Seokmin could finally change his apprenticeship. Now he worked in the flower shop where Jihoon and Wonwoo met their boyfriends. And yes, Seokmin had high expectations. But how was he supposed to find a boyfriend when Jeonghan kept interfering?
“I miss Mingyu.”
Seokmin didn’t know how many times he had heard the words today. Soonyoung was… you had to get used to him. If he hadn’t known Jihoons boyfriend before, he might have been offended.
“Don’t blame him, okay?” At least Jeonghan was there, greeting him nicer. It finally worked out, and he could change his apprenticeship. Now he worked in the flower shop where Jihoon and Wonwoo met their boyfriends. And yes, Seokmin had high expectations. He was the only single person in their circle of friends, and he felt a little lonely.
“And you! Don’t act like that! You’ve had enough feuds with Mingyu. He has a better-paying job now, be happy for him.”
Wonwoo had found a part-time job for his boyfriend at his company - Mingyu earned more there and had more time for Wonwoo. Soonyoung didn’t let him forget that yesterday was Mingyus last day at the flower shop. Mingyu had organized a replacement, but all this did not seem to improve Soonyoungs mood.
The doorbell relieved them all as Soonyoungs whining stopped.
“Good morning.” Seokmin was ready for his first task. He was at the cash register, with Jeonghan next to him (and Soonyoung far too close). However, the young, handsome man came up to them and placed a food box in front of them. “Enjoy it Hanie.”
“What?” Wasn’t that a customer? Seokmin was a little disappointed. Things were not going well in his old apprenticeship. After more than a year and a half, he still had to do the menial jobs, had no customer contact, and was yelled at very often. He didn’t like that. And he enjoyed connecting with people. Even if he was sometimes a bit shy, that didn’t exclude the other.
“This is Jun. He brings me my food every day.” Jeonghan explained.
Ah, then that was probably Jeonghans boyfriend. He couldn’t help but get a little jealous. Jeonghan had a boyfriend too! Was it the flower shop? When would he find a boyfriend?
The work was definitely a lot more fun! Even though Soonyoung didn’t look like it and he had heard otherwise from Jeonghan through Mingyu, the two knew a lot and he even learned the language of flowers here (which, embarrassingly, he only heard of from Wonwoo). The working atmosphere was just great, and it didn’t bother anyone that he was singing to himself as he watered the flowers and looked after them. He was just a plant person. He believed that if you sang or talked to them, they would grow better.
“These are Jihoons flowers, right?” he asked as he stood in front of a bunch of tiger lilies that lined up in the window, which Jihoons office faced.
Soonyoung immediately jumped up. “I’ll take care of them. He’ll kill me if even one dies!”
Seokmin laughed. “It’s okay, it’s okay.” He knew how Jihoon could be sometimes.
On his second day, Seokmin went to work in a good mood for the first time in a long time. He actually enjoyed it! He helped Jeonghan and Soonyoung with their morning chores and even accepted Jeonghans friend’s food since he was at the back of the store. Around noon, Minghao came to the store and Seokmin got to know him properly.
“Now that you’re both here, I can explain the rules to you. When a customer you’re interested in walks in, you can drop your work and go to the cash register, giving yourself a chance to snag the number. Has worked many times.”
Seokmin wouldn’t dare do something like that. It was one thing to ask a person out. But then to push ahead in front of their eyes to serve them? No, he certainly wouldn’t be able to.
But Jeonghan didn’t seem to care, because when Vernon came into the flower shop later that afternoon (Seokmin was about to convince him to leave the shop quickly because Vernon had a pollen allergy), Jeonghan hurried to the cash register. Seokmin envied his bravery for a moment before remembering Jun. Wasn’t Jeonghan taken? Was he in an open relationship? Or was he also poly? He would never ask such a thing, but Minghao seemed a lot more direct, as he asked Jeonghan directly after Vernon left (Jeonghan hadn’t gotten his phone number, much to Soonyoungs delight).
“Isn’t Joshua your boyfriend?”
Joshua? Wasn’t his name Jun?
“I’m sorry, what? No. I am not taken. I have no interest in it either. I’d rather have my fun.”
And he had. In the weeks that followed, whenever Seokmin chatted with a nice man, Jeonghan would cut in. Always with the excuse that he was the trainee and was needed somewhere else. It wasn’t as if Seokmin had come up with a pickup line that would allow him to ask someone for their number. No, something like that was still unimaginable for him. He would have to wait for someone to ask him out first.
The man who just walked into the store with a coffee in his hand was exactly his type. He looked charismatic and gave a friendly greeting to Soonyoung, who was behind the counter. Seokmin imagined what it would be like if he spoke to him. Maybe he should dare? But what was he supposed to say? He couldn’t embarrass himself like Mingyu. Soonyoung had told his worst pick-up lines. In return, Mingyu had told him about Soonyoungs worst tries. But it was already too late when Jeonghan strolled to the cash register and took the coffee from him. No matter what he did, he seemed to get away with it. Jeonghan sipped the coffee, said something, and they both laughed. If only Seokmin could have a little of him.
“Hey Seokmin, come here.” Jeonghan called him and Seokmin felt caught because he had been watching them for so long.
He slowly walked over to them, hoping not to show how nervous the charismatic man was making him.
“This is Joshua. He also lives in the house next to the shop and is a friend of mine. And no, he’s not my boyfriend either.” Jeonghan winked at him, and Seokmin didn’t know why.
“Hi Seokmin. Nice to meet you.” Joshua’s voice was soft and calm and instantly made him much more likable.
“Hi. It’s nice...nice to meet you, too,” Seokmin stammered.
“Joshua asked us if we could nurse one of his plants back to health again. He doesn’t have a green thumb, but he still buys all sorts of plants and they die.”
“Of course, we can take care of it!” He only wanted to save the plant. It had nothing to do with Joshua being more than likable.
“What?”
“You know. The one plant you told me about yesterday. Just bring it over tomorrow. From 8 o ‘clock.”
“Okay?” Joshua still seemed a bit confused. Maybe he was overworked. Chan often felt like this when he was busy. When he had said goodbye, he left the shop and Seokmin could see how he turned the corner and went into the front door.
“Well, do you like him?”
Seokmin flinched when Jeonghan spoke to him so suddenly. “Yes, he seems quite nice.”
The next morning, Seokmin came to the shop exactly at 8 am. Seokmin was about to water the flowers that needed water. Like every morning, he had a song on his lips. When he was done with that, he turned and spotted Joshua. With a very puny-looking Zuzu plant in his hands. He tried not to show how horrified he was at her condition. A Zuzu plant was a very easy-care houseplant. How could Joshua put her in such a state?
“So, this is our patient, yes?” Seokmin took the plant from Joshua. Oh, he would repot her first. The poor one didn’t have enough space in the much too small pot and was probably watered far too much.
“Yes. I’m really not into plants. Sorry.”
“I’ll fix that,” Seokmin tried to cheer up the other. Joshua smiled at him. “Thanks, Seokmin. I stop by every day and check on you guys...I mean the plant, okay?”
Seokmin immediately went to work taking care of Lucky (that’s what he called Joshua’s plant).
Seokmin was used to his new job. In the morning Jun would drop by, meanwhile bringing them all food, and Seokmin would usually exchange a few words with him. Minghao came around noon or sometimes in the afternoon. Seokmin also got along very well with this one. He had also managed that Seungkwan got hired as a flower deliverer and he now saw him often at work. Occasionally he would spend his lunch break with Vernon, who was now working at the tattoo shop across the street. And in the evening Joshua came by. Lucky got better day by day and when she had fully recovered, Seokmin was a bit sad to hand her back to Joshua. He wrote detailed care instructions for this one so she wouldn’t look the same again. With each evening, he got to know Joshua more and more. He couldn’t believe that he couldn’t take care of a plant.
“Good evening Seokmin.” Joshua greeted him and placed Jeonghans coffee on the counter.
“Good evening. Did you have a nice day?” Seokmin asked while he went to get Lucky and proudly presented it to Joshua.
“Oh wow. You did a wonderful job there. Thank you so much. What do I owe you?”
“Um. I believe nothing? So far, we have only offered the service to Jihoon because he is Soonyoungs boyfriend. But you’re Jeonghans friend. I don’t think we charge Jihoon either?”
“Really? Thank you. But you took care of her so lovingly? Can I invite you to something?”
Seokmin shook his head. “You’re welcome. It’s not worth mentioning. Just follow the care instructions and, if not, bring her back.”
He had said something wrong. But he didn’t know what. Joshua’s smile wasn’t real anymore, it was fake. Shouldn’t he have accused Joshua of mistreating his plant again?
“Okay. Thank you in any case. Please give that to Jeonghan, will you? I wish you a nice evening!”
Joshua had never disappeared so fast, either. He always made time to chat with Seokmin. Seokmin looked after him. Just what had he done wrong?
The next morning, Jeonghan was ill and Minghao had agreed to work in the morning, so Seokmin wouldn’t be alone in the shop. Jun brought them their food anyway. Minghao was just at the back of the shop and Seokmin gratefully accepted the lunch boxes. As Jun left the store and Seokmin watched him go, he noticed Joshua leaving his apartment. He must have been late today. Seokmin never saw him in the morning. He raised his hand and waved at him, but Joshua just nodded and was quickly gone. Was he still mad? Disappointed?
He didn’t want that.
“Isn’t Joshua your type?”
Seokmin winced when Minghao crept up on him. Luckily, only the two of them were in the store because Seokmin didn’t want to know what Jeonghan thought about this. And with Soonyoung, he had learned that it was never a secret for long.
“Joshua? wha..what…?” he stammered. He couldn’t talk about such things. It was incredibly difficult for him. He just wasn’t like the others who could talk openly about such things.
But when Minghao continued to look at him kindly and attentively, he nodded. “Yeah…”
“Then why did you turn him down yesterday? Poor guy was really disappointed.”
Turned him down? He hadn’t turned Joshua down after all. Joshua hadn’t done anything? He looked at Minghao with wide eyes.
“He wanted to invite you to something yesterday, didn’t he?”
“Oh, that!” Minghao had misunderstood. And Seokmin had half gotten his hopes up. “He just wanted to give me something in return for nurturing his plant back to health. You got that wrong.”
“If you think that. It looked different to me.”
The topic seemed over for Minghao and Seokmin didn’t dare to ask more.
Joshua didn’t come to the store in the evening. But Jeonghan wasn’t there either, so he had no reason. For the next two days, when Jeonghan stayed homesick, he only saw Joshua through the shop window.
It wasn’t until the following week after Jeonghan was (finally!) fit again that he came into the store. With the next unfortunate thing. It was once a floral arrangement of several African violets. It must have looked beautiful. Now though...
“Would you like me to take care of it for you?” Seokmin asked, already taking it from Joshua.
“That would be nice, yes.”
And so, he spent the next time nursing the African violet (Neria, as he called them). Seokmin also paid attention to Joshua’s behavior towards him, but it was the same as always, and slightly disappointed he realized Minghao was definitely wrong.
Frustratingly, Valentine’s Day was getting closer and Seokmin felt the loneliness more than ever before. It seemed to be the same for several people because now and then someone came into the shop, Seokmin advised him, and the latter flirted with him. With him! Seokmin! But then Jeonghan stepped in and Seokmins chance of a date on Valentine’s Day vanished. It was unfair! Wasn’t there a person for Seokmin? One would be enough for him if it worked out with this one.
Once Neria was nursed back to health, Joshua came with the next plant. Seokmin didn’t want to know what his apartment looked like. Were there only half-dead plants lying around everywhere?
Seokmin made himself ask through Jeonghan (he was afraid Joshua would take offense as the first time) and went to the back of the shop. He was startled when he heard several voices because Minghao wasn’t there yet and Soonyoung had a free day.
“Just ask him! I can’t keep stepping in just so nobody asks him out!”
Although this sentence had piqued his curiosity, it wasn’t polite to listen, and he knocked and entered. To his surprise, Joshua was in the room.
“Are you alright?” he asked when he saw Joshua’s worried face and Jeonghans annoyed one.
“Yeah, we’re fine,” Jeonghan replied, waving his hand to silence Joshua, who was about to say something. Finally, he nodded, too.
“What did you want?”
He couldn’t really ask Jeonghan in front of Joshua...especially the bad mood made him insecure, and he shook his head cautiously. “Didn’t matter that much.”
He had long forgotten it and time passed and Valentine’s Day was just around the corner. And Seokmin didn’t have a date. It was really frustrating. Wonwoo was planning something with Mingyu and even Jihoon wanted to take the day off and do something with his boyfriend until Soonyoung announced the flower shop was always so busy and that he would be out late anyway. Chan and Vernon were planning a night out with Seungkwan, Jeonghan had a date that night anyway (Did Seokmin really doubt that?) and Minghao had agreed to go on a date with one of Jeonghans acquaintances. Jeonghan had also offered it to Seokmin, but he wasn’t a fan of blind dates. He hoped until the last minute that Joshua (Over time his interest had turned into a nice little crush) would invite him, but nothing happened.
And so, he had to sell flowers on Valentine’s Day (and also deliver some to the surrounding area, since there were far too many orders for Seungkwan alone) and endure people who were happily in love everywhere - with no hope of a date of his own in the evening. This year he didn’t even have a fellow sufferer to spend the evening with. It got later and later and when they finally got to call it a day (it had been a busy day), Minghao and Soonyoung left and Seokmin looked longingly after them.
“Damn. Seokmin we forgot an order. Could you please take care of this? I have to go on my date. Thanks, you’re the best!” Jeonghan didn’t give him a choice. But what could he have said against it, when everyone was on dates and only a lonely apartment was waiting for him? He arranged everything for locking, took the bouquet, and went out. Outside, he first looked at the address and hesitated. Wasn’t that Jihoons house? And wasn’t that… oh no! Not only was he left alone on Valentine’s Day, he also had to bring flowers to Joshua. He probably had a date, too. If he was already home, Seokmin would burst right in.
Dejected, he went to Joshua’s house entrance and rang the bell. When Joshua opened the door without asking who it was, Seokmin put on his best smile (he hoped it was believed) and walked up the stairs. Joshua leaned against the door frame and looked at him curiously. But he was...in his pajamas? And he looked just as surprised as Seokmin.
“Seokmin?”
“Um...I have one more order to deliver. I won’t bother you for long. I’m sure you have something better to do today. Here, this is for you.” He held out the bouquet to him and couldn’t look Joshua in the eye anymore.
“Thanks.” Joshua sounded confused. When Joshua took the bouquet from him, Seokmin turned to leave. “Have a nice evening.”
“Do you want to come in?” Joshua’s question came suddenly and made Seokmin pause. He slowly turned around and looked at him. “Assuming you’re not in a hurry.”
“No. I mean yes, with pleasure. I mean, I don’t have any plans.”
Joshua smiled at him and stepped aside. Seokmin entered cautiously. In the back of his mind, he still had the flowers that he needed to nurture. But when Joshua led him into his living room, Seokmin was amazed. Joshua didn’t have many plants, but he had a few. And they did great! He also had a few orchids. He wouldn’t have believed Joshua was capable of that. If he couldn’t handle a Zuzu plant, why were the orchids blooming?
“Are you alone?” He asked carefully. He didn’t want to disturb him.
“Yes. I ... I didn’t manage to ask someone out. “
“Really?” He wouldn’t have believed Joshua to be shy. He looked reserved, but with him, it had a more charming tone. Gentlemanly.
“I asked that one person out on a date but was turned away. And I haven’t quite got coped with that yet.“, Said Joshua. Seokmins heart sank a little. So, he was lovesick? But why was Joshua looking at him as if he had to know what he was talking about?
“I’m sorry for that.”
“You know I meant you, right Seokmin?”
What…what…what? Him? A date? When did Joshua ask him out - oh.
“I...” As warm as his face felt, he must have blushed bright red when he realized what Joshua was saying. “I thought it was in exchange for taking care of your plants. Who don’t need it.”
Joshua laughed and Seokmin immediately felt worse. The other dropped into a chair.
“That was Jeonghans idea. I didn’t know...I didn’t know how to address you. So, he got plants that were long discarded and forced them on me to play the plant killer. When you turned me down, I thought you weren’t interested in me. Jeonghan disagreed. He... he helped me a lot to keep other people away from you. I’m sorry Seokmin.”
It didn’t take Seokmin long to understand the meaning behind the words. He just couldn’t react. What should he say here? What did Joshua expect?
“Seokmin?”
“I...I’ve been waiting for you to ask me out.” He buried his face in his hands. “And then I didn’t even realize it.”
Joshua laughed again. “We’re two heroes, aren’t we?”
“And then you take so much effort because of me, too. Because of me!”
“You are one of the loveliest people I know. When I first saw you, you watered the plants and sang. By then, it was already over for me.”
He still couldn’t believe it. That something like this happened to him.
He lifted his head and dropped his hands. “Can we...can we start over?”
When Joshua laughed again, he immediately felt lighter.
“With pleasure.”
Nothing else happened that night, but they talked and talked, and when they looked at the clock, it was way too late for Seokmin to go home, so he slept on Joshua’s sofa.
The next morning at the breakfast table, Joshua noticed a card in the bouquet (it was all red roses). He frowned before laughing and showing the card to Seokmin.
“Congratulations on getting laid!”
While Seokmin was embarrassed that his instructor wrote something like this (indirectly) about him, Joshua was relieved that Jeonghan wasn’t right about everything.
so I’m alive still. And I haven’t been alive for a long time. I’m starting Uni in september. And apparently starting uni means that I have a lot more time. so ya’ll know what that means!!!
CELEBRATION!!!!
But really, it’s like they shipped themselves before it became official
and yes, i’m still going back to mansae era because that era was definitely made for me
get some of that backside too. fans who captures these moments are absolutely beautiful and amazing. illoveyou. we al loveyou. bless your hearts.
this ship is getting so big now that other’s are even cropping out the two of them together too. It just feels so good not feeling like the crazy lone seoksoo shipper anymore
i mean of course i have my fair share too
guys, woozi still wants soma that seokji.
and two beautiful pictures that I absolutely do not understandsays what, but beautiful nontheless
blakekathryn
snowghoul
baratheonpilled
ellievsbear
gracieabrams
turnnoffyourmind
areudirty
