TWIG AND PETAL
[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: KISS IT BETTER~ RIHANNA]
Lily pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose as she turned her back to look at the clock. It was the umpteenth time she had done that. She was supposed to clock out at seven-thirty on the dot, but her boss hadn't arrived yet.
Her anxiety was growing with every passing second, as she tapped her feet on the ground, moving with the rhythm of the slow song that played in the background.
The front door opened, prompting the bell in front to make a soft ding sound which Lily was used to. It alerted her to a customer's entrance, but this time, she prayed it was not a customer but her boss. It was five minutes past her working hour, and she had to rush home and make dinner for her younger brother.
"Good evening, Sir. Welcome to Twig and petal flower shop. What are you buying from us today?" Lily allowed the usual smile she gave her customers to grace her lips.
The young man, who was in his early thirties, raked his hand through his hair before he cleared his throat and spoke. "Um . . . a flower," the man spoke finally.
Lily almost rolled her eyes. Of course, it would be a flower. Would anyone go to a flower shop and look for instant noodles? She thought to herself, and at the same time, she couldn't help but wonder what the man was doing with a flower so late at night. But it wasn't her business as long as she made extra money.
"Sir, do you have a preference, or should I be your guide?" Lily asked politely, not letting go of her sweet smile even though her cheeks were starting to hurt.
The customer hesitated for a moment, and then he walked closer to the counter, making Lily step back, looking at him warily.
"Don't be scared," the man said.
You're right! You come to a flower shop late at night acting all weird and almost invaded my personal space. For all I know, you're either a thief or a pervert! Lily screamed in her head, but she wouldn't dare to say it out. Never. She had always been that introverted girl who counted her words before she said them. But the battle of words in her mind was as serious as the threat of World War III.
"Um . . . Sir, please move back a little. I can hear you perfectly from there." That was all Lily could finally say as she moved her glasses up again, her slender fingers tucking her chestnut hair behind her ears.
The customer nodded and moved back to his original position. "Actually . . . I don't know how to say this, but since you're a girl, I hope you will understand. Which flower would be nice enough for an apology to my girlfriend —"
"Oh, your girlfriend! We have a lot; we have Daisies, Roses of all colors,Yellow Roses are usually used for apologies in case you were thinking about getting those. Umm . . . Let me see hyacinths, Daffodils. I can even pair them beautifully . . . " Lily interjected as she finally relaxed the moment she heard 'girlfriend.'
She was practically an expert because she got such requests a lot, and she knew just what women loved.
"Would these flowers help me win my girlfriend back after cheating on her with her best friend?" The customer asked, rubbing his hands on his head again.
Oops! Spoke too soon. Lily, you should shut up and let people talk. The young girl scolded herself mentally, Good sir, I don't think any flower in this world can help you out. Unapologetically, you are a scumbag. Again, Lily had this discussion in her head, and just smiled sweetly at him.
"Drop your name and her address, and I will send it to her tomorrow morning as our dispatch rider has clocked out for today."
Lily moved the log entry for customers as she pointed out to the man the details he needed to fill in.
"Cash or Card?" She asked when the man was done writing.
The man took out his card, and Lily swiped it on the machine, making a cling sound that made her heart jumble. She tore out the receipt and handed it over to the man.
"Come back next time, bye!" She waved as the customer walked out of the door with sagging shoulders like a loser he was. She concluded in her mind.
Lily checked the time again, it was quarter past eight. She picked up her phone to call her boss, but suddenly the telephone rang.
"Jeez!" Lily held her heart, as she was startled by the sound. She picked up the telephone and clutched it to her ear.
"L. . . Lily . . . it's your boss. Close for today . . . I don't have reception where I am; I'll add to your pay for working extra . . . you —" The line went dead.
Lily dropped the telephone immediately. She didn't care wherever it was in the world where her boss couldn't find any reception. She was just happy to go home. She removed her work vest, picked up her bag, and locked the counter. She wasn't able to close the customer log since it would take her an extra thirty minutes, so she decided to leave it for the next day. Gathering her things together, Lily picked up the key and rushed to close the shop.
On the other side of the street, opposite the flower shop, a black BMW was parked casually, and the man inside watched the tiny girl in the shop lock it and pull down the rail.
For a tiny girl, she was quite strong and fearless for closing so late at night, or maybe stupid. That was not his problem. He was here for the van parked right in front of the shop.
As the girl stepped out, she was encircled by four men all in black.
"Good evening, we are closed for today. Please come back tomorrow." Lily smiled at the men, even though her heart was now beating faster than usual. She pulled her phone behind her, ready to call the police.
"Where is your boss?" One of the men asked in an intimidating voice.
Lily pushed up her glasses again. "He didn't come to work today, but you can come back tomorrow morning. I'll let him know he had visitors." She gulped slowly as she stepped back and hit her back on the shop door in the process.
The men gathered themselves and spoke in hushed tones for a moment before they turned to look at the girl. "Open the store," one of them said.
Lily brought her face forward as if she did not hear them clearly. "Sorry?"
"Are your ears as bad as your eyes? Open the damn store!" The man barked again.
You didn't have to be rude! Lily cried in her head.
"Umm, sir, I'm sorry but that won't be possible," she replied, dialing the police number. But her luck was far from good.
"911, what's your emergency?" Even Lily was startled. Why was the woman speaking so loudly late at night?
"She's calling the cops on us!" One of the men reported.
"I'm dead," Lily muttered under her breath.
This was not in her reading. According to her best friend, this month was going to be her best month where she would cross paths with someone special and find herself in a life-changing event. Maybe this was it. Maybe the life-changing event was her death. Lily gulped, raising her glasses. This would be the last time, she thought.