A Bouquet of Blue Roses

“…That is….”

“I’m not blaming you, Secretary Oh.

I was really grateful.

Truly thankful.

But… you don’t need to do that anymore.

I’m no longer Han Tae-seok’s partner, nor part of NI anymore.

So please, don’t worry about me now.

What you’ve done until now is already far beyond what your duty required.

Ah, but I do need to ask one thing.

Now that this convenience store has become an NI Company affiliate… I have to quit under the conditions of the agreement.

I’ll quit within a week, so please just make sure it doesn’t reach Director Ji’s ears until then.

I should at least finish handing things over before I leave.”

“Mr. Jae-kyung.
You don’t have to go that far.”

“No.
It makes me uncomfortable.
I don’t want to feel anxious anymore.”

Jae-kyung stood up.

The noise of the chair scraping sounded loud in the quiet convenience store.

“…Does he know I’m working here?”

“…Yes, he does.”

Of course he knew.

No matter how much he hid under a blanket or took suppressants, there was no way someone could fail to sense the pheromones of their fated bond.

What had he thought?

“Then all the more reason for me to quit.
Thank you for everything.
I’ll get back to work now.”

Jae-kyung began organizing the merchandise again.

Soon after, he heard Secretary Oh stand and leave.

When the bell above the door stopped ringing, he looked outside—there was no one.

Not Secretary Oh, not even passersby.

Strange.

It felt like he was the only person left in the world.

“Ugh…”

The headache came again.

It must be stress.

How had he survived five years in that house when even something this small left him trembling and weak?

Maybe it was only possible because he was younger then.

If he were told to do it again now… even if his brother’s life depended on it, he couldn’t.

Being the NI Company’s son-in-law, being Han Tae-seok’s mate.

◆

“Today is the second hormone injection.
After the first one, did you notice any changes in your body?”

“It was fine.”

The doctor nodded while marking the chart.

“How about your heat cycle?”

“It hasn’t come yet.”

“I see.
The second injection is stronger, so your heat cycle may suddenly begin.
You should be prepared.
You must not take suppressants.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Jae-kyung finished the consultation and followed the nurse to get the injection.

He sat quietly until the sharp needle pierced his skin.

It was originally supposed to be administered every three months, but because his cycle hadn’t started yet, Director Ji had pressured the doctor to move it forward by a month.

The medicine spread through his body, making him dizzy, so he lay down on the prepared bed.

He felt like his body was being altered.

Why?

He was neither sad nor emotionally hurt—but tears came anyway.

He covered his eyes with his arm.

He didn’t want anyone to see him like this.

After resting for around thirty minutes, he received his prescription and headed home.

He thought of returning to the gallery, but Director Ji texted him to go straight home, so he did.

The housekeeper had something to do later, so Jae-kyung simply sliced a few tomatoes and ate them on the couch.

The living room was silent.

It felt like being locked alone in a box.

Come to think of it, it had been over a month since he spoke to Tae-seok.

They hardly crossed paths, never ate together.

Sometimes the housekeeper mentioned what he had been doing, but Jae-kyung never listened, so he remembered nothing.

When half a tomato remained, his phone rang.

It was his mother, likely with Jaeyoung.

『Jae-kyung, it’s Mom.』

“Yes, Mother.”

『How are you?
Are you doing well?』

“Yes.
Are you still in America?”

『We moved to a hospital in Canada for Jaeyoung.
So we’re in Canada now.』

“Oh.
Is Jaeyoung doing better?”

『Yes, much better.
Thankfully, after the injection last week, he improved even more.』

“That’s good.”

『You’re working so hard for us.』

“It’s nothing…”

『I realized today is your first wedding anniversary.
Time flies, doesn’t it?
Is Director Han doing well?
Is he good to you?』

He hadn’t even known it was their anniversary.

Time was strange.

Sometimes painfully slow, yet somehow always slipping past.

『Jae-kyung?』

“Ah… yes.
He treats me well.
Don’t worry.”

『You two should have a nice meal together today.
Celebrate.』

“Yes, we agreed to meet at 8 for dinner.”

He said it while bitterly staring at the lone tomato piece left on his plate.

Would Tae-seok even remember?

No—no, he wouldn’t.

Even if he knew, he would do nothing.

So it was better not to expect anything.

『That’s a relief.
He seemed very gentle.
I thought he’d cherish you a lot.
So I feel at ease, even from far away.』

His mother said she would return to Korea soon and ended the call.

Jae-kyung finished the tomato.

He wasn’t sure if he was full or not.

Maybe because of the injection, his body felt heavy, so he lay down.

“I’m bored.”

That was all he could say.

He searched what other people did on their anniversaries, saw things belonging to a completely different world, and closed his phone.

“Let’s sleep.”

He was about to go to the bedroom when the doorbell rang.

If it were the housekeeper or Tae-seok, they wouldn’t ring the bell.

So it must be a visitor.

He checked the intercom—it was Secretary Oh.

Why was he here…?

Was he alone?

He buzzed him in and waited by the front door.

When the door opened, he held out a huge bouquet of blue roses and a cake.

“Uh…?”

When Jae-kyung hesitated, unable to take it, Secretary Oh smiled awkwardly.

“Director Han asked me to deliver these to you.”

“Him…?”

“Yes.
He said he would be late getting off work today, so he sent me ahead.
Please accept them.”

Impossible.

There was no way Tae-seok would send something like this.

No way he’d remember their anniversary.

And yet… a small, unavoidable hope bloomed.

He carefully reached out and held the bouquet.

It smelled wonderful.

Secretary Oh set the cake box down.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

“Th… thank you, Secretary Oh.”

Even after he left, Jae-kyung stood in the entryway holding the flowers for a long time.

He had never received a bouquet this large before.

He never thought he would.

His nose tingled, and his heart pounded—this must be what happiness feels like.

For the first time in a year.

He searched for a vase, unable to ruin the pretty wrapping, so he simply placed the whole bouquet into a large vase filled with water and set it in the living room.

The gray living room suddenly bloomed with color.

His vision opened and warmth spread through him.

The cake was a strawberry cream cake.

He wondered if he should wait and eat it together when Tae-seok came home.

He said he’d be late—but he could wait.

Why did he send these?

He never showed signs of caring before.

But maybe… maybe he could.

He hummed out of pure happiness.

After a while, he must have dozed off, because his phone rang.

It was past midnight.

Tae-seok still hadn’t come home.

The call was from the same number—his mother’s.

He quickly answered.