"What would you do if you couldn't find me in the next life? Would you give up and end up with someone else?"
"Hmmm…" The man lowered his head for a moment, as if truly thinking about the question seriously. Then he smiled, his gaze warm as it pierced into the girl's eyes.
"I'd definitely find a way to meet you again. Lily… a lily flower will be the sign. I'll recognize you right away, even if things are difficult and your face has changed. Even if I have to go to the ends of the earth, I'll find you. Because we're destined to find each other. So don't be afraid—everything will be alright."
Sera promised to return in the afternoon to pick up her order. Ever since she walked away, time seemed to mock Liam. The clock's hands moved painfully slow. The ticking on the wall sounded louder than usual, making his chest grow even more restless. He kept waiting for the little bell at the door to chime—the sign he longed for.
Ding!
The bell rang.
Liam's heart leapt. He turned quickly, his whole body tense with anticipation. But when he saw the figure stepping inside, disappointment instantly clouded his face.
"Clara?" His voice was flat, showing clear reluctance.
The girl stood in the doorway. The smile she wore looked forced, her lips stretching too much as if to convince herself. "Hi, Liam…" she greeted cheerfully, walking in with confident steps, as if the shop belonged to her. "Are you busy? Want to go watch a movie with me tonight? I already bought tickets. It's a new rom-com, I remember you used to love that kind of film."
The light tone spilling from her lips felt unbearably heavy in Liam's ears. He drew in a long breath, then placed the scissors he was using for his arrangement on the table with a firm gesture.
"Enough, Clara. I have other things to take care of. And please…" his eyes cut sharp into hers, his voice cold and piercing, "stop interfering in my life. We ended a long time ago. Why are you here now, disturbing me?"
Clara's smile faltered, but she didn't move. Instead, she stepped closer, standing right in front of the counter. Her eyes trembled with emotion, her lips quivering slightly.
"Why do you always avoid me, Liam? Am I really that unworthy to be near you?" Her voice was soft, almost fragile, but beneath it was an undeniable spark of anger.
Liam stayed silent. He didn't answer—but his silence was already more than enough.
Clara gritted her teeth. Her hand, hidden beneath the counter, clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palm, leaving marks. Pride kept her from spilling out her pain, but her eyes betrayed her, trembling with frustration. She knew Liam was rejecting her—again and again. Yet still, she stubbornly clung to the hope that some miracle might change his heart.
Ding!
The bell rang again.
This time Liam turned with his heartbeat jumping once more. And there she was—Sera, the one he had been waiting for, finally walked in. A slow smile broke across his face as he greeted her arrival.
The girl stepped inside, bringing with her the soft evening breeze. Her hair was slightly tousled by the wind, making her look even more natural. Her warm brown eyes immediately found Liam behind the counter. Her smile bloomed—simple, sincere, yet enough to make Liam's chest tremble.
"Sorry, I'm a little late," she said lightly, walking closer. "I came to pick up the flowers. Are they ready?"
Liam's expression softened instantly. In a heartbeat, his tone shifted—warm, almost tender, like a voice he reserved only for Sera.
"They're ready. Just a second, I'll get them. Do you want to sit for a while?"
"No… no need. I'm in a hurry, just the flowers." Sera's voice was gentle as she smiled at him warmly.
The difference was too stark. Clara noticed every detail, and her chest tightened as if crushed. How easily Liam showed that face to Sera—the face and voice that once should have belonged to her. Her gaze dimmed, turning darker, hiding her pain beneath a mask of indifference and quiet hatred.
At first, Sera hadn't realized Clara was there. She was too focused on watching Liam slip into the back room. But when she turned, her eyes met the figure standing stiff not far away. Their gazes locked. Unlike Sera's, Clara's stare was like a lion ready to pounce at any moment.
Clara's eyes were cold, her look dripping with unspoken mockery. Sera froze. An unease crept into her chest, but she chose to stay calm. She didn't want her brief moment with Liam to be ruined by someone else's presence. Even so, she couldn't stop the whisper inside her heart—was she being too bold by coming here? Was she intruding?
Not long after, Liam returned, carrying a bouquet of white lilies. He held it carefully, as if afraid to damage even a single petal.
"Here are your flowers. Is it just as you wanted?"
Sera received the bouquet gently, like holding something fragile that had to be protected. A small smile touched her lips as she nodded.
"It's beautiful… thank you, Liam."
For a moment, the air between them felt different. Warm, yet fragile, like a thin thread that could snap at any time.
"Alright then, I'll get going. Thank you. Bye"
Sera didn't linger. She turned and walked out. Her steps were soft, but to Liam, every step sounded like it was taking her away too quickly. Until finally, the bell chimed once again, marking her departure—leaving only the faint scent of lilies hanging in the air.
Clara watched the scene with blazing eyes, hatred hidden behind her blank expression. Her fists clenched tighter, her jaw stiffened. The wound inside her grew deeper, and she knew that her fragile heart was slowly hardening into embers.
Meanwhile, Liam stood frozen. His gaze was glued to the door that had shut firmly, his eyes following Sera's fading figure through the glass window. A restless wave crashed in his chest. He knew Sera must have noticed Clara. He knew her last smile wasn't empty—something was held back behind it. Maybe disappointment, maybe misunderstanding.
His hand lifted, covering his face. Frustration pressed down heavily on his chest. Why did Clara always appear at the wrong time? Why, whenever he tried to close the distance with Sera, something always tore it apart?
"Maybe we really are only destined to meet, but never to belong to each other…" he muttered softly, barely audible.
His gaze fell on a single lily left on the counter. He lifted it gently, studying its pure white petals. A simple flower, yet filled with meaning.
Deep down, he knew: though its petals were fragile, the lily always bloomed calmly. Just like his feelings for Sera—tender, delicate, yet never truly fading.