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There's a small flower shop downtown known for its fresh flowers, beautiful bouquets, and great services. The owner is easygoing with excellent communication skills. He's taller than average, his muscles are as if were sculpted by ancient Roman sculptors as if he's God. Red hair slicked back, blue eyes, the skin of a gladiator, tanned and kissed by the sun. Apparently, he was drafted into the military once but had to retire due to personal reasons-
Alright, scratch the whole thing. There's a small flower shop downtown that's really famous in all its glory. Coby couldn't care less about the Roses and Gardenias on the front or how Sunflower isn't in season at the moment. He's only interested in the shop owner.
"Welcome back, Coby," the owner greets and Coby swears he could faint right away. But he can't do that. It would be a waste. "Is there anything you're looking for today?"
Coby's eyes wandered up to the owner's eyes. "Not really." He slides down his glasses and soaks up the beautiful sight in front of him, naturally. "My friend is still in the hospital. He said he's getting bored of tulips. I think I'll leave it to you this time, Drake."
The shop owner chuckles a little. Drake's coming out from behind the counter as his hands tie the apron on his back. "It's been two months. Is he alright? How about daisies to cheer him up?"
"I think he'll able to leave soon. Daisies sound alright. Is there anything I can help with?"
"It's alright. I don't want your uniform to get dirty."
"Hmm." Coby looks down at his white uniform. "I hope I get to wear a real uniform soon." He drops his bag on the counter and sits on the high stool chair.
Drake's back with plenty of flowers in his hands. The small flowers look even tinier on those massive arms. "You're graduating next year, don't you, Coby? Yellow paper?"
"Yes," he grins and nods, folding his arms on the counter. "I've been working out more too. I have to look good at my graduation ceremony." Coby's gripping his arms, chin down but eyes cautiously looking at Drake who's busy folding papers. "It will be nice if you can come."
"I never closed my shop before unless there's a storm," Drake shrugs without looking at him. Coby somewhat had expected the answer. "I'll think about it."
Coby's jaw drops along his eyes widen. He clears his throat, and nearly chokes himself embarrassingly. It was a good thing Drake was always so focused on his task at hand.
"You'll have to close your shop then, Drake," Coby said carefully and Drake turns his face at him.
"You can't have graduation without bouquets of flowers, no? To think that you'll become police soon."
"I'll come by often."
"You can come by whenever you can. I'll just say it, you'll be busier than you are now. How's this?" Drake's lifting a small bouquet in a yellow and white paper.
"That's lovely, Drake. No worries, I'll make sure to come by often. Um, by the way, can I have one more bouquet? It's for my room."
"Sure. Anything on your mind?"
"I'll leave it to you again." Coby smiles and watches when Drake's leaving the counter to fetch the flowers. With one hand supporting his face, Coby's watching how great Drake is with his job.
Coby was never interested in flowers so he never come into any flower shop before. Not until two months ago when Helmeppo broke his leg. He took advice from Tashigi to bring flowers to cheer him up and she recommended this shop.
It was something like love at first sight. At first, Coby couldn't even talk properly but Drake was patient with him. Drake was nothing like any other adults he met. Definitely not Smoker, not Garp, not Sengoku, not anyone. Somehow Drake's different and that's when Coby realizes that he might've found his first love in a flower shop run by a handsome taller older man.
He hasn't told Helmeppo or Tashigi yet and Coby can imagine their reaction.
Sometimes, Coby wonders how he should act if he wants Drake to notice him.
"I was thinking," Coby blurts out suddenly when Drake walked up to him- to the counter with lilies in his hands. "do you like performances?"
"Performances?"
Coby shifts on his seat and leans on the table towards Drake across. "Yes. There will be a special theatrical performance by the Mugiwara next month by the end of the year."
"Really? How do you know?"
"I know them personally. They're my friends."
"I watched them once a long while ago right after I left the military. I think that one was.., the adventure on the sky island."
"Skypiea." Coby covers his mouth. It means that Drake was drafted out of the military around one year ago. He's sure that Drake is in his early thirties meaning he still has a chance. "Do you want to go to watch it with me?"
Drake halts before he can cut the ribbon tied to the bouquet. "I'll think about it. I don't know if I'm able to go."
Coby slides up his glasses, smiling in defeat. "I see. Let me know if you can go."
"There'll be a community gathering but they haven't decided on the date yet."
"Community?"
"Yeah." Drake pulls the ribbon nicely on the bouquet as the last decoration. The corner of his lips is lifted up as he talks. "It's the community for people who like reptiles."
How come he hasn't heard of this before? "Drake, you like animals?"
"I have one iguana at home."
"Really?"
"She's twenty years old. I adopted her before they can put her down. They clearly didn't know what they were doing with her."
"'Was she sick?" Coby smiles with closed eyes as he proceeds with the payment.
"Not anymore. She's doing much better and she likes flowers too."
"Good to hear." Coby watches and listens, identifying how different Drake looks when he talks about his pet. He's found something he can work with. He drapes his backpack over his shoulders and hugs the bouquets as he jumps off the stool. "I never have a pet before. They have dogs at the academy but I'm not that good with them."
"They have dogs too in the army. They're sweet but I prefer reptiles. Always loved them since I was little."
"Can you tell me more about it later then?"
"Of course, we can talk about it."
Coby nods, satisfied with his finding today. "See you later, Drake."
"Yeah."
Coby was about to reach for the handle when he suddenly turns around.
"Do you need something else, Coby?" Drake asks. The smile was still there.
"Uh, oh, no, I thought I left my backpack, haha..," he answers awkwardly. It would be too soon if he said he wants to go to the community gathering as well and he just realizes it. Now he has to hold back from squealing when Drake's laughing.
Oh God, I hope I look clumsily cute and not clumsily stupid.