Jiyong didn’t know what to do with the latest delivery to his house. He had been spending a nice Saturday afternoon reading and baking, and listening to his mother play the piano. And then the house bell had rung, and a florist delivery boy stood in front of him.

“Roses for you,sir,” the pale boy had said, smiling at Jiyong’s blushing cheeks.

“Are you sure they’re for me?”

“Has your name on it,” the guy answered.

Jiyong nodded. “Thanks,” he muttered, taking the flowers gingerly and shutting the door. He sat on his favorite sofa in the living room, an old, fluffy collection of cushions. The smell of fresh roses filled the room. They’re pretty, Jiyong thought. The flowers were the nicest shade of pink, bright and vivid. A small note was stuck to the transparent plastic that held the roses together. To Jiyong, the note said. However, it did not say who the sender was. One name echoed in Jiyong’s head, but he didn’t want to assume anything. It was just a dinner. No need for flowers.

But if it wasn’t that guy, who could it be? Jiyong couldn’t think of anyone else who’d send him flowers- especially roses. Sighing, he decided to give the mystery a rest. He took an empty vase from the living room and arranged the flowers in it. He was filling the bottom of the vase with a little bit of water to keep the flowers fresh, when his mom entered the kitchen.

“Ooh, those are pretty flowers! Where’d you get them, Jiyong?” Jane asked. She was a single mother, and loved Jiyong with all her heart. Only one other thing occupied her heart- her love for the piano.

“Um, I, uh, found them.” Jiyong stammered. Wow, that was convincing. Good job Jiyong.

Jane sensed something was off. Her eyes twinkling with mischievousness she said, “Hmm, you found fresh roses just lying around?”

Jiyong decided it would be a good decision to not dig his own grave further than he already had. He finished arranging the flowers, and placed them on the kitchen window sill. He was almost out the kitchen when Jane called out, “Your girlfriend has a good choice though! Pink roses, always a classic!”

Jiyong poked his neck back into the kitchen. “I don’t have a girlfriend.” Seunghyun’s face swam into his mind. Yeah definitely not a girlfriend. Or anything for that matter, he added quickly to himself, feeling his cheeks heat up.

Jane didn’t miss the red cheeks. But she had also not heard Jiyong’s mind. “Well, if you do decide to get a girlfriend, let me know, hmm? I’d like to see Jiyonggie’s type!”

Jiyong scrunched up his nose at the corniness and hurried away before the conversation could prolong. Jane’s laughter followed him to his room, where he shut the door and flopped onto the bed, his phone cradled in his hand. He hadn’t spoken with Seunghyun in almost a week. They had gone out for dinner the past Sunday, and it was Saturday already. Seunghyun would wave at him and flash him bright smiles whenever they’d come across each other at school, but they had never really talked. And that’s why Jiyong didn’t want to assume Seunghyun was the one who sent him flowers. He also couldn’t help but think if he had messed something up during the dinner, and maybe that’s why they weren’t talking…?

But it had seemed like such a good time. At the end of the outing, Jiyong was really happy, and Seunghyun seemed glad too. They had amazing Italian food and then drove to a cliff that overlooked the city and the sea. The distant city lights sparkled in Seunghyun’s eyes as he laughed at Jiyong’s jokes. It was a lighthearted, fun evening. Before the night had ended, Seunghyun had clasped Jiyong’s hands again and pulled him close into a warm hug. “I had such a lovely time,” he had whispered, while Jiyong blushed and muttered, “Me too.” And even though Jiyong didn’t want to assume the dinner to be anything more than necessary, he couldn’t help but think of Seunghyun, his silly jokes, his loud yet tinkling laughs, his scrunched up forehead as he listened intently to Jiyong, and just his endearing dorkiness…

Jiyong had never imagined in his wildest dreams that he would actually want to talk to Seunghyun, and that he’d think of him in ways other than “pompous blue haired idiot”. To him, Seunghyun had slowly evolved into a caring, humble and reliable person whose blue hair stood for a desire to be free and expressive rather than a way to be more popular. And Jiyong liked this Seunghyun. He didn’t want to lose out on knowing more about his complex personality just because he may seem too clingy. It’s been a week, Jiyong tried to convince himself, a friend can ask how he has been doing, right? Jiyong decided to ignore the voice in his head that laughed out loud on hearing the word “friend”. He typed a quick “Hi” into his phone and sent it to Seunghyun before he could change his mind. Before he had time to waste thinking about how daringly stupid he was in all matters related to Seunghyun, his phone beeped. Seeing Seunghyun’s name on the screen, Jiyong calmed a bit. He began to type back-
 

Jiyong: Hi

Seunghyun: Oh hey! How’s it going, J?

Jiyong: It’s good. Didn’t do much today. Except read and listen to mom play the piano. How are you?

Seunghyun: That sounds like a relaxing day. Unfortunately I am being subjected to Kelly’s loud and trashy pop music while I try to finish this algebra homework

Jiyong: Haha, you should try ear-buds

Seunghyun: I should, yea. I may also take a break from this headache also known as mathematics

Jiyong: Yeah, you should. Always helps me work better later. What are you gonna do?

Seunghyun: Maybe get some bubble tea. Did I tell you how much I like bubble tea?

Jiyong: Only a few hundred times ;)

Seunghyun: Ah, I figured. Lol. Would I be interrupting your Saturday if I asked you to come accompany me on my bubble tea break?

Jiyong: I don’t think so

Seunghyun: You don’t think so?

Jiyong: I mean, yea. Sure. That would be nice. Haven’t had bubble tea in a while. Where do you want me to meet you?

Seunghyun: J, I’ll pick you up. In about ten.

Jiyong: Alrighty, if it’s no trouble…

Seunghyun: If you hear rocks on your window, it’s probably me

Jiyong: My house has a doorbell too, you know

Seunghyun: But that isn’t as cute as throwing rocks, is it?

Jiyong: Too much cuteness for a day. First flowers, now this?

Seunghyun: You guessed it? Did you like them?

Jiyong: I thought they were from you…I hoped they were

Seunghyun: You…hoped?

Jiyong: I mean,

Seunghyun: ?

Seunghyun: Don’t chicken out on me J

Jiyong: I mean I hoped there wasn’t more than one corny person in my life... but they were really nice flowers. So thank you.

Seunghyun: You’re such a chicken Jiyong. And you’re welcome.

Jiyong: I’m not a chicken!

Seunghyun: Cluck cluck

Jiyong: …..

Seunghyun: You’re a cute chicken though. I’m on my way. Peace out, Ser Chicken

Jiyong: Cluck cluck, you blue haired idiot :)

Seunghyun: <3
 

Jiyong shut his phone and leaned back into his pillows, eyes closed. And a shy smile on his lips, as his ears got ready to hear the sound of pebbles against his window.