⊱La vita va avanti⊰

Life goes on

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"Hello, my lovelies," I greeted tiredly as I stepped into my flower shop. My echo greeted me back along with my flowers that filled the plain old store. Red, pink, blue, orange, yellow, purple and of course, green colors were bursting and beaming at me, warming my worn out heart.

"It has been a long day... Again," I sighed, talking to them as I placed my bag on the chair behind the desk and plopped on it with a huff. "When I have my hands full with tasks, my boss still gives me more. I finish a task and I get a new one right away. I don't finish, I still get additional ones. Why doesn't my boss care that I'm struggling? Ugh."

I caressed the petals of the roses in the glass vase on the counter. "No... I just have to try harder... right? One day, I'm gonna be a director. I just need to work more if I want to become one."

Tightening my hairband, I stood up and walked to the door to flip the sign to show "Open". The sun was nearly setting, blazing in the horizon, making the sky look like fuchsias.

I yawned and walked back to the counter. It wasn't that late, I should not be tired already. Life began when office work ended, Bloom. All these flowers were here for me to take care and gift to others. Well, technically not gifting but selling, but... anyway.

The chime jingled as soon as I reached my chair and I bowed to the man walking in. A rather pale skinned man. It did not look real. Well, he must had put too much bb cream. I thought only girls like those in my former classes did that. Especially in university, everyone was obsessed with faux clean skin. Well... I was guilty, too. It was a phase.

"One black rose," he said and his voice was sluggish and husky. He was simply standing and was rather apathetic but his aura was heavy and could suffocate me if he was more serious. His entire outfit was pitch black, too. If this was a movie, I would think he was a grim reaper.

I stood speechless for a moment before saying, "If I may ask, sir, for what are you planning on using it?"

"What flower represents revenge?" His black eyes kept me captive and somehow, they made me queasy.

"B-Black rose."

He suddenly cracked a smile and his eyes straightened into lines. "Are you afraid of me? Don't be. I'm just here to buy flower, little girl."

Who was he calling 'little girl'? He was only a few centimeters taller than me. He couldn't be older than thirty from his youthful face and appearance so he was just a few years away from me, too.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't sell black roses," I said with a confident voice. "Our flowers are authentic and natural so you may search other shops."

He chuckled. "Is that so? Then, I'll do so thank you."

I clenched my fists. Did this makeup ridden dude just mock me? How dare he laugh at me?

Another laugh escaped him and I furrowed my eyebrows. "Is anything funny, sir?" Sir? More like, bitch.

He laughed shortly and shook his hand at me. "No. Just... someone must be cursing at me right now because my ears are tingling."

Good.

"My first impression must be bad. Do you have any tip on making yourself look... not that bad when you meet someone for the first time?" He smirked.

I didn't understand what the heck he was suddenly talking about but I couldn't be rude to a customer. "Putting in the effort to know about the other person. And being kind with your words and gestures, I think. It's all about effort."

He grimaced. "'Effort', huh... Sounds tiring..."

"People don't get tired easily. If you wish, you can do anything."

He lifted an eyebrow. "Oh? Then what about you? Did you work and get everything you wished for?"

My lips parted in surprise. No sound left me. Thoughts whirled in my head. Did I? Did I get everything I wished for? Did I get anything I wished for?

"It's okay, kiddo." The man suddenly patted my shoulder, making me flinch. "It's okay to not get everything you want. It's okay to be tired. It's okay to just rest."

His words sounded so tempting. So comforting. Like it was okay to settle for less and do nothing. I could get by doing the bare minimum.

But I didn't want to. That would be existing and not living for me.

"Thank you, sir." I smiled.

He didn't. He stared at me with a puzzled look and stepped away like he gave up. With a nod, he walked off and disappeared around the corner. It wasn't everyday that such strange customers came in. Life was full of surprises.

Yes, life was full of surprises and beauty like my flowers. So why should I settle for less? I should work hard and live well. My future was full of good things.

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Sloth failed
Our girlie has ✨faith✨ and ✨positivity✨

Thank you for reading this chapter and please don't forget to vote if you liked it 🌼