Temporals

11. Eden

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this chapter contains explicit sexual descriptions - reader discretion is advised; in case the reader is underage, please know that you've been warned
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Rae just wanted a cigarette right now. She excused herself from Yoongi and walked towards the backyard. She dragged out one from the packet in her skirt's pocket and lit it with a scented candle resting on a random table.

On reaching the outside, she exhaled the smoke she had pulled in, attracting the attention of guests who had chosen to be there. A few of them waved at her but she only waved back, without any intention of walking over to them.

Fairy lights lit across the backyard, looking pretty in the night. The sky laden with clouds, was making them even more prominent. The bushes had been clipped into organized lines along the perimeter. Rae took a note of appreciating the gardener later and walked towards a less occupied area. Like inside, seats and tables were scattered in the yard for whoever needed to rest their legs.

Rae did. She wanted to shut down and throw everything around to the wind for it to take care. She was too tired to speak to her guests anymore, let alone wage a war against the clan with the strongest military. She put the cigarette in between her lips and inhaled sharply. But it still wasn't enough to clear her head. Nothing would be enough to clear her head. Except for..

"Rae!" This voice.

Rae quickly turned to look at the face she had been dying to see half the evening. And, as if on cue, the clouds overhead cleared out to make way for the moon to shine over that beautiful face.

"Namjoon!" Rae acknowledged her new companion, before looking up at the sky. "Wow, I hadn't noticed it was a full moon night," she said.

"Do you mind if I join you?" Namjoon asked politely, tilting the two glasses of dark colored alcohol he held in his two hands.

"Yes, please," she returned, smiling as she was handed one of them.

They sat in silence for a while, sipping on the rum Namjoon had brought, blushing fiercely. Rum was not Rae's go-to drink, but at that moment she could take anything that man brought her.

Still embarrassed to look at him, she continued staring off into space while Namjoon wondered about what to talk about. Soon, he took a deep breath and started, "did the meeting go well?"

As if startled, she looked back at him with her eyebrows raised. When she realized what he had asked, she politely scoffed. "I.. don't think I can tell you about it."

Namjoon nodded. "I understand," he said. "But how did it go? Are you happy with.. you know.. whatever was discussed?" Rae had to keep her lips from curling into a small smile as he pestered.

She shook her head instead. "Not really. It looks like some people have way too much expectations from me. And I'm not sure if I can live up to them."

Namjoon hummed. "You have up until now," he said, in a way to try to cheer her up. "So I'm pretty sure you will be able to do the same in the future."

They looked at each other as he finished, and once again, the moon that had gone back into the clouds, came out to shine on them. Under it, Rae looked so beautiful and ethereal, Namjoon couldn't take his eyes off of her.

"That's.." she stammered, "that's very kind of you to say, Namjoon. Anyway, forget about my stupid, sad meeting. You tell me, did you enjoy the party?"

Namjoon wanted to say yes, but some instinct in him made him shake his head. "Oh no," Rae laughed out. "Why not?"

"Well.." it was his turn to stammer. "I thought I would see you more often this evening. B..but, that didn't happen, so."