Hoseok jumped back onto his tractor and turned it on, the engine roaring into life as he did so.

Smiling, he threw a quick look to the side, watching as the figure of a woman slowly got further and further away, disappearing shortly after. The little town he lived in didn't have much happen out of the ordinary; every day was the same.

He would wake up, collect the eggs from his chickens before having breakfast. He would tend to the sheep or cows, alternating the days he did so before finally spending the rest of the day at the strawberry farm.

Afterwards, he travelled around his whole farm on his bicycle, turning the sprinklers on to water the grass, strawberries, corn, and all that his family grew.

It was all a little too mundane, but he loved nothing more than his home.

Today was a little different. He met someone new, sure, he almost ran them over, but it was different.

She was different, she really was.

And maybe it was because he sometimes felt alone in his little corner of the world, or maybe seeing the same people for 26 years made him long for something more, or maybe it was just the way she spoke with so much sincerity, he was intrigued.

Finishing his last lap of the field, he headed back, parking the tractor in the barn before getting on his bicycle and riding home.

His family had owned this large part of the land for as long as the generations went, and it's all he'd known growing up.

Entering his home, he closed his eyes as the aroma of herbs and spices filled the room.

"Mom, I'm home!" he exclaimed excitedly, rushing into the kitchen, "And wow the food smells amazing!"

"Good evening, son," his mother grinned at him as he sat across from her at the bench, "How was your day?"

"Same old, same old," he leaned into the table, resting his chin in his hands, "How was your day? Anything interesting happen at the hospital?"

"Does anything crazy ever happen around here?" she shook her head, "I mean, Uncle Jay accidentally got a nail drilled through his hand, so there's that."

"Oh God, is he okay?"

"Yeah, he's fine," she shrugged, "just will need to keep a cast on for a couple of days. We operated on him and everything so he's fine."

"Who picked up Rosie and Lucy from school then?" he asked, finding his mother click her tongue at him. "What?"

"You worry too much about everyone else, honey."

"Mom, I don't," he got up from the seat and walked around to grab some plates, "So, you didn't answer, is his family okay?"

"Yeah, I picked up his daughters from school and took them home, they're okay."

"See," he grinned, bumping his hip with hers, "I get it from you."

Placing the dishes down, he waited for her to pour side dishes into them as he threw some bacon on a plate.

"Where's dad?"

"Just finishing up a few edits, you know how he gets when he's almost done with a book."

Hoseok nodded, understanding, "Should I take food up to him, or do you think he'll come down?"

"Maybe take some food up for him, here," she passed him a plate where she had scooped on some rice, side dishes and bacon.

"Be back soon," he hopped up the stairs and waltzed into his parents' room, finding his father sitting at his desk, the dim light only illuminating the side of his face as he walked toward him.

"Hey son," he said before Hoseok had acknowledged his presence.

"How do you do that?" he asked, putting the plate down, "I didn't even make any noise."

He shook his head, "I can always feel you Hoseok."

"You say that every time," he groaned, plopping onto the bed behind him, "How's the book going?"

"It's okay," he sighed, "I mean, it's not perfect, and I really need it to be."

"Dad, you know there's no such thing as perfect."

"Well, I need it to be as close to perfect as it can get, I don't have much time."

"You have a deadline?" he asked and noticed the way his father's eyes widened as if he had said something he wasn't meant to, before turning to his son.

"Yeah, the publishers want to get the manuscript before Easter, so I can get all the legal stuff done for the book to be in stores by August."

"That's weird. They don't normally give you any deadlines."

The smile he gave Hoseok then signalled him to leave him be, and so he did.
"Sleep well, dad, please don't stay up too late."

"Good night, son, I love you."

Hoseok grinned then, "I love you too!"

--

"What do you know about the hotel next door, mom?" Hoseok asked as he and his mother were eating their dinner.

"What do I know about it?" he nodded, "Nothing much really. It's a new hotel, only a couple of years old. It's a chain hotel that has sites all over the country, many in the city."

"Are guests normally allowed past the rose hedge?" he asked, "I mean, I believe they put the hedge up to separate the hotel from the farms so the guests wouldn't be allowed through right?"

"I guess so? I really have no idea, Hoseok, why do you ask?"

"I think one of their guests accidentally came onto our farm is all," he shrugged, "I told her where their land ends and when ours starts so that it won't happen again, but I was just curious. The hotel's been there for a year now, and we get guests over at the strawberry farm from that hotel all the time, but I know almost nothing about it, I don't even know what it looks like because I've never been through the gates."

"Not worth it, son, it won't be long until they try to buy our land to expand or something. I wouldn't be surprised if they did."

"Really? You think they'd do that?"

She finished eating and got up, picking up Hoseok's plate as well, "Positive, honey. And when it happens, you better stand your ground, okay?"

"Wouldn't that be dad's job? The land is under his name after grandpa passed, not mine."

She didn't meet his gaze, "Yeah, you're right."

--

The next day, Hoseok had finished his usual routine and was at the strawberry farm to take the afternoon shift.

It was usually the busiest time of the day because people would come in after lunch to try their ice cream, kids would have finished school and would come in for some refreshing snacks, or families picking up some bundles for dessert as they got home.

It was his favourite time of the day; he saw nearly the whole town, and it was enough for him to feel a little less lonely.

"My boy," a quiet voice drew Hoseok's attention and he scurried over to the cash register.

"Grandma!" he cheered, knowing his grin must have lit up his face, "How have you been? How is Aunty and our little Chaeum?"

"I'm good, son," she let his smile ignite her own, "Aunty and Chaeum are the usual; always fighting, but they are getting along much better now. Thank you for asking."

She reached over the table, placing three cartons of strawberries on the table. "I'll just get this today hun; our bank account's been running dry since Chaeum's started school."

He flashed his stellar smile again, trying his best not to let it falter. He truly felt for this woman, looking after her daughter and granddaughter at her age when they really should be looking after her.

"That's okay," he winked as he passed her a cone of strawberry ice cream, "it's on the house today."

"Sweetheart-"

"Just today," grinning, he input her items into the cash register, billing her for one strawberry carton as opposed to three, "Treat yourself."

She shook her head, passing Hoseok a few coins and a banknote, "You sir are too kind, and a little bit of a flirt I'd say."

"You would?" He grinned, tilting his head to the side as he put the strawberry boxes into her bag, "Really?"

"No wonder you've got all the girls in this little town chasing after you," her chuckling seemed to melt away at his heart, he felt small freesia bloom at the edges.

"As long as it's working," he continued to smile, and she clapped his shoulder.

"Well, I'm going to get going now. I'll see you again, sweetheart."

"Bye grandma!" waving, he watched as she hobbled out of the store.

When he was alone again, he stepped out from behind the counter and walked to the entrance, deciding to rearrange the flowers by the door.

Just as he got there, however, the door opened and the familiar chime of the bells rung through the room.

But this time it was different.

Spinning around to greet the customer with a polite smile, he felt himself freeze.

His whole life - ever since his mother had told him what marigold was - he knew what his favourite flower was. His opinion on that matter had never faltered.

But here he was, watching the faint crimson hibiscus blossoming over her cheeks and instantly falling in love.

Honey tulips grew across her skin, and he couldn't help but wonder if whatever she touched would bloom into the most majestic flowers as well.

Her lips were adorned with amaryllis, and he slowly realised he no longer had a favourite flower.

Upon seeing him, the red in her cheeks brightened, and it ignited a spark in his chest. It was small, but unlike any other feeling he'd ever had.

"Oh, hello," she seemed surprised, and he loved it. He could only describe her voice as smoky; somehow catching his attention despite being soft and calm. He didn't want her to stop talking.

"Welcome!" he was an expert in hiding his feelings, "How can I help you today?"

The truth was that he couldn't stop thinking about her since he first saw her the day before. She seemed so oblivious and new - a kind of fresh that he actually liked.

"I didn't know you worked here," she let out in her soft voice again; the spark in Hoseok's rib cage growing.

"Now you do," he flashed her one of his winning grins, trying to gauge her reaction.

She didn't seem fazed.

"I thought this was a strawberry farm, but you sell flowers as well?" she lifted her hand, gently placing it under the petal of a marigold flower. With her eyes closed, she breathed in the scent - Hoseok found him holding his own breath.

As if he needed the affirmation that the flower he'd loved all his life had to be deemed worthy by her.

"Uh yeah, just the smallest collection," he continued when she opened her eyes to look back at him.

"It's a nice collection," she shrugged, "Especially the marigold, that's my favourite flower."

"What?"

Hoseok, don't show your surprise, idiot.

"It's- it's my favourite flower," she repeated for him, continuing to walk closer, "It's so vibrant."

"You're not from around here, are you? How long have you been here?"

"Not long," her reply was curt. "I work at the hotel next door."

Oh, she works there, he thought, she's not a guest.

"Ah, that makes sense. Does that mean I'll be seeing more of you?"

Lifting her eyes from the tubs of ice cream she was scanning, she met his gaze.

Hoseok lived in a small corner of the world, but he'd never had the thought that maybe there was anything more to life than his little town.

But this. This feeling bubbled in the bottom of his stomach and tickled all his insides. This feeling was something new and oh so addicting.

"Why do I get the feeling you're asking because you want to see me again?"

"Because that's exactly it."

She furrowed her eyebrows, looking away from him when he answered.

And without thinking, his mind was flooded with pleads to see her eyes again.

"What's your name? I'm Hoseok," he tried.

"Chris," she answered, not lifting her eyes from the table.

"Interesting," walking closer to her, he dared to prod further, "Is it short for anything?"

"Yeah."

A short, uncomfortable silence followed as Hoseok waited for her to tell him what her name was short for.

But she didn't.

"Are you going to tell me what it's short for?"

"Nope," she shrugged, finally looking up to him.

And he almost lost his balance.

Daylily. Copper daylily swam in the pools of her eyes, and man was it a sight. A sight he couldn't tear his own eyes from.

"Really?" coming to his senses, a smirk appeared at his lips.

She looked questioningly at his demeanour changing.

"I'm going to get you to tell me, you know."

The laugh that erupted from her then was enough to turn that small spark in Hoseok's chest into a fully-fledged fire.

"Trust me. You shouldn't be wasting your energy on something like that."

"You've made me curious, and I work hard when I'm curious."

"Suits me," her smile was stunning, "You're not going to find out."

"Challenge accepted."

Ahhhh guys it's been CENTURIES since I've updated this.

I hope you guys liked this update though! Let me know what you think :)

I love you all for reading thank you so so so much it means so much!

Please look after yourselves today, give yourselves a hug from me and tell yourselves that everything is going to be okay soon enough.

I LOVE YOU

(ALSO DO YOU LIKE THE BANNER HAHAHAH I LOVE DOODLING NOW)