment, sluggishly paving the way to his beloved coffee machine, pour and sip his morning doze of energy. Then circle to the windows: allowing the midwinter/prespring air to whistle in. he would sit on heated wood floors to meditate, catch up with morning news; make sure nothing new of his father’s case was made for public view. this would set the tone for his day. The process had been cultivated and made into a routine, routine, routine. All in all, he was 100% not a morning person, he was unable to greet another human during this early hours of the morning. convinced everyone that knew him that the chemicals used for sociality and manners did not fire up until a quarter to ten. when beginning his business, he made sure his clientele all recognized the definition of 10am, when the monster would retract into the shell of the docile, sweet human hanbin was. he had rules, many rules established for his services and daytoday. because people become careless of service workers if clear lines are not drawn.
Today however, patience had ticked and frowns had stiffened his features when a woman with a 1 ½ month old boston terrier had shouted “KIM HANBIN” full name at the top of her lungs. feverishly using his front door as a punching bag. he could’ve sworn he was starring in a much too fabricated film. A horror, to say the least. when lids unglued themselves from comfort and hues rolled to fix upon the electronic alarm clock. to see 6:00 displayed was but a sin. he stumbled to his front door. fiery glare prepared to flame whoever dared. as soon as he unlocked; a woman reeking of chanel n°5 shoved a pup into his grasp. giving him deliberate instructions on how to care for mooka, who was apparently ill and in need of the 5 star care that online reviews had swore of. hanbin parted pursed lips to cuss but instead money was shoved onto him. triple the cost of his usual service rate, undeniably shutting him up, besides, mooka was cute. however cuteness didn’t reconcile for the amounts of brown puke and green sh*t he had to clean after the small being throughout the day. grumpy was an understatement. his stomach was empty yet appetite was far from the equation.
mooka had only parted 20 minutes prior to her arrival. he had yet to text her the entirety of his day, usually he’d send her a text in attempts to to catch up during lunch. yet his phone was in a splash-zone free area, afraid of the bodily fluids that the terrier could stain the mobile with. he smiled, rather weakly: the plant resembled his very soul in the moment. feeble and droopy. with a single nod, he stood; taking the pot into his own palms and walking it over to the kitchen counter, under a table lamp looking over it with the human version of “heart eyes”.
“oh, nurse.. she truly needs some assistance” he mumbled half-heartedly. digits caressing the tender seedlings sprouting from the dirt. “she can be fixed though” he eyed jieun then, who wasx seemingly exhausted. he knew well these were hellish days for a flower shop employee and though every fiber in his being wished to protest her cooking up a meal after such a long day of work. just the thought of a fresh meal cooked by his favorite chef made his stomach loudly grumble and his mouth water. reminding him that since 6am, all he had to eaten was… coffee. his lips fix into a half pout half upwards scrunch. right hand coming to rest upon his abdomen. “if it wouldn’t be too much trouble..?” he questions, but really he’s inviting her to fully take reign of his kitchen and dear god, please feed me I’m starving and unable to properly unfreeze the pre-prepped meals you left.