Beneath the Surface

Part 13

The soft chime of the bookstore's bell echoed through the room, and Longtai lifted his head from his thoughts, surprised to see Yok standing in the doorway, panting slightly, as if he had been running. His dark hair was plastered to his forehead, and water dripped from the ends, trailing down his face. Paint smudges clung to his hands, bright against his skin, and his black, rolled-up sleeves revealed the tattoos he usually kept hidden under long sleeves. Rainwater streamed from his drenched clothes, pooling at his feet on the hardwood floor. His soaked shirt clung to his chest and arms, highlighting his lean frame, while his shoes squelched softly with each step he took inside.

Outside, the rain was pouring heavily, the sound of it drumming against the windows and drowning out the usual quiet of the bookstore. Flashes of lightning briefly lit the dark sky, followed by the rumble of distant thunder. Yok looked like he had braved a storm just to get here, and he carried the chaos of it with him-wild, unfiltered, and impossible to ignore.

Yok's chest heaved as he caught his breath, his sharp eyes fixed on Longtai with an intense frustration that Longtai had never seen before. Water continued to drip from his soaked sleeves and pants, the droplets hitting the floor with a soft, rhythmic patter. "I couldn't take it anymore," Yok said between breaths, wiping the rainwater from his brow with the back of his hand. "I had to come."

Longtai's heart skipped, his chest tightening. It had been easy to ignore Yok's texts and calls, easier to push him away from the safety of his distance. But now, with Yok standing right in front of him, looking so disheveled, so real-water clinging to every part of him-he didn't know what to say. His instinct was to flee, to disappear behind the walls he'd built for so long.

Yok stood there, unmoving, his hands balled into fists at his sides. Water continued to drip from his soaked hair, trailing down his temples and disappearing into the collar of his drenched shirt. His gaze was locked onto Longtai, as if he was searching for answers in his face. "Are you going to answer me or not?" Yok's voice was tight, frustration laced in every word. "Why have you been ignoring me for days? I've been calling, texting... and nothing."

Longtai swallowed hard, his throat dry. His eyes flicked to the door, then back to Yok. The reality of Yok's presence made his heart race, panic swirling inside him. This was what he was afraid of-Yok was here, confronting him, and there was nowhere to hide.

Longtai's lips parted, but no words came out at first. His mind raced, trying to piece together some sort of explanation, but all he could think about was how vulnerable he felt right now. Maybe... maybe he could test Yok. Push him a little, see how far he was willing to go before he gave up.

"What do you want to know, Yok?" Longtai's voice was low, guarded. His eyes locked with Yok's, though there was a coldness in his tone, a distance that hadn't been there before. "What are you really here for? To ask about that person?"

Yok's expression hardened, his brows furrowing in confusion and frustration. He took a step forward, closing the space between them. Rainwater splattered onto the floor with every movement he made. "I don't care about that guy, Longtai. I don't care who he was or what he said to you. The only thing I care about is that you've been ignoring me, and I don't know why." His voice cracked slightly, betraying the vulnerability he had been trying to keep hidden behind his anger. "It's like you're shutting me out, and I don't even know what I did wrong."

Yok's eyes softened, and the raw emotion in his expression made Longtai's stomach churn. It wasn't just frustration on Yok's face now-it was something deeper, something more personal. Yok wasn't just upset; he was hurt.

Longtai felt his throat tighten. He hadn't expected this. He hadn't expected Yok to care this much. "You didn't do anything wrong," he muttered, barely audible.