CH 145

Sehun watched Yoonshin beyond the large shop windows. He saw the younger man ask the florist something before he disappeared into a deeper corner of the building, escaping Sehun’s sight.

Sehun checked the time on his watch then lightly tapped on the wheel. Several minutes later, Yoonshin reappeared. There was a single white flower in his hand.

“You have quite genteel tastes.”

“Isn’t it pretty?” Yoonshin, who had gotten back in the passenger side of the car, clutched the single bloom carefully near his heart. The younger man brought the flower to his nose. It looked like a scene from a fairy tale. Sehun watched entranced like an audience captivated by a scene from a movie, then he restarted the car. They had already been near their home, so he reached the parking garage in no time.

The two got out of the car and didn’t exchange words at all. They merely made their way toward the lobby in the path familiar to them. When they saw the doors leading to each building and where they usually parted, Yoonshin said, “Do you know what this flower is?”

“Isn’t it a lily?” Sehun replied.

“It is.”

“Are you going to stick it in a vase at home?”

“No.” Of course not, Yoonshin seemed to say as he stuck out the flower toward Sehun.

Sehun looked down at it incredulously and frowned. “Why’re you giving this to me?”

“I had thought that you were going to an average columbarium and assumed that there would be a flower shop on the way there. But the roads were mostly gravel, and it bothered me that I couldn’t buy anything. Next time, take something like this with you. If you don’t want something obvious like a white chrysanthemum, I heard that white lilies are often used in funerals overseas. Roses are fine too.”

“I don’t need things like this.”

“I’m giving it to your brother, not you, in honor of meeting him. You’re just the messenger. And this is my present.”

When one thought of flowers, one would naturally recall that they wilted quickly, but Yoonshin believed the opposite. Flowers represented life. When he went to meet his father, he always bought at least one flower, sometimes many, depending on his mood.

‘Despite your absence, this flower bloomed beautifully and magnificently. Despite its fate of wilting and fading away, I will live fully and completely like these wide-open blooms.’ When he delivered that message via the flower, his sadness faded away. Yoonshin wanted Sehun to know about the strength of that one life.

Instead of ignoring Yoonshin’s feelings, Sehun slowly took the flower. Just as Yoonshin did, he smelled the flower. As he did so, Yoonshin snapped out of his thoughts and continued, “You know that thing from last time…”

“That thing?” Sehun asked back.

Yoonshin looked all around, then he stopped walking. Thankfully, there was nobody around at that moment.

“The statement of claim. You wanted me to send you one.”

The hand that held the flower lost some of its strength, lowering from his face. Just a moment ago, Sehun didn’t look too moody, but now his face was stiff as he stared at Yoonshin. Yoonshin merely continued to express his thoughts, not knowing what was going on in the other’s head, “I’ll write one now.”

“You need to tell me what you want from me first.”

“Come closer first. The lobby is rarely so empty on a day like today when everyone wants to go out.”

Sehun walked forward unhesitatingly, challenging Yoonshin on what he was going to do. In the middle of the lobby, two men in suits stood facing each other. Yoonshin double-checked whether the elevator was about to open, then he extended out his arms. He embraced Sehun’s firm upper body, trapping the other in his arms. It was difficult to reach his hands because the other was taller and broader-shouldered, but he barely managed to hug the older man’s body completely.