Note: Flashback to the day Cheriko meets Jimin.

"Evelyn hurry up! We'll be having more customers soon!"

Being a florist wasn't easy, but I certainly enjoyed being one. Making bouquets and wreaths were my favourite. Flower arranging was fun too. I could simply sleep among these flowers; the floral scent was intoxicating.

Evelyn brought some Daffodils, stating that a customer had asked for a simple bouquet with just these little ones, and I immediately got to work. She had a special hand at making wreaths and flower tiaras, which I must say, came in handy several times.

It was a quiet day, with a few to zero customers. One of the several reasons being the weather forecast predicting a snowy day-but for us, work was work after all.

Daffodils had put me deep in thoughts. These flowers signified new beginnings, I wondered why the customer asked for them. I hoped, whatever these little flowers were to be used for, would find its way successfully.

The bell chimed indicating the arrival of a customer.

"I've ordered a bouquet of Daffodils." The customer walked hurriedly towards where I stood, while I returned a quizzed look. "Uh... I'm Park Jimin," he introduced himself while heaving a sigh of what I guessed was a relief.

Park Jimin was a little taller than me. Smiley eyes and chubby cheeks. Really, cute. Those plump lips should be given a restraining order. Those were going to haunt me for a while. He was a beautiful man.

"Oh, yes"-I wrapped the flowers-"I'm almost done with these beauties. Could you wait for a couple of minutes?" I smiled, continuing my work.

"They are little beauties indeed." He was seated on the chair, in front of the counter. "Take your time, Miss."

It took about five minutes for me to complete the bouquet, as I gave them to the customer, who thanked me and left the shop.

And that was the last order due today. I sighed. When it came to the shop, there wasn't any profit or losses as such. I had enough money to support my livelihood for the next four to five years, but the question of how I'll live later was unanswered.

The thought of being forced to close the florist shop irked me.

"Aren't you going today?" asked Evelyn, interrupting my thoughts.

"Going... where-"

That's when I realised. I had forgotten to visit an important place, the place where my parents were rested for eternity.

I clenched the bouquet wrap that I held, and let out an exasperated sigh. "I should, I should..." Walking past a few rows of various flowers, I searched for chrysanthemums and poppies. "But you'll be alone, my little butterfly. How can I leave you alone here?

"I'm old enough to handle the shop by myself! Please go, I'll take care, and it's not the rush hour, where too many customers swarm-"

"I know, you can. I'll get my bouquet ready then," I whispered, pressing on my lips. My eyes itched peculiarly, while my focus lay on the two flowers.

I make the same bouquet-the one that I have always made as a remembrance of my parents, using chrysanthemum and poppies.

The chrysanthemum that symbolises loyalty and love, is the very chrysanthemum that also symbolises comfort, grief, and bereavement.

The poppies on the other hand are a symbol of peace, sleep, and death.

I wonder why I used only these two flowers every year. Why grief, sleep, peace, and death?

Was it because they killed themselves, deciding to leave me alone in this world?

Did I subconsciously know that the reason for my parent's death was because they couldn't find peace in the chaos this world contains?

But on top of all the questions that arose in my mind, a few haunted me the most.

Did I not make them happy?

Did I or did I not make my parents happy?

Why choose death when we were a family together?

Why leave me alone in this world?

Why, just why am I left here to fight my fate?

The bouquet was ready, but something had stopped me.

The daffodils that I previously used attracted me.

'Should I add some daffodils this year?' I thought, and before I could process an answer, I found myself reaching out for some daffodils.

And the next thing I knew, I was in front of my parents' grave, their resting spot.

I blankly looked at their grave, one next to another, like a match made in heaven. They were born on the same day, my parents. Interesting, that they even shared their deaths. I wondered if this was the actual meaning of destiny.

They say your fate is sealed the moment you're born. But my parents sold themselves to the reaper. They chose death.

Was it their fate?

Nothing could change the fact for they left me alone to survive. They left me in the hands of this wretched world. I had to find my way. A way that would help me live and not just barely scrape through. A way that could help me find the real me.

The more I thought of their death, the more I visited their graves; the more I understood that their death was planned-for they died exactly a week before my eighteenth birthday.

The day was as clear as a crystal in my head. I returned home from school to find both asleep on their shared bed, dead.

No letters, no last goodbyes.

They were gone.

Was it as simple as that?

My hands shivered; I was numb. I hoped that it was a nightmare. A nightmare that I could wake up from.

When I looked at their grave, I wondered why I even visited them?

They forsake me. They threw me away like dust.

How did they let go of all the memories we've been through?

I placed the bouquet in between both their graves.

Since they love each other dearly, I thought I could just keep a single bouquet?

I took a deep and sighed. It's the same old, same old story every year. I'm not sure if I'm visiting them for the sake of doing it. Mourning? A bizarre word.

Tears, unspoken words that were too shy to show themselves, were expressed.

The state of helplessness I was in, they thought I wouldn't be sad, I wouldn't be grieving if they made a five-year instalment on the house?!

That, if I have a house to stay in, everything would be perfect?

How dare they plan their death?

I sold the house and bought a smaller one. I deposited the extra money and I looked for jobs to earn money. For me to survive. To study, to eat, to live.

"Mom, Dad, I'm here again with the daffodils you both love." I heard a breathy voice.

The tear staining my cheeks, I rubbed them away. I see a man placing a bouquet of daffodils in between two graves.

Daffodils.

That's when I realised that the person was Jimin, the Jimin who bought the daffodils from my shop. The very daffodils I arranged for my parents along with Poppies and Chrysanthemum.

I would have wondered why daffodils for a grave but what can I say if I have placed a few too.

I didn't want to interrupt his talk with his parents so I decided to leave.

I walked using steady steps but he noticed me. I simply bowed to him which was reciprocated and I walked away.

Seamlessly blending along with the profound nature, I reached the place that owns my heart-the Sakura tree. It was the connection that began from my name.

Cheriko Ray.

I had a natural bond with that of a cherry blossom tree. The pink calmed me, nourished me with care, and brought me in the warmth of a cocoon.

Sitting down, resting on the foot of the tree, I looked at the sky. The painfully blue, ethereal sky was lulling. Everything was just right then.

I messaged Evelyn confirming that I wouldn't be back to the shop for a few hours and that she could leave.

The miniature buds of the blossoms were pretty in themselves. So beautiful...

"Miss, Miss, wake up." A voice murmured. "I suggest you leave. It looks like it might snow anytime soon."

I heard a tranquillizing voice, so soothing that I'd have forgotten to take a glance at the first thought. I squinted my eyes, the harsh rays jabbing them. Feeling something warm on me, I succumbed to it. The strong smell of vanilla and red wine embezzled my mind. I took a huge breath in and tried to relax when I heard a small chuckle.

Snapping my eyes open in alarm, my head meets his with a thud. I found the same man, the one with gorgeous, shiny hair and moist rosy lips.

It was Park Jimin.

I couldn't forget his name.

The trance I was caught up in, alerted my mind once again. It was peculiar, that feeling. My heart throbbed from within all of a sudden. 'Soo cliché,' I thought.

My palm caressed my forehead, the both of us groaned in pain as we looked at each other.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I can't say I didn't see you there but the chuckle caught me off-guard-"

"I shouldn't have leaned that close in the first place. I'm sorry for that." He seated himself beside me.

"No, No... it's perfectly alright." I stumble, trying to find words to talk when he let out yet another chuckle again.

"It wouldn't be alright if there's a huge bump on your beautiful face, would it?"

Did he just-?

'Oh my God, he's smooth with words.' The thoughts were pointless at that point.

But it worked. My already pink cheeks were radiating more heat than ever.

"Uh, I guess, no?" I said, rubbing my forehead, trying to avoid any possible eye contact with the man.

The sleep led to my hair being messy and spread out all over. His hand reached forward to nudge my hair behind my ears, while I subconsciously leaned towards him. This was estranged.

My eyes don't leave his mysterious, misty, soft eyes. When his finger bud touched my cheeks, literal chills frenzied down my spine. My breathing hiccupped; the lips parted under the intensity of his sight.

"There, all done." I heard him say. I was paralysed, my eyes wide open.

He looked at my flustered self and exhibited shy behaviour.

"I'm sorry if I stepped into your personal bubble." He apologized sincerely and with worry evident in his tone.

"No, not at all," I said hurriedly. "You just caught me off-guard for the second time."

"I'm sorry for that too." He said, as he lightly rubbed the nape of his neck.

"For how long was I asleep for?" I ask, handing over the jacket back to him. "On second thoughts, how would you even know-?"

"-about two hours."

"Huh?"

I looked at him with confusion spreading my face. The realisation falls upon him as he spoke again.

"Oh, I came here to umm... relax under the tree and I found you asleep and didn't want to wake you up. I thought I could stay here for a while a-a-and I didn't wake you up. But when you showed no signs of waking up and it's past lunchtime, I thought it would be better to wake you up. I'm rambling stuff, aren't I?"

I giggled looking at his nervous expression, trying to make a good impression.

"Calm down, calm down. I understand. That you for accompanying me, Jimin."

Jimin's face lit up as soon as I pronounced his name but it instantly turn into a pout.

I raised one of my eyebrows trying to show a questioning look.

"You know my name."

"Yes. Yes, I do."

"But YOU know my name." He emphasizes the 'you'.

I tilted my head and blink slowly, now competing with his pout.

Jimin straightened up, placing his jacket over my shoulder.

"Oh, no you don't have to-"

"Please, I insist. The weather is getting cold. That'll help."

I didn't know what else to say.

"So, I'm Park Jimin and you are?" His gaze remained l on me. I gathered myself and formed a plausible answer, my name.

"Cheriko Ray."

"Cheriko as in the cherry blossom. That's beautiful."

"The child of the cherry blossom. That's what my name exactly means."

I smiled looking at the tree. My heart was fluttering. My heart was icy.

"If you wouldn't mind, can I take you out for lunch now, Cheriko?"

He asked, and I was in no mood to deny. I oddly felt comfortable around him. He doesn't give weird vibes. Happy and calm, all pleasant.

"You mean to say-?"

"Yes, a lovely date with the lovely lady." He said with a tender smile.

I can't get used to how he knew exactly what to tell. I didn't want to use him, but I could spend some time with him and forget my parents. I could forget the void; I could be carefree and jolly.

I looked at his cheerful chubby face waiting for an answer.

"I would like that, Jimin."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

And that comes to the end of the flashback chapter. I hope you enjoyed it all. Now, here's some little extra love from my side that I shall reciprocate with these few extra lines from Cheriko's pov, given below.

EXTRA SCENE:

I remember his smile when I agreed to go on a date. His face looked like he had won the world the moment I agreed to his proposal.

We met thrice in a few hours. We met coincidentally at three different locations within a day.

Was this the formation of destiny?

Or was the pact of destiny already made?

But whatever the game was, whatever the coincidence was, I don't regret meeting him.
I wouldn't for life.

I sit down and rest just like how I did the last year. Subconsciously I just hoped, Jimin would wake me up and ask me out on a date once again.

I can only wish that could happen.

I could inhale the vanilla and red wine. I could relax with his arms holding me. I could place my head on his shoulders and sleep.

I miss them all.

I miss him.

Jimin, when can I see you again?

Tell me.

I realised the significance of Daffodils then.

New beginnings.

The start of something new in my life.

Daffodils brought us together, Jimin and I.