The tiny bell above the flower shop door chimed as Min pushed it open, a gust of late spring air following him inside.
The first thing he noticed wasn't the shelves of flowers or the faint drizzle outside. It was the smell—sweet, soft, and almost overwhelming, like stepping into a dream.
"Um… hello?" he called out, clutching the strap of his worn backpack. His honey-blonde hair stuck out in messy tufts, damp from the rain, golden-brown eyes darting nervously around the shop.
A voice answered, low and calm, from deeper inside.
"Give me a second."
When Min turned, he saw him.
The florist—tall, elegant, with ash-silver hair that caught the warm shop light, and pale violet eyes that seemed almost unreal. He moved with quiet precision, trimming stems at the counter as though every gesture was a practiced ritual.
Min felt his throat go dry.
Was this… really his new boss?
"You're Min, right? The part-timer?" The man's tone wasn't cold, just matter-of-fact.
"Y-Yes!" Min fumbled, bowing too quickly, his backpack nearly slipping off his shoulder. "Nice to meet you!"
The florist set down the scissors and finally looked at him properly. His gaze lingered for a moment, unreadable, before he gave a short nod.
"I'm Kei. I'll show you around."
Min trailed after him, trying not to trip on the polished wooden floor. Rows of flowers lined the shelves, their colors so vivid that Min felt like he'd stepped into another world.
And there, tucked near the window, a small cluster of *camellias* bloomed quietly—soft pink petals layered like whispers.
Min paused, staring at them, though he didn't know why. They just felt… different.
"Don't just stand there," Kei said from ahead, his voice calm but firm. "We have work to do."
Min jolted and hurried after him, but not before stealing one last glance at the camellias.
He didn't know it yet, but this was where everything would begin.
To be continued....