150 Epilogue: Blue Rose

A classic doorbell rang, a little girl came to the small flower shop. Her round cheeks, curly hair, red boots, and pink dress which she wore made her like a little princess. Her age perhaps around ten or eleven years old, because she was slightly tall.

She looked around the various color flowers inside with her curious eyes. Striding her legs she could smell the nice floral fragrance. Suddenly someone called her, "What's the matter, little girl? Do you want to buy flowers?" A man voice was reached her ears as she turned around and noticed the old man.

His hair was white, wrinkles showed on his face, he wore his glasses as he read the newspaper on his hand. His gaze was sharp and scary, but she could notice kind intention from it. The girl walked to his side and answered him, "Yes, I'm looking for a bouquet for my brother. Do you have blue lily or rose so I can give him?"

"Your brother is graduating, huh. Alright, let this old man arranges the flowers for you." The old man said as he stood up from his chair. He urged her, "You can sit down in this chair. While waiting, you can drink this tea and cookies. I made it myself." Smiling, he walked away from her and stood in front of the counter as he began working with the flowers and scissors.

The girl stared at his broad back and couldn't help to praise that his muscle was firm even though he was old. Sipping the jasmine tea, then munching the chocolate cookie on the table. The girl started a conversation with the old man, "Old man, what's your name?"

He smiled and replied, "When you ask someone else name, you need to state your name first. Did you forget the ethics?"

The girl blinked her eyes as she facepalmed, lowered her head, she apologized, "Sorry. My name is Vivy, I live downtown in Haresora City. So, old man tell me your name?"

Lifting his eyebrows, he said sarcastically, "I never ask where you live and why should I tell you my name?"

Vivy who heard his answers, starting to pout, her face turned red and angry, what was going with this old man? Why he was so petty? She just wanted to know his name because she was curious, that's it. But her anger dissipated when he heard him chuckling, he answered her short, "Hanzo. That's my name."

"Hanzo? That's so ancient! Do you have any other good name you can use?" The girl looked at him a surprise, she said while placing her hands in front of her.

Hanzo who heard her question was baffled. How could he do that? It was his parents gave him the name. How could he change it easily? He spoke, "If I could, perhaps, from the start my name would not be this." He smiled helplessly as he slight glanced at her. Adjusting his glasses he began cutting the dirty branch and withered leaves.

Vivy pursed her lips, his response was so lacking what she hoped for, she just wanted to tease him, but he didn't bite the bait. Well, in the first place, it was wrong for her to be so presumptuous to the elder.

She sighed, she should not be so sassy to the people older than her except her friends. Feeling bored with waiting, she went to counter where Hanzo was arranging the flowers. She noticed his serious looks when he clean the flowers, his gentle care when he cut the branch, and his attentive action when he placed the flower down.

Vivy asked him the question she had been curious before, "Grandpa Hanzo, why do you decide to become a florist? As far as I know, florist doesn't pay much for the living. Not to mention, in this new time, it's rare to see florist can hold until years. Most of them give up and change to the salaryman with a stable salary or working in a rich company. While you are old and live alone in this place as a florist, why do you continue to work like this?"

Snapped the last dirty stack, he answered, "Your words really straightforward, little girl. Isn't it obvious? I love flowers that's why I continue as a florist. I don't care what people say about me, because my passion is to love flowers and that's fixed. I enjoy being with them. And for you, little girl, don't call me Grandpa Hanzo. It's making me realize how old I become. Call me 'Mister'."

"Then, Mr. Hanzo. Why do you love flowers? Is it because of their beautiful colors and fragrances? Or is there another special reason you like them? For instance, because of your parents or friends or your wife like flowers?"

He tilted his head down and looked the little girl, he smirked, "Do you have a school homework about interviewing people profession? You're asking a lot question."

She shook her head, "No. I'm just curious. You're kind of famous person in this district, Mr. Hanzo. People said you are an old man who is scary and hard to approach, that's why people are hesitating to come to your shop. While for me, I didn't feel the same, because I saw you often watering flower outside and I knew that you're not a bad person. That's why I brace myself to try to meet you today."

"Is your brother's gift is just a lie?" He asked to confirm.

"No, that's actually real. I thought with this opportunity I can start a conversation with you. You know it's awkward when a stranger suddenly come to talk to you without reason, right? That's why I came as a customer and perhaps with this, you will not feel uncomfortable."

"You're a complicated girl." Hanzo shook his head helplessly. This girl was too unique, he couldn't define it well. What was going on inside her head to ask this old man? There was nothing interesting about him except his love for flowers. Sighing, he couldn't help to describe her as a weird girl but in a good way, he didn't hate her to act like this. Honestly, her words were a little touching.

He strode his legs to the drawer near him and took blue wrap plastic. He explained, "So, you're still waiting for me to give you the answer?"

"Of course! Tell me! Tell me!"

He chuckled and walked to her side again, he gave her a small seat as she sat down on it. He cut the blue plastic wrap while muttering, "Hmm... To put it simply, there's no special reason. I immediately love flowers the first time I saw them in kindergarten. I didn't know why, but I felt nostalgic when I pay attention to them. Since then I began to love flowers and decided to become a florist in this city. About my parents or friends they weren't a nature lover, and fortunately, they didn't against me to become a florist. They quickly leave me be to pursue my dream."

Vivy nodded as she placed her arms on the table, she supported her chin with her hands, she blinked once more and continue prying, "Did your wife like flowers too?"

Stopping his activity, he fell silent for a moment. Vivy confused from his act and started calling his name over and over again until he came back to his sense. He asked feeling muddle, "Sorry, what did you say?"

"Did your wife like flowers too?" She repeated her question annoyingly. Did this old man was daydreaming or what? How could he didn't listen to her words?

An abrupt burst of laughter came out his mouth, he shook his head and revealed, "No, sorry, I don't have a wife."

"Huh? What do you mean? Did she pass away already? I'm so sorry." Feeling wrong, Vivy apologized to bring sensitive topic. She should not be too frontal. Her parents were advising her blabbermouth to shut up, now she felt awkward.

Hanzo who heard her apology curved his lips up. He responded with indifferent tone, "No, you don't have too. It's not that she passed away. It is just me who has never been married."

Her eyes lit up and made an agape mouth, "What?! Isn't that mean you are still single?! Why not? Mr. Hanzo, when I first saw you, I bet one million dollars that you are a handsome man when you were younger! So why didn't you get married? You just waste your beauty!" She said as she stood up from her chair joltingly. Her hands on her waist as she pointing her index finger to him.

Flabbergasted, Hanzo was surprised that he got scolded by the younger generation. He should be mad at this moment, but her words made him started to laugh again, "Thank you for your compliment. But, I'm fine. From the start, I had never been interested to start a relationship with someone. Flowers is enough for me."

Vivy pouted her lips as she felt unbelievable by his answer. He didn't need human, flowers were enough for him? What kind of phenomenon was this? Ignoring her thought, she watched him tying a red ribbon to the bouquet.

Hanzo finished attaching the last flowers and cleaned it neatly. Finally, It finished. He gave it to her as he said, "It's 200 Yen." She took out her small purse and gave him the money. She bowed to say thank you.

Before she went away, she spoke to him one more time, "Cheer up, Mr. Hanzo! And I'm sorry for my impudence, I hope you don't take it offense. For an apology gift, I'm going to visit your shop often so you'll not be lonely, is that alright?" Hanzo fixedly stared at the little girl and gave her a warm smile, "Sure."

The girl showed her bright teeth and told him, "Then to start our friendship, can I call you 'Mr. Han' not 'Mr. Hanzo'? I'm sorry, but I still didn't like the name."

Hearing her statements, he was startled. He lowered his head as he began to think something important, but as if a wall blocking his memory, he couldn't grasp it well what it was. He felt his heart squeezed suddenly and he oblivious of the reason. He kept muttering, "'Han'?"

Vivy overheard his mumbling, answered confoundingly, "Yes, what's wrong with the nickname?"

Lifting his head, he slowly shook his head, "Nothing," he took a quick breath and warned her, "Ah, right. Remember I'm still your elder, you should talk politely with me, little girl."

Startling, she nodded and apologize one more time. "I'm sorry." Her eyes turned teary, she didn't know that Hanzo would make that scary expression.

Realizing his expression was off, he quickly softened it and breathe out heavily, "No, it's okay. I forgive you, and for that, I'll give you permission to call me Mr. Han," he stated his words to her.

Vivy looked at him joyfully. Her face was shimmering bright, "Thank you! Mr. Han!" She bowed and bid goodbye to him, she left the place with her bouquet on her hands.

Hence, in a few seconds, the flower shop quietened once again. Hanzo stared at his beautiful flowers in front of him while radiating orange under the glass rooftop. He realized that it was already afternoon, "It's closing time." He stood up from his seat and went to the glass door. He flipped his door sign to 'close'. He strode back and started cleaning inside.

While sweeping he notice a certain flower, it was glowing blue and orange light? He couldn't see it very well. He rubbed his eyes as if he was seeing things. He approached closer but the things he saw wasn't there. Stunned, was that only his imagination?

He blinked his eyes and gazed attentively at the flower. He stayed quiet for a while, he didn't know why but he couldn't stop staring at the flower. As if a magnet drawing himself to it. Unaware of himself, his eyes turn red, he felt sore inside his heart, his tears started to fell one by one. "Huh? Why I'm crying?"

Mind crashed, his body was trembling, the next thing he knew he began to sob like a maniac. Inwardly he was wondering why he felt like this? What happened to him? He didn't know why his self-rain fell uncontrollably like this? As if something was missing, something incomplete in his life. He didn't recognize what it was.

In truth, he once felt like this a long time ago when he was young. He tried to ignore it but time to time he unconsciously crying for no reason whenever he was alone. But this one a little special, he couldn't control it well enough when he saw this particular flower. Blue Rose. In floral language, represented of something mystery and deep, a feeling which couldn't be mutter easily, and sincere heart. He was wondering why he suddenly interpreted this flower.

"Ah...what's wrong with me?" He pounded his ache chest. Closed his eyes as he tilted his head above towards the glass ceiling. Eventually, before he noticed, the sun was setting down, leaving a purple-blue sky. The room became darkened alongside with him.

...

...

"What are you looking at?" Elway asked Tereza who was staring at the gift that the Great Flower Spirit gave her.

Tereza turned her head slowly as she gave him a slight smiled. "I got a gift from the Great Flower Spirits. It's a blue rose." She explained softly.

Elway looked at her spiritless figure and couldn't help to pity her. He knew deep inside this woman was feeling depressed, but she didn't show it to him.

He started to remember the time he gave her a choice to save her husband life. At that time, he clearly convinced her to think twice to decide. Because of the consequence related to her next life. There wouldn't be a new life for her.

Another mean she couldn't reincarnate in exchange for her husband's life. She would live in white space, the thin space between heaven and the human world. There was no one there, besides white color. It was the same place where she planted the thirty flowers before. But the difference now, there wasn't a greenhouse or the furballs friends she had. She was all alone.

A human was stubborn being, just like this woman. She didn't know her decision was more painful than she ever thought, yet this woman still accepted it despite knowing her ending. Sighing, this was the reason he hated mortal life.

Today Elway was visiting her. It had been a thousand years he didn't check on her. He was wondering what was happening, did she felt bored? Did she still alive? Yes, she was.

When he came with his red robe fluttering from the sky. There he saw her youthful beauty, clear eyes, tempting pink lips, sitting as she let down her blue dress on the ground. With a blue flower on her hands, she was smiling weirdly.

Continuing the conversation, Elway hearing her answer previously, he was baffled, Great Flower Spirits really did love her, they even help her until now, did they still want to repay back their debt to her? From Elway point of view, it possible.

Unfortunately, she couldn't remember the deed she did before to the Great Flower Spirits. Why? Because to help her to continue without trouble, he erased her memories. So, she wouldn't miserably alone in this white space. Sighing, he asked her again, "Why are you smiling?"

"I don't know, I feel calm and sweet when I look at this flower."

"Then why are you also crying?"

"I... I don't know. I just feel like it. Maybe I felt touched to see something new for a long time. Because all this time there's only me." She said while giving her a sad smile. After that she didn't say any words as her tear gradually fell again, she felt confused why she felt like this.

Elway stayed quietly near behind her and couldn't help to praise her, "You're an incredible human being, Tereza." This woman was strong, her love is strong, although he made her lost her memory, her heart couldn't lie to her. He was thinking, perhaps, someday she would break that spell by herself and when that came, he may reconsider to bring her back to reincarnate.

Tereza who heard his mumbling turning her head as she wiped her tears stain on her red cheeks, she asked, "I'm sorry what did you say? Did you just call me, Tereza? Who is that?"

'You.' He told her inwardly.

"No, it's my old friend's name. You can continue to look at that flower, Tea." He remarked while covering his expression with a smile. He was telling half true and half lie. He couldn't explain to her that, before he met her in Haresora City, he once met her in her previous world while she was still Queen Tereza.

No, to be precise, when she wasn't a queen yet. It was just a small moment and maybe unimportant for her. But for him, it was unforgettable. Because he was still a weak spirit back then. He wanted to repay her to not making her live like this, but he must also remember, that he needed to follow the heaven law.

Watching her a few more minutes, he told her with slow tone, "I'll be going now. Take care of yourself, I'll be visiting you once a while." Leaving her alone in the empty place, he vanished with golden dusk surrounding him.

Meanwhile, when there was no trace of him anymore, Tereza was still hovering herself to the blue rose. She unconsciously mumbled quietly, "Han, I miss you... Han?" Tilting her head slightly, she pondered why that name suddenly popped out in her mind.

She asked herself confusingly, "Who is Han?"

THE END.