It started innocently enough — as most storms do.
Kaelira had just finished a shoot for a glossy magazine, standing in front of a white backdrop holding a delicate bouquet of mauve peonies and butter-yellow freesia. She looked ethereal. Her expression dreamy. The photo trended within an hour.
The comments, at first, were the usual.
"She looks like she walked out of a fairytale."
"Visual of the century."
"I want to be that bouquet 😭"
But then…
A curious fan account posted a side-by-side: Kaelira's bouquet in the magazine and another from an event a few weeks ago — held by another member. The arrangements looked strikingly similar. Same wildflower touches. Same hand-wrapped paper. Same tiny, handwritten tag tied with a soft sage ribbon.
And that tag had a name.
Evergreen Petals
Aria's shop.
⤹ ❀
By the next day, fan detectives had surfaced even more evidence:
– A congratulatory bouquet for Hestia's solo stage.
– A minimalist orchid arrangement on Aeri's birthday story.
– A blurry background photo in Kaelira's vlog where a familiar storefront sign peeked out behind her.
"Wait. Isn't that… the florist from downtown?"
"Okay but… all these bouquets look identical."
"Y'ALL. Do you think Karina's dating the florist?? 👀💐"
And just like that, the internet was buzzing.
⤹ ❀
Aria first noticed when she opened her Instagram and saw she'd gained 3,200 followers overnight.
She stared at her screen, blinking.
"…Uh-oh."
⤹ ❀
Later that evening, Kaelira arrived at Aria's shop through the back entrance. It was past closing time, and the quiet hum of the city outside was a world away from the soft jazz playing through the shop speakers.
Aria was watering her hanging plants, pretending not to be panicking.
Kaelira stepped inside, hoodie up, mask on, then pulled both off as the door closed behind her.
"You saw it?" she asked gently.
Aria turned around, expression caught between worry and a shy smile. "They're better detectives than I thought."
Kaelira sighed and walked over, her hand brushing Aria's. "I didn't mean for this to happen."
"I know," Aria said. "You've always been careful. I have too."
Kaelira sat on the little stool by the counter and looked around at the place she'd come to love — the dried roses hanging upside down by the window, the wall of pinned thank-you notes from customers, the chalkboard that still read: Today's Flower: Forget-Me-Nots.
"I don't mind that they know," she said softly. "I just mind what it could do to you."
Aria sat beside her. "I was scared at first."
Kaelira reached for her hand and squeezed. "Are you still?"
Aria was quiet for a moment. The shop was filled with the soft scent of lavender and eucalyptus.
"I was scared because it felt like… the world was trying to take something private and sweet and make it complicated."
Kaelira nodded slowly.
"But then I realized…" Aria smiled faintly. "I don't want to hide how proud I am to love you."
Kaelira blinked. Her breath caught.
"…Say that again," she whispered.
Aria leaned closer, their knees touching.
"I'm proud to love you."
And Kaelira broke into the softest, most helpless smile.
"Okay. But now I'm crying."
Aria laughed through her own misty eyes. "Same."
⤹ ❀
They sat there for a long time, wrapped up in each other's embrace, talking softly under the warm lightbulbs Aria had strung across the ceiling. They talked about fans, and fame, and the line between public and private. About trust. About dreams. About flower markets and first kisses in the rain.
And when Kaelira finally stood to leave, she turned around at the door.
"I don't care what they think," she said. "As long as I get to hold your hand at the end of the day."
Aria grinned. "You're saying cheesy lines now?"
"Only for you," Karina winked.
And then—
She opened the door… and immediately backed up with wide eyes.
Aria froze. "What?"
"…There's a camera guy outside."
Aria nearly dropped her watering can. "WHAT?!"
Kaelira peeked again. "No, wait. False alarm. It's just a guy holding a baguette."
Aria let out a laugh so loud it scared the cat napping on the counter.
⤹ ❀
Later that night, as Aria got ready for bed, she noticed a new post from Kaelira's private story.
It was a photo of a single white tulip in a glass jar.
Captioned: For the one who calms my storms.
Aria's heart fluttered as she turned off the light and whispered into the quiet:
"I'm not scared anymore."