Cigarettes and ashes| Choso Kamo

2. Lighter

Cold. It was cold and I couldn't sleep. After a long day of practice and socialising with friends I thought I would be able to sleep easily tonight. I was tired and my body was basically screaming for sleep and relaxation but my mind was racing, indicating that it was definitely wide awake. I looked at the time. It was past midnight.

Looking through my nightstand I found the thing I was looking for. Cigarettes. It was a guilty pleasure like I had told Yuji. A bad habit that I started due to academical stress and can not be stopped easily now. When my mother first found out about it, she spent hours lecturing me on why I should not do that and how bad it was for my health. In the end she agreed to let me smoke, but not in front of her or in the house. She couldn't just stand the thought of her precious daughter who was a living example for her little brother to do such unspeakable things.

Scoffing at the thought I took that damn box, a jacket and headed out. Maybe it would help me relax and finally get some sleep.

The lack of sleep seemed to rub through little Jo too, the dog trailing now behind me. "Let's go for a walk" I told her, not that she would answer me back but it seemed like she understood my words because she fetched her leash.

The cold slapped me across the face, hard. It was the evidence of the winters arrival. Jo was basically dragging me now towards the park that was in the neighbourhood. She knew the way very well.

I loved nights like this. Nights that I couldn't fall asleep and always ended up at the park with my loyal companion, and my thoughts. Tonight was no different.

I sat at the usual bench looking in my pocket for the known purple lighter only to find out that it wasn't there. Fuck. I must forgotten it on that coffee shop. I looked around. Even though it was quite late, a few people hanged around. Some with friends, some alone. It was a famous spot after all. All kinds of people came there, during their breaks or after finishing their courses for the day, and I could definitely see the appeal. Beautiful trees, benches for people to sit and converse or read peacefully.

I sighed. Should I ask someone for a lighter? I was embarrassed, and the thought of asking a stranger for a lighter was too much for my shy self.

While I was contemplating my decision, I was lucky to catch a glimpse of light, someone also lighting their cigarette. I worked my courage and walked up to them.

"Excuse me, do you have a lighter?"

"I do." The stranger replied.

We made eye contact.

The low lightning combined with his deep low pitched voice, his messy hair buns along with his piercing gaze, was enough to make me lose it all. Damn, was it maybe the lack of sleep? That was it, surely.

Eyes droopy with noticeable dark circles under his eyes, tall, brunette, his figure looked thin but at the same time muscular, you couldn't exactly tell because of his baggy clothing.

I placed my cigarette on my lips opening my hand, signaling him to give me the lighter. Instead he lighted the cigarette himself. "Thanks" he nodded in response. "Cute dog." he smiled at my dog and gave her a couple pets on the head. "Thanks, she's the best." I smiled at Jo who seemed to enjoy the stranger's attention. "What's her name?" He asked. "Jo".

He played around a bit with her, petting and rubbing her fur. In return the animal wagged its tail happily.

"Your name?" he inquired, looking up because he had squatted in order to pet the dog, the line of his mouth turning up a bit.

"Y/n" I simply stated.

He hummed in response, stood up and then proceeded to take one last drag before throwing the cigarette on the ground stomping it with his combat boot. He then, looked at me. "Well then, good night Y/n." The boy said and left.

He reminded me of somebody but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. "Come on Jo." The dog looked at the stranger's direction before walking away with me, going back to my dorm.

Laying down in my bed now, I looked at the ceiling processing what the hell was that. I scoffed, after I replayed our interaction in my head. His aura was magnetic, something so mysterious, pulling me in.

Just who the hell was he?

___________________