⊱Je me débrouille bien⊰

I'm doing well

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"What plant would be good for homes?"

Startled at the deep tone, I looked up from my accounting book. The maroon haired man was smiling down at me. He was coming here once in a while to buy something and initiate a rather peculiar conversation. Then he would leave with an over the top motivational quote. I appreciated them though.

Still, I was not used to his voice. The deepest voice I had ever heard.

"Depends on what kind of plant you're looking for, sir-"

"Ah. Jaesung," he corrected with a pout. "I'm not old so please don't address me as 'sir'."

What the heck was he talking about? We were not close or anything and it was uncomfortable to call a near-stranger by his name.

Though I could not disrespect my customer's wishes.

"Um... What kind of plant are you looking for, Jaes... Jaesung?"

He hummed and gosh, how could anyone hum that deeply? "What kind do you like?"

"Me?" I blinked. He nodded vigorously with a grin. "I like cactus..."

His eyes widened. "Cactus?"

"Yes. They're small and cute and very self sufficient. And if they grow flowers which are actually rare, they're so so beautiful. Oh!" I rushed to the racks and grabbed a pot of cactus with a pastel pink flower to place it before him. "Look. This one just bloomed lately. It's beautiful, isn't it?"

His jaw dropped and he crouched to look closer. "Wow. It is! I never knew cacti could grow flowers..."

I beamed, feeling giddy that I showed him something new. His reactions were making me proud that I was a florist.

"I don't think I should buy this."

My smile dropped instantly. "What? Why?"

"It seems like it's precious to you." He traced the petal of the flower. "It finally bloomed..."

"If it goes to an owner who can take care of it, I'll be happy."

His curious eyes darted up to meet mine and he asked, "Then, can I?"

I nodded. "If you want."

His eyes suddenly glowed red like they did when he came in with the blue haired woman. I could not be seeing things. This was the second time. It was definitely real. How could eyes flash a different color?!

My phone suddenly buzzed and I nearly dropped to the ground from the shock. Jaesung covered his mouth, muffling his laughs. I ignored him and grabbed my phone to answer.

"Is this Miss Bloom Lei?"

"Yes?"

"Congratulations! You were selected as one of our winners for the environmental essay competition and have earned a one-room studio apartment!"

My mouth hung open and my breath got stuck in my throat. I flailed my free hand, not knowing what to do.

"Please come to the Green Holdings central office tomorrow at 10 am for the award ceremony."

"Thank you!"

The call ended and I put down my phone before standing in silence. Only my heartbeat was heard. I was frozen. My mind was floating around, not a thought entering.

An apartment?!

I finally had a place to sleep other than my flower shop now. I worked on the essay night after night even when I was exhausted from work. Still, I had no expectations because disappointment was heavier than I could bear.

I always gave my best and expected the worst. That was easier for my heart.

"Are you okay?"

Jaesung snapped me out of it and I remembered I had company. I fixed my hair and cleared my throat.

"I'm sorry. Is there anything else I can do for you, sir- Jaesung?"

"Diligence!"

A woman burst in when he opened his mouth. It was the blue haired woman. She looked between us as if she was suspicious and slapped his back, earning a hiss from him.

"If you're done here, let's go. We have work to do, boy."

She rushed him to make the payment and dragged him out. He was gleefully bidding me goodbye as they left. Such a strange man.

Now that I thought it through, I was somehow lucky when he was around. Especially after his eyes turned red.

What was happening?

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"This is the apartment."

When the door swung open, I gasped out loud and marveled at my new home as my boots heels clicked and echoed. It was small but it was big enough for one person to live. Also, luckily, it was near my flower shop.

My heart quivered and my lips trembled.

"I'll leave it to you then." The staff bowed and I did as well before he left.

I sat down on my knees and looked around the room through my tears. This was the first time my guilt for selling my family's apartment left me. I had to trade my home filled with memories with meals and bills to keep me alive.

"Mom, dad... I'm doing well..."

I sniffled and wiped the tear that rolled down my cheek.

"I'm working hard so you don't have to worry about me."

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I fished it out to answer my superior. "Hello?"

"Bloom, can you go to the office? I was supposed to be there for the project meetings but I suddenly caught a fever. The meeting starts at 12:30."

I checked the time and it was almost 12. It was a weekend but I had no reason to reject when she asked me like that.

"Okay. I'll be there."

"Oh! Thank you so much, Bloom! I'll send you-" She coughed mid sentence. A very heavy one. "I'll send you the details by message. Jay is also there as backup. You should attend the meetings together."

I paused. "Oh..."

"Thank you." Cough. "Good luck."

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You don't know how shocked I was when I first saw the cactus my mom planted suddenly grow a flower.

Such a sight ✨🌸