Love, Heila (Tagalog)

Chapter 7

Friday morning arrived with the crisp, clean smell of a freshly washed town. The storm had left our local roads damp, but the sun was finally peeking through the clouds, casting bright, warm streaks of light across the wooden floors of the flowershop. It was the big day for Marion Devan’s corporate executive dinner, and the shop was completely chaotic. Bundles of premium crimson roses, dark green monstera leaves, and delicate glass vases occupied almost every single flat surface we had.

"Heila! Paki-abot naman ng floral tape! Bilis, bago matuyo 'tong stem ng eucalyptus!"

Hijomi was frantically shouting from the main worktable, his fingers tangled in wires. Because of the size of the order, even he had to step up his arranging skills, though his version of "elegant centerpieces" looked more like a miniature jungle.

"Heto na, huwag ka ngang sumigaw diyan," natawa kong sabi habang iniabot sa kaniya ang tape.

Just then, the brass bell above the door chimed loudly. Ting-ting.

I turned around, expecting Marion Devan to walk in early to check on the progress. Instead, three young women—regular corporate employees from the nearby banking district—stepped inside the shop. They were laughing and chatting loudly, but the exact moment they crossed the threshold, their voices suddenly died down.

Their eyes weren't looking at the display of crimson roses. They weren't looking at the rustic wooden shelves my late mother had built. Their gazes were pinned entirely on the far corner of the aisle.

There stood Rehan. He was currently carrying a heavy, oversized bucket filled with fresh water and imported white lilies. He was wearing a simple, fitted black t-shirt that showed off his broad shoulders, with his usual gray flannel shirt tied loosely around his waist. His dark hair was slightly messy, falling perfectly over his sharp brow, and his jawline looked lethal under the morning sun. He was completely oblivious to the sudden audience, focusing entirely on setting the heavy bucket down with quiet precision.

"Oh my god..." isa sa mga babae ang bumulong, her hand instinctively clutching her friend’s arm. "Sino 'yun? May shooting ba rito ng bagong K-drama?"

"Ehhhh, ang guwapo! Akala ko ba flower shop 'to? Bakit may naliligaw na anghel dito?" Ang isa naman ang humagikhik, halos mamula ang buong mukha habang patuloy na sumusulyap kay Rehan.

Napasapo na lang ako sa noo ko habang nakatayo sa likod ng counter. Hijomi, on the other hand, let out a massive, dramatic sigh, dropping his floral shears onto the table with a loud clack.

"Heto na naman tayo," Hijomi muttered, crossing his arms and glaring at Rehan’s back with ultimate jealousy. "Bakit kapag ako ang nagbubuhat ng balde rito, mukha lang akong taga-igib ng tubig sa sapa? Pero kapag 'yang Koreanong 'yan ang humawak, mukha siyang commercial ng mamahaling mineral water? Ang unfair ng mundo, Heila."

"Tumahimik ka nga riyan, Hijomi," natatawa kong saway sa kaniya bago ko hinarap ang tatlong kustomer. "Good morning, ladies! How can I help you today?"

The women quickly snapped out of their daze, though their eyes kept drifting back to Rehan like a magnet. "Ah... Miss Heila! Magpapatimpla—ay, ibig kong sabihin, magpapagawa sana kami ng tatlong maliliit na bouquet para sa desk ng manager namin. Pero, pwede bang... pwede bang 'yung matangkad na kuya doon ang mag-deliver sa office namin mamaya?"

Before I could answer, Rehan walked over to the counter to grab a dry cloth. He stood right beside me, his tall frame completely towering over us. He looked at the three women, his face completely blank, carrying that signature cold, indifferent expression.

"I only deliver large corporate bulk orders today," Rehan said flatly, his low, accented baritone voice echoing through the quiet shop. "Small items are handled by him." He pointed a long, pale finger directly at Hijomi.

The women looked at Hijomi, who gave them a sarcastic, overly dramatic wave, and then looked back at Rehan, completely charmed even by his cold rejection. "Ay, ganoon ba? Sayang naman. Pero okay lang! Kahit ano na lang, basta ikaw ang kukuha ng bulaklak sa likod para sa amin!"

Natawa ako nang tahimik at tinabig ko si Rehan gamit ang siko ko. "Hey, Mr. International Heartthrob, kunin mo nga 'yung mga bagong gupit na carnations sa likod. Sige na, costumer natin 'yan."

Rehan looked down at me, his sharp eyes narrowing just a fraction in a silent, stubborn pout. He leaned in slightly closer, his voice dropping to a huff that only I could hear. "You are making me do manual labor just to entertain your customers, Heila."

"Parte 'yan ng trabaho mo bilang delivery boy at assistant ko," asar ko sa kaniya, my eyes twinkling with mischief. "Galingan mo ang paglalakad, baka bigyan ka nila ng malaking tip."

Rehan let out a low, defeated breath that sounded oddly cute. "Fine," he murmured under his breath before turning around to head into the back pantry. The moment he walked away, the three women immediately huddled together, whispering furiously about how "cool" and "mysterious" his accent was.

"Grabe, Heila, mukhang kailangan nating lagyan ng entrance fee 'tong shop mo simula bukas," Hijomi joked as he started wrapping the bank employees' small arrangements. "Gagawin nating tourist attraction 'yang si Rehan."

"Huwag ka ngang ganiyan, baka maglayas uli 'yan kapag nalaman niyang pinagkakakitaan natin siya," sabi ko, though my heart felt strangely light. Seeing Rehan slowly adapt to the shop—even if he was still incredibly cold to other people—made me feel a deep sense of comfort.

By the time we finished serving the bank employees, the clock struck ten, and the brass bell chimed once more. Ting.

This time, the atmosphere in the shop shifted entirely. Marion Devan walked in, looking like the absolute definition of a corporate gentleman. He wore a crisp, tailored light gray suit, his hair neatly combed back, and a warm, genuine smile on his face. Despite his demanding schedule as the Marketing Department Head, he didn't look frantic or stressed. He carried himself with an innate, steady grace that instantly made everyone feel at ease.

"Good morning, Heila. Good morning, Hijomi," Marion greeted politely, stepping up to the counter. He looked around the shop, his eyes widening in appreciation at the sea of crimson and dark green arrangements we had prepared. "Wow. These look absolutely stunning. You outdid yourself."

"Good morning, Mr. Marion!" bati ko, instantly feeling proud of our hard work. "Tamang-tama ang dating niyo, tinatapos na lang ni Hijomi ang huling dalawang centerpieces. Look at the deep velvet tone of these roses, saktong-sakto ito sa executive dinner niyo."

"It’s perfect," Marion said softly, reaching out to gently touch the edge of a leaf. His green-flag nature was on full display; he wasn't just a client checking an order, he was genuinely grateful. "Our vice president is incredibly particular about aesthetics, but with these, I’m confident the venue will look incredible. Thank you so much for putting so much effort into this, Heila. I know it was short notice."

"Naku, maliit na bagay, Mr. Marion. Kami nga dapat ang magpasalamat sa inyo dahil palagi niyo kaming binibigyan ng malalaking raket," sagot ko.

Just then, Rehan walked out of the back room, carrying the final wooden crate for the transport. He stopped when he saw Marion standing by the counter. The air between the two men grew quietly tense. Marion turned around, his polite smile remaining steady as he recognized the foreign driver from the other day.

"Hi, Rehan. Good to see you again," Marion offered a friendly, respectful nod. "I heard you handled the mayoral wedding delivery flawlessly yesterday. Thank you for helping out Heila's shop."

Rehan stood completely still for a second, his dark eyes observing Marion’s pristine corporate appearance and his easy, trusting demeanor. Rehan didn't smile, but he adjusted his grip on the heavy crate and gave a firm, professional nod. "It is my job. I ensure everything arrives safely."

"I appreciate that," Marion replied warmly. He turned back to me, pulling out his corporate planner. "Heila, the setup at the grand pavilion should start around one in the afternoon. I’ll be there early to coordinate with the catering team. Rehan can just meet me at the loading dock."

"Sige, Mr. Marion. Rehan will drive the van there on time," I assured him.

As Marion finalized the payment details, showing nothing but absolute kindness and professionalism to both me and my staff, I couldn't help but admire his character. He was stable, loyal, and incredibly secure in his life. Kung may iba pa sigurong Marion Devan, sana mapasaakin na lang.