time had passed, hours rolling by ( eyelids flickering to a shut and GONE ), darkness having descended, unknowingly, in the period of time dedicated to browsing the bookstore —— a collection having settled around his frame ( each title varying from the next, pages bled with words constructed in a manner that iseul could only dream of reproducing ). concluding his hunt, satisfied with the NEW additions to an evergrowing bookshelf ( he’d have to replace the current shelving system soon, as it was beginning to overflow ), the boy slipped the pieces into his bag and exited. that was the PERK of working in such a place— the books didn’t come free, but, he’d simply make a note and the owner would muster a contribution… which, was never much ( at least not for iseul, a beloved worker ). darkness sparked paranoia, shaken fingertips locking the building, before his petite frame DESCENDED down streets—— the faster his pace, the sooner he’d be home and the sooner he’d feel safe… HE FROZE. a noise broke through the hushed air, terror dancing in obsidian hues ( that remained fixated ), the instant he recognised the source to be a result of violence. nausea tugged within his stomach ( he couldn’t breathe, dizziness swelled, clouded senses ) and a desperation to flee sparked— but, he couldn’t ( it was as if feet were nailed to concrete ). words spilled from the lips of the other and iseul knew they were meant for him, so, he forced himself forward —light that threaded onto streets, settled onto his expression, tainted with terror, as he clawed for breath… “ y-yumi? ” his voice cracked, as he ( believed ) to have recognised the body before his own, “ i… i—i’m s-sorry. ”
her heart sinks and she swears it has stopped beating. as her luck --- or lack of --- would have it, the intruder’s voice belongs to someone she’s grown to love, someone she has tried ( desperately ) to keep hidden from this side of her. he’s pure, like the freshly fallen snow that coats gangnam in the dead of winter, while she’s just the opposite --- dirty and dark with the devil as her regular dance partner. it’s no secret to her that they’re an unlikely pair, but he elicits a side of yumi that she doesn’t play with often; not to anyone’s face. he’s special. or, he was. until she had ruin it ( much like everything she touches ). her initial thought is to run, to pretend as though the person he saw tonight was someone else, she can’t afford to lose another person, but her body won’t allow her. ‘ issy deserves more and it’s better, for the both of us, if he learns now. ’ yumi steps back, the darkness of the alley used as a cloak to hide her befouled state. “issy,” her voice is soft and weak, everything she tells herself she should never be, “don’t be sorry. it should be me who apologizes. i’m sorry i’ve lied to you and i’m sorry this is how you find out that i’m unworthy of being in your life.” is she talking loud enough to be heard? the demons whispering in her ear are making it hard to tell, but she’s scared. her mind is clouded, which means her judgement is too --- and that is a dangerous combination. “run, issy.”