Apricate

As light bled into the earth, dyeing the scenery in brilliant orange and stunning yellow, Red Son retraced the path to the recently opened florist just a few blocks away. He soon stopped by the sign of "Sun's Bouquet", silently studying the shop's little details, all the small decorations and trinkets laying outside, not completely organized but incredibly eyecandy and aesthetic pleasing. He has a hunch that Mei had come by and helped, as the girl always had a knack for these kinds of things and somehow, a freer schedule than him.

Feeling satisfied with the new intricate details added to the place, he stepped into the small shop, the bell at the door chimed as he entered. The Noodle Boy turned to him, his hand holding a flower pot, his eyes instantly shone at the sight of him while he greeted cheerfully, "Hi Red! You're just in time, I was in the middle of closing".

Red casually replied, "Hello to you too, Xiaotian". Then, his expression turned sour, though his tone remained fond and playful, "If I remember correctly, aren't you supposed to close at half past 4? Isn't it already an hour past that already?". As MK put the pot on a shelf where a row of flowers neatly sat, he chuckled nervously, "There was such a lovely couple that visited just before closing! I was so enveloped in answering their questions of what their anniversary flower's opinion should be and before I knew it, the time had slipped my mind".

The other male's expression softened with a sigh and an understanding smile, "So I take it that it was a good day for the shop?". Xiaotian beamed at this, "Yup! I didn't expect so many people to come too, since it had only been a little over a week since we had grand opened". At this point, Red had begun to help. "Well, I think it's because they knew you back when you still delivered at Pigsy's. You did have quite a reputation after all", he said with a shrug. MK used to work odd jobs to make a living before Pigsy's hired him as their delivery boy. It had lasted for quite a while and MK had made an impression on many through the job.

It was also through it that the two of them met. It was a fun coincidence set by fate, that day.

Red had stormed out on his parents about the issue of him not wanting to inherit the family business despite his status as the sole successor and went to his favorite shop to ease his nerves.

He had always liked the place, the warm and homey atmosphere, a stark difference from the fancy restaurants he always ate at ever since he was a child, the top notch food and the variety of people coming and going, how honest and real they felt. He had dined in galas countless times before, exchanging pretty faces and fake, polite smiles and only eating the bare minimum so he could gather more information or business allies while still putting on a facade of enjoying the envent. But at Pigsy's, he wasn't the son of a multimillion company trying to bring their company to a greater height, wasn't expected to be. There, he was just another customer ordering a meal like any other, no special privileges or treatments dedicated to him.

With MK's rare break, seeing that there was strangely no orders required that particular time, he had subjected himself as an impromptu waiter. 'The shop was busy and it needed all the help it could get after all!', he had thought. As much as he wanted to go out, Mei was M.I.A that weekend and most activities he had planned to do involved her presence someway or another. As time flew by and the customers ceased, he took notice of a boy around his age. He had situated himself in a corner that most people don't approach and had stayed there silently moping since MK began to serve as a waiter, his food cold and untouched. He absentmindedly noted that he will give the guy a pat on the back or something if he's still there when he's free.

Turns out, he had all the chance to confront him. It's nearly closing time already and the guy didn't seem like he was going to move an inch from his spot. He quietly approached him, kickstarting the conversation with a friendly grin and the softest voice he could manage, "Hey man... You okay?".