Valentine's Day was approaching, Yumi was mentally grateful that the event itself would fall on the weekend so she could stay all day at the store working. The problem was that the store was too full and only two employees were not enough, so he chose to call his best friend to help - she was going to pay him - as the boy had nothing scheduled and wanted easy money, he ended up accepting.
The biggest problem was that she just couldn't stand Valentine's Day, not even Takashi liked it since he didn't like anything about love and after he met the girl was bonded with, he started to hate it even more. She doesn't have anything against the day, just like a person with strange and somewhat damaged hair, it hurt a little.
Hiroki confessed that he didn't like the holiday very much because of the yarn either, even though he already got some chocolates at school he was never very excited as he knew that all girls - maybe boys - had a kindred spirit and that they could just drop.
In other words, 3 people who didn't like the event itself would work all day serving happy and passionate people wanting to present someone. The only advantage of this was the money, as it was the time when they sold the most flowers. It was unbearable to make bouquets to leave for quick access, as some chose to buy them ready-made and not choose their flowers.
As the store was not very big, they were afraid that some flowers would be stolen, after all, the flowers were exposed and not behind the counter, so they called Yumi's grandmother to stay at the door, keeping an eye out in case anyone tried to leave without paying ─ it would be without packaging indicating the place of purchase ─ she would simply scream. Yumi had seen her throw some rocks on certain occasions her mother had fought with when she did it, but it had worked so she supported her grandmother's violent method.
Yumi ended up renting a van too so could deliver flowers, she knew how many people called looking for arrangements and they couldn't just go out and deliver it knowing there were thousands of customers at the place. So, they hired a guy who would deliver all the arrangements, so it would be much faster. She was wondering whether or not to keep the boy to work in the delivery area so Takashi wouldn't have to deal with this issue. Since when they were both at the store he could go out and deliver them while she took care of everything.
Takashi said earlier in the week ─ otherwise, he would forget ─ that it would be a good idea to open early as some people could buy the flowers when they were going to work. Which resulted in them opening the store at 7 am the three of them were tired as none of them had slept early the day before, but they didn't have much choice about it.
Yumi had never hated Takashi so much for being right, there were already a lot of people waiting for the store to open ─ they had posted notice during the week telling them when they would open on Saturday ─ there was complete chaos in the place. It looked like they were in a subway full of people, tried to keep order by telling them to line up, but everyone was spread out wanting to pay right away.
Hiroki was completely disturbed by that, he never imagined that flower shops were like that on Valentine's Day, well, he didn't know if at all the situation was chaotic like that, but in this store it was. The place should be known to have so many customers. I was wondering if your choice had been worth it.
The rest of the day went on like this, they didn't even manage to take a decent lunch break. They had to eat for a few breaks due to the high demand from customers. The time that companies generally released their employees for lunch seemed like the store was more crowded as everyone thought that at that time the place would be more empty.
The rest of the day was like that, chaotic, but luckily no problems occurred. At the end of the day, the three of them stayed at the store – Yumi's grandmother had already left because she wouldn't help with the cleaning – they were arranging everything. Hiroki didn't need to help as he had just gone there to work in sales but seeing how tired they were both from the exhausting day, he preferred to help, he was already there anyway.
─ Well, I don't think it's a good idea for me to pay you this late. I'm afraid someone will steal from you, so I'd rather make a bank transfer, okay?
─ Of course, I give you my account on my cell phone... I also don't feel safe carrying a lot of money. And speaking of money, thanks for calling me!
─ I don't know why I'm happy about this... seeing a bunch of deluded people thinking about love, tsc, disgusts me.
─ Don't pay attention to him, Hiroki, he's just stressed but he also worked overtime and will earn more money, so I don't know why I'm complaining!
─ Well, anything can help me in the next festivities I think Mother's Day should sell a lot.
─ Yes, it is an event that we also sell a lot, not like Valentine's Day, but it fills the flower shop! So, I call you to help again.
─ YOU!
Hiroki and Yumi found the co-worker's scream strange and looked in the direction he was looking.
─ You hadn't closed the door?!
─ I thought I did ─Hiroki scratched his cheek feeling a little guilty seeing his friend's gaze on him.
─ Look, lady, if you don't want to buy anything... then please leave the store.
─ Hey, Yumi ─ Hiroki spoke softly close to her friend's ear. ─ Is this the woman you commented on?
─ Yes... Takashi's soul mate.
─ We need to talk.
─ THAT AGAIN?!
─ My boyfriend... or should I say, ex-boyfriend... found his soul mate today.
─ Cool, I imagine he broke up with you because of that.
─ Yes, but...when I said I was pregnant he changed his mind. So, I ended our relationship.
─ Let me get this straight, you're pregnant, he chose to be with you than your soul mate and you broke up with him?
─ HE JUST WANTS TO BE WITH ME THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY! ─ yelled starting to cry. ─ I saw how happy he was when he told me about the girl, but I had to warn him that he was going to be a father. I couldn't lie, I saw how sad he was with the news... and yet he said he would stay with me and not her!
─ Wow ─ Yumi and Hiroki spoke at the same time.
─ I couldn't stand to see that look on me, a look of pity and sadness! I'd rather be a single mom than that. I told him to pay child support and have his soul mate.
─ Right, you came to me... pregnant ─ Takashi took a deep breath. ─ To say that your old boyfriend found your soul mate and you don't want anything more with him being the father of your child? All this is because of a ridiculous thread. He doesn't even know that woman and still fell in love at first sight? And all the love he felt for you... how he could have been all in love and happy to have found her... that's why I hate things related to romance.
─ Look, are you sure he wanted to be with you just out of pity, due to the pregnancy? He can love you ─ Yumi commented.
─ So why would he talk so happy and passionate saying he found the love of his life? she replied irritated.
─ When you met Takashi, didn't you do the same thing?
─ OF COURSE NOT! After that date, do you think I would be all in love and happy and say that I found the love of my life?
─ The guy ignored all your life together because of a thread, wow ─ Hiroki was right to think it was bad to receive chocolate at school on Valentine's Day, ignoring all the confessions, deep down they would all abandon him when he found the ''true love'' he was having living proof in front of him that in fact, this sort of thing happens. ─ So with that you never loved each other, you only used each other until you found your ''true love'' wow what a wonderful boyfriend this is yours.
─ You broke up with him... ready will he be happy now with his future girlfriend and you? Are you going to be happy being a single mom? ─ Yumi asked worriedly. ─ And I still don't understand, I don't think anyone here understands, why you are here.
─ I... I don't know what to do, I don't know who to ask! Everyone I know at the moment is celebrating Valentine's Day, I have no living relatives and I don't know what to do with this child! My ex-boyfriend won't support me in getting an abortion, he's against that kind of thing. But I won't be able to afford to raise a child on my own even with a pension, I don't earn well enough... I don't have the money to go to a legal abortion clinic... I don't know what to do! Please help me," she said pleadingly with Takashi.
─ Do you want this child? he asked seriously looking at the girl.
─ I... loved my boyfriend a lot, I know I told you I would break up with him if I found my soul mate. We had agreed on this, but I would never stop loving him...I know this may sound strange, but I would never forget him.
─ Really, it doesn't make sense. You'd just stick with me and leave the man you love for nothing.
─ That's what we thought was right, since we were little, we wanted to find our true love, and even though we were in a relationship we wanted to take risks. When I met you, I noticed that things were not how everyone said. It seemed like every soul mate relationship had been magical and special so I saw that it wasn't that... that you could only have a relationship when they were both actually in love... I thought it just took one look for it to change, but I saw that it wasn't. So, when I saw him so happy and in love saying he had found his true love, I was wondering... how is this possible? It hadn't happened the same with me.
─ Do you think each one is different? ─ Yumi asked curiously.
─ I don't know, but the look in his eyes it was impossible to tell that he had a bad encounter with this person. As if she, too, had as happy as he was. And after I was rejected, I can't understand if this feeling is real... if the thread is all a lie, a farce that makes us think we've found our better half.
─ What a change of conversation - Hiroki spoke softly to her friend. ─ She looks like another woman talking.
─ I know you have no reason to help me, you don't feel anything for me, and I don't particularly feel anything for you anymore... I never did. I just thought that if I stayed with you for a while I would fall in love quickly, but I saw that it was all a lie.
─ I... can't believe I'm going to say this. I'll help you pay for the surgery ─he said, shocking everyone at that.
─ Yeah... I'm not leaving anytime soon until all this is resolved ─ Hiroki said decidedly, he wanted to see how far this would end.