Noticing that, Dongseop stuffed a lot of food into his mouth, then, with an uncomfortable expression, coughed and took out a tissue to rub Han Jihu’s lips vigorously.

He did so with a long sigh, looking at his friend’s innocent face, which stared back with round eyes, not understanding a thing.

**

I, I don’t think I can come here for about a week.

The day after he met Dongseop, Jung Jihoo appeared with a face gloomy enough to depress the whole world and said miserably.

In his hands was a large bundle.

Because there was a reshoot suddenly scheduled after the film that finished filming last month, I have to go to the provinces.

A supporting actor who had appeared in the film he recently finished shooting had been booked without detention on drug charges a few days earlier, and that had been the trigger.

Fortunately, the actor’s role in the film was not large, so all the parts he appeared in would be cut and replaced with another actor, but because of that, Jung Jihoo had no choice but to do the provincial shoot again as well.

It’ll be tough to reshoot. Um, good luck.

He did not really have anything to say, so he offered a simple word of encouragement, but Jung Jihoo seemed moved by even that alone, and after making a bright expression, he bit his lip tightly again.

He seemed to really hate going to the reshoot.

Even in that situation, he set the bundle he was carrying on the table and began taking it apart one by one.

This is the lunch box you’ll eat while I’m gone. The containers with red lids are all meat dishes, and the white lids are soups, so freeze them and microwave them before eating. And this blue lid one is side dishes, ah, and this one is portioned rice, so take them out one by one, and then this is.

No, wait! How am I supposed to eat all this by myself? And if you can’t come, then you can’t come, so why are you giving all this to me? Forget it, take it back.

Ah! My manager is waiting outside, so I have to leave right now. I’ll be going now.

Jung Jihoo quickly changed the subject and sprang to his feet. It seemed he intended to run away before Han Jung Jihoo could return the bundle of food.

Seeing that, Han Jung Jihoo let out a loud sigh and grabbed the arm of the Jung Jihoo who looked ready to dash out of the shop at any moment.

Wait a moment.

Even though he had only grabbed him lightly, he could feel the muscular arm beneath his clothes twitch noticeably.

Why, why?

Panicked at the thought Han Jung Jihoo might tell him to take the food back, he could not even bring himself to pull away the wrist that Han Jung Jihoo held.

Han Jung Jihoo found this side of him somewhat cute and somewhat confusing.

What on earth does this person think of me?

And why does this man’s visits no longer feel uncomfortable?

Putting that question aside for a moment, Han Jung Jihoo put a little force into his hand, sat Jung Jihoo back down, and took fresh flowers from the showcase to place them on the worktable. The process of neatly arranging the flower stems with his white hands, then matching them by blossom size and color before tying them with a blue ribbon, was as delicate and careful as a pianist pressing keys.

As always, while Jung Jihoo watched that sight as if spellbound, Han Jung Jihoo soon thrust the finished piece toward his chest.

It was a small bouquet made of round baby’s breath, O’Hara roses, and gardenias.

The fresh yet sweet scent of the plump pink roses and gardenias lingered around the two of them.

Ah, why is this for me?

It’s in place of the meals you’ve treated me to so far. Of course, in terms of price it falls far short, but the scent is nice, so it should be fine to keep in the car while you’re traveling.

Jung Jihoo stared blankly at the bouquet Han Jung Jihoo held out, then quietly reached out his hand.

A big, hot hand covered Han Jung Jihoo’s white one as if enveloping it. Before Han Jung Jihoo could even flinch at the searing warmth, the large hand moved past the back of his hand and slowly brushed across his fingers as it took the bouquet. On his face, childish excitement and joy were exposed without the slightest concealment.

It really does feel good, but if flowers wilt too quickly, I think it would be such a shame.

Han Jung Jihoo’s slightly hoarse voice tickled his ear.

Then, well, I can make you another one next time.

At those words, Jung Jihoo, who had been carefully smelling the flowers, lifted his head and looked at Han Jung Jihoo.

Next time too.

The chocolate-colored eyes meeting his seemed to ripple with joy, and a curved line formed at the corner of his neat mouth. It was a bright smile that seemed genuinely happy.

Dazzled by the cheerful smile that would not lose to the bright bouquet, Han Jung Jihoo ended up rubbing his own face for no reason. Even though they had met several times, that face was still far too intense for an ordinary person to face directly. And strangely, ever since some time ago, whenever he met that gaze, he kept feeling heat rise all over his body.

Right then, Jung Jihoo’s phone started buzzing. Through the shop window, the manager who had driven over in a large black van could be seen looking anxiously this way. It seemed what he had said about needing to leave right away was no lie.

It looks like your manager is waiting, so you should get going.

Yes, I’ll really be back soon. Until then, don’t skip meals, and make sure you eat everything. Then I’ll bring something even tastier next week.

Even while repeatedly taking care of Han Jung Jihoo’s meals, like his late grandmother, and looking back over his shoulder several times as if worrying about a child left by the water, he kept watching Han Jung Jihoo, and Han Jung Jihoo kept rubbing his face.

He had always been uncomfortable with forming overly intimate relationships with others, but this man who had suddenly appeared one day kept trying to invade his territory.

And surprisingly, lately, he had also felt that he did not dislike that too much.

Maybe, just as Dongseop said, they were doing what people called flirting.

Thinking that, his face suddenly flushed hot, and he awkwardly coughed, when a faint voice came through the slightly open shop door.

That bastard who can’t even act took drugs and made such a scene.

Startled by the rough words carried on the wind, Han Jung Jihoo looked up, and beyond the glass window Jung Jihoo, holding the bouquet, smiled brightly and waved at him.

Mouthing, I’ll be back soon.

Life after returning to routine was monotonous and peaceful.

Every early morning, he went to the flower market or wholesale suppliers to buy fresh flowers, cleaned the showcase, rearranged the potted plants every so often, and made bouquets or flower baskets according to the orders that came in now and then.

The monotonous and peaceful time alone that Han Jung Jihoo had wanted had returned.

But strangely, unlike before, this quietness felt a little awkward.

All day long, while tending flowers and potted plants and working at a tight pace to meet order times, as soon as he heard the little bell near closing time, his eyes would automatically turn toward the shop entrance.

Honestly.

Han Jung Jihoo could not help letting out a small laugh.

It seemed he had gotten used to Jung Jihoo’s daily visits over the more than one month he had been coming and going.

He stopped his busy hands and took a lazy breath.

A breeze slipped in through the shop door that had been left open for ventilation. Along with the soft breeze, the scent of flowers drifted lightly around Han Jung Jihoo. Breathing in that scent, he quietly sank into thought.

Since Jung Jihoo had liked even a simple bouquet so much, what if he made him something more gorgeous and brilliant next time?

Since he had been delighted like a child even by a shabby little flower and a small bouquet, maybe this time he would get excited and circle around him all day with flowers on his head.

As he chuckled at the thought, Han Jung Jihoo rested his chin on his hand and gently poked at the lavender leaves laid out on the worktable.

Or maybe I should give him an easy-to-grow potted plant too.

Since he was someone who often stayed away from home, it would be good to gift him something like a sansevieria that did not need much watering.

The long, narrow eyes with their gently slanting corners slowly curved. Even on his neat, usually expressionless face, a faint smile quietly appeared.

It felt like, for the first time in a very long while, he was waiting for someone to return to his own space.

After sending away his family members one by one, he had thought he would no longer feel such emotions, but experiencing them again felt awkward, though not unpleasant.

A faint excitement, a tingling heartbeat felt again after a long time.

Yes, not bad.

Maybe when he met him again this time, something inside him would change.

Because of the unfamiliar feeling blooming in his chest and the smile that kept slipping out, Han Jung Jihoo kept biting his lip and kept his gaze on the shop door for a long time.

One week passed like that.

And another week passed.

During that time, Jung Jihoo did not appear.

**

Yes, in a way, it was only natural.

Jung Jihoo was a famous actor.

He was an entertainer so busy he had no time to breathe, with his schedule packed even during the time he should have been resting after filming ended, and as Dongseop said, he was someone who would become even more famous in the future.

How long had he really thought someone like that would keep up a daily routine of spending time with an unremarkable flower shop owner in a narrow, old shop while hiding from other people’s eyes?

Probably at first he had felt a thrilling sense of escape, like a brief dalliance through a novel experience.

Then, once he returned to his glamorous world, there was no way he would have even thought of the narrow shop or someone like Han Jung Jihoo anymore.

He had merely come to him out of curiosity, and to mistake that for interest, what shameless and ridiculous nonsense it had been.

You really should be ashamed, Han Han Jung Jihoo.

He laughed at his own stupidity over and over and tried to focus on work, but no matter what he did, he could not hide the disappointment surging from deep inside him. Every time he saw the food containers still piled up in the freezer, that feeling only grew larger and more depressing.

Deciding that tomorrow he would start by cleaning out the refrigerator, Han Jung Jihoo stood up from the worktable.

Because today he had been especially gloomy and did not want to go home early, he dawdled around, and before he knew it, it was already 9 p.m. When the time grew later than expected, he was just starting to hurriedly tidy up the shop.

Just as he was about to turn off the shop lights, take off his apron, leave it in the little jjokbang, and come out, he heard the sound of the shop door opening with a ding.

Han Jung Jihoo lifted his head in confusion.

He had just turned off the lights and hung up the closed sign, so he would know business was over, who had come in?