6 - Flower

Asami suggested for them to go downtown to do shopping especially for the flowers and fertilizer for the garden supplies. Asami gets the car ready and thinks about things they might forget, and he looks at the list. When he arrived at Asami's house, he instantly saw him, and he daydreamed in broad daylight.

Asami looked over to Ichinose and walked towards him. As Asami goes into the driver's seat, he waits for Ichinose to get in so they can leave. While the car was moving, they were talking about the flowers and plants on how to make the garden look more beautiful.

Suddenly Asami said, "Then let us add more flowers like Alchemillas, Amaryllis, California poppies, Cardinal flowers, Carnations, Lilies, and Lavenders." as Asami thinks that would be better. But Ichinose is not sure if they can get the flowers because he has not even bought a flower before.

They were driving from the main road and Ichinose said...

"Can you turn left on that second street? We are almost in the shop." and he turns his head towards Asami to see if he gets what he said.

When Asami heard what he said, Asami instantly turned the steering wheel in that direction. Ichinose spotted the flower shop and he got excited to get there right away. Asami glanced at him and saw his happy face.

So, Asami smiled and said to him...

"When we get there, you also picked the flowers you want, and please grab something for Mom. I want to put something with her photo inside her room."

Ichinose was surprised by what he found out, but he had the feeling of what Asami said to him. They arrived at the destination. Asami took out from his pocket their shopping list. They went to the flower shop, and he opened the door for Ichinose to enter first.

Upon entering the store, the owner noticed Ichinose and greeted him. "Oh, how are you? Ichi, I'm glad to see you came by." and waited for his answer.

Ichinose was glad and so he replied to him, "I'm fine, thank you and this is my boss, Asami." He cheerfully introduced his master Asami to the shop owner. "And this is Robert, an acquaintance of mine, the owner of this flower shop." he told Asami, he follows up as they keep walking inside the store.

Then Robert asked what they are looking for and needed to help make it easier for them. Asami gives their list to the store owner and dawdles around looking for flowers to give to Ichinose when they return home. Asami pondered about Ichinose while walking slowly around inside the flower shop.

He suddenly thought about something that has been bothering him for nights, 'Should I ask him about what I saw that night?' his curiosity just arose every time he's thinking about that incident but keeps on questioning himself if asking Ichinose about the matter that doesn't really include him would be better or he'll be weirded out because of my decision?

The scenery of Ichinose hugging another man made him feel something odd to the point that he thinks something strikes his heart after thinking about it. He can't help but place his right hand on his chest to feel his heart. 'Am I okay?' He asks himself a question he doesn't know when or where he will get the answer.

Asami's lost in his own thoughts and was suddenly cut off when he heard Ichinose called him, "Master Asami? Master Asami... are you okay?" he said with a concerned face. "I keep calling you and it seems you are in deep thoughts about something." added of him.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I just recalled something. Is there a problem and you call me?" Asami answered him.

"No, everything is fine, Master Asami. I'm worried because you were lost-on thoughts. I think you are interested in these flowers and think you like them. That is why I called you to find out which flowers do you want." he replied quickly to Asami.

"Nah, I see nothing to add, and I know nothing about flowers like you do." Asami replied as he was gawking at him.

"Have you seen anything you like?" Asami asked him.

"Uhm, it's hard to pick everything that looks good and it's beautiful." Ichinose answered him and smiled.

Asami nodded in agreement. And he walked towards Robert, the store owner and said … "How much is the dozen of these, and I'll take this too." pointing to a mixed color of African daisy and the other is pink magnolia.

"Please wrap it up because it is for someone special and it's individual. Also please give me a nice bouquet of flowers for the person who died." he added too. The owner nodded and started arranging the flowers.

Before Asami approached him, Asami took a deep breath and spoke… "Do you need more materials for the layout of plants and flowers?" Asami asked the question and to make sure Ichinose did not forget anything.

"There is nothing more and we got what we need, I double checked all. That includes the sacks of fertilizer." He answers as he looks at each one of it on the list. And he went out to load all the supplies in the car.

The shop owner walks to Asami, and he gives the two bouquets of flowers and the receipt of their purchases. And the owner told him ...

"The person who will receive these flowers is incredibly lucky. African Daisy means love and beauty and Magnolia is representative of nobility, perseverance, and love of nature."

Asami smiled at what the shop owner said and thanked him.

"Do you think the person will like it and will talk to me?" Asami asked the shop owner.

"Of course, who wouldn't accept flowers that are so beautiful?" Robert replied to him.

"Hey young man! Come back next time and I will give you a big discount." Robert chuckles after chasing a few words to Asami before leaving the door.

Asami bows to let him know that he understood what the shop owner said to him. When Asami came out of the door, he saw Ichinose lifting the sack of fertilizer and approached him. He handed the two bouquets of flowers he was carrying to Ichinose, and he said, "Let me do it." while looking at him.

Ichinose took the flowers because master Asami handed it to him, "It's okay, I can handle them, it's not that heavy." Ichinose said as he wondered what his master Asami was doing?

"I insist let me do these and it's fine at least I got to exercise while lifting these bags." Asami answered him. "By the way, the bouquet basket is for my mother, can you arrange it into my mother's bedroom and the other one is for you." while lifting the sack of fertilizer continuing to load all those supplies.

Ichinose's dumbfounded and surprised by what his master said and because he did not think that Daisy and Magnolia would be for him. Asami looked at Ichinose's reaction to see that he was surprised by the flowers and that made him grin.

This is the first time he ever received such a flower and because he knew the meaning of these flowers, his face became red from shyness. Ichinose is so thankful and delighted to know that the flower is for him, but he cannot hide his smile with joy, and he felt self-conscious about getting a bouquet of flowers from master Asami. So, he does not know what to do.

"What am I going to do? Why did Asami give me a flower? For what? I do not know any reason. But I'm a guy not to mention giving a guy a flower...." he said to himself. He was still baffled that 'what is really the intention of these flowers for?'

"It would be a waste if I just throw this beautiful flower for no reason. I think I will give these to my father's grave tomorrow." Ichinose is also thinking of visiting his father's grave.

When his eyes scanned for Asami, he spotted him in the rear-view mirror wiping his face with his T-shirt and seeing his six-packs abdominal muscles. That well proportioned and masculinity shape that was eye-candy to every girl's eyes.

"Oh my gosh!" as Ichinose flinched because he saw Asami walking towards him.

Asami saw Ichinose looking at him through the rear-view mirror, so he stopped for a moment. Then he walked to Ichinose and said...

"You want to grab something to eat on the way home? After we load all the supplies, it got me hungry after some lifting exercises."

"S-sure let's have something on the way home. It's almost lunch time." Ichinose was surprised by the sudden question. And he gave the hand towel to Asami to wipe off his sweat.

"Thank you for handing me a towel. I forgot I left it there." Asami smiled and thanked him. Asami returned and resumed re-loading the supply to the trunk of the car. Then he closed the back of the car and walked to the driver's seat next to Ichinose.

Asami sat down and before he started the engine, he said.... "Let us go? Are you ready?" waiting for him to answer.

And he nodded to say yes because he can't even look into his eyes anymore and he already feels embarrassed receiving a flower from a guy not the least it was from Asami itself.

To be continued...