Seasons of Love - Chaelisa (CONVERTED)

6. Lavander and a daisy tattoo

One morning, Lisa doesn't see Chaeyoung through the window as she passes by. She doesn't worry about it too much; she knows that Chaeyoung is probably out back designing floral arrangements or watering her flowers or catching up on bookkeeping or something. She doesn't just work the front counter all the time.

Lisa accepts that she will just have to say hello during her lunch break.

-

Except, Chaeyoung isn't there at all when Lisa pushes through the door at midday. The bell tinkles overhead – a comforting and familiar sound – but Chaeyoung isn't standing behind the front counter; it's another woman instead, a new face that greets her with a dazzling smile.

"Hi there! Are you just 'stopping to smell the roses' or are you looking for something in particular?"

Lisa furrows her brows. "Actually, I'm looking for Chaeyoung – is she around?"

"I'm sorry, she called this morning and asked me to fill in for the day – she said she was coming down with something," The woman says sympathetically. "I'm Hyeri, by the way – I help run the shop when Chaeyoung needs a hand. I'll admit that I'm not as good as her when it comes to floral arrangements, but I do know my way around flowers. Is there anything I might be able to help you with?"

"Oh, uh- no, it's fine," Lisa says with a small smile. "I'll come back another day. Thanks, though."

She exits the store in a slightly more sombre mood and wonders when Chaeyoung became a part of her routine.

-

When Chaeyoung comes back to the shop after a week of being indisposed, Lisa rounds the counter and pulls her into an unsuspecting hug. She's sort of embarrassed at how desperate the action is, and how Chaeyoung initially freezes at the contact, but the girl soon thaws and melts into the embrace, and Lisa holds her just that little bit tighter.

Chaeyoung chuckles as she tucks her face into the crook of Lisa's neck.

"Did you miss me?" She murmurs into Lisa's skin.

"Only a little," Lisa answers feebly.

Chaeyoung's laughter is loud and brash in her ear, but it manages to put a dampener on her humiliation at being caught in an obvious lie.

-

Lisa isn't really sure what she's doing here. She's meant to be with her family right now, but her feet have dragged her to this spot instead and she thinks that that's supposed to mean something.

She pushes through the door, faintly acknowledging the tinkling bell overhead, and walks to the front counter.

Chaeyoung takes one look at her and her red-rimmed eyes, before gently tugging her towards the small office space at the back of the store. Lisa is guided toward the tiny loveseat in the corner and told to sit, while Chaeyoung flutters about making hot chocolate.

Chaeyoung eventually approaches the loveseat with two mugs and offers one to Lisa, who takes it with a subdued smile. Chaeyoung sits beside her, her own mug in hand. They manage a few quiet sips without exchanging any words, before Chaeyoung breaks the silence.

"Would you prefer if I didn't ask?"

Lisa contemplates her answer. Chaeyoung waits patiently, sipping from her mug.

"My grandma passed away," Lisa says after a long stretch of quiet. "Jennie told me to take a few days off. I'm supposed to be heading to the funeral home right now, but I don't- I can't- ugh. I'm not ready to accept the fact that she's gone... not yet."

Chaeyoung says nothing for a while, seemingly mulling over her response.

"The life of the dead is always in the memory of the living," She finally says, tentatively placing a hand on Lisa's thigh. When Lisa doesn't push her away, she squeezes it comfortingly. "Your grandmother will never truly be gone, not if you don't want her to be."

Lisa appreciates the words, appreciates how Chaeyoung didn't just offer her an empty apology and that words are sincere. They continue to sip their hot chocolates in a comfortable silence before Lisa apologises and stands.

"I should get to the funeral home," She explains with a tight-lipped smile. "I'm sure my family is wondering where I am. But thank you for this. I appreciate it."

Chaeyoung nods and collects their mugs, depositing them on the desk. She leads Lisa back to the storefront. Before Lisa can leave, Chaeyoung asks her a question.

"What was her favourite colour? Your grandma, I mean."

"Purple," Lisa answers, brows furrowed in confusion.

Chaeyoung's eyes brighten and she holds up two fingers. "Give me two seconds, okay? I'm gonna- I need to go out to the back room real quick. Don't leave yet!"

She comes back bearing a purple bouquet, interspersed with blossoms of white.

"For your grandmother," Chaeyoung says, offering them to Lisa. "It's mostly English lavender but I put a few common daisies in there to bring out the colour, since it's her favourite and all."

Lisa takes the bouquet with a grateful smile, but when she reaches for her purse, Chaeyoung waves her off.

"Don't worry about it. Just take it as a gift from me."

As Lisa pulls open the door and steps one foot across the threshold, she pauses and looks back over her shoulder.

"My grandma would have loved you," Lisa tells Chaeyoung. She scrunches her nose at the wording and amends herself with a cough, "The flowers, I mean. She would have loved the flowers."

Chaeyoung smiles like she doesn't believe her, and Lisa blushes despite herself.

-

When Lisa visits Chaeyoung next, she notices Chaeyoung's gaze drop down to her bare ankle, where a sprig of lavender and a daisy are now tattooed.

"I thought about what you said, about my grandma never truly being gone," Lisa says, twisting her leg to show Chaeyoung how the stems are entwined together. "I always want to remember her, so..."

"You made a 'permanent record'?" Chaeyoung questions.

Lisa wrinkles her nose at the pun but she hopes Chaeyoung can see the gratitude in her eyes.