SCHOOL 2013 [ Heung Soo X OC ]

014

t.w //

 -ˋˏ [ xiv. closed books ] ˎˊ-

"When you open yourself up to people, you show them where to put the knife in."

― Bryan Way

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Confusion was leaking out of Heungsoo's eyes as if they were a broken faucet. His brow crinkled slightly while his lips pouted faintly.

Yujin simply smiled in response before entering the empty library.

Heungsoo soon followed suite albeit still confused, only to realize he had lost Yujin completely. The interior was incredibly dark and eerie, only the faint light of a few candlelights illuminated the room.

Still, there was something grandiose about this place, something majestic.

It felt as if he owned this whole place, this whole library and all of it's books, all it's knowledge.In the glimmering shimmer of the closest flame, he watched Yujin approach him, a broom and bucket in hand.

After carefully placing the bucket full of water on the wooden floor, Yujin finally spoke.

"You." she started, pointing at him with her finger, "Are helping me." she pointed at herself, "with community service."

And then it hit him, they were cleaning this place up, that's why they were here so late.

He grabbed the duster handed to him before cautiously asking, "Mandatory community service?" Only to be met once more with this silent smile.

"I shouldn't ask," he thought.

The two silently worked, cleaning every nook and cranny of this library.

Quickly enough, the moon rose, it's dim light shining through the windows, enveloping the room in a faint blueish glow.

Heungsoo had lost hold of his duster thrice already, his once steady hands now slowly trembling from tiredness.

"You can stop now, Heungsoo," Yujin spoke, shaking the boy out of his slumber. "You've already helped me a lot, I'm grateful."

"It's fine, I'll help a little more," he answered, his voice coming out more as a croak than a whisper.

The two fell back once again in a deep silence, Yujin deep cleaned the floors and desk, while Heungsoo dusted every book of every corner.

Deciding to break the silence, as to prevent himself from falling asleep, he asked the girl, "Do you do this every Friday?"

"No," she informed him, "Only once a month. I rotate between 3 places: the pool, the library and the nearby elementary school."

"And you've done this for how long?"

Yujin stopped sweeping and, with a closed eye smile, answered, "Three years."

Three years, it's been so long, even longer than...
Namsoon.

"You know, Heungsoo, when I first met you all those years ago, I instantly liked you."

"What?"

"Your eyes," she clarified, "they were so lively, so pure. I could see the ambitions behind them, the feeling of invincibility, not powered by hatred, but friendship. I know all this seems like honey words and sweet poetry, but really, you were so different from everyone around me, it amazed me. "

"Well, almost everyone," she laughed, her voice laced in bitter sweet nostalgia.

"Did I really seem lively?" he inquired, his self-loathing curiosity wishing to know just how much he had changed, how much of himself had died.

Could she see it too? The way his life was never as precious as it was back then?

"But now, it's gone."

The words hit his face, like a cold breeze slapping his face.
Cold, empty, but more than anything, it snaps you back to reality.

"I know."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

The girl simply nodded before going back to sweeping the already spotless floor.

Heungsoo didn't want their conversation to end and he cursed himself for not even trying to lie.

"How about you?"

"Mmh?"

"Back then your aura was unmistakable, unmissable. You exuded charisma and authority, power and ambition. You were the Sailor and I admired you for it. You could tame anyone to respect you or your people, or have them experience hell with a single word."

Yujin smiled, her eyes looking every where but his.

"But the truth is, If I hadn't laid eyes on you on my first day to class, I doubt I would've noticed you."

"I know."

"You've tamed yourself Yujin and it's sad to see."

"I know."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

The boy simply nodded before going back to dusting the already dustless shelves.

Yujin didn't want their conversation to end and she cursed herself for not even trying to lie.

---

Yujin had just finished dusting off all the shelves when the sun finally rose, the sky's orange hues peeking through the perfectly clear windows.

With a content sigh, she sat down on one of the library's couch, a small smile spreading on her lips when her eyes noticed Heungsoo's sleeping form.

The boy was snoring slightly, his breathing making his bangs flutter lightly.

She felt bad for inquiring about his personaly life last night, even more for not answering his own. Still, she didn't want to tell him- she couldn't  tell him- he already knew too much.

"Heungsoo," Yujin started, the confused boy waking up and trying to figure out where he was.

"You're at the library, remember?"

"Right," he simply replied, his hand rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"I just finished so we can go now."

"Wait- Already?"

Yujin laughed lightly, "Already? It's 5 o'clock."

"Shit- My sister's going to kill me," Heungsoo grumbled while throwing an accusing glare in the girl's direction, before scurrying around to gather his stuff.

"I'm not the one who fought, though," Yujin simply replied with a shrug.

"I'm talking about not going home last night."

"He's surprisingly innocent,"  Yujin thought as her eyes followed his moving figure.

"Got everything? Let's go." Seeing Heungsoo's confused look, she added, "I have to explain the whole 'staying out all night', right? That's mostly my fault."

"Mostly your fault? That's definitely your fault."

"I wasn't the one who fell asleep."

"Wait- You didn't sleep at all?"

She winked at him before opening the library's gate and stepping outside, the gentle wind caressing her face.

The two walked together to his house, where Yujin met a curious older sister.

After saying her goodbyes, she then proceeded back home, abandoning herself to a well deserved nap.

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A/N : First off, I'd like to sincerely thank everyone who commented on my last chapter telling me how much they enjoyed and how excited they are for a new chapter. I've been having a major writing block since the New Year's and I simply couldn't finish this chapter. But today, I've decided to rewrite it entirely and it worked. This chapter is based upon the two characters' reluctance to truly open up, and I believe they can't fall in love until they are both ready to do so. Once again, thank you very much for reading, love you <33