her mind plays dirty tricks, so when she can give some color to the grey thoughts, her logic is the first to leave the room. she should’ve waited for an answer, but the apology doesn’t leave the tip of her tongue. it’s the first thing that day erasing the frown from her features, she’s not sorry, she’s grateful. wants to give her peace of mind on her talent for it, ❛ your eye is used to your hand. and there’s no harsher critique than yourself, notching down some credit where its due. really, it’s very good. is that the only thing you draw ? ❜ of course, she wishes to see more. takes a breath, one final glance over the little graphite family before finally daring a first look at the girl’s eyes following the shared fact, hopes she doesn’t see the unfallen tears in the brown of her own. hopes she doesn’t see that she’s been sleeping on her stomach for the past months, unable to let her guard completely down. ❛ yeah . . yeah it must be. i’m glad it doesn’t have to worry about nearby foxes, it can be peaceful, just a few hours can be enough. ❜ yes, she’s taking a penciled up bunny a little too seriously. and the apple of her cheeks grow a little warmer, gaze takes a second to long to move from rich browns to look over the cashier’s shoulder into the back door, shaking her head. ❛ oh, ah, i’m okay. i mean, not really but, no, um ❜ that’s a little embarrassing now, ❛ maybe you didn’t want to have to deal with a customer today, you know, those shifts ——— i’ll be okay, i promise. ❜ another smile, not sure who she’s trying to convince. ❛ i could come with, if it’s allowed ? ❜ to soothe her mind.
❛ thank you, really. — i don’t draw a lot, only when i have free time which . . . is only when this place has a slow day. i like animals, landscapes. people, but only sometimes. i have to find the right muse, you know ? ❜ she doesn’t say : you’re one of the most beautiful people i’ve ever seen. she doesn’t say : don’t cry, your smile suits you more. she doesn’t say : let me draw you. she doesn’t even know this girl, doesn’t know her from adam or eve, & yet she feels compelled to extend a hand of kindness. the girl looks worse for wear & jieun wonders who could hurt someone so kind, so gentle, so . . . fragile. ❛ i draw foxes too, sometimes, ❜ jieun offers, shrugging a shoulder slightly. she doesn’t know why she says it, because the girl can’t actually care. she’s killing time, filling up her afternoon to avoid whatever it is that she doesn’t want to face. jieun just happens to be there. ❛ honestly, it’s been really slow today. actually getting to help someone is a nice change of pace. my ass was starting to go numb from all the sitting around. ❜ an awkward laugh followed by a pause, gaze turning downward. she has no issues letting the girl come with & her boss would hardly care. ❛ um . . . you can come with if you want to. my boss wouldn’t care if we don’t make a mess. — i’m jieun, by the way. i didn’t introduce myself when you came in which was . . . definitely rude of me. hopefully you can forgive me & we can go get those records for you. i’m pretty sure there’s even a record player back there if you want to test anything out before you buy. but you definitely can’t tell my boss that part. ❜