Flower Fiancé Chapter 8

The voice of Eungyeom, who had been settling into a posture as if about to offer serious counseling, burst out in excitement. Ji Yeonwoo hadn’t shown even a sliver of interest in anyone for the past two years, and the person who had watched that from the closest vantage point was Eungyeom. When the words “I met someone” suddenly popped out of Ji Yeonwoo’s mouth—the very same Ji Yeonwoo who had been immovable even when Eungyeom, like a dating veteran, had advised him, please, go out and meet people, the original cure for a breakup is healing through love—Eungyeom couldn’t help but get worked up.

[What, why aren’t you saying anything. Does that person like you? Is he an Alpha? Or is a Beta saying that?]

“I don’t know yet.”

[Hey, if by any chance he’s a Beta, don’t even look his way. You know what happens later if he finds out you’re an Omega, right?]

“He’s definitely not a Beta. Anyway, that person bought some flowers, and then about two hours later, he came back looking for me.”

[Really? Why?]

“He asked if becoming a VIP makes it possible to have a meal or a drink together.”

[What? Hey, this is 100%. So then?]

“But…”

Ji Yeonwoo hesitated and stopped talking. A murmuring sound came from beyond the phone. It seemed Eungyeom was whispering to someone next to him. The private conversation grew longer. He could hear Eungyeom’s voice respectfully using honorifics like ‘Yes, understood,’ likely to a superior.

[Sorry. I think I have to go back in. The team leader is looking for me.]

In the end, as expected, Eungyeom postponed things for later.

“Yeah. It’s fine. Go work.”

[Damn, of all times to look for me.]

“Hurry back in. I’ll tell you when we meet next time.”

[Anyway, I don’t have time to talk long, but Yeonwoo.]

“Yeah?”

[I don’t know the detailed circumstances, but don’t take it too seriously.]

Though Seo Eungyeom said he had to go in quickly, perhaps he was still concerned about Ji Yeonwoo’s hesitation, because he cautiously offered some advice.

[There’s no one in the world without a weakness. Me too, and my Mister too. Everyone has a flaw and lives with at least one weakness, right?]

“….”

[You don’t have to be scared in advance about getting hurt, or being abandoned. The world isn’t full of only trash bastards like Lee Hyunjoon. Who knows? What kind of comfort that person might bring you?]

“….”

[There’s that saying, a shit car leaves and a Benz comes. From what I see, there’s no shittier car than that bastard Lee Hyunjoon. If you think of it like that, wouldn’t your mind feel a little more at ease?]

“Pfft. Yeah. That’s true.”

[If by any chance that person says he likes you, size him up properly to see if he’s decent and give it a try. Meet him a few times, and if you think it’s not right, you can just bang, kick him to the curb.]

“What?”

Ji Yeonwoo, who had been listening quietly, laughed as if at a loss.

[So don’t agonize over it too much. Got it?]

“Got it, so hurry back in.”

[Yeah. We’ll talk again later.]

“Okay. Hang in there.”

After he hung up the phone, a quiet stillness descended. Ji Yeonwoo, who had been frozen, pulled his knees up, hugged them, and rested his chin on them. Maybe Eungyeom was right. It would be a stretch to talk about sincerity after just one meeting.

Meet him a few times and if it’s not right, bang, kick him to the curb?

Fiddling with the business card in his hand and ruminating over Eungyeom’s words, Ji Yeonwoo smiled bitterly and shook his head.

It had been, at most, a single day.

Calling it falling for someone in that short time sounded strange, and saying he’d come to like him didn’t fit either. But if he interpreted it as an Alpha with a superior trait being drawn to an Omega, it wasn’t exactly impossible to understand.

Originally, trait individuals moved strictly according to instinct. Even if pheromones were detestable things, they were born that way from the beginning, so their romantic relationships also didn’t fall into the serious category as ordinary Betas would think. Light relationships where those governed solely by pheromones met and parted—nothing more, nothing less. So perhaps Choi Moohyuk hadn’t approached with very serious intent, either.

What particularly lingered in his memory were the dark brown eyes that had swept over him. Choi Moohyuk’s eyes were deep and dark, as if within the depths of the sea.

‘It’s true I’m giving these flowers so the person gets hurt.’

‘It’s not to make her heart flutter.’

Even knowing full well that those words weren’t directed at him, they had still left a truly unpleasant feeling. He had even considered saying he wouldn’t sell the African marigolds. Because he didn’t want the recipient to be hurt the same way he had been. But then again, that didn’t seem like proper courtesy toward someone buying flowers, so he had reluctantly handed them over, while obliquely conveying that he could change them to a different flower if desired.

‘Could it be, is that a guess from experience?’

The African marigold was one of the painful memories Ji Yeonwoo treasured—or rather, memories he wished he could erase forever, if only that were possible. But no matter what method he tried, it wouldn’t erase, and he had buried it deep in his heart, never expecting that that memory would be disturbed by another person.

‘Yeonwoo, do you know what this flower is called?’

His hand, bringing the beer can to his lips, faltered in mid-air.

‘This is called an African marigold. I bought it because it was exactly like you. The flower language is pretty, too—sorrow of parting, pitiful love. Our Yeonwoo, from now on, whenever you see this flower, you’ll think of me. Right?’

Even thinking back now, they were truly absurd words. Words bristling with thorns but disguised in an affectionate tone had carved a scar into Ji Yeonwoo that would never fade.

‘I want you to be hurt and miserable. You know? You’re the prettiest in the world when you cry. Now you’ll cry a lot thinking of me, our Yeonwoo.’

The events of two years ago flashed by. Unfortunate for Lee Hyunjoon, but for the past two years, Ji Yeonwoo had persistently strived not to be hurt, not to become miserable, just as Lee Hyunjoon had said. He thought that was the best revenge he could take. Opening the door of Flower Fiancé, meeting customers, chatting and smiling, and studying flowers. Doing all that, there hadn’t really been time to try meeting anyone.

It wasn’t that he’d had no opportunity for connections. There had been people who approached him showing interest during that time, but each time, he drew a suitable line and didn’t treat them as more than customers.

They were simply connections passing through his daily life. There were people who offered to set him up, but Ji Yeonwoo had politely declined them all. He built up walls, repeating his pledge never to give his heart easily to anyone again. Choi Moohyuk was the first to approach proactively, as if to tear down those walls in an instant.

‘Is something like a meal or a drink also possible?’

Words suddenly delivered while he was in the middle of repotting, with soil spread all over the floor.

‘The conditions are strict. Then does that mean I need to generate a lot of sales?’

When the image of Choi Moohyuk, talking about VIPs in a tiny flower shop of just over five pyeong and pulling a long wallet from his inner coat pocket as if ready to buy every flower in the place on the spot, flashed through his mind, he involuntarily let out a pfft of laughter.

But that was only for a moment; the smile that had spread across his lips faded away as if dissipating.

‘Can someone who bought African marigolds intending to hurt someone, just like Lee Hyunjoon did, be called a good person?’

Choi Moohyuk’s thought stuck in his mind in a bad way. It was because a crack had formed in his belief that there wasn’t another person like Lee Hyunjoon in the world.

He’d thought, where else could there be another crazy bastard who gives flowers that mean farewell—but he wasn’t as far away as expected.

Or maybe it’s just that lunatics are drawn only around me.

Just because someone had done that once didn’t mean there was any rule saying they wouldn’t do it again.

And so, without needing to think further, the answer for how to treat Choi Moohyuk from now on was already clear.

Ji Yeonwoo took out the business card he’d been fiddling with in his pocket.

“I won’t be fooled again.”

Having gone through life’s twists and turns at a young age, all that had increased was his perceptiveness and cautiousness. He knew, without needing it explained, what his intentions had been in returning and talking about VIPs. If only he hadn’t bought the African marigolds, things might have been a little different, but even seeing such transparently intentional actions, he couldn’t accept his goodwill.

“I’ll never meet someone who hurts me again.”

Determined as if hypnotizing himself, Ji Yeonwoo tossed the business card in his hand into the trash can and turned away.