AAE BOUQUETS FROM CUPID
Written by: Margie
2004-01-18
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In "Bouquets from Cupid" florist shop
Eve of Valentine's Day –


Jin Sun Mi thought excitedly, "She would be One on Valentine's Day!" Well, not her actually, but her flower shop – 'Bouquets from Cupid'. When she set up business a year ago, everyone had commented that it was a most unconventional name for a flower shop and would not augur well for business. Sun Mi would feel obliged to explain that she chose the name because (a) she had officially opened for business on Valentine's Day and (b) wasn't it true that Cupid has always been associated with Valentine's Day, the most romantic festivity of the year? Besides, in spite of what everyone thought or said, she liked the name.

In the one year 'Bouquets from Cupid' had been in existence, Sun Mi had built up a strong customer base. She was duly proud that all her customers had supported her loyally since the first day of her business. However, if she was asked to acknowledge just one client who had made any difference to her business, it would have to be the Director of Planning at MBS, the leading TV station in Seoul. It would be understatement to say that HC Yun has a thing for flowers. In fact, HC Yun lives and breathes flowers and applies the motto, "Say It with Flowers" diligently. He would give flowers to someone celebrating a birthday, flowers to commemorate the dead, flowers to someone celebrating an anniversary, flowers to someone hospitalized. It was therefore, not surprising that his orders contributed the lion's portion of her profit.

What must be surprising to people is that despite her 1-year dealing with him, Sun Mi has never met the mysterious HC Yun. It was always Grace, his secretary who would call up to place the orders. As strange as he was mysterious, he would insist on Sun Mi personally attending to his orders. He would return any floral arrangements done by her assistant. Everyone thought it odd that he was able to tell if an arrangement was Sun Mi's personal touch or her assistant's.

In conjunction with the first anniversary of her shop and as a gesture of appreciation for his good patronage, Sun Mi decided to send HC Yun a bouquet and fruit basket on the morning of Valentine's Day.



MBS TV Station –
Valentine's Day

Tottering under the weight of the bouquet and heavy basket of fruits, Sun Mi struggled hurriedly towards the lift. She could hardly see above her load and collided into the person already standing in front of the lift. As she almost lost her footing, she felt strong but gentle hands on her arms, steadying her.

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome. Can I help you with your 'cargo'?

She could only hear the deep, cultured voice offering assistance. Her vision was still blocked by the enormous bouquet.

"Oh, would you? Thank you so much." She gratefully handed the basket of fruits to the 'voice'. "You really do not mind?" As she asked him, Sun Mi could finally see her gallant saviour.

Even though she was by no means short or petite, Sun Mi had still quite a long way to look up. Definitely a 6-footer and very good-looking, the stranger quirked an eyebrow at her and smiled.

"Would I offer if I did?"

Sun Mi did not reply and merely nodded her head to acknowledge her thanks. The lift seemed to be taking ages to reach the 15th Floor.

"I noticed the card. These are for HC Yun?" her saviour asked.

Sun Mi turned to look at him. "Yes. Do you know him?"

The stranger shrugged. Before he could reply, the lift had stopped on the 15th Floor.

"Oh, this is where I get off." She tried to take the fruit basket from him. "Thank you very much for your help."

To her surprise, he continued to hold on to the fruit basket and stepped out of the lift with her.

"Oh, you didn't have to get out of the lift." Sun Mi was bothered that he was going out of the way to help her. "Now, you would have to wait again for the lift."

He did not answer. He pushed open the doors to HC Yun's office. Grace quickly stood up when she was them.

"Good morning, Sir."

HC Yun replied briskly, "Good morning, Grace."

He turned back to the shocked Sun Mi who had her mouth open.

"Please step into my office."

"Oh, Sir. This is Sun Mi, the owner of 'Bouquets from Cupid'." Grace hastily introduced. "Sun Mi, this is my boss, Director HC Yun."

By the time Sun Mi had closed her mouth, she had regained her composure.

He waved away his secretary's introduction. "I know who she is. Please come into my office, Ms. Jin."

Still carrying the fruit basket, HC Yun turned on his heels and headed for his office.

Sun Mi glared annoyingly at his broad back. Who is this HC Yun anyway? He seems to enjoy having people talk to his back!

He took the bouquet from her and indicated the chair in front of his work desk. "Please have a seat, Ms. Jin."

Folding his arms in front of his chest, HC Yun leant back on his swivel chair.

"Well, Ms. Jin. I thought it is standard procedure for a man to give flowers and chocolates to a lady on Valentine's Day. This is the first time I am receiving flowers and fruits from a lady."

Was he mocking her? Sun Mi's face turned red. Does he think that she's interested in him? Did he think he had the right to be rude just because he's handsome? Although she was seething, she kept her temper in check. After all, he was her most valuable customer - it does not pay to be rude to him.

"The tokens are not because today is Valentine's Day but because it happened to be the 1st anniversary of 'Bouquets from Cupid'. I merely wanted to thank you for your good patronage of my shop." She gritted her teeth and smiled at him.

After several minutes of uncomfortable silence and finding nothing else to say, she pushed the chair back and stood up. But as she did so, her foot got caught in a fold on the carpet and she tripped forward. She flung out her arms and plopped on top of HC Yun's desk with arms outstretched.

Sun Mi was mortified. What has happened to her today? She seemed to be making a clown of herself and in front of HC Yun, of all people! He must be laughing at her.

For the second time that morning, she felt his strong arms again. He had gotten up from his chair and had gone around his desk to help her up.

Still holding her arms, he said with a deadpan expression, "You didn't have to be that grateful. A simple 'Thank You' would have sufficed."

Mesmerised by the compelling look on his face, Sun Mi could only gaze at him.


A knock on the door brought both of them back to earth. Grace was holding two cups of coffee. As she placed the cups on the desk, she smiled at Sun Mi.

"Sun Mi, since you're here, I might as well give this order to you." As Sun Mi took the order, Grace explained, "Director Yun would like to order a basket of flowers for his mother. She's in hospital for a routine checkup."

Sun Mi looked at HC Yun who had returned to his seat when Grace entered.

"My mother likes lilies and dahlias. I would like to have the flowers delivered by this evening. Can you manage it?"

"Yes, I believe I can. I will get my assistant to handle it." This time, Sun Mi's smile was genuine.

He shook his head and said firmly. "You should know my preference by now. I want only you to handle the floral arrangement."

Sun Mi and Grace's eyes met. The secretary's look seemed to say, "See? I told ya."

She tried to explain her situation. "Director Yun, Grace has told me before that you have always insisted on my doing the floral arrangements for your orders. And I have always accommodated your requests unfailingly. However, I shall be attending a convention later this morning so I'm afraid just this time, I would have to ask my assistant to do the arrangement. I hope you understand."

Since he did not say anything, she added, "I assure that my assistant is just as capable. In fact, she ..."

He interrupted her, "Ms. Jin, I'm not interested in your assistant's credentials. Either you can or you can't take my order."

Sun Mi clenched her teeth. Talking to such an unreasonable man like HC Yun was certainly bad for her teeth!

"Put it that way, how can I refuse?" She took a sip of the coffee and turned to Grace. "Thank you for the coffee, Grace."

To HC Yun, she said, "Well, I better be going if I have to get your order ready AND attend the convention at the same time." Sun Mi had deliberately emphasized on the "And" to make him feel bad for pushing her.

Hand outstretched, he smiled and nodded. "Please don't take it personally. I've always insisted on your personal arrangement because I like the way you arrange the flowers." He held up her hand and studied it. "Under your lovely hands, the flowers come alive."

Sun Mi blushed and pulled back her hand. "Why, thank you. Since you have such a high opinion of my ability, I must not disappoint you then."

He indicated the bouquet and fruit basked. "I'm the one who has to say "Thank You." He held Sun Mi's elbow and led her to the door. "See you this evening, Miss Cupid."

"Huh?"

"Didn't I mention that you have to do the delivery as well?"

"As the Convention ends at 7.00 p.m., I can't promise I would be able to deliver the flowers to your mother. I would only say that I will try." This time, Sun Mi has had to be firm. "I'm afraid if you insist on this too, I would have no choice but to decline your order."

She held his penetrating look. She didn't like having to lose his business but he was too insistent for her liking.

HC Yun finally shrugged and nodded. "Okay. I'll just settle for your promise that you'll try to make the delivery."

"Is there a reason for your insistence?"

"My mother wants to see you. She said she wanted you to deliver her flowers because she missed your smile."

"What?" Sun Mi was incredulous and thought she had misheard him. "But... but I do not know your mother."

HC Yun explained that his mother is actually Madam Kim, one of Sun Mi's loyal supporters and had been buying flowers from 'Bouquets from Cupid' on a regular basis. It was only recently that she had stopped going to Sun Mi's shop because she had not been feeling well.

What HC Yun did not tell Sun Mi was that his mother is extremely fond of the lovely and cute florist. She was always telling her son how pretty and well-mannered little 'Miss Cupid' was and how she loved the little florist's floral arrangements.

"You should see her smile, son. I have never seen a more beautiful smile." She frowned at her son. "Besides, you won't be thirty forever and 'Miss Cupid' is a lovely girl. She's a far cry from those empty-headed socialites you've brought home."

"Correction, Ma. I've never brought them home. THEY followed me home. There's a difference, you know."

So one day, he agreed to send his mother to Sun Mi's shop. Although he waited for his mother in the car, he could see into the shop clearly. He had noticed Sun Mi and knew immediately she was his mother's little 'Miss Cupid'. For the first time in his life, he was in total agreement with his mother's opinion. Her smile was so unique and infectious, he found himself smiling when Sun Mi smiled.

He had wanted to go into the shop but an emergency call came through. He was still talking on the phone when his mother came out of the shop. After sending her home, he had to rush back to MBS. A week later, he had to travel to Japan. He had just returned from Japan yesterday and now, he's meeting little 'Miss Cupid' in the flesh!

"Auntie Kim's your mother?" She shouldn't have been so surprised really, because looking at HC Yun more closely, there were similarities between the distinguished elderly lady and this good looking man in front of her. They had the same carriage and bearing. She liked Madam Kim and found the elderly lady in possession of a droll sense of humour. Although obviously a lady of grandeur, she was not at all snobbish.

After asking about his mother and promising to visit, Sun Mi left MBS. She had spent such a long time at the station she knew she was going to be dreadfully late for the Convention. Plus, she still had the floral arrangement to do. Luckily, she was just there to attend the Convention and did not have to sit on the committee as she had been invited to do at last year's Convention.


THE CONVENTION HALL –
VALENTINE'S DAY


As fate would have it, an hour before the Convention was scheduled to end, Sun Mi's assistant called her to tell her of a dreadful blunder. She was just about to deliver the flowers to Madam Kim, but a last minute order came in for a wreath to be delivered to the same hospital. Somehow the nurses got the deliveries mixed up and had sent the wreath to Madam Kim's room and the flowers to the deceased. The problem was that Madam Kim's son was in the room and her assistant dared not go into the room to retrieve the wreath.

Sun Mi had no choice but to leave the Convention and rush to the hospital to sort out the mess. She did not feel she was justified to berate her assistant because as the boss, she has to bear the responsibility for the mix-up.


SEOUL GENERAL HOSPITAL –
EVENING OF VALENTINE'S DAY

On reaching the hospital, Sun Mi went to the reception to ask if Madam Kim's son was in her room. When told that he was, she went to the room and knocked lightly on the door before turning the door knob.

HC Yun was sitting on a chair by his mother's bedside, reading some documents. He had looked up when he heard her knock. Madam Kim was asleep and snoring softly. That means she had not seen the wreath. Sun Mi secretly thanked the Almighty for His timely intervention! Sun Mi's eyes looked round the room. The nurses must have placed the flowers there but did not remove the wreath.

The minute he saw Sun Mi, HC Yun indicated the wreath with his head and asked, "What is your excuse for this blunder, Ms. Jin?"

"Oh dear, I am really so sorry," Sun Mi offered her apology profusely. "It seems the nurses mixed up the flowers and the wreath. The wreath had been ordered by the family of a patient who had passed away."

"Ms. Jin, even if my mother does possess a sense of humour, I doubt she would be amused to receive a wreath that says 'Rest in Peace' when she's in hospital for just a routine checkup."

HC waited for Sun Mi's response. When she did not say anything immediately, he added, "My father and I have had quite a hard time persuading her to agree to this check-up. If she had seen this wreath, she would definitely have wanted to check out fast."

Sun Mi picked up the wreath and asked, "Can we talk outside? I do not want to wake Auntie."

Hyung Chul got up and followed the alluring business-suited figure outside. He smiled inwardly to himself. His mother was right. Her little 'Miss Cupid' is definitely special enough to warrant his interest. He has never met another woman who has stirred so much interest in him.

Once outside the room and in the privacy of the waiting room, Sun Mi turned to face HC Yun.

"Director Yun, I won't offer any more excuses. I accept full responsibility for this mess. If you accept, I would like to offer some form of compensation to you."

Hyung Chul obligingly responded. "Really? Let's hear what compensation you have in mind."

"Well, I will offer you a 50% discount on all your orders for 1 year. How's that?" She smiled at him, thinking he would definitely be pleased with her compensation.

However, HC Yun raised his eyebrows and asked sarcastically, "Only 50%? Don't you think it's a bit miserly considering the severity of your mistake?"

"But I explained that it was the nurses ... oh, never mind! Okay, how about 60%?" Any higher than that, she would lose her profit margin, Sun Mi thought unhappily.

Hyung Chul noticed her unhappy and wary expression and tried very hard not to laugh. He felt like hugging her and to bring on her lovely smile to her beautiful face.

"Why don't I make a suggestion?"

Although Sun Mi's brows furrowed deeper, she shrugged and agreed.

He sat forward and told her softly, "You agree to spend 1 night with me and I'll forget the whole unhappy episode."

Sun Mi was enraged and she quickly stood up.

"What! What kind of trollop do you take me for?" She was livid that he dared even suggest such an immoral thing. "If you're looking for that kind of thrill, I suggest you look under the 'Yellow Pages!"

She turned angrily on her heels, wanting to get as far away as possible from that 'slimy' man. How could such a lovely lady like Madam Kim get a 'monster' for a son?

In the next instant, her arm was nearly wrenched from her shoulder socket by the hard tug on her wrist.

"You misunderstood my intention, Miss Snooty!" Not satisfied with having insulted her, he was now calling her names! The nerve of him! She tried to twist out of his vise-like hold.

He wagged his finger at her. "Temper! Temper!"

He gave another hard tug on her wrist and she fell back on the chair beside him.

"I repeat you've misunderstood my intention. I merely wanted you to have dinner with me and adjourn to a club for a coffee after dinner. I've not dined yet and I do not want to go to a restaurant alone on Valentine's Day. Everyone would look at me as if I were some sort of leper!"

His tone softened as he pleaded. "Please? I really would be very honoured if you would accept my invitation."

When she did not reply but continued to look at him warily, he tried another approach. "Put it this way. You agree to dine with me and I'll forget you offered me a discount!"

This finally got a reaction from her. "Well ..." She seemed to consider his deal. "You would also accept that it was not our mistake?"

"Certainly. Didn't you say it was the nurses' fault?"


"It really was their fault!" Sun Mi indignantly retorted.

Hyung Chul decided to soothe her feathers. "Okay! I agree it was their fault. I'm really very hungry. Shall we leave now?"

"What about Auntie?"

"We'll just look in on her. The doctor has given her a sedative. She'll sleep till morning."

When they were walking towards his car, she asked, "Shouldn't you be spending Valentine's Day with your special girlfriend instead of with your florist?"

Hyung Chul merely looked at her and smiled. But in his heart, he happily sang, "Correction! She's more than a florist. She's my very special Valentine."

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POEM: WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE?

♥Will you be my Valentine?
I know I am yours.
You are like a tossing sea,
And I am like your shores.

You are like an endless wave,
And I your waiting sand.
And I will wait forever as..
You come and smooth my hand.

I will wait forever, yet
You are a part of me.
I hold you in my arms, while you
Come to me endlessly. ♥


" ..... Valentine's Day is a wonderful way
To make "I love you" easy to say..... "


THE END.

Note from author -
Dear ladies, here it is "Bouquets from Cupid" ahead of schedule as I will be busy from next month. This story is dedicated as a 'Welcome Back' gift to Madam Nor. I also hope that you have enjoyed reading "Bouquets from Cupid" as much I have enjoyed writing it. Thank you for all your encouragement and support during the past 7 months of my 'yarn spinning' of the 'Hyung Chul/Sun Mi' tales. Thank you!

Margie