Fais de Beaux Rêves | Markmin

2 - We Were Snow

"Welcome."

"Where am I?"

These were the first words that Jaemin usually heard, or some variation of them. The confusion would be apparent on the person's face and Jaemin would just ooze of relaxed nature, lulling the person in front of him into a gentle and quiet trance.

Today, however, Jaemin would not hear those words.

Jaemin stood at the intersection between the two escalators with his forearms against the stone railing. He looked up at the stars. Too innumerable to count and yet he still tried every time. He adjusted his glasses and ruffled his black hair, practicing his smile for the next person that he would greet.

A ding, and Jaemin looked down at the watch on his right wrist, puckering his lips as he saw that this person had appeared on the second floor, near the store he had deemed as 'green store' because he never saw the contents, rather the aura they gave off.

"I rarely get anyone by the green store," Jaemin mumbled to himself, standing up and walking over to the moving staircase. He stepped calmly on it, his heart beating a little fast beneath his cool exterior because he was always afraid to fall on the metal contraption. Even after all these years.

Reaching the second floor, a bird brushed by Jaemin's head and he turned to see a boy standing several yards from him, looking around curiously. The boy had black hair like himself, and Jaemin felt his heart squeeze at the young and curious nature of his newest guest.

A young spirit.

One who was just going through the first several cycles of its long and never-ending journey.

"Hello!" Jaemin called out, catching the boy's attention as he waved his arm above his head, beginning to walk over to the boy. "Hello there!" He smiled brightly, just as he had practiced, and the boy immediately began to jog over to him.

Adorned in jeans rolled up and cuffed at the bottom, this boy had a graphic t-shirt tucked into these blue pants and secured by a brown belt. He wore a flannel over it and beat up sneakers completed the young look. The boy moved to stand in front of him, and Jaemin felt a stir in the air as he looked at the boy's face.

His heart clenched and he startled at the feeling. The boy smiled brightly and clasped his hands behind his back, puffing his chest out. "Jaemin." The name rolled off of the boy's tongue and Jaemin froze, his smile dropping.

Oh.

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