Chapter 4

9:30 pm.

It was the time Jungsik's watch showed when he check it after he placed the last file on his table. It's been a tiring busy day for him since morning and now, he could feel his body almost gone numbed, his eyes were drooping, his arms felt so weak. He finally got up from his chair to head back home, hoping to get some rest.

His way back to home always used to be the same as everyday, tiring and silent with him almost in his half sleep. But it's kinda different today. His body was, of course tired, but his mind and heart, somehow, didn't seem to be as tired and dull as it was supposed to feel like his usual everyday when he asked his driver to stop by the same cafe he went the previous day.

Maybe he was hoping to see something there?

But when he entered, the cafe looked empty with only few customers by the corners. The atmosphere looked so much different from the previous day.

"Am I too early or too late to be here?" he thought when he took the seat at the same spot he used to sit the day before.

The same waiter from the previous day came to give the coffee he ordered.

"Uh, that... there was someone who was singing here yesterday, right? Why no one is here to sing today? Is it already over or..." he stopped the waiter to ask before the other walk away.

"Ahh...! The singer? She took a break for one week, Sir. She said she has something important to do so she'll be busy these days. Almost everybody already went early today since she won't be coming. That's why our cafe is kinda empty now," the waiter said with a smile.

"Oh. Is that so?" Jungsik nodded. "Ah, Okay. Thank you so much," he smiled when the waiter bowed at him before walking away.

He visited the cafe only twice and he heard her singing only once, but it kinda felt quiet and lonely without the sweet melody that used to make the place feel more lively and pleasing.

But he still sat there for a while, enjoying the coffee before he finally stood up from his seat, with a bit disappointment, for he couldn't see what he hoped to.

He rest his back comfortably on the car seat and took out his phone, scrolling through his endless unread notification popped up on his phone screen since he didn't even have time to check them all.

But then, he suddenly sat up straight widening his eyes when he saw a particular notification that says, 'Mom's Birthday'.

"Ahh Seriously... How can I forget about this !" He put his hand on his forehead, regretting for not remembering his own mother's birthday.

"What's wrong Jungsik-ssi?" the driver asked when he noticed him.

"Seojun-ssi, today is mom's birthday. And I didn't even remember it for the whole day. How can I forget my most precious person's birthday? I'm really the worst son," Jungsik covered his face with his palm, almost tearing up just by the thought he really forgot his mother's birthday, because for him, his mother is the person he cared for the most.

"Jungsik-ssi, please dont say such things. It's not like you forget it on purpose and it's not like you don't love or care about her anymore. Maybe because you were too stressed with your busy schedule and works?"

"But still... I didn't even prepare any gift for her and the day is almost over. She must be upset," Jungsik sighed, eventhough he understood his driver was trying to comfort him.

"Then, what about we go and buy something now, I mean, if you want to? It's not that late anyway. You still have time, Jungsik-ssi. Some shops might still be opened now. You can think of something you would like to give her and I can take you there," he smiled before turning the car when he got a nod from Jungkook as a yes.

"Mom like flowers. May be she'll like it if I give her flower," Jungsik said after thinking for a while, "would it be too late to buy flower now? I know it's kinda late but let's at least search for a bit. If we can't find any, I'll think of another gift for her."

"Ok. I'll take you to a flower shop then."

"Thank you so much Seojun-ssi," Jungsik smiled while his driver shook his head saying there's no need to thank him for such things. But he couldn't be more relieved and thankful to have such an understanding person to work for him.

They drove through the city in search for flower shops but couldn't find any since every shops were already closed, it was already too late.

But call it a luck, they finally stopped their car in front of a half closed flower shop they found when they almost decide to go back.

Jungsik rushed to the shop but couldn't find anyone inside.

"Hello? Is anybody there?" he asked in between his heavy breaths, panicking just by the thought of not getting any gift for his mother.

"Sorry. We are closed for today," a female voice shouted from behind the wooden shelf for flowers.

"I'm really sorry but I... I really need to buy the flower now. I've been searching for a flower shop for half an hour but this is the only shop that is open," Jungsik tried to explain.

"But we are closed too. It's only that we kept the door half open because I've to go out to throw these stuffs," a lady, in a gray florist apron came out holding a big black plastic bag with dried flower leaves inside and showed it to Jungsik. She looked young but seemed older than him.

"I'm really sorry to disturb you at this hour. I apologize, but I really need the flowers now because today is someone's birthday and I forgot to prepare any gift for her. So I'm going to give her the flowers since she like them," Jungsik pleaded with his hands folding.

The person sighed, "seems like it's someone really special to you. But how can you forget to prepare any gift? And now, you are gonna buy it at this hour disturbing us?" she said, more like a scolding.

"Uh.. I'm really sorry for troubling you. I'll go bac-"

"Ok. I'll let you buy it. Only for today," she cut him off when he was about to turn back, clearing her throat, "since you were insisting so much, so."

"Really? Thank you. Thank you so much," Jungsik bowed several times to the lady, he was too happy that he can finally get a gift for his mother.

"It's ok. It's ok. But, I still have to go outside to throw this. My sister is inside. I'll tell her to come out here to help you choose the flower. So, please wait here," she kept the plastic bag on the ground and went inside.

Jungsik sighed in relief. He was looking through the not so big yet not so small shop with full of different types of flowers in different colours placing neatly in rows by the wooden racks with names being patched to each sections of each flowers.

While he was still amazed by the beautiful flowers he heard footsteps from the upstairs.

"Excuse me, may I help you?" a voice spoke from behind.

"I wanted flowe-" Jungsik gasped just when he turned his head towards the direction of the voice. As if his tongue got trapped within his throat, he just stood there with his widen eyes fixed at the person standing in front of him without saying anything, with an only question asking himself.

"Why is she everywhere?"