artifice || offgun

vi.

The sky was in the lightest hue of blue, cloudless as it seems; the burning touch of the one o'clock afternoon breeze was moist against one's skin, humid as it feels. In the woods where rays of the blazing sun seeps through the gap of the greenish trees, there stood two young men; both were fiery with outmost contempt, orbs blaring as it reflected their abhorrence towards another.

Off glares at Joss with sharp eyes, his patience wearing thin as the events of that afternoon seems to happen in a flash. "Mind your own business," he uttered through gritted teeth. Off wouldn't deny that he hated the other, more of that Joss currently feigns concern towards his state; Joss is the son of the village's chief, a position in which he gets all the respect and comfort. And even though Joss wouldn't admit it, he was the apple of the eyes of everyone. He receives all the favor, may it be the greetings of the villagers; the smiles that Off didn't get to have ever since he had set foot on the isolated village.

Perhaps Off was feeling insecure, that the foolish man in front of him gets to grin sheepishly while giving out the dry branches he had collected throughout the day while Off received nothing but hostility, despite the work he had done for the villagers. Would it be too much to ask for a fraction of gentle treatment after all of the effort Off exerted?

"If you think I'm concerned with you, then you're wrong," Joss frowned at Off while eyeing his composure, taking a good look on the other's eyes as it seems that his vision tricked him earlier. He was unsure but his instinct seems to be telling him something; that he should be wary of Off or else, a tragedy would happen. "Who were you talking to?" Joss asked as he was sure that he heard Off's faint voice when he approached him.

Joss has been watching Off ever since the latter came to the village. He was tasked to do so as it serves as his preparation for being the succeeding chief but nevertheless, he had done it for his prejudice towards outlanders. Although it was known that Off was a descent of a native, Joss sees him as not one of them as Off didn't grow up with the village's belief; as well as the environment he had been in was way different than theirs. Joss believes that Off would bring misfortune on them, just like how those people with the same circumstances as Off when they came to the village and he was certain that it wasn't only him who thinks that way because at the every glint of the villagers orbs reflected their inner thoughts; the whole village thinks that way as well.

They believe that Off wasn't one of them.

"We are not close enough for me to tell you so f/ck off," Off scoffed with utter annoyance before shoving Joss away from him, pushing his shoulder as he runs towards the complexity of the woods.

Joss watched Off's back, brows furrowed as the other wandered around the forest once again, crossing the stream as well. He must tell his father that Off was up to something so they could do the necessary precautions to prevent him for causing an uproar. He can feel it as he was sure of what he had seen. He observed Off with watchful gaze earlier, confused as to other's rash actions; frantically punching on the stream as if he was fighting someone else though it was clear, Off was all by himself.

Off heaved a deep sigh while wandering around the forest again, brows furrowed as his mood was still sour after the little confrontation with Joss. "I hate him," he muttered under gritted teeth, his bruised knuckles turning white as he curls his hand into a tight fist.

He hates how Joss looks at him in a certain way, as if he was a nuisance; a helpless bug that soils the beauty of the village and could easily crush under the foot of anyone. Off sees him as two-faced, smiling as if he was an obedient child in the presence of the villagers but when no watchful eyes were around and it was only the two of them, they were already aiming for each other's neck.

"I'm going to kill him," He mumbled in a deep voice, his judgment clouded with deep hatred.

"Would you?" A soft whisper caressed Off's ear, accompanied with a gentle gust of wind. The voice was alluring, comparable to a siren singing a gentle melody and convincing him to do so.

Off lifted his gaze, his emotions being played as the deep and dark feelings dissipated into the thin air. He was feeling light as the summer wind, bright as the blazing sun and if his vision was not deceiving him, he had seen the one he has been yearning for. Was it the result of his desperation? It was dangerous on its own way, for such strong feelings manifest the things one wouldn't dare to believe will happen.

From a fair distance, he examined the familiar figure; the man's back was facing him as if he is observing something and Off darted his eyes on it, it was an unlit bonfire, dry woods and straws gathered on the feet of it.

He was feeling relief on the sight of the other but a light sting crept from the corner of his heart, afraid to approach the other as Gun had ran away from him twice already. But when Gun turned his head and met Off's soft gaze, he plastered a gentle smile which tickles Off's chest with light feathers. "It was the same smile," He mumbles before taking a step closer to him, comforted.

And as his footsteps bring him closer to Gun, he starts to see him clearly. Gun wasn't smiling fondly at him but rather, a familiar menacing smile was plastered on his face; the same smile he had seen from Tay.

"Don't go," A gentle hold on his wrist stopped him from his track and he immediately looked back, only to see Gun with a conflicted look on his face. Gun's eyes were shaking with fear, eyes were brimming with tears as well.

Off frowned, confused on how Gun made his way behind him when in fact, he was just walking towards Gun. So he darted his gaze to the unlit bonfire again and he felt a shiver running on his spine, the man, who looked so much like Gun, was no longer there.