A Bouquet for Every Kind of Love
The rain had just stopped when Aina stepped out of her car, holding an umbrella that barely kept her dry. The evening air in Ipoh was cool, filled with the faint scent of wet grass and traffic after a drizzle. She looked down at her phone, another message from her best friend, Nadia. “I’m nervous, Aina. The shop opens tomorrow. What if no one comes?” Aina smiled. She knew Nadia had been working on her little café for months. Late nights, endless lists, countless rejections. And now, finally, it was happening. Aina decided right there and then what she wanted to do.
She drove straight to White On White florist, her go-to flower shop. The shop smelled like soft petals and hope. The florist, a kind young woman with steady hands, greeted her with a gentle smile. “Looking for something special?” she asked.
Aina nodded. “Something that says ‘I’m proud of you.’ But not too fancy. Just… real.”
She thought for a moment, then brought out two bouquets. One wrapped in creamy kraft paper, filled with peach roses and daisies that glowed like late afternoon sunlight; another, in soft pink tones, blooming with ruffled roses that looked like little promises kept. “This week’s Weekly Flower Promotion,” she said.
Aina couldn’t decide. The pink bouquet reminded her of warmth of friendship, laughter, quiet comfort. The peach bouquet felt alive that vibrant and new, just like Nadia’s dream finally taking flight. So she bought both.
When Aina reached Nadia’s café, the lights were still on. The signboard, “Kopi & Kenangan”, hung proudly above the doorway. Nadia stood behind the counter, tired but smiling, her hijab a little messy from the long day. Aina handed her the peach bouquet. “For your new beginning,” she said. Nadia blinked, eyes glassy. “Aina, they’re beautiful.”
“I got another one,” Aina laughed, showing the pink bouquet. “This one’s for my dining table, to celebrate you.” They both laughed, and for a moment, the whole café felt like a flower itself, bright, fragrant, alive.
Later that night, as Aina placed her bouquet by the window, she realised something. Flowers didn’t just decorate spaces; they filled them with emotion. They spoke quietly of pride, friendship, love and sometimes, of courage.
The next morning, she received a text from Nadia: “Aina, people came. And they loved the flowers.”
Aina smiled. She didn’t reply immediately. Instead, she opened her curtains, letting the sunlight fall on her bouquet. Its petals still fresh, its colours soft but strong. It reminded her that sometimes, happiness is simple. A kind gesture, a blooming bouquet, and someone to share it with.
