White Tulip

It was all white and smiles that had made I noticed her immediately. Her posture was indeed elegant and sophisticated, clearly had been educated. Her face was pale white and her pink, luscious lips beautified her flawless face even more. Her long chestnut brown hair was accessorized with a wonderful white plain hat that was not too embellished but perhaps had caught some of other’s attention. On her gloved hand was a white closed parasol and her evening dress was stunning – fully white with simple laces and ribbons.

She was too busy scrutinizing the white tulips on the vases; she didn’t notice my eyes on her. Her gaze on the white tulip was so intense and I wondered to myself which one was the exquisite flower.

“Hey, come on, mister! I don’t have all day.” A half-century old woman had snapped sharply behind the counter. The girl turned to my direction because of the sudden loud remark and, God, her sparkling blue eyes were mesmerizing.

            Quickly, I averted my eyes away from her and to the woman in front of me.

            “I’m terribly sorry, Ma’am. How many pots of petunias did you want?”

            The florist shop was buzzing with people – an expecting situation at this kind of peak hour. It was bustling with activities – some were eyeing the flowers to be bought and some were waiting for their bouquets to be finished. Various types of flowers – roses, lilies, primroses – lined up on the shelves and spaces of the shop, penetrating its scents throughout the whole shop.

            But it turned quiet and silent when the white dress girl stood behind the counter (technically, in front of me). I took a sharp intake of breath at the sudden sight of her. Standing this close to me, I got a chance to take a closer look of her – her face was no longer sickly pale but full with colours. Her cheeks were red as if she had been running. My eyes landed on her hands. On her free hand held a stem of a beautiful white tulip. I titled my head, just a stem?

            The girl smiled as if she had read my thought. “Just one.”

            Her sweet voice seemed to echo throughout the whole shop. However, there were something odd and mysterious about the way she spoke, the way her eyes shone and the way she smiled. I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

            With trembling fingers, I took the tulip and wrapped its stem in a transparent plastic, exposing only the scented flower. Its pure white petals shone as if it had just been plucked. The dew on the leaves of the plant glistened, reflecting the sunlight that passed through.

            “Declaring your love?” Something at the pit of my stomach twisted. I realized too late when I had spoken it out loud.


I had once read in a book that tulips signified declaration of love and perfect love. Something that was true to its meaning. The gorgeous petals of the tulips denoted the beauty of love while its pastel colours showed the perfection of sweet love.

            “Yes. Tulip symbolises the declaration of love.” She spoke uncomfortably but the lovely smile never left her lips.

            “Sorry, none of my business.” I cleared my throat and the heat crept up to my cheeks, avoiding her enticing eyes. “That will be a pound, miss.”

            The girl gladly took out her purse and gave me a pound. With flushed cheeks, I took the sterling and punched the number onto the cashier, putting the coin into it. However, when I turned to the girl she was already gone.

            “Miss?” She was nowhere to be found. Without any further thinking, I ran out of the shop and desperately searched for her. A glimpse of white hat between the rowdy crowds caught my attention. It was about two miles from me but that didn’t stop me. I ran between the people, muttering sorry for the hastiness.

            “Miss! Your flower.” The white hat was getting further and further. But before it disappeared completely in the crowd, the girl turned her head around and gave me a bashful smile that was a pure mystery and enchantment to me.

            With sweats prickling down my forehead and adrenalines pumping through my temples, I stood on the busy street with an utter bafflement. I stared at the beautiful tulip and something at the back of my mind retraced something familiar that had once been spoken.

            “Tulip symbolises the declaration of love.” Upon these words, I blushed furiously as it was the first indirect confession I had ever gotten.