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The cold of winter had settled over the city like a heavy, silent cloak. Snowflakes drifted lazily from the gray sky, dusting the world in a layer of shimmering white. Everything seemed muffled, as though nature itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to break the silence. The air was cold enough that each exhale formed delicate clouds from Hyeongjun’s breath.It was the kind of winter evening that made everything feel softer and quieter; like the bustle of the day was muted beneath the weight of the season and the snow, Hyeongjun thought. The streets were empty, save for the occasional flicker of light coming from a distant window and the occasional crunch of boots on frozen ground. The silence was peaceful but it made Hyeongjun feel more alone.He walked through the streets until he came to their park, hands buried deep in his pockets, the chill of winter seeping into his bones. The world seemed endless, an ocean of snowflakes and cold air at peace. This evening was the quietest it had been all month and yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being out of sync with everything around him. His heart felt restless, as if it wanted to reach out towards someone.He knew why and he was sure if he explained it to anyone else, they would too. He had known for a while now, but the truth had only hit him in the past few weeks. He had tried to bury it, to ignore it, to focus on his work, on the shop, but it had become next to impossible. His soul recognised something in Serim - something that was more than friendship. It was something deep, something ancient. A soulmate, a truth he had yet to tell, and was scared to; because Serim didn’t know, he couldn’t know.For all the joy Serim brought into his life, there was a weight to it. A responsibility to carry that secret alone. Every smile, every laugh they shared, every moment of quiet comfort shared in each other’s presence only deepened the truth he had already known. It wasn’t that Serim didn’t know, Hyeongjun thought, staring up at the sky. It was that he couldn’t feel it the way Hyeongjun did. Probably couldn’t feel it at all. To Serim, they were just two friends who shared a love for music, for flowers, for baked goods and warm beverages.To Hyeongjun? He felt the pull, the unspoken connection that tethered him to Serim’s side, the way his heartbeat seems to align with the rhythm of Serim’s every move. The way his eyes lingered on Serim, the way his voice called out to him. But Hyeongjun kept it to himself. His soul knew it but fear kept him quiet. He can say he thought this was the kind of love that couldn’t be forced, that had to be discovered; that’s why he restrained the bond that kept reaching out. But really? It was fear that kept him silent. And the flowers that appeared in the vase in plain sight, only Hyeongjun was all the wiser.But the winter nights, these winter nights with their cold winds, starless skies and falling snows had a way of making everything feel more raw, making him feel more vulnerable. And today as he walked, the vulnerability gnawed at him. The distance between them felt like a chasm, one of his own doing and one he secretly hoped Serim would bridge. Because then it would mean that Serim felt the same right? That Serim felt the bond and wanted to connect it, to complete it. That something was reaching out to him, the way his bond was reaching out to Serim.As he walked through the park, his feet led them to their bench, the place where they often met when the world felt too loud, too chaotic. It was a haven, a space where they could just exist in each other’s company without the weight of expectations. He sat on the bench, overlooking the frozen pond with its still waters and thought how wonderful it could be if his own heart was like that until he heard a gentle crunch.Feeling the bond stir before turning to look, “Hyung,” Hyeongjun called softly, his voice almost lost in the wind, but Serim heard him, looking at him with a smile that always made his chest tighten.Serim glanced down at the bench, their bench, where Hyeongjun was sitting, wrapped in a thick coat and scarf, his breath coming out in soft puffs that seemed to float away. Serim felt it again - he couldn’t name it but he was drawn to Hyeongjun in ways that often left him breathless. There was a comfort in Hyeongjun’s presence, a sense of belonging that Serim found himself seeking more and more. But Hyeongjun had been distant for weeks now. The spark he usually carried had dimmed, and it seemed nothing Serim could do could bring it back.The younger boy’s usual cheer had faded, replaced by a kind of quiet sorrow, an ache that was impossible to ignore. Serim could feel it in the way Hyeongjun’s laughter no longer reached his eyes, in the way he had distanced himself, the way he had drawn into himself and put his guard up as if afraid to let anyone in.But it wasn’t just Hyeongjun who had changed. Serim had been caught in his own internal struggle, trying to balance his friendship with his growing feelings for the younger man. He had always been good at hiding his emotions, at keeping his heart locked behind a careful smile. But now, with Hyeingjun’s distance, it was like his heart was breaking with every passing moment, and he didn’t know how to fix it. Actually, he did but he wasn’t sure if Hyeongjun felt the same.“Jun,” Serim replied warmly, moving to sit next to him on the bench. “Move up.” Hyeongjun hesitated for a second, a moment of doubt creeping in, If only Serim knew. If only he could feel the bond Hyeongjun felt, knew the truth Hyeongjun carried within him. But he couldn’t risk it - not yet. The fear of rejection, of pushing Serim away for good, was too great. And so he forced a smile, shuffling along so Serim could sit down next to him.They sat in silence for a while, the only sound being the soft rustling of the wind through the streets and the muffled hum of the city beyond the park. It was peaceful, quiet, calming. But Hyeongjun couldn’t help the whirlwind in his chest, couldn’t stop the ingrained ache of longing that pulsed with every heartbeat.“You’ve been distant lately,” Serim said, his tone gentle but probing, as though he had been thinking about it for a while. “Is everything okay?”Hyeongjun swallowed, trying to keep his voice steady. “Yeah. I’m fine. Just…thinking.”Serim nodded, his eyes softening with an understanding that made Hyeongjun’s heartache. It wasn’t the first time he had heard those words nor the first time he saw those gentle eyes of understanding from Serim, but each time it felt like a quiet confirmation that, despite everything, Serim still cared, still saw him. But it was a care that felt…different in a way. It was the same as before, yet now it felt like it came with a heavy weight that Hyeongjun had neither the strength nor the words for.“I’m always here you know,” Serim added, his voice barely above a whisper. “You don’t have to hide from me.” The words hung in between them, fragile. Serim’s heart thudded painfully in his chest as he watched Hyeongjun’s expression shift, his eyes glistened with unshed tears, a storm of emotions swirling in his eyes.The way Serim said those words made Hyeongjun’s breath catch, a bittersweet longing made its way to his throat. For a moment, he thought he would break, shatter in a rush of raw emotion and tell him the secret that made its home in the depths of his core. Instead, he turned to Serim, his eyes resting on him longer than usual, letting his eyes say what he couldn’t before saying “I know,” voice full of something soft and spoken. “I know.”Serim sensing the heaviness in his voice, didn’t push. Instead, he turned slightly towards Hyeongjun, leaning his shoulder gently against his, hoping he could somehow help carry whatever it was that pressed Hyeongjun down.The snow fell, the cold wrapped, the wind blew and the world kept turning. But at that moment Hyeongjun didn’t feel it. He only felt Serim - the way his presence seemed to anchor him, the way he had a gentle strength, the way he made everything in the world fall just a little bit more in place when they were together.Hyeongjun wanted to tell him everything. He wanted to say that their souls had already met long before they had, that something in him had recognised Serim the moment they had first crossed paths. But instead, he remained quiet, choosing the silent comfort of Serim’s presence and the subtle way their hearts seemed to beat in sync.Eventually, as the night deepened and snow fell harsher, Serim stood, brushing off the dusting from his coat. “We should probably get going,” he said with a light chuckle, though there was something in his eyes that Hyeongjun couldn’t read. “But if you need to talk, I'm here. Anytime.”Hyeongjun remained sitting, his heart thumping against his ribs. He reached out, just for a moment, his hand brushing against Serim’s, the simple touch sending a wave of warmth to both of them.“I know,” Hyeongjun repeated, his voice soft but filled with an undeniable certainty. “I’ll stay a little longer...Thank you hyung.”As Serim walked away, beneath the streetlights, his footsteps leaving traces in the snow, Hyeongjun felt that familiar pull - the pull of destiny that brought them together and didn’t let him leave. That he started believing would bring them together when the time was right. For now, it wasn’t yet the right time for the truth but that winter night with the fierce winds and gentle snow, it felt like a promise that it would happen.And maybe that was enough for Hyeongjun.He would wait. Because Hyeongjun knew that soulmates weren’t just meant to find each other, they were meant to wait, to grow, to learn, to understand and when the time was right they would come together and nurture the relationship with what they learnt.That night in his flower shop below his home, a new bouquet appeared in his vase. Of ‘Astilbes’, the name appeared in his mind, ‘patience and dedication.’Their feathery plumes stood soft and proud. Hyeongjun ran his hands over their delicate blooms, marveling at their strength. It reminded him of his love for Serim - hidden in the shadows, flourishing in silence. Just like the flower, his love had grown steadfast, resilient and enduring; in quiet corners, away from the light of confession. Waiting in patience, despite the uncertainty, for the time to bloom; just as the flower withstood the passage of time, of seasons, before it bloomed.And just as always Hyeongjun took a single flower and dried it, mixed the resin, and placed the single astilbe in a jar and poured the resin in, making sure the flower was everlasting.The next morning Hyeongjun looked at the flowers he had cured so far. Each symbolising a different emotion, a different time.As the owner of the small flower shop connected to his home, Hyeongjun spent his days arranging bouquets, crafting stories and messages through flowers. As mundane as can be. Yet, when the shop closed, when the world outside fell to a murmur, and the moonlight filtered through the frosted windows, something strange happened. Each night, a single flower would bloom, it never lingered, never triggered by anything; fading by morning light, but Hyeongjun had grown used to it and cherished their arrival. However that changed, they more often became bouquets, corporal and physical, lasting.It started when Serim started visiting his shop. At night, a bouquet of flowers would appear in the vase that sat on his counter, materialising as though summoned by something unseen. When Serim was there, the flowers often shifted slightly, as if leaning towards him, their petals brighter and more vibrant. Hyeongjun didn’t know if Serim noticed, he hoped he did. The bouquets always spoke to his heart, reflecting his emotions and thoughts. And with each meeting a new bouquet appeared, whispering truths in Hyeongjun’s face.
Peony, hope
The first time Serim stepped through his doors was a drizzly spring afternoon. He walked in, trailing raindrops in his wake. Hyeongjun glanced up from where he was tying ribbons around a bouquet of roses, love, when he heard the bell chime. His hands faltered as his gaze landed on the man in the doorway. Serim was a picture of warmth, gentle but commanding. He held a soft smile that was framed by the damp hair and in a jacket darkened by the rain.
“Hi,” he said, his voice carrying an easy warmth. “I saw your shop and wanted to buy some flowers.”
Hyeongjun managed a welcoming smile. “Welcome, feel free to look around. I’ll be with you once I'm done here.”
Serim’s eyes roamed the room, the place looked inviting and cozy. And definitely vibrant. The shop was filled with flowers but not overwhelming.
“So how can I help you?” Hyeongjun asked. “I was hoping to get a bouquet for my mum. She loves flowers, and I thought…well, this place looked perfect.” Serim replied.
Hyeongjun nodded and gave an energetic smile, his natural charm kicking in despite his chest tightening in a way that he couldn’t explain. “Of course, any favourites!”
As they spoke, Hyeongjun’s usual playful confidence faltered in small ways - his hands fumbled while tying the ribbon, his laugh a little too soft; but Serim didn’t seem to notice, or if he did, he didn’t mention it.
That night, the vase revealed a bouquet of Peonies, its petals soft and blushing, radiating quiet hope. Hope, his mind supplied. Hope for new beginnings, for starts untouched and fresh, often gifted for quiet confessions. That night the warmth of Serim’s smile kept replaying in his mind like a song. The stirring of something in his soul. He realised the flowers became real the next morning, he traced its edges with his fingertips, wondering why the vase had chosen its first bouquet and why a peony? And something whispered the man’s name in his ears.
Of course, then he hadn’t known he had fallen in love and the vase reflected that. Only that he felt the bouquet was beautiful and he wanted to immortalise it, so he took a singular peony, dried it and mixed some resin, before placing the flower in a jar and pouring in the resin.The visits became regular after that. Serim would stop by, sometimes buying small bouquets, other times lingering to talk. Each night, the vase hummed softly, offering bouquets that mirrored Hyeongjun’s growing feelings.
Sunflower, adoration
Summer brought Serim back to the shop again and again. He claimed it was the perfect place to escape the sweltering heat, to get inspiration, to relax; often staying longer than needed. That the shop felt welcoming and the flowers offered him solace. Hyeongjun didn’t mind, in fact he joked around and played along, finding himself looking forward to Serim’s visits. With each meeting, their conversations seemed to change, to deepen. And that something stirring became deeper, stronger, more ingrained.
They spoke of flowers and bouquets, of music and lyrics, of storytelling in all its forms, of baked goods and warm drinks, of life and dreams. And Serim would often leave with a small bouquet; Hyeongjun would watch him leave, his heart heavier each time, with feelings he couldn’t name
One afternoon, Serim leaned on the counter, watching Hyeongjun arrange a bouquet whilst explaining the meaning of each flower, and the overall meaning of the bouquet. “Do you ever think people are like flowers?” Serim asked, eyes thoughtful but lit. “All different, some are bold, some are quiet but all beautiful and with their own stories.”
“Just like music,” Hyeongjun replied once done. Serim looked up at him. “Some are like chords, some are like crescendos, some polyphonic, some ballads and others pop; but all with their own songs.” Hyeongjun explained energetically causing Serim to chuckle. “Yes,” he replied and then the conversation led to his music. Hyeongjun leaned on the counter, watching Serim talk about his songs, the meanings behind them, the way lyrics and melodies would come to him.
Moments like this, when Serim would focus on Hyeongjun, would smile and his eyes would be lit up, made Hyeongjun ache with longing he didn’t want to admit and a warmth that had nothing to do with the summer sun.
That night, the vase revealed a single sunflower, bold and unyielding, adoration, Hyeongjun thought. The feeling that Hyeongjun could no longer deny, that took root, with the way the sunflower’s golden face faced towards the spot Serim would usually stand at. He traced the petals, wondering if Serim could sense the way Hyeongjun’s world revolved around him, if it was as obvious as this sunflower. Wondering if Serim too, had something reaching out towards him.
That was the first time he hadn’t preserved it straight away. A singular sunflower. If he preserved it and took it to his home above, would anyone have known that there was a sunflower? He waited until the week passed before he did as he always did. He took the singular Sunflower, dried it and mixed some resin, before placing the flower in a tall jar and pouring in the resin.
Pink Chrysanthemum, friendship and loyalty enduring love
As the leaves turned golden, amber and red. Serim’s visits lasted longer and became more frequent. To the point that Hyeongjun set a stool there, in Serim’s spot everyone teasingly called it the day he did, Serim chuckling, and thereafter it came to be known as Serim’s spot to the regulars. Often Serim could be found sitting there sipping tea, scribbling his lyrics in a notebook and sometimes out loud to Hyeongjun.
That evening they decided to walk in the park and go to the bench they always went to. They talked about everything and nothing all at once whilst overlooking the pond. It was then that Hyeongjun felt a shift. A realisation that his love had grown, becoming as natural and inevitable as the changing seasons. A word came to his mind, unbidden, soulmate. And the bond reached out, though he quickly restrained it, afraid as he was.
The meaning of the Chrysanthemums that appeared the night before changed. He always did think that his original thought of friendship and loyalty fit but not exactly. Maybe that’s why he held off from immortalising it. His feelings seemed to have become something deeper, something more serious, like the Chrysanthemum’s feeling of enduring love. He remembered thinking that felt right. Enduring love, stability and longevity. That night the previous bouquet of Chrysanthemums all turned pink.And now.
Astilbe, patience and dedication
Winter was supposed to be coming to an end soon and yet the following week was colder than usual, with gusts of wind that seemed to tear at the soul. Despite this, Hyeongjun found himself walking to the park, drawn to it by an invisible thread. He hoped Serim would be there sitting at their bench, perhaps waiting for him. Because yes, it was their bench even if Hyeongjun desperately tried to deny it. Something in him, maybe the bond, lashed out whenever he tried denying it, denying anything really, these days.Despite following the same path something felt different. There was an unfamiliar heaviness to the air, a chill, that he couldn’t quite place.When he arrived, Serim wasn’t there as he had hoped. So he sat himself on their usual bench, the cold biting at his cheeks, but he didn’t mind. He found comfort in the way the snow settled like a covering on everything it touched, and the way the wind blew harshly.As the time passed by, the sounds of the city faded into a quiet hum. Hyeongjun’s mind however was anything but still. It kept drifting back to the other night. It lingered in his heart, his mind, his soul - the way Serim had spoken to him, the gentle words, the kindness in his eyes. Just as Serim was for him, he wanted to be for Serim. The one Serim turned to, the one who would be there lending an ear, the one who would help him when the world felt too heavy.As he thought that, the sound of footsteps broke through.Hyeongjun looked up, expecting to see Serim alone, walking towards him. Instead, he saw him with someone else. A girl, someone Hyeongjun recognised from Serim’s circle. They stopped a few feet away, and Hyeongjun could hear their voices, though he couldn’t make out the exact words from this distance, he could see Serim’s smile - the same warm smile that had always been for him. Sure he had smiled at other people but Hyeongjun only saw this one turned to him, never to anyone else. Until now. Now, today, it was directed at her and the sight of it made something in Hyeongjun’s chest tighten.He shuffled closer, to hear better and then came to a halt as Serim took a step closer to the girl. It felt as if the winter turned him into an ice sculpture; watching in quiet stillness, unable to tear his gaze away. Hyeongjun could see the way Serim’s eyes softened, and he began to hear the tenderness in his voice, a tenderness that seemed to echo in his ears.“I’ve been wanting to say this for a while now,” Serim said, nervous, his words reaching Hyeongjun. “I’ve felt something more than just friendship and I don’t think I can do this anymore. I really like you. I think…I think I’ve liked you for a long time.”The words meant for someone else hit Hyeongjun like a wave. His heart stuttered, the realisation sinking in and suddenly the world around him felt colder, duller. His chest tightened painfully, a knot of jealousy, longing and something darker coiling in him.It wasn’t that he hadn’t known this possibility existed but hearing it out loud, hearing Serim confess to someone else, tore at him in ways he hadn’t expected. His eyes flickered as he stared at them and he saw the girl’s face soften, her expression lighting up with a warmth.For a moment, he sat there, watching, unable to move. The wind howling through the bare branches and the gentle crunch of snow beneath their feet seemed impossibly loud as he fought against the ache. He had always told himself that he was prepared for this - after all, they were just friends.But at this moment, at the harshness of the park, and the coldness of winter, Hyeongjun felt the bond stretch painfully, like a thread fraying at its edges but refusing to break. It hurt, more than he expected, to hear the tenderness in Serim’s voice directed at someone else. Yet even then, the bond didn’t vanish—it lingered, stubborn and unyielding, as if it knew something Hyeongjun didn’t.What Hyeongjun couldn’t see was Serim and the pang of guilt flickering through him. The words felt wrong, hollow, as though they didn’t belong to the person he truly wanted to say them to. That it felt wrong. He thought he heard a discordant sound, like a note out of tune in a harmony, jarring and unshakable. It lingered in his mind, an unrelenting reminder that the rehearsal for his confession was meaningless, that the words rang empty.Hyeongjun’s hand gripped the edge of the bench, his knuckles white, as if it could hold him steady. The weight of the moment pressed down, suffocating, until he could bear it no longer. He turned his head lightly, stood up and retreated into the shadows of the trees out of their view.
It hurts so much
The thought was sharp, biting. Hyeongjun closed his eyes for a moment, fighting the sting of tears that threatened to fall. His breath came in shallow bursts, the cold air slapping his cheeks and yet that wasn’t what hurt, it was the realisation that his love had been, afterall, one sided, that the bond he felt with Serim had been nothing more than a dream. A dream he didn’t have the courage to share.He leaned against the tree, one hand coming to rest on his chest as though trying to hold the pieces of his heart together. He couldn’t pretend: that he could wait; that this didn’t matter; that he didn’t care. He cared. He cared more than he’d ever known possible, but now he had to face the reality that Serim’s heart belonged to someone else. And he wanted to hate her. He wanted to but he couldn’t. It wasn’t her fault. She wouldn’t have known.While the conversation between Serim and the girl continued, Hyeongjun’s heart clenched. His emotions overwhelmed him, suffocating him with its heaviness; he felt everything around him tighten, the shirt was strangling him, the jacket too tight, the trees too close, the wind too biting. But as this happened, as he stood there clutching his chest, broken and vulnerable, a strange clarity began to overtake him.
‘I love him.’
The thought was simple and one he had many times, but it burned like fire through his veins now. He loved Serim. He always had, even when he didn’t know it, even when he knew and tried to hide it. And maybe it wasn’t meant to be right now. Maybe it was never meant to be. Maybe destiny was all in his head. Maybe it was time to accept: that it was never going to be Serim and Hyeongjun; that he couldn’t wait; that he couldn’t live with Serim loving someone else; that he took too long, he shouldn’t have waited, he should have pursued him. Or at least been upfront about his feelings.‘Ah,’ Hyeongjun thought. ‘I love him. I love him and I want him to be happy’He began to accept that sometimes, love wasn’t all about what you wanted, it was about loving someone the way they needed. Even if that meant stepping back, letting them go, and accepting that their happiness came in a form that didn’t include him. Hyeongjun felt the tightness in his chest begin to loosen, the feeling of jealousy and sorrow beginning to ebb. Even if it would never go, it wasn’t consuming him as he thought.Hyeongjun realised, in this moment, that loving Serim wasn’t about claiming him - it was about being there for him, quietly, watching him happy and wishing him well, whether it was with him or someone else. The bond, frayed as it was, remained whole but this time didn’t reach out, instead it wrapped around him gently, offering quiet comfort. For the first time, it felt less like a tether and more like a silent presence, agreeing with him.Somewhere across the park, Serim paused mid-sentence, a strange unease settling over him. He couldn’t explain why, but he felt as though a weight was on his chest.Hyeongjun wiped the remnants of the tears he hadn’t realised had fallen, straightened up and walked away to another bench, not their bench, but another one and sat there quietly watching over the frozen pond.When the conversation between the two finally ended, Serim felt something and turned. Seeing Hyeongjun he waved. Hyeongjun forced a smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes but was enough to hide the rawness of his heart.Serim stood there talking for a while longer before hugging the girl goodbye, during that time Hyeongjun came to a decision and it felt like the world was lifting itself from his shoulders.Minutes after the girl left, Serim began to approach Hyeongjun, pausing momentarily when he saw Hyeongjun wasn’t at their bench. ‘Why?’The younger boy’s face was softer now, like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, though Serim felt a flicker of concern when he saw how bright Hyeongjun looked despite the faint sadness in Hyeongjun’s gaze. “You okay?” Serim asked gently, sitting down beside him.Hyeongjun nodded, swallowing the sudden lump in his throat. “Yeah, just…thinking.” His voice came out steady, though his heart still held onto what he saw. “Actually,” he said with a cheer, not quite forced but not all the way there, “I’m done thinking.”Serim watched him for a moment, feeling as if something was going to happen; something was going to change. He was concerned but didn’t show it, instead he smiled that gentle smile. The one he knew would reassure Hyeongjun. “You know I'm always here for you, right?”Seeing that same, familiar, smile, Hyeongjun smiled back, the weight of everything in his chest lightening even more. “I know Hyung.” And at that moment, the wind stopped howling and the snow fell a little softer. He stood up and stretched his arms, “I think I'm going to head home. I’ve been here a while. See you hyung.”“Ah, okay. Get home safe Jun.” Serim said, gazing at his back, wanting to reach out and stop him. But he didn’t, something changed, he felt. Hyeongjun looked a little lighter and a little less weighed down and that scared Serim. He was glad that Hyeongjun was looking a little less Atlas. But it felt like he would float away, be gone with the wind and that scared him.Hyeongjun didn’t notice as he turned and walked away. Walking back home in the quiet park, beneath the snowing sky, he felt another shift inside him. It was like the final pieces of a puzzle clicking into place, even though the picture wasn’t what he imagined. It was still beautiful, still worth something, because it was love. His love.It was a quiet thing, unspoken but real.That night a bouquet of snowdrops appeared. ‘Snowdrops, hope, overcoming challenges. Delicate and quiet, but unyielding.’Hyeongjun let out a quiet breath, watching it form a faint cloud in the store. His heart ached not as much as he thought, even as he came to the realisation that his love was like these flowers. Patient and unassuming but determined to bloom. Even if Serim never returned his feelings, even if their story ends in silence, Hyeongjun found solace in knowing that his emotions, like the snowdrops, had been honest and resilient. And that he too can overcome this heartbreak.And just as always Hyeongjun took a single flower and was going to dry it, in the midst of this he received a phone call. Tucking the flower into his pocket, he answered it.That same night Hyeongjun left his house once again. The door clicking shut behind him as he stepped into the quiet street. It wasn’t easy but Hyeongjun made a choice earlier. Truly made a choice. He decided to let go. The confession he overheard a couple hours ago, spoken so nervously yet earnestly to someone else, had left Hyeongjun’s heart breaking in silence. But it was Serim’s happiness that mattered most.He headed towards the park, to the bench, their bench. He received a call from Serim that evening asking Hyeongjun to meet him at their bench. Soft but insistent. Not caring that it was late. The fact that Serim mentioned it as their bench and not the bench had Hyeongjun’s heart fluttering. Even though he said he would watch Serim be happy with another, Hyeongjun couldn’t help it and just like a moth to a flame, a flicker of hope had taken root.He spotted Serim sitting on the bench and came to a halt. Hyeongjun decided to stop denying what was in his heart. He had restrained the bond and his own feelings for so long. ‘Today,’ he thought, ‘today and then I’ll move on.’The streetlights bathed Serim in their soft golden light, highlighting the way his chest rose and fell, highlighting his nervous face. ‘Why is he nervous,’ Hyeongjun thought. ‘Oh. He’s going to tell me about her.’ With that thought, Hyeongjun’s heart dropped to his stomach. ‘I don’t think I'm ready for that.’ He reached to the bond and into his pockets hoping to gain strength from the snowdrop.“Jun,” Serim’s voice broke through his thoughts, and Hyeongjun was caught off guard by the warmth in his tone. “You’re here.” Serim said as if he couldn’t believe Hyeongjun would come.Hyeongjun smiled, “Hey,” he called, slipping into a cheer, not his usual but a cheer nonetheless. “Did you miss me? Is that why you called?” He teased lightly, trying to mask the nervous flutter in his stomach. He sank onto the bench next to Serim, not caring for the chill of the wood.A soft smile tugged at Serim’s lips but it didn’t quite reach his eyes, and Hyeongjun could feel the weight of everything unsaid between them. For a moment, they sat in silence, the park wrapped in silence. Serim’s hands were clasped tightly in his laps, his eyes drifting to the pond.Hyeongjun glanced sideways at him, his chest tightening with a mix of affection and sadness. “You’re being unusually quiet Hyung. What’s wrong?”Serim hesitated, his lips pressing together as though weighing each word. “I have something to tell you,” voice low and each word tentative. ‘Hyung won’t be able to see me much now that he has a girlfriend,’ Hyeongjun thought with trepidation.“You know, hyung, you’ve got that serious look on your face again,” Hyeongjun teased, though his voice wavered slightly.Serim’s eyes softened and for a moment, Hyeongjun could see the vulnerability he rarely showed, the quiet earnestness that he always held. “If it’s about your girlfriend, I already know,” Hyeongjun’s mouth poured out. “I saw it. Congratulations!”“What!” Serim gasped in shock. “Ah yeah, I didn’t mean to overhear hyung but I heard you confessing to her today.” Hyeongjun’s heart tightened, but he kept his tone light, keeping the sadness at bay.Serim winced, guilt flashing across his face. “No!” He breathed, “No, Jun. It’s not like that. It wasn’t real,” Seeing Hyeongjun about to say something, he held up hand, pausing him, talking gently. “Let me talk Hyeongjun. It wasn’t real. I didn’t confess to her because I liked her. I did it because I thought…I thought I had to practise. I tried letting you know through songs but it didn’t get through to you. I thought maybe it’s because I wasn’t clear enough. I thought maybe if I could practise, it would be easier to let you know.”“But when it comes to you,” Serim continued, voice quiet and strong, no longer gentle, as if he wanted to imprint it onto the world. “When it comes to you, I can’t do it. I can’t play the song for you. I can’t say the words I wrote. I practised it on a friend, the one you saw today. But the words…they don’t feel right. They felt too distant, too rehearsed.” Serim took a breath, his fingers brushing against Hyeongjun’s on the bench. “I realised I needed to say it differently, not to rehearse what I said. Not to perform what I wrote. But say it honest.”He paused, letting the silence stretch, his fingers still brushing against Hyeongjun’s. Hyeongjun’s pulse raced, his breath caught in his throat as he waited for Serim to continue. Slowly letting go of his hold on the bond.“I like you Jun” Serim said surely, his voice full of sincerity and something deeper, something that made Hyeongjun’s heart swell. “I’ve liked you for so long and I didn’t know how to say it.”Hyeongjun’s breath caught in his throat as Serim’s words hung in the air, delicate and unyielding, like the snowdrops that appeared in his vase. For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. He felt the pull again, stronger this time, undeniable, and he knew, without a shadow of doubt, that the bond he had let go, that gently comforted him, was now free, reaching toward Serim.“You…like me?” Hyeongjun whispered, the words barely audible, as though afraid to disturb the fragile moment between them. “I do, Jun." Serim nodded, his gaze unwavering. “And it’s not something I just realized. It’s been there for a long time, growing quietly.” He glanced down, a faint smile playing on his lips.The confession, though simple, hit Hyeongjun like a wave. He felt his eyes water, not from sadness but from the overwhelming relief and joy, from Serim’s confession. The remaining weight of all his unspoken words and restrained feelings began to dissipate.“I thought…I thought it was just me,” Hyeongjun admitted, his voice trembling. “I’ve known for a while but felt it for so much longer, and I didn’t know how to tell you. I was so scared of losing you and so I wanted to wait. Kept quiet.”“You won’t lose me,” Serim said firmly, his hand reaching out to clasp Hyeongjun’s. His touch, grounding. “Not now, not ever.”For the first time in months, Hyeongjun let himself believe it. The bond, once fragile and tenuous, now felt strong and steady, like the roots of an ancient tree. The snow continued to fall, the park wrapped in a serene hush. Hyeongjun looked at Serim, his heart full, his soul lighter than it had been. And with a huge grin moved his hand and placed it into Serim’s.They sat together on the bench, hands entwined and the world seemed to hum with a quiet promise. This was their moment - delicate, fleeting, and yet somehow eternal.Later that night, Hyeongjun returned to his flower shop. The chill of winter felt softer, the world less lonely. The snow glistened under the dim glow of the streetlights, and his footsteps, light with a newfound sense of hope, left a trail that quickly disappeared under soft snow.He opened the door and stepped inside, the familiar warmth of the shop embracing him like an old friend. The scent of flowers lingered in the air, mingling with the faint trace of the winterflower he carried in his pocket. Hyeongjun took a deep breath, letting the stillness settle over him and walked over to the vase.Inside, a new bouquet had appeared, but not of a singular type like before, now it was a mix - a masterpiece of deep red camellias and pure white roses, their petals unfurling in velvety layers. Each flower seemed to radiate with an almost otherworldly glow, as though the vase had poured every ounce of its being into crafting this moment. Among them were sprigs of sweet alyssum, their tiny blossoms appearing here and there.Hyeongjun’s breath caught in his throat as he gazed at the arrangement. The language of the flowers came to him with a clarity he could feel in his bones, in his soul, in the core of his being. Red camellias, love, longevity; sweet alyssum, serenity, protection; white roses, new beginnings. Together, they sang of a love that was his.He reached out and gently touched the petals, his fingers trembling slightly. “It’s beautiful,” he murmured, voice thick with emotion.Touching the flowers, Hyeongjun felt another shift within him. The vase had always reflected his feelings, his longings, and his quiet love. But tonight, it felt different. The bouquet wasn’t just a reflection of him - today it was of them, of the bond that had finally been completed beneath the winter sky.Carefully, as if handling the most delicate treasure, he took parts, making a mini bouquet; the petals seemed to glow even brighter in his hands, as if infused with the warmth of his emotions. He thought of Serim, of his smile, of the strength in his words as he confessed.“I’ll preserve you,” Hyeongjun whispered to the mini bouquet, as though it could hear him. “Like I always do. But this time, it’s not just my love - it’s ours.”The thought brought a smile to his lips, one that was soft and unguarded, and for the first time in a long while unburdened. He took the flower to his workbench, his heart steady as he began the familiar ritual of drying, mixing, and curing. This bouquet, like the bond he shared with Serim, would endure.As the night passed, the shop grew quiet with only the soft hum of the heater and the faint rustling of the flowers. On the counter, in the vase, the remaining bouquet stood tall, vibrant and alive, a silent testament to the love that had blossomed between two souls. The vase glowed softly under the moonlight filtering through the frosted windows, as if it was waiting for what came next.