It was a rainy Thursday when the order came in.
Aria was rearranging the front window display, humming softly to herself, when the shop's bell jingled and her assistant Gabrielle peeked her head in from the back.
"Unnie, you got a new order," she said, waving a clipboard.
Aria glanced over her shoulder. "Is it a wedding?"
"Nope. It's a bulk corporate order." Gabrielle made a face. "Like… a lot. Forty-five mini bouquets and a centerpiece. For a dressing room."
Aria's brow lifted. "That's oddly specific."
"And guess where it's going?" Gabrielle handed over the details. "Dreamlight Entertainment."
Aria's fingers froze around the stems she was trimming.
Dreamlight.
As in Kaelira's company.
"Oh," she said blankly, her voice trying too hard to sound neutral. "Maybe it's for her?"
"Nope," Gabrielle said, checking the form again. "It's for someone named—" she squinted, "—Rei?"
Aria blinked.
Rei.
She'd heard that name before.
One of Kaelira's labelmates. Rookie soloist. Cute. Big eyes. Always hanging around Kaelira on fan-captured behind-the-scenes clips.
Suddenly, the flower in her hand looked very... offensive.
⤹ ❀
The shop turned into a war zone of fluff and foliage.
Aria made the arrangements, yes. But they came out... a little aggressive.
A bit too many thorns in the roses. Lavender that was slightly overwhelming. One bouquet had the peonies crushed too tightly together like they were fighting for dominance.
"Are you okay?" Gabrielle asked cautiously, watching Aria jam baby's breath into a poor bundle of tulips like she was punishing it.
"I'm fine," Aria replied, way too quickly. "Totally fine. Why wouldn't I be fine?"
Gabrielle slowly backed away. "I'll go… prep the delivery labels."
Left alone, Aria stared at the last bouquet and sighed.
She knew it was silly. She wasn't even technically dating Kaelira. They were still… in that delicate in-between. Not quite public, not quite defined. But Kaelira had held her hand backstage. Had smiled at her in crowds like she was the only person that mattered.
Still…
Why hadn't Kaelira mentioned this?
And why Rei?
She tried not to spiral, but by the time she boxed up the last bouquet, she was imagining Kaelira and Rei giggling over flower meanings while sipping coconut water in matching slippers.
"Stupid tulips," Aria muttered, slamming the lid shut.
⤹ ❀
That evening, Kaelira texted.
💙: "Missed you today. What flower are you thinking about rn?"
Aria stared at the message for a full minute.
Then replied:
🌼: "Tulips. Specifically the ones I sent to your friend Rei."
The three little dots appeared. Then disappeared.
Then reappeared.
Then disappeared again.
Aria's phone buzzed.
Incoming call: Karina.
Aria stared at it, crossed her arms, and let it ring.
⤹ ❀
The next morning, the bell above the flower shop rang.
Aria looked up, expecting a customer.
Instead, Kaelira walked in. No cap. No hoodie. Just her, in a beige hoodie and jeans, carrying—
"...A plant?" Aria asked.
Kaelira held up a tiny pot with a pink sticky note taped to the front.
On it, in her messy handwriting:
"Peace Offering: Olive branch edition 🌿"
Aria blinked. "Is that an actual olive branch?"
"Yup," Kaelira said, stepping closer. "Google said it's a real thing people give when they mess up."
Aria crossed her arms. "And what exactly are you apologizing for?"
Aria winced. "Okay, first of all—I didn't order those flowers. Her manager did. It was a birthday gift setup thing for her makeup staff. I didn't even know until she posted a story."
Aria blinked. "...Seriously?"
"I swear," Kaelira said. "I would never flirt with someone using your flowers. That's cheating on like three levels."
Aria looked down at the tiny olive branch plant.
"…It's kinda cute," she muttered.
Kaelira smiled. "So are you."
Aria rolled her eyes but her cheeks were pink.
"Still," Kaelira said softly, "I should've told you. I didn't think it mattered, but… I should've known it would."
Aria finally let herself smile, just a little. "I may have stabbed a tulip thinking about her."
Kaelira gasped. "Aria Bloom. Violence?"
"She was too perfect! And you're too pretty to be standing next to her all the time. It's unfair."
Kaelira stepped even closer, bumping their noses. "So… is it official then?"
Aria blinked. "What is?"
"You being jealous." Kaelira grinned. "Of your unofficial-girlfriend."
"Unofficial?"
Kaelira tilted her head. "Do you wanna change that?"
Aria's heart may or may not have tripped.
She swallowed, cheeks burning. "I do. Just... maybe not while holding an olive tree in my hand."
Kaelira laughed and set the pot down before pulling Aria in by the waist.
And in the quiet warmth of the flower shop, surrounded by tulips and peonies and half-jealous memories, they finally shared their real first kiss.
Soft. Honest. No misunderstandings.
Just petals and heartbeats.