A CROWN OF PETALS
1
Every morning, Justin wore a flower.
Not sometimes. Not only at work.
Even when he slept, petals sometimes stayed tangled in his hair like soft memories refusing to leave.
Ppy(Author)
Yeah as you have read.
Ppy(Author)
Wore a flower,
Always ....
This morning, it was a pale white camellia.
He stood in front of the small mirror beside his bed, carefully adjusting it into place. His fingers paused for a second—just a second—before he let out a slow breath.
The familiar weight of the petals grounded him.
Outside, the flower shop was still quiet when he arrived. The sign above the door swayed slightly in the morning wind:
Ppy(Author)
That's it,
He owns a flower shop.
He unlocked it carefully, stepping inside like he was entering a safer world.
Flowers lined every corner. Soft colors. Gentle scents. A place he built with his own hands when everything else felt too sharp to survive.
Justin didn’t even look up.
Justin(MC)
“I’m not late.”
Yeji was already there, tying her hair up while balancing a small box of supplies on one arm.
She glanced at him, then at the flower in his hair.
Yeji(MC Assistant)
“Camellia today?”
Yeji(MC Assistant)
“It suits you,”
She said, then softened her tone.
Yeji(MC Assistant)
“You look calmer with white ones.”
He didn’t answer, but his shoulders eased a little.
That was Yeji’s thing—she never asked questions too deep, but she noticed everything anyway.
The morning started like any other.
Arranging bouquets. Cleaning glass vases. Greeting early customers.
Until the first man walked in.
A loud voice. Heavy steps. Too close.
Justin didn’t notice it immediately—until the air changed.
The petals in his hair felt suddenly heavier.
His breathing shortened just slightly.
The man said, leaning over the counter.
Unknown Man
“How much for this one?”
Justin’s hand tightened around the edge of the table.
Yeji stepped in quickly, her voice sharp.
Yeji(MC Assistant)
“Sir, I can help you here.”
Justin exhaled quietly, almost silently, as if nothing had happened at all.
Yeji glanced at him once—just once—and then continued speaking to the customer.
But Justin stayed still for a moment longer than necessary, fingers brushing the flower in his hair.
That’s what the petals seemed to say.
The bell above the door rang again later that afternoon.
Different sound this time.
Justin didn’t look up immediately.
But something in the room changed anyway.
Even the air felt quieter.
Unknown Man
“I’m looking for flowers.”
Ppy(Author)
It feels like am introducing the main lead...
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2
Justin finally looked up.
The man standing at the entrance didn’t behave like a normal customer.
He didn’t browse. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t even look around properly.
He simply walked in as if the space had already been measured and understood.
Tall. Controlled. Dressed in dark clothing that made the soft colors of the flower shop feel almost fragile in comparison.
The air shifted the moment he stepped inside.
Justin felt it immediately.
He tightened his fingers around the bouquet he had been arranging without realizing it.
The camellia in his hair suddenly felt heavier than before.
Like it had become the only soft thing left in the room.
She stepped slightly forward, positioning herself near the counter. Not aggressive—just alert.
Ppy(Author)
As expected from a supporter..
Yeji(MC Assistant)
“Welcome,”
Yeji(MC Assistant)
“What kind of flowers are you looking for?”
The man didn’t answer right away.
His eyes moved slowly across the shop.
The shelves. The arrangements. The colors.
Ppy(Author)
Definitely he was staring at a flower.
The entire presence of him.
Justin lowered his gaze instinctively, focusing on the stems in his hands. His body reacted before his thoughts could catch up—subtle tension in his shoulders, a small pause in his breathing.
Men were always like that.
But this one didn’t move closer.
That was the strange part.
Yeji cleared her throat softly.
Only then did the man’s attention shift.
Unknown Man
“I’m looking,”
His voice was steady. Low. Controlled.
He took a step deeper into the shop.
Justin’s grip tightened slightly.
The distance between them still felt too small, even without movement.
But the man stopped at a respectful space from the counter.
Like he was trying to understand something that wasn’t being spoken.
The bell above the door rang again.
He scanned the shop immediately, his attention sharp, trained. When his eyes landed on Vincent, he relaxed only slightly.
Jake said under his breath.
Jake(Mafia PA)
“We don’t need flowers. Let’s go.”
Ppy(Author)
Mood Spoiler 😒.
His attention was still in the shop.
Jake followed his line of sight—and paused for a fraction of a second.
Then his expression tightened.
Recognition of something unusual.
He couldn’t explain why the silence felt heavier now than before.
Like he had all the time in the world.
Ppy(Author)
And Armi...
?????
Ppy(Author)
Yeah that's your name Guys.
Ppy(Author)
Isn't it beautiful 😍😍,
Comes from ARMY 💜.
Ppy(Author)
I wanted to say that,
This story won't be that long 🙂.
Ppy(Author)
And keep reading my other stories Armi ☺️.
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3
Vincent stopped near the counter.
Just enough distance to stand like any other customer.
His eyes moved from one arrangement to another, slower now, more intentional.
Vincent(Mafia Boss)
“I need flowers for a funeral.”
But they landed quietly in the room.
Yeji blinked, her expression softening slightly.
Yeji(MC Assistant)
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
Vincent gave no reaction to that.
His gaze shifted back to the flowers.
Vincent(Mafia Boss)
“I don’t know what kind is appropriate,”
Vincent(Mafia Boss)
“Something… respectful.”
Justin’s fingers paused on the stems he had been holding.
His throat tightened slightly, though he didn’t know why.
Yeji(MC Assistant)
“Justin,”
Yeji said gently, noticing his stillness.
Yeji(MC Assistant)
“Can you help him?”
It was his shop. His flowers. He knew what to do.
But when he stepped forward, he realized the distance between him and the man was smaller than it had been before.
Not close enough to be dangerous.
But close enough to feel noticed.
Justin lowered his eyes quickly, moving behind the counter.
He said quietly. His voice came out softer than intended.
Justin(MC)
“For funerals… lilies are often used. White lilies.”
His hands reached for the flowers instinctively.
The camellia in his hair shifted slightly as he leaned down, as if even that small movement reminded his body that someone was watching.
Justin swallowed and continued, focusing on the task instead of the presence in front of him.
Justin(MC)
“They represent… peace,”
He began selecting stems carefully, arranging them with practiced precision. But his fingers betrayed him slightly—just small hesitations, small tremors he kept trying to hide.
Wrap the stems. Tie the ribbon. Don’t think about the silence.
Vincent’s voice came again, calm.
Vincent(Mafia Boss)
“Add them.”
Vincent’s eyes stayed on the flowers, not on him.
Vincent(Mafia Boss)
“The lilies,”
Vincent(Mafia Boss)
“Put together something suitable. I’ll take it as you prepare it.”
There was no demand in his tone.
He hated that his voice shook.
He turned away fully now, focusing on building the bouquet. White lilies first. Then soft fillers. Greens to balance.
The shop sounds faded slightly—the rustle of paper, the soft clink of tools, Yeji moving quietly in the background.
But he could still feel him there.
Not in a way that demanded attention.
In a way that simply stayed.
Justin wrapped the bouquet tighter, fingers brushing over the ribbon as he tied it.
But his hands still weren’t completely steady when he finished.
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