At Bloom and Blossom, soft music drifted through the air as Islands in the Stream played quietly in the background.
Zara Hart hummed along under her breath, her fingers moving skillfully as she arranged a bouquet of fresh flowers. The scent of roses and lilies filled the shop, blending with the gentle rhythm of the song.
"Boss, you're in a good mood today," Noel said, approaching her with a teasing smile.
Zara laughed lightly. "Am I?"
"Very obvious," Noel replied.
Without another word, he held out his hand dramatically. Zara rolled her eyes but placed her hand in his anyway. The two of them swayed playfully to the music, laughing as they moved in small circles between the flower stands.
For a moment, everything felt easy.
Then—
the shop door swung open.
The bell chimed sharply.
Zara and Noel stopped.
Zara turned.
And froze.
Ethan stood at the entrance.
For a second, neither of them moved. The music continued softly in the background, almost mocking the sudden stillness between them.
"Oh—uh… come in," Noel said quickly, glancing between the two before quietly stepping away and disappearing toward the back.
Zara forced herself to move.
"To… what do I owe this visit?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Ethan looked around briefly before meeting her eyes again. "So this is your shop?"
A small pause.
"Bloom and Blossom belongs to you?"
Zara nodded. "Yes."
Another brief silence settled between them before she added, "What brings you here?"
Ethan shifted slightly. "I'd like a bouquet of red roses."
Red roses.
Zara's fingers tightened just a little as she reached for them.
Who are they for?
The thought came uninvited.
She didn't ask.
Instead, she carefully selected the freshest ones, wrapping them neatly, taking a little longer than necessary.
"Here," she said softly, handing them to him.
Ethan took the bouquet and paid without hesitation.
"Thank you."
He turned to leave.
"Ethan…"
He paused and looked back.
"…Yes?"
Zara hesitated, then gathered a bit of courage.
"Can I… buy you coffee?"
For a moment, Ethan didn't answer.
Then he glanced down at the roses in his hand before looking back at her.
"I'm sorry," he said gently. "I'm in a bit of a rush."
A small pause.
"I hope… there's another time."
He gave her a polite smile.
Then walked out.
The bell chimed again as the door closed behind him.
Silence filled the shop.
Zara stood there for a second, staring at the door.
Then suddenly—
"Oh my God… I'm so stupid."
She covered her face, groaning softly. "Why did I say that? What was I thinking? The timing was terrible…"
She lightly tapped her head in frustration.
"Zara, you're unbelievable," she muttered to herself.
Noel reappeared from the back, leaning casually against the counter with a knowing smile.
"We all turn into fools when it comes to love, Boss."
Zara lowered her hands slowly, still embarrassed.
"…I hate this feeling."
Noel chuckled. "That means it's real."
_________
It was around 7:30 in the evening, a moonless night.
The air carried the soft dampness of the monsoon region. Even in summer, it never became unbearably hot here, and tonight the temperature felt just right—calm, almost soothing.
Zara remembered clearly what Zoe had told her.
With that in mind, she walked toward Ethan's apartment, her steps steady despite the tension building inside her. When she reached his door, she paused for a moment, took a quiet breath, and pressed the doorbell.
The door opened.
"Hi, Zara."
"Hi, Ethan."
For a brief second, neither of them spoke. They simply looked at each other, as if trying to understand something unspoken.
"What brings you here so suddenly?" Ethan asked.
"I didn't return your handkerchief the other night, so… here." Zara held it out to him.
Ethan gave a small nod. "You didn't have to, but… thank you."
As he reached for it, Zara pulled her hand back slightly.
"Can I come in? Please."
Ethan hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside and opened the door wider. Zara walked in.
The apartment was quiet. Zara tried to act natural, but her eyes moved subtly around the space, searching for something—anything Zoe had mentioned. But all she saw were paintings arranged neatly. Nothing unusual.
"Do you want something to drink?" Ethan asked.
"No, it's okay." She gave a small smile. "Your place is really nice. You truly deserve to be called the best painter."
Ethan looked slightly surprised. "That's… unexpected. Thank you."
Zara was about to say something else when she noticed a cat sleeping on the sofa. She let out a small startled sound.
The cat woke up, stretched, and walked toward Ethan, letting out a soft meow. His expression softened instantly as he picked her up.
"My sweet Sasha… are you hungry?" he murmured, pressing a light kiss to her head.
Zara stared at them. "Wait… that's Sasha?"
Ethan smiled faintly. "Yeah. This is Sasha."
Zara looked away, muttering under her breath, "I hate this."
"What was that?" Ethan asked.
"Nothing. I just said she's cute."
Ethan chuckled softly.
"To be honest," Zara added, "I thought Sasha was your girlfriend."
"She's more than that," Ethan replied without hesitation. "She's my happiness."
The words lingered between them. For a moment, neither of them looked away.
Zara suddenly remembered the handkerchief still in her hand. "Oh—here," she said, holding it out again.
This time, Ethan took it. Their fingers brushed lightly, and both of them paused for a fraction of a second before pulling away.
Ethan turned slightly, as if to move away.
"Ethan?"
He stopped and looked back at her.
"Can I pet your cat?"
"I thought you didn't like cats," he said.
Zara met his gaze. "Do you think I dislike everything you love?"
Ethan didn't answer. He simply stood there, watching her.
So Zara stepped closer on her own. She leaned slightly and gently stroked Sasha's fur.
"Thank you for being Sasha, Sasha," she said softly.
Ethan let out a faint breath. "Is there a reason to thank her just for that?"
"Yes," Zara replied. "You talked about her so much that I thought she was your girlfriend."
Ethan didn't respond.
Instead, he found himself looking at her—really looking at her. Her face, her eyes, the way she stood so close to him. Something in his expression shifted.
He stepped closer.
Zara felt it immediately. Her breath caught, and she didn't move. The distance between them disappeared, leaving only a fragile, dangerous closeness.
Her lips parted slightly without her realizing it.
Ethan noticed.
His gaze dropped for a second before returning to her eyes. He leaned in slowly, as if he wasn't entirely sure of his own decision.
Zara closed her eyes.
She waited.
But just before their lips could meet, Ethan stopped. His jaw tightened, and something colder replaced whatever had been there before.
"Excuse me," he said quietly.
Zara opened her eyes.
"I need to get my phone."
He stepped away.
The moment shattered.
Zara felt the shift instantly, a quiet embarrassment settling in her chest. Ethan walked past her and picked up his phone from the table, avoiding her gaze completely.
She watched him.
"Can we start over?" she asked suddenly. "Ethan?"
He turned back, confused. "Start over?"
Before he could react, Zara stepped forward and kissed him.
Ethan froze for a moment, then quickly pushed her away.
"You don't know what you're saying."
Zara looked at him, her eyes steady. "I know you still love me."
"You're wrong."
"Don't lie to yourself."
"I don't live in the past."
Zara stepped closer. "Don't be so hard on yourself. Your heart is still mine."
Ethan's expression hardened. "I'm sorry, Zara. I don't love you anymore."
The words hit her immediately.
"Then why did you paint me?" she demanded. "Why do you still keep that sketchbook full of drawings of me?"
Ethan's face changed. "What? I never told you about that."
"Zoe saw everything," Zara said, her voice shaking slightly. "I'm sorry… she went into your place. But please, just admit it."
"Get out."
Zara blinked. "What?"
"Leave. Now."
His voice was sharp now, anger rising quickly.
"You have no right to come into my house and go through my personal things."
He grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the door.
"Ethan, wait!"
They stopped.
"I'm sorry," Zara said quickly. "Zoe only did it because she admires you. And… knowing that you still love me made me happy. Please try to understand."
Ethan went completely still.
"It made you happy?" he said quietly.
There was something dangerous in his tone now.
"Get out. Now. If you don't leave, I will."
Zara's eyes filled with tears. She could see that he meant it.
She had crossed a line.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she stepped back, then turned and walked out.
The door slammed shut behind her.
She walked away thinking she had lost him again.
He stayed behind pretending
He never wanted her back.