It was barely 9:12 AM when the bell above Aria's shop door rang.
She hadn't even finished setting out the succulents yet.
With a tray in her hands and half a cinnamon roll still stuck in her cheek, she called out, "We're not open for another—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Because standing in the doorway, wearing a bucket hat far too large for her small head and sunglasses that screamed "I'm not famous, ignore me"… was Kaelira.
Holding a paper-wrapped bouquet.
Aria blinked. "Um. Is that for me?"
Kaelira gave her a sheepish smile. "Well, unless you've got a second florist hiding in the back, yeah."
Aria set down the tray and walked over, eyeing the bouquet like it was an alien spacecraft. It was… cute. A little lopsided. But heartfelt in the way only a hand-picked, imperfect bundle could be. Baby's breath tucked between lavender sprigs. Sunflowers peeking out from the middle like shy giants. And a single ranunculus, nestled like a quiet promise.
Aria was quiet for a second.
Then: "Kaelira… did you… make this?"
"Don't laugh," Kaelira said quickly, pulling her hat lower. "I may have stalked a few Pinterest boards and maybe texted one of your part-timers for help."
Aria stared.
"You texted Gabrielle?"
"Is that her name? I just saved her as 'Flower Shop Bestie 🌼' after she replied with like, twelve emojis."
Aria let out a soft, incredulous laugh. "You made me a bouquet."
"I owed you one," Kaelira said, gently nudging it into her hands. "I told you florists deserve flowers too."
Aria stared down at it, heart doing weird, fluttery things. The bouquet was clumsily tied with a ribbon. The stems weren't cut perfectly even. The ranunculus was tilted sideways.
But somehow, it was the most perfect thing she'd ever held.
"...This is the ugliest, most beautiful bouquet I've ever seen," she said, smiling wide.
Kaelira grinned. "I'll take that as a win."
Aria looked up at her. "Do you want to come inside?"
"Actually," Kaelira said, eyes dancing, "I was wondering if you'd come with me."
Aria blinked. "Right now?"
Kaelira nodded. "Not far. Just… somewhere I can borrow you for an hour."
Suspicious, but intrigued, Aria stepped out from behind the counter, still cradling the bouquet. "Are you kidnapping me?"
"Would I bring flowers to a kidnapping?" Kaelira smirked. "C'mon. Trust me."
⤹ ❀
Ten minutes and one ride in a tinted van later, Aria found herself inside a quiet studio tucked in a low-key building in Mapo-gu.
It smelled like fabric softener and wood polish. There were racks of clothes pushed against the walls, some camera gear scattered in corners. Clearly used, but empty for the moment.
Kaelira gestured around. "This is where I shoot some of my solo stuff when I want privacy. We're not filming today, though."
Aria glanced around. "So why bring me here?"
Kaelira grinned. "Because I want you to help me do something I've never done before."
"Like what?"
Kaelira took out her phone and showed her a screen.
Aria blinked. "…Wait. Are you making an Instagram post?"
Kaelira nodded proudly. "My first non-promotional one in over a year."
Aria's eyes widened. "That's a big deal."
"It is," Kaelira said seriously. "And I want it to be about you."
Aria choked. "I—what?!"
"Not directly," Kaelira laughed, handing her a camera. "But I want you to take the photo. And I want to hold the bouquet you made. Kind of a quiet way of saying… this matters. You matter."
Aria's cheeks turned pink so fast she nearly combusted.
"You are the most confusing idol ever," she mumbled, adjusting the camera with trembling fingers.
"Good confusing or bad confusing?"
"…Good. Very good."
Kaelira sat down against a backdrop, holding the bouquet with both hands. Her expression softened — not her usual glossy smile, but something warmer. More real. Aria lifted the camera, heart pounding.
"Okay," she said. "Look at me."
Kaelira did.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Aria's fingers were steady. Her pulse was not.
The sun filtered in through the windows, casting gentle light across Kaelira's face. She looked like she belonged in a dream — bouquet in hand, eyes full of something neither of them had named yet.
After a few shots, Aria lowered the camera.
"That's it?"
Kaelira tilted her head.
Aria bit her lip, then added shyly: "I want one with me in it. Just… for me. Not for posting."
Kaelira smiled, slow and wide. "Yeah?"
Aria nodded, and Kaelira stood, carefully placing the bouquet down before pulling Kaelira in by the hand. They stood side by side, awkward and blushing.
Kaelira handed the camera to a staff member who'd just wandered in. "One photo, please."
Click.
They looked at each other right after.
And in that moment — with the scent of flowers between them and the buzz of something big, sweet, and new rising in their chests — Aria knew she was in trouble.
Good trouble.
The kind that starts with one shared bouquet and ends in something that feels dangerously close to love.